What do you think?
Rate this book
The Black Magpie #1
The Magpie Coffin
The year is 1875 and outlaw Salem Covington has spent the last twenty years collecting stories, possessions, and lives. Nicknamed "The Black Magpie" for his exploits during the war, Salem has carved a bloody trail across the western territories. Informed that his mentor, Comanche shaman Dead Bear, has been murdered. Salem vows vengeance on the perpetrators. Enlisting the help of an army scout and preserving the body of his mentor in a specially made coffin, he sets out in pursuit. But the choices of Salem's past that earned him the moniker "Black Magpie" are riding hard behind him and the only weapon that can kill him might not be as far away as he thinks.The Magpie Coffin is an unrelenting tale of revenge, with precise brutality and extreme violence.
210 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2020
175 people are currently reading
2345 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews
June 20, 2020
I saw one reviewer describe this book as being like a "death metal Red Dead Redemption" which was one hell of a description, and good enough to make me buy the book... and it lived up to that description. If you don't mind though, let me give my own comparison. The Magpie Coffin is what would have happened if Sam Peckinpah (director of The Wild Bunch and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia) had teamed up with 1980s Clive Barker, and both had decided that they were going to work at their most nihilistic and violent.
In other words, this was great fun, but not a book to leave you feeling uplifted or hungry.
The book follows Salem Covington AKA the Black Magpie, an outlaw gunslinger with more than a bit of protection from devilish circles. He delights in killing, torturing and being an utter bastard. He's also the "hero" of the story. After a former teacher of his is killed by five men, Covington decides to go on a little trip, finding and then going about murdering (in creatively horrifying ways) each of the men.
Alright, let me first off say that this isn't exactly the most well written book I've ever read. There's a surprising number of typos and in one scene there is a person who descends a set of "stares," that promptly change to back to being proper stairs a sentence later. The descriptions are fairly workman-like with the exception of the violence which is described in vivid detail. People who have issues with such descriptions of mutilation, torture and a good deal of gunshot wounds will want to turn away.
What the book does right though is be damn entertaining. The cover reminds me a lot of the spaghetti westerns posters from the 70s, and that's the feel the book gives... just crossed way into horror territory as well. It's fun, the dialogue is a blast, and there's enough creativity to the revenge plot-line to keep you guessing.
This book is the first in a new series of "splatter westerns" from Death's Head Press. The books I believe are all going to be unconnected (though I feel there are aspects here that could be revisited if the publisher/author both choose to do so), and honestly it's kind of a brilliant idea. I didn't particularly know that I wanted splatterpunk westerns in my life, but after reading this one, I've discovered that I very much do want that.
This is certainly not a book for everyone, but anyone even slightly intrigued by my review would do well to look it up. 4/5 stars.
In other words, this was great fun, but not a book to leave you feeling uplifted or hungry.
The book follows Salem Covington AKA the Black Magpie, an outlaw gunslinger with more than a bit of protection from devilish circles. He delights in killing, torturing and being an utter bastard. He's also the "hero" of the story. After a former teacher of his is killed by five men, Covington decides to go on a little trip, finding and then going about murdering (in creatively horrifying ways) each of the men.
Alright, let me first off say that this isn't exactly the most well written book I've ever read. There's a surprising number of typos and in one scene there is a person who descends a set of "stares," that promptly change to back to being proper stairs a sentence later. The descriptions are fairly workman-like with the exception of the violence which is described in vivid detail. People who have issues with such descriptions of mutilation, torture and a good deal of gunshot wounds will want to turn away.
What the book does right though is be damn entertaining. The cover reminds me a lot of the spaghetti westerns posters from the 70s, and that's the feel the book gives... just crossed way into horror territory as well. It's fun, the dialogue is a blast, and there's enough creativity to the revenge plot-line to keep you guessing.
This book is the first in a new series of "splatter westerns" from Death's Head Press. The books I believe are all going to be unconnected (though I feel there are aspects here that could be revisited if the publisher/author both choose to do so), and honestly it's kind of a brilliant idea. I didn't particularly know that I wanted splatterpunk westerns in my life, but after reading this one, I've discovered that I very much do want that.
This is certainly not a book for everyone, but anyone even slightly intrigued by my review would do well to look it up. 4/5 stars.
November 30, 2021
I've been a fan of westerns since I saw The Good, The Bad and the Ugly when I was a kid; it's always been a genre I've been fascinated by after that.
Never started reading western fiction until a few years back with Blood Meridian, which was absolutely brilliant but now with.....The Magpie Coffin!
The Magpie Coffin just goes to show that the western genre can be expanded upon.
I was immediately attracted by the cover of the book before I bought it, it just looks really; especially the writing at the bottom saying A Splatter Western. I immediately started thinking about the blood spurts from Django Unchained. 😂
•
•
Salem Covington, the main character here is a outlaw occultist who cannot be killed by an ordinary bullet.
His old teacher, a native shaman called Dead Bear is brutally murdered by a gang of thugs, and he vows vengeance upon them.
With the body of his teacher kept in a coffin behind his wagon, he goes to avenge Dead Bear’s murder.
Very violent.
Well written.
Cool characters, especially the main one.
It's like some sort of grindhouse western, that I'd love to see adapted by Robert Rodriguez; I'm rambling I know...it would be cool though!!!! Lol.
Now I'm on the lookout for 'splatter westerns'
Never started reading western fiction until a few years back with Blood Meridian, which was absolutely brilliant but now with.....The Magpie Coffin!
The Magpie Coffin just goes to show that the western genre can be expanded upon.
I was immediately attracted by the cover of the book before I bought it, it just looks really; especially the writing at the bottom saying A Splatter Western. I immediately started thinking about the blood spurts from Django Unchained. 😂
•
•
Salem Covington, the main character here is a outlaw occultist who cannot be killed by an ordinary bullet.
His old teacher, a native shaman called Dead Bear is brutally murdered by a gang of thugs, and he vows vengeance upon them.
With the body of his teacher kept in a coffin behind his wagon, he goes to avenge Dead Bear’s murder.
Very violent.
Well written.
Cool characters, especially the main one.
It's like some sort of grindhouse western, that I'd love to see adapted by Robert Rodriguez; I'm rambling I know...it would be cool though!!!! Lol.
Now I'm on the lookout for 'splatter westerns'
April 19, 2020
The Magpie Coffin by Wile E. Young is book one in a series of Splatter Westerns being released by Death's Head Press (a new favorite publisher). This is one hell of a way to kick off the series. Young has set the bar exceptionally high.
Set in the 1800s, Salem Covington "The Black Magpie" is a legendary killer. The more we learn about this man, the more of an enigma he becomes. We catch up with him as he learns that his mentor, a Comanche shaman named, Dead Bear, has been murdered by several unsavory men.
--
To say that this is a revenge story is putting it too mildly. Salem doesn't track down the killers just to put a bullet in their heads and move on to the next. He takes great care to make sure the men suffer; greatly. When readers see the genre label, "Splatter Western" it would be good to prepare to lean into all the graphic violence instead of shy away.
This one is full-on and I hope I don't come off as a weirdo when I say this, but I was 100% ALL. ABOUT. IT.
I love Westerns. I love the bleak overtones and the dusty, rolling landscapes. I show up for the squinty-eyed, tough-as-nails cowboys. The gun showdowns.
All the scenes at the saloon with the card games and the busty girls in corsets.
Wile E. Young perfectly captures the mood of a Western.
I felt like the pacing was directed with expert precision. I had a real sense that Young spent quality time orchestrating and developing this plot. I knew I was in good, capable hands.
I enjoyed the supporting characters that were brought in--they had dimension and motivation; reason for existing on the page. I especially enjoyed the dialog in this book.
The antagonists are disgusting (capable of utter depravity) lending a significant presence to the story, giving strength and purpose to the violence--I realized I was just as hungry with blood lust as the characters delivering the justice/revenge.
If it isn't obvious, I love this book. It's epic. I want more from this universe. I'm eager for the rest of the books in this series, for sure, but it's Wile E. Young's particular brand of Horror-Westerns I'm craving right now. Highly recommend.
Set in the 1800s, Salem Covington "The Black Magpie" is a legendary killer. The more we learn about this man, the more of an enigma he becomes. We catch up with him as he learns that his mentor, a Comanche shaman named, Dead Bear, has been murdered by several unsavory men.
--
To say that this is a revenge story is putting it too mildly. Salem doesn't track down the killers just to put a bullet in their heads and move on to the next. He takes great care to make sure the men suffer; greatly. When readers see the genre label, "Splatter Western" it would be good to prepare to lean into all the graphic violence instead of shy away.
This one is full-on and I hope I don't come off as a weirdo when I say this, but I was 100% ALL. ABOUT. IT.
I love Westerns. I love the bleak overtones and the dusty, rolling landscapes. I show up for the squinty-eyed, tough-as-nails cowboys. The gun showdowns.
All the scenes at the saloon with the card games and the busty girls in corsets.
Wile E. Young perfectly captures the mood of a Western.
I felt like the pacing was directed with expert precision. I had a real sense that Young spent quality time orchestrating and developing this plot. I knew I was in good, capable hands.
I enjoyed the supporting characters that were brought in--they had dimension and motivation; reason for existing on the page. I especially enjoyed the dialog in this book.
The antagonists are disgusting (capable of utter depravity) lending a significant presence to the story, giving strength and purpose to the violence--I realized I was just as hungry with blood lust as the characters delivering the justice/revenge.
If it isn't obvious, I love this book. It's epic. I want more from this universe. I'm eager for the rest of the books in this series, for sure, but it's Wile E. Young's particular brand of Horror-Westerns I'm craving right now. Highly recommend.
March 10, 2021
“Friend, you know who I am. That peacemaker you have back there won’t help you.” I turned my head so I could look into his eyes, get the full measure of him and maybe share a bit of soul while it was still mine. “I can’t be killed by a gun.” With that, I poured myself another shot and didn’t give the man another thought.
After his old mentor, comanche shaman Dead Bear, is killed by a posse of desperados, gunslinger Salem Covington, nicknamed The Black Magpie for his exploits during Civil War,vows vengeance on the perpetrators and starts hunting them with the company of an army scout, a bloodthirsty cursed gun, and the dead body of his dead teacher inside a coffin.
When Fate flips the cards, calls your chips, it’s always unexpected.
The Gun was already in my hand; hadn’t been aware I was reaching for it. Smoke and thunder roared and the glass in the Yankee’s hands exploded. My aim was never off. The bullet had found his eye, blood pouring from the liquefied remains of his socket. When Fate flips the cards, calls your chips, it’s always unexpected.
First book in the Splatter Western series by Death’s Head Press, The Magpie Coffin was a funny, quick and brutal, read with a despicable supernaturally nearly bulletproof main character with a thing for violence, torture and creative ways to inflict death, on two missions: avenging his friend and collecting souls for the Devil to avoid eternal damnation.
The young man’s eyes never left the two dark holes that I had opened in Joe’s head, taking his eyes. A lot could be done with a man’s eyes if you knew how. Those two dark holes had robbed the young man of speech; even now the buzzing flies crawled in and out of the two pits.
Something like Jonah Hex meets Joe Lansdale, Clive Barker and Django (1966), the coffin-dragging gunslinger is a very nice homage to Sergio Corbucci’s italian Spaghetti Western masterpiece, with escalating doses of blood, gore, ultra-violence, extreme horror and a few good old Sergio Leone’s Dollars Trilogy vibes.
My companion didn’t look afraid, wasn’t jumping in his boots or sobbing with slumped shoulders. Truthfully, he looked stunned by it all; more like he was wondering how he had come to this in a few days’ time.
He caught my eye and I gave him a slight nod of my head. The stupor wore off of him and his face became grave. He knew that I would spill blood before that rope tightened around his neck.
A must read if you are into Weird-Western genre, just stay far away from it if you are feint of heart or not into Splatterpunk.
"They’re your lives now, Mr Howe. You traded for them. You do what you will with them.”
I took a moment for myself when I reached the bottom of the gallows. I removed my hat for Tall Sky and spit into the dust for the other two with their bulging eyes and swollen tongues.
I thought about John Maddox and the things worse than this I would visit on him.
You’ve been warned, gringo.
“Best get some shut eye; I want to pull up stakes and kick gravel toward Deadwood when the sun goes down.”
Jake nodded and headed toward the coach.
I watched him go before I looked at the coffin, grinning in triumph and sitting down where Jake had just left.
I offered Maddox’s hat. “Teacher, one of your killers will soon be dead.”
The coffin thumped.
February 1, 2022
Oh so bloody and grim - I lost track of the body count.
February 25, 2021
The Splatter Western series by Deaths Head Press has become something of a phenomenon in the indie horror community. It seems everyone is reading them and the upcoming slate for future releases reads like a who’s who of modern horror fiction. It is way past due, therefore, for me to go back to where it all began, with book one: The Magpie Coffin by Wile E. Young.
Salem Covington is a wanted man. Nicknamed ‘The Black Magpie’, he is infamous for his bloody exploits. Rumour has it that he cannot be killed by a gun and, when a gang attacks and kills his mentor, they soon find out that there may be more truth to these rumours than they ever thought.
On a mission of vengeance, Salem has vowed to hunt down and kill everyone responsible for his mentor’s death and he does not intend to let them die easy. After making a pact with the devil himself, The Black Magpie has souls to collect and god help anyone who gets in his way.
What I enjoyed the most about The Magpie Coffin was how gloriously unlikeable and downright despicable the protagonist was. Salem Covington does a lot of evil and unforgivable things throughout this novel and there is a great deal more that is hinted at as his backstory is gradually revealed. ‘The Magpie Coffin’ isn’t about the character's redemption, nor is the character particularly interested in earning any, and it was an absolute blast to be dragged kicking and screaming through this story by such a reprehensible lead.
When the reader is supposed to root for a protagonist who is as morally corrupt as Salem, you need some villains who are even worse and ‘The Magpie Coffin’ has some truly memorable ones. This book wears the Splatter in the Splatter Western like a badge of honour, whether that be from the violent, bloody acts of the men that Salem is hunting, or the brutal ends they suffer at his hands, this is a gore-drenched book with some gleefully inventive carnage and mayhem. It never crosses the line into overly grim, maintaining a perfect balance between keeping the stakes serious enough to be invested, but keeping proceedings suitably fun and over the top.
There was so much in this book that it felt surprisingly epic for a relatively short (210 pages) novel. Young offers up lots of hints and suggestions at a much wider story, with intriguing premises for either prequels or sequels tantalisingly opened but never promised. It is the mark of a great book when you’re sad to leave it behind and crave more of the same.
The Magpie Coffin serves as both an epic beginning to a consistently great series, whilst acting as an incredibly high standard to which all future Splatter Westerns will be measured. It is no surprise that Deaths Head Press has such a hit on their hands when the quality is this high.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror
Salem Covington is a wanted man. Nicknamed ‘The Black Magpie’, he is infamous for his bloody exploits. Rumour has it that he cannot be killed by a gun and, when a gang attacks and kills his mentor, they soon find out that there may be more truth to these rumours than they ever thought.
On a mission of vengeance, Salem has vowed to hunt down and kill everyone responsible for his mentor’s death and he does not intend to let them die easy. After making a pact with the devil himself, The Black Magpie has souls to collect and god help anyone who gets in his way.
What I enjoyed the most about The Magpie Coffin was how gloriously unlikeable and downright despicable the protagonist was. Salem Covington does a lot of evil and unforgivable things throughout this novel and there is a great deal more that is hinted at as his backstory is gradually revealed. ‘The Magpie Coffin’ isn’t about the character's redemption, nor is the character particularly interested in earning any, and it was an absolute blast to be dragged kicking and screaming through this story by such a reprehensible lead.
When the reader is supposed to root for a protagonist who is as morally corrupt as Salem, you need some villains who are even worse and ‘The Magpie Coffin’ has some truly memorable ones. This book wears the Splatter in the Splatter Western like a badge of honour, whether that be from the violent, bloody acts of the men that Salem is hunting, or the brutal ends they suffer at his hands, this is a gore-drenched book with some gleefully inventive carnage and mayhem. It never crosses the line into overly grim, maintaining a perfect balance between keeping the stakes serious enough to be invested, but keeping proceedings suitably fun and over the top.
There was so much in this book that it felt surprisingly epic for a relatively short (210 pages) novel. Young offers up lots of hints and suggestions at a much wider story, with intriguing premises for either prequels or sequels tantalisingly opened but never promised. It is the mark of a great book when you’re sad to leave it behind and crave more of the same.
The Magpie Coffin serves as both an epic beginning to a consistently great series, whilst acting as an incredibly high standard to which all future Splatter Westerns will be measured. It is no surprise that Deaths Head Press has such a hit on their hands when the quality is this high.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror
February 21, 2023
I've been a fan of westerns since I saw The Good, The Bad and the Ugly when I was a kid; it's always been a genre I've been fascinated by after that.
Never started reading western fiction until a few years back with Blood Meridian, which was absolutely brilliant but now with.....The Magpie Coffin!
The Magpie Coffin just goes to show that the western genre can be expanded upon.
I was immediately attracted by the cover of the book before I bought it, it just looks really; especially the writing at the bottom saying A Splatter Western. I immediately started thinking about the blood spurts from Django Unchained. 😂
•
•
Salem Covington, the main character here is a outlaw occultist who cannot be killed by an ordinary bullet.
His old teacher, a native shaman called Dead Bear is brutally murdered by a gang of thugs, and he vows vengeance upon them.
With the body of his teacher kept in a coffin behind his wagon, he goes to avenge Dead Bear’s murder.
Very violent.
Well written.
Cool characters, especially the main one.
It's like some sort of grindhouse western, that I'd love to see adapted by Robert Rodriguez; I'm rambling I know...it would be cool though!!!! Lol.
Now I'm on the lookout for 'splatter westerns'
Never started reading western fiction until a few years back with Blood Meridian, which was absolutely brilliant but now with.....The Magpie Coffin!
The Magpie Coffin just goes to show that the western genre can be expanded upon.
I was immediately attracted by the cover of the book before I bought it, it just looks really; especially the writing at the bottom saying A Splatter Western. I immediately started thinking about the blood spurts from Django Unchained. 😂
•
•
Salem Covington, the main character here is a outlaw occultist who cannot be killed by an ordinary bullet.
His old teacher, a native shaman called Dead Bear is brutally murdered by a gang of thugs, and he vows vengeance upon them.
With the body of his teacher kept in a coffin behind his wagon, he goes to avenge Dead Bear’s murder.
Very violent.
Well written.
Cool characters, especially the main one.
It's like some sort of grindhouse western, that I'd love to see adapted by Robert Rodriguez; I'm rambling I know...it would be cool though!!!! Lol.
Now I'm on the lookout for 'splatter westerns'
December 12, 2023
Great fun. Ultra-violent Western-Horror novel with a dash of the Devil and tablespoons of Horror for proper seasoning.
I have to read more by this author.
Works the same side of the street as S. Craig Zahler. While not quite up there with Zahler, this author’s writing is superior to the Splatter Westerns of George G. Gilman or John Benteen.
Wall to wall gunfire, ghosts, ghouls, and gore.
Lots of well written prose.
Not for everybody but I enjoyed it a great deal and want to read more by this guy Wile E. Young, whatever his real name is. He’s a maniac. Obviously mentally disturbed.
I have to read more by this author.
Works the same side of the street as S. Craig Zahler. While not quite up there with Zahler, this author’s writing is superior to the Splatter Westerns of George G. Gilman or John Benteen.
Wall to wall gunfire, ghosts, ghouls, and gore.
Lots of well written prose.
Not for everybody but I enjoyed it a great deal and want to read more by this guy Wile E. Young, whatever his real name is. He’s a maniac. Obviously mentally disturbed.
May 21, 2020
This isn't my first time reading a western mixed with horror/splatterpunk/extreme horror, and it definitely is not going to be the last. This is a subgenre that I'm really enjoying right now, and I can't wait for the next book in this series.
Salem Covington is an outlaw and a collector. Mostly he collects lives, but before he takes those he likes to collect a person's story. One day Salem learns that his Comanche mentor, teacher, and friend has been murdered. Vowing vengeance he enlists the help of an army scout named Jake who knows the killers and can help lead Salem to them. Salem is hell bent on revenge, and nothing but a bullet from a very particular pistol can stand in the way of him achieving it.
THE MAGPIE COFFIN is hardcore. Parts of this novel had me wincing or verbalizing my disgust out loud. It's not common for me to do that while reading. Crying? Yeah, that's pretty common. But saying "ewwwww" in the middle of reading a paragraph is not something I'm used to. Honestly if you can elicit that kind of response out of me, someone who often feels jaded by horror (especially in movies) you have instantly won my respect. Not to mention that this is one hell of a great story. Everyone loves a revenge story. Even if the person who is seeking revenge is not exactly on the straight and narrow. This is a excellent story well told. Mentioning that Young is a master at description is an understatement. I felt like I was there the entire time I was reading. I really enjoyed this one, and I can't wait to see what else Young has in store. Pick this one up and discover a new favorite subgenre for yourself.
Salem Covington is an outlaw and a collector. Mostly he collects lives, but before he takes those he likes to collect a person's story. One day Salem learns that his Comanche mentor, teacher, and friend has been murdered. Vowing vengeance he enlists the help of an army scout named Jake who knows the killers and can help lead Salem to them. Salem is hell bent on revenge, and nothing but a bullet from a very particular pistol can stand in the way of him achieving it.
THE MAGPIE COFFIN is hardcore. Parts of this novel had me wincing or verbalizing my disgust out loud. It's not common for me to do that while reading. Crying? Yeah, that's pretty common. But saying "ewwwww" in the middle of reading a paragraph is not something I'm used to. Honestly if you can elicit that kind of response out of me, someone who often feels jaded by horror (especially in movies) you have instantly won my respect. Not to mention that this is one hell of a great story. Everyone loves a revenge story. Even if the person who is seeking revenge is not exactly on the straight and narrow. This is a excellent story well told. Mentioning that Young is a master at description is an understatement. I felt like I was there the entire time I was reading. I really enjoyed this one, and I can't wait to see what else Young has in store. Pick this one up and discover a new favorite subgenre for yourself.
November 8, 2021
Blood soaked and gruesome, this occult splatter western pulp is a non-stop gory blast!
Part cowboy, part occultist practitioner of the dark arts, Salem Covnington is a remorseless, sadistic bastard out for revenge. He's eager to collect the names, stories, souls and body parts of his victims in order to repay his debts and rid himself of death's curse. He's perhaps opportunistically righteous, but ultimately isn't overmuch concerned about who his victims are or any collateral damage, and has no qualms when it comes to mutilation and torture. In fact, the longer and more creatively he can draw out a man's suffering, the better. The guy's an artist, really.
While I appreciate authors who plunge readers right into the thick of things with minimal hand holding, throughout most of the story I felt like I had dropped in mid-way through a series. Too little of our anti-hero's background is revealed, nor much about his blood thirsty gun, which has a will of its own that Covington can hardly resist. With these contexts largely missing it was a bit difficult to really grasp Covington's deeper motivations.
Part cowboy, part occultist practitioner of the dark arts, Salem Covnington is a remorseless, sadistic bastard out for revenge. He's eager to collect the names, stories, souls and body parts of his victims in order to repay his debts and rid himself of death's curse. He's perhaps opportunistically righteous, but ultimately isn't overmuch concerned about who his victims are or any collateral damage, and has no qualms when it comes to mutilation and torture. In fact, the longer and more creatively he can draw out a man's suffering, the better. The guy's an artist, really.
While I appreciate authors who plunge readers right into the thick of things with minimal hand holding, throughout most of the story I felt like I had dropped in mid-way through a series. Too little of our anti-hero's background is revealed, nor much about his blood thirsty gun, which has a will of its own that Covington can hardly resist. With these contexts largely missing it was a bit difficult to really grasp Covington's deeper motivations.
April 28, 2021
What is Magpie Coffin? A savage tale of retributive justice, a Western splatterfest that is at times sickening and twisted (okay most of the time), a story about losing one's soul to a **spoiler**, the beginnings of a beautiful friendship/rivalry? - yes, yes, yes, and yes?
Let me tell you this, our hero Salem Covington is no Count of Monte Cristo. If you're looking for something not too cerebral, to take you away from the real life horrors of the world and whisk you out to a dark, warped, sadistic, gore filled nightmare, look no further.
This isn't a complex story, and at times I would have appreciated some more humor to counter the violence, but this was a good read.
Let me tell you this, our hero Salem Covington is no Count of Monte Cristo. If you're looking for something not too cerebral, to take you away from the real life horrors of the world and whisk you out to a dark, warped, sadistic, gore filled nightmare, look no further.
This isn't a complex story, and at times I would have appreciated some more humor to counter the violence, but this was a good read.
January 8, 2021
A wild ride that any fan of horror, gritty westerns or revenge, would love. This book was a short read, only 204 pages, but packed with action the entire way. It was a fairly straight forward revenge story with a couple of twists here and there. The characters were great and fit the bill perfectly. I look forward to reading more in this series and from the author.
April 2, 2021
My first crack at a splatter western and also Wile E. Young’s writing. Both were a bullseye for me. Wile’s writing style was dead on and I couldn’t help but feel that I was transported back to 1875. Salem Covington was a perfect Tony Soprano-type character for me. He was a bad guy doing horrific things, yet you rooted for him the whole way. And being called a splatter western, Young isn’t afraid to paint the pages red. For many writers, it becomes an excuse to be lazy in their writing by simply giving us page after page of mind-numbing gore. This isn’t the case for Young. He expertly crafts a story that melds wonderfully vibrant characters in unique scenes. The most impressive part for me was his colorful dialogue (inner and outer) for Salem. This transcended the story from being good to being great. Yes, you can say I’m now a converted fan. I’m looking forward to picking up my next Wile E. Young book.
Rating: 5 Great White Buffalo out of 5
Rating: 5 Great White Buffalo out of 5
May 23, 2020
THE MAGPIE COFFIN by Wile E. Young is the first of ten standalone books being published by Deaths Head Press. This is part of the SPLATTER WESTERN series and let me tell you, it blew me away, knocked my socks off, chaps flew right off - it was so exciting. As always I am very thankful for the Night Worms and to Sadie Hartmann and the publisher for sending us copies of this series!
Salem Covington is an outlaw notoriously known as “Black Magpie”. He’s a brutal killer, a collector of stories and souls. When Salem learns that Dead Bear, his mentor and a Comanche shaman, has been murdered, he seeks vengeance.
I was captivated by this story from the get go. It felt gritty, cinematic, and barbaric, which makes sense since splatter westerns are typically a sub genre of horror films that focus on violence and gore. The primary theme here is blood thirsty vengeance and I was transported into the late 1800s and the Wild West, where I could see and touch every detail Wile E. Young had to offer. The writing is insanely good, the characters dark, and the story severe.
Let me tell you, there are some depraved and rancid characters in this story and I enjoyed reading about each and every one of them. Was I completely obsessed with the character Salem? Absolutely. He is full of violence, darkness, and hidden secrets. He’s a gunslinger with a nefarious heart who has stepped into the realm of arcane magic. There are some impressive, gasp-inducing, bloodcurdling scenes. Young’s mastery at descriptive language brings the blood, sweat, and bones out of the rough and tumble American west. This is one of those stories that makes you feel alive even while the characters within meet their demise.
I recently started reading horror western mashups this past year and I’m obsessed. Needless to say I cannot wait to read more of Deaths Heads Press’ splatter westerns! If you are looking for a wicked great read then pick up THE MAGPIE COFFIN.
Salem Covington is an outlaw notoriously known as “Black Magpie”. He’s a brutal killer, a collector of stories and souls. When Salem learns that Dead Bear, his mentor and a Comanche shaman, has been murdered, he seeks vengeance.
I was captivated by this story from the get go. It felt gritty, cinematic, and barbaric, which makes sense since splatter westerns are typically a sub genre of horror films that focus on violence and gore. The primary theme here is blood thirsty vengeance and I was transported into the late 1800s and the Wild West, where I could see and touch every detail Wile E. Young had to offer. The writing is insanely good, the characters dark, and the story severe.
Let me tell you, there are some depraved and rancid characters in this story and I enjoyed reading about each and every one of them. Was I completely obsessed with the character Salem? Absolutely. He is full of violence, darkness, and hidden secrets. He’s a gunslinger with a nefarious heart who has stepped into the realm of arcane magic. There are some impressive, gasp-inducing, bloodcurdling scenes. Young’s mastery at descriptive language brings the blood, sweat, and bones out of the rough and tumble American west. This is one of those stories that makes you feel alive even while the characters within meet their demise.
I recently started reading horror western mashups this past year and I’m obsessed. Needless to say I cannot wait to read more of Deaths Heads Press’ splatter westerns! If you are looking for a wicked great read then pick up THE MAGPIE COFFIN.
April 18, 2020
WOW! This book... oh fat baby! It’s like... it’s like a fucking death metal Red Dead Redemption. AKA: IT RULES BABY!! Travel across the West with the Black fuckin’ Magpie as he seeks revenge against those who have transgressed. You don’t fuck with Salem Covington. So so so very awesome!! Wait till you meet the Gun. Yes, with a capital fucking “G”! EPIC.
6/6 6 Shooter Skulls!!!
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
6/6 6 Shooter Skulls!!!
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
September 3, 2020
Hell yeah! Wile E. Young went west and struck gold. Magpie Coffin is a sweet and satisfying revenge tale with splashes of the supernatural. I ran through this in two days because I HAD to see what the next thing to happen was, then the next, then the next...
They're onto something with the Splatter Western series and I'll definitely be buying the other books now. It's not a totally brand new thing but there is a lot of potential.
Magpie Coffin was a quick little read but it was not just a bunch of action scenes back to back to back. There was time spent with the characters and the author took his time dropping explanations as to what everything was and what everyone's backgrounds were even waiting until the final pages for some reveals. This kept me engaged with the characters and the story and elevated this above what could have been just a bunch of violence and mindless mayhem.
They're onto something with the Splatter Western series and I'll definitely be buying the other books now. It's not a totally brand new thing but there is a lot of potential.
Magpie Coffin was a quick little read but it was not just a bunch of action scenes back to back to back. There was time spent with the characters and the author took his time dropping explanations as to what everything was and what everyone's backgrounds were even waiting until the final pages for some reveals. This kept me engaged with the characters and the story and elevated this above what could have been just a bunch of violence and mindless mayhem.
May 19, 2020
This is the first splatter western I have read as well as the first book from Wile E. Young and it will not be the last of either! It took a couple chapters to settle me into this world and a slightly different genre than I am used to, but once I found my way into this new universe there was no time to look back. Young takes you on a thrill ride of revenge and intrigue with our protagonist, Salem Covington, and he makes him this mysterious badass of a character that you want to meet but would never, ever want to anger. There are some INTENSE scenes in this book and I could smell and see everything at all times. Young did an incredible job at painting a scenery and all the descriptions of exactly what is going on. Your mind will explode with this book and you will never think the same of pigs again!
5 stars! A GREAT first book in a series of splatter westerns being released by Death's Head Press. Thanks for allowing Night Worms the opportunity to book party this!
5 stars! A GREAT first book in a series of splatter westerns being released by Death's Head Press. Thanks for allowing Night Worms the opportunity to book party this!
November 23, 2025
I really enjoy the splatter westerns published by Death's Head Press and Young's novella The Magpie Coffin makes for a gory quick read for sure. Our lead, Salem Covington, AKA 'The Black Magpie', starts the tale in a bar where he overhears from some soldiers that his mentor, Dead Bear, was recently killed. Well, Salem takes a bit of exception to that and promptly decides that he must track down and kill the men responsible. Pretty simple revenge plot but Young makes it work.
Young infuses the tale with all kinds of black magic, spirits and hoodoo and he definitely can write some bloody action scenes. Who is Salem Covington? After the Civil War he has travelled extensively and collected all kinds of magic knickknacks (that never really get explained) in his stage coach. Due to some magic hoodoo, no bullets can harm him except for the ones from his brother's gun. Yeah, he can be stabbed and hung and so forth, but guns? Naw. The men he vowed to track down are nasty and vile, and some people just need killing. I liked the writing style and Young paces this nicely, but all in all, a pretty light read. I liked Triana's splatter westerns a lot more. 3 shooting stars!
Young infuses the tale with all kinds of black magic, spirits and hoodoo and he definitely can write some bloody action scenes. Who is Salem Covington? After the Civil War he has travelled extensively and collected all kinds of magic knickknacks (that never really get explained) in his stage coach. Due to some magic hoodoo, no bullets can harm him except for the ones from his brother's gun. Yeah, he can be stabbed and hung and so forth, but guns? Naw. The men he vowed to track down are nasty and vile, and some people just need killing. I liked the writing style and Young paces this nicely, but all in all, a pretty light read. I liked Triana's splatter westerns a lot more. 3 shooting stars!
September 27, 2021
This is a awesome read. This book took me back to when I was a kid and used to watch the old spaghetti westerns with Clint Eastwood but with a little bit of a occult vibe. Just fucking awesome if I'm gonna read a western I want it to be like this..... Just awesome kick ass story lots of brutality violence and gore. If you're looking for something a little different but still want violence this is definitely for you. I'll definitely read more of this series and more from Wile E Young awesome writing he set the bar high for the first book in this series can't wait to read the others.
May 22, 2020
Well slap my saddle and dig a spur in my neck because I went into this book side eyed and am walking out WIDE. I was skeptical if I would like a Splatter Western book but I HAD to try it because HORROR and um, yes, I'm definitely a fan.
"I stalked through the saloon, heading toward the bar. I draped myself over it and signaled for a shot of whiskey. I downed it and signaled for another." Turns out, Salem is ME! Haha - but only in THIS instance. Salem started out as a young Clint Eastwood type in my head and then morphed into his own unique face... and he's a handsome mofo even with that scar. I love his swagger and how everyone is terrified of him and fuck the bullets. Can't kill him. Nope. Don't even bother trying. Get on his good side and hope for the best.
There are some truly interesting scenes in this book. Pig heads, bears, scalping, magic, mystery, back stabbing, fear, gore, blood... get the point yet? And yes, I was here for all of it. Is this a revenge story? Absolutely. But it is also so much more than that. In just barely over 200 pages, we go on a vast journey with hellish visuals, new ways of killing people and just plain old horrific fun. Now, whose dick do I need to step on to get the next book? ;)
Five stars for making me fall in love with a genre I knew nothing about until now.
"I stalked through the saloon, heading toward the bar. I draped myself over it and signaled for a shot of whiskey. I downed it and signaled for another." Turns out, Salem is ME! Haha - but only in THIS instance. Salem started out as a young Clint Eastwood type in my head and then morphed into his own unique face... and he's a handsome mofo even with that scar. I love his swagger and how everyone is terrified of him and fuck the bullets. Can't kill him. Nope. Don't even bother trying. Get on his good side and hope for the best.
There are some truly interesting scenes in this book. Pig heads, bears, scalping, magic, mystery, back stabbing, fear, gore, blood... get the point yet? And yes, I was here for all of it. Is this a revenge story? Absolutely. But it is also so much more than that. In just barely over 200 pages, we go on a vast journey with hellish visuals, new ways of killing people and just plain old horrific fun. Now, whose dick do I need to step on to get the next book? ;)
Five stars for making me fall in love with a genre I knew nothing about until now.
June 5, 2020
So Westerns. Big stories about big guys with big hats and big guns. Lawless lands and lawless men. Stories of gunfights, banditos, cowboys and ranchers, Natives getting the shaft and ladies who'll open their legs for a few coins. Tales of revenge and anger, pride and death.
Never really been my thing. Until now.
So Splatterpunk. Stories of violence. Psychos and lunatics. Enough Red Sauce to fill a slaughterhouse. The kind of subject matter that would make Norman Bates reach for his vomit bag.
Kind of my thing but not too deep down the rabbit hole. Until now.
Western's have always been more of my mum's thing rather than mine. But if more Westerns were like Wile E. Young's The Magpie Coffin, I think I'd be a lot more on board. I was honestly surprised just how much I got into this book.
So let's break it down. The basic set-up is pretty standard from what you'd expect from a typical Western plot. The protag is Salem Covington, gunslinger, drifter and all-round murderous bastard. He's traveling across America at a time just after the Civil War on a quest for revenge. Five fellow murderous bastards killed his teacher and he's out to even the score, collecting their stories and harvesting their souls.
With the exception of that last bit, the plot seems pretty bog-typical. But where it differs is in the first part of this book's genre. This isn't a Western, this is a SPLATTER Western. Salem isn't just any old gunfighter. He wields black magic and is armed with a mystical Gun, crafted specifically for him that coerces him into killing/harvesting souls. Which means bodies are going to fly.
.....Get out.
Splatterpunk generally is a genre I really only dip my toe into on occasions, if in part because as depraved as I am, even I have limits. Ed Lee and Richard Laymon's books are fine generally because they are drenched in jet-black comedy and ridiculous melodrama to balance out the gore, in addition to a side of bouncy-bouncy funtimes. But I've generally steered clear of writers like Wrath James White and Matt Shaw in part because their work meanwhile seems to be devoid of anything remotely upbeat to balance out the cruelty. But the Magpie Coffin offers a different middle ground.
Make no mistake, this book is dark. And when I say dark, I mean DAAAAAAARK. We have in particular order:
- Animal Cruelty
- Torture
- Necrophilia
- Incest
- Ultra-violence
- Desecration of the dead
- And enough gore to make even Sam Peckinpah's murder boner go flaccid.
But where this book balances out the nastiness is in the characters and setpieces. Salem Covington is not a nice guy. It's pretty safe to say he's about two steps away from being a full-blown murderous psychopath. In any other setting he'd be a villain and antagonist, but here he's the protagonist. Not the hero, fuck no. But he's separated from the villains for two reasons. First, Young takes the time to make sure that Salem has at least a few redeeming qualities. He avoids needlessly killing innocents (and respectfully buries those he does), he has a sense of honour and sticks to his promises, he has respect for the Native Americans (even if he has perverted their teachings, something of which he acknowledges) and he only goes after those who've wronged him. The second reason is that Young makes a point of showing that while Salem is a nasty bastard nobody should get near, some of those he hunts are worse than him.
Not gonna forget Craft anytime soon!
The side characters are few and far between but overall interesting and engaging enough, even if they're not overtly likeable. Howe comes across as the typical young gunslinger who's never lived a day in his life outside his town. He starts off as a racist little prick, but as events play out he gets some solid character moments that show that even he has limits. Other than that, the rest of the cast are kind of on a revolving door policy. Ruby Holloway is okay, but doesn't stick around too long which probably for the best considering the path the story went down. Even the blokes Salem is hunting are given adequate time on the page, enough to humanize them, even make some of them relatable. Not Craft though; seriously fuck that guy.
The pacing is razor tight, with the action set-pieces coming out quick and brutal while the slower set-pieces are well plotted out to give the reader enough time to either understand character moments or take in the horrors of the setting. Traveling across the country meant that no two places were alike and the more surreal moments were spaced out enough to be a welcome distraction without feeling overbearing or pretentious. The writing feels authentic for the time. Salem is a wordy bugger but his dialogue has a kind of dark poetry to it, as if you expect him to start quoting philosophy while blowing blokes' heads off. That being said, Young doesn't completely fall into purple prose, so it hits that sweet spot of being enjoyable without sounding like some uneducated wanker who fancies himself the next Descartes. If I do have a few nitpicks, I'd say one of them is Salem's nickname "The Black Magpie" and that's more that I'm Australian and magpie sounds goofy to me. The other nitpick I can say, is that towards the latter third of the book, the plot just kind of rushes towards a finish. Up until that point, each of Salem's hunts were 1v1, only for the final scene to be 3v1 and it felt kind of sudden, to the point where I check where I was in the book and went "Oh shit! Endgame all of a sudden!"
But that being said, The Magpie Coffin was honestly a real surprise for me. After coming off the colossal pile of rat droppings that was Frostborn, I wasn't sure what to expect going into this one, but I came out the other side wanting to read more. This almost makes me want to go watch The Wild Bunch.
Almost.
Never really been my thing. Until now.
So Splatterpunk. Stories of violence. Psychos and lunatics. Enough Red Sauce to fill a slaughterhouse. The kind of subject matter that would make Norman Bates reach for his vomit bag.
Kind of my thing but not too deep down the rabbit hole. Until now.
Western's have always been more of my mum's thing rather than mine. But if more Westerns were like Wile E. Young's The Magpie Coffin, I think I'd be a lot more on board. I was honestly surprised just how much I got into this book.
So let's break it down. The basic set-up is pretty standard from what you'd expect from a typical Western plot. The protag is Salem Covington, gunslinger, drifter and all-round murderous bastard. He's traveling across America at a time just after the Civil War on a quest for revenge. Five fellow murderous bastards killed his teacher and he's out to even the score, collecting their stories and harvesting their souls.
With the exception of that last bit, the plot seems pretty bog-typical. But where it differs is in the first part of this book's genre. This isn't a Western, this is a SPLATTER Western. Salem isn't just any old gunfighter. He wields black magic and is armed with a mystical Gun, crafted specifically for him that coerces him into killing/harvesting souls. Which means bodies are going to fly.
.....Get out.
Splatterpunk generally is a genre I really only dip my toe into on occasions, if in part because as depraved as I am, even I have limits. Ed Lee and Richard Laymon's books are fine generally because they are drenched in jet-black comedy and ridiculous melodrama to balance out the gore, in addition to a side of bouncy-bouncy funtimes. But I've generally steered clear of writers like Wrath James White and Matt Shaw in part because their work meanwhile seems to be devoid of anything remotely upbeat to balance out the cruelty. But the Magpie Coffin offers a different middle ground.
Make no mistake, this book is dark. And when I say dark, I mean DAAAAAAARK. We have in particular order:
- Animal Cruelty
- Torture
- Necrophilia
- Incest
- Ultra-violence
- Desecration of the dead
- And enough gore to make even Sam Peckinpah's murder boner go flaccid.
But where this book balances out the nastiness is in the characters and setpieces. Salem Covington is not a nice guy. It's pretty safe to say he's about two steps away from being a full-blown murderous psychopath. In any other setting he'd be a villain and antagonist, but here he's the protagonist. Not the hero, fuck no. But he's separated from the villains for two reasons. First, Young takes the time to make sure that Salem has at least a few redeeming qualities. He avoids needlessly killing innocents (and respectfully buries those he does), he has a sense of honour and sticks to his promises, he has respect for the Native Americans (even if he has perverted their teachings, something of which he acknowledges) and he only goes after those who've wronged him. The second reason is that Young makes a point of showing that while Salem is a nasty bastard nobody should get near, some of those he hunts are worse than him.
Not gonna forget Craft anytime soon!
The side characters are few and far between but overall interesting and engaging enough, even if they're not overtly likeable. Howe comes across as the typical young gunslinger who's never lived a day in his life outside his town. He starts off as a racist little prick, but as events play out he gets some solid character moments that show that even he has limits. Other than that, the rest of the cast are kind of on a revolving door policy. Ruby Holloway is okay, but doesn't stick around too long which probably for the best considering the path the story went down. Even the blokes Salem is hunting are given adequate time on the page, enough to humanize them, even make some of them relatable. Not Craft though; seriously fuck that guy.
The pacing is razor tight, with the action set-pieces coming out quick and brutal while the slower set-pieces are well plotted out to give the reader enough time to either understand character moments or take in the horrors of the setting. Traveling across the country meant that no two places were alike and the more surreal moments were spaced out enough to be a welcome distraction without feeling overbearing or pretentious. The writing feels authentic for the time. Salem is a wordy bugger but his dialogue has a kind of dark poetry to it, as if you expect him to start quoting philosophy while blowing blokes' heads off. That being said, Young doesn't completely fall into purple prose, so it hits that sweet spot of being enjoyable without sounding like some uneducated wanker who fancies himself the next Descartes. If I do have a few nitpicks, I'd say one of them is Salem's nickname "The Black Magpie" and that's more that I'm Australian and magpie sounds goofy to me. The other nitpick I can say, is that towards the latter third of the book, the plot just kind of rushes towards a finish. Up until that point, each of Salem's hunts were 1v1, only for the final scene to be 3v1 and it felt kind of sudden, to the point where I check where I was in the book and went "Oh shit! Endgame all of a sudden!"
But that being said, The Magpie Coffin was honestly a real surprise for me. After coming off the colossal pile of rat droppings that was Frostborn, I wasn't sure what to expect going into this one, but I came out the other side wanting to read more. This almost makes me want to go watch The Wild Bunch.
Almost.
December 22, 2020
Dont judge a book based on its genre! (I'm talking to myself). The Magpie Coffin is a splatter Western that challenged me as a reader. Why? Because sometimes I'm intimidated by genres that I am not familiar with. Thanks to Deaths Head Press for sending this to the Night Worms and getting me out of my comfort zone.
Initially, I was like do I like westerns? But rest assured, I do. And I am especially glad that this is a SERIES. Young takes us on a blood fueled revengescapade all along the Western territories.
We meet some memorable characters, and Salem Covington is an especially good MC. He is hellbent on revenge and who can blame him? I also love the horses because HORSES ARE MAJESTIC.
Initially, I was like do I like westerns? But rest assured, I do. And I am especially glad that this is a SERIES. Young takes us on a blood fueled revengescapade all along the Western territories.
We meet some memorable characters, and Salem Covington is an especially good MC. He is hellbent on revenge and who can blame him? I also love the horses because HORSES ARE MAJESTIC.
June 15, 2020
BELIEVE THE HYPE. If you are not traditionally a Western fan, give this one a try. It is the perfect blend of horror and western. You follow and unstoppable force known as Salem. Salam can not be killed easily. shortly after his mentor is killed he sets out on a revenge tour.
This book is graphic and gory in all the right ways. I definitely recommend this book and a dedicated video review will be on my YouTube channel later today.
This book is graphic and gory in all the right ways. I definitely recommend this book and a dedicated video review will be on my YouTube channel later today.
July 27, 2020
4 1/2 STARS
December 31, 2024
This is a terrific book, worth reading. It is a western but Native magic is real. Genres here blur like the boundary between life and death.
April 12, 2022
I didn't know I needed horror westerns in my life, but apparently I really did. This is a great little read that's fast paced, gory and a ton of fun.
December 28, 2024
There be hellfire in this here book - Still a favorite 1 year later.
Well would you look at that. When I finally stopped looking for a sphagetti western that would help with my hangover from "That Dirty Black Bag" I stumble onto a splatter western chockfull of demons and devils and guns and now I'm bracing myself for a new hangover.
Now now don't let anybody fool you, vengeance is a helluva drug. This book is what I imagine snorting everything and then downing absinthe would feel like. What's that drug that leads to hallucinations? Yeah that one - throw that on the pile. Set it on fire. Dance with the devil. That's this book.
Plot/Storyline: writing so encapsulating damn near everything is quotable.
Characters: Black Magpie/Salem Covington is an epic rider of hell. Take The Saint of Killers (Preacher)and dial it up to 100. That's Salem.
Favorite scene: Black Magpie sitting in darkness deciding which of the 2 gaurds gets to live and which one gets to die beneath his knife. I did not see his choice coming. Both men were garbage bags. That entire scene was metal
Favorite Quote/Concept: The entire Dead Bear Sequence : I kept my hand on the Gun as a man stepped out of the night. He was clothed in furs and moccasins. White face paint that gave him the appearance of a dead man stepped right out of the grave. His forehead had been peeled off, scalped in the same way that his people had. Bits of totems and jewelry hung around his neck, still dripping with blood from where his throat had been slit. Two eyes that burned with feral intensity stared into me. Dead Bear, my teacher. (Black Magpie on meeting a deadDead Bear)
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2026
Challenge Prompt: 150 Horror Books
Well would you look at that. When I finally stopped looking for a sphagetti western that would help with my hangover from "That Dirty Black Bag" I stumble onto a splatter western chockfull of demons and devils and guns and now I'm bracing myself for a new hangover.
Now now don't let anybody fool you, vengeance is a helluva drug. This book is what I imagine snorting everything and then downing absinthe would feel like. What's that drug that leads to hallucinations? Yeah that one - throw that on the pile. Set it on fire. Dance with the devil. That's this book.
Plot/Storyline: writing so encapsulating damn near everything is quotable.
Characters: Black Magpie/Salem Covington is an epic rider of hell. Take The Saint of Killers (Preacher)and dial it up to 100. That's Salem.
Favorite scene: Black Magpie sitting in darkness deciding which of the 2 gaurds gets to live and which one gets to die beneath his knife. I did not see his choice coming. Both men were garbage bags. That entire scene was metal
Favorite Quote/Concept: The entire Dead Bear Sequence : I kept my hand on the Gun as a man stepped out of the night. He was clothed in furs and moccasins. White face paint that gave him the appearance of a dead man stepped right out of the grave. His forehead had been peeled off, scalped in the same way that his people had. Bits of totems and jewelry hung around his neck, still dripping with blood from where his throat had been slit. Two eyes that burned with feral intensity stared into me. Dead Bear, my teacher. (Black Magpie on meeting a deadDead Bear)
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2026
Challenge Prompt: 150 Horror Books
January 12, 2023
The Magpie Coffin just goes to show that the western genre can be expanded upon.
I was immediately attracted by the cover of the book before I bought it, it just looks really; especially the writing at the bottom saying A Splatter Western. I immediately started thinking about the blood spurts from Django Unchained. 😂
•
•
Salem Covington, the main character here is an outlaw occultist who cannot be killed by an ordinary bullet.
His old teacher, a native shaman called Dead Bear is brutally murdered by a gang of thugs, and he vows vengeance upon them.
With the body of his teacher kept in a coffin behind his wagon, he goes to avenge Dead Bear’s murder.
Very violent.
Well written.
Cool characters, especially the main one.
I was immediately attracted by the cover of the book before I bought it, it just looks really; especially the writing at the bottom saying A Splatter Western. I immediately started thinking about the blood spurts from Django Unchained. 😂
•
•
Salem Covington, the main character here is an outlaw occultist who cannot be killed by an ordinary bullet.
His old teacher, a native shaman called Dead Bear is brutally murdered by a gang of thugs, and he vows vengeance upon them.
With the body of his teacher kept in a coffin behind his wagon, he goes to avenge Dead Bear’s murder.
Very violent.
Well written.
Cool characters, especially the main one.
May 23, 2020
All of 2019 and the first part of 2020 has really been crap. But if this time period has taught me anything, well... it’s taught me a stronger sense of friends and family. But it has also taught me that I have a love for Horror Western’s. Starting with a revisiting of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, to Joe R Lansdale‘s Dead Man’s Road, then John Boden‘s Walk the Darkness Down, and now Wile E. Young’s The Magpie Coffin from Death’s Head Press, if seems as though I can’t get enough. This is a sub genre that really speaks to me.
My knee-jerk reaction? HOLY SMOKES, Wile E. Young, where’ve you been my whole life?! Maybe where have I been is the right question. This read was downright rad, and is highly recommended. Mr. Young, you and I will need to become better acquainted. Soon.
A Splatter Western is what is promised by the cover and a Splatter Western is what you get. Wait, did you see that cover? Go ahead and judge this book by it. Then judge the book by its content’s. What at first seems like a (not-so) simple revenge yarn, the narrative weaves itself into a tapestry of pain, suffering, and mayhem. Salem Covington, the “Black Magpie”, is a collector of sorts. Making reparations in order to cleanse his soul. A man who seemingly can’t be killed by bullet or blade, paying down a debt owed to iron in spectacular fashion while hunting the ruthless men who have slain his mentor. There’s a price to be paid, and not just by Salem.
As I mentioned above, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the connection was immediate. Young has done a wonderful job conceiving a fascinating and gnarly anti-hero in Salem Covington. And not just Salem, every character in the book has a weight about them. A tangibly. And while the scenery and set-pieces aren’t quite as fleshed out as well as the populace inhabiting this world, I was able to vividly imagine everything, as if I was channeling the vision of this landscape. It was a neat feeling.
Just as descriptive as Salem, if not more so, are the heinous ways Salem’s (and others’) vengeance plays out. There’s plenty of bloodletting here and at times it borders on depravity. In the best of ways. The action here is a little bit shocking, a lot unsettling, and wholly satisfying. These are the stories I want to be told by the campfire. With the horses stamping in a state of unrest at an unseen storm on the horizon. But It’s just a storm, right? Right, friends?
The Magpie Coffin, a Splatter Western. The first of ten. I am down for each and every one that’s coming. I need it in my life. Right now.
I wonder if my fellow Night Worms are feeling the same on this most satisfying of book parties, let’s go see...
Zakk Madness is a big dumb animal.
#NightWormsBookParty
#TheNightWormsCoffin
My knee-jerk reaction? HOLY SMOKES, Wile E. Young, where’ve you been my whole life?! Maybe where have I been is the right question. This read was downright rad, and is highly recommended. Mr. Young, you and I will need to become better acquainted. Soon.
A Splatter Western is what is promised by the cover and a Splatter Western is what you get. Wait, did you see that cover? Go ahead and judge this book by it. Then judge the book by its content’s. What at first seems like a (not-so) simple revenge yarn, the narrative weaves itself into a tapestry of pain, suffering, and mayhem. Salem Covington, the “Black Magpie”, is a collector of sorts. Making reparations in order to cleanse his soul. A man who seemingly can’t be killed by bullet or blade, paying down a debt owed to iron in spectacular fashion while hunting the ruthless men who have slain his mentor. There’s a price to be paid, and not just by Salem.
As I mentioned above, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the connection was immediate. Young has done a wonderful job conceiving a fascinating and gnarly anti-hero in Salem Covington. And not just Salem, every character in the book has a weight about them. A tangibly. And while the scenery and set-pieces aren’t quite as fleshed out as well as the populace inhabiting this world, I was able to vividly imagine everything, as if I was channeling the vision of this landscape. It was a neat feeling.
Just as descriptive as Salem, if not more so, are the heinous ways Salem’s (and others’) vengeance plays out. There’s plenty of bloodletting here and at times it borders on depravity. In the best of ways. The action here is a little bit shocking, a lot unsettling, and wholly satisfying. These are the stories I want to be told by the campfire. With the horses stamping in a state of unrest at an unseen storm on the horizon. But It’s just a storm, right? Right, friends?
The Magpie Coffin, a Splatter Western. The first of ten. I am down for each and every one that’s coming. I need it in my life. Right now.
I wonder if my fellow Night Worms are feeling the same on this most satisfying of book parties, let’s go see...
Zakk Madness is a big dumb animal.
#NightWormsBookParty
#TheNightWormsCoffin
May 18, 2020
This book was absolute fire! I never knew how much I needed Splatter Western in my life until reading The Magpie Coffin by Wile E. Young from Death's Head Press. This is the first book in a series of planned Splatter Western novels. I'm already sold on the entire series and so they can go ahead and take my money now.
It's 1875 and we follow outlaw Salem Covington, infamously known as The Black Magpie. Salem is a collector of sorts, a collector of stories and souls. Practitioner in the occult and mystical arts.
Our story starts out with Salem learning that his former mentor, a Comanche shaman known as Dead Bear has been murdered. Salem vows vengeance against the killers and sets out in pursuit.
Hell bent on revenge, we are along for the ride bouncing around in Salem's stagecoach kicking up dust as he paints the western territories of the United States red with blood. This story is full of grit, hard men and women, and hard times. Young vividly brings to life the bleak, beautiful, and dangerous landscapes American west. This world felt lived in. From the dry dusty plains swarming with flies as the carcasses of thousands of buffalo rot beneath the sweltering sun to the town of Deadwood itself.
Filled with some of the most vile and depraved antagonists that I have encountered in a book in a while cause you to root for Salem on his quest. The extreme Splatter Western violence brought a smile to my face, so not sure what that says about me.
The most fun I have had with a book so far this year. A bloody ballad of brutality and revenge, with the supernatural lurking just outside the lantern light in the shadows. A gruff, badass gunslinging protagonist who harbors dark secrets of his own. If you like bloody revenge tales and westerns then I cannot recommend The Magpie Coffin enough.
Video review: https://youtu.be/Nlz68UGVLaY
It's 1875 and we follow outlaw Salem Covington, infamously known as The Black Magpie. Salem is a collector of sorts, a collector of stories and souls. Practitioner in the occult and mystical arts.
Our story starts out with Salem learning that his former mentor, a Comanche shaman known as Dead Bear has been murdered. Salem vows vengeance against the killers and sets out in pursuit.
Hell bent on revenge, we are along for the ride bouncing around in Salem's stagecoach kicking up dust as he paints the western territories of the United States red with blood. This story is full of grit, hard men and women, and hard times. Young vividly brings to life the bleak, beautiful, and dangerous landscapes American west. This world felt lived in. From the dry dusty plains swarming with flies as the carcasses of thousands of buffalo rot beneath the sweltering sun to the town of Deadwood itself.
Filled with some of the most vile and depraved antagonists that I have encountered in a book in a while cause you to root for Salem on his quest. The extreme Splatter Western violence brought a smile to my face, so not sure what that says about me.
The most fun I have had with a book so far this year. A bloody ballad of brutality and revenge, with the supernatural lurking just outside the lantern light in the shadows. A gruff, badass gunslinging protagonist who harbors dark secrets of his own. If you like bloody revenge tales and westerns then I cannot recommend The Magpie Coffin enough.
Video review: https://youtu.be/Nlz68UGVLaY
Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews