charm_city_sinner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
midnight666's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
esotericorder's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the "brief historical interlude" part where the names of a bunch of splatter western authors are used for "historical" figures... Lovely Easter egg!
spooky_librarian's review against another edition
1.0
Despicable bandits, a fiery teenage girl on the run to California, a mountain man who seeks murderous vengeance for the death of his family. What do all these characters have in common? They’re all prey for the unknown flying monsters that rule the night skies.
The premise for this sounded very appealing and I was hoping to love this 6th addition to the Splatter Western series as much as the 4th book (Christine Morgan’s “The Night Silver River Run Red”). Unfortunately, I was disappointed and upset with this one. Why? Well here’s a list:
— racial violence/ slurs
— unnecessary rape scenes that added nothing to the plot
— lack of development / perspective from Native American characters
— 90% of the book containing more of what’s listed above than the monsters we’re waiting to see revealed.
Yes, content like this can be found in many works of dark fiction. I know: this is a Splatter Western. Half the point is gore and the macabre, but the difference between good and bad, successful and unsuccessful versions of this genre is a commitment to responsibility and accountability—imagining a genre that can do better than being a safe space for our worst selves—that needs to be had when handling violence as entertainment. During a particularly painful year where the very real pain and suffering of BIPOC is being brought to light, I need white male authors to do better. Writing stories where the premise happened “long ago” should not give white authors the license to barrage readers with sexual assault, brutalization, and the constant use of derogatory, racial slurs. We’re still here, it still hurts.
These are details that I found hard to ignore or skim over and I cannot in good conscience recommend a book that could be triggering for certain audiences. Aside from the story having a very unexpected twist ending, A SAVAGE BREED simply dropped the ball for me. I’ll hold my breath for the next book in the series. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
(Special thanks to Night Worms and Deaths Head Press for this #NightWormsBookParty review copy.)
The premise for this sounded very appealing and I was hoping to love this 6th addition to the Splatter Western series as much as the 4th book (Christine Morgan’s “The Night Silver River Run Red”). Unfortunately, I was disappointed and upset with this one. Why? Well here’s a list:
— racial violence/ slurs
— unnecessary rape scenes that added nothing to the plot
— lack of development / perspective from Native American characters
— 90% of the book containing more of what’s listed above than the monsters we’re waiting to see revealed.
Yes, content like this can be found in many works of dark fiction. I know: this is a Splatter Western. Half the point is gore and the macabre, but the difference between good and bad, successful and unsuccessful versions of this genre is a commitment to responsibility and accountability—imagining a genre that can do better than being a safe space for our worst selves—that needs to be had when handling violence as entertainment. During a particularly painful year where the very real pain and suffering of BIPOC is being brought to light, I need white male authors to do better. Writing stories where the premise happened “long ago” should not give white authors the license to barrage readers with sexual assault, brutalization, and the constant use of derogatory, racial slurs. We’re still here, it still hurts.
These are details that I found hard to ignore or skim over and I cannot in good conscience recommend a book that could be triggering for certain audiences. Aside from the story having a very unexpected twist ending, A SAVAGE BREED simply dropped the ball for me. I’ll hold my breath for the next book in the series. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
(Special thanks to Night Worms and Deaths Head Press for this #NightWormsBookParty review copy.)
horror_n_history's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
readingvicariously's review against another edition
2.0
I’m hoping this book party sends a clear message to the wonderful people at @deathsheadpress: we love our brutal, shocking horror but we value substance above all else. This splatter western series has been an interesting journey for me, one of many highs but also many lows. Multiple 5⭐️ from me, but also my first DNF in a long time. That being said I still love the idea for the series and will eagerly dive into each new offering. I’m excited for the future and the other splatter westerns it holds!
So why did I DNF one book but not this one? I’m still not quite sure. I guess because it (kind of) had monsters and I kept holding out for that. But there’s nothing about this book I enjoyed and I certainly wouldn’t recommend anyone read it. Too much rape (like, way too much) and too many unlikable characters with no redeeming qualities. It’s shock value over substance and I’m not okay with that. I would also love to see a future splatter western where POC are treated as more than fodder for racism and brutality
So why did I DNF one book but not this one? I’m still not quite sure. I guess because it (kind of) had monsters and I kept holding out for that. But there’s nothing about this book I enjoyed and I certainly wouldn’t recommend anyone read it. Too much rape (like, way too much) and too many unlikable characters with no redeeming qualities. It’s shock value over substance and I’m not okay with that. I would also love to see a future splatter western where POC are treated as more than fodder for racism and brutality
paulopaperbooksonly's review against another edition
4.0
Well, this is the sixth book on the series and probably my second favorite. We've got here a novel with 190 pages or so where we follow three groups of people. The first is a group of outlaws (Tate Brothers plus 2 sidekicks and one female indian slave they use to well - you know - nothing really graphic don't worry).
The other group is a young teen called Liz Sawyer and the best character of the bunch. The lst group is James Haggard who is seeking some indians that rape and murder his wife and child.
These are indeed three tales, interconnected that will join up by the end of the book.
So, basically the tate brothers killed a sheriff when they were going to be hung. The sheriff is the late father of Liz, and without her father she thought that she wanted to see the world (California first).
Some spoilers ahead
By the end only Liz and Crow are alive and she says that she is a big hungry - this gives hint that she is going to kill him and eat as she has done before.
End of spoilers,
Pretty graphic scenes, and the author really is good trying to hide which of the three groups/characters is the "most" evil character among the three -after all , they've done everything.
There are some graphic mutilation which I enjoy reading.
Due to the late revelation I would give 8 stars (out of 10).
For people who don't enjoy reading about cannibalism, rape, gore among other evil words - then don't read this books - Or should I say THESE books. If you don't want splatter don't come here. This is no Louis L'Amour stuff.
The other group is a young teen called Liz Sawyer and the best character of the bunch. The lst group is James Haggard who is seeking some indians that rape and murder his wife and child.
These are indeed three tales, interconnected that will join up by the end of the book.
So, basically the tate brothers killed a sheriff when they were going to be hung. The sheriff is the late father of Liz, and without her father she thought that she wanted to see the world (California first).
Some spoilers ahead
Spoiler
As the first night in the wild comes the Tate Gang are attacked by some weird flying creatures who kill most of the gang. Only Crow, One of the Tate brothers and the slave survived. At the same time, the priest of the town they were to be hanged is searching for Liz. This preach is a hideous person that abused his power and influence. And then we get to see Liz wicked ways and we start to understand who she really is... They eventually all met, Liz kills the last Tate, while Haggard is trying to kill the indian female because he thinks that she was one of the people that kill his wife - while the indian wants to kill Haggard because she learns that her father and daughter were killed by him. A new wave of attack from this evil winged creatures and other people died. As Haggard is dying, Liz tells him that she was the one that killed her wife and daughter - pure evil.By the end only Liz and Crow are alive and she says that she is a big hungry - this gives hint that she is going to kill him and eat as she has done before.
End of spoilers,
Pretty graphic scenes, and the author really is good trying to hide which of the three groups/characters is the "most" evil character among the three -after all , they've done everything.
There are some graphic mutilation which I enjoy reading.
Due to the late revelation I would give 8 stars (out of 10).
For people who don't enjoy reading about cannibalism, rape, gore among other evil words - then don't read this books - Or should I say THESE books. If you don't want splatter don't come here. This is no Louis L'Amour stuff.
thebookdad's review
2.0
My full review is available at HORROR DNA
https://www.horrordna.com/books/a-savage-breed-patrick-c-harrison-iii-book-review
It is my opinion that Death's Head Press is doing something remarkable by publishing the Splatter Westerns. I am a massive fan of dark fiction and for a long while, I had felt there was something missing in the horror genre. They are just what the doctor ordered. So far, I have had a ton of fun saddling-up to read these twisted and gruesome tales set in The Wild West.
I'm sad to report that
https://www.horrordna.com/books/a-savage-breed-patrick-c-harrison-iii-book-review
It is my opinion that Death's Head Press is doing something remarkable by publishing the Splatter Westerns. I am a massive fan of dark fiction and for a long while, I had felt there was something missing in the horror genre. They are just what the doctor ordered. So far, I have had a ton of fun saddling-up to read these twisted and gruesome tales set in The Wild West.
I'm sad to report that