Sickos! It's the 1st of May, which means the History Sickos and Fantasy Sickos Book Clubs are transitioning to two new (hopefully) banger books for subscribers to discuss in our .

In April, the History Sickos read . This month, we're taking on .

A few notes on Crowley's book:

It's part of catalog, so if you're an earballer with that membership, you can get it immediately and at no extra cost. It's viable as a standalone, but it also sits in the middle of the "Mediterranean Epic Trilogy". The first book is , which was added to the "Roman History" section of today. Book three is .

I read the first two chapters of Empires of the Sea this morning, and there's just something about Crowley's writing that clicks for me. I loved 1453 and I'm hoping the Sickos have the same experience with Crowley's work.

The Fantasy Sickos will be transitioning from to .

Some notes for The Devils:

It releases on May 13th in the US but earlier in other places so I'll be adding the discussion forums for that in the next 24 hours. The discussion will remain open past the end of the month for those that can't access and read a copy in that condensed timeframe. I read an advanced copy of this late last year and . It is part of a new trilogy set in a new world (an alternate Europe), and the books will be connected in the way that his First Law standalones were in that sequels will take place in different parts of the world with mostly new characters and some already introduced characters.

By subscribing you not only get access to the book clubs and other benefits, but you also support the efforts of my publishing imprint, Kist Reads. A significant bulk of the subscription revenue goes towards funding the resources required to acquire a book and provide it with all of the support it needs for a successful launch. I currently have an offer out to an author for her manuscript that was submitted to my imprint during Bindery's Pitchfest and I'm hoping to have news to share on that front soon! Either way, just by following you're supporting that effort so I appreciate you being part of our community!

THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER by STEPHEN GRAHAM JONES

Genre(s): Historical Fiction/Horror/Fantasy

Release: 3/15/25

Format/Pages: Hardcover/424

Is it a series or standalone?

Standalone that exists in a new setting.

What's the setting?

Most of the story takes place in the American West, specifically the Blackfeet reservation in Montana, in 1912. For brief periods, there's a storyline in 2012 following the descendant of the pastor (a main character in the 1912 plotline).

What's the plot?

A Blackfoot man, "Good Stab", is transformed into a vampire and is seeking revenge against those responsible for destroying his people. These events are documented by a pastor, whose journals are recovered and transcribed a century later.

Is it character-driven or plot-driven?

A mix that leans character-driven. The plot revolves around the vampire's pursuit of vengeance and the history of the Blackfeet, but there's deep exploration into the characters' motivations, especially with Good Stab.

What's the pace?

Mostly maintains a solid, medium pace.

POSITIVES

• Deftly blurs the line between good and evil

• Good Stab is a deeply compelling character that carries the novel

• Memorable moments (one involving a cross is pure cinema) and effective cliffhangers that kept the pages turning

• Atmospheric and feels genuine to the period and setting, especially with the prose

• The real "horror" comes from the historical elements and themes (as history is often horror), like the Marias Massacre, which are expertly included into the story.

• The supernatural elements are well thought-out and incorporated

NEGATIVES

• The pastor's POV prose, while adding to the historical feel, is too archaic and confusing, creating the opposite of the intended effect and stifling immersion.

• The pastor and his descendant's POVs are subpar compared to the excellent Good Stab

• The "vampire" element is great for marketing, bad for suspense when used in the marketing. The early portions of the book would have been more compelling if this aspect was unknown to the reader.

• Pacing struggles to keep momentum the second act.

FINAL THOUGHTS & RATING...

I'm not usually a fan of horror or vampire books but as I've found out twice now (with this and Between Two Fires), if you include real history in the story, I can get with it. SGJ is obviously a super talented writer with something of value to say, and BHH is a wonderfully crafted story that is only held down by very minor issues. If this book was 100% Good Stab's POV, the rating would be higher. Unfortunately that wasn't the case and the other two POVs bogged down the story with their prose and the issues they caused to the pacing. 4 STARS!

I’m so thrilled to announce the exciting news that today is the official launch of my new publishing imprint, Kist Reads!

Kist Reads is hosted by Bindery, which is the platform you’re on right now that houses the Sickos community. If you don’t know what an imprint is, think of it like this: Penguin Random House is a publisher and their various imprints publish certain types of books. Penguin Classics, for example, is one of their imprints. This is one of the most exciting projects I’ve undertaken as a content creator. When I first joined Bindery, launching my own imprint was a major goal, and thanks to the incredible support of our Sickos community, it’s now a reality.

Along with the existing benefits, subscribers will now become part of the publishing journey! You’ll get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the entire process—from manuscript to marketing, from cover design to launch. You can even get your name in the book!

By subscribing, you’re not just supporting me; you’re helping to publish a book by an up-and-coming author. A healthy portion of every subscription is being set aside for the Kist Reads imprint to provide a talented author with all the resources they need to bring their book to life and make it a success.

I have not chosen a book yet but that process will begin soon. If you’re an agented author with a manuscript that fits the bill, you can ! If you’re an indie author, follow Bindery on their various social platforms and keep an eye out because they regularly host “Pitch Fests” for this purpose.

Here’s what I’m looking for in our first book:

• Gritty, authentic storytelling

• Elements of fantasy or magical realism

• Historical fiction or narratives grounded in real history

• Complex characters you love to hate and hate to love

In the meantime, if you see titles like And the Sky Bled or House of Frank in bookstores, take a closer look—those are from fellow Bindery imprints. And there are more exciting releases on the horizon, including Of Monsters and Mainframes, The Unmapping, Black Salt Queen, and Crueler Mercies.

Thank you all for making this possible, I can’t wait for us to discover the first of many great books to be published by Kist Reads!