Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian (ARC Review)

Title: Red Rabbit
Authors: Alex Grecian
Type: Fiction
Genre: Adult, Horror, Historical, Western
Publisher: Tor Nightfire
Published: September 19, 2023

A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by Tor Nightfire in exchange for an honest review.

Sadie Grace is wanted for witchcraft, dead (or alive). And every hired gun in Kansas is out to collect the bounty on her head, including bona fide witch hunter Old Tom and his mysterious, mute ward, Rabbit.

On the road to Burden County, they’re joined by two vagabond cowboys with a strong sense of adventure – but no sense of purpose – and a recently widowed school teacher with nothing left to lose. As their posse grows, so too does the danger.

Racing along the drought-stricken plains in a stolen red stagecoach, they encounter monsters more wicked than witches lurking along the dusty trail. But the crew is determined to get that bounty, or die trying.

Written with the devilish cadence of Stephen Graham Jones and the pulse-pounding brutality of Nick Cutter, Red Rabbit is a supernatural adventure of luck and misfortune.

⤖ My Review ⬻

Red Rabbit intrigued me with its promise of blending horror and western genres, a combination I hadn’t encountered before and was eager to explore. While westerns aren’t typically my go-to genre, I’ve enjoyed some movies I’ve seen with my fiance in the past and was curious to see how it would translate into a novel. As a fan of horror, the prospect of experiencing this unique blend was enticing, and I’m pleased to say that Red Rabbit delivered in that regard.

The novel’s vibe perfectly matched my expectations, immersing me in a world where the untamed west meets supernatural terror. However, while the concept was captivating, the storytelling style took me by surprise. At times, the narrative structure led to moments of confusion, particularly regarding timelines. Additionally, the out-of-order chapter numbers in my ARC added an extra layer of uncertainty, leaving me unsure if it was intentional or an oversight around the time ARCs were sent out.

Despite the above, I did enjoy Red Rabbit as a whole. And I would like to thank the publisher for also approving me for an audiobook galley through NetGalley, as this helped me in keeping up with the story when I had to run errands and such. The narrator also did a good job, especially when changing their voice to indicate when different characters were speaking! The quest-like trajectory of the story also kept me engaged, while the inclusion of graphic horror elements added an extra layer of intensity to the narrative.

I did enjoy Red Rabbit as a whole! I especially liked the quest formula the story followed as well as the really graphic horror elements. Now that I’m a bit more accustomed to Grecian’s writing style and know what to expect, I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to more Western horror tales from this author!