The Black Hunger by Nicholas Pullen

4.75 Stars ⭐ (Given 5 cos that's how rounding works folks).

My best attempt at describing this book (how I mused upon it to my husband), 'It’s like someone laid a foundation of a non-fiction historical text and then dumped it into a vat of Gothic-fantastical-horror and mixed it all about a bit with doomed romance and traumatic loss.'
Reeled in yet? Yeah, me too.

I don’t know what I was expecting but it was not that.
The novel is split into 5 sections over three distinct time periods and maintains a pretty solid epistolary format, which I loved.
Not gonna lie, it took me a minute (a week) to get through the first section, it was 100% necessary though because as the tale unfolds and the lives of the characters intertwine, the knowledge acquired in that first third gives a million, “oooooooooh” and “whaaat” and “I see”, moments.
Also, that early build up if the relationship between John and Garrett leads to an ending so poignant and….. I can’t explain my emotions without spoiling it!!

I raced through the rest of this book in 2 DAYS.
We meet the Stewart family and Dr. Abravanel. And this is where I began to DEVOUR this book! I was gripped. Again, I desperately do not want to give away ANYTHING but I will say that I was not expecting this novel to be so full of tragic love .
I was rooting for Clara and Sam wholeheartedly and AGONISING over all those lost years.

From then on I was absolutely saturated in everything this story had to offer (mostly blood, flesh, taboos and tears).
Count Vorontzoff & Co… it was disturbing at times to find myself understanding the logic, especially as presented by Evgeni when John was unwittingly smoking something a little naughty 🫢.

Throughout, every single character was fleshed out and believable, quite the feat considering the extensive role call! Not just our main protagonists but Sidkeong, Mr. Bell, Dacre, Finlay, L, Bayamaa, the Bogd Khan, Scapa, Olga… literally so many more. 🤯

For me, if somehow we could have had a slightly less info overload at the beginning it would have been 5 stars. It was an education which, in the beginning, had me feeling like a petulant student in school and by the end, I understood why.

There’s so much more inside this book than I could have imagined. The ‘epic cinema’ feeling was captured and delivered so beautifully as we travelled globally in this book, the harsh Steppes, looming mountainous wilderness and icy wastelands and brutal heaths as supporting cast members, they were so personified. Not to mention the atmospheric buildings we encountered all adding so brilliantly to the mood us humble readers are experiencing in those moments; Kirkwall Castle, John’s residence in Sikkim, the Palace of Bogd Khan, Evgeni’s ship.

Did I mention I cried? Like, three times!

There’s so much more I want to say but don’t want to spoil a single moment. Now, if everyone could hurry up and read this book so we can talk about it, thank you very much!


Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit and author Nicholas Pullen for this eARC.

The Black Hunger is a queer gothic historical horror that leans pretty heavily into all of those descriptors. Obviously this is a great book.

Told in an epistolary style, the book follows three different time periods through its five sections, like a nice time period sandwich. I thought this format worked well for pacing and tone; it was very effective in building a sense of foreboding. However, this kind of format also makes it tough to avoid the pitfalls of info dumps, which this book did run into a few times.

The first narrator we meet is John, and of all three of the POVs, John was easily the one I felt most attached to and most emotionally engaged with. And when the first page of the book tells you that he's mourning the death of his lover, well, it's not the most turmoil-free time to find John an engaging character.

This book was suspenseful and well-plotted, and I loved the historical aspects and how it did lean into the (very understandable) fear of its characters. The mythology was rather horrifying, and while this book may not be the best choice to read late at night, it was hard to put down so I hold the author fully responsible for any messed up dreams that I had on those late nights. Beautifully written and utterly engaging, I'm thankful to the publisher, Orbit, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit and author Nicholas Pullen for this eARC.

Unfortunately this was not the book for me.

When I say a snail moves like lightning compared to the plot of this book I mean it!
Now I can get into a slow paced book if the characters are interesting or likeable. But except for Clara, who is in about 5 maybe 10% of the book nobody really had a distinctive personality or was in any way interesting. I frequently forgot whose POV I was reading because they all sounded kind similar...
I was so excited for it cause the description sounded really cool, but sadly I was just bored.
2.5 stars

Thanks a lot to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc.
I was so excited when I received a copy of this book, the premise seemed right up my alley - the main character uselessly struggling against the hunger inside him that will eventually kill him while also mourning the loss of his lover.
I liked the beginning, the queer love story, the gothic vibes and the dark that seeped in throughout the story but the pacing was slow and I felt kind of lost during most of the book. Unfortunately this was a 2 star read for me.

I couldn’t put this book down. It was utterly gripping. This is an epic piece of historical fantasy taking place over three separate timelines and across the globe, from the northern islands of Scotland, to Ukraine and India, Tibet and Mongolia.

This book is so dark. I was thrilled by it but would strongly advise checking content warnings. It does need to be dark for the content it covers, but I really was quite unnerved by parts of it. Our main character John is posted to India with his lover and servant Garrett at a time when their relationship could see the imprisoned. This book does contain homophobia, though it is presented as cruel and ignorant. John and Garrett have a long term and deep dedication and love for each other and have to go to great lengths to hide their relationship to avoid the suspicion of others. While in India, John starts to learn more of a mysterious and macabre religion. This soon leads to him being forced into a dangerous situation as he attempts to save the world from dark forces that would wreak havoc and destruction. John must uncover the secrets of the past to battle a terrifying nemesis.

This book was a bit of a slow burn, but it didn’t suffer for it. Indeed, we had the most incredible, malevolent atmosphere and constant, seeping terror. We explore three different timelines through the book, with John the most modern (and his takes place mostly in the first third of the 1900s).

I was at times disgusted by this book, constantly riveted and always on edge. It was brilliantly written and utterly engrossing.

This took a while to get going for me but once it did I could not put it down!
This is gothic horror and it delivered on all levels for me. It was dark, immersive and had a unique plot with interesting characters and was very atmospheric
I really enjoyed this and would recommend

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc

The Black Hunger by Nicholas Pullen
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 10 October 2024

John Sackville, once a respected scholar and adventurer, now finds himself confined to a dimly lit cell, his life slipping away as an inexplicable hunger gnaws at his very being. The recent loss of his clandestine lover weighs heavily on his soul, adding to the urgency of his final task. With trembling hands and fading strength, Sackville frantically pens his ultimate testament—a narrative that promises to unravel the mysteries of his extraordinary life and the dark forces that have shaped it.

With each passing moment, Sackville's strength wanes, yet he persists in documenting his epic journey. His narrative spans continents and centuries, weaving together threads of history, mythology, and the occult. Through his words, readers are transported across time and space, witnessing the gradual unraveling of cosmic secrets and the emergence of horrors long thought confined to legend.

"The Black Hunger" is a captivating novel that grips the reader from the first page to the last. The story, ingeniously structured in four parts, follows the intertwined fates of three men, creating a rich and complex narrative tapestry.

The author's skilful craftsmanship shines through in the way the plot unfolds, revealing just enough to keep the reader intrigued without overwhelming them. The pacing is expertly managed, maintaining a steady momentum that prevents any lulls in interest. This delicate balance ensures that readers remain engaged throughout, eagerly turning pages to uncover the next revelation.

What truly sets this book apart is its cast of characters. Each protagonist is beautifully rendered, showcasing a full spectrum of human experiences - from the depths of despair to moments of transcendent beauty. The author doesn't shy away from exploring the darker aspects of humanity, delving into realms of horror and pain. However, these elements are counterbalanced by moments of profound love, unexpected beauty, and persistent hope.

The world-building is particularly noteworthy. The author constructs a dense, atmospheric setting that feels both familiar and otherworldly. This backdrop serves as the perfect stage for the unfolding drama, enhancing the story's impact and immersing the reader fully in its universe.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its ability to evoke powerful emotions. The characters' struggles and triumphs resonate deeply, allowing readers to form strong connections with their journeys. This emotional investment makes the story's conclusion all the more impactful, leaving readers to grapple with the ambiguous fate of the world presented in the book.

The ending is particularly well-crafted, striking a delicate balance between resolution and open-endedness. It provides a satisfying conclusion to the immediate story while leaving room for speculation about the larger consequences of the events described. This approach invites readers to continue engaging with the story long after they've turned the final page, pondering whether the curse unleashed upon the world could ever truly be contained or defeated.

"The Black Hunger" is a testament to the author's skill that they were able to weave together elements of horror, beauty, and hope into such a compelling narrative. This book is sure to linger in the minds of readers, inviting multiple re-reads to fully appreciate its intricacies and depths. For fans of dark fantasy and intricate storytelling, "The Black Hunger" is an absolute must-read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit, and the author, Nicholas Pullen, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

This book is PHENOMEAL ! Look, I'm not a big reader of epistolary and gothic fiction, even though I love the latter, I tend to love the atmosphere but find my interest wandering elsewhere as I advance in the story. But here? I was hooked from end to finish. If I didn't need sleep to have a rested mind to enjoy the story as much as possible, I would have read it in one night.

"The Black Hunger" is an interwoven tale of three men, divided in four parts and told in an epistolary form. Our first narrator recounts his life, doomed to die soon. He tells us how he got involved with a sect seeking a dark outcome for the world. His narration his permeated with his love for his companion and servant, as well as rich details about the narrator's interest for Oriental Study and how much he liked his post in northern India. It is an fascinating, heartwrenching pov, quite balance in the way it leans on certain part of his life and only brushes over others.

The second pov follows a doctor as he is summoned to diagnose his first love, who seems to be going mad, four years after her husband peculiar death. This time the story is told through the doctor's letters and journals as well as little snippets of the Earl's letters and journal. This parts are set back in time, around 30 years prior and reveals the sect's doings in Scotland. It is, overall, a more active narration, with a slightly different tone, but still dense with love, with more horror as events unfurls.

Finnaly, set in between the two other POVs, we have a long letter from the husband's lady, recounting events decades earlier, when he was captured by the russian army and found himslef a prisoner of a russian aristocrat, center piece of the whole cult. It's an exciting pov, unabling the reader to pieces information together until the big picture is drawn to us.

The three part end smartly, encouraging to read more and more to undertand how the situation told in the beginning of the book could happen. There is a lot of humanity in this book, horror and beauty, a dense world in all its facets but easy to digest. The story build slowly without falling in the boring side, taking its time to have a greater impact, drawing on emotions so the whole matter lands on you even strongly. For all the darkness and pain portrayed, there is a great deal of beauty, love and, especially, hope, even as the curtain close at the end of the book, leaving us wondering if the curse brought upon the world would be stopped or not.

I had high hopes for "The Black Hunger" and it delivered, even exceeding my expectations. It joins my top reads of the year, joining those stories I have a special place for in my heart.
If you want to read a historical gothic story, queer and beautiful and horrific, about how a dark cult and its progress toward its goal, I defenitely encourage you to read "The Black Hunger" and hope it will make the same big impression on you as it did on me.