Hungers as Old as This Land
by Zachary Rosenberg
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Pub Date 17 May 2023 | Archive Date 11 Sep 2023
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Description
The settlement of Grey's Bluffs is a prosperous town. An independent community dwelling in the
shadows of the mountains known only as The Hungers.
Esther Foxman and Siobhan O'Clery have grown up in Grey's Bluffs, thriving out on the western
territories in the aftermath of the Civil War. Devoted to one another and their home, the two set out
to complete a regular pact at the Hungers to ensure that Grey's Bluffs continues to prosper.
Cyril Redstone is a man who knows death well. Becoming a mercenary after the Civil War, Cyril
leads the marauding Blackhawks from one slaughter to the next. Hired to destroy Grey's Bluffs,
Cyril cares little for morality, nor that he owes its founder his life.
Esther and Siobhan are left to defend the only home they have ever known from the Blackhawks,
their confrontation driving them deep into the mountains.
Where the darkest secrets of the Hungers await them.
Advance Praise
“Richly detailed and beautifully written, Hungers as Old As This Land is as heartbreaking as it is brutal.
An astounding debut novel from Zach Rosenberg.”
—Candace Nola, author of Bishop.
“Zach Rosenberg’s Hungers as Old as This Land is a unique Western with a diverse, appealing cast of
characters, a lot of heart, and much to say about the meaning of life. This novella felt as full as a
novel to me.”
—Christi Nogle, Bram Stoker Award Nominated author of Beulah
"A bloodstained journey in the wake of the Civil War, Rosenberg's tale of love in the face of ancient
adversity is something to behold. It's weird, it's Jewish, it's Sapphic, and filled with enough gore and
bullets to satiate even the most voracious hunger."
—Chance Forshee
"Hungers as Old As This Land is a bloody, fast-paced tale with ranchers, sinners, and monsters all
fighting for a piece of what's theirs. Rosenberg writes a wonderful tale that reflects the best of the
western with a deft eye tuned towards colonization, prejudice, and disturbing that which should be
left alone. I loved it."
—Sonora Taylor, award-winning author of Little Paranoias: Stories and Without Condition
“Zachary Rosenberg’s Hungers as Old as This Land is as magnificent as it is refreshing by adding an
unique dark fantasy flair to the western genre—a tale of greed, justice, and hard earned peace that is
witty, dynamic, and most of all, inspirational. The book urges us to never forget who we are and
where we came from. Rosenberg is a rising star, much like the one hanging on Esther’s neck,
clutched in her hands—one with an unyielding shine.”
—Ai Jiang, author of Linghun
"Hungers as Old as This Land is a story as intriguing as its title suggests. Peopled with richly drawn
characters and immersive settings, Rosenberg loses no time in drawing the reader into his tale. His
talent for empathy woven with fear is on full display here, with fast pacing that brings the reader ever
nearer to the dark, looming threat of the Hungers. With an ending both disturbing, heartbreaking
and fully satisfying, horror fans will delight in this fantastic entry in the splatter western genre. More
Jewish horror, please!"
—Laurel Hightower, author of Crossroads and Below
"I go to horror westerns for camp, good fun, and plenty of gore, all three of which this novella by
Zach Rosenberg had in spades. Hungers as Old as This Land freshens up the western trope with two
tough-as-nails female leads in Esther Foxman and Siobhan O'Clery. Though the going isn't always
easy for them, they back down from no one, and always have each other's back. I particularly
enjoyed the Jewish culture and horror woven throughout (something I haven't seen before in a
Western) —ending with a bang in the mountains beyond Grey Bluffs. Hungers packs plenty of action,
humor, and heart. If you like horror westerns you'll dig this one."
—Caleb Stephens, author of Only a Heart
"Esther and Siobhan are the perfect leads for this whirlwind read featuring creepy creatures and a
delightfully hateable antagonist. Hungers As Old As This Land should be put at the top of your TBR
list."
—Stephanie Rabig, author of On Stolen Land
“Zach Rosenberg’s Hungers as Old as This Land left me shaken but satisfied. Applying the same level
of craft to the explosive gun battles and fist fights as he does to the tender moments between two
frontier women; Zach writes with style and heart. And this horror western doesn’t hesitate to bleed
that heart. Lurking under the surface is a sculpted shadow of dread so lurid, I was worried I might
not make it back to the light. Trust Zach Rosenberg to skillfully guide you through these dark
hollows, just make sure you pack extra provisions (and extra bullets).”
—Alan Lastufka, author of Face the Night
“Hungers delivers darkness without extinguishing light, cauterizing the wounds it inflicts.”
—Coy Hall, author of The Hangman Feeds the Jackal and Grimoire of the Four Imposters
"Rosenberg's writing is finessed and sharp, his characters vibrant and hard-boiled...there's danger
and love on every page, as well as a brilliant defiance from the oppressed."
—Aiden Merchant, author of Sickness is in Season and Crossing Red
"Take a Western with elements of folk horror, throw in love and betrayal and promises broken and
you get Hungers as Old as This Land. A story layered with subtle darkness and irresistible mystery
reveals Zachary Rosenberg as a skilled storyteller and spinner of yarns—a writer to take notice of."
—Stephanie Ellis, author of The Five Turns of the Wheel, Paused, and Reborn
"In Rosenberg's Hungers as Old as the Land we get a tale filled with vengeance, greed and a really
intriguing folklore aspect that'll have you wishing to learn more! This novella races along to a
horrifying finale that'll have readers smiling!"
—Steve Stred, Splatterpunk-Nominated author of Mastodon and Churn the Soil
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9781957537450 |
PRICE | US$0.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 91 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
“Dirty business was what America was all about. It was a lesson as old as this nation, built upon lead and gun smoke: hunger drove everything.”
I’ve always said I will read anything: I have loved mysteries, romance, historical fiction, nonfiction… but I was never interested in westerns. Thanks to the horror community, and especially Hungers as Old as This Land, I think I’ve changed my mind.
Esther Foxman and Siobhan O’Clery are just two of the people in Abraham Foxman’s settlement near The Hungers. It’s a thriving settlement filled with a diverse population. Everything works this way because Abraham made a pact with the creatures of The Hungers. They watch over Grey’s Bluffs for offerings in return.
This is my first story by Zachary Rosenberg, and his writing blew me away. This is a shorter book, only 100 pages or so, but the way he wrote it made it feel much longer, in a good way. It was very theatrical, and even with sparse descriptions of the creatures, I was able to fill in the blanks myself, and that made it even scarier.
Something I really enjoyed was that there was almost a philosophical statement about monstrosity: are the creatures the monsters, or are humans? For such a short book, there was a lot to ponder over at the end.
I’m writing this review months after finishing this book, and while I don’t remember everything still, I do remember how I felt reading it. It really was a pleasure. And it was queer as hell, which I definitely appreciated. Esther and Siobhan were goals.
Thank you to NetGalley and Birgids Gate Press for the chance to read this advanced review copy.
So I'm trying to recall the last time I read a Western in which the main character was Jewish and I honestly think this was the first. Our main character is Jewish and Indigenous and I simply loved our mix of cultures here!
The story itself is both chilling and suspenseful and features a villain who borders on iconic! The villain was so well fleshed out and I'd definitely run if I saw them coming!
Expect violence, heartbreak, and a surprisingly epic tale.
Loved this!
Read this if you like: Westerns with a twist, an encroaching dread, a quick read that lingers.
Deceptively rich world-building fuels this Western/horror mash-up of a novella. Loved every moment.
With Hungers as Old as this Land, Zachary accomplishes a ton in 100pgs, it’s equal parts a story told and a world built. He presents a lush, dusty, landscape and populates it with well rendered personalities. Personalities that stand out from one another. He's not just relying on the presentation of information, but also using the way a character acts and the dialog they speak to add depth and dimension.
I am a dialog guy, and the dialog in HaOatL is superb. It is interesting, it has thought, and it has feeling. The dialog feels like real-world conversations. Far too often authors have their constructs blathering at one another only when they need to in order to progress to the juicy bits. Zachary uses it to connect the characters, and thus connect to me, ie: the reader. It becomes an anchor to add weight and anxiety when the narrative starts to bear down, and also becomes a pedestal to allow the juicy bits shine.
So yeah, I really enjoyed, Hungers as Old as this Land, it's a rich engaging read that feels like it could branch off in a number of different ways. If it doesn't then, cool, I had a great time. But if it does, I am all in.
fter finishing Hungers As Old As This Land by Zachary Rosenberg, i just have one thing to say...more!!! damn, that was good. I'm a lifelong horror reader and lover and this one checked all the boxes. forbidden love, a sultry western, vicious monsters, even more vicious humans.
the prose was a joy to read, it just flowed. the relationship between Esther and Siobhan was authentic and felt real. the bad guys were oh, so bad. my only gripe would be i wanted more of the beasts!! they were fascinating!! could we have a sequel, please???
as if you can't tell...highly recommended.
run out and buy this book!!
5 stars out of 5.