Today’s review is about THE BLACK HUNGER by Nicholas Pullen. It’s a standalone queer gothic horror steeped in the occult. Check out the content warnings on this one!

Author: Nicholas Pullen
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Redhook
Publish Date: October 08, 2024
Print Length: 400

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The Black Hunger Synopsis

A spine-tingling, queer gothic horror debut where two men are drawn into an otherworldly spiral, and a journey that will only end when they reach the darkest part of the human soul.

“A gothic masterpiece. A devastating exploration of humanity’s capacity for evil.”​ – Sunyi Dean, author of The Book Eaters

John Sackville will soon be dead. Shadows writhe in the corners of his cell as he mourns the death of his secret lover and as the gnawing hunger inside him grows impossible to ignore.

He must write his last testament before it is too late.

The story he tells will take us to the darkest part of the human soul. It is a tale of otherworldly creatures, ancient cults, and a terrifying journey from the stone circles of Scotland to the icy peaks of Tibet.

It is a tale that will take us to the end of the world.

The Black Hunger Review

I received a free, digital, advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is my own and reflects my honest opinion about this book.

Set primarily in the early 20th century, THE BLACK HUNGER is a gothic horror that spans over a half century of a series of fateful events. Resigned to his eventual death, John Sackville recounts his stomach-clenching tale in a somewhat epistolary fashion. The suspense and mystery build upon themselves as he takes the reader from Oxford to India, Scotland to Tibet, and even to southern Ukraine.

THE BLACK HUNGER is not for the faint of heart. Although I do not generally gravitate to horror, the official synopsis really intrigued me. However, as the story progresses, it becomes darker and more gruesome. So I definitely recommend checking the content warnings. With that said, considering that gothic novels are a toss up on whether I’ll like them, I actually thought this one was well done.

Starting with the writing style, it’s a nice marriage of classical writing with modern sensibility. I felt this made it much more approachable to read than a 19th century classic. It also makes the reader feel more immersed in the particular time period. While it is an epistolary novel, it reads more like a regular book because John tells the reader what happened through a series of long journal entries and letters. I really appreciated this because I felt it allowed the Western reader to become more familiar with the concept(s) of Buddhism.

On that note, the first quarter of the book was harder to progress through for a few reasons. First, as with any start to the novel, it sets the scene and background. Most of this occurs in Oxford, so reading about what John studied wasn’t terribly interesting to me. Second, Pullen has to provide at least the basics of Buddhism and the philosophies about it since it becomes a main subject of the plot. Thankfully, the rest of the book picks up the pace and suspense.

I also want to point out that it seems like Pullen did extensive research on Buddhism and the politics at the time. He provides enough context without overwhelming the reader with too many historical facts of which to keep track. This made everything seem more realistic and, other than the horror aspect, is a solid historical fiction.

I don’t want to spoil the plot, but suffice it to say that once John arrives in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim, he accidentally sets certain events into motion. The jump back to the mid-19th century, via old journal entries and letters, was particularly gripping. This is when Pullen’s literary vision really starts to manifest and the darkness expands.

I feel like there are also some deeper themes to THE BLACK HUNGER that someone else may describe better. Power is certainly one of those themes. So is wanting the freedom to go against the norm, so to speak, whether in regard to sexuality or religion. There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting that freedom, except for when it starts to infringe on everyone else’s. And that is ultimately what THE BLACK HUNGER is about: two interpretations of a religion to achieve nirvana and end suffering.

Overall, I found this book fascinating. However, I kept my rating at a 4 for two main reasons. The first was the slower pace at the beginning. The second is that I wasn’t a fan of the ending or those types of endings in general. Pacing and ending aside, even though I liked it, THE BLACK HUNGER is not for everyone. But if the religious occult, secret societies, and the stake of the world are your cup of tea, then definitely check out this book.

Rating: 4
Content warnings: cannibalism, homophobia, antisemitism, blood, violence, death, sexual content
Reading format: Paperback

For additional thoughts about THE BLACK HUNGER, check out a reviews by Books, Bones & Buffy and Blogging With Dragons. If you liked this book, you may also enjoy A SEASON OF MONSTROUS CONCEPTIONS by Lina Rather.