Cullen Bunn joins the ranks of “comedian guide author turned novelist” together with his grownup debut, Bones of Our Stars, Blood of Our World. He takes a well-recognized system – remoted/small city horror – and injects his personal voice into the novel, giving readers a darkish novel that begins as one factor – what appears to be a criminal offense thriller/homicide thriller – however is far more than that by the point the story finishes.
The our bodies are stacking up on Wilson Island.
The city’s sheriff has his suspicions however no real proof for an arrest, even because the murders proceed and seem more and more ritualistic in nature. And when an arrest is lastly made, all hell breaks unfastened—actually—as a terrifying horror rises to envelop the city. Quickly it’s all as much as an unforgettable and motley group of residents to band collectively and eradicate an historical evil in a determined wrestle for survival.
The small city may be very remoted certainly, it’s Wilson Island off the coast off North Carolina. In good quaint homicide thriller fashion, a double homicide kicks off the motion, which leaves the residents of Wilson Island shaken, “that would by no means occur right here!” Quickly after, a automobile accident reveals one thing unusual, a person who was nearly hit by mentioned automobile dropped his belongings. What was in that bag? Oh simply the innards of people.
Bunn spends the big majority of the novel introducing readers to the characters, the unintentionally pregnant Willa; her small-town gangster father Wade; Willa’s boyfriend (ex?), Kenny; the Warlock (aka Denny), a younger man who spends his time rolling cube for Dungeons & Dragons and promoting weed; Sheriff Buck, the crotchety police chief who’s attempting to maintain a little bit of sanity; and the “No-Face Man.” We don’t know who the “No-Face Man” is, however he comes throughout as a pushed man who seeks solely to look after his ailing mom regardless of the associated fee even when which means harvesting organs.
There are aspect and supporting characters for these predominant characters who assist to flesh out the novel and provides Winslow Island a very lived-in really feel, not in contrast to Hawkins, Indiana; Fortress Rock, Maine; Amity Island, and even Crockett Island from Mike Flanagan’s masterpiece, Midnight Mass. In different phrases, the small city comes alive as its personal character as a lot because the individuals themselves. Like these different fictional small cities, there’s a sheriff on the heart, although he might not be fairly as affable as Hopper, Pangborn, Hassan, or Brody.
Attending to know these characters makes for a little bit of a languid tempo, and a way of immersive consolation regardless of the rising rigidity because the homicide (and extra murders) proceed to go unsolved by Sherrif Buck. Solely the Warlock, a few of his circle of individuals and Willa start to really perceive what is occurring. By the point different individuals see glimpses of the true horror, it turns into one thing past their understanding and the residents of Winslow Island are in chaos.
Bunn does some issues very effectively on this novel, one in all which is the character of Willa. The empathy he’s capable of give her as a younger girl trapped for a lot of causes, however nonetheless not giving up made for an attractive protagonist and any individual whose energy and flaws made it straightforward for me to root for her. The Warlock is any individual who’s on the fringes and I discovered myself rooting for as effectively, regardless of his points. I even discovered myself hoping issues would prove effectively for Sheriff Buck.
The true nature of the horror behind the murders is effectively… on the Lovecraftian/Cosmic Horror aspect of issues. There’s various ickiness within the monstrosities on this novel and matched with a few of the ugly imagery with the murders, reveals that Bunn likes horror in lots of flavors and might weave these flavors collectively very effectively.
I loved the novel on the entire. I feel Bunn’s bought a fantastic knack for imaginative, horrific storytelling and he does character fairly effectively. Nonetheless, I felt the novel was a bit of unbalanced and whilst I write this I’m of two minds on this thought. I feel the character work, laying the bottom for who these individuals are was essential and effectively executed, and due to that, the stress bouncing from character to character because the horrors escalated labored effectively to maintain the pages turning. Nonetheless, I felt there was a little bit of an imbalance. The otherworldly nature of the horror felt prefer it wasn’t given sufficient area, sufficient backstory and for me, the conclusion felt a bit of rushed. Efficient general, although.
A powerful novel with a minor concern right here or there for my studying tastes, however a FUN horror novel on the entire. That is one price testing and has me to see what’s subsequent from Bunn’s horrific creativeness.
Really useful.
© 2026 Rob H. Bedford
Commerce Paperback | Gallery Books
November 2025 | 464
https://cullenbunn.com/
Excerpt: https://comicon.com/2025/10/15/nycc-2025-excerpt-from-cullen-bunns-bone-of-our-stars-blood-of-our-world/
Assessment copy courtesy of the writer, Gallery Books
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