| Title | : | Walk The Darkness Down |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 154 |
| Publication | : | First published January 20, 2019 |
Levi is a monstrous man—made of scars and scary as hell, he’s glutted on ghosts and evolving to carry out the dark wishes of the ancient whispers in his head. He’s building a door and what’s on the other side is terrifying.
Jones spent a lot of time living bottle to bottle and trying to erase things. Now he’s looking for the man who killed his mother and maybe a little bit of looking or himself as well.
Keaton is on the run from accusations as well as himself, he suffers alone until he meets Jubal, an orphaned boy with his little sisters in a sling.
Every line is not a straight line and everything must converge. A parable writ in dust and blood on warped barn wood. A journey in the classic sense, populated with dried husks of towns… and people both odd and anything but ordinary. Hornets, reverse-werewolves and one of the most vicious villains you’ll ever know are all part of it.
Pull on your boots and saddle up, we’ll Walk The Darkness Down.
Walk The Darkness Down Reviews
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The book “Walk The Darkness Down”, a ‘weird western’ by John Boden, takes place in 1866, give or take six years. The story is told from multiple points of view sometimes in the form of parables or vignettes, and sometimes in ‘real’ time yet more often in surreal time.
The chapters are told and titled by character(s) and are arranged in a way that ultimately builds into a single narrative. Be aware there are disturbing events that occur and sometimes things just ‘ain’t purdy’, interspersed with narrative both sensitive and heartwarming.
Also on hand is a certain amount of blood, gore. Puss, various bodily functions and just some stuff one can only compare to ‘some weird shit’ as our character(s) move forward on a path not of their own volition, toward a goal of cosmic consequence.
Sometimes the extent of the weird is over the top. Sometimes the ugliness seems gratuitous, however, it all becomes necessary as the players in this cosmic game realize most things are out of their control and they are mere puppets as part of the ultimate unfolding.
There is a bit of name dropping throughout the story. For example, we get Ford, Keene and Lansdale in incarnations not always related to their literary nature, which perhaps adds to the story or diverts from it due to preconceived allusions that may come to the mind of the reader. This is inconsequential if the reader is not familiar with those personalities, thus bringing a knowing smile to the reader.
If I say anything more, I may become the next casualty.
This Limited Edition hardcover is #6 in the Douglas Western series, and is numbered 14 of 44 printed, this edition is signed by John Boden. -
WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN is the weirdest western horror story I've ever read. I adored it!
Starting with a young man named Levi, we travel down a dusty dirt road and meet up with Jubal, Jones and Keaton along the way, with brief stops visiting Tiny, and an aging coal miner named Ford. (I'm not even going mention the nightmares that are Jubal's sisters-I'll let you meet them on your own. Suffice it to say, I'm sure they'll be visiting my nightmares sometime soon. I just hope that when they do, they're in their dirty sling and I don't have to gaze upon their naked...faces.) Passing through towns like Gabino and finally ending up with a showdown in Lansdale, there are a bunch of literary references in here which made me smile.
Aside from Jubal's sisters, this entire novella is nightmare fuel, really. Levi's horrific treatment at the hands of his grandfather is awful, though what happens to him afterward is even worse. The lives of all mentioned in this book are tattered and torn. All of the characters are both good and bad, they have faults, they have redeeming qualities...they're just...human. In all the glory and filth that humanity embodies, there they are.
I came out of this with a distinct cosmic horror vibe, but I'm not quite sure on that. There was no outright mention of Cthulhu or anything...but,
This isn't really a spoiler but I don't want to stain the thoughts of a new reader with ideas of my own. I sure would like to talk to somebody about it though.
I've read a lot of John Boden's work, and I'm going to say flat out right now, this is my favorite of them all. Like my second favorite, SPUNGUNION, there hasn't been too much of a buzz about it because it was published as a (beautiful!) signed, limited edition at first. (Thank you to my lovely friend Andi Rawson who gifted me a copy because she knows how much I like John Boden's work. Love you, girl!)
WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN: It's weird. It's gory. It's western. It's so much more.
It's also worthy of my highest recommendation, so now it's got that too.
Available now, here:
https://amzn.to/2ljb3J1 -
Oh you authors of dark, disturbing things how I love when you write weird, Western crossovers.
This story is 154 pages long but it still took me 4 days to finish because this thing is narrated to the hilt. Boden's language here is rich and sticky--almost chewy--the words lifted off the page and my mind was not content to let them filter through like sand...it wanted to really meditate on the descriptions, the dialog, the phrases, and sayings.
I didn't want to miss anything by reading too fast. In fact, my copy has a personal warning from the author that reads,
"Sadie,
Walk it Slowly..."
So I did. I took my time with it. Each chapter follows any of the protagonists: Jones, Keaton, Jubal, or a combination of those three.
Or it follows our antagonist: Levi.
Never before have you read a villain like this. Truly, I had to steel myself for his chapters. Every time I saw a heading with his name, I would take a deep breath.
Levi travels through a western landscape of small, isolated towns (with familiar names like, Lansdale or Lut's Key) leaving a wake of destruction and death.
Jones is on the hunt for the man who killed his mother. He's angry and prickly but finds himself at the home of someone who's friendship is irresistible.
Keaton is a loner who stumbles upon a depressing scene and ends up with a young traveling companion named, Jubal. Strangely enough, Jubal carries with him something alive in a little, make-shift sling.
It seems like all these wanderers are destined to cross paths at some point.
(which had a very "all things serve the beam" feel to me that I immediately grabbed ahold of and cherished. We constant readers are no stranger to destiny and fate.
We also know about thinnies- a weak spot where the fabric between worlds/realities have worn thin...and I'm not saying there is a thinny in this book or any doors to alternate universes where monsters live--but I am saying that)
I am also saying that something outside our modern understanding of things is being threatened in John Boden's western-like universe and I am saying that our three(ish) protagonists might have to come up against it.
Does all of this sound super epic and wild and outlandish to you? Because it is.
A rare opportunity for readers to fall in love with unlikely heroes engaging in an epic battle against the most formidable enemies you've ever read; both human and cosmic. I promise that once you start reading Boden's work, you'll become a junkie for it; craving his unique brand of horror that no other author can deliver. It's Boden or nobody.
Lastly, my hope is that there is more from John Boden's universe.
I would LOVE to have a series here and if not a series than just a connected universe because I will not quickly forget my time in this novella and I sure hope I can revisit my new friends.
This is a must-have if you found my recommendation intriguing. -
It’s my first official Night Worms review and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you.
I haven’t read a ton of westerns but when I do, it’s an adventure I usually enjoy. But this one is a bit different in every aspect - it’s a strange combination of western, horror, and folklore. I cannot stress this enough: I am obsessed with this story and every single one of its characters.
“This, this… person was carved from bad dreams. He was a quilt of scary stories and fearsome fables. Stitched in scars and ratty whiskers.”
WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN by John Boden is a dense book. It’s only 154 pages, but it’s all grit. I couldn’t just speed read it; I had to pace myself to let it all sink in.
We follow four distinct characters: Jones who seeks vengeance; Keaton and Jubal who are looking for a fresh start; and Levi, who is a loathsome, grotesque character that I kind of adore. He might even be one of my favorite villains in any story I’ve ever read. They all take their own journey, but inevitably cross paths to the most unexpected and repulsive, yet brilliant, ending.
When we start reading, the pace is slow and steady. The desolate, western atmosphere is a character in the story and sets the mood for what’s to come. The chapters are short, but the content is heavy. As we switch perspectives between Jubal and Keaton, or Jones, or Levi we start to put the pieces together, but we never quite know what’s in store until Boden intends us to. Every word, every sentence is deliberate.
“The voices start up again. Promises and wagers. Directions and epiphanies. Instructions and insanities. He always feels the pull. He is a magnet and they are steel filings. They dance for each other before they take one another. Levi gasps as the image of the outcome burns into his fevered brain. The beauty is a scorching thing.”
As the story goes, the land all around is aflame and everything and everyone is in harm’s way, but it’s up to these characters to find the answers. I am not going to go into further detail, but even the lesser, side characters pack a big punch.
Boden’s writing is true poetry. I highlighted quote after quote because I couldn’t get enough. Yes, this is horror, but it’s also a story, a quest, and even though there are fantastical, horrifying elements, you will get invested in WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN.
“Levi produced a match from his belt. He leaned over and kissed the dead woman’s lips, lightly. The fly flew. He thumbed the match head to furious flame and dropped it. And then there was fire. Cleansing and honest and faithful, as the best lovers usually are.”
I’m very grateful to @mother.horror @pageandparlor @shineynobuttons and the @night_worms for taking me on this adventure. -
WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN, is a horror/western blended novel by author John Boden. Previous to this, I had only read one other novella that he co-wrote, OUT BEHIND THE BARN, which I felt was outstanding. In this story, Boden veers off and incorporates several sub-genres of horror, which created a wonderful, "otherworld" feeling. This was so rich in both characterization and ever-changing atmosphere that I read it in nearly one sitting.
"Grief is a hungry fuel. And it will devour anything to keep burning . . ."
Our main characters are Levi, Jones, Keaton, a young boy named Jubal, and his . . . infant sisters . . . The story is told from various points of view, which give a full "understanding" of where each character is coming from . . . and going towards.
". . . what makes for an escape for one thing, can become an entrance for another . . . "
This story is nearly impossible for me to explain, as it meanders into so many different emotional and physical locations. However, when reading it, these changes are what makes this tale so mesmerizing. The situations and backgrounds presented couldn't be more different, and yet Boden brings them together with perfect precision.
" . . . Monsters are different things to different people . . . "
All of the lines are destined to eventually converge, but the journey itself is where the magic lies. Boden's use of language and overall writing style is incredible to behold. This is talent. When an author can take you to places and scenes never before imagined, and leave you feeling as if you were actually there, you have a story that will linger in your memory for some time.
". . . what you want and what you need is nary the same thing."
Overall, my first book written by John Boden alone, leaves me wanting to pick up more by him, immediately. This is an author who deserves recognition. His unique style makes an impression that--even a voracious reader--will not soon forget. The emotions and thoughts of the characters are buzzing in my mind as if I had felt them all, personally. The pictures he paints don't fade away after a few scenes, but rather stay there, to be easily recalled later.
If you haven't checked out this author yet, I highly recommend picking up anything that he's written.
Get yours here:
https://amzn.to/35nLyIq -
This is my first cosmic horror western, and it knocked my socks off. WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN is many things. It is John Boden's tip of the hat to his peers and friends. It is a dusty, dirty western of a tale, that often veers off into very different territory. And It's also a cosmic horror story about evil, and monsters, and one monster in particular who just may bring an end to the world.
But it's also so much more than that. It's a story about friendship, the kind of true friendship that stays with you for the rest of your life. It's a love story too, where one man accepts his partner for exactly who she is, because that's how love works. It's a horror/western that hits the reader with so many feelings, but most importantly it's a story about journeys. All of the character's in Boden's novel are each on a different journey. Some seek revenge, while others are looking for a home. There is a character searching for power, and others are taking that long dark path to death's door. These characters are forever on a journey searching for something right up to the very end.
I don't really want to go into the story any more than that. New readers deserve the chance to meet these characters just the way I did, with no idea exactly who they are or exactly where the story will lead them. I knew nothing about this book going into it, and I think that's the best way to approach a book, especially a book as good as this. I just finished it and I already want to go back and read it again now that I know what's going to happen. And for those of you who have read it, yes, I absolutely pictured those authors as the characters they were named after. At least the ones I'm familiar with. The ones I'm not familiar with I definitely need to become acquainted with ASAP.
This is a unique story with so many unexpected twists and turns. It's funny, and horrifying, and it will make you cry. I definitely shed a tear or two. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I cannot wait for another release from Boden. Friends, I wholeheartedly invite you to WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN yourself. -
My review of
WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN can be found at
High Fever Books.
Stories of the American West have grown mythological in stature, rife with stories of legendary square-jawed, chiseled gunslingers and daring bandits that oftentimes rely more on romantic fictions than actual fact. The stories of an untamed and wild west have taken on a life of their, making heroes of thieves and killers and turning lawmen into timeless, larger-than-life epics. A kernel of truth always exists in these stories, of course, capturing the rough and tumble — and dangerous — state of affairs that existed during the days of American expansion. It’s the harshness of life, the strangeness of Native American cultures and stories to those that migrated westward, and the formulation of these Western genre stories (whitewashed as they so often are) in the context of myth that makes it an easy bedfellow for horror.
In Walk the Darkness Down, John Boden nails the intermingling of genres and the largeness of myth that occupies largely, at least by American settlers, uncharted lands. A supernatural enemy walks the land, occupying and making monstrous the body of Levi Keene, destroying each town he passes through. David Keaton is on the run, accused of murdering a woman and setting her home on fire. Chasing him is the woman’s son, Stephen Jones. Their fate is intertwined, and their feet and horses will carry them to their destiny.
While the American West was new land to the colonizers who settled there, it’s important to remember that the arid plains, reaching deserts, mountains, and valleys were there long before anybody else. It’s ancient land, older than the myths that populate the region. Boden does one hell of an impressive job giving those myths their due as natural characters in the wild, wild west, drawing his characters together under a larger guiding hand of fate itself. Walk the Darkness Down is a story that ultimately feels larger than life thanks to infusion of Native American werewolf myths, Biblical legends, the birth of divine children, and even a brief meeting with the Greek ferryman, who carries souls to the underworld, appropriately modified for 1870s America. Boden even incorporates some newer myths, throwing in a dash of cosmic horror for good measure.
Boden’s a great idea man, and his illustrations of Levi paint a chilling portrait. He does a wonderful job, in fact, of bringing each of his primary characters to life, giving them each their own voices. Some of my favorite scenes involved conversations between Jones and Bob Ford, a dying man whose acquaintance he makes along the way. In terms of darkness, though, Boden dives into the pitch with the best of them, never belaboring the point but giving enough information to make your imagination squirm. Keaton’s companion, Jubal, has a personal history, coupled with an obvious innocence, that is sure to make you as sympathetic as you are unsettled. To top it all off, Boden’s a hell of a mighty fine writer, to boot. He brings a lot to the table here, giving this novella enough depth, smarts, and subtext to belie its slim page count.
Walk the Darkness Down embraces the odd and the dark, and it settles in comfortably among the mythological stature stories of the West have grown into, and Boden delivers a supremely satisfying story whose characters are as rich as its concepts. Highly recommended. -
If I had to describe John Boden’s Walk the Darkness Down in two words, it would be “HOLY SHIT”. Yes, in all capital letters.
I have never read anything quite like this and I can say with confidence that this is my favorite read of the year and now, just one of my favorite books ever.
This story follows four main characters; Keaton and Jubal, Jones and Levi across a landscape that is ultimately disappearing. Not disappearing in the sense that it no longer exists but, disappearing as in becoming an unrecognizable shell of what it once was. Levi is largely to blame and to call him the villain of this tale is an understatement. You have never read about a villain quite like him.
At first, Keaton and Jubal are both looking to move on after experiencing an unexpected loss while Jones is seeking vengeance after the murder of his mother. All these characters eventually cross paths before a final “showdown”.
While the story itself is original and attention grabbing enough, the writing itself is nothing short of exquisite. I found myself in awe so many times of how Boden can take something as simple as walking from point A to point B and turn it into something you will never forget. The way he describes basic movements that we take for granted when we’re reading was so engaging alone, that I read the same sentence about one of the characters standing up from a seated position several times before moving on.
There are many, many instances in this book that I felt completely distracted by how well he was able to communicate something that I would normally overlook when flying through a book that I am enjoying. There is an immense amount of detail to ordinary actions and the author can do this without the chapters becoming convoluted. His writing is descriptive yet terse. Gritty yet beautiful. Boden’s writing style feels effortless yet, extremely effective. The author tips his hat to several figures in the horror fiction community and if you catch them, it will put the biggest smile on your face while you’re apprehensive about where it is going. This book confused the hell out of me emotionally but, in an amazing way and I cannot honestly say that that has ever been achieved before.
The malevolent forces that are presented to the reader and the characters contain the perfect amount of obscurity that you will want to fly through the chapters to find out what is going to happen yet, Boden has created such an electric and foreboding atmosphere that you aren’t really sure if you do in fact want to reach the conclusion.
This is not a long story, 154 pages to be exact. You could sit down, and binge read an incredible novella of this length in a few hours, easily. This was not one of those stories for me. It took me a couple of days to read this. I needed time to reflect after every few chapters as I have never experienced storytelling of this magnitude. Upon finishing the book, I felt what can only be described as a profound sadness that it was over. We all know what a book hangover is. Walk the Darkness Down takes this to a whole new level and I am not sure how I am going to recover from it. -
This novel beat me up. Upon first glance, Walk The Darkness Down appears to be just like any other horror novel. The beautiful cover gives no hints to the content, and a cursory flip through the pages belies none of the glorious weirdness within. The chapters are short, many only a page or two, and with only roundabouts 150 pages, this book should have been an easy, quick read. But this book is dangerous and has a strong riptide that will pull you under. John Boden’s writing is literary quicksand, and like quicksand, it will kill you if you struggle. The only way to read Walk The Darkness Down is to go slow as hell. I regularly read 75-100 pages a day, but I struggled to get through 20 a day in this book. And let’s get this straight. That is NOT a criticism. The writing is exquisite and intense. The language that Boden uses is beautiful and he writes in a way that is unlike anything I’ve read in a long, long time. This novel is an incredible achievement, and I can think of only one book that I would compare it to, and that’s Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.
Walk The Darkness Down is the story of four people. Jones, Jubal, Keaton, and Levi. You will excuse me if I don’t give many more details because I will do them no justice. These four are in their own worlds, but the world is shrinking and bringing them together. It’s shrinking because Levi is on a mission that he describes as creating a door but amounts to destroying everything and everyone he meets. To hold my earlier comparison, Levi is like The Judge from Blood Meridian, the physical representation of evil and whose motivations are incomprehensible outside of being evil. Throughout the book, Levi burns and murders and pillages and decimates across various towns and leaves them a dead husk. As Levi burns the world, the main characters are drawn closer together, and on the way, they meet some of the more memorable characters that I’ve recently read. Keaton is on the lamb with Jubal after being accused of killing a woman and burning her house down. They are pursued by Jones, the dead woman’s son. My absolute favorite part of one of my new favorite books is Jones’ interaction with a dying man named Bob Ford and Bob’s wife, Kellianne. These are all characters you need to get to know on your own. Their journey is one that is best experienced with as little foreknowledge as possible.
Walk The Darkness Down is a masterpiece. It should be spoken of in the same breath as classics of American literature. Nothing else that I have read this year comes close to the quality of this novel. John Boden is a must-read author, and this is a must-read book. I have seen a lot of recent talk that people use the five-star rating too often. I poo-pooed that sentiment until I read this book. This one breaks my scale because right now, I want to give Walk The Darkness Down 7 stars. So, ignore the 5-star rating, this one gets 7 stars and my HIGHEST recommendation. -
"Men are always chasing daylight but then there are times when you must walk the darkness down."
This is 154 pages of solid fucking GOLD. As an avidly fast reader, I took my time and slowly chewed each word so I could soak in the entire atmosphere provided and I ATE IT ALL UP. Each word was absolutely necessary and the imagery Boden was building in my mind was beautifully grotesque.
I fell in love with all of the characters and Levi may be one of my favorite villains ever, though most definitely not the most handsome. 😉 Each chapter, short and succinct, the words were almost pure poetry in how eloquently they described what was happening at each turn of the page. Jubal and his sisters. Keaton. Ford and his wife. Jones. Their journey and how each had to play their part. Wouldn't have imagined that such a short read would still give me all those feels.
I was properly unsettled throughout most of this read int he BEST possible way. Just when I think there's nothing new that would cross my path, Boden tells me to hold his beer. In three words: READ THIS BOOK! Pure horror beautifully written. I literally said, "Wait! But I want more!" when I realized that last page had been turned.
Huge thanks to Night Worms and the author for this amazing copy. -
My first introduction to John Boden’s work was his collaboration with Chad Lutzke, Out Behind the Barn. I absolutely loved that story and waited way too long to dive into John’s solo work. Walk the Darkness Down is a western-themed story, but it’s not all grit. It has moments of horror and heart, and the writing is just gorgeous. There are so many quotable lines that I can’t list them all. Boden has a knack for writing a piece that makes a reader feel both unsettled and heartbroken in the best way possible. Sometimes, figurative language in a piece can be over the top, but this author is a master at using just the right amount. This is a book that needs to be savored by the reader, taking it all in so none of the richness of the prose is missed. It is a haunting, atmospheric, and lingering tale that left me with a book hangover and a desire to read everything that John Boden has written!
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I treated myself to the limited hardback edition from Thunderstorm Books.
And what a beautiful looking book it is by the way. It exactly fits the mood of the story.
Okay, so you know how you might say to yourself, I'm gonna settle back for a bit and read for a while?
Well, this is one of those books that requires you to do just that.
I find writing of this nature has to be savoured, taken slow. If you are used to more of a fast-paced style then it takes a little adjusting, but it's so worth it.
It's the imagery of each sentence. Kind of like reading a Ray Bradbury novel. You know, when you find yourself stopping for a moment to appreciate the words on the page.
I don't see many books like this and it's a breath of fresh air to be honest, especially in the horror genre.
So what's the book about?
Well, the quickest way to describe it is it's got the traditional values of a good Wild West story but its probably best described more as a Weird West story.
I believe this one was an idea John had bubbling away for quite a while. I'm glad he got round to completing it.
It worked out well.
It's different. It's worth taking your time over.
The paperback and Kindle versions are out soon.
I'd actually love to hear what this sounds like narrated. I bet it would be mental.
If it sells well, maybe John Boden will invest in that.
Hopefully he does.
It deserves it. -
Review coming soon from Cemetery Dance Online.
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Walk The Darkness Down is a hard beast to explain. Billed as a weird western, this a book that’s quite unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.
This is a tale of of evil at work, and the people set on a path of confrontation with said evil. But really, it’s more than that. This is a book about human characters with different strengths and flaws. I found myself reading this fairly slowly. Although I read it in a day, it felt quite different,it was taking me a while to get through the book, but when I realized why, it wasn’t a negative. You have to savor this book plain and simple. The best way to think of it for me was like food. Sometimes you eat something with a bunch of junk calories and no nutrition, so you’re hungry and you keep eating. Other times, you eat something so densely packed with nutrients you feel full the rest of the day. Walk the Darkness Down is that nutrient rich meal. It’s something hard to explain until you experience it yourself. So why did I start talking about food? Frankly, because this is a book you have to read for yourself. Novellas I find tougher to review because of the short length, it’s too easy to spoil. With this book, it’s even more difficult to discuss without spoiling anything. That being said, I will tell you there are some creepy moments in this book. Jubal carries his sisters around on a sling. Let that sit with you for a moment. Levi is an absolute mechanism of evil. Whenever you read a chapter from his point of view, you know you’re in for an unsettling few pages. As the pages turn, the book picks up steam until you’re at the ultimately satisfying conclusion.
If you’re looking for a bloody, weird book. This is it. You’ve got weird (cosmic?) horror, blood, violence, a horrific villain, friendships, and some beautiful writing. I enjoyed Walk the Darkness Down, and I suspect most of you will too.
4/5 -
‘Every line is not a straight line and everything must converge. A parable writ in dust and blood on warped barn door. A journey in the classic sense, populated with dried husks of towns…and people both odd and anything but ordinary.’
If you want to read a weird and twisted Horror/Western, I highly recommend WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN – I Loved It! I really enjoy Boden’s writing. This novella isn’t just blood and gore, there are touching moments as well that broke my heart.
Boden co-wrote OUT BEHIND THE BARN with Chad Lutzke, I highly recommend reading that novella as well. -
The tools you will use are those you have mastered. Those we have mentored thee in. Those old ways-pain and suffering and blood and tears. Death is the heaviest of hammers and rage the surest of nails. A stronger door none shall know.
Damn.
9/10 -
The idea of a "Weird" Western is a new concept to me, but it appears to be gathering steam, especially in the Horror small presses. Marrying the gritty, dusty setting of the Wild West story (complete with a hero/antihero and strong characters) with a strange and almost inexplicable series of events seems like a recipe for success. But I suppose in the hands of a lesser author it may not work so well. Thankfully, John Boden seems to be a natural storyteller, as he guides us through this weird, wonderful, horrific landscape.
It begins with a young boy named Levi, and the creation of a monster. Levi certainly isn't the cause of the horror; he is merely a pawn in a (cosmically) larger game. The scenes throughout the book involving the monster are some of the creepiest and goriest in the book and they aren't vague; there is evil here, the worst that you could probably imagine.
But there are also heroes, of a sort. Jones seems to be the most typically heroic of the three, seemingly pure of heart. Then there is Keaton, a drifter and an outlaw, more of a grey area, but no less likeable. Third is Jubal, a simple young man who carries his twin sisters in a sling around his neck. His origin and that of his sisters adds another very strange string to the bow of the story, and is best left to the reader's discovery.
Something otherworldly and more familiar to fans of Lovecraft and cosmic horror appears to be directing the action. Levi wanders from town to town, spreading death and chaos everywhere he goes. Jones, Keaton and Jubal are drawn together and set on a collision course with Levi, hopefully to put an end to the horror.
Boden's writing seems suited to this setting and these characters. Outside of the main players, there are wonderful interactions with the likes of Ford and Kellianne. And the conversations between Jones and Keaton are especially entertaining. He does that magical thing that all great storytellers do, whereby he tells a great story, but also hints at a greater story just beneath or behind, or within the words on the page. The story of what happened to Keaton before this story began, or the history of Ford and Kellianne's relationship, or the true nature of Jubal's sisters, or the terrible truth about what lies beyond the cosmic door, and whether or not they crossed the threshold.
I hope there is more to come from this world that John Boden has created. I'm here for future installments and I know I'm not alone. -
I went into this book having no clue what to think, given this premise: a man who is made of scars doing evil things and a group of misfit men in a dark Old West style parable? With a reverse werewolf? Oooookay.
However, I trust Sadie (@mother.horror), so the fact that she loved this and I loved John Boden's writing with Chad Lutzke meant I was willing to give WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN a shot. I'm very much glad I did!
I'm not usually a Western fan, but that style really suited this particular story and John Boden is an extraordinary writer.
As one of his characters says:
"words [are] traps. You say too many and they'll scatter on the ground around you and trip you up, snarl your legs and lives."
Boden crafts this weird western folktale with just the right words and somehow made this slim little book (it's only just over 150 pages) pack a huge punch in the gut. I'm usually a fast reader who gets bored easily and I found myself reading WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN as slowly as I could just to take it all in and digest it. Any moment that I was worried of getting bored, something interesting would happen, like suddenly a reverse werewolf appears. The fact a lot of the places in the story and characters were named after other Indie horror authors was a fun bonus.
Levi (possibly the most grotesque character I've ever read about) is slowly making his way around destroying small towns, killing everyone that crosses his path, and consuming them one way or another. He's a massive murderous man who daydreams about choking out the Sun. He's trailed by Jones, a man bent on avenging his mother's death, Keaton, an angry loner with a heart of gold, and Jubal, an orphan teenager who knows more than he lets on and sweetly carries his younger sisters around in a sling. The way Boden describes everything in this unsettling story is enough to make you have a physical reaction--I found myself shuddering and cringing with disgust at some of the things this motley crew runs into.
Wisdom appears on almost every page; this one line, said when enemies turn into friends, is going to stick with me for a long time:
"Grief is a hungry fuel. And it will devour anything to keep burning"
five stars for this masterpiece
Please give it a read because it deserves all the love and doesn't fit into any one genre. -
A gal never forgets her first western.
Walk the Darkness Down seems to live in-universe that is thick and covered in a haze and bad vibes. It is truly a story unlike any I have read before. It’s bloody and magnificent. In under two hundred words, Boden was able to create a wonderous slow burn while kicking the dust-up with strong, unique characters and moments that will make your skin crawl and gasp out loud.
There are so many things about this story that I enjoyed, but of course, I have to talk the brilliant characters. Levi is the worst. In the book, he is described as something from a bad dream. He is pure evil but the kind of evil that you cannot help but love. You never know what he is going to do, but you know that it is going to be dramatic and bloody. Y'all, it is seriously twisted. Keaton and Jubal are two loners just trying to survive when they first meet. I grew so attached to them. Jones is out for revenge when he finds someone who changes his heart. The unlikely friendships that slithered its way into the story were so wonderful, and a great reminder that sometimes you meet people when you need it.
Boden’s writing quickly became a favorite of mine. His words are so rich and flow with such ease. From the beginning, you can just feel that something underlining is happening. There is a kind of mysticism hovering over the words. Truth be told, I was not aware that there was a whole sub-genre for this feeling, and I am hungry for more.
Walk the Darkness Down is a weird, fantastic book. While there is so much brilliantly written gore, I found that it has so many more elements in it that are touching and real. I could not recommend this book more.
*Thank you to the author, John Boden, for sending a copy of the book for review!* -
Walk the Darkness Down may appear to be a slim volume, but don’t let that appearance fool you. This is a big story.
I’ve never really been a fan of westerns, but the horror western, now there is something I can sink my teeth into—or perhaps it’s the other way around.
This story follows four different characters, all men who are looking for something, looking to fill that empty hole in their lives to make them complete. For Jones it’s revenge on the man who killed his mother. Keaton and Jubal are both running away from something, unable to quite face the truth and unwilling to fully leave it behind. For Levi, it’s anger resolving into purpose, the hunt for a doorway at the expense of anything in his way.
This story has grit to it, but it still flows, sand in an hourglass leading all the characters to each other. When their paths converge, you definitely won’t want to look away, but I felt that this story was more about the winding roads that bring them together. It’s about the experiences they have on their journeys, experiences that change them, unburden hardened hearts, and make them see from a different perspective.
Their experiences and willingness to let those experiences change them is their strength and the weakness of those who resist it.
Boden is a wonderfully evocative writer and this novella proves that there are much bigger stories and worlds brewing in him. I look forward to being a part of that journey.
My thanks to the author for sending the Night Worms copies of this one to read and review. -
Walk the Darkness Down by John Boden was probably one of the most intriguing westerns I’ve ever read. I first became familiar with the author when reading the book he co-wrote with Chad Lutzke last year, “Out Behind the Barn”. Walk the Darkness started as an initial slow burner that eventfully just took off and suddenly ignited towards a violent yet satisfying ending. This book had elements of cosmic horror I believe, Levi is one of the most terrifying villains I have read about in a long time. He takes no prisoners and as violent as he is, there is a sense of wanting to be free of his insufferable torment.
I loved the friendships in this book, they just felt true somehow. Keaton and Ford most especially. I loved Ford who just so happens to share a name with another of my favorite authors. Also I loved the little nod to another favorite author, Joe Lansdale, you’ll have to read the book to see how the name is incorporated. As I read this novella I kept thinking this seems so reminiscent of an awesome Cohen brothers film, the characters and the sheer brutality sometimes on display seem to echo that type of story that’s been committed for film. Speaking of which, this story would make an incredible film, it’s original and incredibly entertaining. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a great story told with awesome characters and excellent dialogue. -
Upon finishing WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN written by John Biden I was left feeling a bit lost.. lost due to the fact it was over.. lost over the moment gone.. a 153 page story that reads like a 600 page novel... starting with characters, each along a path of their own... not knowing they are being led towards something they cannot possibly understand... the writing style in this story is thick and juicy, I don’t recommend starting this book unless you have the time to really chomp down on the chapters. Throughout your taken back to a time of western civilization, of hidden unknowns and darkness we may never understand... a few points are left hanging without answers but I have found out that’s due to more to come in the future from this amazing author. A gripping gruesome western horror that will leave you looking around with eyes that see through a film of dust, ash, blood and grime... and how sometimes... destroying one monster opens the gate for something else.... 5/5 stars for this unique tale 🖤
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Stellar.
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I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I have never read a western before let alone a weird horror western and I honestly wasn't sure if I would enjoy one, but this book was amazing!
Walk the Darkness Down is about four main characters, Levi, Keaton, Jones, and Jubal. Levi is a changed man and really puts the horror in horrific. Keaton is looking for a place to settle down. Jubal is an orphan whose mother died giving birth to his sisters. Jones is looking for the man who killed his mother so he can get revenge. The story is told in alternating chapters and some of the characters eventually meet up. There are things along the way for each of them that are terrible and heartbreaking. I don't want to go into very much detail about the plot because it's a slim volume, but it is gory and graphic and feels like all the detail of a full-length novel is packed into this novella.
The writing is absolutely beautiful and the first sentence grabbed me and never let go. There is a sentence on page 10 that reads, "The swelter of words, the boil and scald of them, were the only gift he'd ever been given." John Boden was definitely given the gift of words. His words were gently caressing me one moment and tearing my heart out the next. I am not a visual reader in that I don't see a book in my mind while I read so when things are described so well and in such great detail, it makes for an immersive reading experience for me. The book started out with a bang and so many things happened along the way. I was a little worried at the end that there wasn't enough time to finish well, but I think the book definitely had a good and well-rounded finish. I cannot even fathom how Boden fit everything that happened with such rich detail into a mere 153 pages. You will want to spend some time with this book reading some of the lines over and over again because that's how eloquent the writing is.
I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone who likes horror. -
This was one of those books that pops up on Instagram in the horror communities, and people were raving about it, so I gave it a shot. I can really see why everyone seemed to like it so much, but it wasn't really for me.
It's a novella-length horror story set in the wild west with one character who is possessed by these demons and who is on the path to making a kind of gigantic portal on the earth for other demon alien beasties to come through but marking out a trail of destroyed towns. And there are 3 people on the road to stop him. It's a pretty cool idea, but just not done the right way.
The length is odd. Novellas are always weird anyway. This story I think could have been better if it were a short story and more compact, or a novel and more fleshed out, but as it is it's a strange, over-written hybrid that kind of left me stranded in the middle. I think it also falls under the oddball genre known as "bizarro," which I'm not a big fan of either.
If you like bizarro western horror that's absolutely overflowing with dark, violent similes, by all means check this book out. Just not my glass of Pepsi. -
I saw nothing but praise for this book but unfortunately this was REALLY not my cup of tea. I was into the writing at first and the dark western feel. Oddly enough I would’ve liked this book to be longer. I’m so used to epic tomes that the brevity of this book really jarred me. This is definitely a case of the book just not being for me, but if dark western stories with a bizarre element are something you like reading then this book will definitely work for you!
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Often the journey to something is better than the thing itself and this is another story kind of like that where I really lapped up the 140 pages before the climax and didn’t feel as much in those last 10. But damn was the first 140 brutal! I love period pieces that exist mainly within a zone in which the rules cease to apply and that’s basically this one, a stretch of land walked by a marauding monster-man and three survivors encountering all manner of insane impossibilities.
In some ways it reminded me of Buehlman’s Between Two Fires, a wretched godless land walked by damaged people that still somehow manage to find meaningful instances of love and kindness within the depravity. But the characterization and plot isn’t nearly as strong, this should be treated as bone-chilling, bone-breaking horror pulp. -
In a lesser author I think the way the story unfolds and the unique way it is told would fall flat. Boden has mastered the story format in this book, and as you dive into it you start to see where it is going and how he's constructed such a tale.
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This nightmarish book is one of the darkest and somehow terrifyingly beautiful things I have ever read. It is filled with blood, death and demons and will grip you from page one haunting you long after you stop reading. Head to my booktube channel to hear my full review:
https://youtu.be/NcKOsmwnx00 -
First book I've read by John Boden. This was a very gory weird western. A lot of different characters in this book. Sometimes hard to keep track of the story. I loved this book.
