Title: Here Comes the Sun

Author: Justin M. Woodward

Release date: February 13th, 2024

Man, have you read Justin M. Woodward?

When I started out almost a decade ago, Justin and I connected and there’s very few folks who’ve been kinder to me in the writing world than he has been. Safe to say, after a few years away due to some family loss and mental health struggles, it filled my heart so much when this one was officially announced and officially released. It had been hinted at for some time, and in Justin’s afterword, we see that this one was finished almost three years ago.

Not only does Justin’s work hold a special place in my heart – go read ‘The Variant,’ ‘Rotten Little Things,’ or the classic masterpiece, ‘Tamer Animals’ – but to see that his new release was going to be a Splatter-Western had me chomping at the bit to get into this one and hooooooo boy, does this one snarl and bite.

What I liked: The story takes place in small town called Fort Whipple. We don’t have any confirmation, but based on the details, this one takes place sometime in the 1800’s or so, when cowboys and six-shooters ruled the land. There’s been a rumbling that a monster has arrived. We see livestock drained of blood and people get picked off one by one, a strange voice invading their minds before a leathery-winged beast rips them apart.

Woodward commands the words on each page like a veteran writer, getting us dirty and bloody within the first few pages, before pulling back and shading in the finer details. The characters are solid, centered around the town and what’s going on and it’s the little quips and back banter thrown in – looking at you Sheriff (‘now he wants to do his job!’) – really highlight the reality of how stressed and nervous the residents are.

The introduction of a wandering stranger, a black man now free, who is bound by strange rules from a strange thing called The Order, seems to escalate both the attacks, but also the rawness the community feels. This man becomes an easy target, but as we learn the truth and rush headfirst into a truly heartbreaking finale, Woodward has us on edge, not letting any of us know just what might happen.

The ending hits FUCKING hard. I had to re-read the final paragraph a few times, and I don’t know if Justin channeled some of his own grief within that moment, but JFC do those words stab you right in the soul.

What I didn’t like: For a Splatter-Western this one was a bit Splatter-Lite. I think it fit in well with how Justin tells the story, but if you’re looking for extreme carnage and brutal descriptions, this one tended to fade to black more often than bathed in blood.

Why you should buy this: Well, longtime fans of Woodward should’ve already snagged this and hopefully devoured it. If you’ve never read any of Justin’s phenomenal work, this is an excellent place to start and if you love the Splatter-Western-Horror releases, this one is one of the best that I’ve read yet, and that’s saying something when you consider the high quality of releases we’ve already seen.

Easy 5/5.

Welcome back, Justin. You’ve been missed buddy.