The trip could take up to five or six months, but they’ve left late in the year, and they’re worried that they won’t get through the mountain passes before winter hits. Nearly ninety people make up the group, including loner Charles Stanton who is traveling by himself, and Donner takes on the role of leader as they try to decide which way to go. George Donner and his family join up with a large wagon train on its way to California, pioneers who are looking for a better life. Katsu takes this well-known tale and gives it a supernatural spin, a sort of “what if” scenario that results in a blood-chillingly good story. Beset with bad luck and even worse weather, the members of the wagon train ended up stranded by the harsh winter snows of the Sierra Nevadas and ultimately resorted to cannibalism in order to survive.

If you live in the United States, you no doubt know the story of the Donner Party, a group of pioneers who set out in the spring of 1846, headed for the promised land of California. The subject matter is both fascinating and gruesome. Not only is the writing beautiful and evocative, but the way she’s constructed her complex story made this an immersive experience that I won’t ever forget. The Hunger was stunning in every way possible. I’ve been following Alma Katsu’s writing career since I stumbled upon her deliciously dark debut The Taker back in 2012, and I’m thrilled to report that her talent, which was pretty impressive back then, has grown by leaps and bounds. The Hunger is packed full of characters, emotion and history.

The nitty-gritty: Dark, complex and terrifying, The Hunger fuses historical events with a creeping, supernatural horror, making this a standout book of 2018.Ī quick note for those who might be sensitive to the use of the word “Indian” when talking about Native Americans: Please note that during the timeframe of these events, Native Americans were called “Indians.” The author’s use of the word “Indian” is historically correct, and I have also chosen to use it in this review.īefore I get started, I have to mention that this is one of those reviews when I could not stick to my normal 1000 words (I just talked about this in another post). This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review.

The hunger alma