Hi everyone! I hope you’re all staying nice and warm this winter. This review will be my last review for the year. I fully intended to finish this book last month, but the hustle and bustle of the holidays hit me with full force. This book, however, felt appropriate as a winter horror book, so I finished it sooner than later. This is now my second venture into Stephen Graham Jones’ novels. Feel free to check out my review of My Heart is a Chainsaw. Now, it’s time to talk about The Only Good Indians.

Content Warning: Violence, Gore, Disturbing Imagery, References to Racism, Animal Death, Some Strong Language

Ten years ago, four childhood friends from the Blackfeet Nation went on a hunting trip. This trip would forever change their lives. Unknowingly, they unleash a vengeful entity after slaughtering a herd of elk. Since then, each of these men and their families has been plagued by tragedies that resulted in death. Now, with the inevitable creeping up on them, the remaining men must find a way to break the cycle of revenge before it claims them.

Stephen Graham Jones continues to deliver bizarre and compelling takes on somewhat traditional horror narratives. While I have read stories in the past of venegful spirits, Graham Jones stands out by providing a unique cultural standpoint. I felt immediately immersed in the cultures of the main characters and was fascinated by their perspectives. One of the best elements of the novel, in my opinion, was the narrative tone. It comes across as casual to the point of being conversational. It makes the horror elements more insidious and jarring because I felt like I was reading a stream-of-consciousness narrative at times. This, though, helped me better understand and sympathize with the characters, including the antagonist. With all of that being said, I fully plan to read another Stephen Graham Jones novel in the future and highly recommend giving that you give his novels a chance.