Haunted by visions after surviving Antietam, former Union soldier Ovid Vesper journeys across the 1880s American West, encountering supernatural creatures and helping those in need while seeking peace from his wartime trauma. Told in a series of interconnected vignettes blending classic Western, historical fiction, and cosmic horror, the novel explores themes of grief, healing, and the lingering scars of war.

Reader Review Summary

Set in the 1880s American West, the novel follows Ovid Vesper, a former Union soldier who, after surviving a near-fatal explosion at the Battle of Antietam, begins experiencing enigmatic visions and encounters with supernatural beings. Driven by these visions and haunted by a mysterious entity called the Craither, Ovid travels across the country, taking on odd jobs and helping people with both mundane and otherworldly problems. The narrative is structured as a series of interconnected vignettes or episodic tales, each focusing on a different adventure or supernatural occurrence, with interludes that delve into Ovid’s internal struggles and reflections on the aftermath of the Civil War. The book blends elements of Western, horror, fantasy, and historical fiction, featuring classic Western tropes such as cattle drives, shootouts, and traveling carnivals, while introducing cosmic horror and alternate dimensions into the landscape of postwar America.

Readers praised the book’s evocative prose and immersive descriptions of the American West, often comparing the atmosphere to works by Louis L’Amour, H.P. Lovecraft, and even Stephen King’s The Gunslinger. The blending of Western and cosmic horror elements was frequently highlighted, with many enjoying the episodic structure that allowed for a variety of supernatural encounters, such as helping children return to their universe or confronting eldritch creatures. Ovid Vesper was described as a compelling and compassionate protagonist, with several reviewers appreciating his steady, kind-hearted nature and the way he navigated both human and supernatural challenges. The book’s contemplative tone, exploration of trauma and the lingering effects of war, and the poetic quality of the writing were also noted as strengths.

Some readers found the episodic or vignette structure to be a drawback, describing the chapters as feeling disjointed or repetitive, with a lack of a strong overarching narrative or character development for Ovid. The absence of traditional dialogue formatting, with all speech relayed through Ovid’s narration rather than quotation marks, was cited as a stylistic hurdle that took time to adjust to and was not universally liked. A number of reviewers felt that the pacing could be slow, and that the large cast of characters and frequent time jumps made it difficult to stay engaged or connect deeply with the protagonist. Others mentioned that the horror elements were not as intense or pervasive as expected from the marketing, and that the resolution felt too wholesome or lacking in the existential dread typical of Lovecraftian fiction.

The book received an average reader rating of 4.15 out of 5 from 92 ratings and 35 full reviews, with most readers agreeing that it delivered on its promise of a Western infused with supernatural and horror elements. The narrative’s structure, reminiscent of short story collections or episodic television, was compared to The Witcher and Supernatural, and some reviewers noted that parts of the book were expanded from previously published short fiction by the author. The protagonist’s journey is both literal and metaphorical, with some readers interpreting the supernatural elements as allegories for trauma and grief. The book was published by Melville House on May 13, 2025, and is recommended for fans of Westerns, historical fantasy, and cosmic horror, though some suggest sampling the style before committing due to its unconventional narrative approach.