A man lunges in front of a car. An elderly woman silently drowns herself. A corpse sits up in its coffin and speaks. On this reservation, not all is what it seems, in this new spine-chilling mythological horror from the author of Sisters of the Lost Nation.
All Noemi Broussard wanted was a fresh start. With a new boyfriend who actually treats her right and a plan to move from the reservation she grew up on—just like her beloved Uncle Louie before her—things are finally looking up for Noemi. Until the news of her boyfriend’s apparent suicide brings her world crumbling down.
But the facts about Roddy’s death just don’t add up, and Noemi isn’t the only one who suspects that something menacing might be lurking within their tribal lands.
After over a decade away, Uncle Louie has returned to the reservation, bringing with him a past full of secrets, horror, and what might be the key to determining Roddy’s true cause of death. Together, Noemi and Louie set out to find answers…but as they get closer to the truth, Noemi begins to wonder whether it might be best for some secrets to remain buried.
“Indian Burial Ground” by Nick Medina is an emotional story, full of visceral, vivid description and powerful connections to the reality of reservation life. While couched in the supernatural, the horror has half a leg in the very real issues faced, such as poverty and alcoholism and that authenticity packs an impactful punch.
One of the ways that Nick Medina builds the connection is by telling the story from multiple points of view, sharing the story between the past and the present, between Noemi and Louie, as each struggles with different types of monsters and harsh truths. The horror aspects are disturbing and evocative, the story thrilling as Louie faces the supernatural threat in his life and the very real threat against him and Noemi. The change from past to present builds suspense and holds the reader’s attention.
If you liked Nick Medina’s previous novel, you will love this story as well. It is powerful, an emotional story full of drama and thrills as the supernatural and reality clash. The character’s are easy to connect to and the story is vivid.
Rating: 5 out of 5 bones.
