Book Review: BONES OF OUR STARS, BLOOD OF OUR WORLD

BONES OF OUR STARS, BLOOD OF OUR WORLD by Cullen Bunn (Gallery Books, November 11, 2025) Paperback, 464 pages. ISBN # 9781668065273 / 1668065274 

Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .

New York Times bestselling and Eisner Award–nominated comics writer Cullen Bunn presents his adult novel debut—a high-stakes hunt for a masked killer whose brutal murders may be a portent of an evil as ancient and cold as the stars themselves.

The bodies are stacking up on Wilson Island.

The town’s sheriff has his suspicions but no genuine evidence for an arrest, even as the murders continue and appear increasingly ritualistic in nature. And when an arrest is finally made, all hell breaks loose—literally—as a terrifying horror rises to envelop the town. Soon it’s all up to an unforgettable and motley group of residents to band together and eliminate an ancient evil in a desperate struggle for survival.

 

MY FOUR-STAR REVIEW on the Goodreads website . . . . .

Cullen Bunn is a well-established writer of comics and graphic novels, mostly in the horror genre. With his first print novel aimed at an adult audience, he hits the mark and will remind some readers of Stephen King (particularly Salem's Lot and It). 

With BONES OF OUR STARS, BLOOD OF OUR WORLD Bunn taps into three sub-genres, and blends them together as the story moves forward. First, we meet an interesting and diverse ensemble cast for a slice-of-life look at small town life on a South Carolina island that is a resort destination and also noted for its independently owned fishing industry. At the same time, and increasing in intensity through the first and middle thirds of the novel, a vicious serial killer stalks the island as the body count mounts and law enforcement doesn't seem capable of determining the suspect/perpetrator. Finally, the story evolves into cosmic horror with an island invasion initiated by an ancient alien entity.

The story is divided into five sections which correspond to the days of the week, beginning with Monday: "For so many, this is the last week on Earth." The short chapters (95 in all) only help to illuminate the enormity of the conflict and build up suspense as they shift from one scene to another. 

There are many characters to empathize with and worry about. As the story proceeds all bets are off as to how many may actually survive. The encounters are bloody, gory, and frightening. The final third of the novel is a page-turner/nail-biter. 

Well done. This novel deserves a wide audience. I also appreciate how Bunn chose to end this, and leave an opening for more story (dependent on sales, recognition, etc - - of course).