The Hunger by Alma Katsu is part historical fiction and part horror. Not living in America I was aware of the pioneer trails going across America but not that they were given names, hence the Donner party was unknown to me. I was very interested in this historical side of the story and can imagine these pioneers were influenced by the 'supernatural'. This book bought out the hardship they had to endure. I am going to read up about the Donner Party now.

The Hunger is a fictional account of the Donner party and their trek across the western USA. The characters are well developed and the events of 1846 are vividly described with a supernatural twist. Readers of historical fiction will enjoy this book which explores the horrors of the real life tragedy. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads and Facebook.

This book is partly based on a historical event and partly fiction. I didn’t know anything about the history of the pioneering settlers on which this story was based and so this book was pure fiction for me.
A group of ninety settlers are heading west on a trail across America. They want to get from the east coast to California and are in covered wagons, with horses, mules and oxen accompanying them. There are families, lone men and some lone women with children. Winter is approaching and they decide to take a little known short cut to try to get over the mountains before the snow comes.
Basically, it all falls apart.
The journey is long and hard. Due to the hardships, divisions rise up amongst the families, people shoot their neighbours, old feuds are re-ignited (mostly between the men) and the group splinters into factions. There are infidelities. There is incest and abuse. Most of the characters seem to have dark secrets they are trying to run away from but the reality is they’ve brought all that baggage with them. In fact, there are so many dark secrets, I began to lose count.
Then there is the difficulty of the terrain they are crossing. The terrain is vast with few outposts. It’s a lawless zone. Under poor leadership, they decide to take a little charted trail to cut down on time. This involves crossing a desert where most of their cattle die and the oxen go mad with thirst. Finally, the winter comes on them before they have crossed the mountains and they are trapped with little food and men who are at each other’s throats.
In the background of the story there’s a supernatural/horror element.
Something or someone seems to be stalking the wagon train and picking off weak members. Children go missing. Mutilated bodies are found. Though, as I understand it, there was an allegation of cannibalism in the historical Donner story, the horror element is the part which diverges from historical facts. The deaths and the feeling of being tracked are layered onto the already plummeting fortunes of the group. This was very well done in parts. At other times, I felt it was impossible to retain the tension at such a high level without the need to shovel in even more dark secrets and more murders.
For me, one strength was the depth of the main characters – Charles Stanton, Donner, Keseberg, Reed, Thomas, Mary, Elitha, Tamsen – to name a few. However, there were far too many characters for my liking and it was difficult to distinguish between them, especially in the first half of the book.
Another strength was the quality of the writing.
Also a strength was the way the author portrayed the historical setting and the atmosphere of the pioneers setting out on a mad adventure into the unknown.
However, there were significant weaknesses that spoiled it all – as I mentioned - too many characters, also an unending series of horrible mutilations and deaths - so that by the end, every character I actually liked ended up dying in nasty ways. Who was there left to root for? Well, no one really.
Also, there were one or two side stories that hardly made sense and letters that were written where it was difficult to fathom who sent them (and to whom) and when (before or after certain individuals left the wagon train to set out on their own).
This is a difficult one to rate. Here is my overall breakdown - 5 stars for writing quality, characterisation and atmosphere. 2 stars for the ending and 3 stars for the thriller element, which, in the end, became a little tedious.
That makes something like 4 stars overall.
(Bottom line – I enjoyed it. It’s worth reading because it’s unique, but watch out for the pitfalls.)
That makes something like 4 stars overall.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. This is my honest review.

A fascinating book which imagines the horrors faced by the Donner-Reed Party, pioneers heading out to the US West in the mid-19th century, who became trapped in adverse conditions. The author takes an historical event and weaves a tale which uncovers the depths of depravity that human nature can sink to. In this book, the Party is a microcosm of how what we term 'civilisation' is only a veneer and that when times become tough, the will to survive can make people do things they never dreamed they would.

It was such a good read, it kept my attention throughout. Although it obviously deals with subjects such as cannibalism, animal slaughter, and there are some sexual components, but I didn't feel that they were dwelt on unnecessarily. It all added to the atmosphere of mounting apprehension, and the supernatural element was skillfully added. It has definitely made me curious about the actual events it was based on.

A party of pioneers travel for weeks and then their leader, George Donner, has to decide which path to take. . One is the well worn route and the other is said to be shorter but not so well travelled
.Donner’s decision will shape the lives of everyone travelling with him. The group struggle to survive and minor disagreements turn into violence. Children begin to disappear and the survivors turn against each other.
This is a true story.

A striking book which had me looking up the true story it was based on as soon as I'd finished it.
Haunting and thought-provoking.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really am not sure about this book at all as it is nothing like what I would normally read so sorry to say I gave up about 30 pages in.

Maybe I wasn't in the proper mind set while reading this, but I found myself skipping several pages at a time to get to the "good stuff". IMO this one is better suited for readers that enjoy a little history with their horror.

Really enjoyed this historical fiction story. Had no knowledge whatsoever of the Donner Party and their pioneering exploits in the mid-1800s and I believe this covered their factual story in enough detail for me to understand their motivation and reasoning behind their decision to leave the comforts of home and venture into the unknown. But the fiction is where the story came alive for me. Katsu builds the characters and their surroundings so well that we, as readers, feel as trapped and confused as they do, wondering what on earth is following them and watching them and killing them. The suspense builds throughout the story and the ending is as brilliant as it is heartbreaking.
This book brought me out of a book slump as it gripped me from the start and never let go. I raced through it because I was so desperate to know how it ended. I very much appreciate the opportunity I had to read this and would most definitely recommend it.

I really couldn’t get into this book. I didn’t like the setting or the type of language used

An interesting twist on the supernatural theme, applied to the story of the Donner-Reed party of pioneers. Some good characters, but a little long-winded in places for me. The suspense was built up well and it does make for a different read.

Supernatural horror in the Old West

The Donner family and other pioneers travelled west in the young United States in the 1840s. They had a choice of two routes – the long and safe journey or the short and dangerous journey.

The group of pioneers suffered in the harsh climate conditions – hot desert and cold mountains where some pioneers and cattle froze to death. There were disagreements and arguments leading to fatal fighting and penalties.

Something supernatural was lurking behind the pioneers and their children before attacking and slaying them. George Donner’s bad decisions cost the lives of the pioneers.

This novel was based on real historical events. Some characters were the real people and others were fictional.

I give this book three stars because it is an uncorrected proof copy of this novel with the poor format of the e-book edition with many hyphenated words as if it is written on a typewriter. However, I can recommend it once it is completed, polished and corrected. I thank Alma for choosing to write these interesting historical events in the Mid-West at the time of the newly created states.

Caesar 13

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

A dark and disturbing take on a historical event. I am not overly familiar with the historical accounts of the Donner party and have avoided the accounts while reading this excellent novel so I could enjoy it in full.

Put simply the story is based around a large group of wagons and families try to cross the country before winter strikes. Many of the members of the wagon train have their own reasons for making the journey, escaping their old lives, and put their trust in George Donner to lead them in the footsteps of a published traveller.

Along with a slow initial start and a few minor mishaps, tensions between members of the group make for an increasingly gruelling journey while the disappearance of a child and the discovery of his body lead to increasing discomfort with the journey and rabid speculation about what has happened.

The tension builds greatly throughout the story and slowly beings to fill in the supernatural forces that are now hunting the members of the wagon train. Halted by adverse weather, they must fight to survive as they begin to accept that it might not be wolves or Indians they need to fear.

An excellent story that builds well and is a great working of the true story of the Donner party.

A very well written book that takes an actual event and then retells with embellishment and an angle based on supernatural and horror. As the story develops so do the various characters and we get to see and understand what has driven them to make the sacrifices that some will not live to benefit from , as well as how people's true characters come to the fore when pushed beyond their limits.

The fact that a group of people would undertake such a journey so late in the year adds to the impending doom and issues that they are beset by and as things start to unravel its interesting to see the how the interaction change and breakdown between the main characters.

As a UK reader I had no idea of the historical story that this book was based on. I didn't find it particularly horrific and it wasn't the kind of book that I was rushing to pick up. I did however find it to be well written.

Evil is invisible, and it is everywhere.

Tamsen Donner must be a witch. That is the only way to explain the series of misfortunes that have plagued the wagon train known as the Donner Party. Depleted rations, bitter quarrels, and the mysterious death of a little boy have driven the pioneers to the brink of madness. They cannot escape the feeling that someone--or something--is stalking them. Whether it was a curse from the beautiful Tamsen, the choice to follow a disastrous experimental route West, or just plain bad luck--the 90 men, women, and children of the Donner Party are at the brink of one of the deadliest and most disastrous western adventures in American history.

Well to have Stephen King say "Deeply, deeply disturbing, hard to put down, not recommended reading after dark." about your book - this must be some pretty f*cked up stuff! I couldn't wait to read it and it didn't disappoint!
Based on one of the many thousands of treks taken by groups of Americans across to California in the 1840's, The Donner Party started off with 87 members (give or take a debatable few) ending up with only 48 that reached the Western side of the US. What happened along with way is rife with speculation but it is a fact that they were snowed in the Sierra Nevada for close to three months and it's here some very dark things happened.
Katsu retells this story with a supernatural twist that works amazingly well. Merging fact and fiction until there is no way to tell them apart. All you know is that something truly awful is happening to this group of poor unsuspecting people.
Even with no knowledge of US history the tone of this story is so eerie and suspenseful that I would recommend it to anyone I think who is up for a good scare!

I did not know that this book was based on true events when I started reading. I really enjoyed the atmosphere that the author created. How faced with events that go completely out of control people are quite happy to follow a leader and then later discard when they feel like it. How superstition rules lives. A good read on its own but made me want to find out more about the true Donner story.

The Hunger is a chilling reimagining of the ill fated Donner party, a large group of American pioneers who famously fell into difficulty while making the journey to California.

As the story is so well known, the early chapters are laden with a sense of doom, as the reader knows what lies ahead. But for me one of the most effective elements of this book is Katsu’s exploration of the social hierarchy within the wagon train - those who are permitted a say in matters, and those who are not. As you get to know the characters, the fractures and frustrations within the group become more apparent, and just as they need to stick together, things fall apart.

The supernatural element Katsu brings to the tale is skilfully handled, allowing the true horror of the story - how humans may treat each other in times of crisis - to take centre stage.


I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers.

he Hunger by Alma Katsu is based on the true story of the journey of the ‘Donner party’ from Illinois to California. I knew this when I set out to read it, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it not only fell into the category of historical fiction but also that of supernatural thriller.

In 1846 the Donner and Reed family set out on a perilous journey from Illinois to California, a journey that would end with most of that party dead.

Along the way they joined up with a larger wagon train and continued the journey together. They encountered severe bad weather and near starvation many times.

Then children started to go missing and the small party began to turn on each other with suspicion.

The prologue of The Hunger is set in April 1847 and talks of the bad weather the previous Winter.

“A couple of Paiutes even said they’d seen a crazy white man who had managed to survive through the god-awful winter, skimming over the frozen lake like a ghost.

That had to be their man: a fellow named Lewis Keesburg. The last known survivor of the Donner Party tragedy. The Salvage group had been sent out to find Keesburg and bring him back alive, if at all possible.”

The prologue is certainly intriguing and eerie but some of the book itself doesn’t live up to this. There are lost of areas that are full of suspense but also a large amount of the book where it is necessary for the author to character build or to describe historical details necessary for the plot.

One of the creepiest elements of the plot for me came during the prologue when the salvage group come upon a cabin in the woods.

“Several unexpected items lay discarded in the snow: a pocket prayer book, a ribbon bookmark fluttering in the breeze.

A scattering of teeth.

What looked like a human vertebrae, cleaned of skin.”

The book is told in split narrative form and features many key characters from the real Donner Party. On the one hand this enables the reader to associate with the characters and to care about the events of the book but on the other hand it can sometimes interrupt the flow of the story.

Whilst the party are on their journey a boy goes missing and what is left of the boy is just the beginning of a very dark tale.

Some believe that wolves are to blame, other people’s prejudices against the Indians lead them to suggest it is some kind of local ritual. Rumours suggest Indian skinwalkers are to blame or witchcraft. But it the answer closer to home. After all, how well do they know the people they live among when they were mostly strangers prior to starting their journey.

Things become more tense when the weather turns and the psychological tension of it all begins to get to them and they start to turn on one another. The rich on the poor, the weak on the powerful and so on.

Then there are the strange humanlike creatures that appear to be following them.

Where will it all end?

I wasn't sure how well this would go down with people who know nothing about the Donner Party, but the writing is deft and engaging, so I think those new to the story will be drawn in. I once read a Wikipedia entry on the topic so was somewhere between clueless and vaguely-familiar, eager to see how it would be portrayed in a novel and was impressed with the historical accuracy - at least as far as we know anything accurate about the doomed journey.
This is a spooky take on events which are already pretty harrowing, so readers will need to arm themselves with a sturdy night light and a modicum of courage - I read this in the recent 'Beast from the East' collection of snow days and found myself glancing nervously outside more than once! A gripping and chilling story - well worth the read.