I could NOT put this wonderful book down! The writing is so so good! Great descriptions and wonderful prose.
I wasn’t sure I would like it because of the bit of supernatural parts of Ovid’s experiences. But my! They were told in a way that wasn’t super scary and at most times very interesting.

Ovid has visions and adventures that take him to alternate universes. His journey across the west, following the Civil War is a historical fantasy that is truly enjoyable. I didn’t want it to end.

The supernatural and the Old West always make for a delightful combination in my experience and this story is no exception. Our lone gunslinger protagonist goes around getting into situations and dealing with mysteries from beyond the pale. I really enjoyed the style of writing in this book, it was crisp and clear, with a Cormac McCarthy style bend to it. I'm a big fan of cosmic horror in the HP Lovecraft vein and the influence really shows in this work in my opinion. It definitely gave me shades of Lone Women and Red Rabbit as well, with the melding of supernatural themes into a modern mythology of the USA. I will definitely be seeking out more of this authors work.

8 / 10 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2025/03/16/the-country-under-heaven-by-frederic-s-durbin-review/

For a book with no dialogue, this was pretty dang good. I mean, there IS dialogue, kinda. It’s just not marked with the usual ““ bits. See, the story is told in 1st person POV, entirely. Anything that anyone says is just related to us by the narrator, like “I asked him if the horse was lame. He answered in the affirmative.” That kinda thing. If you’d have told me this before, I would’ve said that it sounds like it would get old—which it does, but recovers from. By the end, not only did I not might it, I’d begun to kinda prefer it—for this story at least.

Ovid’s story is a bit like the Last Wish; a series of interconnected short stories which tell a greater tale, and serve as an introduction to the character. Don’t get me wrong—I’m pretty sure this is a standalone. But it’s done in the Witcher (or Lovecraftian) style, all the same. Part of the tale, fans of the author may recognize. It’s the reworked, expanded version of “Someplace Cool and Dark”, from ‘ Challenge! Discovery ‘, published in 2017.

If you’ve read Durbin before, you likely recognize his style. A taste of horror, a bit of adventure, a veil between worlds. It’s a formula that seems to work quite well for the author, and he’s taken advantage of it multiple times over. Country Under Heaven—while not as good as A Green and Ancient Light, in my opinion—still spins an excellent yarn, one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I will say that the pacing takes a bit of getting used to, as does the way this particular tale is related. But once you do—assuming you do—there’s an excellent, entertaining journey beneath.

TL;DR

I’m a sucker for adventure; new places and new things. Add in some fantasy, plus maybe some supernatural, paranormal, science fiction, or horror elements—and I’m sold. Doesn’t hurt that it’s done up by the author of one of my favorite ever books, A Green and Ancient Light. The hardest bit of Country Under Heaven is the learning curve. It’s told in an unusual style, with the narrator relating everything, including the dialogue. Like, “I asked him if the horse was lame. He answered in the affirmative”. That kinda thing. Once you get used to that, and the fact that the book is just a series of interconnected short stories (all with the same narrator), which makes for some interesting pacing—it’s all uphill to the end. But it’s a hurdle you have to get over, and one I’m sure not everyone will.

While I really enjoyed Country Under Heaven for the setting, the style, the adventure, and more—it’s still going to be hard to recommend for everyone. If you’re a fan of the author—go for it. Same for if you enjoyed the Last Wish, or like you some eldritch horror. If not—maybe try an ebook sample first, before buying, or check out a copy from your local library.

The Country Under Heaven by Frederic S. Durbin set in the post-Civil War United States, follows Ovid Vesper, a former Union soldier "plagued" by enigmatic visions. Ovid travels across the country following those strange visions trying to understand their purpose and find redemption for himself.

The book itself is structured like a set of interconnected short stories, with every chapter containing one. This was a bit jarring at first, mostly because I was expecting the one continuous story to flow throughout the book, however, I soon got used to it and enjoyed that every chapter was a story in itself. The author manages to connect everything and even reminds the reader of things that happened in previous chapters/stories.

For the majority of the book The Country Under Heaven gives a typical Lovecraftian meets Old Wild West or Weird West vibe, however near the end of the book the author inserts a twist on the typical Lovecraft monster that made the book stand out a bit. The difference fit well with the main character and the story that was told.

If you like Weird Westerns and would like to read something Lovecraftian but a bit different, I would recommend picking up The Country Under Heaven. The structure of the book - one chapter = one short story makes this an excellent read for people who enjoy reading Weird Westerns but often find themselves so busy that they don't have the time and energy to read more than a chapter per day. Additionally, the reader doesn't have to fear about loosing track of the story, because the author makes sure to remind the reader about previous events when necessary for the story.

This had such an alluring concept but I really couldn’t connect with the writing style or the style of the book, which felt more like short stories together than a cohesive novel.

I hate that I couldn't finish this book. I really just didn't enjoy the way it was written, which is disappointing because I really thought I would love this book.

A deeply (almost surprisingly) contemplative novel, this is fantasy horror takes the reader the the Wild West in a deeply compelling journey.

This novel is broken into various different stories all connected by the protagonist, Ovid Vesper, a former Union soldier. Ovid is on a journey across the continent, seeking out and being followed by a wide variety of creatures and characters.

The writing does a phenomenal job of bringing you to central America of the late 19th Century. There were moments where I had to catch myself reading the book in an internal stereotypical cowboy voice. The world feels dangerous, familiar, and entirely unforgiving.
Ovid as a character is likeable enough, if maybe a little two-dimensional. He was so steady and predictable throughout the whole story that it sometimes didn't feel like there was much of an arc for him to follow. It would have been nice to see some growth or decline of his person as the tolls of the events took root.
Which connects me to my main criticism of the book, which is that each chapter felt like it's own self-contained story. There was some threads linking them, but Ovid and his lack of personal development wasn't enough to make it feel like a 'story'. You could have had a new protagonist in each chapter and achieved the same effect.
That being said, the description of the book references Lovecraft, and the partially connected stories did feel very Lovecraftian. In that sense, it may have been entirely intentional and the comparison is appropriate.

It's a well written, creative, interesting set of stories that's worth your time.

With a distinct and consistent narrative voice, an admirable main character, and evocative language, Durbin has crafted an engaging story that I'll be thinking about long after writing this review.

My main criticism would be that the decision to write the story as loosely connected tales as opposed to a traditional linear story did leave me feeling disjointed. However, the strengths of the novel still won me over. I recommend readers give this a try.

This was a good western Horror. The writing was good, storyline a bit predictable, but good. I would definitely recommend.

Ovid Vesper, a former Union soldier, was westward bound. An explosion during the Civil War Battle at Antietam Creek had been life changing. “Visions” were telling him to head to the West. He no longer understood “the why of things.” His head “had been full of ghosts and echoes…didn’t entirely trust himself to see what was actually there.”

Journeying, he encountered a snake oil salesman, who for a coin, might connect a willing participant with comfort from beyond the grave. Next, Ovid shared the tale of his stint as a cattle driver in Texas. A standout character from the drive was Cookie, second-in-command. Cookie “cooked the chuck” and did the doctoring. Suddenly, “a prolonged roar…boulders crashed to the earth…a landslide…I was seeing the War again among the canister shot and cannonballs.”

Off to Missouri. An old war buddy needed Ovid’s assistance. “Both sides in the War had claimed the state and sewn it onto their flags.” Two young children, not of this world, were trapped here. They were lovingly tended to by a childless couple. Could exploration of nearby caverns uncover a portal for the children to return home?

Further travels led Ovid to a deep snake pit containing a “shine” from its depths. Working in tandem with another friend, Ovid would be lowered by rope to investigate. Was there wealth to be gotten? Not if the outlaw gangs had any say about it!

“The Country Under Heaven” is a read of interconnected tall tales. Some images are breathtaking, some heart wrenching, as Ovid Vesper attempts to quell his wartime memories. He sees shadowy figures, hears eerie chanting and feels breathing on his shoulder. This road trip is like no other; a supernatural Western journey undertaken by a former soldier who is trying to overcome his struggles and move forward after the Civil War.

Thank you Kezia Velista @ Melville House Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Evoking the majesty and grandeur of the Old West, Durbin spins a stirring yarn about the aftershocks of battle and the struggle to overcome what haunts us.

Durbin’s A Green and Ancient Light was one of the first books I reviewed for The Speculative Shelf in 2016, and it has stayed with me to this day. It’s a thrill to return to one of his worlds. At the time, I wrote: “He creates a setting filled with such beautiful imagery that opening the book felt like being transported to the nameless countryside each and every time.” The same holds true here, as the American West comes to life, down to the last flower petal and blade of grass.

While I found Ovid Vesper’s journey and visions intriguing, the loosely connected chapters often felt disjointed and could have benefitted from fewer characters and a more streamlined plot.

Sadly, I could not develop any interest in the title. I was really hoping to get caught up in this and just never sparked anything.