Where the Daybreak Ends: Stories from Buzzard’s Edge by Brennan LaFaro is a collection of tales so vivid, that you can practically taste the grit of the dust, feel the suffocating weight of the heat on your skin, and hear the eerie silence punctuated by the sharp, metallic scent of coppery blood lingering in the air.
Let’s dive in!
My Thoughts on Where the Daybreak Ends: Stories from Buzzard’s Edge by Brennan LaFaro –
To begin, you all know how obsessed I am with Brennan’s writing. Every single work so far has been a five-star read for me and I can never wait to get my hands on more!
That being said – I absolutely loved the format of this collection. The decision to have one overarching narrative interwoven with various short stories was a brilliant choice. The way these short stories and their timelines were scattered throughout added an exciting layer of unpredictability and as the short stories unfolded, you could feel the subtle buildup of something much bigger. It was almost like a puzzle, with each piece contributing to the overarching mystery, making the conclusion even more thrilling when it arrived. What a perfect blend of pacing and suspense!
Per usual, here are my notes on each tale included in this collection:
Pick a Card by Tyler Jones –
What a lovely introduction!! I loved the story of the magic trick and how that was tied right into explaining a great story. And the note about this collection being a gift to readers who connected to Rory and Alice! With every compliment Tyler added, I found myself smiling bigger and bigger. Brennan is one of my favorite authors, and this intro has me so pumped to dive into these tales!
This passage was just wonderful:
…the genre is a sandbox and LaFaro is not only playing in it, but assembling those dusty grains into complex structures that flirt with so many genres and sub-genres while remaining true to all the core elements you expect from stories that take place in the Old West, that these stories, in some ways, defy categorization.
The Reaping, Part I –
While wandering the desert, this man thinks his eyes are tricking him when he sees the glimmer of water. But what he finds next is even more unexpected.
My gosh, you can feel the desperate thirst while reading this one! I had to get a glass of water myself.
They Only Come Out at Night –
While working to build a schoolhouse, Ned notices that they have visitors who come out at night but stand on the edge of town. Violet also learns of the beings but isn’t going to let them terrorize them…
Just reading the title of this one, I was already on edge. With every evening that falls during the course of this tale, I got more and more nervous.
The Reaping, Part II –
Jumping back to Josiah Dennis and his new friends from the first tale, we get a glimpse of the town from his new perspective. Then he’s asked if he would like another tale…
This was such a cool addition! Hearing a story about the town and then stepping over the town line had a special intensity!
Come and Take My Hand –
What an awesome introduction to George and Merella! This brutal short story will have you ready to reach through the pages to help George fight back. This poor kid…
I LOVED that the father is never mentioned by name. Like he was so despicable that his name wasn’t important. But phew, revisiting this was just as brutal as my first read! Click here to check out my full review of this short.
The Reaping, Part III –
Ah, them telling Josiah this is just the beginning of a darker story! If anyone came into this collection not having read Brennan’s other works this would be such a fun dark note of what’s to come!
Holes –
The Sheriff, Elijah “Hellfire” Sparrow made quite a name for himself when he became a lawman. But in his career, he couldn’t kill Noose when he tried to have him hung. Retiring to the outskirts, he’s happy with his bit of isolation. He’s got his dog and a woman who pops by every now and then to occupy his time. For the other time when his PTSD comes back to haunt him, he’s got his booze to distract and numb him. But one day he discovers a hole in his yard…
A terrifying tale of your past coming back to haunt you. This poor man certainly did some not-so-great things, but he did his job. I felt bad for him being so deeply haunted.
The Reaping, Part IV –
Oofh, the tension felt here with the mention of the leftover blood!
Where the Daybreak Ends –
When two men, Wes Bradley and Andrew Martin, set out, all they want to do is carve out a space for some peace and quiet to enjoy life together. But no matter how far they go, they’re hunted.
The cruelty here will make your blood boil. What a great setup to have this lead as a conversation and story told between Deputy Billy and Wes Bradley! But this poor man, Wes.
I am obsessed that this one links Slattery Falls and Noose. The mention of Weeks immediately gave me goosebumps, and the dialogue line that was about Noose and Marella was great! It was added in almost as an under-the-breath type of comment, but for readers that have read Noose, they’ll pinpoint it immediately!
The Reaping, Part V –
In this short, we see Josiah get a bit nervous about the area and the journey he’s on.
Trade Secrets –
What a fun detective story! When Thaddeus Locke arrives in town, he begins to help the local law enforcement with a slew of brutal murders. They’re all shocked by the methods of the killing, and little do they know, the killer is closer than they think. This was short and sweet, with a fine dose of gore and murder. What a wild ride!
LOVED getting to see Sheriff John Harden in action here.
The Reaping, Part VI –
Transitioning perfectly from the last tale into this one, things get tense as Josiah is called out for not telling the full truth about what led him to Buzzards Edge. Oofh…
Salvia Sunset –
Spotting a monster outside, Nola isn’t sure what exactly she saw. But when miners begin to go missing, she’s determined to find answers.
I first read this one in The Horror Collection: Monster Edition! Another amazing character to get to know in this town. She certainly wasn’t afraid to try to take matters into her own hands!
The Reaping, Part VII –
Josiah is pushed to tell more of his story, breaking down he admits the terrible truth.
Ugh, one scene here is absolutely gut-wrenching.
The Ice Man –
When Rory and Alice begin to build a home for themselves, their plans get delayed when their friend Ruby is murdered. Per usual, these two have to solve the case before they can get back to their everyday.
Gosh, it was so good to see these two in action again! The introduction of the sign language book was so much fun!
The Reaping, Part VIII –
Josiah finally learns what the two creatures were slowly gearing up to tell him…
When It’s All Said and Done –
Sent to kill a man and take a special item from his shop, two men are forced to go back and search again when their first attempt doesn’t work out. The second attempt takes a turn…
I was SO nervous for these two!
The Reaping, Part IX –
After the last tale is told, the two who remain wait to see what’s to come…
Afterword –
I love it when authors give insight into their tales! This was such a fun wrap-up for the book!
Lagniappe – Spokes in a Wheel
What a treat! Oh, the tales this quick short may open up! I can’t wait to see!
My Favorite Passages from Where the Daybreak Ends: Stories from Buzzard’s Edge –
Silence lingered in the air as the sun ducked behind the horizon.
— They Only Come Out at Night
Ned’s stomach dropped so hard and fast, he was afraid it might slap against something inside him and burst.
— They Only Come Out at Night
Something about the little tunnel to nowhere made the hair on his neck prickle. He couldn’t nail down that exactly, but the hole seemed too dark for daytime.
— Holes
He couldn’t be sure, but it sounded as though every hole spoke. A variety of timbres, combined to create a symphony of the damned. High, low, loud, soft, and every imaginable interval between, chattered in a ghastly unison that forced the hair on his arms to stand at attention.
— Holes
It struck me that I could scream at the top of my lungs, and it likely wouldn’t reach a soul, a truth that simultaneously thrilled and terrified me.
— Where the Daybreak Ends
“We seen some things ‘round here, that’s for sure. A witch, a man that bullets and nooses couldn’t touch, but what you’re describing?” Billy shuddered.
— Where the Daybreak Ends
When the sun starts to shake hands with the tops of the buildings on the western edge of town, that’s when I usually close up shop.
— Salvia Sunset
I swear the shot moved so slow I watched it carve through the thick afternoon air, politely excusing itself before cracking the surface of the Gila monster’s eye.
— Salvia Sunset
My Final Thoughts on Where the Daybreak Ends: Stories from Buzzard’s Edge –
I was totally captivated by each and every tale here. When I finished reading, I was so sad that it was over. Now, to patiently wait until I can return to this dusty town yet again!
Related Reading:
Noose by Brennan LaFaro is a gritty, gore-filled splatter western that is packed with action from the very first page. But something special that Brennan brings to the table with this genre, is that this book also has a lot of heart and emotion, and his main character isn’t afraid to show it.
Thanks for reading!
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