Horseman

Set thirty years after the legend of Ichabod Crane, the story follows fourteen-year-old Ben Van Brunt in the village of Sleepy Hollow. Ben, who was assigned female at birth but identifies as a boy, lives with his grandfather, Brom Bones. The community believes the Headless Horseman is a myth until a local boy is found in the woods, decapitated and missing his hands. When another child vanishes, Ben ignores his grandfather’s warnings and enters the forest to track a creature that feeds on parts of its victims.

This book is for readers of dark folklore and historical horror who appreciate subversions of classic American myths. It appeals to those interested in gender identity within a rigid, superstitious society. Readers walk away with a grim reimagining of Washington Irving’s setting that focuses on the physical reality of monsters rather than atmospheric spooks. It provides a look at how a marginalized teenager finds agency while confronting a supernatural threat that the adults in the village refuse to acknowledge.

Practical, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?