Thank you Netgalley and TorNightfire for my gifted e-arc. After reading Nettle and Bone, I wanted to read more by T. Kingfisher since I fell in love with their writing style. I was also intrigued that it was based on Edgar Allan Poe's "House of Usher" which I'll be honest that I read such a long time ago that I really don't remember much about it. I love Gothic Horror and this novel did not disappoint. I loved the atmosphere. It was so dark and broody. I loved how it started like your typical gothic tale and then turned into straight horror.

The last half of the book, I read it with my mouth open. The hares in this story are super scary! I was totally freaked out about them! I won't say much about the plot because its such a short book but its so worth it!!! I can't wait to get a physical book. The cover is perfect!

A deliciously dark and creepy retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher, with fascinating characters and very disturbing vibes. A wonderful short read.

Wow. This remix of the Fall of the House of Usher is incredible. It's like Wyndham's Trouble With Lichen was stirred into the Poe classic. The cover should give you a hint that this isn't going to be twee or precious - It's so, so creepy!

Buy now!

4.3/5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for the ARC of this!

This was so creepy! It’s been forever since I read Poe, so I couldn’t remember exactly what to expect but there was lots of creepy fungus, the walking dead, and some complex pronoun/gender identity. Very short and easy to read in one sitting, I was worried I’d be too scared, but was more just creeped. If you liked Mexican Gothic or The Initial Insult, I would recommend this.

What Moves the Dead is a skillful and engaging retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," and I can't think of better hands to have put this in than T. Kingfisher's. This story follows retired solider Alex Easton as they venture out into the rural area of Ruritania to visit their dying friend. Once there, they discover that the nature and fauna of the area is a bit odd, and the cause of her dying friend's illness seems more suspicious than they initially thought.

What I liked: Alex Easton had a fantastic narrative voice that was deadpan in delivery and full of a dry wit that kept me fully engaged throughout the entire story. I loved the combination of creepy, witty, and general oddness that existed in this story, as it made for a reading experience that kept me entertained while also created an atmosphere that left me feeling a bit tense and unsure what was going to happen. A lot of the creepiness isn't right in your face, but there's always this unsettling feeling that permeates the atmosphere and keeps you hooked as a result of Kingfisher's careful, persuasive, and captivating prose. Of course, there were also some disturbing elements that were in your face, and T. Kingfisher handled those perfectly (and truly I'd expect nothing less). I loved the sinister quality of the house itself, its inhabitants, and the lands surrounding the house. And speaking of its inhabitants, I loved the somewhat eccentric cast of characters that were a part of this story and I continue to think this is one area where Kingfisher truly excels.

What I didn't like: Things felt a little slow-moving at times and I felt most plot points were mostly pretty obvious. Since it's a retelling I don't really think that's a huge problem because I already knew the plot in the first place, but I could see someone picking this up without knowing the retelling aspect finding some things a bit lackluster. I appreciated the slower pace and willingness to move throw the story at a reasonable pace that really allowed for Alex to get to the House of Usher, connect with the people there, and slowly realize some things are very, very off. I didn't liked this one quite as much as I've loved The Twisted Ones and The Hollow Places, but it's not really due to any major fault of the story and therefore I have very little to add to this "what I didn't like" section.

If you're in need of something a bit creepy and a very disturbing with just a touch of dry, witty humor, then look no further because What Moves the Dead is the answer!

How do you feel about retellings? Do you prefer when they stick to the script or become something of their own?
I feel like each has validity and intrigue in their own right, but I tend to lean towards retellings that become something of their own.
Here we have a gothic retelling of Poe’s ‘The Fall of House Usher.’ It starts off strong with its roots, then goes into new, riveting territory. T. Kingfisher is becoming one my favorite authors when it comes to short, horrific or disturbing stories. She’s the kind of person who can pack a punch within 176 pages, keeping the reader on the edge of their seats and more than willing to read within one sitting. While this wasn’t anything extraordinarily new, it gave what it promised.
There are some bits of writing that can take some getting used to and some people aren’t going to like it. There is a bit of animal abuse (hares), which is important to note if you can’t handle that. The story can also be compared to another book, which is addressed in the author’s note.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise when I say this bizarre, somewhat disturbing cover first caught my attention. When I saw it was written by T. Kingfisher, an author I’ve been anxious to read, I immediately requested it from NetGalley. It’s been years since I’ve read The Fall of the House of Usher, and I’m not embarrassed to say I read a quick summary of it on the Spark Notes website.

“The dead don’t walk. Except sometimes, when they do.”

The above statement should give you an idea of what to expect from this book. Alex Easton, a nonbinary retired soldier, narrates the story. A childhood friend of both Roderick and his sister Madeline, they rush to the siblings’ home in Ruritania upon learning Madeline is dying. What they find is a horrific scene – an overwhelming amount of fungal growth on the grounds and lake, weird, unnerving hares, and a decaying manor. Madeline’s American doctor is also staying with the Ushers, and several amusing jabs (about Americans) are made at his expense, but he’s a good sport. Alex also comes across mycologist Eugenia Potter on the grounds who becomes a valuable source of information, and is a wonderful addition to the story. Shout out to Hob for being one of the coolest horses I’ve come across in fiction.

The author does a fabulous job at bringing the house and grounds to life and has created some pretty macabre scenes that might not be for the squeamish. Although this is a retelling, she’s also expanded a bit on the story and added her own spin, something I found fascinating. Alex is Gallacian, and their language uses many different pronouns that are explained well, but might take some getting used to.

Whether you’ve read the Poe book or not, this is a gruesome tale I’d easily recommend to horror fans. I know I’ll be looking for more books by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The first thing that surprised me about this one was that it’s a novella, which I wasn’t expecting. Serves me right for requesting this based on nothing but the author, but it’s not a bad thing at all. It was shorter than I thought it was, but it was exactly as long as it needed to be!

What Moves the Dead is a retelling of Edgar Allen Poe’s short story The Fall of the House of Usher. In this case, it takes place in a fictional country, and follows a retired soldier named Alex Easton. When they find out that their childhood friend Madeline is sick, they race to the Usher’s home in the countryside. Aside from Maddy and her brother Roderick being afflicted by a strange sickness, there are tons of shenanigans going down in the Usher house.

I really enjoyed this one. I remember reading The Fall of the House of Usher when I was younger, and I remember enjoying it as well, but this retelling gave the story a mycological spin that made it all the spookier. Alex meets a kooky British mycologist named Eugenia Potter along their way to the Usher house, who claims to be the aunt of another noted researcher and painter of fungi, Beatrix Potter. There is also another houseguest, an American Doctor named Denton that Roderick has brought in to see if he can cure Madeline of her mysterious illness. Meanwhile, both Madeline and Roderick Usher are acting very, very strange.

This book got creepier and creepier as it went along, but not in any way that I didn’t find absolutely enthralling. I have read books with this sort of premise before and every time I agree that yeah, that is some creepy, creepy stuff, but alas, I can’t look away. I loved imagining Alex and their new friends get to the bottom of the mystery. The whole book and its old, decayed setting was very easy to envision.

I would recommend this novella to anyone who likes a little gothic horror, or retellings in general. T. Kingfisher does retellings so well, and this is no exception. It is a little bit gory at times, but not unnecessarily, and not too often. I had 4.5/5 stars of fun with What Moves the Dead. I thought it was great!

In this retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Fall of the House of Usher”, Alex Easton receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher has fallen ill — is probably dying — and her brother Roderick is not faring much better. Easton goes to the Usher home in the countryside of Ruravia, thinking that they will be able to help; when they arrive, Easton comes face to face with dark, still waters, a crumbling manse, and fungi that creep not only through the countryside and the home but perhaps through the local wildlife as well. Easton teams up with an English mycologist and American doctor to get to the bottom of the mystery, but there is a creeping evil that is affecting the Ushers, and Easton and their companions may not make it out unscathed…

I was really excited to read this one because I love T. Kingfisher’s horror stories (THE TWISTED ONES and THE HOLLOW PLACES), and I am pleased to say that WHAT MOVES THE DEAD does not disappoint. In fact, my only complaint was that it was so short, much like Poe’s original “The Fall of the House of Usher” story. However, unlike Poe’s story, Kingfisher gives the reader more answers as to what unnatural (or natural) horror is affecting the Ushers, ultimately making the story even more scary and thrilling. The atmosphere was ominous and close, at times oppressive, making for a compelling story that I could barely put down. This was a fascinating, complex retelling that is entirely worthy of the legacy it follows.

I would also like to note that any readers should ensure to read the author’s note at the end of the book, as Kingfisher addresses their motivations in writing this story and any comparisons to another recent gothic horror book with fungi at its center. Both authors do extraordinary, scary work with the natural world and comparisons between the two books are obvious and welcome, but should not take the form of criticism.

And may I just say as well, the cover for this one is grotesque and beautiful and absolutely perfect for the story within. Bravo.

overall i really liked the writing in this one. i wasn’t familiar with the inspiration story though and i think that might’ve been why i didn’t love it as much as i think i could have. but it was a nice short dark read!

When I discover that a book is a retelling of one of Poe's stories, I become equal parts excited and wary. Will the new book do justice and proper homage to Poe's original genius, or will it be a ruinous disaster?

This book, fortunately, does the first. What Moves the Dead is a retelling of Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, and the most beautiful thing about it is how little it actually varies from the original tale. T. Kingfisher manages to take Poe's short story, which runs around fifteen pages, and flesh it out beautifully into a 170-page novella. Kingfisher gives us the tragic siblings, Roderick and Madeline Usher, ensconced in the crumbling ruin that is their ancestral home. She also gives us a doctor named Denton and a new narrator - Lieutenant Easton - who find themselves in the middle of the mystery of the horror that is plaguing Madeline Usher.

Kingfisher takes hold of Poe's obsession with mushrooms and uses it to full advantage. In the damp atmosphere of the House of Usher, in the cold of the crypt, in the dark tarn and the fields beyond, the fungus is definitely among us. That wild, pale hair that Poe describes on the Usher siblings becomes a sort of sentient fungal mycelia and we discover that poor Madeline Usher has become a little *too* in tune with the spores that are infecting the local wildlife and lighting up the tarn in with a bioluminescent glow at night.

I can't talk about this book without mentioning one of the secondary characters. Within the first couple of pages, our narrator comes across an elderly British woman mycologist out looking for specimens to paint. I immediately thought, "Oh! Is it Beatrix Potter?" Well, not quite, but...close. Eugenia Potter mentions lightly in passing that Easton should meet her niece, Beatrix, and I cheered!
Eugenia is a wonderful character who gave the book just the right amount of humor and solid British pragmatism.

In the notes at the back of the book, the author mentions how she read Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic while in the midst of writing this book, and how the similarities distressed her for a bit. I, too, thought of Mexican Gothic while reading What Moves the Dead but I think that Kingfisher has managed to pull the whole thing off a little better. While the mushrooms in Mexican Gothic become a disgusting, grotesque part of that story, in What Moves the Dead, the fungus takes on a sort of morbidly beautiful quality.

Sticking fully to the Gothic style of Poe's tale, and injecting it with bits of science which make it somehow both more fascinating and more terrible, Kingfisher gives us a tale at once familiar and wonderfully new.

Gothic horror has always been my favorite breed of horror: focused on small irregularities in the details that need to be noted but not necessarily noticed until strange happenings are hard to ignore. The effectiveness of the genre really is in the details and What Moves the Dead ticks a whole lot of those boxes without getting bogged down in the minutiae of, say, rotting gentility and the loss of affluence. It was more about “my god why won’t anyone leave this stupid house?”

Easton was also a very fun main character: honorable and direct and not prone to the flights of fancy typical of characters in a gothic novel (no, ka’s much more concerned with rescuing ka’s friends and explaining that “no really, soldier is a gender where I’m from, and I am neither man nor woman despite appearances and the time period”). Easton is observant without trying to guess at explanations, which keeps the story mysterious and gives us an avenue to either enjoy the ride or make our own guesses.

I also woke up in the middle of the night, read two more chapters, and went back to sleep only to have a really bizarre dream, so I’d call this a resounding success.

In What Moves the Dead T. Kingfisher expertly reimagines Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. That fact alone sold me on this book, well that and the fact that T. Kingfisher is one of my favorite authors, but then this cover dropped. A masterpiece shall grace our shelves. Mine for sure because I've already pre-ordered a copy and you should too!

The year is 1890 and Alex Easton has just received word that their childhood friend, Madeline Usher, is on the brink of death. Thus, Easton heads off to the countryside to the Usher family estate to be with Madeline and perhaps provide some support to Madeline's brother, Roderick.

Arriving at the once lavish estate, Easton is shocked that the manor home has fallen into such a horrible state of disrepair. It's unnerving to say the least. Equally unnerving is the state in which Easton finds Madeline. They knew Madeline was quite ill, but her behavior belies any illness that Easton is aware of. Madeline's behavior, speech and appearance are bizarre. She's frightening to be around.

Denton, an American doctor and friend of Roderick Usher, is staying at the home as well while tending to Madeline. It's clear that Denton has no explanation for Madeline's mysterious illness. Additionally, Roderick Usher isn't quite himself either. He's not sleeping and claims to be hearing things in the walls of the home.

In addition to our main cast we also get some great side characters. Hob, Easton's trusty horse, was of course my favorite. No one writes animal companions quite like Kingfisher. She gives them such strong personalities, which for anyone who has an animal companion of their own will seem quite relatable.

Another favorite was the intelligent and plucky Miss Potter, a local woman who spends her time researching and painting specimens of fungi. Easton and Potter meet and develop a quick rapport. Easton ends up learning a lot about the local area, lore, flora and fauna from Miss Potter.

The classic gothic vibe of What Moves the Dead meshed so well with Kingfisher's fresh and witty humor. Picking up a new Kingfisher story is so comforting for me. It's like settling in for story time with a horror-loving friend. That's exactly the feeling I got from this one. It's eerie and sinister the entire way through, while also somehow managing to keep me laughing.

I loved going along with Easton on their investigation into the mystery surrounding the House of Usher. There is some truly horrifying imagery included that was so well done. I could picture, smell and taste the decay of this property. It definitely got under my skin.

Thank you so, so much to the publisher, Tor and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copies to read and review. As I mentioned earlier, this was absolutely one of my MOST ANTICIPATED releases of the year and it did not disappoint. Kingfisher is knocking them out of the park in 2022!!!

What a brilliant retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Falling of the House of Usher!

Where to start with this one. It was creepy, atmospheric, and amazingly executed. The retelling of Poe’s short story was done well. I listened to the audiobook as well as read it and I really enjoyed both. The narrator of the audiobook only enhanced the genius of the story.

The year is 1890 when retired soldier Alex Easton receives a letter that his friend Madeline Usher is dying. He doesn’t hesitate to visit his friend and meets the unique Miss Potter, who spends her time tending to fungus.
Alex arrives at the House of Usher alarmed at the dire state of his friend. In comes American Dr. Denton who is treating Madeline but can’t quite pinpoint the cause of her illness. Alex also visits his other friend Roderick Usher whose appearance is shocking to say the least. Madeline and Roderick are exhibiting other bizarre symptoms like sleep walking and hearing voices. Alex’s stay takes a dark turn as he notices the mushrooms and fungi around the dilapidated mansion. It’s almost like it has a life of its own.

What Moves the Dead is available
July 12,2022

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A thrilling, gruesome horror book, "What Moves the Dead" by T. Kingfisher was a clever and thoughtful re-telling of Edgar Allen Poe's famous House of Usher. The novel follows gender-neutral main character, Alex, as they visit their friends in the House of Usher. In this creepy, scary house, the Usher siblings are both weak, paranoid and dangerously unstable. The Usher sister, Maddy, has been on deaths doorstep for weeks as Alex enters the scene.

Personally, this fresh take on a classic was intriguing, creative and extremely believable. Alex's character was strong and disciplined. Their logical life as a solider was contrasted with the mystical, terrifying fungus growing in the house. Alex didn't panic and worked their best to help the Usher siblings. While the plot wasn't surprising since I've read the original story, "What Moves the Dead" was clever, creepy and left me with chills in my bones.

I have no idea what I just read, but I know I’m smiling after finishing it and that’s absolutely a good thing. This is my first T. Kingfisher book and it definitely won’t be my last! I was unsure about it at first and I felt a bit lost, maybe like I should have read the story this was inspired by first, but it picked up and kept me hooked until the end. I loved the eerie vibes I got while reading and I had the feeling like I should shower and brush my teeth like at least 80 times. Nothing was inherently off that I could pick up on but once I did, oh man did I get the creepy crawlies! I love subtle horror, especially subtle horror that builds, and this was definitely right up my alley with those two elements. I am definitely excited to read more from T. Kingfisher in the future after reading this!

Poe meets Lovecraft.

Publisher's Blurb: When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania.
What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady of the nerves.
Aided by a redoubtable British mycologist and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.

I have been an Edgar Allen Poe fan since childhood and I love retellings of his stories. The Fall of the House of Usher was a Poe classic, I admit I had to read a few times to really appreciate, but appreciate it I did.

Here is a retelling that is from the same Century, with the same main characters, the famous House of Usher, and a huge dose of originality added to the spin.

The Author gave a twist on gender with the character Alex Easton. What made it mentionable was the fact that it took a minute to realize it and it was handled with so care and talent that it was quickly forgotten. As it should have been. The gender of a character in a story is not the most important characteristic and I feel making it not a big deal gave humanity to Easton.
I also enjoyed and appreciated the explanation of the local custom for gender to be irrelevant for the Sworn Soldiers and a detailed explanation of the type of pronouns used in Easton's homeland, the fictional European country called Gallacia.

I was completely enthralled by the gothic atmosphere and could not stop listening until I reached the conclusion. This story is creepy, scary, skin-crawling, and an A+ winner.

Thanks to @netgalley, Macmillian Tor/Forge, and T. Kingfisher for the opportunity to listen to this Audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

T. Kingfisher never disappoints, and this adaptation of the Fall of the House of Usher delivers. Atmospheric and just oozing with lush prose that perfectly encapsulates 19th century diction. Between this and MEXICAN GOTHIC, we are in a golden era of Gothic horror about mushrooms.

I love T. Kingfisher but this one wasn't my favorite. I think it is because The Fall of the House of Usher isn't my favorite of Poe's writing. I think if people enjoyed The Fall of the House of Usher, then they will probably love this. I can't wait to pick up T. Kingfisher other books.

T. Kingfisher continues to write the best horror inspired by classics. You can really feel the foreboding atmosphere of this setting almost as if it's hanging over you. The creepy reveal unfolds perfectly, and the horror of what is happening and the danger they've been in is so well done. Maybe I shouldn't say it, but I think she wrote a better Fall of the House of Usher than Poe did.

I also really love how all of her horror is mitigated with little humorous observations, and by a friendship with an animal, in this case, the narrator's horse. The humor really heightens the horror in a way I can't quite put my finger on, but that I appreciate nonetheless.

My only complaint is that I want more of it (but this novella is the perfect length for the story it tells), because I always want more Kingfisher horror.