*nervous laughter* what the heck what the heck what the heck what the heck what the heck

This was so weird and disturbing and creepy and amazing and fantastic and I want more of it??? I kept having to set it down because I was too freaked out to continue but it was so good

What Moves the Dead - T. Kingfisher

In classic Kingfisher style What Moves the Dead is a story retelling, this of The Fall of the House of Usher from Edgar Allen Poe.

We follow Alex Easton a soldier and friend to the Usher family as they try to uncover the reason for Madeline’s mysterious illness. Kingfisher has done something interesting here giving a whole new set of pronouns to our main character, they are raised with much different pronouns and this aspect of the book was inspired.

The story introduces a few fairly interesting characters with just the right dose of humor to counter act some genuinely creepy elements , I will honestly never look at Hares the same again.

This was the most enjoyable read of the year for me so far, it’s one of those rare books that soon as you finish you want to start all over from the beginning and read it again immediately. It’s got wonderfully dark atmosphere .
A big 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a mushroom 🍄 for that gorgeous cover.

Thank you to @tornightfire and @netgalley for the ARC. What Moves the Dead will be available July 12th 2022

'The Dead don't walk. Except, sometimes, when you do...'

Alex Easton, a former soldier, receives a concerning letter from his childhood friend Madeline Usher and decides to visit the both her and her brother Roderick Usher and to find out what exactly is happening at the Usher Estate.

Kingfisher paints you a vivid and dreadful picture of the Usher Estate and the surrounding area that is clearly being affected by what is plaguing the house: Fungi. Great. If you read Mexican Gothic and were traumatized by mushrooms after reading that one, well, this one will further that trauma.

The longer Easton stays with the Usher siblings in their estate the more weird things they end up discovering that simply just do not make sense. The house itself is old, but there is a layer of mold and fungi growing within it that give it a whole new meaning of what rot over time can do to a house and its inhabitants. The local wildlife, primarily the rabbits, are acting strange and almost inhuman in the way they move and interact within society - it's like they're sick, but from what? Alex notices all these things along with the unusual behaviour of a dying Madeline who seems to be withering away right before they're eyes. She sleep walks at night, seemingly speaks to herself in a strange way and almost seems not present whenever Easton or the other house inhabitants interact with her. Easton begins to question everything around them and finds themselves determined to uncover exactly what is going on with Madeline before it's too late.

This was such a fun and quick read! It clocks in at around 200 pages and is focused on its end goal with no time to stop the plot from racing to the end. I really loved the way the author wrote the creepiness factor of this story because it wasn't over the top as some horror stories similar to this often do, but shined in the subtle moments and excellent dialogue. There were more than a few lines that left a lasting impact on me.
The setting of the creepy fungi infested town and the cast of characters involved were very well written with each of them having very interesting and distinct personalities that shined through with the authors clever and clean writing. The use of non-binary pronouns for the character of Easton was also a welcome and lovely addition to the story! I desperately wanted to know more about them and their culture!

The ending was very well done! the twist that Kingfisher wove in to the story and it's atmosphere was brilliant well executed - which often in horror can be a make or break reason as to whether I enjoy a book or not. This one was a winner! It was crafted beautifully and led to a satisfactory conclusion. Side note, I will never look at rabbits the same ever again. Or mushrooms. Or lakes. Or anything really who knows.

All in all, I highly recommend What Moves The Dead. If you're looking for a quick but thrilling read that will entertain you, scare you, gross you out, and leave you with a mild phobia to rabbits and mushrooms then this book is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor/Nightfire for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book!

4.5/5

This review is spoiler free!

When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives a letter from their childhood friend Madeline Usher informing them that she is dying, Alex travels to her home. However, what they find is a crumbling manor covered in fungus, Madeline in a worse state than previously thought, and many, many strange hares.


I was honestly so pleasantly surprised by this oddly charming yet still horrifying tale. This book truly falls into the "CottageGore" category - super dark, yet also incredibly atmospheric. T. Kingfisher created a chilling yet strangely adorable read. I highly recommend this one!



Oh, and Beatrix Potter's aunt is a character so....



*I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and views in this review are my own.

T. Kingfisher does it again!
In this retelling of Edgar Allen Poe's short story, "The Fall of the House of Usher," Kingfisher expands the narrative and explores questions that went unanswered in the original.
When I first started the book, I was on the fence. The main protagonist, Lieutenant Easton, is a war veteran and I just wasn't sure how much I could relate to them. As I kept reading though it turned out that Easton's internal monologue was just as interesting as what was happening in the story, and I no longer needed convincing to root for their survival.
The length of the book felt short, though I guess comparatively to the original story it added quite a bit (don't quote me on that, I've never read "The Fall of the House of Usher"). The pace clipped along once I got into it, which didn't take very long in itself, and the horror that happened was only *just* on the side of disgusting enough to keep me from putting the book down.
I would recommend this book to people over Mexican Gothic, but that's also because MG really grossed me out, and, happily, What Moves the Dead did not as much. I also enjoy T. Kingfisher as an author, I think her writing voice is easy to follow and enjoyable to read.

I’m going to put a disclaimer that I haven’t read The Fall of the House of Usher, so I’ve went in completely unknowing of what the original contains, and maybe after reading the original work, my review might change.

I was really hyped for What Moves the Dead, mostly because the cover completely sold me, like…The art is gorgeous. That being said, I didn’t love this story like I thought I would.

It’s definitely got those creepy, gothic vibes, but I found the build up to be a little slow. When something weird or eerie happened, I was so intrigued, couldn’t stop reading, but then it dwindled away and I was left feeling underwhelmed. I feel like I could have been pulled in more, and that some of the more intense parts of the story could have been ramped up more. It just felt a little jarring a points and I was being sucked out of the atmosphere that was slowly beginning to form.

I appreciate what Kingfisher was trying to convey with the story, I could see perfectly what imagery she was trying to conjure in my head but there was something lacking that I can’t seem to put my finger on.

Although this wasn’t the most amazing experience I’ve had with a book, I did find it enjoyable & entertaining to read, just a little dull at times.

I found this novel to be a gorgeous retelling with well thought out and lyrical prose. The author enhanced the original story and gave it new life.

A fun re-telling of 'The Fall of the House of Usher'. The prose cannot approach Poe's original, but Kingfisher manages to squeeze new life and interesting perspectives from a classic tale. If you set aside the 'classic' gothic expectations, it is an enjoyable read. The author plays with pronouns, both politically and as a function of character development. It can be grammatically awkward, but it is an intriguing choice.

This book reminded me very much of the author's previous novel, The Twisted Ones: and interesting concept that doesn't live up to the hype. Of the new additions the author makes to Poe's original story, the one I found most engaging was the concept of gender/gender roles in this fictional world, but the author briefly touches on this and doesn't delve enough into it to really make it noteworthy. The main issue I take with the story is that we spend almost no time or effort in getting to know the Ushers on a deeper level so that, by the end of the story, you're not invested enough in their plight to care much one way or the other how it turns out.

atavistic body horror on gothic themes... this hit the SPOT.

here's the million-dollar question: what moves the dead?

and, more specifically... what is moving the dead in this creepy novella by t. kingfisher?

i was first exposed to the work of ursula vernon (t. kingfisher's equally epic actual name) a month ago when i devoured the hollow places. that novel was not only one of my favourite reads of 2022 so far, it also cemented kingfisher as a speculative author whose oeuvre i knew i now had to methodically work my way through.

so you can imagine how excited i was when i received an advance review copy of what moves the dead. and you must know how ecstatic i was when, just a few minutes ago, i flipped the final page of this novella and realized that t. kingfisher has DELIVERED.

◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️

the year is 1890, and alex easton has just received a dire missive from a childhood friend, madeline usher, who is dying of a mysterious affliction. easton is a retired soldier in the fictional monarchy of gallacia - a region in europe - and they must travel to the ancestral usher home in neighbouring ruravia. when they arrive, what they find is wholly perturbing... from the unnaturally luminescent lake surrounding the house to madeline's sleep-walking (and chilling sleep-talking), from roderick usher's unwell countenance to the quietly baleful hares that haunt the grounds...

it becomes clear that something is moving the dead at the house of usher.

◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️

as stated in the book blurb, what moves the dead is a retelling of edgar allan poe's beloved short story, the fall of the house of usher. where i found poe's story to be somewhat formulaic and spare, this retelling succeeds by fleshing out many of the unanswered questions i had while reading the fall of the house of usher - which kingfisher herself also admits to in her author's note.

even better, though: kingfisher riffs on the source work with her trademark dry humour, a deadpan irreverence that contrasts superbly with the dark, grotesque content of her storytelling. (i say "trademark", insofar as i can judge from reading 2 of her books and a handful of tweets. lol.)

this novella also bore explicitly queer and feminist themes. for instance, alex easton is a "sworn soldier" - a title reserved for women (or anyone who is not a man) who enlist in the gallacian army. as such, easton uses the particular non-gendered pronouns exclusive to gallacian soldiers: ka (~they) and kan (~them). (in fact, as easton explains, there are at least seven different types of pronouns used in the gallacian language, to denote inanimate objects, god, and various people. this actually ended up being a bit of clever foreshadowing for me, as easton remarks, "It's probably a miracle that we dont' have [pronouns] just for mushrooms" and later the question of fungal sentience plays a pivotal role in the story.

for such a short piece of writing, i appreciated that what moves the dead featured some truly interesting characters. my favourite character-character interactions in this novel occurred between easton and angus (their "batman" or manservant), and easton and eugenia potter. kingfisher describes potter as "the fictional aunt of Beatrix Potter", as she's also a mycologist (who is frustratingly unrecognized by patriarchal science societies) and scientific illustrator.

lastly, i love the palpable thrill of reading body horror - and this novella absolutely evoked those chills in me, what with its gothic-sublime overtones and sentient-fungal-parasite plotline. this was what i wish mexican gothic could have delivered!

T. KINGFISHER: I'M COMING FOR YOUR OTHER WORKS.

many thanks to netgalley, macmillan-tor/forge, and tor nightfire for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF 13%

This is 1000% a case of me, not the book. I’m just not feeling hooked by the book, though I may give it another chance at a later date. What I can already tell is this is a perfectly spooky vibes kinda book and if you’re a fan of creeping dread type feelings, this book will likely jive well for you. I was hopeful for this because I’ve read and enjoyed a few of Kingfisher’s other books, but I’m a scaredy cat and I think I need a particular pull for horror stories. This will definitely work for folks who are fans of creepy fungi and mysterious goings-on within a family.

this book may take the cake for book that has scared me the most.

The gothic descriptions and use of imagery was phenomenal. Had I not known this was a book to be released this year I would have thought it was a book written 100 years ago.

There was definite inspiration from Poe and love how the author was able to really expand to create this eerie tale.

The book starts out not super scary, but when it hits the fan, it hits the fan HARD!

If you liked books such as the family upstairs and Mexican Gothic. Do not hesitate on this one. I know I'll be grabbing a physical copy!

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for a gifted eARC

Everything from the cover to the fine Gothic details will soothe any reading soul searching for a delightfully creepy retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher by Poe. I dare say, that as much as I love Poe, this is brought the story to life in ways Poe did not. The story, part mystery-part test of friendship and wills, is better than ever and I cannot recommend Kingfisher's retelling enough.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.

Strangely and weirdly captivating is the best way to describe this novel. The creepy atmospheric writing made it hard to read at night for me, but all in all I kept turning the pages. This one will stick with you long after you have finished. There is an undertone of sadness as well … basically just giving you a haunted vibe. What is really going on at this house? Anytime I thought I knew I was mostly wrong.

Creepy, Brilliant, Witty, and All-Consuming

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the copy of What Moves The Dead. I usually avoid books that are the retelling of classics because they are rarely great. I took a chance on this one because I have never read The Fall of the House of Usher. I’m so glad I did! This was a short, scary story. Creepy scary. So creepy it gave me the shivers. The writing totally drew me in and I had trouble putting the book down. The characters were odd, but somehow engaging even though they weren’t relatable or likable. If you’re looking for a creepy quick read, this book is for you! 3.5 stars rounded up to four.

Her heart is a poised lute;
as soon as it is touched, it resounds. — De Beranger

"What Moves the Dead" is a dark, atmospheric retelling of "The Fall of the House of Usher" By Edgar Allen Poe that packs quite the punch in a short book. I really ate this up, despite the fact that I swore to myself I’d never read another book about damn mushrooms. The book contains much of the style and embellishes that Poe's does but enhances upon a few key details that its predecessor did not. It is also much more definitive than Poe's was, a plus for any of us who were searching for clarity in our English Literature classes.

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

The narrator is Alex Easton, who returns to the ancestral home of their friend Madeline after receiving a worrying letter. Siblings Madeline and Roderick are described as basically looking like emaciated ghosts, with bone-white skin, thinning hair, and sunken eyes (not creepy at all). I enjoyed all of the characters, especially Alex. I loved the way Alex thought and being in their head as a reader. They possessed a kind of dry and witty humor that I personally found pretty amusing, especially considering the setting and overall mood of the book. It was also interesting to figure things out with them as the story progressed. Miss Potter was also quite the character, intelligent and bold. I also loved the description of the organisms—how the fungi and hares were treated as minor characters, actual living things rather than as ornamentation for the story. Anyways, I had lots of fun with this novella. Definitely gave me "Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia vibes, so I would recommend it to fans of that book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

Never having read The Fall of the House of Usher I opened this book with no expectations. I was interested in the details of the protagonists' experience as a member of the Galician army, and the fascinating identity components thereof. I tore through the story once i reached the halfway point, it starts as a slow burn and ends with pulse racing high tension. The dialogue and relationships in the text are delightful even if it does take its' time; though this I believe could be read as an atmospheric choice.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

This book was definitely shocking. It was so creepy and unsettling I couldn't put it down. As someone who hasn't read the
original Edgar Poe book, the plot twist really surprised me. I loved the characters and their dynamics.
I'd recommend this book to everyone.

Loved this! Similar to Mexican Gothic (read immediately if you haven’t) but beautiful in its own way. A fantastic retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher. Vivid characters, gothic atmosphere, unsettling occurrences, and incredibly funny. Super happy that NetGalley approved my request for an ARC

“What was it, I asked myself, what was it that was so fearful, so frightening in my view of the House of Usher? This was a question to which I could find no answer.” (narrator of The Fall of the House of Usher) Having found this E. A. Poe short story dreary and somewhat confusing, I was delighted that T. Kingfisher finally answered the question – what is so fearful in dismal Ruritania?

Whoa. Answer: Zombie hares, creepy strings of something coming out of fish anuses, white “hairs” covering Roderick and Madeline Usher's bodies! But first the reader is introduced to Alex Easton, a soldier and childhood friend of the Ushers (as in the original), riding through the heavily atmospheric landscape in answer to a desperate plea for help. The house of Usher is surrounded by dark woods matted with fungal growth, aside a luminous lake which seems to breathe.

Kingfisher adds a couple of important characters to Poe's story, Alex's loyal adjutant; Miss Potter (aunt to Beatrice and formidable mycologist); and the perplexed, truly useless doctor, Denton. Alex, the non-binary narrator, uses home country Gallacia's pronouns instead of English ones. As a soldier, Alex's pronoun is “ka.” Pronouns based on responsibility, rather than gender, is a fascinating idea introduced into an otherwise era-authentic version of 1800's Poe-esque narrative.

Thank goodness for the mycologist or the novella's ending would not have resolved in a satisfying way, from my point of view. In its entirety, What Moves the Dead is an en/grossing read.