re women monsters? How do they evolve in a monstrous world that won’t let them be anything but? These are the questions posed by Lucy A. Snyder in her novel Sister, Maiden, Monster, a post-COVID story that combines pandemic and cosmic horror through a feminist lens. The story unfolds in three sections, through the eyes of three very different women and how they change in a brand new world.

When the apocalypse comes, a mysterious virus turns people into monsters. Erin is a closeted woman who becomes sick with the new disease and changes irrevocably with a taste for women and their brains. Mareva becomes prone to tumors that are more sinister than they appear at first. Savannah is a professional BDSM switch who needs to commit murder for sexual satisfaction.

The effects of the virus on the world are extreme. Monsters, bizarre and amorphous, populate the world as seen through the eyes of our main characters. The story slowly unfolds as Snyder links their personal Odysseus to a changing, ever more bizarre and dangerous world.

Each woman in this book struggles to find her place and adjust to the changes within them. Unfortunately, change is not always easy and may often be deadly. The most difficult sections are when the book becomes a bit lost in its own world-building, but the strong characterization more than makes up for it.

Unfortunately, Sister, Maiden, Monster ends somewhat abruptly, in the midst of a rather climactic moment that leaves the reader wanting more. Hopefully, more will be awaiting us in a world where the line between women and monsters is so beautifully blurred.

Weird, visceral horror! An Earth-changing event makes life on our planet so changed that besides widespread annihilation, the human species is changing into horrific monsters. I will be watching for more from Lucy A Snyder. Excellent horror novel!

Dark and creepy, a mixture of Lovecraftian and Biblical horror guaranteed to have you saying "what the fuck" while eagerly turning the page. Inspired partially by the Covid pandemic, Sister, Maiden, Monster begins with Erin, a closeted bi woman, succumbing to a terrible illness that leaves her craving brains while being exposed to the casual monstrosity and misogyny of the American healthcare system. The horror elements ratchet up rapidly, with abundant gore and nightmares. This is not a story for the faint of stomach. As eldritch horrors rise, Erin's path intersects with those of other women living lives of quiet horror and desperation, until all is silent except the monstrous body horror of pregnancy. Lurid and rich while disturbing on an epic level, Sister, Maiden, Monster is a good fit for fans of Cassandra Khaw or Steven Graham Jones.

Final rating: 4.5

This is one of the most messed up books I’ve read in a long time, and I loved every minute of it! This takes place after the COVID pandemic, and the world is now facing an apocalyptic plague that gives people a craving for blood or brains. It starts off as a fairly tame horror, but as things progress it quickly gets more and more twisted. It’s safe to say I will never look at cephalopods the same way again, that’s for sure! The ending will leave you staring at the final page in disbelief. There also a lot of timely commentary about American society and how messed up everything has gotten. If you’re a fan of body horror, this is 100% the book for you!
“And even though I’m chronically ill, and chronically a danger to my community and myself, the world still expects people like me to make it to work on time…be a productive member of the economy or die; it’s the American way.”

Oh, my sweet eldritch masters, this was so good!

Just as the world has recovered from COVID-19 a new virus explodes across the world, a stomach flu with extreme symptoms… for those fortunate enough to survive it.

This apocalyptic horror story is centered around three women who have very different experiences after they are infected with PVG, polymorphic viral gastroencephalitis. As their stories converge and interconnect more details about the virus are uncovered. A sinister mastermind lurks in the shadows until the very last minute, but if you are paying attention it won’t come as a great surprise.

I am conflicted about the ending. It is very abrupt and I am unsure if this is the start of a series or just a wild open ending.

Recommended for: horror readers or science fiction readers that can handle body horror

Content warning: gore; murder; violence; body horror

Like the protagonists, this book kept changing in upsetting ways (this is a plus in horror). Claustrophobic COVID fiction? Maybe. Oh wait, I see where this is going, got some political oppression and maybe zombies?. Lovecraft/Chambers reference? Sure, why not. Corruption? Well, that is kind of the theme. Squicky guro sexual practices? Yeah, it's a little graphic, but that's in the description.

The writing is tight. The characters are intertwined in interesting/disturbing ways. I liked them all (at least at points). It wasn't so much scary as a viscerally disturbing ride. But I enjoyed it. Definitely should not have read it right before bed because didn't need some of that imagery in my head.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for allowing me to read this advanced reader copy and provide an honest review.

That said, what in the heck did I just read? This is one of those horror novels that tries to say a lot about society through the lens of horror, but I feel like there are SO MANY topics, that most just get glossed over. I honestly couldn't tell you the point the author was trying to make.

This novel, which aims to shock and awe its reader on numerous levels (and might just be trying a bit too hard to do so), follows three interconnected stories about three different women. In the wake of the COVID pandemic, a new virus seeks to ravage the world. The level of uncertainty and fear surrounding the new virus certainly brings to mind the early days of the pandemic and taps into that little bit of trauma that we all have. The science behind the new cosmic-horror virus (including the little tidbits of the medical podcast) was wonderful. The mystery surrounding the virus helped to escalate the plot and provide delicious tension.

The first story in the novel was reminiscent of Monster by Christopher Pike; a book I read in my youth that absolutely cemented horror as a genre I enjoy to this day. The second portion, I did not enjoy and almost stopped reading as the reader hangs with a sociopath who has a sexual response to murder. The third portion enhanced the plot and took the body horror up to eleven as the apocalypse draws ever closer, which I enjoyed. Unfortunately, I feel like the plot was incredibly confusing in the end. I am left with so many questions, and not in a good way that makes me ponder these questions on my own. I feel like I don't have enough information to even try. The ending felt rushed and it felt as if the plot was only half-realized. Again, I honestly think it would have been better to expand on the third segment and mostly eliminate the second. I also think that ending the story in the head of the person who knows the LEAST about what is happening was not one that I enjoyed. I did like the end; I love a good uncertain ending in a horror book.

I feel like most body horror readers will greatly enjoy this book, but it was not for me.

Wow! Splatterpunk at it's finest. The book was gory, but it fell flat for me at the end. The first 90% of the book had me hooked, but then it just seemed to be over. Like the author ran out steam or ideas. Maybe there will be a sequel??

WTF what a weird, disturbing story?? I enjoyed it??! I THINK?!?!

What I liked:
- I looooved the plot and all of the weirdness + grossness
- the scifi/horror bits were SO GOOD I was making a horrified face and updating my husband about the plot in real time because I simply had to discuss
- I enjoyed that the eldritch gods/Cthulu monsters weren't explained to death. Let them keep their secrets

What I didn't enjoy:
- What is with all the Dahmer references? It makes me feel like I should give this a three... it felt cheap. I really, really hated it.
- most of the characters felt like they didn't have much to them. they also felt a bit... not lived in? I know some books go this route and it works, but it felt like something was missing when done here

One of the most gross and most weird books I’ve ever read. I loved it. First half was better for me but overall still really enjoyed!

the feminist aspect of the book didn't feel very incorporated. it felt thrown in. the ending wasn't for me.

This book will absolutely not be for everyone.

If you have trigger warnings, they’re probably in here. The author gives us a world that’s stark, grotesque, raw and kind of hopeless. It’s very graphic, with everything that entails, and pulls absolutely no punches.

Yet, it’s also compelling, sometimes rage-inducing, and a very good story.

Apocalyptic with cosmic touches and badass women.

It rocks.

Definitely approach with caution, but for the right reader, it’s kind of sublime.

• ARC via Publisher

I enjoyed the idea of this book, but I couldn't maintain interest. Some of the observations/parallels used to show how society treats women were too glaring for my tastes - I prefer them to be subtly woven into the story rather than expressed overtly by the characters thoughts/speech.

Holy cannoli, I don't know what I was expecting when I opened this book, but I was in for a WILD ride. SISTER, MAIDEN, MONSTER is a post-pandemic, apocalyptic, eldritch horror festival of a book. Think COVID but way... way... WAY... worse. The body horror and slow, creeping sense of your own physical self slowly turning against you is mesmerizing in the best and worst ways possible.

If you're at all squeamish, then this book may not be the best choice for you. But if you enjoy (perhaps "enjoy" isn't the right word) truly visceral horror, characters with strong internal voices, and being thrown for about a million loops in one sitting, I highly recommend it. I was sucked in from the moment I started reading and didn't stop until I literally couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. My brain is still trying to process it. It's entirely possible I may never be the same again.

5 stars. I wouldn't disappoint the Old Gods with anything less.

Big thank you to Tor Nightfire, Lucy A. Snyder, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I am absolutely in love with this wild and disgusting book! I'm honestly sad that it's already over - I want more. The descriptions of the horror and gore in this book were awesome. Having three different POVs taking us through this journey and tying it all together in the end kept me engaged in the story from start to finish.

If you're looking for something gross and weird but also incredibly fun - I highly recommend you check this book out.

I loved almost everything about this - the structure, the vicious inventiveness, I slammed through it in a day! However, I do think it needed another editing pass - it seems full of vestigial organs of abandoned revisions, perhaps? It's great but could be tighter. Definitely for fans of Hailey Piper.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this e-arc.

I switched from egalley to the audiobook version of this title. I'll be posting my review shortly for the book. Thank you!!

Is your wildest dream a novel in which an apocalyptic pandemic overtakes society and culminates in a select few completing a transformation into creatures of Biblical proportions? Then buckle up, buttercup because I've got some 'splainin to do.

Sister, Maiden, Monster follows a global apocalypse caused by a virus with several manifestations to varying degrees, some of which are nods to traditional paranormal creatures like vampires and zombies, but the references to biblically accurate angelic creatures are impossible to ignore and, well, I loved that aspect regardless of how horrifying it was. "Fear not!" and all that jazz, you know.

The story focuses on three consecutive protagonists navigating the changes caused by the apocalypse, with their paths and relationships connecting in interesting ways. The book is filled with death and gore, and the body horror is abundant and written well (points added). The social commentary is a bit sloppy, and the character diversity as well as the gender and sexuality representation were present in some ways but still lacking in my opinion . However, what kept fully removing me from the story was the author's penchant for ancient Tumblrspeak (i.e. 'sexy times' and 'did me a concern'- points lost and I'm only mostly joking).

I did, through it all, end up liking the book and I found the characters interesting. The suspense was well written as well as, again, the horror of it all. So many WTF WTF WTF moments, I could never count them all!

I was given the opportunity to listen to an ALC of this book as well as reading an ebook, and I think this one may be better suited to print/page. The audiobook is well-narrated, but the voices are not distinct enough to differentiate the three protagonists and that made things a bit more confusing.

Thanks so much to Tor Nightfire as well as Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of its publication in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thanks you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC of this book!

Another horror book that leaves you saying "what the hell did I just read", but in a good way. Years after Covid, another pandemic hits but this one is horrific and changes the world entirely. The book is split into three sections, each following a woman that is affected in a different way by the disease. Erin's story really pulls you in because you don't know what's going on, and each moment with her just gets more and more terrifying. The last section was what ties everything together and we find out what's happening to the world. I wish there was a little more at the end, and maybe an epilogue of some kind to wrap it up. There is quite a bit of body horror in this, so keep that in mind before picking it up.