Man, this is the second time in the last few months that I've been floored by a Nat Cassidy story. I absolutely loved Mary – it was super weird and scary and hit just the right notes of everything I love about horror. Nestlings is every bit as good.

It’s completely different from Mary, but is written in the same way, with a sense of unease right from the beginning, humming with a tension that builds in smart and unexpected ways. When things start to escalate, it gets terrifying and so, so good. He really does a good job writing characters who you’re rooting for who are facing unbelievably fucked up situations.

Going into this one as blind as possible is the best way to go, so I won’t say much more. I cannot wait to see what Cassidy does next.

It’s a very, very enthusiastic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.

This one drops on 🎃HALLOWEEN🎃, which is just **chef’s kiss**.

Gadzooks! What a creepy read!

Ana and Reid and their baby girl, Charlie, win a lottery to be eligible to move in to the famous and secretive Deptford Apartment Building in Manhattan.

The family has had a rough year, Ana is wheelchair bound after Charlie’s difficult birth, Reid lost his mother and hates his job, the pandemic hit hard and their landlord is a harasser. They jump at this opportunity of a new and exciting life.

But HOLY MOLEY, the Deptford has its secrets and weird AND CREEPY shit starts to happen.

Cassidy is incredibly skilled at layering the creep factor. Readers can see how Ana and Reid and Charlie are each experiencing the little multiplying horrors of their new home, but are they paranoid? Over-reacting? In denial? Hallucinating? The story builds and builds and does NOT. LET. GO.

The synopsis states Nestlings is a little Rosemary’s Baby, a little Salems Lot. And this is true.

This is one of the most anxiety-inducing, tense, creepy and thrilling books I have read this year. It comes out on Halloween and I recommend reading it ON THAT DAY.

I recently read Nat's book 'Mary' & I LOVE both of them. Focusing on 'Nestlings,' the monsters are interesting - I think they would look cool in film. Ana & her husband are inexplicably human, capable of being terrible as well as wonderful. I like how they were at the end but it's crazy how it happened. I have an easier time wrapping my head around the monsters than the choices one of them made. Such is life. Did I mention I devoured this in 2 days? This book could definitely be triggering for some people, but trigger warnings are in the beginning. The nature of horror IS to trigger, & maybe I'm biased - but I think things relating to motherhood can be especially triggering. It's all so incredibly fragile. The desire to have a baby, your mind & body working against you, society working against you, the medical system working against you, the reality of caring for a child, relationship problems.... Fortunately, Nat & the people in his corner did a great job with the topic.I can't wait to see what he does next

If anyone was going to pull me out of a months long reading slump, you KNOW it was gonna be Nat Cassidy!

I have been so excited to read Nestlings and I was lucky enough to receive a review copy from @netgalley, so shout out to them and @tornightfire. That being said…let’s get into it.

Nestlings follows two new parents as they move into a very bizarre apartment building in Manhattan after winning a housing lottery. Though the accommodations for wife and mother Ana’s disability are lacking, her husband Reid is is enamored with the historic building and they ultimately move in with their soon-to-be one year old daughter, Charlie. Reid feels as though he’s on top of the world. And while his interest in the Deptford building slowly devolves into obsession, Ana is left at home with an increasingly agitated infant and a lot of questions. Who keeps opening Charlie’s bedroom window? Why does the floor they live on seem to be empty? And is it all in her head?

This book was incredible. Obviously. You knew I would say that. It’s difficult for me to put into words why except that Cassidy can capture the pain and beauty of womanhood in a way that I have never experienced from a male author. Ana experienced a horribly traumatic birth after a difficult conception and is not settling into motherhood very easily. I think a lot of mothers can relate. I know I can. And even though Ana’s issues with postpartum depression were at the center of the story, so was her fierce dedication to her daughter.

This book was gross and weird and unsettling, but it was also so much fun. Especially towards the end. The comparisons to Rosemary’s Baby and Salem’s Lot are apt, but the whole time I was reading it I was reminded a lot of the movie The Society and that only became more true the longer I read.

There are really gross things described in this book, but I feel that it’s on the cozier end of horror. It reminded me of all of my favorite comfort scary movies and I think it would be a great book to keep your heart rate slightly elevated during the colder fall nights. I can’t wait for my physical copy to come so I can re-read it!

5/5 creepy stone gargoyles.

Nestlings releases 10/31.

A solid New York City horror novel by the author of Mary, Young parents Reid and Ana have won a housing lottery to get an apartment in a legendary dream building. After birth complications left Ana paralyzed, it’s perhaps a sign of good luck. However, once they move in, weird things start to happen making Ana wonder what is really going on at the Depford. Delivery drivers won’t enter the building, there are strange sounds, their daughter beings tobec9me more fussy than ever, and Ana is convinced she saw someone outside their daughter’s window.

This novel does have echoes of Rosemary’s Baby and has a 70’s horror movie feel to it. However, unlike Rosemary’s Baby, the couple in this story are Jewish and Judaism infuses the book, creating a different kind of vampire novel. There is more Jewish horror coming out and it’s a welcomed trend. Reframing vampires outside of their usual Christian frame work makes for a refreshing change.

A book that would please horror fans as well as those who are fans of psychological suspense, there is an increasing sense of unease and dread that builds as you read. The reader begins to share Ana’s fears which also makes the book hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the advanced copy of this book!

I started my Halloween reading early this with this creepy "wtf is going on with this building and our neighbors" novel. A couple wins an apartment lottery and moves into a fancy building in the city with their almost one year old child. The view is great, but after they move in more and more unsettling things start happening. Did the gargoyles move? Who left the window open in the baby's room? Why is the elevator operator so creepy? Things are made more complicated by Ana being in a wheelchair after an accident during the birth. While everyone is trying to adjust to life in the new spot, Ana becomes increasingly suspicious of the place and its residents, Reid becomes obsessed with the building and its history, and baby Charlie... has stopped crying but just sort of sits and stares now.

It was a very fun read, and I had absolutely no idea where it was going to go. It felt like an episode of The Twilight Zone or X-Files in the best possible way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for this ARC! This is was a highly anticipated read for me and Nat did not disappoint. I love how Cassidy writes horror and I was a huge fan of his other novel Mary.

I loved how creepy and unsettling this book was! Definitely similar in ways to Rosemarys Baby, but personally I liked this story more.

Can’t wait to read more horror from Nat in the future!!

While it's definitely played out, I think Cassidy handles the "husband doesn't believe their wife that something weird is going on" trope expertly. It's never dragged out too long, and resolves itself in a way that makes the whole thing actually work. Beyond that! This is so creepy and disturbing. It reminds me a bit of some of Stephen King's really good horror novels. I can't wait to see what else Cassidy publishes.

After a particularly complicated birth with her first child, Anna finds herself paralyzed, bitter, full of resentment and stuck in a wheelchair. To make matters worse, her landlord is a class A jerk. So, when an opportunity comes to get an apartment in one of Manhattans most revered buildings, they take it very quickly. However, it isn’t long before strange things start happening. Anna’s husband, Reid dismisses the events, but Anna is paranoid. When their baby has needle like marks, they can’t help but wonder what really is going on. Can they figure it out before it’s too late?

I loved this book so much. It took me a few days to get my review together because I enjoyed it so much, I needed to gather my thoughts and form coherent sentences. This book was the horror book I didn’t know I needed but did. This book was so creepy, and unsettling, but so enjoyable. I loved pretty much everything about this book and wouldn’t change a thing. The plot, the pacing, the writing style, all great.

This is one that has some trigger warnings, and I loved how the author handled them. For me the biggest one to be aware of is dealing with children. I also loved the inclusion of the authors list of books that helped influence this one.

This was my first novel by this author, but it won’t be the last. Thank you @catnassidy for writing an amazing book.

If you are looking for a very creepy and entertaining horror book for spooky season, then check this one out.

Thank you so much to the publisher Tor Nightfire, @tornightfire, and Netgalley, @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Publication Date: October 31, 2023

When I heard that this was a cross between two of my favorite books, "Rosemary's Baby" & "Salem's Lot", I just had to check it out. I did not regret it at all!

Stephen King is one of my favorite authors and reading this book, I definitely saw similarities. That's one of the highest compliments I can give to a horror author.

The feel of this book from the beginning was dark and dismal. There was already so much going against the main characters of this book but the author manipulated my emotions so skillfully that the more I read, the more I wanted everything to work out alright in the end. And what an ending it was (that's all I'm going to say about that).

If this book is any indication of the author's talents, I've found another favorite to add to the list. I suspect I'll be talking about this book quite a bit in the upcoming months. This is a solid addition to any horror reader's collection.

Thank you Tor Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book!

In an uncharacteristic streak of good luck. Reid, Ana, and their baby girl Charlie find themselves offered an opportunity of a lifetime: a luxury apartment in the historical Deptford building of New York City. Despite Charlie's traumatic birth that left her confined to a wheelchair and a harrowing postpartum experience, Ana is determined to let their apartment at the Deptford pave a new way forward for their family. It's stunning, it's elegant.

But there's something else she can't quite put her finger on.

As Reid and Ana settle into their new home, mysterious happenings begin to unearth themselves--but what's real? What isn't?

Echoing silence throughout the building day or night.
Unexplained night terrors from Charlie that soon give way to unnerving apathy.
The sounds of a woman softly crying in the apartment next door.
A gnarled, ghastly face pressed against the glass of Charlie's bedroom window.
The story of a mass suicide nearly a century ago at the Deptford.

Described as a combination of "Salem's Lot" and "Rosemary's Baby," "Nestlings" is a tour-de-force horror novel that just shot up to a book of the year contender for me. Though that description is intriguing enough, I found this book to be much more Ryan Murphy than Stephen King; that's right, lovers of "American Horror Story" (specifically "Hotel"): I'm looking at you.

From very early on, this book was downright terrifying. While I was initially wondering if Cassidy's strong social commentary--while commendable--would end up overshadowing the actual story, I ended up being wrong. "Nestlings" is wonderfully-descriptive, beautifully-crafted, and harrowing in the darkest of ways. For dedicated horror readers, I cannot recommend a spooky season book more highly than this. Proceed with caution, and enjoy the ride.

Rosemary's Baby + Salem's Lot + The Blob + Arachnophobia.

WOW.

I love Rosemary's Baby. The book, the movie, the lore, everything. Nestlings just may be as good, and I can only hope that someone turns this into a movie because just the visuals created in my head while reading aren't enough.

Reid and Ana are ready to move. Their (racist) landlord constantly harasses them and makes living in Brooklyn a nightmare. Ana, in a wheelchair after a 1 in a million incident during the birth of their daughter Charlie, needs more accommodations. After winning a housing lottery, the family moves into The Deptford, one of New York's most beautiful and most famous buildings (think: The Dakota).

From day one, Ana isn't comfortable in the new home. Despite The Deptford making a ton of accommodations for her, they are still on the top floor of the building, and now their daughter constantly crying and uncomfortable.
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This is where I'm going to stop. I think the description of Rosemary's Baby + Salem's Lot is enough of a hint where the story is going......but then again, it's on the tip of the iceberg that is The Deptford. This is not to discount the discussion of religion, of politics, or of postpartum depression or the idea of home, but it's all overpowered by the monolith of The Deptford.
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Nat Cassidy has written a terrifying story of family; of motherhood; of fatherhood; of being Jewish in today's world.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Nat Cassidy has written a strong follow up novel after his impressive debut with Mary. He has a unique ability to balance a well-plotted narrative, strongly defined characters, and difficult topics with grace, complexity, and humor while building dread and horror.

Man, what a solid book. Cassidy creates some wonderfully realized characters. Both Reid and Ana are deeply flawed, but their arcs spin out and collide and separate. They were great, rich individuals and it was intriguing to see them develop. Cassidy managed to create a new take on an old song in the villain that resulted in some (un)wanted feelings of disgust.

This book was amazing! Rosemary's Baby meets Salem's Lot indeed! I greatly enjoyed the sort of classic horror feel combined with the more modern elements (cell phones, audiobook narration as a career, etc), also enjoyed the Jewish aspect. It is also well done that the creature threat is not the only major plot line; the struggle of a deteriorating relationship plays heavily into the narrative. Definitely will be looking to add it to our collection.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for this arc.

In 2022, I had my jaws dropped by Mary which was written by the same author. Mary then became one of the best books I read that year. So I was very curious about Nat Cassidy’s new book and it did not disappoint me.

The story starts with a couple, Anna and Reid, moving to this older historical landmark building in New York City that has been renovated. This is clearly an apartment they couldn’t afford had they not been selected on the affordable housing program. The couple has a baby, Charlie, who is almost one year old. And since of Charlie’s birth Ana has become paralyzed from her waist down.

After they move in to this new apartment things started to change. The baby cries all the time, and sleep deprivation wreaks havoc on their lives and routine. But Anna also starts hearing weird sounds coming from the baby monitor, and starts seeing weird things on Charlie’s bedroom window. Their lives become very dysfunctional and things get creepier and creepier.

While all that is happening, Reid becomes obsessed with the building. Reid is a character I disliked immensely because he dismissed what is going on in the building and dismissed Ana’s anxiety and instincts attributing them to the stress of urban life and parenting a child. This novel had me turning the pages completely blind, not guessing what was going on and the end of the story was a complete shocker to me.

The narrative traps you with one creepy situation after another and another, and another. This story was even freakier than anything I could have possibly imagine. The author’s writing is compelling. Nestlings is a deep dive into the darkest corners of the horror abyss. If you are a a horror aficionado or if you read Cassidy‘s previous book I highly suggest you read this one too.

I'm sure it's just me but I did not like this book. I felt the pacing was off and that it was unflinchingly sad not scary. I wanted to like it - I love Rosemary's Baby but I just couldn't get into it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nat Cassidy and Tor Publishing Group for a digital ARC of The Nestlings in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own (except for any quotations) and may not be reproduced.

“Ana and Reid needed a lucky break.

The horrifically complicated birth of their first child has left Ana paralyzed, bitter, and struggling: with mobility, with her relationship with Reid, with resentment for her baby. That's about to change with the words any New Yorker would love to hear—affordable housing lottery.

They've won an apartment in the Deptford, one of Manhattan's most revered buildings with beautiful vistas of Central Park and stunning architecture.

Reid dismisses disturbing events and Ana’s deep unease and paranoia as the price of living in New York—people are odd—but he can't explain the needle-like bite marks on the baby.”

Despite the synopsis leaving a lot to be desired, it still intrigued me enough to want to give it a read.

As the author stated, this is the perfect marriage of Rosemary’s Baby & Salem’s Lot. This was a fabulous Horror read that will be perfect for the upcoming “Spooky Season.”

This story had my stomach in knots and full of fear and dread with each turn of the page. This story was fully immersive and downright frightful. I will be having nightmares and thinking about this one for quite a while to come.

I definitely recommend to anyone who loves horror and wants a 5-star read!

Nat Cassidy's Nestlings presents an old but new kind of horror. The amount of hidden secrets/the potential danger we tend to ignore behind the mask of 'Not my problem' in NYC is real! How much do we really understand about the history of buildings we work and live next to? How much do we know about the current building we live in (I know I moved in to my current apartment only knowing it was a great deal!)? Do we just accept the norm as given to us because everyone else also accepts it as it is? There are creepy moments, the relatable feelings that we never speak of, and elements of horror that are just so perfectly timed. I absolutely could not put this book down and I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. But please do remember, you will not look at those NYC buildings the same way.

Cover? Amazing. Blurbed as Rosemary’s Baby meets Salem’s Lot? Yes, yes, yes! I’ve actually had Cassidy’s Mary on my TBR since it released and I’ve heard nothing but good things about his writing. I’m happy to report this was just as good and spooky as I wanted it to be.

I loved the rich narrative around a young, damaged couple with a year old baby girl moving into a historic NYC building after winning a housing lottery. They’ve had a tough year and this was just the blessing they needed. Or is it? I felt incredibly unsettled and tense the whole read and got goosebumps reading some of the gruesome scenes. It’s always great when a setting is also a character, it was just super well done. On top of all that, this book was just really fun. It’s ultimately a book about motherhood and grief and if that’s the type of themes you enjoy in horror then I just can’t recommend enough.