Ana and Reid are on the hunt for a lucky break. They score an affordable housing jackpot in the fancy Deptford building. Central Park views, swanky architecture – the dream, right? Until weird stuff starts happening. Ana's dealing with post-birth struggles, and the author dives deep into her messy, real-life feelings. Then there's Reid, brushing off oddities as "New York things." But when the baby gets needle-like bite marks, it's not your typical city quirk!

The story keeps you guessing – is it just NYC being its bizarre self, or is there some spooky business going on? The vibe gets real eerie real fast, especially in the posh Deptford building."Nestlings" is a wild ride blending parenthood struggles, city chaos, and a mystery that keeps you on the edge. If you're up for a supernatural rollercoaster with a splash of urban glam, dive in!

Nat Cassidy's Nestlings is a chilling and atmospheric horror novel that takes readers on a descent into the depths of paranoia and dread. Set in a prestigious New York City apartment building known as The Deptford, the story follows Claire, a young woman struggling with postpartum depression and the unsettling behavior of her newborn son, Charlie.

As Claire grapples with her anxieties and the increasing strangeness surrounding her baby, she also becomes suspicious of the other residents of The Deptford. They seem to hold a dark secret, their watchful eyes and whispered conversations hinting at something sinister lurking beneath the surface.

Cassidy masterfully builds suspense through his evocative prose and unsettling imagery. The descriptions of The Deptford's decaying interior and the disturbing behavior of the residents create a palpable sense of unease. The reader is constantly on edge, unsure of what to trust and who to believe.

One of the most effective elements of the novel is the exploration of postpartum depression and its psychological effects. Claire's anxieties and paranoia are vividly portrayed, making her struggles relatable and deeply unsettling. The question of whether the horrors she experiences are real or a manifestation of her mental state adds another layer of complexity to the narrative.

Nestlings is not just a horror story; it is also a commentary on the anxieties of modern parenthood and the challenges of navigating motherhood in a society that often fails to provide adequate support. Claire's isolating experience raises questions about the societal expectations placed on mothers and the lack of understanding surrounding postpartum depression.

Here are some of the things I loved about the novel:

The atmosphere: Cassidy creates a masterfully chilling and suspenseful atmosphere that will leave you feeling on edge.
The exploration of postpartum depression: The novel's portrayal of postpartum depression is both honest and heartbreaking, raising important questions about societal expectations and the need for support.
The characters: The characters are well-developed and complex, each with their own dark secrets and motivations.
The pacing: The pacing is excellent, keeping the reader engaged from beginning to end.
The ending: The ending is satisfying and leaves the reader with something to think about.
Overall, Nestlings is a captivating and disturbing novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is a must-read for fans of psychological horror and anyone who has ever questioned the dark corners of their own minds.

Here are some additional thoughts and considerations:

The novel may be too dark and disturbing for some readers.
The graphic descriptions of violence and postpartum depression may be triggering for some readers.
The novel is relatively short, but the pacing is excellent, and the story is never dull.
If you are looking for a chilling and suspenseful read that will stay with you long after you turn the last page, I highly recommend Nestlings.

Nat Cassidy's "Nestlings" is a captivating journey that transcends the typical horror genre, offering a narrative enriched with introspection and emotional depth. Cassidy's unique approach to storytelling adds layers of complexity, creating a novel that stands out in its ability to blend horror with poignant human experiences.

Reid and Anna's world shatters after the birth of their child, an event that leaves Anna paralyzed. Cassidy skillfully navigates the complexities of their relationship, exploring the profound impact of parenthood on their dynamic. The exploration of resentment, the ebb and flow of caregiving, and the strains on their relationship elevate "Nestlings" beyond conventional horror, infusing it with a rich emotional resonance.

The novel's exploration of the housing lottery sheds light on the harrowing realities of the U.S. housing crisis, offering a stark commentary on the horror faced by everyday people. While not reaching the terrifying levels of a traditional horror novel, Cassidy masterfully weaves a tale that feels eerily close to the bone, making the horror more visceral and relatable.

Overall, Nestlings stood out to me less as a horror novel and more of a commentary on society. One of my favorite parts of Cassidy's writing is the before and after portion where the author discusses some of his inspirations and personal limitations. They add a layer to the story that is seldom achieved by other authors. I found there to be parts that truly gripped you and you could feel your heart race with just a sprinkle of horrific details.

"Nestlings" is not just a horror novel; it's a haunting exploration of despair, desperation, and the unexpected horrors that can emerge from the most mundane aspects of life. Nat Cassidy's narrative prowess and ability to inject raw emotion into the genre make "Nestlings" a standout read, leaving readers with lingering chills and a newfound appreciation for the depths horror can reach.

Ana is struggling after the traumatic birth of her daughter leaves her mentally drained and physically disabled. When she and her husband Reid are chosen in an affordable housing lottery to live in the historic and swanky Deptford building in Manhattan, they take it as an opportunity for a fresh start despite Ana's reservations about living on one of the highest floors as a wheelchair user. When their infant daughter begins exhibiting strange behavior in their new home, Ana becomes increasingly concerned as she notices that the Debtford has many unexplained oddities.

I don't want to give away too much, but I can say that this skin-crawling, spine-tingling novel will have you squirming as you turn the pages to see the price that must be paid to live in one of the most desirable buildings in Manhattan.

The story also turns out to be an unexpected exploration of the meaning of motherhood, with post-partum depression, childhood parental relationships, and the angst of first-time motherhood playing a significant role in the plot.

This is the first book I've read by this author and absolutely loved it! It was gripping, socking at times, and I found myself not wanting to put it down! Pacing was a little slow at times but I didn't mind it. Modern horror novel at it's best!

I love Nat Cassidy. It started with Mary and continues with Nestlings. I felt like I was back in NYC, and as a former resident I GET IT! There's no way you'd pass up a housing opportunity like this. The characters were alive and believable and the plot! I won't spoil anything, but this book is a big, big hit for horror fans like myself.

An intriguing take on some well worn tropes, Nestling doesn't reinvent the wheel here, but once it gets rolling it's a fascinating ride. The way it builds tension is quite impressive, and from chapter one it's a book that gets its hooks into you.

WOW!!!! This is horror to a tee! I absolutely loved the creepy tension and atmosphere of the book. You get that creepy gut feeling that you know something isn't quite right and you just can't stop reading!!!

I have read many horror books that are honestly just lame. If you're looking for a creepy, shocking, dark, and just unpredictable horror then look no further. Seriously, it's that good! This book has the perfect vivid descriptions and you envision yourself right there in the story which adds a whole level of creepiness.

I swear you will not be able to put this book down!!! This was my first book by Nat Cassidy and it for sure will not be my last. If he isn't on your radar and you're. a horror fan than definitely get on Cassidy's train. I can't wait to see what creepy book he comes out with next!!!

5/5 stars

Thank you so much to netgalley and Tor Nightfire for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 10/31/23.
Published to GR: 12/3/23

Among the gothic revival buildings of New York City is the illustrious Deptford. A building with a rich history that no one quites knows, and a eerie sense of foreboding. For a young couple with a new baby, winning a lottery for a spot in this gorgeous building in the heart of Manhattan should be a dream come true. If that's the case, why does it feel so wrong? From the very beginning, everything about the building fills the reader with a sense of foreboding and unease. And the more you read the more the paranoia builds, for the charaters and for the reader.

I read this book in spurts over a holiday and when I wasn't reading the book I was thinking about what was going to happen in the book and trying to piece together the story in my mind before I returned to reading. While I have not read anything from Nat Cassidy previously, I very much look forward to any future books. Any horror book that can linger in my mind and in my dreams is well worth the read, and Nestlings is that type of horror. Even when the book was over I felt restless and like it wasn't resolved. This nagging tickles at the back of my mind kept saying, "the book may be over but the story keeps playing out in my mind."

5/5 Stars.

I'm from New York, so I'm always excited to see a book set in my home city. And while Nestlings largely takes place in a singular isolated building, Cassidy still manages to capture so many little details of the city. The unique people, the small stores tucked into corners, even the Mitzvah tanks that drive around, so much heart is put into the setting. To no surprise, however, the real star of the setting is the building itself.

Each element, from the individual apartments and the strange dark hallways to the courtyard and the gargoyles clinging to the stone walls, is unsettling in its own way while still feeling cohesive enough to become a single terrifying entity.

Cassidy absolutely nails the horror elements. Enough details are layered in to make you entirely aware that something is wrong, while still remaining subtle to create a slow build to the eventual reveal. The combination of physical alterations to the building and psychological horror to the minds of the characters is perfectly balanced. Even as the characters realize that something is wrong, they are slowly being influenced to keep them from leaving too soon. I love the way that Cassidy takes a classic monster and creates something so incredibly unique through the inspiration of Jewish mythology. I can probably count on one hand the amount of times I've read books with Judaic mythology mixed in, and this is probably my favorite one so far.

The horror is, by itself, amazing, but the element that makes this book truly special is the themes woven throughout. I, personally, identify as more culturally Jewish than religiously, and I love how much soul and heart clearly went into the creation of the characters' Jewish identity. It's nuanced and personal, and understands how much further Judaism expands past just religion.

The two main themes of the book, disability and motherhood, are equally as complex and explored to a much further extent. Our main character, Ana, is a woman whose recent childbirth left her largely paralyzed from the waist down. Throughout the entire book, she struggles to figure out what to do and who she is now that everything has changed. There is no single answer, no clear epiphany at the end that solves everything. Motherhood isn't easy, disability can't be solved by a single pill and some exercises, and Cassidy never shies away from the darkest parts of both. But he also allows the beauty of both to shine through in the form of Ana, who never stops fighting. She faces terrifying physical monsters while battling the demons of her own mind, and is forced to make choices that left me reeling.

Despite the monsters and the mythology, Nestlings is, at its core, a human story. And I will forever be grateful that I made the choice to read it.

4.5* rounded up didn't like as much as "Mary" but it was so well put together that I had to round up.

I don't think I could really summarize it better than the synopsis already says "combination of Rosemary's Baby and Salems Lot" sign me up! Now I've seen/read enough stuff that compares itself to Rosemarys baby to be cautious but this isn't a replication or a sad attempt to reinvent the wheel, this just carries the vibes of those stories through this one and made something really unique and special. The afterward actually made me cry, great read.

And happy book birthday to NESTLINGS by @catnassidy ! Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher @tornightfire for the e-ARC.

This book is a perfect amalgamation of the phrases, "Nothing in life is free" and "Too good to be true." You think to yourself, should these people really take the "lottery" they just won for the penthouse apartment in a fancy but old NY building that they could never afford on their own without a generous discount? With a new baby and new medical needs and expenses, this could be a real lifesaver financially. And then you think, if you were in that position, would you be able to say no to such an offer either??

As the characters start to fall into the abyss of horror that they just willingly walked into, you can't help but feel like you are watching the beginning of a trainwreck that you will not be able to look away from because you have to know, in the end, what is the root of it all. The story draws you into a familiar creature horror story with a very unfamiliar flair. In the end, the punches kept coming and I read fervently to the horrifying yet satisfying conclusion.

This was an atmospheric book much like Cassidy's last, (Mary: An Awakening of Terror - those desert vibes were strong!), in that you could smell the old New York apartment mold, feel the breeze through the old, worn construction, and hear every spine-tingling creek and bump in the night! I found my stomach clenching at times, wanting to scream to the characters to run/roll away from their "neighbors" who seemed so kindly and welcoming, and so very old.

I thought Cassidy did a great job of showing the constraints of a wheelchair user (definitely added to the trapped feeling) without allowing the tropes of helplessness and pity to enter the room.

This was a visceral experience and I am so excited to see what Mr. Cassidy cooks up next as I have really enjoyed these last two!

THIS ONE IS ON SHELVES TODAY! So get out there and get yourself a treat for Halloween!

Right off the bat, you get Rosemary’s Baby vibes from the very first chapter – but if you have read Riley Sager’s Lock Every Door, then you’ll also feel like the gargoyles are vaguely familiar (although here they have a bigger role).

Ana and Reid with their baby Charlie, win some kind of apartment lottery and happen to get one at one of the most luxurious buildings in Manhattan – however there’s a catch 22, as the building is rumored to have brought upon much bad luck to the tenants that live there. The building is wrapped in mystery as not many books are written about it, safe for one that Reid finds in a used book store that he quickly becomes obsessed with.

The novel is gripping, chilling, and with a very unexpected ending (although I do love that Cassidy went down the route he did). Nestlings captures you with a claustrophobic clutch and doesn’t let go until you reach the very end. My only tiny gripe with the novel is that between the major reveal and the end, it kinda began to move slower, but I kept on reading because I wanted to know how it would end for these characters.

This a must-read if you love creepy horror, verging on the terrifying. The images are really dark, and at times downright sickening – which I loved, so if you’re into that sort of horror you will love this too.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I was hooked from the first page. A very relatable and engrossing story about a copule whom after a series of unfortunate events, hit an exclusive apartment lottery many can only dream off. Get ready for major scares and incredible writing by “Mary’s” Nat Cassidy. Absolutely recommend.

Thank you Tor Nightfire #partner for gifting me a copy and @macmillan.audio @netgalley for the audiobook! Shoutout to @cassandracampbell for the amazing narration!🙌
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Ana and Reid can’t seem to catch a break with life from a series of unfortunate events that happen to them. So when they win a housing lottery for the Deptford Apartment, a high rise building in New York City, they can’t believe their luck…almost. Ana keeps hearing a voice that 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑑𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒... but Reid dismisses it and Ana goes along with Reid. After all, they’d do anything to get away from their racist current landlord. However once they move to the new apartment with baby in tow, a chain of events tornado through their lives testing their marriage, parenthood and sanity.

I want to start off saying that I’ve read quite a lot of reviews that (unintentionally, I think) reveal a major plot point/spoiler on what really goes on at the Deptford. So do yourself a favor and go in blind to experience the reveal yourself.

Nestlings had so many layers to unpack on physical disability, caregiving, postpartum depression and living with constant trauma with an awful landlord and barely getting by all while raising a toddler. Nat Cassidy, the genius that he is, handled all these heavy subjects with flair. I also enjoyed reading about the Jewish rituals and went down the rabbit hole of googling words mentioned in the book and related folklore! His afterword was an emotional rollercoaster in and of itself. I cannot recommend this book enough to all horror fans out there. This book is definitely making it to my top 10 list of fav books I read this year. Now I just need to pick his backlist, 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑦.

"Oh you like Rosemary's Baby? 'Salem's Lot? Just wait until you read Nestlings by Nat Cassidy. It's about the curse and revelation of survival. About the intense emotional complexity of family. It's also about super weird superstar vampires. And it's just so funny and smart. This is the horror book of the year."-Erika T. Wurth, author of White Horse

After struggling for months, Ana and Reid receive their lucky break when chosen for the New York affordable housing lottery. Not only were they chosen, their new apartment is in the beautiful and mysterious Deptford building. A building with a rich history of beautiful architecture and celebrity residents. Ana and Reid have been struggling since the complicated birth of their daughter Charlotte left Ana paralyzed - so this is just the fresh start their new family needs, right?
As Ana and Reid move into the Deptford we get a glimpse into their daily struggles adjusting to their new normal since Ana's injury. This is all told while building a creepy atmosphere of bumps in the night, a neighbor that is deeply unsettling, and most disturbingly the strange behaviors of Charlotte. I felt such parental dread reading this book, in fact, one night I jolted awake from a nightmare that was directly related to the happenings in this story. (Well done, Nat Cassidy)
This story is so well told. I love how we learned the history of Ana and Reid without compromising the pacing of the story. This story got in my head and under my skin. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn't stop reading.
The author's note at the end of the book is so raw and beautiful. It made me love this book even more, please read it.
If you enjoy a creepy story, this one is not to be missed.

Thank you to @netgalley @tornightfire and @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy of this book.

“We don't belong here.” The opening line to Nestlings, by Nat Cassidy, sets the tone for everything that's about to follow.

Ana, Reid, and their newborn are living in New York. They entered a housing lottery as a joke but have just won. This means they're able to move into The Deptford, one of the most upscale apartment buildings in New York City.

This feels like it's exactly the lucky break they need. Childbirth was excruciating, it left Ana in a wheelchair. They're adjusting and coping but truth be told they're barely making it through.

They and their city are trying to heal after having survived the pandemic but there's loss and grief and the weight of what they've gone through hanging over every place, everything and every person.

If this is the place to help turn things around, it will need some adjustments to make it more accessible.

Accessibility isn't their biggest problem though, they just don't know that yet.

The Deptford has its secrets. Some you'll find in a book that was published then forgotten about. Others behind rumours that make the news in one way or another. And other secrets are there, waiting for you, in the darkened staircases, the quiet hallways, the uncanny smiles and looks from the front desk and from the elevator operator, the gargoyles that the building is known for, perched outside, watching, taking it all in.

Nestlings is an unnerving and well crafted exploration of what it means to belong. When you live at the Deptford, there truly is no place like home, and clicking your heels together won't wake you up in your safe space.

I don’t understand why I don’t see this one all over booktok, because it’s amazing. It’s horrifying and the writing is brilliant. Highly recommend if you are in a spooky mood.

This book is definitely going to be in my top reads of 2023!!

Ive been having great luck this year with thrillers and horror- I rated this 5 stars! I did it completely on audio- the narration was great. It’s unsettling not because it's in your face gore the entire time- because it’s modern horror set in a recognizable world, it feels like the things that happen here could really happen. Great read by an author to watch.

This book blew me out of the water. I LOVED this unique story. When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about this book. I was obsessing over the characters and plot.