What a beautiful, poignant, disturbingly haunting read. Felker-Martin is a master of horror and the human experience; she pulls your deepest secrets to the surface through her beautiful characterization and portrayal of humanity at its worst. Another amazing read!

This creepy, kooky, altogether ooky novel is perfect for Halloween week! This is my second novel from @gretchenfelkermartin and like MANHUNT, CUCKOO does not disappoint. Martin has such a distinct, singular voice for horror novels and this weird, wonderful book has completely creeped me out while reading before bed the past few nights! It’s about a Christian conversion camp (scary stuff already!) that sends the kids back home different than they were before.. but not in the ways you suspect. The prologue to the book could be a short story itself and it just gets better.

Manhunt was fantastic and Cuckoo is too. I loved getting my hands on this book and I absolutely devoured it.

Cuckoo is a phenomenal, gory, heart-wrenching book that made me feel all the feelings! Gretchen Felker-Martin has a brilliant way of telling a story and creating complex, messy, and honest characters. This story is perfect for lovers of queer horror, coming-of-age, and action.

It’s the 90s, and deep in the Utah desert lies a conversion camp for LGBTQIAP+ kids. With some “tough love,” they return home completely different people. Five kids, worked to the bone in this camp soon realize that something is lurking in the mountains, and it’s not just the hard work that changes them.

I started this one as an ebook, got about halfway through, put it down, and then picked up the audiobook a couple of weeks later. Though I enjoyed it well enough, it felt long. I might not have finished if not for the audiobook. I loved the premise, though, and I liked the characters well enough. Always here to give queer horror a shot.

Cuckoo is a visceral, unsettling horror novel that explores queer identity and societal prejudice. Set in 1995 at a conversion camp, it follows seven LGBTQ+ teens as they endure harrowing abuse both human and otherworldly. The eerie, oppressive atmosphere builds slowly, enveloping readers in the characters’ trauma and the grotesque reality they face. Felker-Martin's sensory, nightmarish writing is striking, though some readers might struggle with the pacing and the large cast of characters. Beneath the horror, the book delivers a powerful commentary on the cruelty faced by queer youth in a world that rejects them. This is a gripping and unforgettable story, though not for the faint-hearted. I will definitely read more from this author.

this was a disappointment because manhunt is one of my favorite horror books in recent memory, so I was really looking forward to cuckoo! unfortunately, they lost me with the insane amount of POVs that left me constantly confused as to who was speaking. the first half of the book was more fun than the second half which just turned into an alien version of IT by stephen king. not a hit on my end, and it makes me so sad to say so!

This had an incredibly strong beginning and it was very violent and amazingly horror. However, although I enjoy multiple POV's, this novel simply had way too many going at one time - so much so that it was a little hard to keep track of this huge cast of characters. I enjoyed the first half of the book way more than the second portion, and that's unfortunate because this book truly packs in the horror and I do like that a lot about it.

I adore the fact that Felker-Martin is so unafraid to provoke, all the nasty squelching violence and transgression in her worlds… but also sometimes even I find myself a bit repulsed. Which is a strength and a weakness, to be sure! This is an important over her first book, in my opinion, and I think she’s well on her way to becoming one of America’s most important horror authors, if she isn’t already.

I had trouble distinguishing/keeping track of each POV character in the beginning because their voices sounded so similar, but that may have been a me problem. Some gross ass scenes, some teary-eyed moments, the Gretchen Felker-Martin special right here.

4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for an eARC in exchange for an honest (if delayed) review.

CUCKOO by @gretchenfelkermartin made me feel like I always had to look over my shoulder! Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publishers, @macmillanaudio and @tornightfire for the physical ARC and the audio-ARC.

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There is something very wrong at Camp Resolution. Not only is this an insidious pray-away-the-gay situation, but kids are disappearing. A rag-tag group of queers and other parental disappointments make a plan to escape, but not before they find out what is really happening which will haunt them all for a long while.

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Body horror, social horror and psychological horror, oh my! There were some really raw emotions in this one and I was pretty compelled until it kinda lost me about 70% through as the story derailed fairly suddenly into a later timeline which threw me for a loop. All in all I did find a lot of emotion, meaning and grit in this story and was here for the ending, I just had to get over that disjointed feeling.

The audiobook was very well done as well with multiple actors narrating the story. Was very wrapped up in the conflict and desperation they imbued with their storytelling.

If you like stories like THE STEPFORD WIVES or THE INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, this one will likely be right up your alley.

What is your favorite type of bird? Mine are probably corvids. So smart! But if I am being honest I am also pretty terrified of getting on their bad side!!🫣

💚SMASHBOT💚

#reader #booknerd #bookreview #netgalley #tornightfire #macmillanaudio #gretchenfelkermartin #queerhorror #queerbooks #booknerd #netgalleyreviewer #horrorbooks #horrorlover #bibliophile #booksta #booksofig #readersofig

Cuckoo follows a group of campers at a gay conversion camp. Kidnapped per the order of their parents and put to hard labor and forced to take disorienting classes they find themselves at the center of a plot even more evil than they originally thought. A more sinister supernatural plot is at play that puts the already nasty human evil to shame. I will say, this book has a bunch of characters in it, and they all have backstories and distinct personalities that inform how they all engage with each other. So if plots with a large cast of characters tends to confuse you, this one will probably be difficult to follow for you. Overall, I liked this a lot. It’s original, brutal, visceral, and at times very poignant and for the most part I really liked all of the characters. I didn’t see this being more cosmic horror, which isn’t my genre at all, but I thought it was a really solid addition to the genre and the descriptive language used in all of the horror imagery is so well done and gross and creepy. Just nasty. I have one fairly large complaint though. I kept looking up Goodreads reviews like 25% of the novel because I was so disturbed with the ways characters felt about fatness. The way some of them discuss fatness, and how fatness defines certain characters really bothered me. The characters do evolve and change the way they perceive fatness later, but still. Anyway, it seems like it’s just me who felt that way, so maybe read it yourself and form your own opinion.

My review is posted on my instagram @boozehoundbookclub

**3.5 out of 5 stars**

*Dark, Unsettling, and Provocative*

Gretchen Felker-Martin's *Cuckoo* is a novel that pulls no punches, diving headfirst into the brutal and nightmarish world of conversion therapy camps in the mid-1990s. This extreme horror story, centered on a group of queer teens, is as disturbing as it is thought-provoking, filled with moments that will make you squirm in your seat and reflect long after you've turned the last page.

Set in 1995, *Cuckoo* follows a diverse cast of characters who find themselves trapped in a conversion camp where the horrors are not just psychological, but physical and deeply visceral. Felker-Martin doesn't shy away from the grotesque, using it as a tool to explore the devastating effects of a world that seeks to erase queer identities. The novel is unrelenting in its depiction of trauma and survival, making it a difficult read at times, but one that feels brutally honest.

The strength of *Cuckoo* lies in its raw and unapologetic storytelling. Felker-Martin's prose is sharp and evocative, pulling the reader into the chaotic and terrifying reality faced by the characters. However, this same intensity can be overwhelming, and at times, the narrative feels almost too relentless, leaving little room for moments of reprieve or reflection. The result is a story that is as exhausting as it is impactful.

While *Cuckoo* is undeniably powerful, it's not for everyone. The graphic content and relentless pacing may be off-putting to some readers. Additionally, the narrative's heavy focus on the horrors faced by the characters can overshadow the more nuanced aspects of the story, leaving certain themes feeling underexplored.

In the end, *Cuckoo* is a harrowing and important read that tackles the darkest corners of queer experience with a fearless hand. It may not be an easy book to love, but it's one that demands attention and thought. If you're prepared for a challenging and intense journey, *Cuckoo* will not disappoint, even if it leaves you feeling unsettled and yearning for a bit more depth in its quieter moments.

I struggled with this one. The opening was fantastic -- I loved the point of view from the hypocritical, religious mother character, and the growing dread as she realizes something is wrong with her daughter. It was creepy and engrossing. From there, the book lost me a bit.

Once we got into the teen characters, I had a hard time telling them apart or getting into their stories -- the points of view were all a bit too similar for me. Felker-Martin is a fantastic writer at painting a gruesome picture but I think Cuckoo also got a bit too dark for me. So much of the book felt hopeless and the constant comparisons of things to gross bodily functions just wasn't for me. Although I'm a big horror reader, her writing might be just too dark for me.

I would suggest this one to others, however -- it's just not a book I wanted to continue reading myself.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I have described this book as a "right wing conversion camp" meets invasion of the body snatchers! Not for everyone... but a real emotional read when comes to the horror that is dished out on the youth sent away for straying from what their parents view as the right path. Many of those who survived the camp are still damaged when forced back together in an effort to put a permanent stop to those that are still perpetrating evil on youth of the next generation! Great for fans of "It" and anyone looking for horror with a LGBTQ+ perspective.

Description

From Gretchen Felker-Martin, the acclaimed author of Manhunt, comes a vicious new novel about a group of teens who must stay true to themselves while in a conversion camp from hell.


Something evil is buried deep in the desert. It wants your body. It wears your skin.

In the summer of 1995, seven queer kids abandoned by their parents at a remote conversion camp came face to face with it. They survived—but at Camp Resolution, everybody leaves a different person.

Sixteen years later, only the scarred and broken survivors of that terrible summer can put an end to the horror before it's too late.

The fate of the world depends on it.

Thanks so very much to Netgalley and the publisher for kindly providing me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I do reviews on my main social media platforms and will be providing my full review there as I get through my TBR blacklist. Adding star rating as placeholder. Thanks again!

A gripping and gruesome story of queer survival in a monster filled conversion camp.

We start off finding out kids are coming back from conversion camp not themselves… and not in the way their screwed up parents were hoping for.

Years later, we follow a group of queer teens as they’re taken from their homes to the same camp in the middle of the desert. On top of having to be on a strict schedule of hard labor and weird counseling sessions, they begin seeing weird demon like behavior from the camp leaders. Soon they discover the camp is more sinister than they ever imagined and will do anything to escape.

This was very intense from start to finish, with deeply raw characters who I loved the whole way through. Who doesn’t love a heart pounding, found family horror?!

4 stars, highly recommend!

Thanks to Tor Nightfire and Netgalley for the ARC :)

Devastatingly brilliant book by Gretchen Felker-Martin and huge thanks to Tor Nightfire for sharing a copy of this with me 🫶

We learn that there is a “conversion camp” where families will hire them to abduct their child, who in their mind is displaying undesirable desires/behaviours with the guarantee that they will be returned to them like the child they “deserve” and essentially straight.

A group of queer teens arrive at this camp and we learn about each of their back stories. We learn what is really behind the “conversion camp” and what they are forced to endure. Initially, it’s constant abuse before realising there is something more sinister happening to them.

Firstly, knowing that there are/have been camps out there that parents willingly have their children sent to, blows my mind and having watched a few documentaries on this, to then read this story felt very powerful.

There are a few references to “the body snatchers” in this but it really hit me with some of Stephen Kings IT with the age of the kids in this story, their bond and their fight to survive.

The description of the humanoid thing was brilliant next level grotesque horror and really got my imagination going, loved this!

I don’t think I’ve ever felt such strong emotion for a character. Nadine, so strong minded and tough, a leader and a voice giving hope to the others constantly. The bravest young girl with a devastating story.

Huge emotional rollercoaster of disgust, intrigue, sadness, anger, uncomfortable reading at times but bloody brilliant!

I’m writing this with tears drying on my cheeks.

Brilliant and devastating. I haven’t read Manhunt so I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into. The prologue could stand as its own short story, but is a hell of a bit of foreshadowing. We know exactly what the kids in the novel are going to face but the slow, dread-building pacing as they creep closer to that revelation is addictive.

Wow! How to even describe this book! It's so well-written ... I was already creeped out, worried and stressed by about page 10. Felker-Martin has a way of writing suspense without even trying.

There are two terrifying beasts in this book ... what young queer folks faced when they were found out... and then... "other"

I'm not giving anything away because this story went beyond what I could have imagined was coming. Some of the abuse is very difficult to read... the author certainly doesn't pull any punches.

If you're a fan of horror... or just a fan of a book that won't give you a hint of where you're going... this is the book for you. Truly unique.