Never read from this author before, but I loved it! Ballingrud created such a creepy atmosphere, and the body horror monster combo really worked for me. I thought the setting was very lush and unique.

Everything that Nathan Ballingrud has published is worth reading. From his first book of stories, North American Lake Monsters, to his debut novel The Strange, almost everyone who reads his books becomes a fan. He has not released many books, yet North American Lake Monsters was adapted into the Hulu series Monsterland, and his novella The Visible Filth was filmed in 2019 as Wounds. To write a handful of books but already have two big adaptations shows the quality of the stories he writes. His latest novella, Crypt of the Moon Spider, is the first in the Lunar Gothic Trilogy, and this first volume is the beginning of a story that seems like a mixture of horror, sci-fi, and alternate history.

The novella takes place in 1923 on a moon covered in forests, caverns, and rivers. Veronica Brinkley is brought to the moon to be signed over to the Barrowfield Home for Treatment of the Melancholy, a sanatorium where rich people dump their loved ones for someone else take care of their ails. Veronica quickly meets Dr. Cull and his assistant, whom she names “Grub.” It does not take very long after Veronica meets Dr. Cull that he is experimenting with brain surgeries, cutting out a piece here and there, using moon spider silk as neurotransmitters, and changing his patients into whomever he wants in the name of health and science.

Crypt of the Moon Spider is short and fast paced. There are many elements that are interesting, and I hope that they are explored in further volumes, but this is the problem with this introduction. For as heavy as it is on history, world building, and Dr. Cull experimenting on patients, Ballingrud does not spend much time getting deep enough into characters that we actually feel sympathy or empathy for them. This is not to say that the story is entertaining and fascinating. Ballingrud has proven beyond any doubts that everything that he writes is compelling even if it more plot driven than character driven. I find myself more interested in the world Ballingrud is building than the people who are being affected by it, mostly because I have been given more of chance to understand the moon spider universe than to feel attached to any of the characters.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Crypt of the Moon Spider is book one in the Lunar Gothic Trilogy by Nathan Ballingrud.
This is an amazing horror and science fiction novella.
The vividness of the writing, so sharp and crisp and rich, conveys marvelous imagery with only a few words.

I am typically not a big novella reader but I did enjoy this one! Last year I read "The Strange" by Nathan Ballingrud and very much enjoyed that as well. I am a fan of this author. He does a great job at using language to make you feel like you are actually there in the setting he created. In this case, an asylum on a gothic moon which is the home of a godlike spider. This novella is the perfect blend of science fiction and horror. Right up my alley. It's a perfect read for the upcoming spooky season. It reminded me a little bit of Frankenstein, Get Out, and A Cure for Wellness. This is novella one of a planned trilogy. I will certainly read the rest of the series!

I *really* enjoyed this.

The writing was excellent and did a fantastic job setting the scene and building the atmosphere around the story. Speaking of atmosphere.. Crypt of the Moon Spider relies HEAVILY on the reader's suspension of disbelief when it comes to the science elements of the story. I was prepared to do my part and take spider web brain surgery in stride (not a spoiler, that's in the synopsis) but I was not prepared for the lack of description concerning how a mental health facility is even able to exist on the moon, not to mention the flora and fauna that surrounds it. In the end, I was enjoying myself so much that I didn't mind all the hand waving I ended up having to do.

Other strengths of Crypt of the Moon Spider:
- the characterization was pretty top-notch, and even though I didn't particularly love any of the characters they were all generally pleasant to spend some time with
- I thought the pacing was well done—it's a novella so there are not enough pages to meander around really, but I appreciated that everything I read felt important to the story
- I do enjoy me some excellent body horror (there was a good amount but I could have gone for even more) with a healthy serving of psychological horror to go with it, and Ballingrud manages to balance the scares with juuuust the right amount of action and adventure.

Crypt of the Moon Spider is the first installment of the Lunar Gothic Trilogy but you could definitely read this one as a standalone if you really wanted to. With that said, in the version I read there was about a chapter's worth of a sneak peek for the next installment and it laid down some interesting framework concerning where the series is going to go next.

(Crypt of the Moon Spider is still hot off the press and I am already ravenous for the subsequent releases in this series!)

*Thank you to Tor for providing me an e-ARC of this book.*

Crypt of the Moon Spider by Nathan Ballingrud weaves a unique lunar space gothic that's like nothing I've ever read.

The story takes place at a mental asylum on the moon during a retro-futuristic version of the 1920's. It follows Veronica, a new patient there, who’s promised that an experimental surgery involving removing parts of her brain and replacing them with spider silk will cure her melancholy.

Now, I typically love bizarre medical horror along the lines of A Cure for Wellness. However, this novella suffers from serious pacing and structural issues. The first half feels incredibly rushed and disjointed. It's riddled with so many scene breaks to the point that I feel like scenes weren't properly built up to create suspense.

Then there’s an abrupt POV switch in the second half. Here we finally get necessary background context for the story that I really wish had been foreshadowed in the first half so that the later plot twists feel earned within the story.

It's a shame because parts of the story are so conceptually brilliant and we do get some fantastic moments of body horror. They're just haphazardly stitched together in a way that didn't feel satisfying to me as a reader.

Well, this was delightfully messed up! It's giving A Madness So Discreet meets The Redemption of Morgan Bright but put it on the moon . So yeah, obviously this is wild and unique and batshit, which is to say, fabulous. There were so many absolutely jaw-dropping moments that made me straight up gasp, which is to say, not for those who can't handle some dark themes and body horror. But for those who can, it is certainly worthwhile!

While I am hoping to find more about the particulars of the world in the upcoming installments, it is certainly an entertaining and unique one. The basic premise of Veronica's awful husband committing her to a mental institution isn't exactly a new concept, but literally every other part of it is. I love how it takes some of the actual historical basics behind the messy history of psychological "treatments" of the past, but adds these absolutely bananas elements that both make it feel fresh and provide excellent commentary on the whole thing. Can't wait for more!

Bottom Line: Messed up. Love it.

I loved this novella so much. It is perfect!

In 1923, Veronica is sent to the moon by her husband to be cured of her melancholy. The Barrowfield Home is a one of a kind facility and Dr. Cull has some radical treatments. Veronica soon discovers some disturbing secrets and horrors along with lots of spiders.

It is very hard to describe this story but I would say it mostly has a gothic horror vibe with elements of body horror, sci-fi and fantasy. The story is fantastic and unlike anything I have ever read. I am so excited to see that this is the first novella in a series! I received this book through NetGalley but will definitely be purchasing this book as soon as it is available.

What a gory/gothic/scifi/horror/ historical fiction. It read in the same way that you drink a perfect temperature cappuccino- succinct and satisfying. The genre bending kept me intrigued and on the edge of my seat, not knowing exactly what would happen next because there wasn’t necessarily a trope to follow. I love how perfectly weird and unsettling it was. I would definitely return for another Novella by this author. I wish more people In publishing, within the horror genre, understood how wonderful a perfectly written and to the point Novella is.

This is a creepy and interesting novella. While I felt like I was missing something (context, background, etc) the plot was fascinating and original. It does convey a lot of information despite its length. There appears to be a full length novel that takes place after this and with some of the same characters which I will definitely pick up.

A huge thanks to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the eARC!

A viscerally uncomfortable work of horror fiction, Nathan Ballingrud’s novella, Crypt of the Moon Spider, feels like a dreamy lullaby that promises sweet sleep, only to warp into a grotesque nightmare that is not soon to be forgotten. The year is 1923, and Veronica Brinkley has just landed on the moon. No, this isn’t a groundbreaking event in this world that Ballingrud crafts. Rather, it’s a typical trip for those who are seen as emotionally affected, a voyage to the Barrowfield Home for Treatment of the Melancholy (a little bit of a mouthful, but aptly named). Such a place is manned by Dr. Cull, an eccentric fellow with what seems to be a quirky approach to mental health, being on the moon and all that. This is for good reason though, as the basis of his treatment plans stem from the webs of moon spiders constructed directly into the human brain. Despite this bizarreness, there’s something even more sinister at play within the halls of Barrowfield, something that Veronica comes to know all too well.

Body horror has long been a unique subgenre of horror, often pushing boundaries of what readers can stomach. An argument could be made that psychological, existential horror sits on the opposing side of this spectrum, detailing the dread that comes with those elusive, hard-to-describe feelings of the mind. Nathan Ballingrud manages to very effectively combine these two to create Crypt of the Moon Spider thus executing one greatly uncomfortable reading experience. And I say this as a compliment!

The circumstances of Veronica’s voyage to Barrowfield are shaped by the horrors women are all too familiar with. The treatment she receives from her husband is the behavior of nightmares as she is dismissed, abandoned, and forgotten all before she falls into Dr. Cull’s hands. Barrowfield shows no love for Veronica either; she spends most of her time in isolation, receives little communication regarding her treatment plan, and then, worst of all, the treatment itself. Lack of control or loss of autonomy is unfortunately a fear all women have faced and is clearly expressed through Veronica’s character. This of course extends even further to fears of medical malpractice or experimentation for anyone at Barrowfield, women and men alike. Cue the Frankenstein-like scenes of mutilation and disfigurement.

To keep things spoiler-free, I’ll speak in generalities of the carnal horrors on display within the last few pages of this novella. The medical practices instituted by Dr. Cull fall nothing short of grotesque. The central idea of removing the sick part of the human brain to be rebuilt by the moon spiders is gut-churning in and of itself. Yet, this mangled attempt at curing mental disease in this manner feels allegorical of the mental health crisis plaguing our country, our world. Dr. Cull’s monstrous actions mirror the bumbling ways in which our world leaders, politicians, and even some physicians operate. It’s a dark idea that hallmarks the mistrust between patient and doctor, the vulnerable and the powerful. This is all driven home so starkly through Ballingrud’s unflinching gore and the repulsive reality of Dr. Cull’s treatments.

A quick 96 pages spent on this moon in some universe where spiders mend brains, Crypt of the Moon Spider exhibits masterful body horror to emphasize the dread of vulnerability and the evils of malpractice. Nathan Ballingrud manages to introduce a confounding world where all of these things are possible, setting the stage for the rest of his Gothic Lunar Trilogy with quite a bang. While the events of the next two books exist in a realm of mystery, the sense of absolute shock experienced with this novella was abundantly clear.

I really don't even know what to make of <i>Crypt of the Moon Spider.</i> It is singularly its own <i>very weird</i> thing.

It's a story that seems to draw from all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff. The central plot--involving a woman named Veronica who is sent to the moon to help cure her depression--feels a whole lot like a throwback to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's classic "The Yellow Wallpaper," but the book mashes up a whole bunch of other genre tropes and elements to keep it fresh. There's some pre-space race cosmic science fiction going on as well, like a riff on C.S. Lewis or Edgar Rice Burroughs or the Hugo Gernsback era of sci-fi. It's hard to pin anything down specifically, though, as it mashes up so many strange conceits to pull a story together.

But the book is also breathlessly short, its story less a fully composed epic and more like the overture to a broader text; the book is here to set up a thematic statement of sorts, seemingly necessary to understand the rhythm of what is to come. I'm wholly on board for the next installment, but I also think the strength of this book is going to be predicated on what the full trilogy has in store.

Even if this one isn't the whole story, has so much left to explore, it feels totally unique. As much as I strain to put together where the hell this thing came from, it is wild and fresh and I just cannot wait to see where Ballingrud is going to take us next.

<b>Disclosure Statement: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for review. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own and have not been influenced in any way by either the author or the publisher.</b>

Don't read this book if you have arachnophobia, the story will probably make it worse.

At the beginning of the story, I didn't really like Veronica and the way that she treated people. As the story progressed, though, I was glad that she got to come into her own as the... Spider Queen, I guess? I was also hoping that her initial take on Charlie (the whole Grub nickname in particular) was unwarranted. Nope. Nope, nope, nope. She was right, he deserves the nickname. I also likes the use of memories throughout the story.

I can't wait for the second book in the trilogy to see how the character arcs play out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing group for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which will be available on Aug 27,2024!

Have you ever read a book where the atmosphere of it make the hair on your arms stand up and your body shiver in tense dread? No? Then may I highly recommend this horror for you. It is set in 1920s on the moon with an asylum that is built on a cult’s hang out. Yeah I was like huh too but it freaking works. The atmosphere of this novel ensnared me and twisted my brain all up. I loved it.

Fun! I LOVED The Strange, so was really excited to read this. I flew through it!

Really interesting lore and great showing-not-telling.

Nathan Ballingrud somehow wrote the most bizarre period piece, taking place on the moon in the early 1900s, with giant mystic spiders and groundbreaking brain surgeries, and because he's such a damn good writer, I was rooted in the story, and eager to see where it goes. It's a noir tale about an always-shackled woman who overcomes her oppressors and embraces her power. Such a great story, I can't wait for more!

A disturbingly dark and profoundly unsertling story, or, in other words, excellent horror. I love how memories and fears twist and change into something else in this story, and the setting on a spider-haunted moon is beautiful and terrifying.

This novella was so creepy! Ballingrud managed to combine two very specific fears: the moon and institutionalization, into one horrifying novella. To be fair, this book was a little confusing and I'm not entirely sure I knew what was going on the entire time, but I was definitely scared! Looking forward to the next in the series!

What the hell did I just read? Crypt of the Moon Spider is like some kind of science fiction fever dream and I was down for it!

It's 1923 and Veronica is heading to the moon with her husband. He is committing her to the Barrowfield Home for Treatment of the Melancholy. Years ago, the moon was home to a colossal spider. The spider is dead now but uses have been found for its moon spider silk. Turns out it can help the mentally ill. Or can it? As the mysterious Dr. Cull performs his spider silk brain experiments on his patients, his assistant Charlie is busy harassing and abusing patients in his own way. And lastly, who are these people wandering around in white, often bloody robes? You'll have to read this to find out!

I admit that I only have a vague idea as to what happened here, but I believe that was the author's intent. Yes, I understood most of what was going on, but what I do not understand is most of the how and why. Was what happened some sort of dream on Veronica's part? Does the world at large know exactly what it is that Dr. Cull is doing? What the hell is Charlie's problem? I feel like I, myself, am wandering around the labyrinthian Barrowfield Home, looking for answers.

I loved Veronica as a character. She felt real to me and she was so hard on herself I just wanted to hug her. I get the feeling that Veronica is somehow special, that she was always meant to be on the moon, and that she has a purpose there.

This was a unique novella but I feel it is connected to the wider world of literature as well. Viewed a certain way, this could be a weird retelling of Frankenstein, or maybe even a planet of Dr. Moreau instead of an island? (I also feel a little bit of an, Edgar Rice Burroughs vibe, but that could be and probably is, just me.) All of this to say I'm still not really sure what is happening here, but I WANT MORE. I am trusting in the author to answer all of my questions in the next two books and I would like both of those ASAP, please!

All the Stars to this wicked, dreamy, and weird science fiction tale! Bravo!

*ARC from publisher.*

One of the most creative premises I've seen in a very long time! This novella is 100% Gothic and 100% science fiction. All the Gothic tropes are here, but set on the moon and with a mad scientist and a giant spider and the spider's disciples. Looking forward to the next novella in this trilogy!