I started this book while in a reading slump, but figured I’d try to get a review out before it was released (I got an ARC). I obviously failed with getting the review out, also failed on finishing it before it was released, but this book helped me tremendously on getting me through my slump.
Margaret’s best friend had something happen to her at a party one night and then a few days later disappeared without a trace. Until one day a phone shows up at Margaret‘s house for her and it started receiving texts that only Charity could possibly be sending.
The texts take Margaret through the steps of Charity’s story, and not just the what happened at the party, step by step until she is lured to the golf clubhouse during a charity event to witness Charity’s revenge on the town and all who she feels has wronged her.
Even though I read this one slowly I enjoyed the mystery of the trek through the town to get clues on what actually happened to Charity. As expected with Cutter’s work there is quite a lot of body horror in this book as well as quite a bit of insect horror, of which I believe this would be my first foray into with books.

Beneath the gore galore lie the normal stresses of teenage life. Cutter’s prose reminds readers that young adults matter-of-factly view everyday life through horror-colored lenses. Cutter’s characters embody universal teenage anxieties, painfully exaggerated and gore-splattered for extra emphasis. Full review, "Teen Life Is a Horror Show: A Review of Nick Cutter’s The Queen" available online at Los Angeles Review of Books, 11-20-2024, https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/teen-life-is-a-horror-show/.

I really so excited about The Queen. I have seen high praise for Nick Cutter but I just could not get into or connect with this book.

I found this to be a bit of a departure from Cutter's past works, which is not a bad thing but may be a barrier to entry to established fans. Took a bit for me to settle into the story and characters, but once I did, I loved it.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Queen by Nick Cutter. This is the first book by Cutter that I have read and I wasn’t disappointed. The genre is horror and it follows the story of two close friends, Margaret and Charity.

Charity has gone missing for several weeks and then one day Margaret wakes up to a new cell phone that has a text message from Charity, which throws her for a major loop. She’s desperate to know what has happened to Charity, but as the story unfolds it’s possible Margaret never knew her at all. This is a story that takes place over the course of a day. I find that short timeline to bring an added sense of urgency to it all. Cutter’s writing is fast paced and left me wanting to read his previous books.

Title/Author: THE QUEEN by Nick Cutter (a Night Worms book)

Page Count: 381 pages

Publisher: Gallery Books

Format: Physical Hardcover

Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: The Troop, The Deep, The Acolyte, Little Heaven, The Handyman Method, The Breech (audiobook)

Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/9781668020975

Release Date: October 29th, 2024

General Genre: Horror

Sub-Genre/Themes: Missing person, high school, friend groups, dual timelines, revenge, cell phones/texting, insects, body horror, dark humor, gruesome violence and descriptions

Writing Style: Dual timelines, multiple POVs, graphic descriptions

What You Need to Know: "From “one of the hottest horror authors on the planet” (Paste) and writer of the #HorrorBookTok sensation The Troop—a heart-pounding novel of terror about a young woman searching for her missing friend and uncovering a shocking truth."

My Reading Experience: If you have read any of Nick Cutter's books, you know exactly what you're getting into with The Queen.

Not sure if anyone listened to this Audible original, but it was DISGUSTING. Cutter leaned into the insect-horror, hard. The descriptions were so unsettling and disturbing. I remember taking my walks with a mask of horror on my face. The Queen is similar but taken even further.

Don't read this book if you are at all squeamish about bugs. Cutter's descriptive language is like no other...the way he can describe a disgusting noise or a gooey mess is stomach-churning. There is one death in particular involving ants that is pure nightmare fuel.

Aside from the gruesome, graphic gore is a story of friendship and a suspenseful race against the clock as two friends follow clues to rescue their missing friend. The action happens over one day, so the chapters are very short. Some of the information comes via text messages, which also quickens the pace. I had no idea what this storyline was about, so I was pleasantly surprised it went in the direction it did, ultimately leading to a shocking conclusion. It was so fun reading this with my Fable Book Club. The discussions about the gorey scenes were hysterical.

Final Recommendation: The Queen is for die-hard Cutter-Horror. Those who know the depths of his goriest, most graphic scenes of horror. Lovers of the gruesome, the violent, and the bloody. Body Horror times a million. Cutter is a true legend in the craft of the gross-out.

Comps: The Troop by Nick Cutter, Wake Up and Open Your Eyes or What Kind of Mother by Clay MacLeod Chapman, Rest Stop by Nat Cassidy, The Swarm by Andy Marino, A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons

My first read by this author and I wasn’t a big fan of the writing style. I had heard many good things about this book but it was just an ok read. Seemed a bit predictable. Will give the author another try

I really wanted to like Nick Cutter but after reading a few books of his, I’ve realized he’s just Too gory for me…

Thank you Nick Cutter, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for the ARC! The breakneck speed at which this book takes place makes it difficult for me to digest it fully but I'm going to try!

I really dig Nick Cutter's stuff. I enjoyed the bonkers concept and appreciate Cutter dipping into Sci-Fi territory with a monster resulting from genetic mutation. The Elon Musk type villain was also really well written. His backstory was one of the best parts of the book and something I'm not likely to forget any time soon.

I think it can be difficult to write so viscerally and emotionally at the same time. At one point I'm getting queasy from the gore while eating my Panera Bread soup on my lunch break (the wild rice was starting to look like larvae or some shit from the story) and at another I'm holding back tears after stumbling across a really profound passage about change, transformation, and friendship. Cutters other big horror book, "The Troop" expertly balanced this imo. However, I feel like "The Queen" was not as tightly written and as a result felt a little all over the place at points.

I'm not sure I can even quite wrap my head around some of the twists and turns. The majority of it takes place in a single, action-packed day which didn't leave much time for processing what was happening. I also had a problem with buying Charity and Margaret's friendship. We are introduced after Charity is missing, some time after they had already began drifting apart. There's flashbacks yes but I wasn't always emotionally invested in their friendship because I mostly just see Charity (or the "new" Charity) basically tormenting Margaret the whole time. I also had a hard time distinguishing both Charity and Margaret's motivations for participating in the weird 13 Reasons Why-esque scavenger hunt that leads to the climax of the story. It kept the book going for sure but without clearly communicated motivations, it felt a little trope-ish.

I will say this was FUN. I have never disliked a Nick Cutter book on the basis of this. They scratch a gross, oozing itch in my brain that loves to be disgusted from body horror. This absolutely delivers and even made me a little squeamish at times. It ultimately gets 3 stars but I will read anything this dude writes and I know I'll have a good time.

Absolutely adore this author and will read anything they have written or will write. The Troop is still favorite. Will purchase for libraries.

The New York Times Review nailed it a few weeks ago when they said The Queen by Nick Cutter was one of the best horror books of the year. I have to say it was totally gross and over the top more so than any other horror writer I have read. Be ready for that as you read this. There are so many pictures in my head from this book.....human eating ants (blech!) and incredibly descriptive...A teenage girl who becomes a huge insect (yes!) and Wasps...lots of Wasps. With that said it is really fun to read...just know it's gross!

The Queen rocked my world. Maybe not *the best* book to read when you’re nauseous as hell, because this book is artfully gory. BUT. It was amazing. Even though my stomach was doing flips the entire time lol. I have never read such deceptive gore scenes in my life and it was gnarly.

This was my first experience with Nick Cutter, and wow, his writing is crisp. He nailed what it feels like to be in a teenage girlship- which is weird, because he’s a guy. But it brought me back to my own years with my girlfriends. The bond, the loyalty, the deep and unconditional love. It was cool to experience in a horror book.

That said, I hope I’m brave enough to read the rest of his works lol.

I am such a fan of Nick Cutter’s work. This one was probably my favorite due to the amount of body horror and imagery. Good lord it was so gross in the best way possible!

As a fan of Cutter's previous work, I knew exactly what I was getting into and it works just as well as his previous shocking body horror novels. The character building was great and the body-horror was as meticulously written as always. What I most appreciated here were the characters created and most of all the very unique take on this specific sub-genre with very clever use of aspects of insect biology which I do not want to spoil here.

Classic creature feature vibes in this one. If you love Cutter you will definitely love his newest book.

This was a strange one, and maybe a case of just not for me? At first I was really loving the graphic horror and weird mystery of the story. But the further I got into it, the more I just really didn't like the characters' tone/voice. Everything felt a little too obvious from the start and I just wasn't invested or engaged enough. I ended up DNFing around 60%.

Ooo Nick Cutter, you gross me out so bad and I love it. I’ve always hated real life bees and let’s just say now…I’m gonna freak out more 😂 This one definitely got more sci-fi-y (is that a word?) than his others but I was here for it. Our scientist POV also made me very wary of ants…so that’s cool Nick 🫠 This is definitely not for the faint of heart because it’s gets very gory, but I loved seeing all the storylines come together for a wild ending. Check this one out if you aren’t squeamish around creepy crawlies

Nick Cutter is horror genre royalty. His stories are always unique....not sure what that says about his imagination....and always leave you with goosebumps and nightmares.

As with any Cutter book, don't read this if you can not read body horror. If you have triggers regarding animals, it's better to just stay away from any Cutter books, though I feel this one isn't as bad as others.

Are there moments where the voice of a teenage girl seems awkward coming from a late 40s male author? Yes, it does, and it would be silly to pretend it doesn't. However, I could forgive it because the story was just addictive. I also am a Cutter fan, so may have a bias.

Unlike his other books, this one is firmly based around teen female friendships, and how they can evolve and devolve. Sometimes in ugly monstrous ways. The way he formed the ending to the story had me a bit uneasy on if it would work, but having finished it, I don't know if there could have been a different way to go about it as it fit so right to when it was set in modern(ish) day.

That last line....

I wanted to like this one, but sadly it just wasn't for me. It's me not you book :(

Thank you for a copy in exchange for review consideration.