The Eater of Flies by Richard Gadz is an eerily atmospheric and gripping novel that expertly weaves horror, historical fiction, and science. Set in Victorian London, the story delves into dark, morally ambiguous territory, exploring themes of obsession, scientific experimentation, and the boundaries of human curiosity.

Gadz does an incredible job of crafting a bleak, almost claustrophobic atmosphere that keeps you on edge throughout the book. The protagonist’s descent into madness, fueled by his twisted experiments, is both chilling and fascinating. The horror isn't just in the grotesque details but also in the psychological unraveling of the characters.

While the pacing slows down in some sections, particularly during the more scientific discussions, it ultimately serves to deepen the unsettling mood of the novel. The characters are well-developed, particularly the protagonist, whose internal conflict adds layers to the narrative.

The blend of historical setting and body horror will appeal to fans of gothic fiction and dark, cerebral storytelling. If you enjoy books that push the boundaries of morality and sanity, The Eater of Flies is definitely worth the read.

A thrilling and unsettling tale that lingers with you long after the final page!

This was an interesting book. Not so much a retelling of 'Dracula' as a riff on its characters and setting.

As someone who lived in London for many years, it was fun to walk familiar streets with what I thought were familiar characters - until the author reminded me that these were THEIRS, actually! There's differences that make the story unique, and that kept me turning the pages.

My main thought when I'd done, though, was why this needed to do that. This book could have easily been its own thing, with a new roster of original people. This would give more scope for world-building in future, and make some changes a little less jarring.

I enjoyed it, but admit to being a bit confused by what seemed a bit of a forced connection.

Such an interesting, spooky, and intriguing read!! Kept me on my toes! Perfect for spooky season!
Would recommend for anyone who wants a supernatural story!

"Your blood will gush and flow, your bones will dry. You are lost amid the teeming millions, lost in the ticking clock. You are swarming maggots in the flesh, poison droplets in the foaming oceans. You are a helpless seethe of flies. You are meat and gristle. You are sustenance, and nothing more. Look upon me and know the sorrow of your mortality!"

A vampyr is loose in London, and you may just be his next victim. The Eater of Flies in clearly largely inspired by Dracula and pays homage to its ancestor proudly and abundantly. Instead of simply sucking his victims dry, however, this Dracul also takes over their minds and parades their doomed bodies around like puppets. The author resurrects Victorian London with effervescent theatricality, illuminating its dark and dirty underbelly. A Neo-Victorian tale about the hunt for a bloodthirsty spirit that culminates in a cinematic and properly bloody climax.

The writing style is swift and engaging, with intermittent memorable quotes. There is a large cast of decisive characters that jump into action when required, for better or worse. I especially enjoyed Ruby's character and kept rooting for her. Overall, however, I found most of the characters a little flat and think they could have been fleshed out more.

I would have been more immersed in and gripped by this book if the question of who the vampyr is possessing at this moment was one the reader could share with the characters, rather than being told as soon as a new host is found. Therefore, there was a lack of suspense, as I was always aware of what kind of danger the characters were or were not in, not having to wonder who around them might turn out to be Dracul in disguise. Personally, the look into Dracul's mind and motivations did not make up for that; I would have preferred to ride the emotional rollercoaster of fear and confusion and shock that a supernatural possession story often promises. I also would have appreciated a deeper dive into the connection the vampyrs share with each other and the history of this version of the famous bloodsucker.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a digital copy of this book for review consideration.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

A fresh take on the vampire tale, this novel has the blood-drinking undead stem from a fast-traveling parasite. Said entity can possess anyone and flit between bodies, using each host to further acquire more blood. There isn't a secret society of wealthy sanguinites anymore than there is an alluring stranger come to temp the young with debauchery. I'd like to commend the author for writing a vampire novel with a wholly original premise, as I've never read anything quite like this!!

Similar to the vampire classic <i>Dracula</i> we follow a cast of characters via a collection of sources like journal entries and first-hand accounts as things go awry and bloody. The typical classism, racism, and general bigotry of the Victorian English crowd can be found within the pages. As vampirism was a parasitic relationship rather than a paranormal existence, when things went awry—just as when plagues hit the streets—the poor were battered most heavily.

The pov of the vampiric parasite was my favorite to read, the creature using the host's memories to blend into society was fascinating!! Readers of <i>Dracula</i> will have a fun time recognizing names and the remixes of their characters in this novel. Just as I adored Lucy Westerna in that novel, her counterpart here the stage performer Ruby Wester was the most interesting member of the cast. Her final performance was to die for!!

All-in-all I had a really lovely time with this retelling and finished the book in a day. If you're looking for something spooky and bloody that doesn't shy away from the bigotry of the past, maybe consider checking this out!!

This is a loose Dracula retelling where you'll recognize names and certain incidents, but it's its own thing. I think it can be read even if you haven't read Dracula or much about vampires. That said, this just wasn't for me. As a matter of personal taste, I found the writing style and prose boring and unengaging. While it's a short read, I was struggling to get through it and just wasn't interested. I hope it finds its audience and I already see people enjoying it, I'm just not a part of the majority on this one.

To celebrate this spooky season, what could be more apt than a re-imagining of the classic tale of Dracula?

When a mysterious sealed box is transported to London from Transylvania, the performers and guests of the Holmwood’s Music Hall are about to experience the folklore of the Vampyre first hand.

The Eater of Flies isn’t quite a re-telling of Dracula although there are all the characters that are familiar from the original book such as Harker, Renfield, Lucy and Van Helsing. In this version the Vampyre is more of a parasite – infecting others and becoming them, so it’s harder to tell who is friend and who is foe. I enjoyed this twist on the story, and it really added a great new element and some additional stakes to the story we all know and love.

I did think the pace of the book was quite slow to start off, but this increased as the stakes got higher and the chase began. Some of the characters did make silly decisions at times which was frustrating, but overall it was a solid, spooky read.

The Eater of Flies takes an interesting spin on the well-known tale of Dracula and re-tells it in a new way – perfect for spooky season. Thank you to NetGalley & Deixis Press for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Eater of Flies by Richard Gadz is a book I think a lot of Bram Stoker lovers will thoroughly enjoy! Its dark and wonderfully gothic. The atmosphere of the novel is truly amazing, and the writing subtly reflects that of Dracula. That, although, is the best things about the book. Some of the characters were kinda annoying and I would have loooved to see more of those letters/media pieces inserted throughout the book, and we could have spent less time diving into the specifics of theatre. Overall, it was not a bad book but just not the right one for me, and I'm sure this will find it's audience.

Vampires! This fun and spooky story had me gripping the edge of my seat. I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Deixis Press for providing an early ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Richard Gadz delivers a curious and unconventional take on vampyrs and the legendary Dracul in this latest release. Instead of the familiar brooding immortals we often see, the vampyrs here are more like shadows—ethereal, formless entities that behave almost like a virus or parasite. They don't exist as independent physical beings but as a creeping infection, slipping into hosts to possess them. Once anchored, they feed and thrive, taking their prey by manipulating the living vessel they've overtaken. This concept hooked me immediately; it's not every day you see vampyrs reimagined in such an eerie, intangible way, and it was exciting to witness how Dracul himself used this power.

However, the journey to this revelation was a bit of a slog. The first third of the novel felt monotonous, slow, and lacking any real tension, which made it difficult to stay invested. I nearly set it aside multiple times, and that's saying something for a story centered on creatures as dynamic as vampyrs. When the plot finally found its legs, the intrigue began to surface, especially when the focus shifted to Dracul’s hosts and how they handled—or failed to handle—his possession. It was here the book really started to get its claws into me, but unfortunately, it never quite managed to shake off the lingering dryness that haunted much of the narrative.

The vampyr concept is undeniably inventive, and I applaud the author for breaking away from the tropes of traditional vampire lore, but the execution left me wanting more. I finished the book feeling like it was more of a cool idea than a fully realized story. I was captivated by the potential, but in the end, it left me feeling like it was just...fine.

A respectable 3 stars from me, maybe 3.5 for the creativity behind the vampyrs alone.

REVIEW
The Eater of Flies by Richard Gadz- 1/5
———————————————————————
DNF

Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

Normally, I love a good vampire book or monster retelling. But one of the most important things for either story to have is a hook; something the draw me in and keep me there. While I understand what this book was trying to do, there was just no hook to keep me interested.

#whatjillsreading

The Eater of Flies is the most creative remix of the gothic vampire story I've ever read! Gadz takes the classic vampire and transforms them into an entirely new, terrifying monster.

In a tiny Transylvanian village, an English business man arrives to collect on a debt, and ends up taking home far more than he expected. A bloodthirsty vampyr has been released in new hunting grounds, and it's up to a group of friends to track it down before London falls. But how can ordinary people defeat a monster?

I absolutely loved this book. The author pays homage to the great Gothic classics (especially Dracula) in the setting, so as the reader, you initially feel like you're in a familiar world; but then he pulls the rug out from under you once you are introduced to his new, horrifying vampyre. I was hooked all the way through, and want to read more of this author's books now.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves gothic stories and vampires; you won't be disappointed!

⛧☾༺♰༻☽⛧𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙊𝙛 𝙁𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 - Richard Gadz

Release Date: 10/24/24
Add it to your TBR!! 📖

Recommended for readers who love:

🩸Vampire Stories
🩸Gothic Style Writing
🩸Possessions
🩸Blood, lotsa blood

The writing style is beautifully gothic; Victorian without sounding full of itself. I was immediately drawn in by the descriptive scenes and interesting characters from the first page.

Even though the book starts out jovial, with a festive wedding, things quickly go off the rails. When one of our main characters goes to the mountains to collect a debt, they unintentionally release Hell itself after a mysterious box is opened. They are then thrust into a 'plague' of nefarious ministrations that they may not be able to escape. Lots of teeth clacking (trust me, it's creepier than it sounds), bloody attacks, and piles of corpses.

While the story starts in the Carpathians, it quickly makes its way back to the bustling epicenter in the city of London, which soon becomes wild with fright as people fight for their lives in this fresh and exciting take on the Dracula story we all know and love.

Even though I get heavy Bram Stoker's Dracula vibes from this twisted retelling, it's not a copy, and it's not a quick rehash. This version of events brings a new perspective to the classic by incorporating themes of possession and cursed objects. If you're looking for something spooky and bloody, definitely consider picking this one up in October!

Sadly decided to DNF this title as I couldn’t get into the writing, It has a great premise and I was looking forward to getting to read what is somewhat of a Dracula retelling but unfortunately the writing style just didn’t click with me for some reason - I found it relatively dry and it didn’t manage to draw me in despite the plot.

I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this. A gloomy and atmospheric Victorian era story, full of crime and greed, and most importantly - vampires. This unique Dracula reimagining puts an interesting twist on the traditional vampire, but with nods to the original story and vampire lore across the globe. I liked seeing how each of the (very different) characters all came together. The end was extremely satisfying and this was an all around good read.

I am sad to say that I didn't like this book much. It seems to have a great premise, a retelling of Dracula with the twist that Dracula isn't just one person but can be many. I was hooked in the first chapter. A really strong start. It was awesome and I was ready for a wild ride.

However, the overuse of exclamation marks and inner monologue punctuated within parentheses was overwhelmingly annoying. Additionally, there was way too much telling and not showing. For example, "The prisoner dropped! - and was still. His neck must have snapped instantly". Why not take the effort to show the horror a neck goes through? This is elementary writing. The journal entries didn't sound like someone journaling to themselves, either.

My apologies to the author and publisher, but this one didn't hit the mark.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview.

The book opens with a short recount of a vampire attack in a village in Transylvania before the main plot. Then in 1868, a debt collector from London goes to the same village to take possession up to the debt. Unwittingly, he takes a beautiful casket back to London which contains a vampire, Dracul.

The opening chapter is gripping, but after that the pace slows for a few chapters. That is until Dracul is released.

I’ve seen mention this is a retelling of Dracula, but I struggle to agree with that. At a high level, the plot is the same. A man travels to Transylvania to settle a debt, travels back to London, and a vampire “follows” him and begins terrorising the city. There are further nods, like characters sharing names, and a diversion to Whitby. The book even uses epistolary elements like Dracula.

That being said, Gadz excellently captures the writing style and atmosphere of Dracula. This book feels much older than it is, high gothic style, without becoming simpering as many emulations do. And it’s one of my favourite portrayals of a dark, brooding, Victorian London.

While Gadz nods to and borrows from various vampire materials before, there is something new in his take. (At least new to me!) in that his vampire rather than being a physical presence, is a possession. The idea it could inhabit anyone at any time helps to build tension. However the reader is told right away who is inhabited, and the suspense doesn’t last long and it’s always fairly obvious who the vampire will next take on. Perhaps some more unseen action or less obvious possessions would help to build the suspense still further.

Ultimately, I really appreciated the skillful homage to Dracula and gothic literature. It feels familiar but still brings something fresh to the Vampire subgenre.

Thanks to Richard Gadz, Deixis Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.
I find myself with two very different opinions on this book, hmm strange I know.
1. Too slow not enough action to make me want to keep reading.
2. Extremely well researched, the format and behaviour of vampires intriguing, characters varied and interesting and a very exciting, albeit gory, ending.
Recommend this to readers who prefer a slightly slower pace.

Many thanks to Deixis Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is marketed as a retelling of Dracula but only in the broadest of senses, with some vaguely similar character names and the primary antagonist being a Carpathian vampire on the loose in London. Maybe it’s for the best the books are dissimilar because The Eater of Flies lacks the atmosphere and storytelling of Dracula, so it’s not a favorable comparison. The journal entries were actually my favorite part of the book because they gave the most authentic Victorian feel, while the third-person portions of the book felt somewhat rambling and unpolished.

Overall 2.5 / 5 stars with a few bonus points for maintaining a decent pace and being easy to get through.

Thank you NetGalley and Deixis Press for providing me with a digital ARC of the Eater of Flies in exchange for an honest review. The following opinions expressed are my own.

The story begins, in the only acceptable place a story about vampyres could start, in Transylvania. Arthur Flemming is sent to collect debt and chooses among a veritable assortment of artifacts including a small antique box hastily sealed with lead. Upon bringing said box home he is warned not to open it. What ensues is the tale of Dracul and how it bounces between hosts in London, finishing with a grand finale of copious, ethereal death.

I want to point out that I've never read Dracula (I know, I know!). But maybe not being familiar with the gold standard of the vampire category leant itself to the fun I had reading this book. I have no idea what the difference between “vampyre” and “vampire” is, but again, rather than hindering, maybe it helped. I suffered from confusion once more by the list of characters thrown around at breakneck speed. I could not make sense of who was an important character and who was just a lowly extra. Gradually I realized they were all ensnared within a singular web unknowingly spun by a singular predator. Expectedly this made for a splash of gore every so often but I think readers not usually comfortable with the horror genre should be ok. It reads more like an old gothic horror novel (i.e. Frankenstein) than a modern slasher film.

The description of the various settings in this book is what really stood out. There was a line describing the general atmosphere of Victorian London that gives a small taste of what I’m talking about: “the industrial, gnat-soaked air was dyed an amber tint”. I have read a lot of books set in Victorian London, never has one line so succinctly captured walking through the streets in the evening must have felt like. Overall the Eater of Flies was an entertaining read to start off this halloween season and I genuinely look forward to reading more novels by Richard Gadz.