🌟horrifying
🌟disgusting
🌟triggering
🌟haunting
🌟traumatizing

i am not a horror girlie so i had to put this down every time i got scared... which ended up prolonging the experience and had me living in this terrifying book for ten whole days.

i sincerely hope cora is living a much happier life in 2024, i would like to find her and give her the biggest hug

This was good and spooky but mainly scary how people treat each other. I loved the description throughout and really related to Cora and her paranoia with the pandemic. It was… a lot and then for Asian women, I can’t even begin to understand.

This book hurt my heart a little. Kylie writes so well and I loved her precious series as well. It doesn’t shy away from the truth and presents it in a way that makes you want to keep reading.

I was so excited when I was granted access to this book because I love mysteries/thrillers combined with more important themes of social injustices. It’s true that the most horrific thrillers are those that twist in elements of real life horrors.

First and foremost, I received an ARC copy for NetGalley. Thank you!

After a tough start, I can say that I actually enjoyed this book. The subject matter is a bit close to home and can be depressing for some to read but overall it’s a good story.

This book is so many things all at once, but pulls all of them off. It’s bone-chilling at times: it’s a gory, page-turning murder mystery. It can be incredibly bleak and nihilistic before turning around at break neck speed and being a story about finding light and friendship in the darkest, most hopeless of situations. It peels back the mask of how hate can spread and grow. This book flip flops between exposing the best and absolute worst characteristics of humanity.

The longest running metaphor showcases in full color exactly how grief can sink its teeth into so many aspects of a person life and how confusing and messy of a feeling it is.

I thought this was a brilliantly written book, not quite like anything I’ve read before. I’d definitely recommend to anyone that’s up for a dark read.

Big thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for letting me read this advanced copy.

"Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng" by Kylie Lee Baker is an intense, visceral ride that latches onto you and doesn’t let go. Cora's journey through the gritty streets of Chinatown, haunted by both literal and metaphorical ghosts, is a raw and unflinching look at trauma and identity in the face of relentless horror. Baker’s portrayal of Cora’s inner turmoil and the stark reality of violence against East Asians during the pandemic is both heart-wrenching and terrifying. The book is a masterful blend of psychological horror and cultural commentary, with the eerie presence of hungry ghosts and a chilling serial killer adding layers of dread. It's a haunting, powerful read that will leave you questioning what’s real long after you’ve turned the last page. If you’re into horror that cuts deep and stays with you, this one’s a must-read. 👻🔪📚

set during the covid-19 pandemic, the novel explores the rise of anti-asian hate crimes and overall rise in anti-asian hate that followed. cora zeng is a crime scene cleaner who watched her sister get pushed in front of a train and die in the very first chapter of this book, the man shouting “bat eater” as he did so. the novel follows her as she is left to deal with the grief and trauma of that event while still trying to live her life, going to work and trying to survive the pandemic. if that isn’t enough, the crime scenes she’s cleaning up have her and her coworkers wondering if a serial killer is rising in new york city, with bats showing up at the scene, and she’s been witnessing some strange activities… the hungry ghosts, maybe, that her aunt talks about every august.

this is the first horror book i’ve read in a while that really gave me chills and had me scared of the dark. the way that kylie lee baker writes scenes is beautiful and horrifying at the same time. every crime scene that cora had to clean up or mention of blood and guts left me feeling squeamish and uncomfortable, while the hungry ghosts that lie in wait in the dark spaces cora sees had me anxious. it was a book i both wanted to put down to give myself a break, but also didn’t want to stop because of just how good it was. the plot being put into covid was poignant, even to this day, and didn’t feel like a gimmick an author threw in just because or thrown in lazily as just the background to the story as i’ve seen in other books released post-pandemic. no, covid-19 and the rise in anti-asian hate were very intrinsically linked and it is shown throughout the novel. it’s amazingly done, even if a bit hard to get through (as many social commentary horror books are) and i couldn’t recommend it enough. i can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

a huge thank you to netgalley and harlequin trade publishing for the arc of this ebook in exchange for an honest review!

An incredibly powerful and disturbing read, one that hit a little too close to home for me. Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, this novel explores the staggering rise in anti-Asian hate crimes and the normalization of rampant Sinophobia through a horror lens.

Cora Zeng's sister Delilah has always been her blueprint, her lifeline. After witnessing Delilah's brutal murder, Cora is left traumatized and adrift. Abandoning her dreams of a career in fashion, Cora becomes a crime scene cleaner. After all, she's already seen the very worst – nothing can faze her now. However, Cora soon notices a spate of dead East Asian women, found alongside mutilated bat carcasses at the crime scenes. "Bat eater", her sister's murderer yelled – and perhaps, so did these women's killers.

With the Hungry Ghost Festival looming, Cora starts to see Delilah's ghost, a desperate, gaping maw hungry for vengeance. Efforts to raise awareness about the dead women are rebuffed by the media and silenced by law enforcement, highlighting their complicity in a system where certain victims – immigrants, undocumented, non-English speaking – are seen as expendable. As Cora copes with her grief, loss, and anger, she strives to bring justice to the victims while trying to fend off the growing maelstrom of supernatural fury.

As an Asian woman, this was a particularly bitter and heartbreaking read. We worried about the safety of our elders, not only from illness, but also from the misplaced anger and hate that people harboured. We endured unhinged verbal abuse, like the man who yelled "fucking Chinese" at me as he rode by on his bicycle. Kylie Lee Baker paints a painfully realistic portrait of how so many people felt entitled to be abusive to those they perceived as Chinese – with complete impunity. Drawing from Chinese mythology, the Hungry Ghost Festival was a perfect vessel for exploring the the collective hunger and fury that lives in our veins, that flows from generational trauma and loss.

I don’t have the words to tell you how much I loved this book! It was… horrifying. In the best way possible.

It’s a mark of a truly wonderful author when you, as a reader, can physically feel a characters emotions. And I felt that way with Cora. I understood her anxiety and uncertainty of the future.

I remember being around the 7% mark and just KNOWING that this was going to be a 5 star read for me. And I was right. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this book. The themes of violence, racism, mental illness, and grief were very prevalent. I love that the author didn’t shy away from such horrific subject matter.

The pandemic was a really terrifying and uncertain time for all of us, but I know that as a white woman, my experience was very different.

𝐵𝑎𝑡 𝐸𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑂𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑁𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑎 𝑍𝑒𝑛𝑔 is full of body horror, extreme violence, and Asian hate. It was incredibly painful and gruesome to read but also entirely consuming. I read the whole thing in a day and a half. I could NOT put it down, even when it was scaring the heck outta me. There were certain moments that literally made me gasp out loud, and I even cried.

10/10. Absolute perfection.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and MIRA for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker is a chilling and evocative thriller/horror novel that masterfully intertwines themes of trauma, cultural identity, and the supernatural against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The story follows Cora Zeng, a crime scene cleaner in Chinatown, as she navigates a nightmarish reality filled with brutal violence, hungry ghosts, and a haunting personal tragedy.

Cora's life is irrevocably altered after witnessing the horrific murder of her sister, Delilah, who was pushed in front of a train by a man who shouted "bat eater." This event shatters Cora's sense of reality, leaving her haunted by both her inner demons and the physical remnants of the crime scenes she cleans. The novel's exploration of Cora's psychological turmoil is deeply immersive, drawing readers into her struggle to distinguish between reality and hallucination.

Baker's depiction of the pandemic and its accompanying anti-Asian racism is both poignant and timely. The narrative does an excellent job of weaving social commentary into the horror elements, which made me confront the stark realities faced by East Asians during this period. The gritty portrayal of Cora's job and the eerie atmosphere of Chinatown during the Hungry Ghost Festival add layers of authenticity and dread to the story.

The character of Cora is compelling and relatable, her resilience and vulnerability making her journey both heart-wrenching and inspiring. The side characters are equally well-developed, adding depth to the narrative and making Cora's experiences feel even more personal. The novel excels in creating an emotional connection with its characters, making the reader invested in their fates.

The horror elements are skillfully executed, with a perfect balance of psychological tension and supernatural terror. The recurring appearance of bat carcasses and the eerie manifestations of hungry ghosts create an unsettling atmosphere that kept me on edge. Baker's writing is vivid and descriptive, effectively conveying the "ick factor" that horror enthusiasts crave while maintaining a sense of realism and depth.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is a beautifully crafted horror novel that stands out for its unique concept and emotionally charged narrative. Kylie Lee Baker has created a haunting tale that not only thrills and terrifies but also offers a profound commentary on cultural identity and the impact of trauma. This novel is a must-read for fans of horror and those who appreciate stories that resonate on both a personal and societal level!

**Review is scheduled to post to my blog on January 27th, 2025!**

What an amazing perspective of the pandemic. This book will or should shake you to your core. Told from the perspective of Cora, an Asian American, you will feel the raw emotions of that population during the Covid pandemic. Told as psychological thriller mystery expertly woven into the fabic of the story, it brings a bright light to the horrific racist actions that escalated during the pandemic. You will not be disappointed. 5 stars.

This read more like a thriller to me than horror. It started with a bang then slowed down. Our girl Cora's job is to clean up crime scenes, and she can't help but notice it's all Asian girls being targeted and the police keeping quiet about it, with the rise of anti- Asian hate and hate crimes.
The way she and other Asian people are treated in this book is honestly disgusting and the sad part is.....things like this really happened/happening. I remember seeing a video on YouTube during the pandemic of a man who grabbed an Asian girl by the hair and just started to kick her, out in the open, on the street. Did anyone stop him? Help her? No. I remember being SO angry about that. That I couldn't help, that someone filmed, that the man got away and worst, that there were witnesses who did NOTHING!
That was/is the reality. There were paranormal elements to this story, with a focus on ghost month, but the real horror was the serial killer on the loose that the cops refused to find. The reality of just how many deaths and the kind of deaths executed WERE horror! And....SPOILER ALERT......




Nobody was brought to justice! 😫
Many didn't get justice irl and I was just wanted the killer(s) to pay! Pressure was put on the cops of NY, but no arrest to corrections were made. In fact, the cops got PAID leave! Like "you didn't do your job, but here is some paid vacation time for your effort" 🤦‍♀️
That bothered me. Cora also didn't do much until the end. Her two friends had more ideas about how to help her and that didn't get them much either.

That being said. Once the serial killer aspect got rolling, the novel got interesting. Wonder a true horror fan would enjoy it 🫣 haha
The poor bats too 😅
All because stereotypes and propaganda are taken to heart for mysterious reasons to me. I don't understand where some people's logic goes when they set blame to ANYONE related or not related to a situation smh
This novel should be a stark reminder of what went down recently. Like Cora said, everyone decided to pretend that nothing happened and move on. But of we don't want to become like the Nazis or Americans of the 1940s and slave era, we need to think critically and seriously remember what we did/didn't do for those who needed our help.

Good story, just wish it had a better ending 🙈

What an absolute wild ride! I knew Kylie Lee Baker would crush adult horror after reading her horror-leaning YA fantasy. This follows Cora who is grieving the racially motivated murder of her sister during the Covid pandemic in NYC. She also has OCD. She was such a compelling character to follow, and the plot of this book was so wild!!! Fantastic read with a lot of important messages about racism and tolerance.

Absolutely superb! Anyone who enjoyed Japanese horror movies in the 2000s will take to this story.

This has been the only work of fiction I’ve read that has successfully incorporated the COVID pandemic into its plot without feeling contrived. The social commentary about anti-Asian racism was poignant and I appreciated the detail that the perspective presented.

This gritty tale follows the perspective of an Asian-American woman who is a crime scene cleaner in the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic, as she deals with the death of her sister, hungry ghosts and possibly a serial killer. Totally did not expect this book to be the emotionally charged ride that it turned out to be. I loved our protagonist Cora and all the side characters. This book makes to connect to its characters, making the journey even more personal and heartbreaking.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is a COVID based horror novel with themes of racism, classism, greif, mental illness, and Chinese folk horror (hungry ghosts, and July was the perfect time to read this ARC!). This book is SO GOOD!! I usually do not like books based around COVID, but this one used the isolation experienced by Asian Americans to highlight the racism throughout the US, and New York City, in particular, during the first year of COVID lock downs. It’s got ghosts, a serial killer, and terrifying imagery! I gave this book 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and will definitely be buying a physical copy for my shelves! 🖤

This book is entertaining, heartbreaking, and captures what it must have been like living in a big city during the beginning times of the pandemic.

Read this if you like:
• ghosts 👻
• serial killer mysteries 🔪
• Chinese folk horror

This book publishes January 28, 2025!

Huge thank you to @netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Another book in the recent trend of social horrors in the vein of Jordan Peele, Baker tackles the (now somewhat forgotten) anti-Asian sentiment at the height of the covid 19 pandemic. It was, to be quite honest, a tough read for me, but in a good way; I don't think a book like this would have been very effective or well-written if it DIDN'T feel gruesome to read. Incredible work about a tumultuous period that's been all but swept under the rug

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng" by Kylie Lee Baker is a gripping and terrifying novel that blends horror with themes of racism, trauma, and grief. Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, this book follows Cora Zeng, a biracial Chinese American crime scene cleaner grappling with the traumatic loss of her sister, Delilah, to a hate crime. Even though I am someone who mainly reads YA (adult horror can sometimes be a bit too much for me), I couldn’t stop myself from requesting this book because of the title, cover, and synopsis. I just knew this book was going to blow me away, not only because of those factors but also because I have read Baker’s YA “The Scarlet Alchemist,” and I absolutely fell in love with her writing. This book definitely did not disappoint!

The book opens with a shocking scene where Cora and Delilah are waiting for a subway. A white man calls Delilah "bat eater" and pushes her onto the tracks, killing her instantly. This tragic event sets the tone for the novel, highlighting the harsh realities of racism and the impact of the pandemic on the Asian American community. The twist at the end of the book truly shows the racism against the Asian American community and how some people are willing to sweep everything under the rug.

Cora, a germaphobe dealing with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, is haunted not just by the memory of her sister's death but by Delilah's hungry ghost, a concept rooted in Chinese folklore. The supernatural elements are seamlessly intertwined with the very real and visceral horror of Cora's day-to-day life, cleaning up crime scenes predominantly involving young Asian American women targeted by a serial killer. The killer's signature—leaving mutilated bats at the scenes—adds a chilling layer to the story. The concept of hungry ghosts is something I’ve never come across before, and the hungry ghosts were so unique, both with their appearances as well as their actions. The hungry ghosts added so much creepiness to the book because they not only appear in the shadows at night but also in the daytime. I also really liked how the horror and the mystery aspects intertwined throughout the book.

Baker does not shy away from the gruesome details, delivering scenes that are stomach-churning and heart-throbbing. The horror is not just in the supernatural elements but also in the stark depiction of racism and its brutal consequences. There were also some unexpected deaths in this book that definitely shocked me. There is definitely a lot of gore throughout this book and some descriptions were hard to read, so you should definitely be aware of this before going into the book.

Cora's journey is supported by her coworkers, Harvey and Yi Fei, who become her close confidants and partners in their mission to help Delilah's spirit find peace and to catch the serial killer. Their unconventional bond and the lighter moments they share provide a much-needed respite from the novel's relentless tension. Their camaraderie and the depiction of found family amidst chaos are beautifully portrayed.

Overall, this book is a powerful and thought-provoking read that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. While it is not for the faint of heart, it is a must-read for fans of horror and those interested in exploring the darker aspects of human experience.

I’m iffy on how to rate this book because there were some aspects of this book that I liked and some that I didn’t entirely enjoy. I liked the horror elements towards the end of the book. I found the “horror” aspect of this book to be like horror movies where majority of the horror scenes were thrown during the last thirty minutes of the movie. Not going to lie, the washing machine scene and the bed scene were insane. I also liked how the book focused on OCD and advocated against the Asian American hate and the slurs that were thrown at East Asians- especially during the COVID era.

What I didn’t enjoy was the pacing of this book. I thought the first half of the story was boring. The ghost storyline had potential but the execution of it didn’t impress me that much. Also, this is based on preferences but I didn’t entirely enjoy Cora’s character. She seemed too bland for a fmc and it was probably done intentionally because her character centered on her being a shadow to her sister, but she didn’t stick out to me much.

Lastly, thank you to Netgalley, the author, and to whoever was involved in making me receive a free arc in exchange for an honest review!