V meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets Day of the Triffids with a little bit of The Stand thrown in.
Mira Grant's latest is an alien invasion story centered around a young woman who has been telling people since she was three years old that she is an alien and that an invasion is coming. Everyone thought is was a quirk - until an amateur astronomer intercepts a signal that announces the presence of aliens, and they're coming this way.

This could easily be a classic and rote invasion novel, but Grant has a real gift for writing compelling and very real characters and giving readers plenty of insight into their motivations and thoughts while also moving the book along at a quick pace. In a short span of time, Grant finds a way to make us care about a lot of people an how events are going to impact each of them.
But where Grant really shines in this and other of her monstercentric books is in her creation of those monsters. The aliens are fascinating, both in their appearance (which she gives us in amazing detail) and their culture, while also being terrifying in their motivation and capability.

Great book in the spirit of War of the Worlds with a thing or two to say about humanity.

Mira Grant - or any penname of Seanan McGuire's - is an automatic read for me. I adore the way that the narratives and characters are built, the way that the stories just skewer away enough from what you think you know, whilst paying homage and reverence to the materials from which she draws inspiration.

I really had no idea where this story was going to take me. It rode the line between The Little Shop of Horrors, War of the Worlds, and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with the kind of humor and heartbreak you expect from a Mira Grant story.

It was easy to relate to Stasia, especially in a politically fraught climate and I feel like having this story helped to heal a little part of me, and grow the parts that are ready to take a stand.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the eARC.

I was so fascinated by Overgrowth. Anastasia at 3 years old wanders in to the woods behind her home. She emerges three days later, not as she was. This alien invasion, seed pod, body snatching book was so good. I loved the found family, trans rep and overall what would you do theme. If you had to choose between love and humanity, what would you choose?
For me, this book is only lacking in intensity in the first 60%. I personally prefer a high stakes level intensity from the beginning, especially with sci-fi.

im not entirely sure my feelings on this one. i’ve been stewing on it for a few days after reading it and im still unsure how i feel. the writing is very descriptive which others could love but i had a hard time with it because i have aphantasia so i felt like i was missing out on certain descriptions of characters and scenes. i did enjoy our cast of characters however. i loved the interactions between all of them and i definitely felt emotional at times. overall it was a decent reading experience and i would read from mira grant again.

4.5⭐. Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.

I'm new to reading sci-fi horror and this was definitely one that's going to stick with me like ivy growing up a wall. The horror starts in the opening chapter, when the reader learns exactly how the sentient plant aliens infiltrate human society, and we're introduced to our protagonist Anastasia "Stasia" Miller—now an alien wearing the skin of a human girl. It's violent, creepy, horrific and utterly tragic.

I think this was an excellent creative choice, because from here on, this is a novel that intends to invoke mixed feelings in its reader. Every time we lean towards ANY sympathy at all to Stasia, even at the valid instances, we're reminded that her living on Earth for so long could only occur with the sacrifice of her human "template". We're reminded that her species intends to invade Earth for their own non-altruistic purposes. There's an inherent wrongness in this upcoming event that will lead to the death of billions, and the way the aliens explain the necessity of it for the survival of their own species is clinical and cold.

It's absolutely fascinating how Overgrowth uses the alien allegory to discuss diaspora issues and xenophobia, yet at the same time, it's highly ironic. The presumption that "all people of color are dangerous" is rooted in bigotry, but Stasia and every member of her species have been announcing that they planned to invade since Day 1. We are reading the POV of a character who, at the end of the day, is going to benefit from this brutal invasion. And she will reap those benefits alongside the other aliens. This novel feels contradictory because while it paints humanity's response to the impending invasion as vile (e.g. detaining Stasia for interrogation and taking pieces of her flesh and blood to see if a "weedkiller" can be made; other humans attacking their longtime loved ones as soon as they're revealed to be secretly aliens), you can't also justify the literal colonizing aliens as being in the right.

But it is this sort of greyness in Stasia's morality that is captivating to read. She herself struggles with conflicted feelings towards humanity's fate and her alien family's actions. Regardless, at the end of the day, she's always been fairly consistent with which side she's on ... And YET. Despite her complicity in the invasion, I still find her a likeable character? There's something about her steadfast love for her human boyfriend and friends that make me, at the very least, want to root for THEIR survival alongside hers. The inevitable tragedy that looms over the reader is bittersweet the further along you read.

I did like the human supporting characters for the most part, but I do think the story could've pushed Graham, Stasia's boyfriend who is a trans man, to be MORE than just the Wholesome Supportive Love Interest. While there certainly were instances of him getting into conflict with his alien girlfriend who's literally part of a murderous race, those were largely glossed over because of external factors like the US government and other humans threatening their safety, and the fact that he ~loves her so much~. I appreciate a man being loyal, but boy, everyone you know is about to DIE and your girlfriend doesn't really care THAT much beyond her initial conflicted feelings. That should've been a bigger point of contention.

All in all, I do find this to be more enjoyable once I adjusted how I view this novel: the villain's POV.

Overgrowth is a gorgeously weird trip into cosmic bio horror, and I was totally hooked. I loved the unsettling ambiguity—whether the real threat was the aliens or humanity itself—and how Mira Grant let that tension simmer. Some parts leaned a little heavy on the detail, but overall, the story’s eerie atmosphere and creeping dread more than made up for it. Strange, smart, and deeply unsettling in the best way. I’ve never been more ready for an alien invasion!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the eARC!

This was an amazing science fiction/dystopia/body horror book. I loved it. Mira Grant is a fantastic writer, and this book was full of gorgeous scenes. Grant clearly thought out this entire world and did such a good job of unwrapping it for us, the readers.
Pay attention to the body horror element - if that's going to bother you, this book isn't for you.
But it's a really beautiful study of humanity and what makes us human. I loved that some of this book made me uncomfortable to read - did I side with the humans? Did I side with the plant/alien invaders?
I loved how creative Grant was with creating the alien species, including the way they looked, the dream forest, the reason for invading, and how the invasion could have been stopped.
This book gave me so much to think about. When I finished it, I immediately wanted to start it again from the beginning. Highly recommend it!

The story starts with seeds from space landing on Earth. Anastasia, an adventurous 3-year-old, runs into the woods one day when her mother isn't watching her closely, and stumbles upon one of these space plants due to its intoxicating smell mimicking all of her favorite smells. When she touches the plant, the plant ends up eating her and absorbing her, drinking up her blood, and then out comes an alien copy of 3-year-old Anastasia. When she makes it back home and everyone asks where she has been, she states that she is an alien and part of the vanguard that is going to invade this planet. Everyone assumes she suffered from some trauma in the woods and just writes her off as weird. Fast-forward to 2031, Stasia is 35 years old, incredibly anti-social, and lives with two roommates who tolerate her weirdness as both are nerds as well. The flash-forward starts a 25-day countdown to the invasion.

WOW WOW WOW. I did not expect this book to be so wild. There is a lot going on in this book: identity, choice, transgender politics, birthright citizenship and rights - honestly, it was all really well done throughout the story that it didn't feel like too much. It was a great sci-fi, semi-horror novel. I really liked that the whole story was told through Stasia's eyes - the alien who was raised in a human world - which makes it seem like she is an unreliable narrator, but ends up being the most reliable as she always is honest with everyone she meets. I think there are definitely parts that could be chopped out as it was slow at times especially all the stuff once the aliens had invaded and she was having lots of conversations with them. I think people with either really like this book or think its not that great. 4 stars from me though!

This book has such a terrifying start. I was clenching it as I read like NOOOO ANASTASIA NOOOO! *insert Parker Posey voice*

I was satisfied by the horror of the beginning and thought I was gonna need to buckle up because this was going to be insanely scary but then it took a hard turn into satire and mellowed out real fast. I'm not sure how I feel about the quick switch up in directions for the book. I was really hoping for a unhinged, dark and scary horror, rather than where it ended up going.

The writing itself is great! The concept of alien plant life being the invaders and biding time until they are ready to come on over to Earth was great. Just not super happy with the direction the overall story took right after the initial start.

I was in the mood for a Jeff VanderMeer or Michael Crichton type of story, but this had a dofferent style so just know it's less frightening sci-fi and more silly/cutesy with some unsettling scenes thrown in here and there. So, I think my expectations just let me down but I do think there will be an audience that will love this and the found family and quirky aspects of the main character. It just wasn't my taste in stories.

What an interesting and dare I say, fun read, complete with the threat of full-scale alien invasion and the body horror of our protagonist, Anastasia Miller, inhabiting a human form that doesn’t truly represent her. The story starts out with an unknown narrator telling a story about our protagonist. We then jump to 1st person POV narrative from Stasia. We get lots of tongue in cheek humor that was so funny (especially if you’re a Little Shop of Horrors fan).

Mixed well with the humor, Mira Grant manages to tackle so many deep themes and current issues without ever seeming heavy handed, including climate change, mental health, birthright citizenship, gender identity, and fear mongering, to name a few. The story also features a slightly more unusual found family dynamic that I enjoyed. It’s packed with a ton of action and some really likable and unlikable characters, and a fair bit of wild creatures.

Although this is a horror novel and is certainly apocalyptic, for those of you who don’t enjoy horror elements, I never found it to be overly gross or gratuitous in those areas. I think you could still safely read this if it sounds interesting but you’re not typically into horror. That said, please always check the trigger warnings. Overall, I really enjoyed this one—it’s got well-developed characters (especially Stasia), solid world building when it comes to our aliens and encounters with them, and some well-executed beautiful themes. If you enjoy Jeff VanderMeer or Sylvain Neuvel, I think you could really enjoy this one too.

The opening chapter of Overgrowth is eerie and tense, but then the story shifts gears hard. What starts as dark, atmospheric sci-fi horror quickly turns into a much cozier, YA-feeling narrative focused on Anastasia and her ensemble of friends. The tonal whiplash is real, and the rest of the book never quite recovers from it.

There were some really thoughtful, introspective conversation throughout about inclusion and belonging, but there’s so much of it that it starts to drag. The same themes and ideas are rehashed again and again, and by the time the actual invasion begins, well over halfway through the novel, it was too little, too late, with most of the real action is packed into the last 50 pages.

There was some body horror, but it’s very light and tamed. This read is a good entry point for readers who are new to horror, but if you’re looking for something intense and terrifying (and in the same vein of Into the Drowning Deep) this one probably won’t hit the mark.

Anastasia Miller is just like you and me. She has roommates, a cat, a crappy customer service job with bad coworkers, has a nickname and oh yeah, she’s an alien plant. Specifically, the vanguard of her species impending invasion of Earth. Perhaps that part isn’t just like you and me.

Stasia has been on Earth over 30 years now, she’s the product of an alien flower that sprouted in the woods behind the human Anastasia Miller’s house. Human Anastasia was only 3 years old when she wandered off, smelled something delicious and ended up being the delicious item on the menu that day. Three days later Stasia was born, and from that day when she wandered back out of the woods to her mother, she told everyone that she was an alien plant from space. But no one listened.

Things start to change for Stasia when NASA confirms a signal released by an unknown scientist was not a hoax and was in fact a signal from outer space. She’s always dreamed of a forest, but her dreams become more vivid, and her body starts to change…

The following days and weeks leading to the invasion are full of reflection and more changes than she ever expected. Will she retain any of her humanity or will it all crumble away like dead leaves in the winter.

Overgrowth is coming, and you won’t be able to use weed killer on it. Pick up a copy on May 6th and join the invasion.

When randomly picking Into the Drowning Deep to read this month, I had completely forgotten that I, by chance, had another book by Mira Grant on my April TBR, and that I would be reading two novels by an author I had never tried before in a very short span of time. Thankfully, if Overgrowth is any indication of the level of horror that Grant is capable of, I am completely on board.
To lay it out very simply, Overgrowth is a scifi invasion story that centres on the experiences of Stasia, a vanguard for the invading race of sentient plants that was raised as a human.
Personally speaking, I have never found a character more simultaneously sympathetic and terrifying than Stasia is. While distinctly hybrid in much of her thought process—she isn’t human, but she has lived among them for her entire life—through her we are able to see the deeply complex moral dilemma between assimilation versus extinction, and the behavioural ramifications of humanity suddenly becoming prey within an ecosystem they previously were unchecked in. A bit like how people introduce a natural predator to isolated environments when pest populations get out of hand.
There is also a very interesting parallel to be seen with modern environmental sciences and global warming, and how humanity’s reaction to natural disasters has largely been apathetic or indifferent until directly impacted by them.
Overall, Overgrowth honestly feels like one of those horror books that should become part of the modern lexicon when addressing allegories in science fiction as a genre, and I say that with utmost hope that it will. This is a fantastic read, and if you love horror that makes you think, you will love this.

Alien stories are not my usual go-to, but Mira Grant’s stories are always thrilling, and Overgrowth is no exception. Even the most alien of characters are sympathetic because she shows them to us through a lens of empathy, even as we, as humans, will have a natural sympathy with the humans. My only caution is to make sure you have plenty of time once you start reading Overgrowth, because it’s hard to put down.

I am not normally an alien sci-fi kinda girl, but this was great! Anastasia is our FMC who is not from around here, and she has told everyone this since she was young. Most people played out of as a quirk she has, since thinking she is weird, others believing her to some degree, but when an alien signal is heard in space, those around her realize she may have been telling the truth.

This story was captivating, and I love a good “found family” trope, which this one delivers. While it got a little slow for me in the middle, overall I enjoyed it. If you are a fan of Mira Grant’s other work, I think you will love this!

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I tried but I just couldn’t get into. I will likely try again but right now it’s just not for me

3.5 Stars

his book is hard to rate because it’s so unique and doesn’t fit into one category. The story left me with mixed feelings, making it one of the most thought-provoking books I’ve read in a while.

The book starts with an unsettling idea: a child is taken and replaced by a plant-like being, only to be returned later. The child insists that they were replaced by something alien, but no one believes them. The parents, friends, and doctors all think the child is just dealing with trauma and is a bit strange. As the story goes on, the tone changes. It moves from a tense, sci-fi horror to a more thoughtful exploration of the child’s life after the event. The "alien" child tries to live a normal life, making relationships and dealing with their past trauma. This change in focus slowed the pace of the story. As more aliens begin to come to the world.

At first, I was really interested in the plot, but as the book slowed down, I lost some of that excitement. Some parts felt boring, and the story became more about the child’s everyday life rather than the horror element, which I missed. That said, the shift in focus might work for some readers. The way the child struggles with their identity and relationships was emotional and meaningful. The book also touches on themes of being different and trying to fit in, which felt deep and real.

The representation of a trans character added an important layer to the story. It connected to the theme of feeling "other" and added emotional depth.

In the end, I think this book will appeal to readers who like slower, character-focused stories with a touch of the strange or surreal. If you're looking for a constant horror or sci-fi experience, though, you might be disappointed. I was initially drawn to the chilling first chapter, but the story took a quieter, more emotional turn. Even though it wasn’t what I expected, I appreciated the book’s exploration of identity, trauma, and understanding.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

A new Mira Grant says, "science fiction but with heart," and "you'll probably cry." It delivered! The story of an alien invasion from the point of view of one of the inadvertent invaders is loaded with action and a really neat premise. The invasion is coming, and Stasia has never pretended otherwise. She knew she was an alien. But there's a difference between knowing you're an alien and actively working for the invading side. Stasia and her friends will have to come to a new understanding of who she is, and what that means. For a book about an alien invasion, this was a great deal of fun and surprisingly thoughtful. Could someone please pay this woman to write another book about mermaids, now.

Seriously obsessed with this one! I would call this a speculative sci-fi horror. Anastasia, Stasia to her friends, disappeared in the woods for a few days when she was three-years-old. When she emerged, she went on to live a fairly normal life, but she has always told everyone that she is actually an invading alien plant species from space and that the invasion is coming. People either thought she was crazy, or laughed it off, and she was always viewed as kind of weird. Now, at age 35, a communication from space has been intercepted and released to the public, claiming...wait for it...that an invasion is coming. I don't want to dive deep into a synopsis for fear of spoilers, but what unfolds is a highly entertaining and fast-paced story of an alien invasion, found family, and identity. I cannot even tell you how much I loved this book and how it, surprisingly, explores a lot from the real world. We touch upon dehumanization in conquests, citizenship and rights, lgbtq hardships, neurodivergent rep--all intertwined into a damn good and entertaining sci-fi horror story! It's genre-bending as we dip into dystopian and apocalyptic. Be prepared for some body horror and wild images in your brain! Keep your eyes peeled for the character Toni, who is hilarious and I love her. Brush up on your best plant insults and Little Shop of Horrors references. I have one lingering question for author Mira Grant (aka Seanan McGuire) that I hope to get the opportunity to ask some day. This book is an easy 5 stars from me and  highly recommend it for a sci-fi alien horror!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the e-ARC! Book releases May 6, 202

3.5* Rounded Up

This was a trippy book and though I really enjoyed the premise and the weirdness of it, I also wanted a bit more from it. I think my main issue was the pacing, it was really slow at times especially the beginning and the middle but then it sped up considerably at the end. There were some unique aspects to this alien invasion and it kept me engaged and wanting to get answers. I also don't think that the humans acted very believably and so sometimes their decisions took me out of engaging with the story. Overall though it was an engaging, creepy book that I could see as a really cool TV show or mini series.

I received an eARC courtesy of Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley, all opinions are my own.