Not what I like personally and I don't see it circulating well among our patron demographic. The writing is overliterary and the dialogue is awkward. I struggled to continue reading when the animated weasels were introduced. An interesting concept but just not my style.

“Who’s the hero in your story?”-1—“What?” He blinks at the non sequitur. 0—“That story you were telling me about. The one where the guy can dream stuff up. Who’s your hero when you think about it? Who do you side with? Who’s right? Is it the guy with the powers, who’s scared of what he’s doing? Or is it the doctor who’s trying to manipulate him?”
As Nat says at the forward/trigger warning of the book:” This is specifically a story about the slippery nature of fear and how important it is to find healthy ways to live with it…” but it also show us what happens when we let that fear rule our lives until our death and how much it affects our loved one.
I absolutely loved this weird werewolf/it/X-Cops novel! I got this book as an arc from netgalley and it was my first time reading Nat’s work. I am beyond in love. This was a couldn’t put down book. I was literally glued to my phone for hours reading whenever and where ever I could. I’m actually disappointed it’s ended. Oh ps it’s not a happy ending read but the end is so satisfying and perfect! If you are looking for a happy ending horror this isn’t the one for you!!
Reminds me a bit of Stephen Chbosky's horror novel
Imaginary Friend (2019) especially in regards to regards to the theme of fear and imagination.
Also reminds me a bit of a few X-files episodes. But specifically the X-files cross over episode with the reality tvshow Cops. In which a werewolf was wrecking havoc and the FBI was called in for back up. Especially the media narratives and local police force response. It also reminds me a bit of Buffy episode in which the little boy was having nightmares in a coma and triggered an event in Sunnydale in which everyone's personal biggest fears came to pass in real life.

I loved his book Mary and this one was pretty good too! This book had me on the edge of my seat at times. This was so different and unique. It’s not your typical werewolf story. It’s creepy and hard to put down! I love his writing and I can’t wait for his next book! I need to go back and read Nestlings now!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishing for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ♥

So far I have read nearly everything Nat Cassidy has published, and I have to say I am a fan at this point. When the Wolf Comes Home is a really interesting portrayal of anxiety and fear and how it can run our lives all wrapped up in an action packed monster novel. I found the story both gripping and full of things that prompted introspection. I'm not a fan of kid characters in horror most of the time, and the little boy did wear on me at times, but overall I had a great time reading this book and I absolutely LOVED the ending.

Book: When The Wolf Comes Home
Author: Nat Cassidy
Publisher: Tor Publishing
Pub Date: April 22, 2025

This book was not really what I was expecting and I don’t necessarily mean that in a bad way. This is the first book I have read by this author and it is definitely horror. The boy in the story is running away from his father and Jess wants to protect him at all costs. The boy’s father is literally a monster – I thought he was just going to be a really mean man. I didn’t know he was going to be an actual wolf and he leaves a lot of carnage behind. A lot. This book has rave reviews on NetGalley. It’s accurately described as a classic horror book. The ending is left open ended and deeply unsettling. It has been labeled by some as the most anticipated horror of 2025.

Thank you Tor Publishing and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is April 22, 2025.

WOW!!! This book was not what a I expected. I can't really say what I thought I was getting into but I was shocked by how much I enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and the suspense throughout the whole book. The ending made me a bit sad. I hoped it was going to end differently but I also understand why it had to end the way it did. I had started this book a few weeks ago but put it down to read another book I had. Over the long weekend I decided to read this book. I finished it in one day! That's how good it was. I really loved this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley!

This was a fascinating take on fear and the control it can have on our lives.
This thing takes off at a blistering pace and hardly lets up the whole way through. The scenes described were vivid, the characters were easy to connect with, and the dialogue had me laughing to myself.
This was a fun and easy read for me, both of which I really needed at this time, because I was really slumpin’ pretty hard.

Part 4 and the Afterword were perhaps my favourite parts of this book and what truly brought me out of my slump. The author brings everything together so beautifully. Sharing personal experience of how fear can come about and how it IS possible to overcome it.

This was my first by this author and won’t be my last.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

if nat cassidy writes it, i will read it and love it. nestlings was one of my top 5 reads of 2024 so imagine my excitement seeing “when the wolf comes home.” going into this book, you know its a horror, there’s a missing kid and a werewolf. but this book, it’s so much deeper than that and possibly cassidy’s best book yet.

to start, the horror in this book truly placed me in a 80s slasher movie. the suspense and gore was incredible. the reader can feel and experience each character’s emotion. the horror and fear alone makes this book easy to consume. i seriously enjoyed all of the characters as well no matter how chaotic they were.

but what really makes this book stand out is the element of fear. what is fear to a child? to an adult? how does it grow and change as we get older? fear is our own personal werewolf. as a child, we’re scared of the monsters under the bed and things that bump in the night. as an adult they shape shift into the fear to fail, anxiety, disappointment, things less tangible. but fears nonetheless and the only person capable of conquering them are ourselves.

the other theme is dads and the complex relationships we have with them. their choices and lives shape us into who we are. their care can be harmful, their love can be abandonment. how do you protect? what does it look like? we are not our fathers, but we can see them everywhere we go.

“when the wolf comes home” is equal parts horrific and heart breaking. it may be my favorite read of the year. i honestly cant believe how many times it made me tear up. additionally, the afterword is so worth the read. it actually made me ugly cry. cassidy describes his relationship with his dad and how it impacted him. seriously had me crying i. my car.

i highly recommend this book to anyone and honestly may have to do a reread. it was that good. a big, big thank you to nat cassidy and torfire publishing for sending me an unedited arc. i actually screamed when it came in the mail! “when the wolf comes home” is out april 22, 2025!!

First of all, starting with the content warnings was so perfect! To quote Nat on CW “If you’re a sicko like me, all these do is give you a little preview of what flavors of nasty fun you’re in for..” His humor is so good, he is an author I would love to have a drink with! He always provides some of the best horror books!! This one doesn’t necessarily fit into a box as far as genre, there are parts sci fi, thriller, horror, but I love that it is its own entity! Like when is the last time you cried or were on the verge of tears in a horror novel?? This one pulled on the heart strings! It is so gruesome and graphic like some of the best, old school horror novels, and also emotional and dark. Cookie had to be my favorite character, she provided the most perfectly placed comedic relief! The ending was perfect for me! I would say it’s wrapped nicely in a bow, but it pulls it all together in the most unexpected way that had me wanting to go back and reread to see how I missed so many little things!! Ok, I’m cutting myself off there otherwise I will keep going! I’m recommending to all of my friends already! Can’t wait to see what they think!

An ode to shitty dads, childhood trauma and surrealism. This was a gruesome, wild ride.

Thank you to Netgalley for my arc.

I liked this better than Nestlings! There was a lot to admire about it, the central conceit is brilliant (though the explanation/backstory was weird and unnecessary), the commentary on families, trauma, and becoming your father is sophisticated and interesting. It has the kind of ending characteristic of this author, which was fine!

Thank you so much to NetGalley/Tor Nightfire for a digital ARC of When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy- in return for my honest opinion. Expected Pub Date April 22, 2025.

Mood: challenging, dark, tense, medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0 Stars

Nat Cassidy has done it again! This novel is technically a Werewolf novel, but wow, it's just so much more than that. The book starts off with a bang- showing you 'the monster' right off the bat, but then you immediately realize there's a catch to said monster. I don't want to risk spoiling anything because I really think you need to go into this one blind to experience the plot and characters - but this story was so unique! Make sure you read the afterword too- it's so inspirational and really gives insight to where Nat Cassidy got his ideas for this story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This was not the ride I was expecting but it was a fun and wild ride. The story is mainly told through Jess’s perspective. She’s an aspiring actress working in a diner to make ends meet. While cleaning up the bathroom one evening she gets stuck by a dirty needle and starts spiraling into thinking she has contracted something terrible from it. She goes back to her apartment before seeking treatment for her injury and encounters a young boy outside. The boy is terrified of his father and Jess instinctively wants to protect him. The boys dad is literally a monster and Jess ends up taking on a lot more than she bargained for in trying to protect this child. This was a really fun and unique spin on the werewolf trope. I won’t give too much away as I feel like it’s best to go into it blind.

Thank you for my early copy of When the Wolf Comes Home. I got goosebumps just reading this book, which was so good and creepy. I cannot wait for the physical copy to have it on my bookshelf.

Magnificent. A gut-wrenching horror that combines the effects of childhood trauma, parenthood and found family. Emotionally-charged with a never-ending shadow of impending doom, Jess reminds me so much of my transition into adulthood and the crazy period of when I was finding myself. She has so much heart and she gave this crazy story the lightness that it needed.

This is my first time reading Nat Cassidy -- why? Why haven't I heard this name before in horror? I can't wait to go back and read his other works.

Jess is an LA waitress who really wants to be an actress. When she goes home after a a particularly upsetting shift, she sees a young boy outside her apartment who seems to need help. This is just the beginning to a whirlwind of action and horror that doesn't let up until the final page. When the Wolf Comes Home reminds me a lot of Firestarter from Stephen King. It's fast paced, full of scary creatures, and still provides an emotional punch.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the digital arc.

Readers will want to take a bite out of this bloody goody, horrific, riveting, and shocking book!!!! Nat Cassidy slayed the werewolf paranormal fiction genre with When the Wolf Comes Home!!! Nat Cassidy wowed me with Nestlings and I could not wait to devour this powerhouse of a book. He seriously delivered and then some! This book kept me on my toes, turning the pages, and on the edge of my seat.

Whew! Jess, a struggling actress, has had a horrible night at work and comes home to a find a five-year-old boy hiding in her bushes. Soon a horrific, violent, and bloody attack involving the boy's father brutally unfolds. She is beyond scared, traumatized and runs with the boy. Those who enjoy the horror genre know that you can run but you can't hide!

Holy Moly! This is not, I repeat, this is not your usual werewolf story! This one is deep, brilliant, shocking, evokes emotion, and provides shock and shock. Nat Cassidy has more instore than I imagined when I picked this book up. You will need to buckle up while reading this one as it is a wild thrilling and jaw dropping ride. This book is sooo original and unique. It is also terrifying and thought provoking. This is a book where you may want to cover your eyes while reading yet will keep pulling your hands down because you just must keep reading!

I love it when I am certain that I know where a book is going and then *bam* it becomes so much more than I could ever imagine. That is the case with this book. I loved the writing, the vivid descriptions, the tension, the suspense, and the characters. This one sucked me in, chewed me up, spit me out, then chewed me up again! My head is still spinning, and my pulse is still pounding! I don't think I have ever said 'OMG' and 'Wait, what did I just read?' so many times while reading a book. I mean that in the best possible way.

*Be sure to read the Author's note at the end of this awesome book!

Dark, shocking, brutal, and beyond brilliant!

"When The Wolf Comes Home" is a remarkably creative and skillfully written piece, distinguished by its deep impact and unwavering originality. It is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable tales I have come across. Nat Cassidy has an extraordinary gift for storytelling. Giving it just five stars seems insufficient, and it will take an exceptional thriller to outshine this outstanding work in 2025. #netgalley.

The tension in this bloody, chilling novel ratchets up and up to a shocking, abrupt ending that will linger with you. What made me fall in love with the characters was the dialogue and internal voices of our two MCs, Jess and kiddo. They're distinctive, believable, and endearing in the way they interact with each other. That central relationship really shone. Some of the worldbuilding and explanations for events in the story fell a little flat for me. Overall, this is an unexpected and heavy-hitting twist on the werewolf story.

Another excellent novel from Nat Cassidy. This is a fast paced, riveting book that does a fantastic job of mixing old-school classic horror with other supernatural tropes to take a look at family tragedy and trauma. Highly recommend.