Horror • Mystery • Supernatural • Folklore
Expected Publication • 29 April 2025

Thank you @_mira_books_ @htp_hive & @harlequin_audio for the free ALC and e-book.

·˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀➛ This will be in contention for top Horror of 2025 · ←˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀

From the opening chapter, you can’t look away. A book that never pulls its punches, provides gripping social commentary, and blends Chinese lore and superstition against a backdrop of stereotypes and violence toward Asian Americans during the so-called “China virus”.

Cora Zeng is unemployed and needs rent money so she becomes a CSI-style crime scene cleaner. It’s one of the few things that she can stomach, ironically, as it’s impersonal and she can hide behind her mask and hazmat suit. As she and her crew respond to calls, a pattern emerges — though the deaths take different forms, the killer has a calling card involving bat entrails and body parts.

Cora is not OK but she’s getting by. She suffers from a few things, predominantly fear and PTSD following an assault and murder she witnesses and also some form of germaphobia/OCD. She’s also either losing her mind or food/drink is going missing from her apartment [where she lives alone]. Or it could be a restless spirit who hasn’t moved on to the afterlife, if you believe her Aunty Z, who is an expert on hungry ghosts.

I usually shy away from books relating to COVID-19 but this one is different. It’s not just about “what we all went through” “together”. This will punch you in the gut, make you laugh, terrify, and make you think hard about racism and domestic terrorism in our country.

‧₊˚🎧⊹ Narration of audiobook by Natalie Naudus was on point! This is the way to read this book!

TW: Murder, Gore, Misogyny, Assault, Racism, Racial Slurs

A ghosty, bloody, serial-killer horror with biting social commentary

Cora Zeng is a crime scene cleaner. Cora starts noticing a trend of Chinese women being the ones dead at the crime scenes, and after finding bats at a few scenes, Cora suspects something more sinister is afoot. Together with her two other crime scene cleaner coworkers, Cora tries to uncover the truth.

Because of the crew, it felt a bit like R-rated Scooby-Doo at times, which I thoroughly enjoyed. One of my favorite types of horror is real-world horror, where everyday people are the villains and are capable of cruel, horrific acts. This book had such sharp commentary on racism against Chinese people - especially after Covid - while also incorporating a ghost story.

This was a wild, action-packed, non-stop ride. I listened to the audiobook in one day.

I'd recommend this to horror fans, especially fans of socially conscious horror. It is a bit gruesome, so I wouldn't recommend it to those who are more squeamish/sensitive.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

YEP THIS WAS GREAT. Definitely going to be on my top horror of 2025 list.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is a horror/thriller set in early COVID days. The book opens with our Chinese American MC Cora witnessing her sisters murder on the subway in NYC after being called a 'bat eater' by her killer. She then becomes a crime scene cleanup person in the months following and notices too many asian women are being murdered.

This books really broaches the rampant asian hate crimes that have always occurred but really increased with the onset of COVID. It's something I don't feel like I heard enough about during the pandemic (also well illustrated in the book!) but I know it was occuring.

This is filled with amazing characters, some light found family/friendship, a serial killer on the loose, and lots of wild ghosts! There's a decent amount of really well written and creative gore and I could not put it down. I started and finished this in one day and I want more horror from this author in the future!

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free digital audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cora Zeng and her sister discussed what they should do when a horrific incident occurs. Cora is deeply affected. We fast forward, and she is working as a crime scene cleaner. Cora's obsession with cleanliness creates a bizarre tension as she comes in contact with disturbing things and people. Her experiences are very visceral and vivid as she begins to hear ghosts and see things in the shadows, making for some intense and scary interchanges.

The book weaves Chinese folklore into the narrative, transforming ghostly superstitions into something tangible. The phrase "bat eater" takes on a derogatory meaning and starts to paint a pattern involving the crime scenes as Cora is desperate to find a killer and soothe the ghosts haunting as she feels her reality slipping. Cora starts piecing all the deaths together, escalating to a climactic and shocking end.

I would classify The Bat Eater as a psychological horror that provides social commentary on the monstrosity of real-world prejudice. It covers grief, trauma, and the emotions that refuse to stay buried. I recommend it for those who love stories that pull from cultural folklore and about what hides in the shadows.

An excellent audiobook narration that exudes skill, technique, and an understanding of the story's tone, pacing, and character development.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Audio, for the gifted audiobook.

This had me hooked right away. I adore horror books that are rooted in real, relatable events (in this case, the book is set during the onset of COVID).

The way the author included Chinese traditions for honoring the dead was hauntingly beautiful and added a lot of depth to the hungry ghosts storyline. At the same time, the book doesn’t shy away from highlighting the real horror of hate and anti-Asian racism during the pandemic. The balance between supernatural horror and the horrors of discrimination made this so impactful.

I also really enjoyed listening to this book in audio format. The narrator was strong and kept me invested in the story throughout.

This would be great for horror lovers that enjoy real-world settings and societal themes. It is creepy (and body horror-y), but it’s also a powerful reminder of hate society continues to perpetuate. Highly recommend!

This book hooked me in immediately. I enjoyed the relationship between the characters and the incorporation of how Chinese honor their dead. The horror was perfect, but so was the social of commentary of the racism against Asians during the pandemic and throughout history. Not much has changed and in times of crisis, our country is still prone to use scapegoats.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the gifted ALC.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng immediately catapulted me back to those two scary weeks during March of 2020. The abrupt silence, fear, terror. The uncertainly. The moments of slowed down peace. Of an awakening in society. The realization that people are not how I always thought they were: empathetic and caring. And instead were selfish, uncaring and unsympathetic.

This beautiful and horrifying book was nuanced and thought provoking. I like to hope that I am deeply empathetic, but I always appreciate an opportunity to enhance my empathy and to take a walk in someone’s shoes. This book forces you to do just that.

At first, I saw myself in the post-pandemic spike in Cora’s health anxiety, her trauma based OCD, her panic and general anxiety. But then that part of my mind quieted and I sat with all of the ways Americans, once again, found ways to blame anyone who didn’t look like them. Somehow, I am always surprised at how horrible and mean people can be to each other. It is despicable.

“Do not let the empathy stop at the borders of your own community.”

This book emphasizes the utmost horror of COVID. It wasn’t only the people we lost, but the things we lost, too, as a society, and as individuals. It reiterates how much compassion we have lost. It truly blew me away. I cannot recommend this book enough.

So dark and disturbing. The realization that angey, hungry ghosts are not the true horror of this book just hits so hard. Excellent cultural representation.

This audiobook was an unexpected gut-punch in all the best ways. It follows Cora, a 24-year-old germaphobe, who’s half-Chinese and half-white. She’s been living in her sister Delilah’s shadow... and pretty much the whole world's. But her life falls apart when Delilah dies in a gruesome subway tragedy. Fast forward a few months, and Cora is cleaning crime scenes with a sketchy, under-the-table crew. She’s still grieving, still haunted by the past. Then, she starts noticing a chilling pattern: an unusual number of dead Asian women. And bats. Lots of bats. Slowly, she realizes she’s caught in something much bigger—something that blends real-life horrors with paranormal ones.

I wasn’t sure about reading a book set during the pandemic—it felt too soon, too raw. But this story? It needed to be told. Through Cora’s eyes, we see the harsh realities of anti-Asian hate during COVID. The violence, the prejudice, the dehumanization—it’s horrifying, but it’s real, and the author doesn’t shy away from it.

What makes this book stand out is how grounded it feels. Cora isn’t some over-the-top hero; she’s messy, scared, and painfully human. The plot doesn’t rely on cheap twists or forced connections. Everything unfolds naturally, and by the end, you realize how brilliantly the author wove it all together.

If you love stories about revenge, grief, and self-discovery, this book is for you. It’s a deeply emotional read that sneaks in moments of rage, hope, and even humor. And for fans of the "good for her" trope? You’ll love Cora’s journey. I went in for the intriguing premise and stayed for the raw, beautiful storytelling. It’s a haunting, powerful audiobook that will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommend.

Brilliant, horrifying, and incredibly powerful.

After seeing rave reviews from numerous people, I had to see what everyone was talking about.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zheng is a powerful exploration of loneliness, community, and belonging in the face of hatred. This book is a must-read, an important and haunting experience for readers.

Kylie Lee Baker stunned me with her ability to evoke such strong emotions within me. Her writing and the way in which she tells this story is simply genius. I was reeling and completely devastated at the end.

If you are looking for a visceral experience, read this book. I do recommend reading with care. And do not skip the author’s note at the end, while dark there is still some light in this world.

A note on the narration: I love Natalie Naudus. She was an excellent choice for telling this story. Her performance adds even greater emotion to this story. I started listening to the audio about halfway through the book, and I finished in one sitting because I was so enthralled.

My rating: 5⭐️

A Chinese American woman navigates living in NYC at the beginning stages of the pandemic as East Asians are being targeted by a killer

"And you know what the cops told me? They said that's not enough to go on. 'We can't just look for white men. You should have looked harder', they said. But white men are going after Asian girls, and that's all THEY have to go on, us being Asian. No one wants to look harder at us."

Cora begins working as a crime scene cleaner in Chinatown in 2020 following the extremely brutal murder of her sister. The murderer yelling out 'Bat Eater' as he does it. Cora begins to recognize a pattern in the crime scenes she is cleaning, and at the same time, she is being haunted by what she believes is the hungry ghost of her sister. She must navigate how to keep herself safe in a ever growing violent territory for East Asians, but also how to satiate her sister's ghost and her complex trauma that rears its head.

I really enjoyed reading both angles of this story. The author wrote this in a way that makes YOU decide what will come of it. It is very clear who is dying, and the specific ways they are dying but Cora does not outwardly express "hey this Chinese woman was murdered because of vile, racist rhetoric", instead the author shows us the actions of the killer and has us deduce it's intention until the ultimate reveal. I also really enjoyed the angle of the hungry ghosts, and Cora's discovery into why they are haunting her and what they want.

The reason this book didn't hit 4 or 5 stars for me is that these two angles combined were overwhelming to the plot. The heaviness of this serial killer is just as important as the inner traumas the hungry ghosts brought out in Cora. I don't think we were able to fully sit and digest either of these plot lines because it flopped back and forth so rapidly. Something really big and shocking would happen with the killer but we would fly past it because the hungry ghost was also in frame and calling for Cora's attention.

I still believe this is 100% worth the read. 2020 was a lived experience for all of us, a nightmare to those who lost someone, but it has been the most terrifying for our Asian neighbors. The violence they experienced daily. Kylie Lee Baker ends her author's note with something I will not forget..

"Do not let your empathy stop at the borders of your own community"

This book was even better than I expected!! The found family was heartwarming and gave the majority of the book an overall warm vibe. Odd for a horror, but I stand by it 🤣 I really liked Cora, she was an easy protagonist to get invested in from the beginning, and her story arc was done effortlessly. I really enjoyed seeing her come into her own and gain confidence throughout the story. There are definitely a lot of heart wrenching moments, but I really really enjoyed this one! In addition, I thought that the narrator did an absolutely stellar job bringing the story to life!

This was such an excellent book! I usually steer away from horror, but the description of this story grabbed me and wouldn't let go. This was horror with heart because it absolutely tore mine to shreds.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow. I went in blind. I only knew that this fell into the horror genre.

This book was a little slow in the beginning. It took roughly 6 chapters before I was engaged. After it picked up though I was hooked.

This story is a cross between The Grudge meets The Wailing…yes that creepy.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zhang takes place in Chinatown during the Covid pandemic, right after the everything opens back up. The female main character Cora is Chinese. She is a crime scene cleaner who happens to also be germaphobe.

She arrives to multiple crime scene throughout this book where the victims happen to be Asian and there always seems to be one thing in common amongst the scenes, bats. We find out these serial unalivings are racially motivated due to the “origins” of Covid.

If that’s not wild enough, FMC starts seeing ghosts everywhere. Most of these scenes were very creepy to me.

I immersion read this book.

The narrator did an amazing job. I highly recommend the audio. The narrator was able to voice the more scary scenes so well I started scaring myself.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Mira and HTP for the early listening and e-arc copies of this stunnin novel.

This book reeled me from the very first chapter, with this book, Kylie Lee Baker has been cemented as an auto buy author for me. We are placed directly in Cora (an Asian American woman) during the pandy at the height of it. This story was extremely visceral and the horror was two fold for me: the horrors that Cora and Asian around her in her day to day life as well as the horror of the situation she is facing during the book: cleaning up grizzly crime scenes. Friends, please check your triggers on this one because this is a story that demands your full attention and anything less is not giving this story the gravitas it demands.

Kylie Lee Baker has done it again. I am incredibly stunned at how much I loved this. This was raw, real and emotional like no book i’ve read in a long time. The use of words to create the vibes and atmosphere about the horror and the gothic of the novel was superb.

also i love when feminine rage rests in the hands of marginalized women or people of color because it’s not just an every day issue that they are raging about, it’s about something that no one else would get except their community.

anyway - listen/read to the authors note. it’s so important and timeless

Audiobook Narration: Natalie Naudus might be my new favorite audiobook narrator! She brought this book to life! I read this via ebook on 12/31/24 - as soon as I got the audiobook I started it again and devoured it in a day! I was obsessed with this book before and now, on audio, I'm full FERAL for this book. 10/10 would recommend!

<b>Kylie Lee Baker’s best work yet! </b>

<i>I fear if I do not get my hands on a physical arc I will die, and then come back as a hungry ghost. </i>

I don’t even know what to write for this review, I’m still speechless days after reading. This was utter perfection. How do you describe perfection?

<b>This was EVERYTHING!</b>

I fear so many of the 5⭐️ reviewers before me have done such an amazing job detailing the merits and nuances of this book, that anything I have to say with pale in comparison.

Here goes nothing…

If you read this book and feel nothing, I must assume you have no soul.

KLB writes absolutely stunning prose that is full of so much emotion and imagery. The juxtaposition of aforementioned beautiful prose combined with detailed gore elicits visceral reactions to both body and mind.

The paranormal aspects (ghosts) and murder mystery had my heart pounding and my mind questioning the sanity of the narrator - often I found myself wondering if the ghosts were real. The portrayal of the Asian experience was raw and heart-breaking. Grief, family, friendships, and self-discovery are just some of the themes KLB tackles with unmatched skill.

This book is dark, yet there is light at the end. <i>Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng</i> is like nothing I have ever read - I feel privileged to have experienced it.

I previously read this book then received the audio version. I admit that the book was excellent, but the narration took this to a whole new level.
I was absolutely enthralled with this one. I devoured it. Kylie Lee Baker did an excellent job with the characters and story. The themes had some darkness but made the story have more depth. The characters, especially Cora, were well written, and the story was plotted so perfectly. The dark and grittiness of this was harsh but perfect for this novel. I highly recommend it. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley ARC, Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA, and Kylie Lee Baker