I loved this story it was real, and raw, and haunting. Cora was such a beautifully flawed character. From her obsession with germs, cleanliness and avoiding covid, to her traumas from family and the violence inflicted on her and those around her as well as her struggle to figure out exactly where she "fits." This book is everything- EVERYTHING! There's mystery, covid horror, slow-burn ghostly paranormal horror- with some truly horrific imagery, a horror revealing of darkest parts of humanity and exposing the rampant racism that's still so prevalent today. This book is beautifully written and will stay with me forever. I honestly can't wait to read it again.


Natalie Naudus was the *perfect* narrator for the audio of this book. They really brought the story and horrors to life in a way that wast haunting and chilling. I connected to their narration immediately and couldn't seem to turn the book off.

I read an early copy of Bat Eater in 2024 and it ended up being one of my favorites of the year. When I saw Natalie Naudus was narrating the audiobook, I knew I had to immediately reread (listen). And it did not disappoint! She was the perfect narrator for this book and did the story and Cora such justice. If you enjoy socially relevant and/or paranormal horror, add this to your TBR. Such a smart, bleak, important read. And these characters?! I was so invested. And devestated. But the pain was worth it.

I’d say if you liked any of the following, you would likely enjoy this: American Rapture by CJ Leede (found family, pandemic, religious themes), The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim (AAPI rep, serial killer), and Diavola by Jennifer Thorne (ghosts, difficult family relationships). This might make it seem like Bat Eater is doing too much but I swear it is doing JUST enough.

Engaging, immersive, and expertly narrated. A recommended first purchase in all formats, particularly where multicultural horror is popular.

🚇ARC REVIEW🚇

BAT EATER AND OTHER NAMES FOR CORA ZENG by Kylie Lee Baker
4/5 🌟

This book left me *shaken*. It's the first horror I've read centered around the fallout of the pandemic, and it was both strange and almost uncomfortable (in a good way) to read. It really made me think about how racism spiked as a direct consequence of the pandemic. Again, my fellow white chicks, we need to be reading the stuff that makes us uncomfortable and gives us perspective, and this one fits the bill.

The begins with the violent and gruesome death of Cora's sister at a subway station in 2020, after a racist man pushes her into an oncoming train. It follows Cora after this event, as strange things start to happen to her.

Please read if you like the following:
👻 Creepy ghosts with the broken neck thing going on
👻 Main characters that are a part of crime scene clean up crews
👻 The conversation around racism towards Asian peoples after COVID
👻 Representation of characters with OCD

Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Audio, and The Hive for the review copy!

🔖#horror #bookstagram #books #booklover #book #bookworm #bookstagrammer #reading #bookish #bookaddict #booknerd #bibliophile #readersofinstagram #booksofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookreview #instabook #bookrecommendations #read #bookcommunity #bookphotography #bookshelf #bookaholic #bookblogger #booklovers #booklove #booktok #reader #instabooks #authorsofinstagram

Thank you to the hive for the ALC of this book!

Cora Zeng is haunted by her past, by ghosts, and by a serial killer targeting Asian women. As a crime scene cleaner in Chinatown, she scrubs away death but can't erase the memory of her sister, Delilah, who was pushed in front of a train. Before fleeing, the killer spat two words, BAT EATER.

Blood doesn’t bother Cora, but germs do because of the ongoing pandemic and the fear of getting COVID. Ever since Delilah’s death, reality blurs, and at times it seems like Cora is losing her mind. She ignores her aunt’s warnings, and her friends warnings about ghost month and hungry ghosts… but bat carcasses keep appearing at crime scenes... So do the bodies of Asian women… and now her sisters ghost is following her… but is it really her sisters ghost or something far more horrifying?

I’m not going to lie, this book scared me. I’d recommend reading or listening to this during the day! But as an Asian American woman I can rate to how Cora felt during the pandemic in terms of prejudices, and of course the fear of catching covid! I listened to this book in one day and even though I was scared, I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you HTP, Mira, Harper Audio, and The Hive for the gifted copy

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng
Kylie Lee Baker
Publishing Date: April 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a complex and important story this was. Kylie Lee Baker somehow took gruesome ghostly horror and made it an emotional and impactful read. There are also sprinkles of humor throughout which provide much needed levity. The writing and storytelling was just really well done.

This novel takes place in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Our FMC Cora is a crime scene cleaner who also struggles with what presents as anxiety/OCD, there are hungry ghosts at play, and a series of murders. All of which leads to the spooky, bloody, wild ride that was this book. But in truth, the real horror, is the racism faced by Asian people, which is a theme all throughout this story. It was uncomfortable and infuriating to look these truths, which are still unfortunately so prevalent, in the face.

The last bit of this book was one punch in the gut after another, and the final “reveal” was just so powerful and disheartening. This was the type of book and ending that left you feeling so many feelings and thinking about important things, and those are my absolute favorite. The heartfelt authors note at the end was icing on the cake. This was my first book by this author and it won’t be my last.

**What I Loved:**
- A chilling blend of horror, murder mystery, and ghost story
- A deeply immersive look at NYC’s Chinatown during the pandemic
- Dark humor woven into the bleakness
- Sharp social commentary that lingers long after the last page

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into, but this book *owned* me from start to finish. *Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng* follows a crime scene cleaner navigating a world of violent deaths, unsettling hauntings, and a reality that constantly blurs at the edges. The eerie, immersive atmosphere grips you instantly—ghosts aren’t just lurking in the shadows, they’re embedded in the trauma, the history, and the deep unease that runs through every page.

Kylie Lee Baker masterfully captures the paranoia and grief of the pandemic era, particularly through Cora’s experiences as an Asian woman in that time. The fear, the othering, the quiet but suffocating anxiety—it’s all there, unflinching and painfully real. The horror elements feel organic, creeping in through the cracks of the narrative rather than overwhelming it. And despite the heavy themes, Baker balances the darkness with moments of biting humor, making Cora’s voice feel all the more authentic.

This book is raw, haunting, and deeply affecting. It’s a murder mystery, a ghost story, and a social reckoning all in one, and it doesn’t pull its punches. The audiobook adds another layer of tension—definitely not something to listen to alone in the dark unless you *want* to question every shadow in your room.

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝? I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into, but this had me in a choke hold. It’s a story about Cory Zeng, a crime scene cleaner, that takes place in New York City’s Chinatown during the heart of the pandemic. She deals with murders of Asian women, hungry ghosts wandering around and trying to figure out what’s real and what’s not.. Kylie Lee Baker brings on the true vibe of creepy, supernatural and horror all rolled into one..

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!!!

Horror//paranormal//social commentary//racism//mental health//mystery~

TW: Gore, racism/hate crimes, pandemic trauma, PTSD

Oooh this was chilling and good. A murder mystery and ghost tale in one- they tell a story that is all too real and recent. How it feels to live through a pandemic, and the experience of being Asian during COVID. I luckily live in safe and generally diverse part of the US, but I still remember the fear of coughing-while-Asian in those times. I used to try and resist even clearing my throat with my mask on in public, especially after hearing about the rise in Asian hate crimes. I’m glad things are better now, but Kylie Lee Baker does a great job at putting you right back into a time when things didn’t feel too hopeful.

I really enjoyed how the story unfolded, and let me tell you- the audiobook at night can be a little creepy 😱 but so fun. Proceed with caution hahah. I was getting major Seven (“WHAT’S IN THE BOX??) vibes.

The story was pretty short, and a great break from the typical fantasy books I’ve been reading.

From the author’s acknowledgments:

“For me, no needle-neck ghost can compare to the way the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world—the way we sacrificed the elderly and disabled on the altar of capitalism, the way trust in the government and the CDC swiftly dissolved, and the way we proved we as a country still haven’t learned not to scapegoat an entire race of people in times of fear.”

“Do not let your empathy stop at the borders of your own community.”
Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review:
I don’t even know where to begin with this one. I absolutely loved this book. It was dark but when Cora decided to stand up and fight back, I was right there with her. It feels too relevant in today’s climate. Asian immigrants losing their lives and being forgotten because they were considered lesser than. It brought back the feelings I felt during Covid and watching the blatant hate and violence towards the Asian community. And it’s a stark reminder that our empathy should not stop at the borders of our own communities. A must read if there ever was one!

Synopsis :
Cora Zeng is a crime scene cleaner, washing away the remains of brutal murders and suicides in Chinatown. But none of that seems so terrible when she’s already witnessed the most horrific thing possible: her sister, Delilah, being pushed in front of a train.
Before fleeing the scene, the murderer shouted two words: bat eater.
So the bloody messes don’t really bother Cora—she’s more bothered by the germs on the subway railing, the bare hands of a stranger, the hidden viruses in every corner, and the bite marks on her coffee table. Of course, ever since Delilah was killed in front of her, Cora can’t be sure what's real and what’s in her head.
She pushes away all feelings and ignores the advice of her aunt to prepare for the Hungry Ghost Festival, when the gates of hell open. But she can't ignore the dread in her stomach as she keeps finding bat carcasses at crime scenes, or the scary fact that all her recent cleanups have been the bodies of East Asian women.
As Cora will soon learn, you can’t just ignore hungry ghosts.

Ok so this is NOT my typical read. For starters it centers around the CoVid-19 pandemic and I typically stay away from books that use that time period as entertainment but this book is so much more.

It uses the pandemic as a real life example of the bigotry and racism that certain people face, especially in America. This book is all creepy!! It has chimes lore weaved throughout creating a psychological horror that has you squirming.


I am thankful to have gotten the ALC for free from Harlequin Audio through NetGalley to listen to which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

I thought narrator Natalie Naudus did a perfect job for the prose. The way she recited the material just added to the creepiness but without getting over dramatic.

For horror fans this is a great read! The audiobook comes out April 29th 2025.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

While this book sheds light on the racism faced by Asian people during the pandemic, it just didn’t work for me. The story felt disjointed, with unanswered questions that left me unsatisfied. I found the two supporting characters far more engaging than the main character, who lacked depth and personality. However, the audiobook narrator did a good job bringing the story to life.

3.5 stars
It was great for what it was, but not everything that I was hoping.
Things I enjoyed:
- Beautiful descriptions and writing
- Even though I knew what was going to happen in the beginning, you can’t help but feel it viscerally the way the writing evokes horror and pain
- that she was not facing all this alone, and was able to find friends who could relate and understand
- (unfortunately) very realistic. Even with how the NYC mayor praises increasing policing as the solution (won’t name names cause I’m not trying to get in trouble but it’s not hard to draw connections with a certain New York City mayor that's been in the news a lot lately)
- the author's note at the end
Things I didn't like:
- I spent the whole time reading waiting for the revenge to start. Every time some new horror would happen I would think, "this is when the tide is going to change and we'll finally get to see revenge". And it was not that. It was just nonstop sadness and pain. In that way, I feel like it reads more like historical fiction even though it's set in modern times.
Overall, This story isn’t what I thought it was going to be. It’s less a tale of revenge and more about grief, with some truly gruesome parts mixed in throughout. I wanted so badly for (view spoiler)
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for an early copy of the audiobook for review
P.s. the illumicrate/ evernight special edition is beautiful
P.p.s Also Natalie Naudus is a great narrator as usual

While a bleak and dark story Baker still gives us some dark humor throughout. Incredible start to finish, engaging, pacing was perfect, and it gave such a unique take on life for some specific individuals during the pandemic.

Thank you for the advanced audiobook copy..
I think I would list this book as a supernatural horror novel. Though I’m not interested in reading about the pandemic since I’ve already lived that and don’t want to relive it. However, I did enjoy this book. It covers the hatred and racism as an aftermath of Covid. This is probably one of the most gory,,stomach turning book I’ve read. They audiobook was excellent

Set during the pandemic, Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng immediately took me back to the paranoia of those times, and I know for sure I wouldn’t have read this back then. But now? I have to say, Kylie Lee Baker masterfully blends horror, dark humor, paranormal mystery, serial killings, and cultural mythology into a story that feels both eerie and deeply personal. Following Cora, a crime scene cleaner in NYC’s Chinatown, the book unravels a chilling mystery of murdered East Asian women, bat carcasses, and ghosts—both literal and figurative. The atmosphere is haunting, the social commentary hits hard, and the horror elements? It’s like I’m listening to an Asian horror movie, which I love! I’m also a big fan of the hungry ghosts and would binge on them even if I couldn’t understand when I was a kid. If you love unsettling, thought-provoking horror with a side of existential dread, this one delivers.

Thank you netgalley for the Advanced listener and reader’s copy! 💙

Holy hell. This book. I couldn’t stop listening Kylie did a FANTASTIC job. Every inch of this novel drips with a haunting. From Cora’s life experiences to the ultimate plot of the story. NO NOTES. SO GOOD.

A horrific tragedy leaves Cora Zeng numb and broken leading into the world-altering COVID-19 pandemic. Her germophobia and meticulousness help in her job as a crime scene cleaner, until she realizes the victim trend of all Asian women and a unique calling card - dead bats left at the scene. As the Hungry Ghost festival commences, Cora finds that the horrors of the past and present is not something she can easily run away from.

For me the heart of the horror genre is when the story can show you that the cruelty humans can impose is much scarier than the supernatural, and Kylie Lee Baker does a masterful job in this horror debut. She has projected those deep and very real fears that Asian American communities lived in during the COVID pandemic. Outside of the profound meanings, this was such an enjoyable gory ghost tale, satisfying any spooky craving you might have, oozing with dark humor.

Cora herself is a relatable character to anyone who might feel like that they haven’t 100% figured out their path in life. On a personal level. I really connected to her struggles with trauma, struggles with cultural identity, and more lightheartedly - the hypochondria. Her journey brings to light the ugliest side of humanity while finding connection and refuge in the community and in herself.

I initially read this as an eARC in June 2024 and I was so excited for the opportunity to re-live the story by listening to the audiobook. Thank you @htp_hive and @htpbooks for the advancer listener copy! Natalie Naudus has such a rich vocal quality and her articulation really polishes the whole experience. The inflection and pacing were appropriate and kept me engaged throughout. As a narrator, she is the perfect match and this was very well put together.

This was not what I was expecting but in a good way. I’m glad I didn’t judge a book by its cover. While the cover is awesome I worried it would be like some of the books lately that are marketed as horror but end up being tame thrillers. This was not that. It delivers the horror in the form of ghostly folklore and gore. There are some heavy messages that had potential to be preachy but the unique execution nailed it.
The audiobook narration kept me dialed in and brought the story to life.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGallery for letting me listen!

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker was an audiobook listen narrated by Natalie Naudus and I thought it was great. The narrator was perfect and the writing really delivered. This was a mystery, thriller that did have some horror that I thought was really well done. This story is about a difficult, shameful topic that is part of our America and I felt the injustices. I only hope that we continue to see talented authors like this continue to write great story that entertain us and educate at the same time. Again, I really enjoyed this and hope everyone listens to it!
Thanks Harlequin Audio via NetGalley.