Alma Katsu continues to prove she’s one of the most compelling voices in horror fiction. Known for weaving dread into historical settings, Katsu takes a bold step into the modern world with Fiend—and it absolutely works. This novel centers on a wealthy, influential family whose once-untouchable power begins to unravel, revealing the dark, supernatural source behind their success.

Katsu masterfully builds tension and unease, crafting a story that feels as psychologically chilling as it is emotionally resonant. Fiend is perfect for fans of Succession with a supernatural twist, the gothic despair of The Fall of the House of Usher, and the creeping dread found in The Haunting of Hill House. A contemporary horror novel that will leave you feeling haunted.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of Fiend. Wow, this read felt like a descent into madness. Poor Dardan. I knew I liked Nora from the beginning. Didn't see the twist coming.

Fun book about a family curse. 3 siblings deal with trials and tribulations that stem from this curse for the last 1000 years. It was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Alma Katsu wastes no time launching you into the story. From a brief glimpse of childhood to the second in line of a powerful company, the way the rich and powerful move is just different.

And I’ll be honest. Not a single one of the characters is redeemable. They are awful. They are reprehensible. And I think that’s the point. It’s written very well. You genuinely hate the family from page 1. I was mostly rooting for the protector in this novel. And well, I won’t spoil the ending for you.

Fiend by Alma Katsu is a gripping, atmospheric horror novel that blends intense suspense with rich character development. Katsu’s vivid writing keeps readers on edge, delivering a chilling and immersive experience from start to finish.

Alma Katsu is a wonderful writer and usually writes historical fiction with a vein of mystery and horror running through it. I was happy to see this novel is set in modern times. It is the story of a cursed family in the vein of The Fall of the House of Usher. I'm going to admit first off that I didn't like any of the characters so I read of their downfall with a certain amount of glee! This is a family with no redeeming qualities. There are three offspring with assigned roles (to keep the legacy intact, to marry well, to keep out of the way) and when their "blessed lives" start going wrong, they each have their own way of dealing with it that will benefit themselves. The fallout is a reminder of the old adage "be careful what you wish for."

Fiend is Alma Katsu’s most recent horror novel. Instead of historical horror, the readers are introduced to an ultra rich family who manipulate and control every aspect of life, including the private lives for their children. Unfortunately, there are no real likable characters to root for, but the story propels itself with its central mystery. There is someone or something supernatural that keeps the family in power. The real fun begins when the children knowing that their father will soon be too old to lead the company begin to fight for the power. There are a lot of antiquated gender roles at play here, but Katsu expertly toys with those expectations. Overall, it is a little light on the horror, but the twists make up for it.

This was a thrilling short read! Following a cursed family and the struggles for power and heirarchy! I was very connected to the characters seeing as I’ve also dealt with familial issues and such. Alma perfectly created an intense dynamic between the characters. Great plot building and lots and lots of huge twists ! I was constantly questioning trying to figure it out. I give this book 4 stars because I felt like I wish there was a little more detail in the ending. I will recommend this book for sure! I look forward to reading more of her work!!

I've been a fan of Alma Katsu since her enchanting The Taker trilogy. That series introduced me to Katsu's beautiful writing, and I've been hooked since, eagerly devouring everything she puts out. I love her historical horror, so when I heard she had a new book, I had to read it. I'll admit that when I saw that Fiend was modern-day horror instead of her usual historical horror, I was somewhat skeptical. I shouldn't have been because a writer as talented as Ms. Katsu doesn't miss and Fiend was no exception.

We follow the Berishas, an Albanian American family that runs a successful import-export company. The Berishas are cold-blooded, ruthless, and ridiculously wealthy. Everything seems to go their way. Success follows them, but so do violence and death. In Fiend evil begets evil and nothing is as it seems.

When the novel begins the two oldest Berishas are jockeying for position within the company. The oldest son, Dardan, has grown weary of his family's ruthlessness and wants to go his own way. His sister and middle child, Maris, thinks Dardan is soft and unfit to lead the family's empire. The youngest daughter, Nora, seems different and has no outward aspirations to run the family business. Instead, she parties, takes drugs, and generally disassociates from her family's machinations. When Dardan decides to stand up to the family patriarch, Zef, and plot his own path things take a tragic and violent turn. Maris sees this as her opportunity to take the reins and have everything she's ever dreamed of. She only needs to convince Zef that she can do everything her brother could, but better. From there the story hurtles towards the family's eventual reckoning with each other and the supernatural forces that bind them.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys supernatural horror, messed-up families, and Succession-style scheming. In fact, the story gave me Succession meets Wishmaster vibes. Fiend reminds us to be careful what we wish for. Because sometimes getting everything you ever wanted isn't quite the fairytale ending you may have dreamed of.

I would've loved a deeper dive about the protector earlier on! The book was ok. I didn't grow attached to any of the characters nor feel a pull to continue reading as I did with The Hunger.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alma Katsu for the eARC.

3.5 stars

This is a story very much centered around the greed of one family. It shares heavy undertones of The Fall of the House of Usher and the HBO tv series, Succession. It's a quick read and tbh, left me wanting more. I never fully attached to any of the characters, and it was for the best, as the body count quickly starts to pile up. The ending had a nice little payoff.

I loved the concept and I love Alma's ability to write an "easy to follow" story.

The Berisha family is blessed.
Or cursed.
It really depends on which side of the table you happen to be sitting at the time.
What they are is uber-wealthy, uber-powerful, and a family not to be trifled with because bad things happen to anyone who isn't on the same page.

Patriarch Zef rules the empire, his immediate family, and anyone he comes in contact with with an iron fist.
His wife Olga is a beautiful object, seen but not heard
Dardan is the oldest son, as handsome as his mother is beautiful, and heir to the empire when Zef can no longer continue his reign. Except Dardan isn't really sure he wants to be next in line.
Maris is the oldest daughter. She takes after Zef's side of the family. Not beautiful like her mother, but ruthless and cutthroat like her father. She wants to become the next head of the family, but women do not rule in the Berisha line. They are, at best, breeders. Marrying the correct mate to further the lineage.
Nora is the youngest daughter. Wild. Beautiful. Willful. Prone to create issues that have caused Zef to estrange her from the family until she is willing to make amends and become the dutiful child he demands. She has also had an imaginary friend since she was very young. Something that has turned her into a laughing stock in the family and seen her virtually ousted by her siblings.

When a whistleblower that is to testify against one of the family's businesses turns up dead, hanged in his motel room, suspected suicide, the pot starts to boil. From this point, the story is a breakneck race to see who is next, who is to blame, and who is expendable.
Corporate ogliarchs vs. the supernatural. Summon the otherworldly big guns and let's shoot it out in the boardroom, rather than the OK Corral.

Backstabbing, dysfunctional family dynamics, murder, suicide, spirits...it's all in there.

This is my third Alma Katsu novel and I'm a fan. She's a "buy on sight" for me. But that doesn't mean I always love her endings.
Honestly, this one felt a little rushed. Another 10-15 pages to "meat" up the follow-through would have pleased me a little more.
But it was a good read. I started it and finished it in just a few hours, picking it back up every time I had a couple of free minutes. I guess that's what a good book is supposed to do.
Will it stay with me at the end of the day? I doubt it. But I enjoyed the ride.
3 stars for the story. 4 because I love this author and will read anything she publishes.

After I finished Alma Katsu's Fiend, I needed a moment to collect myself. This short piece is a tour de force of creepiness.

The Berisha family run an enormous import-export company. For generations past, good luck seemed to follow the family.

At least, that's how it appears to those around them.

As friends and family meet violent ends, it becomes increasingly apparent to the patriarch's three adult children that the truth must be far more sinister.

Katsu's Fiend packs a fierce evil within just a couple hundred pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC. Opinions my own.

Fiend by Alma Katsu is a tale of intense drama, manipulation, and violence that propels this family into a whirlwind of emotional turmoil and chaos.

Let’s dive in!

My Thoughts on Fiend by Alma Katsu –
For hundreds of years, this rich and powerful family has been untouchable. Hearing rumors and stories, the daughter, Marisa, thinks it’s just a rumor that they have been helped by something supernatural, a being that she thought was just a childhood fantasy. But when it goes after one of their family members, she’s forced to open her eyes to the very real horror that her family is cursed with.

But unfortunately, the horrors here have layers and Marisa is about to see how deep they go. But by the time she has all that she seeks, will it be too late?

My gosh, the author absolutely nails these dark and twisted family dynamics. I despised this family with every fiber of my being but at the same time, I couldn’t tear myself away, eagerly waiting to see what would happen next.

I also have to say how much I loved the structure of the story. The way the author wove in flashes of the past, jumping back in time in short, strategic bursts, was masterful. Each flashback provided just enough information to give us a glimpse into the deeper layers of the family’s history, revealing motivations and secrets that made their present-day turmoil even more understandable and disturbing!

The constant tension in this book is absolutely gripping. It pulls you further into the family’s web of secrets. You’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat, as every action, no matter how small, seems to escalate the chaos and destruction around them. Just when you think things can’t get any worse, they do, and you can’t help but wonder what will happen next!

What a twisted ride!

My Favorite Passages From Fiend –
NOTE: These passages were pulled from an ARC copy. They may change before the final version is released.

There is no such thing as the protector, she reminds herself one more time. This is the twenty-first century. There are no boogeymen-but she can’t help but wish just a tiny bit that there were. Because a protector would make things so much easier. You could make problems go away merely by wishing.

There’s something about this room that warns visitors off, like a porcupine bristling its spines.

Maris can’t help but wonder if this is what happens when you live so close to the supernatural. If your life is good fortune and beauty and long life until it isn’t, until the spell comes undone and it all comes crashing down on your head like in The Picture of Dorian Gray.

My Final Thoughts on Fiend –
The anticipation and the unraveling of this family’s dark fate in Fiend is a ride you won’t want to get off. Readers who love twisted and dramatic family dynamics mixed with just a pinch of gore and the supernatural will absolutely love this tale. I had such a blast reading it!

This book publishes on September 16th, 2025! Preorder your copy today!

Sadly, this wasn’t my favorite by Alma Katsu. While I was able to read it in one sitting, it felt more like a novella than the well plotted and paced historical horror novels that I love so much from her. I wanted to love this.

This was a propulsive and downright jolly supernatural thriller, that was tense and terrifying and seemed to revel in its decadence and horror. I enjoyed every word.

Maris is the second child in a centuries long Albanian dynasty, the Berisha family. The Berishas are all-powerful, rich as Midas, brutal and ambitious, and are either cursed or blessed by their successes. Berisha enemies keep ending up ruined or dead. Zef, the patriarch as placed all his plans for the future in his son, Darden. But Darden is not willing to take on the evil that Zef struggles to control to lead the Berisha clan. But dark, competitive Maris is ready to bear the burden. And, whooooo boy, she steps up in a BIG WAY!

Katsu seems to have had a blast writing this thriller based on the weak and unlikable Berisha siblings. There is espionage and betrayal, jealousy and distrust, secrets and violence, lavish lifestyles and bad choices. It was such a fun and scary read that moved so quickly, I was thinking about getting back the book whenever I was forced to put it down.

A really good time in a book, with interesting characters that you love to hate and a dark and scary twist!

Alma Katsu is one of my favorite authors. As always, she’s infused her writing with horror, suspense, and history. This book has notes of Fall of the House of Usher and Succession, it’s a must read.

“Fiend” had an interesting premise and promised a darkly thrilling tale about a powerful, corrupt family that may be benefiting even more from supernatural assistance.

For me, I get most of my enjoyment while reading from the characters in the work and find the most gratification when I care about them and am invested in the outcomes for them. Unfortunately, the closest I could get to caring about any member of the Berisha family (or anyone outside of it), was feeling hope for the future of the company in Dardan’s hands and his potential. While I understand the moral that power can horrifically corrupt, I could not find myself to be invested in Maris’ perspective in the slightest.

I appreciated the history of the family’s curse and the backstory behind that, although I wish there was a bit more about the entity itself. I also enjoyed learning more about the family’s history through the childrens’ flashback segments in their perspective chapters. Additionally, I found the power plays that come with such high responsibility in this novel to be intriguing.

A modern take on the old aphorism "Be Careful What You Wish For," Fiend is a fast-paced dark thriller that defies its reader to stop turning the pages. In her latest work, Alma Katsu captures the essence of the corporate villain epitomized by the Sackler family, whose legacy of greed with Purdue Pharma led to an addiction epidemic. Katsu draws this parallel explicitly for the reader with a direct reference, but little else in the book borrows from or owes credit to history. This inventive tale of class conflict, indoctrination and isolation in a gilded cage is original and convincing.

The author mentions in her acknowledgments that the book is fairly different from her previous novels, and it's true, Fiend is an ambitious departure from the dark fantasies and dark historical fiction she wrote early in her career, even more so from the international intrigue and espionage of her recent novels. The story revolves around family loyalty and lust for power, the natural drive of human ambition, that, left uncontrolled, can lead to all-consuming greed. Here, that bottomless appetite is manifested physically, leaving the flawed and formerly coddled robber-barons corrupted absolutely, literally cursed, by unnatural power. The mythology behind the phenomenon is enjoyable, but lacks depth as the nature of the curse is revealed.

Fiend is a satisfying parable, punctuated by visceral displays of greed and brutality. Readers will find it hard to root for even the least culpable actors in this morality play, but the underlying lesson is clear, that benefitting from the suffering others, despite short-term gains, will ultimately result in ruin.

Fans of Rachel Harrison's The Return will find familiar territory here and Katsu readers will be pleasantly surprised by the new dimensions she's added to this return to form.

A thoroughly philanthropic thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.

The Berisha family is even worse than the real-life Sackler family. They’ve survived everything that’s been thrown at them and come out the other side richer than rich. Hot tempers and a bloodthirsty love of money has caused them to remove every thing that gets in their way.

Now, a thousand years after their string of good luck started, the latest patriarch of the family is older and trying to teach his son how to take over for him. But will he have the constitution to maim and kill the family’s enemies?

The ending—although satisfying—also felt like it was a bit too short. Besides this, though, Fiend was an easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.