Thank you so much for Netgalley for this arc.

In all honestly. It wasn't my personal taste, I liked the idea of Mary being a badass lawyer thathad her shit together. I honestly did understand Girl's story throughout and the relationship between the two women, although I will say, there were a lot of description about the Girls chest which was a bit off putting. I will admit it was a very quick read, very quick, and I did like the pacing was a little off as the book is short.
So overall a 2⭐️

The Brood might be one of the most disturbing books I’ve read in quite some time, and that is very much a compliment. Somehow, Rebecca Baum manages to infiltrate the psyche with a quiet, creeping dread that bypasses the usual defenses seasoned horror readers might expect. Did I regret reading it before bed? Absolutely.

This is a difficult book to review without revealing too much; part of its power lies in discovery. At its core, The Brood examines womanhood, particularly the battles we wage against our bodies and our identities, with a rawness that is both painful and cathartic. Baum weaves in archetypes of the shadow self through a character who serves as a dark mirror of the protagonist, while another figure seems to embody the wounded inner child. These symbolic elements are handled deftly; subtle enough not to break immersion, but clear enough to reward close reading. Baum shows rather than tells, and trusts her reader to do the work.

That said, a word of caution: the body horror in this novel is exceptionally vivid. If you're among the many who squirm at the thought of insects, or bodily transformation of any kind, this will be a challenging read. It is not a book to bring to lunch. Additionally, there is recurring fatphobic language throughout. While it appears to be reflective of character perspective rather than authorial belief, readers sensitive to this language may find it difficult to engage with.

Some readers have noted confusion about the book’s opening funeral scene and its connection to the central narrative. While I can trace thematic echoes between that moment and the rest of the story, it does feel underdeveloped. That said, the opening paragraph itself is sharply written and immediately gripping; I wouldn’t wish it cut, but a clearer throughline would have strengthened the overall structure.

Unfortunately, as this was an eAdvanced copy, I’m unable to quote directly, though I would love to. There are several lines that stopped me in my tracks. This book was, quite simply, unputdownable. It lingers, crawls, unsettles. It reminded me, in tone and thematic ambition, of The Vegetarian by Han Kang, a similarly elegant descent into bodily rebellion and existential dread.

I couldn’t finish this book, it was too gross. Definitely not my cup of tea, so I’m not the target audience.

4.25/5

Initially, I thought I’d rate this book no more than three stars. The protagonist was utterly disappointing at first—her professional choices and lack of empathy grated on me. In many ways the main character often plays a much bigger role than the story itself around her, but that's okay, things got much more interesting later on.

The plot was relentlessly dynamic—I couldn’t predict a single chapter’s twists. Stepping back, the book’s metaphorical layers reveal a poignant core, the kind of subtlety that always resonates with me. Essentially, the entire story led to that final moment: the heroine finding the self-connection she’d needed decades earlier. Throughout, I favored Girl over Mary, yet by the end, I ached for both—two lives bound by similar pain in disparate circumstances.

As for the horror genre, the book is good in its component regarding that. Its visceral details immerse you flawlessly; no complaints here.

My sole critique? It felt too short. I’m accustomed to longer narratives and missed deeper stretches of reflection and even despair. I suspect why it’s this length, but speculating on that would venture into spoilers.

Ultimately, I loved how starkly the ending contrasted with the beginning. It's always nice to know that even after a long time people can come to their senses. Thank you for the copy!

* Copy provided via NetGalley & 100% voluntary review.

An unsettling body horror. Though I enjoyed this fast-paced read, I felt that the first and last chapters didn't mesh well with the plot. The characters could have done with more fleshing-out.

- Mary, as the protagonist, was unappealing to begin with, her arc was satisfactory.

- I would have liked to see the Real Mother be introduced earlier to add a bit more depth and meaning to plot.

- I did not like the constant imagery surrounding breasts and feeding, I felt this contributed minimally to the plot.

- I found the concept of The Brood and the cicadas interesting and would have also liked this further explored and expanded upon.

- The imagery and descriptions of themes surrounding The Brood were fantastic and I was left wanting more from them.

Thank you to Netgallery and Thomas & Mercer for the e-ARC

Rebecca Baum’s The Brood delivers a relentless plunge into horror, fusing nightmarish visuals with a piercing examination of identity, power, and inherited pain. Brutal yet thought-provoking, it’s a whirlwind of tension and unease anchored by sharp commentary on control and the complexities of motherhood. The conclusion is devastatingly perfect—lingering and impossible to dismiss.

The Brood is the kind of book that gets under your skin—literally. Rebecca Baum’s body horror had me itching (like, actually scratching) thanks to those grossly vivid cicada descriptions. I appreciate the homage to motherhood and generational trauma, but it was hard to get past the unlikable characters at times.

The story wastes no time getting to the action, a pacing choice I appreciated, though the middle section dragged a little for me, feeling repetitive as the characters cycled through their struggles. Much of that tension stems from Mary, whose stubbornness and impatience with both the situation and girl made her a frustrating protagonist at times. But, her flaws also make her human—a woman pushed to her limits, reacting in ways that are deeply human, even when infuriating.

If you’re into atmospheric/body horror that’s equal parts disturbing and thought-provoking, give this a shot.

A creepy, bug-filled descent into madness with some pacing bumps but plenty of chills.

Thank you NetGalley and Rebecca Baum for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Rebecca Baum’s The Brood is a visceral and mesmerizing journey into the realm of body horror, delivering all the unsettling, stomach churning moments fans of the genre crave. The ending is chef’s kiss perfection: haunting, satisfying, and impossible to shake.

But beneath the grotesque and surreal imagery, this novella is an intricate meditation on motherhood, autonomy, and generational trauma. Baum weaves a web of metaphors and analogies that force the reader to confront unsettling questions: Does giving birth alone make someone a mother, or is there something more fundamental at play? Do women truly have control over their own bodies, or are they reduced to their biological functions? Is trauma an inescapable inheritance, passed down in an endless cycle?

The Brood lingers long after the final page, challenging perceptions and unraveling layers of meaning with each reflection. It’s unsettling in all the right ways. A thought provoking, deeply intelligent horror story that refuses to be forgotten.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer Publishing, and Rebecca Baum for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. Wow! Give us more like this!!

The Brood was a unique story centering around three women and cicadas. As it turns out the women can become incubators for the bugs to reproduce. I really appreciated how this title was unlike anything I’ve read before.

That being said, I would never have described myself as someone who gets woozy or has any strong feelings against bugs but this book might have changed that. There are many instances of stomach churning and detailed descriptions of bug activity.

I also found the characters to be overall unlikable, which for me made it hard to connect and become deeply invested within the story. Real Mother was so overtly abusive and appeared so late in the plot that she didn’t end up seeming like a fully flushed person.

There were also portions that seemed overtly graphic without adding to the plot in any distinct way besides making someone uncomfortable. The instance of it could have happened in a toned down version and would have been just as fine.

Overall this book is still worth the read if you’re into nature/bugs, magic, and horror.


TRIGGER WARNINGS:
- child exploitation
- negative body image talk
- death
- torture

A wild ride. I stepped inside this world without actually knowing what will happen. This was an easy 4✨ read with all the poetic language and description of the world of women. I felt seen, heard and powerful while following the story. Body positivity mixed with natural elements and slight gore? Check, check and check!

I read Rebecca Baum's The Brood in one afternoon and evening. Usually, it takes me weeks to read a book, but her gripping, magnificent storytelling kept me clicking through the pages. The suspense as Mary Whelton's world comes apart is made palpable by powerful descriptions of people and place. We feel we are there in these strange spaces and we can see and hear these characters and the natural world around them. The reader feels the protagonist's panic rising. By the time we get to "the dam of her self-possession had been breached," we understand who this woman is and care deeply about what happens to her, despite her prickly nature. The characters of Mary Whelton and Girl came alive and have stayed in my head, two strong women whose arcs reflect an unusual complexity and humanity and ability for forgiveness, despite the horror and trauma both experienced. A tale crafted as tightly as Stephen King's Misery, The Brood deftly weaves the horror that insects can arouse along with a nod to the magnificence of the cicada world. The awakening that Mary Whelton experiences is awe-inspiring.

Netgalley review

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

Readers be warned…there are some serious gut-churning scenes in this book that are not for the faint of heart.

It’s a shocking, wonderfully weird, slight ‘body horror’ type of read that knows its audience well and I would say delivers. There’s themes around feminism and identity that were weaved in well throughout Mary’s journey, and if you’re into that kind of stuff? Then you’ll be met with a satisfying conclusion. If you’re looking for an all out action-packed ending from this kidnapping plot? Maybe move along.

The initial antagonist was one of the most terrifying and disgusting ones I’ve come across. She made Annie Wilkes seem like an angel yet I couldn’t help but feel sorry for at the same time because there was a strange depth to who she was and the possible reasons she did a number of disturbing things.

There were a few moments where we hear Mary working out the why behind it all, but these were a bit too spelled out at times. The book’s strength definitely lies in its fully formed main characters so I didn’t feel that these were needed.
Mary herself is presented as this older, formidable career woman, which was a refreshing angle to take the story forward from. However, Girl as a character shines brighter and it could be because Mary’s own fears are not highlighted enough at the beginning despite the situation she’s thrown into. The side characters were a tad half baked and did leave me a bit disappointed, with one in particular who shows up and conveniently has a keen interest/expertise in a certain insect.

Bear in mind that the plot shifts and changes as it goes, and things may not be as they seem in that first half. Overall I loved this book’s fast-paced plot and its uniqueness.

This book is not at all my usual genre, but I loved the book cover and the synopsis sounded intriguing.

I found it pretty eerie, and was definitely out of my comfort zone. However if you are a fan of horror, I’m sure you will love it.

Wow, this backwoods thriller/horror novella was everything I’ve been craving recently. It was fast-paced, weird, gross, violent, and bleak. I was at the edge of my seat the whole time and highly entertained!

I…am at a loss for words. I love horror movies but haven’t read enough horror novels—and what a novel to stumble across.

This is body horror through-and-through. If you’re not creeped out by insects now, you will be after reading this one. I physically cringed multiple times, which isn’t something I do often while reading.

My biggest issue with this was the characters. Mary is one of the most unlikable protagonists ever. The fatphobia and vitriol is spewing here. I suppose she had somewhat of an arc, but it felt more like her gathering information to manipulate more successfully rather than true character growth. The ending was completely incongruous with the rest of the book, which didn’t help.

Everyone else was just crazy. Flat, one-dimensional inserts to serve the plot and nothing more. This definitely applies to Girl and Real Mother, but I’m still confused on why this book opened with that funeral when he had next to nothing to do with anything that happened after it. The first and closing chapters seemed to sandwich an entirely separate story than the one we received.

It was eerie and creeped me out. I read it quickly—which isn’t difficult with how short it is. I was also underwhelmed by the inclusion of the random flashbacks that didn’t seem to truly accomplish anything other than explaining why Mary is so horrible.

If you enjoy body horror, this is an entertaining and quick enough read, but left quite a bit to be desired in my eyes. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC.

SPOILER THEORY NOTE:
I was convinced Real Mother was Mary’s long lost mother, and I’m a little disappointed that just went…nowhere. It was an underwhelming end from a third-act antagonist before taking us to a random new place for the finale.

This is a 4.75 which I’ve rounded up to 5 stars.

Wow! The Brood is a spectacular feminist horror story, especially for genre geeks. It blends elements of body horror, insects, entrapment, and violence in a way that was super fun to read. At times it was campy and self-referential, while still being downright gross and scary. I think it’s easy for authors and filmmakers in the genre to take themselves too seriously, and it makes for stories that are- in my opinion- corny. That’s not the case here. There were moments where I felt like I was being teased by references to Misery, the Descent, and my favorite trope- scary hillbillies. While Baum didn’t have me feeling overly terrified, it was still a wildly entertaining ride and there’s definitely a place for that in the horror genre. Don’t get me wrong, there were twists and turns along the way that were just relentlessly unpleasant, but that’s campy in and of itself. Oh, the main character is attempting an escape a third of the way through the book? Not a chance! Let’s see what else Girl has in store. It had me rooting both for the captor and the captive, in a way that reminded me of long-running horror franchises like Halloween and Friday the 13th.

It is me, so I do have to say one negative thing- which is honestly just me nitpicking. The captor, Girl, is barely socialized, uneducated, and mostly illiterate, and yet she can count well enough to track the passage of time. I thought there was a little discontinuity with the character development there, but overall the book was great so it isn’t even that big of a gripe.

If you love a relatable feminist perspective (which I won’t explain for fear of spoiling the plot) and have an eye for horror references- this is the book for you! Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley! Keep ‘em coming, Baum!

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

The bugs are fun. Ooky spooky body horror that is gross but interesting, probably the best part of the book.

The brood, the cicadas what are they? What do they want?

The characters are a little tougher. I always like an older female lead especially in horror, and the flashbacks are alright. Mary seems real enough but there is something punitive about her narrative that’s not my favorite.

Girl is less flushed out and to me seemed almost inhuman, and in conjunction with what we do know about her childhood feels a lil gross. It’s worth noting that girl is the only character that seems like she doesn’t just….. dislike all other women.

The real mother is pretty mustache curling. I don’t really mind that usually but it’s pretty noticeable here. She also spends so much time telling the other characters how fat they are, it’s a choice.

There is a lot of body fluid talk so just prepare yourself for that.

If you like the grosser horror you’ll probably enjoy this more than I did.

The Brood is a horror novel with a mix of magical realism. the premise is intriguing, and the writing builds tension well, but the pacing is uneven. the themes of transformation, the female experience, and motherhood definitely stood out. i would’ve liked the main character, mary, to be fleshed out a bit more.

i would’ve appreciated a bit more lead up to the main plot of the book for more consistent pacing. it felt like we were learning who mary is and then suddenly it was a different story. maybe this was intentional but it didn’t work for me. but because of this, the middle chunk of the novel drags on a bit. the ending was satisfying but it felt a bit out of place, especially when it came to mary’s relationship with Girl.

overall, it was a good read. i’m not the biggest horror reader so i may not have the best authority but it was pretty solid in terms of the genre.

thanks to netgalley for an ARC of The Brood in exchange for an honest review :)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Thomas & Mercer for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Brood by Rebecca Baum is a gripping psychological thriller that explores motherhood, guilt, and identity. The story follows a woman dealing with the fallout of her past while her present begins to unravel. Baum creates a tense atmosphere, with twists that keep you guessing what's real and what’s not. Mary's emotional struggles are very raw, making her super relatable. It's a chilling and suspenseful read that will stick with you long after finishing. It blended aspects of horror, thriller, and magical realism seamlessly. This novel was so unique among the many horror books I’ve read. Warning if you’re squeamish or don’t like bugs, but I still would highly recommend this one!