Grave Matter

5 ⭐ 3 🌶️

I went into this book completely blind outside of absolutely adoring the stunning cover, and to be honest, I recommend you close this app and do the same. This one is so much better when you have no clue what's coming.

Still here? Fine, don't say I didn't tell you though.

Grave Matter is the most perfect spooky season read. It's haunted, suspenseful, spicy and has a touch of sci-fi paranormal vibes that keeps your brain W O R K I N G to figure out what the heck was going on. My jaw literally dropped from one twist and my head was spinning from what felt like a dozen more. This is absolutely one of my favorite reads of the year.

I really loved these main characters, and the side characters too. The villains were even fantastic and I really enjoyed watching their downfall. Manuwar's fungi puns gave me life and the spicy spice had me fanning myself. This was truly just so good from beginning to end and I am running to recommend it to all my friends as soon as possible.

This book was everything I wanted and more and I can’t wait for more people to pick it up. Karina Halle is easily one of my favourite authors- not only does she live in Victoria (same as me!) but she writes literally everything I want to read. From Dracula retelling to sexy sleepy hollow books. When I saw she was writing a psychological thriller/horror book- well I knew this book would become my new personality.
Sydney (crazy that the FMC both lives on VI and has the same name as me, talk about kismet) goes to study fungi with the Madrona Institute for the summer. Enter Kincaid, her sexy professor/ psychologist (you know where I’m going with this). Very quickly Sydney realizes that things are not as they seem and that the organization she is working with might be into some darker things.
In the era of fungus themed horror- I am happy to add Grave Matter to my list of recommendations. I absolutely adored the characters- who were all broody and complicated. The setting was lush and atmospheric (not to mention I could picture it so perfectly, because duh I live here). I absolutely adored this book and I just know that others will too.

Unfortunately, many mushroom puns are in spore taste.

Sorry, I had to. But OMG WHAT WAS THIS BOOK??!?!! I was SO SURE I had figured out the ending and was not prepared for just how wrong I was. I was also not prepared for how much I loved this--fungi jokes and all.

Okay, that's not true because I LOVED Nocticadia by Keri Lake, and this is what you would get if Nocticadia and What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher had a baby. This is my *exact* brand of dark academia and I need a million more books like this STAT.

If you're reading this for the fungi, the dark vibes, the morally gray...well...everyone, and the pacing--you will LOVE this. This is so well paced and organized, and you truly feel like you're going as insane as Sydney by the end. I literally kept saying "there's no way there is any other way this ends. It has to be this." I can't get over how wrong I was, and how much I LOVED the real twist. The vibes were vibing and the twist was twisting.

If you're reading this for the smutty bits--you will also not be disappointed in terms of quality. As usual, ,A+ 10/10 no notes. If you're expecting LOTS of it--you also won't be disappointed! Because while there isn't a lot, I promise you won't even miss it. I was SO invested in this story from start to finish. And I have an incredibly strong urge to go play The Last of Us again. You know. No particular reason why.

I fully expect this book to be my new personality for at least the next month. MINIMUM. Great spooky season read!

i don’t think i’ve ever said “what the fuck?!” so much. what a fantastic read.

i trusted absolutely nobody in this book, including the mc at times. by 80% i thought i’d figured it out, turns out i had no clue. what came after had me holding onto my seat.

karina halle knows how to write a psychological horror perfectly. creepy, eerie and unnerving.

i recommend you read this with the lights on.

🥀 adhd rep
🥀 haunted forest
🥀 dark cottagecore
🥀 degradation kink
🥀 professor x student
🥀 women in stem
🥀 what the fuck did i just read

Thank you NetGalley and Metal Blonde Books for the ARC.

This book gets an all the stars, two thumbs up, let me fan myself and one moment I need to call my therapist recommendation from me. I have loved all Karina Halle’s books but horror romance was a new genre for her and I was worried because for me it is a genre where the book is either amazing or awful with no in between. I shouldn’t have been worried though Karina as always wrote a book I couldn’t put down.

I don’t want to risk even a glimpse of a spoiler but if you are into psychological horror, questioning your own sanity, really hot sex scenes, and a whole lot of fucked up things that make you worry why it turns you own. Then go buy this book, you’re welcome. Also, I’m sorry if you read this book and discovery a few things about yourself; don’t worry we have a club and cookies welcome to the dark side.

Thank you Netgalley and Metal Blonde Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Grave Matter” by Karina Halle is a spine-chilling blend of gothic horror, sci-fi mystery, and steamy romance that hooks you from the first page and refuses to let go. Set against the eerie backdrop of Vancouver Island, this book creates an atmospheric tale that leaves you questioning everything you think you know. It’s a wild roller coaster ride filled with twists, dark secrets, and unsettling body horror, making it the perfect read for spooky season. You definitely need to look over the content warnings for this book before diving in as there is some animal body horror throughout (involving fungi). Also, there are some unexpected sex scenes (through dreams) that I was not anticipating so early on in the book.

The story follows Sydney, an intriguing and fierce protagonist whose struggle with ADHD adds a layer of depth and relatability to her character, especially as women with ADHD are not often depicted in adult literature. As she navigates a world filled with mysterious fungi, creepy creatures, and an isolated island lab, her journey blurs the lines between reality and hallucination. Sydney's unreliable narration draws you into her confusion and horror, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you try to piece together what's real and what isn't.

The dynamic between Sydney and Dr. Kincaid, her professor and psychologist, is both thrilling and problematic. Their chemistry sizzles, with banter that keeps you engaged, but the power imbalance in their relationship adds a layer of discomfort that's hard to ignore. If this is the kind of romance you’re okay with, then you will definitely enjoy their developing relationship, especially with the various sex scenes throughout the book (there were more of them than I was expecting for a horror book). While the romance is intense and unexpected, it occasionally feels out of place in the midst of the horror elements. Still, their relationship adds complexity to the story, and the moments of spice are vivid and unforgettable.

Halle masterfully creates a dark, suspenseful atmosphere, blending gothic tropes with modern mycology, sci-fi, and psychological thrills. The fungi that seems almost alive adds an eerie sense of menace to the narrative, amplifying the book’s creepy vibes. The island setting is vividly described, transporting you into the misty, wet woods of Vancouver Island, where every shadow holds a secret and every rustle hints at something sinister lurking in the dark. After reading the vivid descriptions of the setting, I could definitely believe that people would become overwhelmed with the dreary isolation.

The book's twists and turns are jaw-dropping, especially in the last quarter. I definitely wasn’t expecting one of the big twists at the end, but there were some subtle hints to the twist that make it more satisfying when it’s revealed as you put all the puzzle pieces together. Just when you think you've figured it out, Halle throws another curveball that leaves you reeling. The pacing keeps you hooked, making “Grave Matter” a book you’ll want to devour in one sitting. The story’s sci-fi lean in the latter half is a surprising twist, merging the horrors of nature with the unsettling science of mycology in a way that feels both fresh and terrifying.
While the ending is satisfying, leaving most questions answered, it does leave a slight craving for more closure regarding the mysterious fungi.

Overall, “Grave Matter” is an absolutely exhilarating and unpredictable read. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers or spooky stories with a touch of romance, this book is a must-read. Karina Halle delivers a story that's both haunting and addictive, making it a standout in the horror-thriller genre.

𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝑴𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝑮𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒄, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑼𝒔, & 𝒀𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑱𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒔! 🌿🍄

I dove into this book 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑—I had only seen a few tropes on social media, and the second I saw them, I 𝑟𝑢𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 to NetGalley to apply! 😍 Lately, those 𝑾𝑻𝑭 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 have been sneaking their way to the top of my list, and I think I found a new fave. 👀✨

First of all, shoutout to the author for all the 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 research and the attention to detail. The way she created such an 𝒂𝒕𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒄 world surrounding fungi was unreal. 🍄🌲 I’ve always been anti-mushrooms (I mean, 𝒆𝒘 in food), but now I’m equally fascinated 𝑎𝑛𝑑 terrified by what fungi can do to the human mind and body. 😱 Let’s just say I’m not looking at mushrooms the same way ever again! 🍄🧠

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter—so 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒚 and 𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆 in the best way possible. The tension was 𝑖𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 throughout, and the writing just pulled me into this world of mystery and madness. It’s definitely one of those reads that’ll keep you up at night, and I’m already so excited to see what the author does next. 😍🖤

The story follows Sydney Denik, an aspiring mycologist (𝒚𝒂𝒚, 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑴!) who gets a second chance when a dream opportunity comes her way—joining a prestigious foundation doing Alzheimer’s research. 💼🌿 She leaves her past behind to join a group of grad students at an isolated lodge on Vancouver Island, which sounds idyllic, right? 𝑾𝑹𝑶𝑵𝑮. 😨

The Madrona Foundation has secrets—big, scary secrets—and Sydney soon realizes that not everything (or everyone) is as it seems. From ghosts walking the halls to dead animals that move like they’re still alive, the weirdness just keeps building. 🪦👁️ And then there’s the psychologist she’s falling for (yep, 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐 forbidden romance with ALL the tension 😏). But as Sydney uncovers more about the foundation, she starts questioning her own sanity—𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒂𝒅 or are the horrors around her 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳? And, OMG, the 𝑾𝑻𝑯 moments just don’t stop. 🫣💀

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for this ARC! It releases on 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟑 and trust me, you do 𝐍𝐎𝐓 want to miss this one! 💫