Alex Easton finds a very gruesome situation when they visit the Usher estate upon receiving word that their dear friend, Madeline Usher, is gravely ill. The Usher's home on the hill is practically falling apart into the vile tarn surrounding it, and yet Roderick--Madeline's brother and Easton's prior comrade in arms--refuses to move their of them due to health and finances. With the help of an American doctor called Denton and Beatrix Potter's mycologist aunt, Easton investigates the situation surrounding the sickness of the property and the bizarre behavior of Madeline and many, many wild hares, just to discover how grotesque and terrifying nature can really be. Loosely based on Edgar Allen Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, What Moves the Dead goes in-depth into the sickness that truly brought on the destruction of the Usher name.

Over the course of the book, as the characters are paying more and more attention to the bizarre happenings, looking closer and closer at the setting -- specifically the tarn with its infected fish and hares, and the molding, dank manor itself -- the setting becomes more and more intriguing. The more descriptions that injected themselves into the narrative, the more the reader is led to ask "could it be the this? Or could it be this?" and to obsess over the details. It then leads to visceral, gruesome scenes including bodies disappearing and movement during autopsies alongside paranoia that comes with any contagion narrative.

I found the moments of dark whimsy and humor to be very entertaining, particularly when in reference to other excellent works such as Hamlet, Macbeth, Alice in Wonderland, and more. I particularly liked Ms. Potter -- claimed in the Author's Note to be the freelance mycologist aunt of Beatrix Potter, author of The Tales of Peter Rabbit (an equally fabulous and vile footnote given the state of the rabbits in this story.) Ms. Potter doesn't have quite as much page-time as the other characters, but I found it delightful that regardless of the weird, biological horror nonsense that was unfolding around her, she just popped up in random places painting watercolors of mushrooms. She was like the entertaining NPC that by the last third of the book, became an irreplaceable character. Her demeanor was delightful, even when in dire situations, and she was a constant refresher amongst the gloomy handful of others.

In that this is the first full book I've read in a while--and that I finished it in two to three days--I liked the pace. In my current mindset, I needed to read something quick and interesting to me. I found this book very easy to read; it was quick paced, at an easy reading level, and short. Overall, I think the summary provided by the publisher somewhat rings true; however, certain descriptors imply a deeper darkness than I think was delivered, as well as there being more emphasis on the bizarre actions of Madeline and Roderick Usher than focused on. I would have preferred more detail and steeping in the more horrific aspects. That being said, I see so many possibilities for the sequel. I think that the second installment will blow the first book out of the water, so to speak.

This book is advertised as Adult Fiction; however, I do think it could be a good New Adult title as well, especially if there is an interest in the horror genre. Of course, What Moves the Dead is based on the source text The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe, which has numerous retellings, such as the fabulous Netflix Original series of the same name, and hundreds of other Poe-inspired works. I think fans of Edgar Allen Poe, of course, would enjoy this retelling. I also think that anyone intrigued by the beginnings of mass outbreaks would find this fascinating. It is definitely more for horror readers that are more interested in gross horror than in psychological horror. T. Kingfisher adamantly suggests reading Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It's not a book, but this also reminds me of The Last of Us. Another great albeit weird fungal narrative is also The Beauty by Aliya Whiteley. If you are more interested in the scientific horror/ thriller aspects, books like Jurassic Park and Prey both by Michael Crichton or Into the Drowning Deep by Seanan McGuire would likely appeal to you.

Succinct and beautifully written and utterly, disgustingly terrifying. Up until about the 50% mark, I had absolutely no idea where this was going, and once I figured it out, I could hardly get myself to turn the page. I loved every second of it. The pacing was fantastic. The characters were wonderfully built out for a story less than 200 pages in length. Perfect for fans of The Last of Us who are, for some godforsaken reason, craving more cordyceps-inspired horror. Would recommend reading to a playlist of atmospheric movie scores!

So this is a retelling of the short story "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allen Poe. Madeline and Roderick Usher are of course the subject of the story and it is told from the point of view of their longtime friend Alex Easton, a retired officer in the Ruravia army. They received a letter that Madeline is dying and they rush to their crumbling ancestorial home to be by her side.
When Easton arrives, they can tell something is definitely amiss. From strange staring hares that watch silently from the countryside paths, to the white hairs that seem to be growing out of Madeline's skin.
With the help of an American doctor and the unflappable aunt of the now famous illustrator, Beatrix Potter, Easton must solve the mystery of what is taking place in the Usher home.
I really enjoyed this story and weird supernatural elements and fungi that that play significant roll in the story.

T. Kingfisher has done it. She’s written a book that covers multiple genres I don’t prefer: gothic horror, fantasy, retellings of classics, and shades of sci-fi and in one short, clever novella made me thoroughly enjoy all of them. I think only Catriona Ward has obliterated my genre boundaries as efficiently.

In this retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Fall of the House of Usher", our central protagonist, Alex Easton, is a non-binary retired lieutenant in the Gallacian army who’s come to small, rural Ruravia to help their dying childhood friend, Madeline Usher, at her brother Roderick’s behest.

(Since the MC is non-binary, I will use they/them pronouns when referring to them.)

Alarmed by the decayed and untimely aged appearance of the Usher siblings, Easton can make little sense of their rapidly declining conditions. Equally bizarre: What explains the unsettling behavior of those staring white hares that seem to have proliferated in the area, and what is going on with the cold, dark tarn (lake) and the abundance of fungi?

With the help of Roderick’s friend and fellow houseguest, American doctor, James Denton, and Easton’s new acquaintance, quirky British mycologist, Eugenia Potter, will they be able to protect the Ushers or themselves from the menace of death that seems to be closing in?

Kingfisher brings the Usher house and surrounding grounds alive in the most deliciously creepy, ominous way, making everything, animate or inanimate equally suspect. The threat feels all-encompassing, and you can sympathize with Roderick’s paranoia and jumpiness. Easton is a strong, intelligent MC, and it was fun to watch them puzzle through the mystery with Denton and Ms. Potter, who I have to say was my favorite character, alongside Easton’s opinionated horse, Hob.

It’s not necessary to have read Poe’s original work to enjoy this. In fact, in some ways it might be better to let this version speak for itself. I read the original after this, and it was fun to see in hindsight how Kingfisher tweaked and added her own imagination to the bones of Poe’s story. It’s my first book of hers, but it won’t be my last. She’s a wonderful, imaginative, funny writer!

A few notes:

Gallacia has a whole set of pronouns “ta/tan”, “ka/kan”, “va/van”, etc. that are explained and widely used, so that takes a little getting used to.

Easton has a pretty low opinion of Americans, so there are not infrequent humorous jabs taken at Denton. You’ll either find it funny or you’ll be put off by it. I chose to see the humor.

There are a couple gruesome scenes involving hares. It’s not gratuitous or malicious, and it makes sense within the story, but it may be upsetting for some readers.

The author’s note is important! Don’t skip it, but wait until you’ve read this book first. The book will inevitably get compared to another well-known book with similar themes, which I won’t name for spoiler reasons, but Kingfisher addresses that.

A clever take on an old tale, The Fall of the House of Usher, with fresh characters. I enjoyed the combination of horror, mystery, and humor typical of T. Kingfisher. I immediately wanted more.

I gave it 4 stars not 5, so that means something's wrong with it, right? Wrong. I never read the in the horror genre. I simply don't like scary fiction (or nonfiction, for that matter).. But T Kingfisher is one of my favorite living writers, so I read pretty much everything she writes. I always enjoy it, yes, even the horror books. It's just that I like her fantasy work even more.
So if you are a fan of horror, prepare yourself for a genuine treat. This author can REALLY write!

This T. Kingfisher book was the perfect amount of creepy. I spent a good amount of 2023 reading horror books and especially working on a bunch of Kingfisher's books and this one was a definite favorite. It was creepy, it was atmospheric, it was spooky. I can't wait to get to book 2 and see if the creepy sticks around.

A gothic retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher, WHAT MOVES THE DEAD is a quiet horror packed with vibrant and disturbing imagery. This quick and short read will leave you turning the page and wanting more as the tension continues to grow on each page. You'll never look at a hare the same way again.

I’ll be 100% honest with you, I don’t really enjoy re-telling / re-imagining stories. And I wasn’t too sure about that being done to Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher… but – again, 100% honest here- when I first laid eyes on that epic cover art, I just HAD to read this one. Just extraordinary work! The art made me feel so curious about the plot of the book.

What Moves the Dead starts off a little slow moving. It gradually builds to an extremely creepy ending. Defiantly a slow burner. Don’t know if the slow build worked well with such a short book? I was left wanting more at the end. Like, it felt like too much building and the finale just felt too short.

Do love the eerie tone running throughout the book. All the creepy hares are a BIG plus! The twist about what is really going on is pretty great, gross and dreadful! I loved it! :D I wanted more spooky fungi fun!!

What Moves the Dead handles the retelling well, giving the House of Usher a fresh coat of paint. The book is maybe a little too short, but the spooky atmosphere and creepy -crawly plot leave you feeling satisfied and disturbed.

This is a retelling of Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" and my god was it good. Kingfisher is so hit or miss for me but when she hits, she HITS.

Lou Jacobs's Reviews > What Moves the Dead
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
What Moves the Dead (Sworn Soldier, #1)
by T. Kingfisher
M 50x66
Lou Jacobs's reviewNov 14, 2022 · edit
it was amazing
bookshelves: to-read
Read 2 times. Last read November 9, 2022 to November 14, 2022.

WHAT MOVES THE DEAD by T. Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon)
Macmillan Audio production from Tor Nightfire ( 176 page novella)
Audio: 5 hours, 11 minutes
Narrator: Avi Roque



Another gem from the multi-award winning author , across many media. Kingfisher greatly and deeply expands upon Edgar Allan Poe’s classic story: The Fall of the House of Usher. …. maintaining its dark and gothic nature, but delves much deeper in the character and personality of the characters … while providing an ingenious explanation for the mounting horror. Our main protagonist in this version is given a name and rich back story (unlike Poe’s original tale).. … also of note, Alex Easton is a non-binary person, who is a “sworn” retired soldier from the fictitious country of “Gallacia”. ( A particularly violent and warring country. However, it does this very ineffectually and usually looses. This backstory gives Kingfisher the chance to insinuate her humor into the tale ). Alex rushes to the remote countryside of Rurtania, to the ancestral home of the Ushers…. after receiving a letter from Roderick that his sister is dying …. from “what” he cannot explain.
Roderick briefly served in the military with Alex, and Madeline is a childhood friend of theirs. Upon arrival Alex finds both of the Usher siblings in an extremely emaciated state… both obviously ill, fitting right in with the dilapidated and crumbling mansion they live in.
Alex is aided in her investigation of increasingly inexplicable events by both the American, Dr Denton and a rather prim and proper British Mycologist and artist, Miss Eugenia Potter. Both are continually called upon by Alex to offer possible explanations or insight, while using their expertise in medicine and knowledge of fungi. She is perplexed by the strangeness of the situation: a local lake (“Tarn”) that intermittently will pulse with varying color lights of unknown origin … as well as bering inhabited by fish that appear to be infested with “some type of fungal growth.” The local area around the gothic and foreboding Usher House is seemingly overrun with “witch” hares (named by the locals) which behave and move bizarrely. At one point Alex shoots one in the head .. and yet it’s able to get up and awkwardly amble away. Intermittently Alex finds Madeleine “sleepwalking” while talking and acting in a disturbingly weird manner. ( Madeline visually looks like “death warmed over” ). Alex frantically investigates in hope of finding the source of Madeline’s malady in an effort to save her. The narrative is laced with menacing and gothic descriptive imagery which effortlessly ratchets up the intrigue , tension and dread.
Kingfisher proves to be a master storyteller as the narrative brings to life the wonder and weirdness of the events, while expanding Poe’s story and infusing it with rich character development and an ingenious and reasonable explanations for the expanding dread. The ever present level of creepiness is so enjoyable, and yet disturbing. A perfect read for a stormy night.
I experienced the added benefit of being treated to the audio performance of Avi Roque, who expertly narrated the individual characters with such a wonderful nuance …. I enjoyed the ongoing “play” in the theater of my mind. Thanks to the narrator who allowed my mind to be fully invested in this gothic delight .
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advance audio performance in exchange for an honest review.

What Moves the Dead is a creepy Southern Gothic horror by an author who is now one of my favorites. The atmosphere and world-building is immersive. I typically cannot handle horror reads, but Kingfisher's books are more like "creepy fantasy" so the horror is more a product of nature or supernatural gone wrong, vs appalling human behavior.

This is such an original and interesting take on a classic. Despite being relatively slim, it packs a hefty punch and offers a lot to talk about. Our book group loved it.

I am a Poe fan and have recently found interest in the Fall of the House of Usher story before realizing that this was a retelling. Poe is famous for his horror and unnerving anticipations, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the author was able to capture that in their own way.

It was dark, rainy and gloomy out when I read this, and that definitely elevated my reading experience. The setting of this story was written so well, visualization is important for me in books like this. And the tone throughout was consistent and heavy - exactly what you would want it to be.

This is an author I will read from again!

I went into this one really without knowing the premise and was drawn into the darkness. Much like Mexican Gothic in its mysteriois atmosphere, there's just enough oddity to keep you turning the pages. Looking forward to the sequel!

I really enjoyed this book. This is my first foray in to T Kingfisher's writing and I will definitely be back for more.
5 amazing stars

I absolutely loved this novella. I read this as part of the Literally Dead Book Club, hosted by booktuber BooksandLala. I have never read a T. Kingfisher novel before and after reading this I will definitely continue with more. I have read the story "The Fall of the House of Usher" only once and I will definitely have to go back and reread it. I read part of it physically, but the audiobook was very enjoyable. I loved being able to spend time in Alex's mind with the story. T. Kingfisher really knows how to build atmosphere and it really shines through in this book.

I really loved all of the inclusions of the mushrooms and the hares in this book. I also love how T. Kingfisher took the original and gave a more in depth explanation of what was going on. I was listening to a podcast T. Kingfisher was on and she mentioned that she was working on the second Alex Easton novella, so I'm really looking forward to that.

This was my first book by T. Kingfisher and I'm not sure how I feel about it. This was a retelling of "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allen Poe, which I reread right before I read this one. Overall, the plot itself was very similar and the first half of the book was a little slow. BUT T. Kingfisher definitely added a creepy spin on this story in the second half of the book and made it her own unique creepy story. I also had the chance to listen on audio, which usually helps a lot. However, the narrator (while not bad) didn't fit the character in my head. Still not my favorite but I would be willing to try another book by her in the future.

Kingfisher takes her own unique spin on Edgar Allan Poe's classic "The Fall of the House of Usher," and the result is a novella that's simultaneously atmospheric and dark while maintaining a brisk pace. Prepare for some genuinely unsettling imagery that sent shivers down my spine. Kingfisher's talent shines in the art of tension-building and the clever incorporation of unexpected plot twists. She never lets me down!

Although this novella stands apart from her previous works, it retains the compulsive readability that keeps you glued to the pages until the very end. I found myself on the edge of my seat at times, unable to put the book down. Kingfisher is known for creating witty and likable main characters, and this story is no exception. Alex's humor provides a delightful contrast to the ever-encroaching sense of dread in the story.

In short, I highly recommend this novella, especially if you enjoy horror and gothic stories. It's best to dive in with little prior knowledge, as there are surprises even for those who know Poe's original tale.

Many thanks to Tor Nightfire and Netgalley for my review copies

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I’ve been meaning to read something by Kingfisher for a while, solely based on the covers. I mean, look at that thing. It’s so horrific, and I am intrigued about what it means! Now I know. I was definitely pleased by this one! It’s pretty short; I could have read it in one sitting if had the time, but its length was perfect for what the story was trying to accomplish.

This book is a retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher, which I have never read, to be honest. I like Poe’s stuff and have read several stories, but just not this one, as far as I can remember. Big fan of The Tell-Tale Heart, though. Easton, who is a sworn soldier in the fictitious country of Galicia, receives a letter from a childhood friend, Madeline Usher, who claims she is dying. Upon arrival, Easton realizes this is the case, and decides to figure out why Madeline’s current state doesn’t seem normal. This book was a lot of fun and really creepy in parts. I know another Easton book comes out in 2024, and I’ll definitely be picking it up.

Very strange, as well as dark and creepy which way in some ways I liked it . And had me turning the pages to see what happens next .