What Moves the Dead is my second book by T. Kingfisher (Nettle and Bone is wonderful as well) and is perfect for my current horror phase. A retelling of Poe's Fall of the House of Usher, has a mysterious illness, mushrooms, possessed animals, A strange lake and an overwhelming uneasy feeling. This short, spooky story will appeal to Mexican Gothic fans and horror enthusiasts.

Have you ever read The Fall of the House of Usher and wished for a bit more? Well, What Moves the Dead gives that to you, along with some slight humour, a deeper mystery, and more overt horror.

I was so into this.

I hadn’t read Usher in at least a decade, so I gave it a re-read before this and it was like - oh yeah! The run-down mansion! The sickly siblings. The fungus! The weird poems. The corpse walking. Such fun!

This book has all of that, except the poems, and it beefs everything up. It’s set in this alternate 1800s where this country, Gallacia, exists and produces these warriors who, because they are fighters, are given their own pronoun as a sign of honour. It doesn’t matter if you’re a woman, a man, or non-binary; you use ka/kan as your pronouns if you're a warrior. This was so fun to me and both an interesting take on language as well as gender politics. Gallacia isn’t featured in the story a whole lot, but the bits of background we get gave the story an interesting dynamic.

I really liked the main character, Alex Easton, who was an old soldier but has a duty to kan friends ka can’t ignore. Easton makes logical choices - ka both takes up arms when ka needs to as well as gets freaked out and bolts at a few points. Ka acts like a normal person involved in odd circumstances. This is one of those few exceptions where I really liked the first-person point of view.

The other characters are fun too. Denton is compelling because he’s brash one minute and aloof the next, but also likeable. The siblings aren’t in it as much as you’d expect, but there are a few side characters that add some flair to the story too.

The mystery was fun because while I should have guessed what it was, I did not. I suppose Kingfisher just did a great job hiding what was going on with other things in the plot. Yet, the story is cohesive, interesting, and slow enough to build tension and mood but quick enough that you’re not bored. It reminded me a lot of Mexican Gothic, but I liked the ending to this a lot better.

It’s also quite funny! The humour is hard to describe. It’s not laugh-out-loud so much as amusing observations. These pop up just enough to even out the tension and give Easton a rather quirky personality. I loved the few references to Beatrix Potter as well.

The novel is also very clever. Small details mentioned in passing have relevance later - in this regard, Kingfisher really emulated Poe because every line seems to have a purpose.

That’s not to say this novel feels like an unnecessary copy of The Fall of the House of Usher. Where that story is all about mood, this has more horror elements and has its own story to tell. It’s a fun homage to one of horror’s more popular classic tales.

There’s a lot to love about his novel and if you like Edgar Allan Poe, gothic mystery, horror that won’t make you sh*t your pants but is still creepy, and rundown mansions covered in fungus, you’ll enjoy this!

5/5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC, this is an honest opinion.

This was a great kind of creepy and unsettling. What Moves the Dead is a retelling of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe and in the afterword the author goes into their motivation for writing it. I thought it was a great premise for a retelling to add and flesh out some motivation and whys prior to the story. If you're on the hunt for a quick read that'll make the hairs on your arm stand up, you should pick this one up. Though it may cause you to take a second look the next time you see a hare.

In What Moves the Dead, T. Kingfisher delivers her own wonderfully spin on a retelling of Poe’s classic Fall of the House of Usher. She took the bones of Poe’s tale and built upon it, adding/altering characters (embracing diversity), and delivering a more definitive ending. Extremely atmospheric and at times downright creepy, I have no doubt Poe would approve. Thanks so much to Tor Nightfire for allowing me to read and review an eARC of What Moves the Dead.

Old school gothic horror. Very atmospheric and creepy.

Easton was my favorite character-stolid, but humorous. Having grown up together, Easton travels to visit her sick friend, Madeline, and Madeline's brother, Roderick. The house is in disrepair, there's a creepy lake and even creepier hares running around.

The tale slowly unfolds to it's horrifying end. Still icks me out and makes my skin crawl. A+++

Absolutely top tier retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher. 4.5 ⭐️

Alex Easton is an absolute gem of a character. I loved them as the narrator of the story. The dialogue, interactions, wit and intelligence of Easton bolstered the story line and just made this an incredible read.

It’s filled with science and mycology, dashes of sinister fungus and slime. The atmosphere of the book is delectable and I’ll never be able to look at a staring hare the same again.

This gothic horror allows your mind to fill in the blanks and create some pretty chilling scenes. While not inherently scary, the concepts are. Dentons nightmare description will stay with me for a long time.

The tarn is treated like it’s own character which I adored. An organism pulsing with sinister intentions.

I adored this quick read and I highly recommend it!

What Moves the Dead, T. Kingfisher's captivating retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher, is my new favourite fungus horror story. This interpretation does Poe's short story justice, capturing the eerie feel of the house, the stressful suffocating atmosphere, with the addition of T. Kingfisher's humour which I love and have come to anticipate in her writing.

The story is short (140 pages), which makes it punchier than a 400 page novel adaptation could ever be. Kingfisher introduced two elements to the story which I really enjoyed, the ka/kan gender used for military service members and of course the emphasis on mycology. I thought these two ideas blended well with the story and brought new things to the table of this classic tale.

I was reminded of the pandemic at different points in the text, although I might be reading too much into things. This could be COVID-19 trauma on my end! In one instance the characters are seen shielding their faces with scarves as makeshift masks at the urging of Ms. Potter. The disinfection of the tarn. Early on Easton worries inwardly "Was there enough disinfectant in the world to cleanse the house of Usher?" (quote at the 26% mark). These instances could be a nod to the past two years we've lived through or a concern present in the 1890s or maybe this aspect is present in Poe's original work, I'm not sure. But it definitely stood out to me, and I felt the urgency behind these small measures and utterings more so than I think I would have pre-2020.

The Author's Note is one of the most satisfying ones I've ever read. Kingfisher goes through what led her to write this retelling, including her thought process, doubts, and obstacles.

I say this often (but always mean it!) this needs to be picked up for a limited mini series! The right camera angles could amplify the uncanniness of the hobbling hares with their cavernous stares!

Thank you T. Kingfisher, Netgalley, and Tor/Nightfire for the ARC.

✨Advance Copy Book Review ✨What Moves the Dead - T. Kingfisher ✨4.5/5 ⭐️✨
Genre: Horror
Publication Date: July 12th, 2022
Read if You Liked:
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Synopsis:
Set in the 1800’s, this novel follows what happens when Alex Easton, a retired soldier, travels to the house of their dying childhood friend. What they find there are strange fungal growths, possessed animals, and a friend who sleepwalks and talks in strange voices.

Did you know: this is a retelling of the Fall of the House of Usher?

Thoughts:
- The imagery in this novel really sticks with you - to the point where I was thinking about certain scenes for days after finishing the book (the little white hairs!). Kingfisher does a great job with the shock value of certain scenes, and I was thoroughly creeped out at various points.
- There’s light humor sprinkled in here and there, which I really enjoyed!
- This is a very fast read, and the story and plot move along quickly, as we’re thrown right into the thick of things with the arrival of Easton at the mansion.
- At times the background of Easton and the storyline there felt a little unnecessary, but it wasn’t enough to really impact the plot negatively as a whole in my opinion.
- The rabbits *shudders*!
- This would make an excellent movie.

Thank you to @Netgalley and MacMillan-Tor/Forge for this advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

𝐀 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐨𝐞'𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫? 𝐘𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞!

T. Kingfisher’s 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐃 is nothing short of brilliant. Her writing is beautifully lyrical, without being overdone - and it would have been so easy to go there. Phenomenal work. Truly.

Kingfisher has artfully retold Poe’s tale in a profoundly graceful, heartfelt manner. Flawless character development, and oh, what characters they are - truly unforgettable.

Kingfisher gives us an extra treat, a dessert, if you will, in her Author’s note - a glimpse into her thought process through this writing journey. Beautifully written, and much appreciated!

My sincere gratitude to Net Galley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and T. Kingfisher, for the opportunity to read this gem of an ARC, in exchange for my honest, and wholly independent review.

What a fascinating and creepy short read. I have never read The Fall of the House of Usher, but I still appreciated the tone this book set for readers. I am more motivated now to read more by T. Kingfisher and the classics by Poe.

I only wish this book had been longer to bring more development to the characters and more of a chance to read about them.

"What was it—I paused to think—what was it that so unnerved me in the contemplation of the House of Usher? " -Narrator, The Fall of the House of Usher - Edgar Allan Poe

This is how you do it!!!!!!! A retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher: An Edgar Allan Poe Short Story ! Yes, please! But wait! the Author, throws in some more into the plot, she tightens things up and gives more of an ending. Like fungus, this book will grow on you!

1890 Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives a letter that childhood friend, Madeline Usher is dying. Alex Easton hops on Hob, the ever-trusty horse, and heads to the house of Usher to be with friends, Roderick, and Madeline Usher. Along the way, Easton meets Miss Potter, a woman ahead of her time, researching and paining fungus. She is quite the knowledgeable lady and she and Easton develop a rapport.

Easton is shocked to see the condition of the Usher home; and although warned that Madeline was ill, was shocked to see her state. Denton, an American doctor, is treating Madeline, but does not know the exact cause of her malady. During the course of Easton's stay, strange things are not only observed but experienced. Roderick Usher is also not quite himself. He looks worn out, claims to be hearing things in the walls, and is not sleeping well.

This was deliciously and wonderfully creepy. I love how Kingfisher elevated this classic and made it even more sinister. I love how more of an explanation is given at the end. This is not a blood and guts slasher book but one that creeps up on you, in small ways. Where there is an inkling that something isn't quite right, but not enough to scare you away. Just enough to make you still feel safe, until you realize that you are not. Because you are in the hands of a master storyteller who knows how to ramp up the tension, to suck you in, and have you wanting more.

While reading this, I saw it playing out in my mind. I love black and white movies, and this book played out like a black and white movie in my mind. If you have read The Fall of the House of Usher: An Edgar Allan Poe Short Story you know the gist of this book. This was a brilliant and creepy retelling that delivered and then some!

Absolutely Brilliant!


#WhatMovestheDead #NetGalley.

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fun and creepy little novella that horror fans will enjoy. It is a retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher and I think it adds a little bit to it but is a pretty straight forward retelling. I enjoyed this a lot, I just wish there was more to it. Though I know it is a novella so that's my own issue with expectations rather than an issue of the book itself.

What Moves the Dead is a reimagining of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher. When Alex Easton receives word that their childhood friend, Madeline, is dying, they rush to the Usher’s ancestral home in hopes of seeing her one last time before she passes. What Easton finds upon arrival is a dilapidated house and a nightmarish fungal growth that is possessing the wildlife. Madeline is sleepwalking and speaking in a strange voice at night and her brother, Roderick, is afflicted by some malady of the nerves. With the help of an American doctor and a local Mycologist, Easton struggles to unravel the mystery surrounding the House of Usher.

This is the first time in a long time that I have been thoroughly creeped out reading some of the descriptions in this book and I loved every minute of it. Kingfisher has such a command of telling a story and making you feel so much within a limited amount of pages. I was invested whole-heartedly in the characters and in the mystery surrounding the Usher house. This was so atmospheric and engaging.

I loved that Alex was a non-binary main character and that Kingfisher created a whole set of pronouns around the land that Alex was from. This choice only added to the uniqueness of Kingfisher’s storytelling.

T. Kingfisher is becoming one of my all time favorite authors and I will continue to read anything published by them.

Thank you to NetGalley, McMillian-Tor/Forge/Tor Nightfire, and T. Kingfisher for the e-arc of What Moves the Dead in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with Kingfisher with "The Hollow Places". Then I read "The twisted ones". I then proceeded to order their books from other genres. I'm working on getting to them soon. This story is a retelling of Poe's "The fall of the house of usher". I enjoyed the characters and the setting. It is a short story, but the details are very vivid in my mind. The monster of the story is an unlikely adversary. I really enjoyed their take on the original. In the acknowledgments, Kingfisher mentions that "Mexican Gothic" did it better. I haven't read that one yet, but I highly doubt that's the case. Immediately after reading I looked up the original to revisit. I can't wait for my next Kingfisher book!

What Moves the Dead is a short book, but it packs a heavy punch. The Fall of the House of Usher is haunting but ultimately leaves the reader with so many unanswered questions. T. Kingfisher fleshes out the characters while still maintaining the ominous atmosphere of the original story. This is a perfect book to read on a stormy day with a hot drink to temper the chill that will settle in your bones as you read this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Nightfire, for the ARC. I will be sharing this review on my Instagram: @LyatsLibrary closer to the pub date.

A wonderful psychological and somehow more macabre retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher. This book was a quick and enjoyable read, I had not read the inspiration in quite a bit but did not need the context to find myself drawn in by the vivid imagery. I read it in one sitting as I kept on wanting to know more.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to get my grubby little paws on this; it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I was not disappointed. Truly dark and creepy. A dilapidated house festering in dampness of mold and rot. Yeeeeesss. This is a re imagination of The Fall of the House of Usher, beloved Poe, king of all things creep and horror! I love how Kingfisher constructs her own explanation for the strangeness going around the Ushers. Maybe it's my own personal obsession with the incredible nature of mycelium and fungi, but I just really dug how she implemented that so well within the story. If you love horror, gothic elements, Poe, fungi, or creeps, you MUST pick this up.

Also, this cover is phenomenal. That is reason enough to purchase this one. That is all.

The answer to the title What Moves the Dead is horrible and still gives me shivers. Horror, in general, does nothing for me, but T. Kingfisher knows how to creep me out. And as this is a retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher, I had to read it.

The Fall of the House of Usher is my favorite Poe story because it makes no sense. What kind of friendship involves not knowing about a twin sibling? T. Kingfisher decides the now named narrator knows about the twin sister. There is also a reason why the sister was buried alive. A really terrifying reason.

Thinking about this book still gives me chills.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

3.5 stars. A creatively creepy Gothic horror retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe. Readers don't need to be familiar with the original story to enjoy this weird and gross revamp, but if you know whats ahead it will surely add to the slowly building dread as you read.

Narrator Alex Easton travels to visit long-time but somewhat estranged friends, brother and sister duo Madeline and Roderick Usher, at their crumbling country estate after receiving a letter stating Madeline is dying. Alex immediately notices strange mushrooms on the property and even stranger hares whom the local townspeople claim are bewitched. Events escalate at a steady pace and reach a very disturbing climax in the final chapters.

Fans of Mexican Gothic will surely see some similarities here as fungi play a pivotal role in the terror, but I think Kingfisher has created a wholly different piece of unsettling historical fiction here that horror fans will truly enjoy. Recommended.

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher is an absolutely amazing retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher." The story revolves around Alex, a retired soldier who has just heard that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying. They enter the mysterious Usher estate and discover a Gothic house taken over by fungi and nature. And the house is not the only thing haunted. The people are acting very strange. Can Alex untangle the mystery of the Ushers before they become the next target?

Here is an enchanting excerpt from Chapter 1:

"The mushroom’s gills were the deep-red color of severed muscle, the almost-violet shade that contrasts so dreadfully with the pale pink of viscera. I had seen it any number of times in dead deer and dying soldiers, but it startled me to see it here.
Perhaps it would not have been so unsettling if the mushrooms had not looked so much like flesh. The caps were clammy, swollen beige, puffed up against the dark-red gills. They grew out of the gaps in the stones of the tarn like tumors growing from diseased skin. I had a strong urge to step back from them, and an even stronger urge to poke them with a stick.
I felt vaguely guilty about pausing in my trip to dismount and look at mushrooms, but I was tired. More importantly, my horse was tired. Madeline’s letter had taken over a week to reach me, and no matter how urgently worded it had been, five minutes more or less would not matter."

Overall, What Moves the Dead is a spooky, Gothic retelling that will appeal to fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia or Catriona Ward. One highlight of this book is how creepy it is. I seriously had trouble sleeping at night after reading this book. The idea of the fungus in particular really creeped me out. Another highlight of this book is the Gothic atmosphere, which I adored. I love reading books that transport me into a different world, and this book definitely did that. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of atmospheric horror, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in July!