Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of this book to review !

What Moves The Dead
by T. Kingfisher


What a fabulous book! I was so excited to receive a copy because I've really enjoyed the author's previous novels. What Moves The Dead exceeded all of my high expectations.

Set in the mid twentieth century, the story is a creative twist on Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. It has all the important elements to brew up a great story and some extra special ingredients which really makes it a unique read.

Terrifyingly fantastical with a dose of dark humor on the side. Of the five main characters, the gender bending Lieutenant Easton is most brilliantly portrayed along with the unflappable Miss Potter and of course the ghastly siblings, Roderick & Madeline Usher.

It takes a special book to make you jump with fright at every little noise and then laugh out loud a few moments later. T. Kingfisher has once again proven to be one of the best writers of the horror genre. What Moves The Dead is a treasure I can highly recommend.

5 Stars !

I'm not usually into horror books, and this one reminded me of a horror version of Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer. It was a good book, even if outside my regular wheelhouse.

This retelling of "The Fall of the House of Usher" was precisely the kind of horror I like: creepy and suspenseful rather than gory. The first-person narrator hit me immediately with a very distinctive voice. I liked Alex and could relate to that character very well—the bravery (although I would not be as brave), the desire to help out friends, the need to get to the bottom of the mystery of what is wrong with the house and its ailing occupants. Bonus points for the orange-eyed hares and the cover that absolutely fits. Amazing description of the house and its decrepit surroundings. This one will make you want to go jump in a shower.

My only quibble (and it is a mild one) was that I like to draw the conclusion myself that something is "Gothic" rather than being told so, which the author did twice.

I immediately determined on a course of reading everything this author has written for adults.

I received an electronic ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher is a short story, but this retelling is a full-length novel. The basics are the same: a creepy decrepit house by a tarn, a set of ailing siblings, and a visitor. Of course, Edgar Allen Poe was a master of immediate atmosphere, describing the scene in an eerie way from the first paragraph. Here it takes a little longer to enter the story and get a feel for the voice and the scares. But don’t get me wrong, What Moves the Dead has its chills too. I am particularly sensitive to descriptions of things that don’t move right, and we definitely get some of that here.

Since this is an expanded version, we get more characters with more fleshed out backgrounds. The unnamed narrator of Poe’s story we only know as a childhood friend of Roderick’s. Here, the narrator is Alex Easton, a non-binary Lieutenant whose pronouns are ka/kan. (This is explained slowly in quite a natural manner in the book, but, essentially, in Gallacia where Easton and the Ushers are from, there are separate pronouns for males, females, children, god, inanimate objects and soldiers – who trade their previous gender when sworn.)
We also get a fully-fleshed out doctor character (an American named Denton) instead of unnamed family doctor Poe described as having an “expression of low cunning and perplexity.” And we get treated to two new characters: a very English amateur mycologist named Eugenia Potter (aunt of Beatrix), and Alex’s batman, Angus.

These sensible, stalwart characters are played against the Usher siblings who are sensitive and high-strung by nature, as well as impoverished and therefore underfed, pale, chilled, poorly dressed and isolated. Madeline has written to Lieutenant Easton that she is gravely ill and Easton has come to see what can be done. And from there, the atmosphere becomes stifling, oppressive and eerie. The sense of place is very strong and gothic.

Often scary/unnatural stories with explanations can be polarizing. Some people want to know what exactly, is happening here? While others would rather be left with some mystery. The Fall of the House of Usher leaves room for some speculation, while What Moves the Dead has a definite resolution. No spoilers, but I found the ending very satisfying.

Overall, I enjoyed this very much and would recommend to horror and gothic readers and those who like stories with a strong sense of place, especially if that place is foreboding and creepy. A similar read, in recent memory, would be Mexican Gothic. I’ve never read anything by T. Kingfisher before, but as someone who reads widely but loves horror, I consider myself a fan now. I’m definitely going to pick up more by her, and I encourage anyone else who likes creepiness to as well!

This retelling of the House of Usher was amazing! T.Kingfisher is fast becoming my favourite creepy tale author. Beautifully eerie, and dark.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

This was amazing! I truly loved every word of ‘What Moves The Dead’. T. Kingfisher wrote this so hauntingly well. I loved the prose in this story, it flowed beautifully and I couldn’t stop reading. I have so many things I could say about Kingfisher’s retelling of EAP’s “The Fall of the House of Usher”. This was an extremely atmospheric read. I could feel the damp, cold air and the almost suffocating ruin of the manor. I loved that the narrator, Easton, had such unique pronouns; this gave an interesting voice to the story.

As far as creepiness goes, I love when a book can literally make my hair stand up; this one did that. There were definitely added touches that made this book even more-so unnerving. I don’t want to say to much (as I don’t want to spoil it), but you need to read this one. I wanted so much to love it and I truly did. I would read this one again (maybe even a few more times).

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan-Tor/Forge for this ARC.

I love this author's writing a lot. I just finished The Twisted Ones and gave it 4 stars. This novella, however, I don't think was a fit for me. The writing was there, and the incorporation of nature in her stories always gets me. This story being a somewhat retelling was where it lost me. I have never read the Usher poem before, and it doesn't seem to be a story that holds my attention. Any other horror novels she writes I will read. This one jist didn't make a good fit for me. The over all story was fine, but not a stand out.

“What Moves the Dead” by T. Kingfisher is all kinds of morbid, unsettling, and downright creepy. The tale is a modern reimagining of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” that further develops the original themes and ideas to create something that is even more terrifying and messed up. Fans of Kingfisher and those who enjoy snuggling up with a good horror will not be disappointed by this riveting read!

Even though it’s been years since Alex Easton last saw their childhood friends, word of Madeline Usher’s failing health has them rushing to the countryside manor where the Usher’s live. It doesn’t take Easton long to realize something is off about the ancestral home and its property. There are weird fungi growing all over the place, the animals are behaving bizarrely, not to mention the lake has the strange tendency to glow. Somehow, Easton believes they are connected to Madeline’s worsening condition and her brother's plight of nerves. Easton and their trusted friends must work together to figure out what unusual circumstances plague the land and home of the Usher’s before they fall victim.

Biased or not, Kingfisher did a brilliant job offering a spookier, more unsettling, and satisfactory read of “The Fall of the House of Usher.” Perhaps I don’t appreciate the classics enough, but I felt “What Moves the Dead” had me far more invested in the plot and characters than Poe’s ever did. The reimagining was a bit slow in the beginning as the characters were being introduced and the storyline set up, but once the story got rolling it was like diving deep into the rabbit hole of insanity and utter mayhem.

This is a story that is impossible to explain without potentially spoiling all of its secrets, but it will definitely make your skin crawl! If this seems like your kind of book, add it to your reading list, save the date, and definitely give this book a read when it hits the shelves. It’s one you won’t want to miss out on! “What Moves the Dead” by T. Kingfisher is expected to be published on July 12th, 2022.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge (Tor Nightfire) for inviting me to read this e-arc and giving me the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.

Creepy, unnerving, and brilliant! Full of the perfect blend of gothic horror, mycology and body horror, 'What Moves the Dead' is a fantastic take on Poe's story "The Fall of the House of Usher." The protagonist is fantastic, as is the cast of supporting characters, and the way this story builds bit by bit, even over such a short page count, is so well done. By the end, it had me entranced and disturbed, everything I wanted from this book! I loved it and highly recommend.

“This place breeds nightmares.”

Alex Easton, a retired soldier, is sent a letter from their childhood friends that Madeline Usher is dying and doesn’t have much time left. Alex immediately races off to their home in the secluded countryside to see what can be done.

What they find there is a place of nightmares. Fungus and mold has taken over the home, the surrounding forests, and even the lake. The wild animals act odd and Madeleine acts even odder. At night she sleepwalks and talks to herself in strange voices. Her brother Roderick is constantly in a state of anxiety and easily spooked by anything. Alex races to unlock the secret behind the House of Usher before it’s too late for them all.

“The dead don’t walk. Except, sometimes, when they do.”

Kingfisher comes out with her own take on Edgar Allan Poe’s classic “The Fall of the House of Usher. It’s definitely atmospheric and dark but fast paced at the same time. There is some pretty nasty imagery that gave me the creeps. Kingfisher excels in building tension and has very unique ideas with well done plot twists.
This novella is different from her past novels but still maintains the same compulsive readability and I was unable to put it down till I finished. At some points I was at the edge of my seat and couldn’t go to bed until the last day Kingfisher has always been consistent with writing witty, fun and likable protagonists and this is no different. Alex was hilarious and their humor contrasted well with the creeping tension of the novella. Same goes for Alex’s horse, Hob. Hob has such a big personality for a horse and was very entertaining for comedic breaks in between the horror.

Bottom line is that I definitely recommend this and think this is perfect for any fans of horror or gothic stories! I suggest going into this without knowing much and although it is a retelling, there are a few surprises in store for the reader who has already read Poe’s story. Kingfisher has cemented herself as an auto-read author for me. Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced arc in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read The Fall of the House of Usher or any of T. Kingfisher's other work, so it was mostly the cover that drew me in. It promised a lot of creepy mushroom-y details, and did not disappoint!

Kingfisher did a wonderful job bringing this eerie setting to life. I loved all the little snippets of info we were given about Easton's homeland. Gallacia felt very real, which was impressive considering this is a novella and none of the story is set there. The linguistic elements were a fun touch, too. Rocks having their own unique set of pronouns made me so happy hahaha.

I really enjoyed the banter between the characters, as well. It provided a nice contrast to the ominous atmosphere. I'll definitely be checking out Kingfisher's other books after this. And seriously, that cover is perfection.

Wow!

To start, this lil novella is a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s 'The Fall of the House of Usher.' I don’t necessarily think reading Poe’s version is an essential pre-requisite? Like, you could totally just jump right into this book and enjoy it in it’s own right. That being said, I did a quick read/deep-dive into Poe (once a nerd, always a nerd, I guess) and I do think that brushing up a lil on Poe before delving into What Moves the Dead helped me appreciate the story a lot more.

So, yeah, it’s Fall of the House of Usher retelling, but with some originality laced throughout too. The book opens with our narrator, a soldier named Alex Easton, having received word that their childhood friend (Madeline Usher) is dying. Madeline lives—along with her brother, Roderick—in their crumbling old family mansion, located in a rural countryside. Alex rushes to the ancestral home, where things quickly get…weird. Madeline is very obviously sick, but no one can figure out what’s afflicting her. Roderick, while faring somewhat better than Madeline, is also not quite right. He’s having horrible nightmares, and he’s hearing things that no one else can hear. Throw in a glowing lake, a proper British mycologist (who also happens to be the maiden aunt of Beatrix Potter??), creepy hares, and a lot of fungus, and we have ourselves a dark, Gothic mystery.

Thoughts: One thing that popped into my mind while I was reading this is that it giving me strong Mexican Gothic vibes—so if you liked that one, I’d recommend this book for sure. (The author also mentions the similarities in the “authors note” at the end, so I’m glad I was on the mark with my feelings, haha).

Right off the bat for me, it seemed like this was going to be a pretty straight forward retelling of Poe’s short story—the book opens with tons of similarities, right down to the names of the characters. But given that this novella is about 3-4 times as long as the original tale, I knew that it had to eventually serve something a little different. And BOY, did it!

First of all, we got an expanded cast of characters: in Poe’s original, it is pretty much just the narrator, Roderick, and Madeline. In this version, we get a few other characters that help to progress the plot, and imo add a lot of dimension to the story. Plus, in the original, the narrator is literally just that—we don’t know much about him, not even a name—but here we really get to know Alex Easton, the nonbinary soldier who unwravels the mystery of what’s going on in the House of Usher. I thought the non-binary identity of this character (and the use of unusual pronouns) were super interesting, and had me thinking a lot about the themes of the original work/why Kingfisher decided to include this detail. I will say too that the unusual pronouns come into play toward the end of the story, in a way I didn’t expect.

In Poe's version, Madeline as a character is barely in the story—iirc we don’t really hear from her at all, and she kind of just exists as the embodiment of her illness and to progress the spooky plot. In Kingfisher’s tale, Madeline is much more present as a character, takes up a lot more space on the page, and plays a larger role, imo.

In both versions, I love the spooky atmosphere and really, the anthropomorphism. Poe did this well in the original, and Kingfisher takes it further in her version: not only does the House have these qualities, but so too do the lake, the animals, and fungus .

I think one major difference here is obvious: Poe’s story is very open-ended, leaving the reader to question what’s actually going on in the House of Usher and come to their own conclusions. It’s a bit more psychological, kind of making the reader question whether this is a tale of insanity, of something supernatural, etc. Here, Kingfisher tells the story of the same mystery, but she gives the reader the disturbing and terrifying answers.

I will say as well that whereas the original House of Usher had kind of “haunted house” vibes, I didn’t really feel that way here. It is true that the house in this book is dark, dreary, scary, and very present in the story—but, I don’t think we are every really made to feel like the house itself is the problem, if that makes sense? That said, I don’t really have feelings about this one way or the other. I do love a good haunted house story, but I didn’t feel like the exclusion of hints toward a ‘haunting’ was problematic for me here.

There are some scenes in this book that really creeped me out! The descriptions and moments in the book involving the hares especially spooked me, as did everything going on with Madeline, especially toward the ending of the book. The descriptors were appropriately gruesome and unsettling, and made me cringe a few times—in that good, satisfying way that only horror fans really understand, haha. I will not spoil anything by expanding on what I mean (if you read it, the moments will be obvious, haha) but trust me: it is very dark and very weird!

Overall I really enjoyed this novella. I feel like the author did a great job at taking a classic gothic tale and remaining true to the original while also expanding and adding a ton, providing an explanation and closure. The language and descriptions are all fantastic, and while this is definitely a dark and spooky book, I appreciated that here and there we got little snippets of humor and snark, too.

This was my first book by T. Kingfisher (surprising) and I feel like I will definitely be checking out more of her work!

Horror is not my usual genre of choice, but T. Kingfisher is an automatic read at this point, and add in that What Moves the Dead is old-school gothic horror? Based on Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher"? Well. How could I resist? The story begins with charm, humor and a pall of dread that only grows as we learn more about what's happening. I think what kept me from going mad myself was the solidly grounded narration of Alex Easton, a former soldier with an extremely practical mind, not prone to fretfulness or fancy. Of course, the fact that even Easton occasionally freaks out is also what makes the fantastic events so chilling because we know it's not just nerves. Brilliantly done, delightfully told (only T. Kingfisher could make a horror tale delightful!), and best read in broad daylight.

My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What Moves the Dead is a Gothic and modern take of Edgar Allen Poe’s short story Fall of the House of Usher. While the author kept surprisingly close to the original, I must make a bold statement and say, I might just like this version better! Sorry Mr. Poe but this story is spooky, atmospheric, and very beautifully written.

Beyond this novella being better than the original it is engaging, gripping, atmospheric and hits all the Gothic notes. I loved the use of, well, the “bad guy” here. It is extremely realistic and classically scary. If I had not known better, I would have thought this story came from Poe’s time.

The story is about Alex, a soldier who received a letter from their childhood friend telling if the friend’s illness and impending death. From there Alex is immediately concerned and travels to the dilapidated mansion to find her friend and see if they can be of any help.

The story starts out gothic and spooky and the simple cast really impacts a large punch. There are only a handful of characters within the pages but each of them is so well developed and written they came alive on the page.

I love the use of the house as a character as well as the hares and the, well, again the “bad guy.” The ending was satisfying, and the story is one that will stay with me while I spend time in nature. Brilliant writing and brilliant story.

4.75 stars. #WhatMovestheDead #NetGalley #Brilliant #MustRead #BetterThenTheOrigional

This is my first foray into T. Kingfisher’s horror. I recently was blessed to read Nettle & Bone and I fell in love. Approaching What Moves the Dead, I was a little nervous. On one hand, I had high expectations and on the other, I feared that Nettle & Bone might be one of those moments when the Muse strikes and then perhaps leaves the artist lacking. I am happy to say, What Moves the Dead was excellent. T. Kingfisher is masterful!

First, we have Alex. As a genderfae person myself, I am thrilled to see a non-binary character as the main character of a book. Not only that, but the insertion of this character and their gender nonconformity, while explained very well, never felt shoe horned or like their gender was their personality. It simply was part of the character just as any female or male MC’s gender would be. I appreciated that so much after reading some books that fell through on this.

Second, approaching a classic like Poe’s Fall of the House of Usher is a HUGE undertaking. Such endeavors can easily turn into history lessons or, worse, cheap paint over fine grained wood. The latter I’ve seen occur when authors try to hard to bring a story into modernity or do not appreciate and honor the classical text for the masterpiece it is.
T. Kingfisher, I dare say, ELEVATED the classic story to something far more intriguing, beautiful, and sinister. The descriptions were so utterly gothic I found myself putting the book down just to close my eyes and picture them fully while languishing on the couch (all I was missing was a long, ephemeral gown and a choker on my pale throat. Perhaps a spilled crystal goblet of wine and piano music just slightly out of tune.) The characters had so much more depth and realism than Poe’s waifs (no offense, Ed). And the decay? Well, let me take a moment to get there…

Third, the horror was so subtle. I don’t know yet if T. Kingfisher starts all of her fantasy off with horror and all of her horror off with cozy quaint scenes (I’m currently reading The Hollow Places and this seems to be the pattern) but I felt lured in with a false sense of security from the start. Surely nothing too terrible can happen when you start a novel talking about mushrooms with an old woman…right? Wrong. At first, I wasn’t bothered by the horror in it. I finished the book on a binge and then…that’s when it seeped in. Like black mold, it bloomed in my mind. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I had dreams of mushrooms.

You see, I have some experience with the horrors of mushrooms and mold. The second apartment I lived in with my partner was owned by a slum lord. I won’t got into detail but one of the problems was how damp it stayed in there. The claustrophobic hallway that contained the utility room and laundry was filled with mold. Mushrooms bloomed, large and fleshy, out of the base boards and cracks in the walls. I got so sick, I thought I was dying so we evacuated and took the landlord to court. This book took me back to those weeks of mold and fungus literally looming over and encircling where I lived and slept.

This book was sublime. Its a creeping, lovely read that hits you during and after you think you’re finished with the story. The ONLY thing I would have liked different in it would be a glimpse into the infected mind of Madeline. Diary entries would have been perfect – her account of those early days with this fungal fiend taking her over. I thought about this far too long after reading, I won’t lie.

Recommendations
I recommend What Moves the Dead to any fans of Poe, Gothic horror, or to horror fans who are into the cottagecore/goblincore/mushroomcore vibe. I can’t, at this time, compare it to any other works. Just know it is a JOURNEY.

This is such a good book! Be prepared for a slow creep. All the hares, so much fungus, Gallaecian pronouns, and Beatrix Potter's aunt come together to make a phenomenal read.
There is no doubt that I will be reading this one again.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor Forge for the eARC.
Alex Easton, a non-binary soldier is on the way to The House of Usher, riding his wonderful horse Hob after receiving a letter from Madeline Usher, whose brother Roderick thinks she's dying. I had never read Edgar Allen Poe's story, so can't compare this novella to his story. All I know is that I was a bit confused at the beginning, but quickly started to enjoy the story. I loved Hob and Alex, as well as the mycologist Miss Potter, an imaginary family member of Beatrice Potter's. Then there are the strange hares, the American Doctor and the sinister tarn and malodorous mushrooms. All that and the sly humour made for a wonderful, creepy read.
I loved it!

T. Kingfisher has become a must read author for me, and What Moves the Dead is another wonderfully unique and compelling story. I have to admit that I have never actually read the short story "The Fall of the House of Usher", so I may have to revisit this book someday once I've read the original. From my understanding, what Kingfisher has done here is expand upon the original story to add depth and explanation, while also giving us a truly original narrator (who I would love to see more of honestly).

Alex Easton is a retired soldier from a fictional country. They are called to the Usher estate by an old friend, Madeline. Madeline is dying, and her brother Roderick seems to be going mad. Meanwhile the house is crumbling and the surrounding countryside is infested with strange fungal growths and unnatural animals. Alex is left to tackle the mystery of the House of Usher with the help of a visiting American doctor and a wandering amateur mycologist.

If you've read the short story then you'll obviously recognize the major story beats here, but the book also works very well for those like myself who were previously unfamiliar. Alex is a wonderful narrator, practical and freaked out in equal amounts. One of the most interesting parts of the book actually is Alex's background as a soldier. A nonbinary soldier who was both Madeline's childhood friend and Roderick's wartime commander, they are a unique character to see in a nineteenth century setting.

Like all Kingfisher books this is a compelling story full of memorable characters and at least a few deeply creepy moments that will stick with you long after. If you haven't read any of her books before, then feel free to start here as it is relatively short and unconnected to any of her other writings.

I haven’t read “The Fall of the House of Usher” just yet, but I still found this short, gothic book really engaging!

We’re following Alex, a retired soldier, who decides to visit old friends (after receiving word that they aren’t doing too well).
When Alex arrives at the Usher’s home, it is immediately obvious that things are very wrong. There are creepy hares that don’t act quite right, an unsettling lake, and mushrooms/fungi growing everywhere. It’s then up to Alex, and some friends he makes along the way, to figure out what’s going on before it’s too late.

This was definitely atmospheric and at times a bit slow paced, but I really loved that even though this was a Poe retelling, T. Kingfisher stuck to her usual, humorous/sarcastic writing style! Since reading The Twisted Ones and The Hollow Places, she’s been an author I’ve come to really enjoy and seek out, therefore I’m happy to add What Moves the Dead to my growing list of favorites from her.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a fast, at times creepy, at other times funny, slightly speculative, mystery/horror story.

*thank you NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own*

This is a short, quick read, and it's a nice retelling of "Fall of the House of Usher" by Poe. The new characters are a nice addition, as they help things move along. And the story seems creepier than the original, if that's even possible.


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