This is a clever retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher with an interesting queer angle that, disappointingly, never impacts the story in any way. Our protagonist, Alex, pays a visit to an old friend only to find her seriously ill and her brother, well, seriously strange. What ensues is a fresh take on the Poe classic that honors the original source material while shedding light on the probable (terrifyingly improbable) causes for the events that transpired at House Usher. It’s a quick read, partly due to its relatively short page count, but mostly because it is smartly written, incredibly entertaining, and possessed of a delightful undercurrent of dark humor. What Moves the Dead firmly cements itself as stand-out in the horror sub-genre I’ve come to refer to as lichen-gothic.

Say, have you ever read Poe’s tale of the tragedy of Ushers and found it lacking? Well, T. Kingfisher did and wet off to do something about it. Where it was too short, she expanded it. Where it was left unexplained or up to readers’ imaginations, she explained it. And where it was firmly a work of its time, she updated it for modern sensibilities…albeit while staying in Victorian England territory.
Intrigued? I know I was. Plus, I’m a fan of the author. I’ve read two other books by her and found them very good. I was very interested to see how her distinctly Southern US charm will translate for Victoriana and oddly enough, it did. There’s an authentic humorous warmth to Kingfisher’s writing and it comes through here too, but in measured (mostly perfectly appropriate) amounts.
If you’re not familiar with the basic plot, well…there’s a creepy old manse where brother and sister live, the descendants of Ushers, and somethings terribly off about the place. Or, in this novel, Alex Easton, a war veteran, comes to visit his once upon a time comrade and friend Roderick Usher, after a long time apart, only to find that Madeline Usher is dying, and her brother is but a helpless ghostly apparition at her side.
There’s another visitor, too. An American. A man who also intends to help, albeit it may be much too late for all that.
And there’s a strange local woman with a peculiar obsession with mycology.
Mycology is important here, mushrooms, mushrooms everywhere.
So, what is moving the dead? What is up with the Ushers? Well, read and find out. It’s well worth a read and, being under 200 pages and featuring Kingfisher dynamic engaging narrative, it’s a quick one.
But here are a few things that have nothing or not much to do with the plot…can we talk for a moment about how bizarrely woke this book is? I’m not talking about queer aspect so much, although Easton’s gender is a subject oft mentioned, for Alex Easton is a sworn, a soldier of a peculiarly genderless army, who dresses like a man and lives like a…well, not sure, it isn’t mentioned. In fact, Alex’s gender is so completely irrelevant to the story that one might wonder why is there mention of it at all. There are no romantic interludes, nothing like that. Moreover, Kingfisher here decides to have fun with pronouns. The place Alex hails from has seven of them, including a separate one for soldiers. There are cleverly designed and fun pronouns to author’s credit, but what this has to do with the story is anyone’s guess.
Macmillan-Tor has been making a very deliberate effort in the last few years to up their queer representation and that’s all very good – when the story calls for it or when it is relevant to the plot, much like sex scenes. But to just throw it in for seemingly no reason but to get your woke stripes seems off, like cheap pandering at best.
If Alex had some sort of torrid gothic romance with either Madeline or Roderick, sure…but for the story as it is and a slim one at that, to dedicate that much space to pronouns seems wrong.
And no, this isn’t prudishness speaking, this is pertinence. If anyone can even tell a difference these days.
Maybe Macmillan-Tor literally has a queer mention requirement in their books. Who knows.
This isn’t even to say I don’t enjoy queer Victoriana, I do, very much. When it’s meant, when it’s what makes a story. Not when it’s strategically placed for notice.
But anyway, forgive the digression. And read the book. It’s a very entertaining and enjoyable read. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

What the hell is going on in that dilapidated Usher house! Why both Roderick and his sister Madeline looking like the zombies from Night of the Living Dead! Creepy haunted house theme with Mexican Gothic vibes including hares with nine lives, strangely glowing lake, fungal infestation around the land and eccentric characters who keep a terrible secret : such a unputdownable paranormal/ mystery formula for dark reads lover like me!

T. Kingfisher wrote another winner that scared the living daylights out of me!

The novella hooks you up quickly with fast pacing, bizarre events centered around Usher House where retired soldier Alex Easton is summoned to visit his sick childhood friend Madeline who wrote her that her brother thought she was about to die!

He meets with eccentric old lady Miss Porter who knows a lot about fungus, fancying to draw them as soon as he reaches at the demolished place. Roderick, the brother of Madeline seems like as sick as his sister, seems like a little fidgety because of his visit accompanied by American doctor Denton who is curing Madeleine.

There is something sinister in the house lurking around the house, passing through the corridors, moving to the pulsing lake. Why Madeleine keeps sleepwalking and why Roderick is so hysterical, hearing voices, suffering from nightmares?

This was definitely short, one sit, addictive paranormal fantasy/ mystery/ thriller/ horror: it’s a great combination of all those genres!

T. Kingfisher never disappoints me with her sharp, sarcastic, direct tone!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor /Forge for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

4.5 stars

This book was a revelation! I’ve never read a piece of writing that so perfectly and effortlessly balanced horror and humour as in this novel, nor would I have even thought the two genres would complement each other so suitably. It’s also a wonderful way of making horror for the more squeamish reader accessible. Why *haven’t* more authors written like this before??

I loved the way the author interpreted and expanded on Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” (which I read for the first time in anticipation of this novel) in ways that beautifully flesh out aspects of the story that Poe only hints at. Kingfisher clearly did her research and makes the most of Poe’s sparse narrative to create a fully realized and singular story. The small cast of characters was so entertaining, from the charismatic and light-hearted Lieutenant Easton to the charmingly English Miss Potter.

Many are saying this is one of Kingfisher’s more toned-down novels incorporating humour which is hard to imagine, but also makes me all the more eager to read her other works. This is an easy yet though-provoking story that is hard not to recommend.

Thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for this captivating read!

Wow, this book was brilliant! It’s a retelling of Fall of the House of Usher. Being a Poe fan, I couldn’t resist reading this. But just because you know that story doesn’t mean you know this one.

The book is riveting. I read it one sitting. It has a gothic, eerie atmosphere. The author has a way with words. She’s descriptive without going overboard. Every word matters. You feel like you’re there in the house. You see the deterioration of the Ushers.

I highly recommend this. Even if you don’t normally read horror, it’s great. Thank you to MacMillan/Tor-Forge, Tor Nightfire, and NetGalley for my copy.

What Moves The Dead by the brilliant T. Kingfisher hands down amazing, truly intriguing and well written story I've read so far in 2022!
The Hollow Places doesn't hold a candle to this novel! just saying....

I absolutely love T. Kingfisher's writing.
The writing puts you there with Alex every frightening step of the way in Ruritania.
This book was quite the experience.
The story sucks you in quickly, but even after knowing how it turned out I was still thinking about it.
A chilling story that builds and twists and expands and still manages to end with all its threads drawn together.
T. Kingfisher scoops you up and tosses you into the midst of the characters and story, leaving you with the urge to reread again.
This interesting retelling of Edgar Allen Poe's classic "The Fall of the House of Usher " will have up so late at night finishing one of the most beautiful poetic tales of the year!

Tor Nightfire,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review closer to pub date.

This is a reimagining of The Fall of the House of Usher, and yes gimme more of that. I had never read anything by T. Kingfisher before and now I want to read all she writes. The writing is really captivating and exquisite, it reminds me a lot of writing from the 1800s very archaic but where every word feels intentional. I won't say she mimics Poe's writing style directly, but the nod is certainly there.

She creates an atmosphere and background to her story that are completely immersive and intriguing. I loved how she constructed the main character's backstory and home country, how vivid it all feels, and also the Usher house of course.

This is the type of retelling that does not go way too much of the original one, but there's beauty in that, in changing just a bit in certain places to create something new. I really loved the take the author chose for this story, and yes it certainly causes both awe and horror.

This is a brilliant little book and I'm sure that every fan of Poe and gothic and horror will be more than enthralled by Kingfisher's version of it.

Also, what is this cover! I will be staring at it forever for it is so beautiful! I love how it plays with your eyes and makes you confused about the second rabbit being carried, it is really a hauntingly gorgeous cover.