The best of kind of creepy, T Kingfisher takes a Poe retelling into a new place an improves on it. I’m a sucker for a creepy house story. Fall if the House of Usher is one of my favorite Poe stories. So I knew I would be unsettled from the start and I was.

There is so much entangled in this novella and I remain impressed with Kingfisher’s work. I love the queer representation. I love the horse and the gothic vibes.

Because it’s so short I don’t want to spoil anything so honestly, just read it! Fans of gothic stories, Poe, Kingfisher previous work will love this. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I now have 2 T Kingfisher books under my reading belt, and I think that's enough to make the decision that I'm just not a fan. This book was fine, though nothing too special, for me.

This was a really short read, and it honestly felt like not much was happening for the first half, which is a bit rough when it's so short. There was some really interesting stuff about pronouns, though again, it felt like the book was too short to get into them adequately.

I liked the idea of the fungus, sort of a cordyceps type thing. I am eternally fascinated by cordyceps, so I did really like that aspect of the book.

Overall, this book was fine, just not really my thing.

What Moves the Dead is a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story The Fall of the House of Usher. This is my first time reading a retelling of anything Poe has written and my first time reading from this author and it did not disappoint.

Although What Moves the Dead is fairly short, it does an excellent job creating an atmospheric, creepy, and genuinely unsettling story that slowly builds with suspense. For any bunny/hare loving people out there, this book will make you think twice about their cuteness. The novella does a wonderful job creating a creepy, gothic atmosphere. It is a fantastic modern retelling and adds its own unique elements. What Moves the Dead is set in a fictional European country with its own traditions. We follow a retired lieutenant Alex Easton who receives a letter from an old friend, Madeline Usher, indicating she is dying. Easton heads to the dilapidated Usher mansion to visit his old friend only to discover that something is wrong.

I really don’t want to say more than that.

I highly recommend if you’ve read The Fall of the House of Usher and enjoyed it and if you loved Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia.

This book is really really weird and I think that’s its best trait. I was extremely spooked by The Fall of the House of Usher as a small child, (and also confused it with the popular musical artist, Usher, and was terrified of him as well). The narrator has a really interesting Narration Style, which is sometimes weird and sometimes makes everything spookier. The audiobook is also narrated by the fantastic Avi Roque, who gets five stars from me! Also, the main character is nonbinary. If you’re looking for something spooky, especially around this October, you should definitely pick this up. Also, just look at that COVER! Five stars.

“The dead don’t walk… until they do.” -T. Kingfisher, What Moves the Dead.

This a well crafted retelling of Poe’s short story, The Fall of the House of Usher. This was definitely weirdly creepy and atmospheric. Did I love it as others have? Not particularly. It fell a lil too far into the weird arena for my taste. but it was quick. I listened to this on audio and I wasn’t a fan of Avi Roque‘s narration. Think I might have enjoyed it more in book form rather than audio.

Though I didn’t enjoy this as much as I was expecting to, I still think Poe fans will find this highly entertaining. 3.5 stars.

***ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an eerie atmosphereic book that was a lot of fun but I had a little bit of a hard time with how the story blended together. I don’t read Poe because he was a predator so maybe if I have it would make more sense!

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. It was definitely out of my comfort zone, and was a bit weird but in a good way.

What Moves the Dead is a fascinating modern fantasy take on Edgar Allen Poe’s classic short story, The Fall of the House of Usher . For fans of the original story, there are plenty of parallels and the two titular characters - Roderick and Madeline Usher - are represented, while a few new characters, including the now named narrator, Easton, are introduced.

The story begins when Easton is beginning a visit to their old friends, the Ushers (brother and sister), after learning that Madeline is terminally ill. We get some interesting background on Easton about a fictional country of origin called Galatia and some cultural information that informs how other people perceive them throughout the story. It was really interesting having a nonbinary character narrator here, though the explanations of the many additional pronouns that Galatia uses were rather over-expository and could have been incorporated into the narrative better instead of just being dumped in a thought monologue before the story even started. The diversity was great, although I would have liked for it to have a little more bearing to the story and relationships at play.

This is a relatively short book, but it is definitely a slow burn. The atmosphere is spooky, the fungi are unpleasant, and the epic book cover actually is directly relevant to the story. The last 2 hours of the audiobook are where the action really picks up and things get BIZARRE. I wasn’t sure where the story was going until suddenly things started going very, very wrong, and from that moment onward I was hooked. Very much enjoyed the ending!

Truthfully, my biggest qualm with this book was the audiobook narration. The narrator had a very strange manner of speaking, and put inflection on words and syllables that would not be emphasized in a casual, common conversation. That took me out of the story often and occasionally confused me as to what was actually being said. For instance, in a sentence that included the phrase “sense of taste,” the emphasis was on “SENSE” rather than “TASTE.” There would be a slight pause after the emphasized word, This type of unusual dictation was carried out throughout the entire book, which I’ve never experienced in an audiobook before. It is just my opinion but I think I would have preferred the print or ebook version of this for that reason. That doesn’t mean others won’t like it!

I’d recommend this book for anyone who loves Poe, gothic haunted house stories, and what I’ll call “steampunk wonderland” aesthetics.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy. All opinions are entirely my own.

Wow! T.Kingfisher knows how to write a novel that makes your skin crawl and makes you second guess things that seem normal but could be plain evil.

I was greatly surprised by this novel and was not sure what I would take from it because every novel I have read by them I have adored so far. Kingfisher has a way with words that make you question what is happening especially when the story begins to pick up speed and everything starts to fall into place. This story covered many genres from fantasy, gothic fiction, and science fiction all in one novel and that shows her skills as a writer.

One of the most interesting and admirable qualities of this novel was that the main character is non-binary and while there is a little time taken to explain how that works in their culture it was not the main focus of the tale. I appreciate when there is representation but it is not all about their identity or gender.

Alex Easton is a retired lieutenant, who rushes to their friends side when they find out that they are ill and on the path to death. Alex spends their time trying to figure out ways to help Madeline and her brother, Roderick. Things start to go awry and the mystery of what has been happening in the house and to Easton's friends comes to the surface.

If you enjoy novels that make your skin crawl and provide a different approach to horror I fully recommend this novel and audiobook. It was absolutely enjoyable and the characters provide a lot of comfort throughout the story!

4.5 stars - rounded up!

What Moves The Dead is a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher. The story follows Alex Easton, a non-binary retired veteran who receives word that old friend Madeline Usher is ill and dying. Easton travels to see their friend, but when they arrive at the home of the Ushers they find that Madeline, and her brother Roderick are in far worse shape than was expected. Stunned they try to unravel the mystery behind the illness, but soon realize that strange things are afoot.

This was one of those rare books that’s a super quick read, but also packs quite a punch! I can honestly say I was hooked from the beginning. Kingfisher knows how to immerse readers in a world and a story, and make you feel invested in the characters in such a short period of time. The setting was gothic and almost otherworldly, but also felt realistic in a way that only adds to the feeling of unease as you read. It was truly creepy and made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. It honestly takes a lot for a book to creep me out, and this book delivered in the very best way. Is there anything creepier than animals that act unnaturally? The answer is no.

My only critique is not of the book itself. I listened to this on audiobook and personally was not a fan of the narrator. The delivery felt stilted and not dramatized enough for my liking. Otherwise, I loved this book and plan to read it again around Halloween.

“Sometimes it’s hard to know if someone is insulting, or just American” - yeah I felt that quote.

I really enjoyed this story! It’s short which is a plus, especially since the subject matter is heavier it’s great this is wasn’t drug out.

NetGalley granted me access to the audiobook and the narrator was fantastic. I absolutely the way this story was told and I was enthralled with it!

I definitely felt the Poe vibes in it, which made me happy since seeing that in the description was one of the big reasons I really wanted to read this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested this book because I saw it was based on Poe’s House of Usher which was very intriguing to me. I wasn’t a huge fan of that story years ago when I read it, so I thought I would give this one a try. This story gives the read a very dark vibe that really brings atmosphere to the story. It’s a story that draws you even if you don’t really want to put yourself in it. It started slow for me and extremely quirky, but the pace quickly picked up and turned creepy and almost scary. It’s a wild ride and very interesting and totally different from my normal reads. The narrator was great and really gets into the story. It’s not really my style, but for huge fans of gothic horror this would be a 5 star read.

The narration was great. This cover just pulled me in and I had to read this book. It was super creepy and twisty. It was an awesome Poe retelling. I love the creepy turn it took. I didn't expect it. I definitely recommend this one. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

What an entertaining retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's classic "The Fall of the House of Usher." You do not need to have read the source material in order to enjoy What Moves the Dead. I loved the MC Easton, a non-binary retired lieutenant who goes to visit their old friend Madeline Usher. Upon arrival the grounds, tarn (local lake) and house are all in disarray and its' inhabitants aren't fairing much better.

So many thoughts: This cover is creepy yall. Easton doesn't hold Americans in high regard, just go with it. Thank goodness for Mrs. Potter and her vast knowledge of fungi (you'll likely get Mexican Gothic vibes, but this is it's own story). The narration done by Avi Roque was great, she really nailed all of Easton's snark and brought to life the supporting characters as well.

Overall, it was an imaginative fast paced and creepy read. This was my first T. Kingfisher book and I really enjoyed her writing style despite my not being the biggest horror/paranormal fan. I'll definitely check out her backlist titles.

Rating 4 stars
Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc.

What Moves the Dead is a powerful and mesmerizing retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher”. I have not read Poe’s short-story but I am very excited to do so.

This novella follows Alex Easton, a retired soldier, who receives a letter from a childhood friend, Madeline Usher, saying she is terribly ill and that her brother Roderick, who is also suffering some maladies, believes she is dying. Easton arrives at the Usher’s house and encounters a gloomy and vaguely menacing atmosphere. The Usher siblings are much changed since they were last seen by the narrator.

The narrator is also in shock to see that the Usher’s mansion is dilapidated and consumed by a fungal infestation. The wildlife surrounding the house seems possessed and there are strange lights in the lake nearby. There is something very wrong going on with that house — and with the Ushers — and Alex Easton makes it a mission to figure out what is happening. Easton sees an urgent need to save Roderick and Madeline.

I loved how vividly Kingfisher describes the Usher’s house, creating this creepy atmosphere that will permeate the entire story, also preparing the reader for what is yet to come. The author blends humor, magical elements and mystery to the horror tone of the story. I also loved the development of the characters in this story as well as the references to Beatrix Potter.

The writing style is phenomenal and the genderless use of pronouns/grammar is extremely bold, reflecting on the choice of the audiobook narrator: Avi Roque, a non-binary narrator. The audiobook worked very well for me and brought the house of Usher to life. The audiobook narrator does an excellent job and captivated me from the beginning. Avi Roque has the vocal confidence necessary to narrate this eerie, dense and spooky novel.

Well-done retelling, relatable characters, great pacing and very good conclusion. I am looking forward to reading more books from this author and to reading the original “The Fall of the House of Usher” short-story. I recommend this book to any fans of the horror genre.

Thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan and Tor for the ARC and audio ARC of this!

This was so creepy! It’s been forever since I read Poe, so I couldn’t remember exactly what to expect but there was lots of creepy fungus, the walking dead, and some complex pronoun/gender identity. Very short and easy to read in one sitting, I was worried I’d be too scared, but was more just creeped. If you liked Mexican Gothic or The Initial Insult, I would recommend this.
I liked the narrator and had no problem listening to them at the speed I am normally comfortable with.

<i> Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review. </i>

In T. Kingfisher's retelling of Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," our nonbinary narrator and retired soldier, Alex Easton, hears that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying and is summoned to the Usher house by her brother Roderick. Once at the Usher house, Easton encounters fungal growths, possessed hares, and a dark, creepy lake. When Madeline starts sleepwalking and speaking in strange voices as though possessed, Roderick becomes increasingly undone by his growing anxieties. As Easton works to find out what is going on in the Usher house, the question becomes: Can they stop it before it's too late?

If you've ever read the original Poe short story and thought <i> "What the <b> hell </b> is going on here? And what's up with that ambiguous ending?" </i> then this one's for you! "The Fall of the House of Usher" is my favorite Poe story, and Kingfisher's retelling didn't just meet my expectations; it surpassed them. I was thrown off by the direction this story took once it passed the halfway mark, but I was here for it! I fell in love with the cast of characters, half of them having not been present in the original text. (Kingfisher kept that iconic last line though!)

Overall, I loved this book, and I could not put it down once I started. I read it in about 4 hours, and there was not a dull moment, no lull in the action. Regardless of whether or not you've read the original story, you'll have no problem understanding the plot or keeping up with the action (though I do highly recommend that one as well!)

I gave this book 5 stars, but this was not at all influenced by my love for Poe. Kingfisher's story stands strong on its own, and I'll be recommending this to all fans of gothic horror. I think fans of Mexican Gothic will also enjoy <i> What Moves the Dead </i>. I loved Kingfisher's <i> Nettle & Bone </i>, and I can't wait to see what this author puts out next; I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled!

What a brilliant retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Falling of the House of Usher!

Where to start with this one. It was creepy, atmospheric, and amazingly executed. The retelling of Poe’s short story was done well. I listened to the audiobook as well as read it and I really enjoyed both. The narrator of the audiobook only enhanced the genius of the story.

The year is 1890 when retired soldier Alex Easton receives a letter that his friend Madeline Usher is dying. He doesn’t hesitate to visit his friend and meets the unique Miss Potter, who spends her time tending to fungus.
Alex arrives at the House of Usher alarmed at the dire state of his friend. In comes American Dr. Denton who is treating Madeline but can’t quite pinpoint the cause of her illness. Alex also visits his other friend Roderick Usher whose appearance is shocking to say the least. Madeline and Roderick are exhibiting other bizarre symptoms like sleep walking and hearing voices. Alex’s stay takes a dark turn as he notices the mushrooms and fungi around the dilapidated mansion. It’s almost like it has a life of its own.

What Moves the Dead is available
July 12,2022

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

T. Kingfisher's re-imagining of Edgar Allen Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher was a gripping retelling of the Usher family and gives readers all the feelings about the house as well as what could be taking place outside of the home. What Moves the Dead was a fresh take on a classic gothic story familiar to millions of readers. All of the usual elements of the gothic are present in this novella and while it comes in around 175 pages, this reworking of Poe's beloved, famous (most famous??) creation moves fast but presents the house, the sickly family members, the visitor - satiating even the most ardent Poe fan. I also appreciated the inclusion of Ms. Potter and her fungal knowledge that seamlessly spins a new layer of the old tale right into the original gothic.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Tor Nightfire, as well as Macmillan Audio, for an advanced audiobook to review!!

Fantastic audio! I loved Avi Roque's narration. The perfect voice for Alex Easton. Very well done!

Full review:

In What Moves the Dead T. Kingfisher expertly reimagines Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. That fact alone sold me on this book, well that and the fact that T. Kingfisher is one of my favorite authors, but then this cover dropped. A masterpiece shall grace our shelves. Mine for sure because I've already pre-ordered a copy and you should too!

The year is 1890 and Alex Easton has just received word that their childhood friend, Madeline Usher, is on the brink of death. Thus, Easton heads off to the countryside to the Usher family estate to be with Madeline and perhaps provide some support to Madeline's brother, Roderick.

Arriving at the once lavish estate, Easton is shocked that the manor home has fallen into such a horrible state of disrepair. It's unnerving to say the least. Equally unnerving is the state in which Easton finds Madeline. They knew Madeline was quite ill, but her behavior belies any illness that Easton is aware of. Madeline's behavior, speech and appearance are bizarre. She's frightening to be around.

Denton, an American doctor and friend of Roderick Usher, is staying at the home as well while tending to Madeline. It's clear that Denton has no explanation for Madeline's mysterious illness. Additionally, Roderick Usher isn't quite himself either. He's not sleeping and claims to be hearing things in the walls of the home. Could he be succumbing to whatever has infected Madeline?

In addition to our main cast we also get some great side characters. Hob, Easton's trusty horse, was of course my favorite. No one writes animal companions quite like Kingfisher. She gives them such strong personalities, which for anyone who has an animal companion of their own will seem quite relatable.

Another favorite was the intelligent and plucky Miss Potter, a local woman who spends her time researching and painting specimens of fungi. Easton and Potter meet and develop a quick rapport. Easton ends up learning a lot about the local area, lore, flora and fauna from Miss Potter.

The classic gothic vibe of What Moves the Dead meshed so well with Kingfisher's fresh and witty humor. Picking up a new Kingfisher story is so comforting for me. It's like settling in for story time with a horror-loving friend. That's exactly the feeling I got from this one. It's eerie and sinister the entire way through, while also somehow managing to keep me laughing.

I loved going along with Easton on their investigation into the mystery surrounding the House of Usher. There is some truly horrifying imagery included that was so well done. I could picture, smell and taste the decay of this property. It definitely got under my skin.

Thank you so, so much to the publisher, Tor and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copies to read and review. As I mentioned earlier, this was absolutely one of my MOST ANTICIPATED releases of the year and it did not disappoint. Kingfisher is knocking them out of the park in 2022!!!