I know they say not to judge a book by its cover but that is definitely not true about this book. Really everything you need to know about this book is right there on the cover.
This book was a little slow to start but once it got going it definitely got going. It took me some time to really get what was happening but it was brilliant. Once the mysteries started to unfold in this book I couldn't put it down. The darker aspects of this book where very well done. My only wish really was that we got a bit more explanation on the main character. I was very curious about them.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for an e-arc and alc of this one!

When Alex gets a message from kan childhood friend Madeline Usher that she is dying, kan heads to the decaying Usher estate to do what kan can. But there is a lot more going on at the estate than Alex realizes, and with the help of Denton--Roderick Usher's American Doctor friend--and a local mycologist, Alex is able to solve the secrets of Usher--but not without casualties.

This is a fantasy "Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe retelling. When I read that, and that the protagonist was nonbinary--I instantly knew I had to read this book. I was not disappointed! Alex is such an interesting character and I loved the descriptions of Gallacian pronouns and what it meant to be a sworn soldier as well as the work kan goes through to find out what is happening at the estate. I also really love that there wasn't any romance at all in this story!

I love the atmospheric and creepy gothic mode that Kingfisher was able to establish throughout this book and how well it matches with the source material, while at the same time bringing something entirely new to the story. The discussions of mushrooms and descriptions of unnatural hares and everything else that went along with it made this book delightfully creepy and everything I was looking for!

Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Terminal illness, and Death
Minor: Transphobia, Suicide, and Misogyny

This book was so creepy and dark and wonderfully weird. It started a little bit slow, but once it got into the meat of the story, oh boy was it a ride. I’m always excited about a retelling of a classic tale, and this take on “The Fall of the House of Usher” did not disappoint.

While I do not read horror as a general rule, I'm always willing to make an exception for a T. Kingfisher story. Especially one that is a retelling of one of my favorite classics, The Fall of the House of Usher. Rather than strictly following the original story, Kingfisher puts her own unique twist on the story, adding a bit of Mexican Gothic style flavor to it as well.

The audiobook was done beautifully, told from the perspective of Alex Easton, a non-binary former officer in the army, who is visiting the home of a former friend after receiving a concerning letter that the friend is potentially dying. When they arrive at the home, the situation is so much worse than they were led to believe. The estate is is extreme disrepair, the grounds are overrun by some kind of mushrooms, and the hares around the property are behaving strangely enough that the locals seem to think that they're witches familiars.

The first person that Alex runs into is a British mycologist, who is intrigued by the mushrooms on the property. The only problem she's facing is that she can't be formally recognized because of the fact that she is a woman. Roderick and Madeline Usher are in pretty bad shape, and they've called in Dr. Benton, an American doctor, to help them out, since Madeline's condition has worsened to the point where she can't travel to see a doctor who might be able to treat her.

I loved the way that gender identity and gender overall were discussed in the story. In the country that Alex is from, there is a complex system of pronouns that are used. I found it a bit confusing because I listened to the audiobook, but I loved how anyone in the army was addressed using gender-neutral pronouns, and had the freedom to keep those pronouns, and the way that gender-neutral pronouns were widely used and accepted in the society of their home country. And it was juxtaposed to the limited acceptance of women in certain professions in England, especially since the highly talented mycologist, Miss Porter, was unable to join a professional society just because she was a woman.

The entire story has a deliciously dark and creepy vibe, with heavy gothic overtones that were true to Poe's original story. However, Kingfisher deviated from the original story while keeping true to the original bones of the story. This is a quick read that was incredibly good.

A creepy and atmospheric re-telling of Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. There's also a reminiscence of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic. Especially with the mycelium networks...

*Special thanks to Tor-Nightfire and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.

Kingfisher tackles Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" borrowing heavily from Silvia Moreno-Garcia's MEXICAN GOTHIC (the feel of the house, the mycelium, the solution).

This story unfolds from the viewpoint of Alex Easton (who is nonbinary), childhood friend of Madeline Usher, who arrives after receiving a letter from Madeline saying she's dying. Much like in Poe's original tale, the house and it's inhabitants are worn and decrepit. Alex soon learns that something more is going on than just Madeline's poor health. With the help from a British mycologist Alex encountered wandering the moors on their way to the Ushers, they work to figure out what is making dead rabbits walk and Madeline sick.

WHAT MOVES THE DEAD is a good atmospheric gothic novella that adds another layer to Poe's story. Unfortunately for me, the idea of fungi infecting people and changing their behavior wasn't a new concept and I felt was done better in Moreno-Garcia's MEXICAN GOTHIC so this fell a little short. I appreciated what Kingfisher was doing giving space on the page for Alex to explain the varied pronoun usage from their country, but it was clunky in delivery and wasn't consistent throughout. While this does give more backstory and detail to Poe's original story, overall it fell short for me.

Avi Roque does a great job with the audiobook narration though!

A retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher, which I admit I've never read, What Moves the Dead follows Alex, a soldier visiting a dying childhood friend at the transformed and horrifying Usher estate. No one knows what is ailing Madeline Usher, only that she has deteriorated quickly and is acting bizarre, even by the standards of the American doctor living on the estate for her care. In addition to her ailment, her brother has been affected by nerves and a severe anxiety. Alex needs to figure out the mystery of Usher House before it consumes them all.

Atmospheric and creepy, a true modern retelling of Poe's classic. However, this version gives and even creepier reason for the maladies and afflictions of the house than the simple "madness" of it's 19th century predecessor. In What Moves the Dead a fungus has taken over the local lake, and soon becomes clear it is the main villain of this story, reanimating the local fauna and moving their destroyed bodies long after death.

The slowly growing dread was so reminiscent of how fungi itself grows, slowly taking over everything. Slowly encroaching in unwanted, not dead places. Also a metaphor for the decrepit practice of the upper class in a late 19th century world, the slow decline of the aristocracy. It was a perfect poison for the tale.

There was also the constant jabs at the English language which were amusing to listen to as an English teacher, describing how subtly English can be misunderstood at the whim of the listener or speaker. The frustration Alex felt at being misunderstood, or their humor at how words sounded all made for a fun occasional chuckle through the horror.

So much story was packed into so few words, it's an accomplishment to say the least. I will say this- do not read while eating... especially past the halfway mark.

4.5 stars.

Probably the CREEPIEST audiobook I have ever read.

It IS possible that it's just the fungi. I had vivid nightmares of mushrooms carpeting my room when I was a kid!! But, I am more inclined to think that it is the story itself and the author's incredible retelling that makes this my creepiest book of all time (or at LEAST in the top three).

I remember this story from way back, but it has been eons since I read Poe's original. I would never be able to say what changes have been made in this rewriting. What I can say for absolute certain is that the combination of T. Kingfisher's writing and Avi Roque narrating is as delightfully creepy as any book might get. The mastery of the writing pulls you in so slowly, making it is an absolute surprise to realize that you are incredibly overwhelmed. And then what is there nothing to do but put one chapter in front of another until you have seen it through.

The audiobook is incredibly well read by the narrator, Avi Roque.

So much gratitude to T. Kingfisher, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced audiobook copy of this novella, in exchange for my honest opinion.

God yes this is my second yime with thos book and im all the way hooked and it was so much better with the audio everyone please grab this book its hands down fantastic and worth reading and listening in one sitting

This work is a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher.” Alex Easton receives a letter that their childhood friend, Madeline Usher, is not long for this world. Easton soon arrives, finding an area overgrown with interesting fungus, hares that act strange, and a lake that seems to glow at times. Madeline appears to be wasting away, sleep walking, speaking strangely, and growing weaker by the day. Can Easton discover what is happening to the House of Usher before it’s too late for them all?

I really enjoyed this atmospheric retelling of this classic. The author did an excellent job at setting the scene, creating an aura of unease, and building suspense. It was also written in a style that emulated Poe’s style of writing, which fit well with the story. The discussions of “modern” medical practices surrounding tuberculosis and hysteria were interesting and added important details to the story. The ending and twist were not surprising, btu the author’s writing style and building of the atmosphere still made this an enjoyable read.

Ms. Potter was by far my favorite character. I loved her perspective on her mycology studies, naturalism, and being shunned by the “boys club” that was naturalist societies at the time. The characters were solid overall, though I wasn’t particularly blown away by their personalities or growth throughout the work.

The only thing I disliked was the long discussion on pronouns in Easton’s native language. It didn’t add to the story or plot and detracted from the buildup of tension and the overall atmosphere of the work. I appreciate that the author was trying to be inclusive in her writing and I liked the idea of including a non-binary character, but I felt that the long explanation of Galatian pronouns was out of place here.

Overall this was an enjoyable retelling of Poe’s work that I recommend. And this is the second work I’ve read and enjoyed by this author, so I also recommend checking out her other works!

I received a complimentary copy of this work through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

T. Kingfisher is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. Her range is unbelievable!

What Moves the Dead is one of the creepiest books I have ever listened to. It really gets under your skin, but somehow you can't stop listening. That is such a credit to both the author and the narrator.

I think fans of Mexican Gothic will love this story and will appreciate that it moves at a quicker pace. This was a good reminder of just how much I enjoy Gothic, haunted house stories where the house itself is a character.

The descriptions are so well done you almost feel as though you are there and all you want to do is get away, which is what I look for when I read horror!

I cannot wait to explore T. Kingfisher's entire backlist!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

Full disclosure: I toggled back and forth between the audio and print version of this novella. Here is my review of the story:

This book was okay. It was your typical 'The Fall of the House of Usher'retelling and offered nothing new or original. The prose was very flowery, written in a style that emulates that of Poe. The writing was fantastic. The descriptions of the affected creatures were phenomenal. It was a good gothic horror. It definitely didn't add anything new to the genre, but it was extremely well written.

I'd give this 3 stars. It was well written and very poetic, but it wasn't anything original.

As for the audio, it was good. The narrator was a great choice for this story.

Thank you to Netgalley, Tor Nightfire, and Macmillan audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook!
TW: body horror, talk of being misgendered, death, and dying

What Moves the Dead is T. Kingfisher's newest release, joining the likes of The Twisted Ones and The Hollow Places. It is a retelling of Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. To be transparent, I have not read Poe's original tale, so my opinions on this book will be lacking that perspective. The book is following Alex Easton, the childhood friend of the Usher siblings. When Easton receives a letter from Maddie Usher saying that she is ill, they make their way to the Usher Estate as quickly as possible. As soon as they see the mansion, Easton has a feeling that something isn't right. Once they are inside, however, they can't even begin to grasp how wrong it all is. The strangest bouts of chaos quickly ensue.

My favorites:

The characters! Kingfisher's characters are normally extremely well done, and this book is no exception. Even though the audiobook is single narrator, you get a clear sense of each individuals personality. While that is partially due to a talented narrator, the groundwork was laid by the author.

The writing style. This is tricky because Kingfisher changes her style to suit her story, which I love, but others may find that hard to get on with. Either way, I felt the style lent itself to the setting and time period, accentuating the atmosphere that was being built.

The "silent" conversations- without always having them blatantly on page, there are conversations or commentary on early feminism, woman's rights, and queer rights being had. We love to see it.

My not-so-favorites

Pronouns- our main character explains to us where they come from and how in their culture there are many set of pronouns for different people and different objects, including one set used for all children until a certain age and a set used for all sworn soldiers. When it was first introduced I loved this idea, but the implementation of it was extremely clunky and inconsistent. In fact, most of the we are seeing binary pronouns being used. For me this made the other pronouns feel less genuine and more like a tool for the plot. In the end this is what kept the book from reaching a five star rating for me.

My final rating for What Moves the Dead is a 4.5 star rounded down to a 4. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys horror and/or retellings with a healthy dose of queer and a dash of feminism thrown in.

This is a bit of a slow burn. Too slow for me. I was hoping for more creepiness. I didn’t read the original so i can’t compare. But if you’re into zombie this is for me. The narrator did a great job reading this.

Confession: I had never read The Fall of The House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe. I also did not realize this was a retelling of that story. I requested this audiobook because I have read two other recent T. Kingfisher novels and am intrigued by her writing style. Its both horrific and weird. However, there is a lot of humor speckled throughout, which helps balance things out for me. (Side note: Based on all three pieces I have now read by this author, I know without a doubt she is significantly more intelligent than the average person....the way she weaves horror believably by drawing on science that I have no idea if its always real or not, but sounds good.)

In any case, the audiobook of What Moves the Dead was very engaging. Not even 6 hours long, it was a quick, fun story. I was fascinated by the use of the narrator/main character being gender-non-specific...even going so far as to use a pronoun I cannot recall. It made me want to know if there really were records of soldiers like Easton in the time period of the story. Clearly, the author made the story her own and there were some gory, disturbing images planted in my head from the story. However, I enjoyed the characters and LOVED the setting,; a creepy. old, manor having fallen into disrepair. I did feel a strong sense of deja vu harkening to the theme of the recent novel, Mexican Gothic. Anyone who has read both this and that will know what I mean.

I may not "get" all the author is writing about, but she never fails to keep me reeled in. What Moves the Dead keeps that trend. T. Kingfisher keeps me coming back for more with each of her stories.

Book: What Moves The Dead
Author: T. Kingfisher

Summary:
When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania.

What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady of the nerves.

Aided by a redoubtable British mycologist and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.

Review: This was an eerie retelling of, The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe. This was a short read that really packed a punch. I loved that the narrator was non-binary. The creepy atmospheric setting and the touch of humor made this a book that I will definitely be rereading in the future.

What Moves the Dead has been my second T. Kingfisher book and it did not disappoint! It's a good suspenseful read, I especially enjoyed the atmosphere the author created, and the descriptions of Madeline near the end were really well-done. I've only read The Twisted Ones before, and I find myself more drawn to What Moves The Dead. I cannot wait to see more!

Thank you Netgalley for the advance audiobook copy of What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher in exchange for an honest review. This book creeped me out, it had a very pod people vibe. I kept listening to it late at night and then not being able to sleep, thinking about fungi. Very enjoyable read.

An updated retelling of a classic Poe story that shows off Kingfisher's writing ability in a brilliantly creepy way.

The mix of original worldbuilding with existing story and a solid horror plot is fantastically executed. Truly disturbing rabbits, an infectious fungus, and a nonbinary main character come together in a gothic horror setting that reads like a classic novel. Descriptions evoke gross images and foreboding locations easily, and the short length of the book is refreshing and perfect.

Because this is a Kingfisher book, there's also a little taste of an opinionated animal friend. The day she leaves out that character will be a very sad day for me.

I'm so glad to have found another winner from one of my favorite authors!

𝔸𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕠𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜/𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
Pub date: July 12, 2022
Narrator: Avi Rogue
Duration: 5H 11M

5 fabulous stars for this creative take on Poe’s 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘜𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳! What an absolute delightful terror of a story! I was held in thrall for the entire 5+ hours I listened. Bravo, Kingfisher, bravo!!!!

When retired Lieutenant Alex Easton arrives at the House of Usher at the behest of her childhood friend, Madeline Usher, she is shocked not only by the dilapidated conditions of the mansion but by the appearance of her friend and her brother, Roderick. It’s obvious that Madeline is suffering from an illness that is draining the life out of her.

While at the home, she meets Denton, an American doctor who’s there to treat Madeline’s condition but he confesses he has no idea what ails her. The longer that Alex stays, the stranger things get, starting with the Hare’s in the area that behave strangely and the mysterious lights that appear in the tarn (lake). With the help of her batman (like a squire?) Angus and Denton, will they get to the bottom of what’s plaguing the House of Usher?

The characters are fantastic and it didn’t take long for me to become invested in them, the plot is insidious and sinister, slowly creating a tense gloomy atmosphere right to the end. In true Kingfisher fashion, this story is not without comedic relief and I loved that she included Hob, the horse, as a character because, c’mon, Hob is amazing!

This is narrated by the amazing Avi Rogue, one of my favorites and a phenomenal narrator! Their voice is unique and affecting, drawing me in to the story with a sultry tone and changing nuances seamlessly.

My thanks to @MacMillan.Audio for this gifted ALC and to @TorNighfire for this gifted DRC.