If I could rate this book higher, I would!!

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is a razor-sharp horror novel that grips you from the start and doesn’t let go. Baker threads supernatural fear and psychological tension through the very real trauma of racialized violence during the height of the pandemic. It’s uncomfortable in the way good horror should be—forcing you to confront what you’d rather look away from.

Cora is an unforgettable protagonist. Every character, no matter how minor, feels layered and alive. There’s a haunting buildup to the most terrifying moments, often hidden in the smallest, quietest details. No one escapes unscathed in this story, and that’s part of what makes it so powerful.

I haven't loved a book this much in a long time. It’s chilling, timely, and emotionally resonant in all the right ways.

Loved this book so much. It was so much more than what I was expecting and couldn’t recommend it enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA for access to this ARC in return for an honest review.

I knew very little about this book going into it other than people I trusted to have good taste were talking about it with reverence. I know that people roll their eyes at such phrases as "important" and "must-read" when it comes to books (especially horror novels), but for everyone that loves modern horror and finds it helpful to see media reflective and reflexive of the communal trauma of the past half decade, Bat Eater is an important must-read.

For all the violence and gore explicated on the pages of this book, it is perhaps nowhere near as bleak and terrifying as it's inciting impetus. Aside from all of this, I want you to go in as cold as possible like I did, because this story starts high and does not stop. I will leave you with this: Cora Zeng is a severely anxious germaphobe working as a crime scene clean-up tech in the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the heart of New York City. Let that be your guiding emotion and clench away.

Fantastic blend of truly terrifying horror and social commentary. The opening scene had me gagging, and I could not help but worry for our main character. The writing was solid and there were plenty of turns that surprised me. This is in my favorites of the year!

4.5 stars - Kylie Lee Baker is 100% an auto-buy author for me. Every time I read a novel from her, I am enamoured by the way she writes. Baker thrives in creating vivid and gory scenes, I am so happy that she is venturing into adult horror because I can see myself enjoying everything she puts out next (more than I already do). Aside from the ghostly gore, the novel also looks at the real-life horror of anti-Asian hate specifically at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Baker does not miss here, the message is clear and the horror is hauntingly real - it can feel a little on the nose, but did not deter the novel or the experience for me (however, I am not of East Asian decent nor experienced anything close to the vehement anti-Asian hate seen in 2020). I think the one complaint I have that I often have with Baker's novels is how quick they are. I could spend way more time in her stories and wish her pacing was just a tad slower. Other than that, the ghosts and the gore were creepy and eerie and I recommend if you are looking for a gory social horror.

Thank you NetGalley for the the free e-book.

This book was excellent. I was nervous going into a pandemic book based on the current pandemic I am living through. A very touchy subject for so many various reasons. This book handled the topic in an unexpected way and was incredibly well done. Caution in needed to read this. It explores the pandemic yes, but dives into deeper darker topics. This is a great introduction into bigger topics. Topics that in 2025 need to be discussed and corrected for our future generations.

I received this book from the publisher for review. Enjoyable body horror and an interesting exploration of an individual's concerns/viewpoint regarding the pandemic. Great opening scene, descriptive writing and the bat talk made me squirm.

This one took me awhile to get through, but overall I thought it was great. I loved the social commentary on COVID and how Asian people were treated mixed with the very creepy paranormal elements of this story. I truly felt like I was transported back to 2020 and even though that sounds awful, reading this with the knowledge I have now was even more impactful. This is a ghost story that really tackles systemic racism in a fresh and thought provoking way. I thought this was going to be a straight forward story about a woman’s sister who was murdered and that there would ultimately be a reveal as to who the murderer was, but this is far more than that!

I really grew to love the main character Cora and the side characters in this book. I was entertained, I was spooked, and I laughed quite a few times. The writing was fantastic and the story truly kept me wanting more and totally unsure of where it would go next. I thought the ending was a little bit unsatisfying and I would have liked a little more, it felt a little abrupt. Aside from that I thought this was great and such a haunting story. I also thought this was even better on audio. Thank you Harlequin for the ebook and audio - Natalie Naudus did a fantastic job! The pacing, the voices she used for each separate character, and way she conveyed Cora’s emotions were all so well done. I definitely recommend audio for this one!

A story like this is such an important one to be told, especially in today's political and cultural climate. This book was gory but also heartbreaking. It really transports you back to the thoughts and feelings you may have experienced during the 2020 pandemic where violence against East Asians and Asian women in particular was rampant and terrifying. This story about racism but also family is a must read!!

This book was not what I expected it to be. It was so much deeper. I absolutely loved the messages about hatefulness tied within a ghost story. This was a very moving horror novel and I found myself relating to Cora. Kylie Baker did a wonderful job with this one.

a must read! even though 2020 was just a few years ago, this covers some of the deeper and darker themes of the reality for some. it may be a more exaggerated reality, but one that really punches you in the gut. it's more than just another horror book. it's a heavy emotional and psychological ride. i thoroughly enjoyed this one and i think it'll be a great read for future generations to come.

i highly recommend this and have done so already. the majority of those i recommended it to loved it. the writing style is amazing, and the author did well to convey the story. they make you really feel the intensity. looking forward to reading more from her.

thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. i received this book as an ARC. all thoughts and opinions of this book are my own, and i leave this review voluntarily.

This book was truly scary, both in the way of horror and in the way of social issues during COVID and beyond. The anti-Asian sentiment during COVID is not something I had direct experience of, but heard about and saw come through the news. This book made me cry so many times, and also made me afraid to turn around at times. I loved how the hungry ghosts were incorporated. Auntie Zeng was my favorite side character, perhaps, but the trio of Cora and her two co-workers/sort of friends were so wonderful to see on the page. It was an accurate depiction of friendship (of a certain type and at a certain stage). Let’s not forget how incredibly scary the ghosts are. I loved the reading experience.

Thank you for Harlequin Books for a free advanced reader and listener copy of this book. Thank you as well for sending me a gifted print copy as well.

JAW. ON. THE. FLOOR.

This book was a masterclass in horror and suspense, while also touching on race relations and the rise of Asian American hate crimes caused by the rhetoric surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Just the right amount of gore, Kylie Lee Baker left me with chills running down my back.

I love Kylie Lee Baker's writing so much. It's haunting, beautiful, and gruesome all at the same time. This has easily become one of my favorite horror books, I love horror that incorporates social issues (in this instance, race), grief, and culture. I thought it was executed really well here in addition to interesting characters and some truly disturbing scenes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-arc!

This was everything I wanted in a modern horror novel! It’s sentimental, unnerving, and emotionally rich. The story is haunting and beautifully crafted, rooted in generational folklore, cultural memory, and the horror that exists in both the paranormal and the everyday. It was so atmospheric, easy to get wrapped up in, and hard to put down. It weaves together ancestral lore, serial killer thriller, and psychological horror in a way that felt so original. Beyond horror, it’s also about family, mental health, grief, friendship, and the resilience needed to find your power. Cora is a complex protagonist, flawed in many ways and impossible not to root for. I’m not sure I’ll ever step onto a metro platform again without thinking about this book. By the final chapter, my tears began to escape. By the end of the author’s note, I was sobbing. Kylie Lee Baker ends with a perfect, powerful reminder: Do not let your empathy stop at the borders of your own community.

Thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for access to this one.

Normally I don't read books that include the pandemic as I don't want to relive any of that. This book really did it well and it wasn't what I was expecting it to be. I actually really enjoyed Cora and her story.

What a banger this was! 👏🏻 I honestly went into this book completely blind, and it worked best, I think. Yes, this book does mention Covid-19, BUT it is not a story about Covid, just the era. Keep reading, trust me. This book does have a lot of heavier topics but such a profounding story with important and thought-provoking details. Layers of entertainment and creepy scenes! There were some scenes that actually made my skin crawl. 😋 The characters were complex, honest, and real. The big city vibes. I enjoyed all of that.

Body horror, gruesome gore, crime scene clean up, the paranormal. But want to know what was scarier?? Racism. Continues oppression. Unkindness. Sometimes, the real horror isn't the ghosts, gore, and blood. It is the way we treat each other as human beings.

This is a fav of 2025 for sure!

What was I thinking?? Picking up a horror thriller book? Knowing full well it’s not something I normally would read? Oh God. It was very gory and unsettling, felt like a nightmare. But not gonna lie I was enthralled.

Set during the early months of Covid-19, the story follows Cora Zeng, a 24 y.o. Chinese woman who just lost her half-sister Delilah in the hand of a masked white man. But Delilah isn’t the only victim. Working as a crime-scene cleaner, she’s dealing with human entrails which mostly were Asian girls or women. And there’s always bats in the scene, like it’s the serial killer’s signature.

Serial killer on the loose while the police only brushed off the cases, hungry ghost looming around because it’s the Ghost Month, resurgence of Sinophobia, on top of already having mysophobia, Cora’s life was constantly on edge. And I felt like I was going insane alongside her.

I had to pause my reading several times because I couldn’t bear it, but I couldn’t just stop and drop the book. I had to know how everything unfolded. And it didn’t disappoint! It was a wild silent ride that constantly made me question which one is real and which one is a sliver of Cora’s thoughts. There’s some things that left unclear until the end but I’ll let them slide I guess. Also Yifei is my fav character and I wished her story could be more explored. Poor girl:(

Truly speechless about this book. It's one of the scariest books I've ever had the pleasure of reading, and in so many different ways. I love horror, especially horror that has something to say, and boy was this one impactful.

This adult horror debut from Kylie Lee Baker is dark and unsettling. The setting of mid-pandemic New York City behaves as its own character in Cora’s story. She is working as a crime-scene cleaner and is coping with the aftermath of her sister’s recent murder. The realistic human horror is intertwined with supernatural elements based on Chinese folklore. Cora’s seemingly all-encompassing anxiety and compulsions help add a frenetic quality to the pacing of this thriller, creating an even greater sense of foreboding, and while the tertiary characters (such as Cora’s aunt and co-workers) serve to intermittently lighten the storyline, the darkness is always just a page or two away. Creepy and thought provoking.