This is not an easy book to read or listen to. Through the lens of Cora Zeng Baker captures what is was like for Asians in 2020. She does so through the lens of a story of a serial killer murdering Asian individuals in New York City and no one caring.

Baker does not shy away from hard truths and gives her all in presenting details that turn the stomach. But in doing so she captures the atmosphere so well. Baker is a master at her craft.

The pandemic is still a bit too fresh in my mind to usually go for books about it, but this one drew me in.

The racism, the pandemic itself, the ghosts, all felt visceral and real. This was an interesting perspective, with Cora having grown up in different cultures and being not overly familiar with her Chinese heritage was a good way to explain things to the reader without sounding condescending or weird.

The ghosts, the gore, the atmosphere were all very well done. The only thing keeping me from giving this a 5/5 stars is the pacing. I did feel that it lagged a bit in the middle, but it was definitely worth pushing through.

Trigger Warning: Gory Deaths, Gory Scenes
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng takes place during the pandemic in 2020 and follows Cora Zeng who cleans up crime scenes for a living. She saw her sister get killed due to racial prejudice and is trying to survive the pandemic. But when hungry ghosts start to attach to her and a high number of deaths of Asian women starts to occur, she finds herself pulled into the mystery of what is happening.
I'm so glad I received an ARC of this book and feel very blessed to be able to read this early. I have already pre-ordered this book before I started the ARC and cannot wait to have a finished copy in my hands.
While this book is a horror novel, it's so much more than that. This is about the rampart racism that occurred during 2020 towards Asian people. It was absolutely heart wrenching and stomach churning seeing the things people said, based off real experiences by the author and online forums, about Asian people during the pandemic and how they were unjustly blamed for the pandemic. I thought the way that Kylie Lee Baker handled this topic was so well done and it really brought to light the atrocities and atrocious things that people said and did during this time.
I really actually liked the horror aspect of this and the ghosts were so interesting. Every culture has their own views of ghosts and this was a perspective I hadn't seen before. The idea of hungry ghosts and what can happen if they are not properly taken care of in their afterlife was really fascinating to read. I found myself on the edge of my seat reading this and seeing what was going to happen next.
I will say this book is gruesome in detail so if you are sensitive to that, maybe skip the more descriptive aspects of this book. However, it is book worth reading as it operates on so many different levels to talk about the Asian experience during the pandemic and also to showcase this mystery and belief system.
I also just want to shout out the end where Kylie Lee Baker mentioned that we should be fighting all types of racism and racial prejudice, not just for one community because I think that was really important to highlight. She showed this not only in her Author's Note but also throughout the novel talking about Black Lives Matter protests and actual deaths of people of color that were completely preventable and motivated by hatred.
I really loved this book and I think it's very important to pick up. I would highly, highly recommend this as it was such an amazing novel to read and I flew through it.

My god.
If you can handle Covid pandemic books.
This one.
Absolutely incredibly written.
Horrifying, gorey, nauseating an absolute must.

This was such a great blend of paranormal to actual horrific events of the pandemic that made for such an interesting book.

Narration by Natalie Naudus so obviously incredible.

Thanks to netgalley and harlequin for an eARC and alc

Thank you NetGalley and MIRA Books for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Honestly, this has gotta be in my top 3 horror books I have read in my lifetime. The prose is insanely good, the feeling of dread and mystery is handled well and I found myself open mouthed in shock at many points. It is so wild to read a book half hidden under your covers in fear but man does this book make you want a blankie.


Part ghost story, part serial killer mystery, also part psychological horror at times, this book is a masterpiece. I also want to praise the character work in this one, you feel very invested in the side character's lives, relationships with each other and their mysteries even if there is a LOT more going on in Cora's perspective. She does a wonderful job bringing these people to life in a way that feels so real.

Haunting, powerful, gory and enthralling. Pick this book up immediately, I promise it is worth your time.


TW: racism, hate crimes, body horror/gore, racial slurs, pandemic setting, vomit, animal cruelty/violence, mentions of child abuse

This book was dark it was about a woman haunted by her own trauma , ghosts and a serial killer …normally stray away from pandemic themes but this book drew me in not only based on the title but the description definitely fits my genre!! The dark humor and gore was the icing on top of the horror cake!!

Now THAT’S how you write a ghost story!

This story began with a pair of sisters, Cora and Delilah, with their own complicated family dynamic, but the story soon took on a wicked twist for the darker when a complete stranger shoves Delilah into an oncoming subway train.

As Cora struggles to deal with her sister’s death, she also has the complication of navigating through racism during the COVID-19 pandemic, cleaning up crime scenes where there’s a serial killer on the loose, and also being haunted by physical and mental ghosts.

The beauty of this story is the heaviness you constantly feel while reading, the way you’re reading with the lights on because you’re creeped out, all the while not being able to stop reading because you’re trying to solve the mystery!

This story was incredible and I will be recommending it to anyone who is looking for an incredible new horror/thriller combo.

Thank you, #NetGalley and Mira, for a chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely enjoyed this story. It’s gory, and it’s very relatable due to the Covid connection . It also has some Asian racism so just check triggers please

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker is a darkly humorous, gory, and haunting horror novel that expertly blends elements of the supernatural with sharp wit and a keen eye for emotional depth. This gripping story follows Cora Zeng, a young woman who must confront her complex identity, the supernatural forces that haunt her, and the horrifying secrets tied to her family.

The novel is a wild ride, oscillating between gory moments and dark humor that provides a unique twist on the horror genre. Cora, as the protagonist, is multi-faceted—her internal struggles, coupled with the disturbing elements surrounding her, make her a compelling character. The narrative often leans into a raw and visceral tone, blending themes of personal discovery with supernatural terror, all while maintaining an irreverent and darkly funny perspective.

Baker’s writing shines in its ability to create vivid, sometimes unsettling, imagery that feels both eerie and oddly relatable. The use of humor in the face of horror is particularly striking, providing a balance that prevents the novel from becoming too bleak. Cora’s voice is sharp and engaging, and her witty, sometimes sarcastic remarks help lighten the otherwise tense atmosphere, offering moments of levity amidst the chaos.

The supernatural elements, especially the title’s reference to "Bat Eater," are both chilling and inventive. The novel crafts a world where ghosts and monstrous entities exist alongside the more mundane struggles of growing up, creating a compelling tension between the supernatural and the very human experiences Cora faces. The lore surrounding these entities is rich, adding layers of intrigue and suspense as the story unfolds.

While Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is undoubtedly a horror novel, it also has deep emotional undertones. Cora’s journey to understand herself, her family’s dark legacy, and the ghosts that haunt her is a story of resilience, growth, and acceptance. There are moments of self-reflection and vulnerability that make her journey resonate on a deeper level, even amidst all the blood and terror.

Overall, Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is a highly engaging and genre-defying horror novel. Kylie Lee Baker successfully delivers a fast-paced, eerie tale filled with blood, humor, and heart. This book is perfect for fans of horror who enjoy dark humor, rich supernatural lore, and complex characters navigating their own terrifying and sometimes funny journeys of self-discovery.

Thanks to MIRA for the gifted copy!

Cora Zeng witnesses the tragedy of her sister, Delilah, being pushed in front of a subway train. The murderer flees the scene shouting "bat eater," and Cora is left reeling from both her sister's death and the other brutal murder scenes she cleans up as a crime scene cleaner in Chinatown, unsure of what's real and what's in her mind as hungry ghosts follow her.

Kylie Lee Baker does it again! While I've always appreciated the elements of horror included in her fantasy novels, BAT EATER is a reversal of her past reads, with horror being at the forefront and fantasy / the paranormal used as support. I am blown away by the way Kylie makes such impactful statements about the treatment of East Asians during the Covid-19 pandemic and the treatment of Asian women by (mostly white) men in general. It takes so much talent to make the trauma, brutality of killings, mystery or who did it, the pandemic, family dynamics, friendships, and hungry ghosts all come together cohesively under the paranormal horror umbrella. It's a work of genius. Read it -- you will also probably devour it in a day like I did.

𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘧, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘵, 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥–𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘶𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘞𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘶𝘴.

Bat Eater follows crime scene cleaner, Cora Zeng, as she confronts both supernatural hungry ghosts & a real-life killer targeting East Asian women during the pandemic, all while grappling with her sister's horrific murder & her own deteriorating sense of reality.

What a visceral & gut-wrenching story. I usually avoid any books that involve the pandemic, but I made the exception for this. The first chapter immediately hooked me. It was both gripping & gruesome and it set an uncompromising tone for the rest of the book.

The novel's strength lies in its unflinching proximity to reality. While there were many paranormal elements weaved throughout, the true horror stems from its razor-sharp examination of racial trauma, pandemic-era xenophobia, & personal grief.

Kylie's writing is simultaneously gruesome & deeply thought-provoking. Cora Zeng's journey as a crime scene cleaner becomes a metaphorical and literal exploration of cleaning up trauma, with each bloody scene serving as a complex meditation on violence, memory, and survival. Kylie also doesn't shy away from graphic details, making it a challenging but essential read for those who appreciate horror that cuts deep into social and personal wounds.

Not for the faint of heart, Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is a powerful, uncomfortable, and necessary read.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.

As a rule, I try not to read novels set in the pandemic era. Thankfully, I did not read anything about this book prior to diving in. It’s a good thing too because I would have missed quite the story! The setting made complete sense for the plot so it was easy for me to look past.

New York, 2020. Crime scene cleaner Cora Zeng witnesses a horrific murder at a subway station. The murderer only spoke two words, bat eater. Her ensuing crime scene clean ups are all mysteriously of Asian descent and the scenes all involve maimed bats. It becomes clear that a serial killer is on the loose and targeting Asian New Yorkers because of the claims that Covid began with a bat in China. Cora soon becomes haunted after ignoring her aunt’s advice about the Hungry Ghosts. Along with two friends, Cora must tackle her grief, trauma, the haunting, and hunting a serial killer.

Kylie Lee Baker nailed the spine tingling, grotesque, uneasy type of horror! The scenes depicted were bloody, gory, and fantastically realistic. The presence of angry spirits, lore, and a serial killer resulting in a delicious blend of horror and mystery. The characters were wonderfully written (particularly Cora) and I was enthralled in the story. Cora’s obsessive tendencies and low self esteem make her feel relatable and it’s easy to feel empathetic for her. Harvey provided some much needed comic relief. Yifei is the perfect blend of sarcasm and edginess.

I immediately want to buy everything from this author. Cannot wait until pub day to get my hands on a physical.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Kylie Lee Baker for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book left me with a feeling that it needed more.... but it's hard to put my finger on exactly what it needed more of. I just not completely fulfilled when I was done with the book. That doesn't mean over all it wasn't a good book, it was, and it is worth a read if you're into horror and especially if you are a fan of the authors others works.
I think part of it for me is the book being about covid i struggle with books on the subject. I also thought the book's first chapter jumped right in with the death of Cora's sister then it slowed down and took a while to speed back up again but it did during the second half of the book.

WOW.
I can honestly say I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. I knew the subject would be difficult especially because we are still feeling the ramifications of COVID. While I've never personally experienced the racism that was associated with it. I dealt with the healthcare side of it, as an ICU nurse during the pandemic.
My only complaint is that it took a little while to get actually immersed into the book. However, once I was in, I was hooked. I felt like the ending just flew by so quickly, I wanted more.
The detail and graphic descriptions throughout the novel may not be everyone's cup of tea. If you can't handle that I wouldn't recommend reading.

Cora Zeng is a complex character, one, who throughout the novel grew into herself and her place in her own life. Also new fear unlocked, hungry ghosts.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade for this E-ARC!

Last week, I finished reading 𝐁𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐙𝐞𝐧𝐠 and let me tell you, it completely blew me away. This terrifying tale follows Cora, who is haunted by her trauma, hungry ghosts, and a serial killer all while trying to hold down her job as a crime scene cleaner. I'm usually not one for books that feature the pandemic, but I decided to give this one a chance and I'm so glad I did. It was deeply unsettling and kept me on the edge of my seat, making me have to put it down at night. But the writing was so incredibly well done that I couldn't resist devouring this book, just like the ghosts devoured everything in their path. It's a terrifying yet thought-provoking read that explores difficult situations and is filled with bloody gore. Easily a five star read and might be my favorite of the year. Seriously read this book!

4.5/5 stars rounded up.

Wow, even from the very first brutal chapter this book was jaw dropping and gut wrenching. I was completely sat from the very beginning.
The book itself begins with our main character, Cora, watching as her sister, Delilah's, head gets obliterated by a subway train. But if you think that's the wildest part of this entire story than you're in for a surprise. The book just continues to ramp up with gore and viscera while Cora and her crime scene clean up workmates realize that there is a serial killer murdering a specific racial group and leaving bats as their calling card.
Throughout this thrilling book we of course encounter many a bloody crime scenes, but also some ghosts making this book a mix of gory and spine tingling. The supernatural aspect of the book is based off of The hungry Ghost Festival, a Chinese cultural lore, which is something that I loved learning and reading about. Even after finishing the book I continued to look into this festival and lore. The way the author portrayed the rituals and the festival itself was so well done and kept my attention the entire time, especially as someone who has never heard of this festival until this book. The gore and supernatural elements throughout this book make you want to read the book with the light one, and continue to overthink every noise that goes bump in the night.
The only thing that I wish would have been different was the serial killer case. It seemed like a lot of that storyline was rushed and almost placed on the backburner. While we did get a lot of the crime scene clean up, I was really wishing for our three friends to do some deep sleuthing into the serial killer himself.
I think what really sets this COVID novel off against the others is the different perspective that Baker was so brave to write about. Asian racism was and still is a very large thing especially during COVID. This book was very unconventional with the way it's written from a perspective that not a lot of people thought about, while also adding in a paranormal storyline and a gore filled murder mystery storyline, this book has a little bit of everything.
The ending was so raw and thought provoking, that when I read it at first it angered me. I wanted everything wrapped up in a pretty little bow, but then I started to think about how that's not reality sometimes and I came to appreciate and understand the ending for the raw and emotional ending that it was.
This book is incredibly well written and congratulations to Kylie Lee Baker for writing such an incredible first adult novel. I can't wait to read more of what she writes.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade publishing for sharing this ARC read with me in exchange for my honest review and opinions.

Racism is one hell of a team to pick.

This taught me the COVID-19 trauma is still too close to examine for myself. But this also had a great message in terms of anti-Asian hate and how truly misplaced and vile it is. What happens and what is discovered by Cora in this grisly horror is awful, to say the least. After witnessing her sister's brutal murder for being Chinese, and with no justice served, Cora spirals in her isolation and takes a job cleaning up crime scenes. The string of murders are connected, and with the help of a truly vivid ghost, works to figure out how to put her sister to rest and find her killer. It's a searing commentary on what Asian communities faced during COVID with an excellent twist of horror.

My only complaint is that the story took a little too long to find its footing and I struggled to find where the story was going. That said, the last half was very compelling and at times quite heartbreaking. I did want more from the ending but I feel that it was very realistic, given the story and the characters.

⭐️ARC Review ⭐️
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng

Cora Zeng is a Crime Scene Cleaner, cleaning up the aftermaths of murder and suicides in Chinatown during the Covid pandemic. After witnessing the death of her sister, Cora is haunted by hungry ghosts, her past, and a serial killer

Rating: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genre:Horror/ Thriller

Publication Date: 29 April 2025

I enjoyed this horror novel. It captured how the covid pandemic effected the world. It spoke about important topics such as the racism that we saw towards the Asian community. I think this is something more people need to think about and reflect on.

Cora is relatable. She’s a bit of a germaphobe and Covid only makes that worse. She’s also a badass for doing a job such as cleaning up crime scenes.

The horror was great. There’s quite a bit of gore, but it’s done very well. The ghosts were a great addition.This book is beautifully horrifying

I recommend checking out this book if you enjoy, horror, gore, and paranormal horror.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this book a 4.5/5 ⭐️. I really enjoyed this book, there were times where I was laughing, almost crying and creeped out by some of the scenes! It really makes you think about Covid and all the things everyone went through. I enjoyed the audiobook as well! I would definitely recommend this one!!

Cora does crime scene clean up for a living during a pandemic. At the same time there is a serial killer on the loose targeting the asian community and important people wanting to cover it up. Cora’s sister was tragically murdered leaving a hole in Cora. Cora starts to see things and with no medical reason she starts to think she is going crazy. Cora finds herself haunted by her sisters ghost and begins investigating her sisters death and it leads to so much more.

This story addresses racism, hate groups, superstitions, family issues, and religion. The story is tense, dark and very intriguing. It is fast paced and well written. It will have you questioning reality right along with Cora. Cora and her colleagues have seen and survived so much trauma its almost like they feel they deserve what is happening to them. They join Cora is trying to find out the truth.

I truly enjoyed the glimpse into Chinese mythology and tradition. The best part of this novel was that the imagery. It is so vivid that even though it is super natural you can visualize it easily what the author is describing. This novel moves quickly and will leave you on the edge of your seat!