If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. Bat Eater completely surpassed every expectation I had. I didn’t even know what I was expecting going in, but this book absolutely delivered. It’s the kind of story that crawls into your bones and settles there. Every scene felt purposeful, every twist hit just right, and by the end I was emotionally exhausted (in the best way).

This book made me feel everything. I laughed, I raged, I cringed, I mourned. It carried a huge emotional weight that I don't usually expect when picking up a horror book. The paranormal and horror elements were perfection and genuinely unsettling in places. Think The Grudge X 100. The tension and suspense was cut with moments of sharp humor that was completely unexpected for me. And underneath it all, though, was a deeply resonant and extremely devastating commentary on racism and xenophobia in the US. The real horror here wasn't just supernatural, it was the very real experiences of East Asian immigrants in the US, especially during/since peak COVID.

I loved Cora. She broke my heart, and I was desperate to be able to talk to her and offer her my friendship and validation. Her fear and anxiety during the early months of the pandemic felt so familiar, it transported me back to early 2020. That sense of dread and the unknown, and her internal struggle against her own mind is one I am intimately familiar with.

The ghosts in this story were unsettling and super creepy, but more than anything, they're tragic. When the full truth behind them was finally revealed, it hit me like a punch in the gut. I can't say too much without spoilers, but it made me feel such rage but also helplessness, mostly because of how realistic and plausible everything was (minus the ghosts...maybe).

I’ll definitely be rereading this one in the near future. It’s been easily one of my favorites so far from 2025, and I can’t recommend it enough to readers who love their horror and paranormal with a side of emotional damage.

A huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an electronic copy of this book. All opinions stated are my own.

Cora Zeng witnessed the horrible murder of her sister Delilah at the height of the COVID pandemic in New York. The murderer's parting words were simply "bat eater." Months later, Cora is now a crime scene clean up tech, cleaning up the remains of those who die messy in Chinatown.  At multiple crime scenes, Cora and her colleagues find the bodies of bats, along with the corpses of Asian women.  A possible serial killer isn't the only issue. Cora has spent most of her life ignoring her Chinese heritage, but that becomes impossible when she is suddenly stalked by a hungry ghost during the Hungry Ghost Festival. The ghost seems focused on bringing Cora Zeng to either her death or a stunning revelation on the nature of the murders she is tasked with cleaning up.  

Author Kylie Lee Baker takes readers through a story that is so engaging, it becomes difficult not to simply sink into this book until you've finished the very last page.  As a rule, I tend to avoid books and shows about the pandemic. Having lived through it, I'm not a big fan of most media that talks about it for my sanity's sake. However, I broke that rule to read Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng and I'm thrilled I did. Baker doesn't shy away from writing a character that is not automatically loveable. Cora is believable. She's struggling through grief, loss of connection to her culture and limited family, and having to force herself into situations that are so deeply uncomfortable for her that it adds a whole new level of horror. 

For long term horror fans, the book will be easily digestible in the more graphic sequences. For those readers just starting to dip their toes into the water of horror, please be advised that Delilah's death is absolutely traumatic.  I absolutely loved Baker's use of the Hungry Ghosts Festival as a backdrop, as well as showing how cultures morph and change in a setting like the United States. 




Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is now available from Harlequin Publishing.

I was enraptured from the very first chapter and didn’t put this book down until I reached the final page. Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is a ghost story, yes, but it’s so much more. Set against a panic-stricken, eerily familiar New York City during the height of the pandemic, the novel pulses with dread that blurs the line between supernatural horror and the all-too-real terror of being part of a marginalized community in America.

Cora’s story is tangled in grief, fear, and resilience, shaped by a complicated family dynamic that is as haunting as the ghosts she encounters. What makes this book so frightening isn't just the spectral presences, but the raw, unflinching depiction of anti-Asian hatred and the isolation faced by immigrant communities in times of crisis.

This story doesn't shy away from the ugly truths of pandemic-era racism, and that’s exactly what gives its horror weight. It’s chilling, intimate, and incredibly relevant.

✨Highly, highly recommend. This one will stay with me.

Idk if I liked this or if I should just because of the topics it focuses on. It’s an interesting story nonetheless. Not a fave in the horror/mystery genre for me though. Some of the descriptions were so much more gory than I imagined they’d be. I was not prepared.

I absolutely loved this book.
I went in blind seeing it was from the author of the scarlet alchemist and I’m so glad. This was her debut horror and I cannot say enough about how well written it is. The imagery definitely isn’t for the faint of heart. The racial commentary is perfect. It doesn’t beat you over the head. You understand exactly what is being said without feeling talked down to. (At least I hope this is how it lands for the people who need to hear it most). At the same time it adds to the story, not detracts.
I will definitely read anything else that Kylie Lee Baker puts out.

Very few people do body horror the way Kylie Lee Baker does. It's so seamless and beautifully written in the most gory way. Her character development is unmatched as well. Right from the first chapter, you feel so much for these characters, and you're immediately hooked. I'm typically not a fan of pandemic books, but I understand that this had to be set in 2020 in order to fully be immersed in the state of the world at the time while feeling the impact of the blatant racism that occurred towards Asian people. I didn't expect this to go where it went, but I'm glad it did, and the ending wrapped everything up really well.

This book has me feeling all kinds of feelings. I wouldn't say that it would be my favorite thing because some of the pacing was very slow. I also found it hard to follow Cora because her anxiety was so extreme and as a person that struggles with severe anxiety too it was tough to read. There were things that I could understand with the pandemic but I am still confused on how people think that it was the Asian community are the cause of the illness. However seeing it from someone else's POV was interesting as well as saddening because they were treated so poorly. I am still kind lost on the ghosts parts. Was it the cultures belief and how they saw the afterlife or is it some type of lore? It has definitely intrigued me to where I am going to have to do some research on some things. The book definitely gets crazier and crazier as it goes on but its the ending that really has me conflicted. After everything she went through why the heck would she do what she just did and who is it suppose to be? There are definitely things that feel like they need to be answered.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is one of the scariest books I have read in recent memory. Set in NYC during peak Covid, the setting itself contributes to the eerie vibe of the book. Cora is a deeply flawed, but empathetic, character who goes through some truly terrifying stuff.

oh my I loved this so much! quite a bit of time has passed between me finishing this book and writing this review but make no mistake that is of no fault of the book and only due to me being in the middle of moving. in the meantime I have been recommending this to everyone I talk to!

such a perfect blend of supernatural horror, murder mystery, folklore, and character study; the writing style also really worked for me! I had so much fun reading this but it was also genuinely disturbing at times- I normally avoid stories set during the pandemic, but this one being told through an asian american lens made me want to pick it up. in this case, I think being barely removed from this point in time made the horror more effective, where I would normally cringe. I think this perspective is so important, and I'd be very open to reading more of it in other genres.

a little bit of suspension of disbelief might be necessary at times, but to me that was part of the fun- overall this is a new favorite!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc :)

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for this advanced reading copy. My introduction to Kylie Lee Baker was through her “The Scarlet Alchemist” duology, and I have been hooked ever since! I know there are a couple of things Kylie excels at, but she’s particularly skilled at writing about death and horror.

The book’s setting takes place in New York at the height of the pandemic, and the reader gains insight into the world of Cora Zeng, a mixed Asian-American female during that frightful time. The book opens with Delilah’s death in the subway. They are waiting for the subway after searching for toilet paper in the rain. The scene follows Delilah’s discussion of her plans to travel to China to live with her father and pursue a career in modeling. All of a sudden, the reader can envision the sight of the white person’s hands making contact with Cora’s sister and pushing her in front of the subway as it arrives on the track. From that scene, Cora’s life spirals! Some time has passed, and the reader is introduced to Cora as a crime scene cleaner. While working, Cora and her coworkers begin noticing the uptick in deaths of Chinese/Asian minority descent. The scary part is not even the deaths or the clean-up, but the horror when Cora encounters her first hunger ghost.

The author covered a lot of ground in this book. From the main female character’s point of view, the reader gets a glimpse into the racism that Chinese and Asian Americans experienced pre-COVID, from the name-calling and the disgusting treatment towards this community of individuals to the police incompetence/lack of effort regarding a serial killer targeting this social group. Cora also suffers from loss and grief, and it didn’t start with her sister’s death in the subway. From birth, Cora has not had a parent to rely on. Throughout her life, Cora has dealt with abandonment from both her parents. Her father moved back to China after two failed attempts to start a family in the United States. His only support consists of sending monthly allowances through his sister to help Cora survive. And the only reason he has kept track is because his sister reminds him of his duty. Her mother joined a cult and left her overtly religious sister to care for Cora because parenting Cora was too hard. Not to mention that her mom is white, and her aunt has not ever made Cora feel like family. There is also a longing to belong. Cora has lived in the shadow of her sister and has never felt like she belonged. No one has ever wanted her around, not even her sister, whom she cared so much about.

I enjoyed this book! I enjoyed the perspective it gave me into another minority’s experience during the pandemic. I also enjoyed the humor and the main female character’s journey to finding herself because it was not easy. If you are looking for a gory horror filled with trauma, death, and life experiences set during the pandemic, then I would recommend this book to you.

From the synopsis, I felt that it was going to be a strong read for me thematically however what a surprise that this may end up being my favorite horror release of the year. There were so many different genres of horror intertwined with gory, tactile serial killers and physical violence, the omnipresent but invisible germs and disease, and hauntings of ghosts and grief. Despite having so much going on, the novel never becomes overloaded or too chaotic. There is a beautiful clarity in the prose that the fact that this seems to be her horror debut is thrilling, cannot wait to read more in the future.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC for review.

Tense. Gory. Impactful and thought provoking.

“Wuhang was the epicenter of body bags and NYC was the epicenter of anti-Asian hate crimes.”

Part ghost story, part serial killer mystery, part unflinching commentary on how our worst fears can lead to illogical fear and blame. Bat Eater is a deftly layered story that’s as gruesome and intense as it is original and affecting.

This is the kind of story meant to be told through horror elements!

Haunted by her sister’s murder...and maybe even her sister’s ghost...Cora grapples with fear. Fear of the germs killing people. Fear of the hungry ghosts wanting fed. And fear of a serial killer targeting Asian women.

Baker has delivered a suffocatingly intense narrative that is rife with uncomfortable truths. The complex storyline skillfully explores the inner turmoil of grief and trauma Cora faces while also expounding upon the external turmoil of seeing Asian women hunted and brutalized. It’s no surprise that the writing is raw and provocative to match the tone of the read. And while the richly crafted characters and the dark humor sometimes offset the sense of foreboding, the narrative never quite let’s go of its sinister nature.

This is a rage filled horror novel that is meant to evoke deep feelings. And for me, Baker well delivered through this perfect blend of Chinese lore and incisive commentary.

🎧Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is an Earphones Award winner, and with GOOD reason. It’s narrated by the incomparable @natalienaudus who delivered an engrossing performance that captured the fullness of the emotion and breathed life into Cora Zeng.

Many thanks to my friends at @_mira_books_ @htp_hive @htpbooks and @htpbooks_audio for the free #gifted copies of this book. #partner

It is clearly true that CoVid change everyone in different ways. It still takes me by surprise reading about Covid in books to this day. Wether it was eating a bag or a leak in a Lab… it is now written in history. This book checked all the marks on what a horror story is. The audio was also excellent and I enjoyed it!

If you're looking for a dark and gory peek behind the curtains of being a biracial woman in America during the height of the global pandemic.

It's hard to say what was more frightening, the casual and prevalent racism that dogs Cora's heels, or the ghosts that follow in their wake.

Being able to see Cora's identity pushed and pulled between her white and Asian aunties was an excellent utilization of bringing characters to life and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I tried many different times to finish this book, thinking maybe I would be in a better mood to try it out. I even waited until after pub date to see if maybe the audiobook would intrigue me a little more, but I think this book just wasn't for me. DNF @ 55%

BOOK REVIEW ✨

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zheng by Kylie Lee Baker

“In this explosive horror novel, a woman is haunted by inner trauma, hungry ghost, and a serial killer as she confronts the brutal violence experienced by East Asians during the pandemic.”

Rating: 4.5⭐️
Genre: Horror, thriller
Yes, no, or maybe: yes(x100)

Read if you like:
-getting the heebie jeebies
-ghosts
-serial killers
-books with deeper meaning
-plot twists
-unreliable narrators

This book was so much more than I expected! I went into this thinking it was a thriller with a little paranormal thrown into it, but it was more than that. Readers will get a glimpse into the experience of so many of our Asian population was subjected to during the pandemic; fear, hatred, revulsion, and cruelty. Make no mistake, this book makes a statement and we should all listen.

We follow Cora in the wake of the pandemic and her witnessing a white male shoving her sister in front of a moving train while shouting “Bat eater!”. She is a crime scene cleaner and lately all her clean ups have had some things in common; Asian women, brutally murdered, and a bat left at every scene. I absolutely loved Cora and her rag tag team. The whole time I was asking “who is Cora?? Can we trust her??”. Her character arch was perfection. 👩‍🍳💋

On the paranormal side, the ghosts were so spooky. I had goose bumps throughout this entire book. My heart was both broken for and feared these ghosts. I enjoyed learning about hungry ghosts in Chinese culture.

The writing was fantastic. It was descriptive and flowed beautifully. Don’t get me wrong, there was some nasty, gory scenes!! But in the best of ways! (Horror fans will understand)

Overall,I highly recommend Bat Eater. It was a gripping paranormal thriller with a moving political statement.

And now for something completely different... BAT EATER, AND OTHER NAMES FOR CORA ZENG by Kylie Lee Baker is a gruesome horror story set in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, about a young woman who feels adrift in life, recently graduated with a degree that has no real job prospects, especially as the world shuts down all "non-essentials" like museums. She's also biracial and feeling both like she's part of two worlds and yet belonging in neither. Unfortunate life events set her on a path intersecting with a serial killer going after Asian women. It's truly scary and graphic, and not for the squeamish. But it's so gripping, I could hardly put it down. Sometimes I had to do that thing where I cover the next line or paragraph with my hand so my eyes don't jump ahead to see what happens. Very well-written, terrifying, and heart-wrenching. I wouldn't be surprised to see this snapped up and turned into a film sooner than later.

#BookRecommendations #BookReviews #Horror #HorrorStories #CovidStories #covidstoriesnyc

As one of the people unfortunate enough to experience COVID, this book hit me in a different way. Let me start off by saying I am obsessed with Kylie Lee Baker's writing style and the way that she brings a world to life. The imagery is insane and gory in a way that I could picture the events happening in front of me. This was book was different in many ways from the author's Scarlet Alchemist duology but had some similar elements. I was captivated by the mystery and uncovering who/what was killing these people. The way this story shed light for me on the way the asian population specifically chinese people were treated due to COVID and the racism that was experienced. I love that the author uses this story to tackle the very real conversation that people were living in their daily lives. I devoured this story in 24 hours and could not put it down. It is the type of story that you catch yourself thinking about and stays with you. If the duology did not do it for me this 100% cemented Kylie Lee Baker as an auto by author for me.

Bat Eater is visceral, infuriating, and heartbreaking. It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, and I’m going to think about it for a while. It’s a tough read but an important one. I was a little worried about reading a book set during the pandemic, but picked it up at the right time. Thank you NetGalley and MIRA for the eARC.

I love a horror story that uses ghosts and hauntings as a metaphor for the long, sticky afterlives of grief and trauma. It's been just long enough that it's the right time for a ghost story that reflects on the months of lockdown and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng opens with a deeply chilling scene in which Cora witnesses her sister's murder, being pushed in front of an oncoming train as an apparent hate crime. A few months later, during the Hungry Ghost Festival, Cora works as a crime scene cleaner, deeply haunted by her sister's unsolved murder and struggling deeply to keep living in the midst of a deadly pandemic. At work, she notices a distinct increase in murdered Chinese women, often finding bats while she cleans the crime scenes. At home, she finds evidence of hungry ghosts' sharp teeth scratches and bites in her living room furniture. The ensuing story follows Cora's chilling discovery of a series of dead Asian girls and young women, a coverup, and hungry ghosts who cannot be denied.

This book is tonally perfect. I ached reading Cora's haunting narration, which so perfectly captures and recalls the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic: the anguish of isolation, the unreality of lockdown, the mistrust of crowds that verges on agoraphobia, the deep-seated contamination panic, and the general sense of staggering loss. The grief of 2020 is distilled to a sharp focus on the murder of Cora's sister, dealing with the messiness of grief and highlighting anti-Asian hate that spawned during the first year of lockdown. The gore in this book is grisly, but the fact that it sticks with you feels right, the way that our unaddressed and suppressed trauma and grief from the pandemic lingers. It is a fantastic story of haunting and grief and wrath.