I had requested this book from NetGalley already when I heard a rave about it on BookTalk, one of my favorite bookish podcasts. I had to start the book immediately after and I am so thrilled I had a chance to read it. This novel is legit horror- it is creepy, there is guts galore, and I didn't love reading it at night. But it was worth the thrills and misery for the social commentary, the wickedly smart writing, and the very real trauma depicted. One of my favorite genres is really affecting horror about marginalized groups that uses a blend of horror, ghosts or magical realism, and smart writing to gently (or even heavy-handedly) tell the reader about the ills of our world. Chuck Tingle has done it amazingly with his recent books, and now I need to add Kylie Lee Baker to the list. I found this book unputdownable, and I would hand it to anyone who can handle some gore and the pandemic setting. It is so interesting, the characters so flawed and traumatized and human. I would hand this to anyone who can handle gore and hungry ghosts. Five stars, no notes.

This book was weird in the best way—dark, surreal, and completely immersive. It follows Cora Zeng, a crime scene cleaner in Chinatown, who’s dealing with overwhelming grief after witnessing her sister’s murder. As she tries to cope, the world around her starts to unravel: ghostly visions, serial killers, and disturbing signs tied to the Hungry Ghost Festival all collide in a story that’s as much about trauma and identity as it is about horror.
The writing is visceral and atmospheric, blending gore and ghost stories with sharp social commentary on anti-Asian violence during the pandemic. At times it was hard to tell what was real and what was in Cora’s head—but that disorientation felt intentional and powerful.
It’s not a straightforward read, and some parts felt a bit abstract, but the originality and emotional weight really stuck with me. If you’re into horror that’s messy, meaningful, and deeply weird (in a good way), definitely give this one a try.
Thank you MIRA for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was weary about a pandemic horror novel, after finishing it, I feel dumb for having any doubt. This is truly incredible, it gave me a fright that I haven't felt since Mike Flanagan's Hill House.

I enjoyed reading this book so much. It’s a solid five star read. An homage to the period of covid with an incredibly timed pace. Would definitely read more of Kylie Lee Baker’s books?!

so so horrifying and gory but wow is this an incredible story stemming from real issues. speechless. even in times, especially during the beginning when it seems slow, it's for reasons you find out later. i can't talk about this book enough. a must read

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing / MIRA for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is not for the faint of hearts. This is horrifying, gut wrenching, gory, and at many times depressing. This book's time setting is during the COVID pandemic and when so many social injustices and hate crimes occurred (and still is). This book has a combination of horror (psychological, ghosts, and the gore) and murder mystery because there's a serial killer targeting Asians. You're in for a wild ride and sensory overload reading this!

I loved this story. It was such a unique take on a "ghost story." It was such a twisting ride that was hard to put down. I really wish there had been more.

Bottom line: this is excellent!

This book follows Cora, who is asian and trying to survive in NYC during COVID. She is reeling from the death of her sister, who was pushed in front of a train while someone yelled "bat eater," and working as a crime scene cleaner, while noticing a pattern of gruesome deaths of asian women. Cora is such a great main character because I feel everyone can find some way to relate to her. Cora struggles with anxiety and OCD symptoms. She struggles with her own identity (half Chinese, half white, not her sister). She struggles with connecting with friends and family, especially during a time as isolated as COVID-19 lockdown. Nothing feels forced about her. Everything seems realistic and possible, yet her world begins to blur and she struggles to figure out what is reality. Is the ghost of her sister one of the hungry ghosts her aunt warned about? The plotting of this book was excellent as it gradually built up to be more and more horrific. There are ghosts. There is racism and bigotry. There are brutal crime scenes and serial killers. There are also wholesome, funny moments of friendship. This book is just balanced so well. I love it and recommend if any of it sounds interesting.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker is one of my favorite books of the year. Absolutely heartbreaking and scary. A true fear that a lot of Asian women faced. A MUST READ!

I feel like sharing this book with as many people as possible is my new mission!!

"Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng" is a story full of surprises and harsh realities from the very first chapter. When I started reading, I didn't know what to expect, but if I had to guess, it would have said something about self-knowledge and personal growth amidst the adversities brought about by derogatory prejudice against human beings. In the first chapter, I saw that I was completely wrong!!

With an engaging writing style, Kylie Lee Baker narrates in a scenario of pandemic and chaos that is very familiar, adding elements of horror, shock, and humanity. Coraline Zeng is a peculiar character and different from what one might expect in a protagonist. With her traumas, doubts, and fears well explained, she brings them to the surface, making it clear that she does not see herself as a heroine under any circumstances. Quite the contrary, she is a recluse and avoids the stress of making choices, but she is still a person who is in control of herself and, precisely because she knows herself so well, knows that she does not have big dreams or aspire to great things.

During this reading I found myself becoming attached to the characters and what motivated them, increasingly curious to know where everything would end. From the doubt as to whether what Cora was going through was real, to the various attempts to know how to appease the ghosts.

One of my new favorites that I will recommend to the four winds, hoping that it will have a greater reach and recognition.

I found this story to be incredibly interesting. It combined so many forms of grief and horrifying experiences. Allowing others to see the impact from a perspective they’ve never tried to understand. I was in New York when COVID hit, it truly was a terrifying no man’s land. It’s interesting to revisit it from a new perspective while following a mystery and gaining new cultural knowledge.

A haunted protagonist, a pandemic, and hungry ghosts combined by a talented writer make this a chilling tale that will haunt me forever.

Content warning: violence against women; blood & gore; animal cruelty; police corruption; racism; profanity

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! Although quite grim and graphic throughout, it had a much deeper message about the impact that the Covid pandemic had on Asian people. I really appreciated learning more about Chinese culture and superstitions regarding loved ones who have died.
Overall I really liked this book and will be checking out this authors other work!

Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA, and Netgalley, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

As you can possibly gather from the rating of this one, I absolutely adored this book. I had read this author's YA fantasy duology (The Scarlet Alchemist) previously and found the writing to be funny while never missing the social commentary. When I read the description for Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng, I was expecting to like it, but this has exceeded my expectations.

Set during the aughts of the pandemic, this book follows an Asian-American who cleans crime scenes and is visited by a ghost after the murder of her sister (this happens in Chapter 1, so not a spoiler!). While Baker explores all the ways hatred-fueled attacks against the Asian communities in America, she focuses specifically on the serial killing of Asian women all over New York, as our main character is cleaning crime scenes after crime scene.

The serial killings are what pushes the plot forward, and the great mystery to uncover, but the Chinese folklore comes to life is an intrinsic part of this, too. The way our main character deals with this ghost and all her "visions" is by diving deeper into tales and traditions, which deeply enrich the narrative and bring the horror elements to life.

The way Baker crafted the horror scenes and details, as well as our main character's psychic were very well developed and even made me think of the subtle horror style of Shirley Jackson (in particular, the style of The Haunting of Hill House). So, if you enjoyed that work, I would highly recommend this one!

Overall, I think what made this book stand out was how firmly rooted to our reality it felt, and specifically to an uncertain moment in time when most were afraid. The social commentary is pointed and very welcome when people are conveniently forgetting how the discourse around COVID turned problematic and racist very quickly.

this book was so frickin great. I felt sick at the racism, and sicker knowing people actually experience that. I was really rooting for Cora the whole way through, and even the "casual" racism pissed me off. I wanted to believe the best in people but they kept proving me wrong, which is quite accurate to real life.
I loved her coworkers, and I loved watching the relationships and different dynamics play out.
I enjoyed the ending, even with the parts that broke my heart. 💕

This was such a great read! I really enjoyed reading from Cora's perspective and the discussion surrounding how certain victims of crimes are treated compared to others. The story also takes place a few years after Covid so it's still pretty fresh in people's minds the discrimination and attacks that were happening at the time. The story kept me engaged throughout and the reveals at the end were unexpected. Definitely will be reading more of Kylie Lee Baker in the future.

Wow this book was fantastic, gripping onto you and doesn't let go. This starts out with a stunning act of violence that catapults Cora and the readers into a story about grief, family and power. Add on a blend of cultural beliefs and mental illness all set in New York City during the pandemic it leaves and enduring impact.

Somehow taking place during the early days of the pandemic adds to the story shining a spotlight on the blatant and hidden racism that were amplified during these days. This is a wonderfully written book displaying the almost poetic thoughts of Cora juxtaposed with the horrific imagery from her job as a crime scene cleaner and the further violence she witnesses.

This is a dark book but feels more thought provoking than depressing for me. It both tore at my heart and provoked my rage. Definitely a top read of the year so far.

Thanks to the publisher, HTP books and The Hive for providing advanced access to the ebook.

Set right after the start of Covid lockdowns in NYC, we meet Cora and her sister, Delilah, on the date of Delilah's untimely death. Months later we reconnect with Cora at a crime scene where she is employed as a cleaner with her kind of friends, Henry and Yifei. As the trio end up at crime scene after crime scene of Asian women brutally slain, Cora knows there's something very wrong happening and it's not just the hungry ghost of Delilah haunting her. I really felt for our characters and even if Cora is a bit unreliable of a narrator at times, the story unfolding was so gut wrenching I just needed to know what would happen. Henry and Yifei do provide some comedic relief at times that kept me and Cora from falling completely into despair. My favorite character, other than Cora, is Auntie Zheng. She is such a firecracker, but also such a support in times of need. I love her.
It was probably one of the first pandemic books I've read, and it was a stark look at the realities of the time, specifically the anti-Asian hate that ran rampant.
I highly recommend this book even though I was very upset by the events that unfolded.

BAT EATER!

That’s the last thing Cora heard before some mysterious dude pushed her sister Delilah off the subway platform. Fast forward a few months, and now Cora’s a crime scene cleaner, but she’s been noticing some weird stuff happening at the scenes. Is it a serial killer, or are there hungry ghosts involved?

This book was a quick and fun read! As I got into it, I found myself really wanting to unravel a few mysteries: will they ever find out who pushed Delilah, and is she actually trying to reach out to Cora from beyond? If you’re into mysteries, definitely add this to your reading list, and make it a priority. You won't regret it!

"Cora thinks about a time, before the pandemic, when she truly thought the worst monsters were the ones inside her own head. When she thought people were good, that they would save each other."

Crime scene cleaner Cora Zeng is still reeling from a horrific incident that left her sister dead when she begins noticing food missing from her fridge, and hunks chewed from her furniture. It seems she is being visited by a Hungry Ghost. And, if that's not enough, she and her coworkers are starting to believe there is a serial killer preying on young Asian women.

This was excellent. Though certainly gory and disturbing, the novel is well written and thought provoking. I had honestly forgotten about all the violence perpetrated against the Asian population during the recent pandemic, and this brought it all back in stark black and white (and red).

I highly recommend this one to fans of thrillers and horror.

"But the thing about hungry ghosts is they don't care if you believe in them."