After my mother passed away, I became acutely aware of what I called the ‘stains’ of her. My mother was by no means a terrible person, but even the best of humanity has some sort of unconscious grudge or bias that they hold. For parents, I believe it then becomes impossible not to pass those onto their children, like stains that can’t entirely be washed away, no matter how hard you try.
You might be asking yourself why I bring this up? It’s because I believe this novel, aside from being a divine case study into the complex and overwhelming world of irrational terror, is also a fairy tale of legacy—those small, inevitable catalysts and inheritances that we are forced to accept as parts of our identity lest they hunt us down and haunt us.
Personally, while I am not an expert on child rearing or caretaking in general, I was still able to connect with this book despite it having some decidedly familial and progenic themes. In my opinion, what makes When the Wolf Comes Home more universal is the use of parenthood and guardianship as these umbrella concepts. Allowing for that horror element to not only parallel the fear, paranoia, and sense of dread that comes with being responsible for a child, but also the idea of growing up shaped by whatever irrational belief or learned behaviour you inherited from your own parent or guardian, whether they taught you consciously or not.
Honestly, though I found the book enlightening, I would probably only recommend it to the most die-hard horror fans. This isn’t a story you come out of feeling satisfied with the ending, but I don’t think you are supposed to.

When the Wolf Comes Home follows Jess, a woman who finds herself on the run with a five-year-old boy after a brutal encounter with the boy’s father.

I can see why there have been a lot of rave reviews about When a Wolf Comes Home. It’s a solid little book that uses childlike fears and adult grief in a co-mingling of horror. Jess is dealing with the recent death of an absent father, and her story is very much shaped around grief, and adult stress of finances and jobs, while the little boy has (some) normal fears of the big bad wolf, or scary cartoons. The balance of different fears and how it affects both children and adults is an interesting mix.
This is also a book about the chase. The hunt for Jess and the boy, and not just by his father. It’s a standard horror book in that way, that they move around trying to stay one step ahead of whatever is after them.

Again, I can see why other people really enjoyed this book. I think grief horror is something that resonates with a lot of readers lately, adding in the emotional aspect that some horror books are missing, giving you a better connection to the characters and being able to relate to their lives. For some reason though, I just don’t find it scary, and I don’t always connect as well as other readers might. So it just falls a little flat for me.
I also didn’t love some of the tropes of the books - I could tell the homage to Firestarter by Stephen King before I read the authors note, but it felt a little overdone. Maybe I’ve read too many similar stories, but I would have liked a different twist to the boys fears and where it stems from.

This was a good book that I definitely recommend to the right reader. For those that really connect to grief horror, and want that emotional connection to their horror characters, this is absolutely an excellent book for you. It’s a really well written book. And despite the content warnings at the beginning, it wasn’t as horrific or gory as I was expecting, so it should be tolerable for readers who are just branching into the horror genre without being too grossed out or overwhelmed by violence(but check the content warnings just the same! We all have different tolerance levels)

When the Wolf Comes Home is not merely read—it’s felt. Nat Cassidy has written a novel that sinks its teeth into your spirit, a story so hauntingly beautiful that it moves like a ghost through the chambers of the heart long after the last page is turned.

Every sentence pulses with life and sorrow, weaving horror and humanity together in a tapestry both brutal and breathtaking. Cassidy does not simply frighten; he sings—to the lost, the broken, the fierce souls still fighting for a place to belong. His monsters are not just creatures of the dark, but reflections of our own battered hopes and unbearable loves.

The prose is lush and aching, a slow, relentless heartbeat driving the story forward. You do not sprint through this book—you are pulled under, dragged through memory and myth, clawing for light, for meaning, for home.

When the Wolf Comes Home is a masterwork of horror not because it chills you—but because it breaks you open, reminds you that some wounds howl forever, and somehow, despite it all, we find the strength to return, bloodied but breathing.

This is storytelling at its most primal, most tender, and most unforgettable. An offering to anyone who has ever known the sharp, aching hunger for belonging—and survived it.

Thank you to Nat Cassidy and Tor Nightfire for the ARC!

“Haven’t you noticed by now? Just because something is impossible doesn’t mean its not real”…

I have hesitated writing my review for this book because it was so well done, so perfect that it’s been in my head since I finished reading. I just didn’t know how to explain my feelings in a way that would do it justice! Throughout the entire story, there is a sense of foreboding, a feeling of dread of what is to come. Our FMC, Jess, is stronger than she thinks, even though she is reeling from a loss herself. But she soon realizes that she has no clue what she’s up against. But she still risks everything to help a little boy in need. “Kiddo”, as she calls him, tugged at my heart and the two of them together were magical; I think she didn’t realize how much she needed him, and he definitely needed her. The pacing of this story was perfect as well, with Jess and kiddo were on the run for the majority of the story. The further away they got, the more the wolf seemed to catch up with them. Amidst the mystery and horror, there was a deep message to take from this story. The author’s note at the end further expanded on that and brought me to tears. Easily one of my favorite books I have read this year! Do not miss this one.

”When the Wolf Comes Home” is out now! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Gosh. Wow. 😭😭

Nat Cassidy has officially become an auto-buy author for me after this book. First, he won me over with the humor and heart in Mary. Now, with the emotional story of When the Wolf Comes Home, I am forever a fan.

This book follows Jess and a young boy she finds outside her apartment on a scary cat and mouse chase from the boys father, a man with the ability to shapeshift into the big bad wolf. This book can get bloody and violent, but at its core it's a book about family, parenting, grief, loneliness, and hope.

This story made me emotional. I resonated with Jessa's own feelings sometimes and I just love when I connect so deeply with a character. This was hard to put down and that afterword was such a beautiful way to round out a powerful story. Thank you for writing this.

5 stars.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and to Tor publishing group for the ability to read this early in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Nat Cassidy does it again! I will read anything that he puts out at this point, truly an auto-buy author. It took me a little to get into the story but once I was, I was hooked.

As a someone’s child, as someone’s mother, as a human, this book messed me UP. The use of horror to explore grief and the difficulties of each perspective was incredible.

After a long night working at the diner, Jess returns home to find a frightened five-year old boy hiding in the bushes. When his angry father comes looking for him, Jess makes a split-second decision to flee with him—setting off on a cross-country journey that will transform both their lives forever.

This was such a wild ride so be prepared for your adrenaline to be going the entire book! It was an emotional roller coaster with witty dialogue and fantastic character development. This story also had some pretty mind-bending horror and was packed with fantastical elements like shapeshifting, a mysterious boy with a dark secret, and strange, deadly occurrences that seem to follow them wherever they go.

I appreciated that along with the supernatural elements, this story felt so real at times and touches on grief, trauma, and healing in the midst of all the chaos. It doesn’t hold back on the violence and gore, so be prepared for some intense and graphic scenes!

Ultimately, this is a book about fear and the impact and control it has over our lives. It also thoughtfully examines the relationships we have with our fathers. I highly recommend reading the afterword because it provides a deeper insight into the author’s emotional connection to the story.

In a way, this book was its own shapeshifter, starting out as one thing and transforming into something entirely different. I highly recommend it if you're looking for an entertaining, but thought-provoking horror novel!

This creative masterpiece had me in a chokehold from the jump and I loved every second. The story starts strong and held my attention completely until the conclusion of the author’s note (which is lovely).

Wolfie is the perfect blend of heart and horror; I laughed, I cried and I was genuinely frightened. Cassidy’s writing is phenomenal and these characters are top tier.

I highly recommend Wolfie, it will take you on a journey through all of your emotions and you will wish it to never end. This is one of the best horror stories I have consumed and will be a top read of 2025 for me, don’t sleep on this one!

“No one will be spared.”

This is the first time I've ever read anything by Nat Cassidy, but he came highly recommended by Clay McLeod Chapman. this book was an amazing read. it kept me on the edge of my seat, and had me not wanting to put it down. there were some aspects of the story that were rather predictable, that I figured out before the reveal was made in the story, but overall I throughly enjoyed reading this.

Thank you to both NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the ability to read this novel.

Okay, I finally did the thing and finished this amazing book. I ABSOLUTELY loved every bit of it. There were so many facets to it. I have enjoyed every book by Natalie Cassidy but this book was on another level and really sticks with you. 😅 It was so creative. Check your trigger warnings because it includes quite a few things! I don’t know if it was me, but it kinda gave me Stranger Things vibes in some ways. There were many relatable things with Jess. Get ready for the rollercoasters of emotions though. As always, the afterword is one of the best parts of it!

This was my first Nat Cassidy read, and upon finishing it, I immediately started reading everything in his backlist.

This book was scary. Really effing scary. This book caused the kind of existential dread that kept me up at night. This book messed with my head, and I devoured it. My favorite kinds of horror books are those that truly tap into psychological horror--the fears that eat us up from the inside out. And this book dealt that in spades. And yes, there was also significant violence and gore, and while those elements were definitely scary, it was the ANXIETY of it all that kept me up at night.

This is a book about fear and family and control (or lack thereof). I highly recommend it to anyone looking for emotionally-driven psychological horror.

Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

Thanks to Tor and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Hoo, what a wild ride! Based on the title and the description, I was expecting a werewolf book. While it is not NOT a werewolf book, there's so much more to this story. I will not say more because I assume the further details are left out of the description on purpose, and I want to preserve the surprises to come for the other readers.
My first Nat Cassidy book was "Nestlings," which I also thoroughly enjoyed. "When the Wolf Comes Home" also has themes of uncanny, otherworldly horror, plenty of gore, and holds at its core the idea of everyday people being confronted with WTF, violent and undies-ruining horror. A fun ride!

Wow! This was not what I expected . . . it was SO MUCH better!

Twisty-turny - not just the plot, but your emotions, as well. What a thrill ride! I can't say more without giving too much away.

I will be pushing this on EVERYONE at the library.

This was wild! My first Nat Cassidy read and i'm very excited to read more by them. It's always a father at the scene of the crime.

I AM BLOWN AWAY. Classic Nat. Twisted weird and creepy but will have you turning the page from the second you open the book till your are finished. 5 stars!

Holy “what the” did I just read!?!?

When the Wolf Comes Home is a fever dream wrapped in a Grimm Brothers fairy tale, drenched in blood, grief, daddy issues, and just the right amount of humor to make you laugh while nervously biting your nails.

Nat Cassidy explores the slippery nature of fear—fear of the what-ifs, fear of the unknown, fear of what’s next, and, worse, fear that the fever dream might just be reality. Cassidy doesn’t just walk you through it—he straps you into a roller coaster, cranks up the tension, and plunges into the depths of Jess’s fears.

I paired the audio with the eBook, and Helen Laser ROCKED this narration. Her voice mirrors the steady stream of adrenaline in the story. She nails the heart-pounding action but also captures every ounce of the heartbreak and dread.

No one escapes this story unscathed—not the characters, and certainly not me.
I’m not 100% sure I fully understood the ending, but I am pretty sure my guess is correct. Whether right or wrong, I loved every unhinged minute of it. Congrats, Nat Cassidy! You are officially on my auto-buy author list!

-When the Wolf Comes Home-
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Nat Cassidy has done it again. Coming into this I thought it was going to be a bloody werewolf extravaganza, and while it is full of visceral scenes of werewolf horror, this book was also heartbreaking, hilarious and at times made me wish it would never end.
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It is so much more than a werewolf novel. It is a deep exploration of family trauma, anxiety, growing up and learning how to grieve. But when the carnage happens, it is turned up to 11! The content warning at the beginning of the book should be read before starting this one!
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I love this one so much and thanks to @netgalley and @tornightfire for letting me read it early

This was an exhilarating and chilling story, packed with emotion, trauma, and a raw confrontation with fear.

Jess, a struggling actress working in a diner, faces a series of unfortunate events within a short span of time. First, she’s accidentally stabbed by a junkie’s needle while cleaning the restroom. Then, she finds herself unexpectedly stuck with a young boy who seems to be fleeing from his father.

As the narrative unfolds, Jess—and we as readers—discover that the boy harbors a terrifying power: he can turn his fears into reality.

This book was absolutely captivating. It had so many layers, and I really enjoyed each one. The chase element, in particular, was a standout for me and executed incredibly well. The twists and turns kept me up late, and the ending hit harder than I expected.

However, while I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, the action and gore did feel a bit repetitive at times, which slightly pulled me out of the experience.

Overall, I loved the unique concept, the well-developed characters, and Nat Cassidy’s gripping writing style. I’m definitely looking forward to exploring more of this author’s work in the future.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an earc of this book. All thoughts are my own.

When The Wolf Comes Home starts out a wild, campy, over the top, almost comic book style horror novel. It’s bloody, wacky, creature feature fun. Then it transforms (😏) into something intensely heartfelt. There are some truly beautiful scenes of friendship and family in this book, and Cassidy does an incredible job of fully investing the reader in the main character’s journey. I loved these characters, but from the beginning, there’s this shadow of dread clinging to every corner. The anxiety I felt for these characters was overwhelming. Not only did I want them to be safe, I wanted them to find peace.

A big part of this book is inner turmoil. The book touches on daddy issues, anxiety, childhood trauma, abandonment, and even dives into broader questions like how one person’s actions can affect so many others and is there such a thing as good and bad or is it more complicated than that? Yeah, this book has a lot to unpack. Somehow, Cassidy has written all of this into one book in a way that works like a well-oiled machine.

This book broke my heart. It gutted me. I’m still processing parts of it and not sure how I feel. After reading the previous paragraphs, I’m sure you’ve already guessed my rating for this book. However—and this is the part where you call me a jerk and storm off—this was not a perfect book to me. For 95% of the book this was beyond a 5-star read. I enjoyed it immensely. BUT. 😅 There was one part that I found somewhat disappointing. This was just my personal taste. Your mileage may vary. Lots of people are calling When The Wolf Comes Home the book of the year, and it definitely deserves the praise.

🐺🐺🐺🐺.5 /5
✔️ Highly Recommend