When the Wolf Comes Home starts out as a creature feature with a broken heart, the sad and spooky tale of an abusive dad who's a literal monster, and blooms into a larger story about fear, parenting, selfhood, and imagination. I came to get scared and I was thanks to the detailed depictions of scary creatures and gory killings. Then it became an existentialist exploration of so many huge questions about life and I wasn't prepared. Good horror makes you nervous; great horror makes you cry and think and ponder. Bravo!

My favorite thing about Nat Cassidy’s books is you never know what you’re going to get. Even if you read the synopsis for When The Wolf Comes Home (though I highly recommend going in blind), you won’t be prepared for where we go.

It’s nostalgic, sad, and raw. We get to revisit some iconic movies and media from childhood through a new lens that left me questioning how appropriate it really was for a kid. This book is a lot about trying to find yourself and learning, or trying, to put someone else before you.

There’s also a lot of grief, especially surrounding loosing someone you love. Mix in a tragic backstory and fun horror elements that can only be described as belonging in a few X-Files episodes, it’s a doozy of a book with a whole lot of heart.

However you read this, you can’t skip the author’s notes. Cassidy’s author notes have become some of my favorite to read because of the insight we get into his life and inspiration.

This book was a trip from beginning to end, and I was buckled in for the entire thing. It was very well written and the story was insane.

What a beautiful book and an absolute roller coaster of emotions. I love Nat Cassidy’s writing so much. In every book, he shows a different side of his writing and manages to surprise me. This novel was insanity from the very beginning and although it remained fast paced the whole time, it managed to make me laugh, cry and catch me off guard with stunning moments of reflection. This book is about fear, about the relationships with parents and about finding yourself. And the juxtaposition to that done with gore and massacre was incredible to read. Very interesting warewolf-adjacent book.

I knew from the first chapter of Mary Nat Cassidy was going to be a favorite author and with each book of his I read i am proven right. Mary is still my favorite of Cassidy's works but this one is a very close second. This book was fantastic.
I suffer from anxiety so this is definitely the book that I relate to the most. The constant soul crushing fear that everything is ending and the worst case scenario is enviable. The way all childhood fears get blown into these wide and terrifying nightmares also felt so very real.
I think overall this was Cassidy's most grounded work. I know that sounds funny ad this is a fantasy horror but it's definitely the most realistic of his books. I loved this book and couldn't put it down! I highly highly recommend it!

Imagine you find a scared little kid in the bushes… and next thing you know, you’re covered in blood and running for your life. But what Jess doesn’t know? The real monster hasn’t even arrived yet.

Here are Reasons to Read the Horror Book

📚 Reasons to Read When the Wolf Comes Home
Found Family Meets Fierce Survival. A struggling actress becomes an unlikely protector in a brutal and emotionally charged journey for survival.


Terror That Keeps You Guessing. What starts as a run-from-the-dad thriller spirals into something much darker, stranger, and more supernatural.


Gripping, Gory Horror with Heart. This story blends blood-soaked terror with real emotional stakes—and once the wolf shows up, it’s game over.
What I liked about this book is that it was a blend of horror and fairytales. Jess is a sympathetic character and just when it seems like she has no luck to begin with, this whole thing goes down. It is quite scary and at times it makes your skin crawl. But it really is an interesting commentary about who is the real monster and how we manifest our own destiny at times. It was a good story, and I raced through it. However, it’s not the kind of story I generally enjoy reading. You might, if you like unsettling horror.

Jess, a struggling actress trying to make it big in Hollywood, has had the worst night of her life working at her dead end nightshift waitress gig. She can't wait to get home, but once she arrives she realizes her night has just gone from bad to worse. Finding a five-year old runaway hiding in her bushes and having a bloody encounter with said runaway's father is not how she envisioned her night going. As the pair attempt to evade the boy's father in order to save their lives, a trail of blood follows. Jess thinks she can keep them safe, but she's really about to find out that when the wolf comes home, none will be spared.
Going into this book I expected a fast paced monster feature, but what I got was so much more. Not only does this book have monsters, gore and horror. It has humor, anxiety and family trauma that most of us can relate to. Our main character Jess was funny and likeable, albeit a little dumb at times, but she made the best of what was handed to her. I was rooting for her the entire time. As someone who also has daddy issues, the way Cassidy wrote her trauma was everything I've experienced put into words and it was emotional at times. I enjoyed the relationship Jess and this little five year old boy had, as well as Cassidy writing the scenes where Jess would get frustrated with said boy. We see a lot of characters become the perfect "role model" for children but to see Jess have flaws really added to the overall atmosphere of stress that Jess was experiencing throughout this book.
The book quickly toes the line of sci-fi, which wasn't bad, but at times just seemed almost fantastical. The only thing that I really disliked was the continual use of vague phrases describing the monster in this novel. Things such as "wolf-bear-thing" were used over and over, and I wish Cassidy would have just spent a little bit of time describing the creature in depth. My biggest complaint is that the monster just didn't appear enough for me. A lot of the book is about Jess and the little boy running, and while we do encounter monsters along the way, I was really hoping for more of the big bad wolf.
As always Cassidy provides us with a novel never done before. A novel full of life lessons and vicious bloody scenes. I really enjoyed all the Easter eggs scattered throughout the novel. I think my favorite thing about the entire book was reading about what fear could do if given the power over our lives. Fear is such a hard thing to write about because everyone's fears are so different but Cassidy really does such a great job encapsulating the feeling of fear in each of these characters he writes, no matter what they are terrified of. Myself, as probably many of you, struggle with anxiety and reading this felt validating in more ways than one because fear and anxiety go hand in hand to me. Cassidy of course brings the book to a closing with a personal afterward that must always be read and that really tied the entirety of this book together. This book certainly has it all: monsters, fast-paced themes, humor and family trauma, just a little something for everyone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor publishing for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow.
This was the first book I've read by Nat Cassidy and wow. I went into this not really knowing what to expect and I was completely blown away. When The Wolf Comes Home is the story of fear and grief and family. It's a bit of a werewolf story but not in any way that you would expect and it's the kind of story I know I"m going to be thinking about for a long time and I can't wait until more people have read it because i'm DYING to talk to people about it haha.
For a more indepth, spoiler review check out my youtube review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T0mw95Loys&t=321s

Much thanks to the publisher, Tor Nightfire, and Netgalley for an e-arc of this novel!

Synopsis:
A woman down on her luck and the young boy she comes across one terrible evening flee on a road trip across the country, finding terror and horror in their wake.

I love a good creature feature, so I was so excited when this novel was released, even though werewolves are often a hard sell for me. And, I'll be honest, I was unsure how I felt about this novel for the first 30% or so of the novel. The plot is propulsive, barely giving the reader time to breathe. It's also a little wacky (when it's not incredibly gory -- the body horror in this is top notch), feeling like a campy 90s horror movie. It didn't feel like what I was promised in the synopsis.

It is, but it's not. There's also a lot of heart here, as our main character, Jessa, attempts to befriend and keep her young charge safe. She's battling more than just a twenty foot werewolf; her father has just died and her acting career has fizzled out, leaving her unsure of what she's even doing. We watch as she's trying to navigate her own fears while quelling the young boy's, and I found her voice to be authentic and realistic. She's kind of a mess, but wouldn't we all be in this situation?

What I love about Cassidy's work is how he manages to balance the moments of gore and horror with a message that resonates with many of us: in this case, it's centered around fear and insecurity and the darkness that terrifies us because it reflects our own faces back at us. This novel, while not perfect (I wish the last 5% had a bit more space to breathe), is great and so fucking gross and a big win for those of us with daddy issues. And by big win, I mean emotionally devastating, of course.

And, I hope Cassidy continues writing such heartfelt afterwords. They're beautiful.

Nat Cassidy isn’t just another horror scribbler clawing his way out of the indie swamp—he’s a goddamn force, a New York playwright-turned-novelist who’s been carving his name into the genre with a rusty switchblade. After Mary: An Awakening of Terror and Nestlings made critics and readers alike sit up and take notice, Cassidy’s latest, When the Wolf Comes Home (out April 22, 2025, from Tor Nightfire), is a full-on feral beast of a book. It’s his third full-length novel, and holy shit, does it howl. With a background steeped in theater—think improv stages and sweaty one-acts—Cassidy brings a knack for dialogue and character that’s as sharp as a splintered femur. He’s not some rookie dipping his toes in the horror pool; he’s cannonballing in, splashing blood and guts all over the deck. This guy’s personal afterwords, where he spills his guts about his own life, are practically a signature move now—raw, real, and a little bit “fuck you” to the sanitized author bios of lesser talents. When the Wolf Comes Home is Cassidy at his most unhinged, blending chase-thriller adrenaline with creature-feature chaos and a heart so tender it’ll make you want to punch a wall just to feel something else. Let’s rip this bastard open and see what’s bleeding inside.

Synopsis: A Road Trip from Hell with a Side of Kiddo Chaos
Picture this: Jess, a struggling actress slinging hash at a shitty LA diner, is already having a day that’d make a saint kick a puppy. She gets jabbed by a dirty needle (thanks, universe), and just when she’s racing to the hospital to make sure she’s not incubating hepatitis or some sci-fi plague, she stumbles across a five-year-old runaway hiding in the bushes outside her apartment. The kid’s a mess—dirty, scared shitless, and mumbling about a dad who’s less Ward Cleaver and more rabid wolf-bear-thing. Before Jess can even process this pint-sized PTSD case, said dad crashes the scene like a goddamn T-800 covered in fur, tearing through her neighbors like they’re wet tissue paper. Jess grabs the kid and bolts, launching a cross-country sprint that’s equal parts Terminator 2 and Twilight Zone on a bender. As bodies pile up in their wake—mutilated by nightmares that don’t just stay in your head—Jess figures out the boy’s got a power: his fears don’t just haunt him, they fucking manifest. Cartoon monsters, government spooks, and a daddy dearest who’s more monster than man chase them down, and Jess has to keep her shit together long enough to save them both. Spoiler-free version: it’s a wild, gory ride that’ll leave you questioning who the real big bad wolf is.

Themes and Symbolism: Fear’s a Shapeshifting Son of a Bitch
Cassidy doesn’t just write horror to make you jump; he’s here to shove a mirror in your face and ask why you’re scared of your own reflection. When the Wolf Comes Home is a deep dive into fear—how it grips you, twists you, and sometimes turns into a literal goddamn monster. The kid’s ability to make his terrors real is a neon-lit metaphor for childhood anxiety, where every shadow’s a boogeyman and every “what if” can kill you. But it’s not just kid stuff—Jess is lugging her own baggage, grieving a deadbeat dad who left her with more questions than closure. The father-son dynamic here is a shapeshifter itself, flipping between abuser and victim, protector and destroyer. That wolf-bear-thing? It’s not just a cool-ass monster design (though it is); it’s every shitty parent who’s ever loomed over a kid’s life, a hairy, snarling symbol of generational trauma.

Then there’s the improv angle—Jess’s comedy background isn’t just a quirky character tic. It’s a survival tool, a way to “yes, and” her way out of a nightmare where the script’s written in blood. Cassidy’s theater roots shine here, turning fear into a stage where perception is reality. The kid’s manifestations—flying masks, cartoon killers—are a fucked-up funhouse mirror of pop culture, like Who Framed Roger Rabbit gone rogue. It’s a nod to how we process fear through stories, only here, the stories bite back. And that afterword? Cassidy lays bare his own daddy issues, making the whole thing feel like a primal scream against the ghosts we can’t outrun. Symbolism’s thick as congealed blood, but it never drowns the story—just makes it hit harder.

Messaging: Parents Fuck You Up, and That’s Okay
If there’s a gospel according to Cassidy, it’s this: parents—especially fathers—are flawed as hell, and their screw-ups ripple through you like a stone in a pond, only the pond’s full of piranhas. When the Wolf Comes Home isn’t subtle about it—fathers here are literal monsters or absent specters, leaving kids to clean up the mess. But it’s not all doom and gloom; there’s a fierce, messy hope in Jess’s determination to shield this kid, even when she’s scared shitless herself. The message is raw: fear can own you, or you can stare it down and maybe, just maybe, make something better out of the wreckage. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt broken by family, who’s wondered if the cycle can be broken. Cassidy’s saying yeah, it’s a bitch, but you’re not alone—and that’s a hell of a lifeline in a horror novel.

Writing Style: Fast, Filthy, and Fucking Brilliant
Cassidy writes like he’s got a deadline and a vendetta. The prose is lean and mean, sprinting through action scenes with a pace that’ll give you whiplash, then slowing just enough to let the emotional gut-punches land. It’s cinematic—think 80s action-horror with a modern edge, all vivid splatter and snappy dialogue. Jess’s voice is a standout: sarcastic, raw, and real, like she’s improvising her way through hell with a quip and a prayer. The gore’s unrelenting—limbs torn, guts spilled, nightmares made flesh—but it’s never gratuitous; every splatter serves the story. Cassidy’s theater chops give the characters depth without bogging down the plot—side players like Cookie and Santos pop off the page, even if they’re destined for the meat grinder. The afterword’s a masterstroke, turning a wild ride into something personal and piercing. It’s not perfect—some twists are telegraphed, and the exposition can feel like a sledgehammer—but it’s so goddamn alive you won’t care.

Strengths: A Monster Mash with Heart
This book’s got balls. The relentless pacing keeps you hooked, flipping pages like your life depends on it. The horror’s top-notch—visceral, inventive, and fucked-up in the best way, with manifestations that’ll haunt your dreams (those weasels with chainsaws? Chef’s kiss). Jess and the kid’s bond is the soul of the thing, a fragile, fierce thread that makes you give a shit amid the carnage. Cassidy’s humor—dark, irreverent, and perfectly timed—cuts through the tension like a machete. And the emotional core? It’s a sledgehammer to the chest, especially when that afterword ties it all together. This isn’t just a horror novel; it’s a cathartic scream, and it’s loud as hell.

Critiques: Too Much of a Good Thing?
For all its brilliance, When the Wolf Comes Home isn’t flawless. The action can get exhausting—300 pages of non-stop chaos leaves little room to breathe, and some readers might crave a slower burn. The kid’s powers, while badass, veer into goofy territory at times (cartoon killers feel more Jumanji than Jacob’s Ladder), and the big reveal’s not as shocking as Cassidy thinks—telegraphed a mile away if you’re paying attention. Jess makes some dumbass moves, too, like she’s never seen a horror movie, though it kinda fits her chaotic vibe. And the ending? It’s a gut-punch, sure, but it’s so open-ended you might want to hurl the book across the room for not tying up loose ends. Still, these are nitpicks in a book that swings for the fences and mostly connects.

The Verdict: A Howling Triumph with Teeth
When the Wolf Comes Home is Nat Cassidy unleashed—raw, reckless, and goddamn remarkable. It’s a high-octane horror-thriller that doesn’t just scare you; it rips your heart out and hands it back with a grin. Jess and the kid are a duo you’ll root for through every bloody twist, and Cassidy’s blend of gore, humor, and soul is pure alchemy. It’s not a traditional werewolf tale—don’t come expecting An American Werewolf in London—but a shapeshifting beast of its own, tackling fear and family with a ferocity that’ll leave you reeling. Flaws and all, it’s one of the most alive books I’ve read this year, a middle finger to predictable horror and a love letter to anyone who’s ever been afraid. Pre-order this bastard now, crack a beer, and brace yourself—Cassidy’s wolf is coming home, and it’s hungry. 9/10, because perfection’s boring, but this is damn close.

When the Wolf Comes Home is a book about fear and all the ways it affects us.

Jessa's night working at the diner starts off poorly, and then it gets much, much worse. She comes home in a seriously worried state, only to find a runaway boy hiding in some bushes near her apartment. What is he hiding from? You'll have to read this to find out!

I am in love with Nat Cassidy's writing and I loved Jessa, the main character, as much as someone can love a figment of another's imagination. I loved her bravery, her smarts and her drive to protect this strange young boy. Jessa sacrifices a lot without a second thought just to protect him-sometimes I wondered if she was making the right choices-and sometimes she wondered the same. I liked that Jess used improv comedy to help her prevail over her fears, and it also gave her the ability to think on her feet. There are all kinds of scary things in this world, both real and imagined, and if we do not face them, how will things ever change?

Overall, this is a werewolf book like no other. I know people say that all the time, but in this case, it's really true. At times, I questioned whether this was even a werewolf story at all. I think it's up for debate. Feel free to seek me out when you're done and we'll discuss it! For now, I'm awarding all the stars. I loved you, Jessa Rae, and I love Nat Cassidy too.

Highly recommended!

*ARC from publisher

To be forewarned, this book has themes and topics of abuse, child abuse, abusive father, alcohol and drugs, needles, gore, and so much more. Read at your own risk.

I read this nice and slow to absorb every last detail of this book. When I read the synopsis, that the theme was focused around abusive fathers I knew this would be a dagger to the heart.

By the end, I was sobbing.

This is for all of us who have experienced abuse, neglect, unkindness from a father, or father figure. This is for all of us readers who are broken, lack understanding or can’t reconcile with the truth about our dads. This is for all of us with daddy issues.

Nat Cassidy never fails to bring me to my knees, rip out my heart and expose my deepest pains. Writing is superb as always, characters were real and I sympathized with the child in this story as well as the main character the most. I loved the character of Cookie. My favorite detail about this book was the spin on familial horror crossing creature feature. I didn’t expect a book with a werewolf like creature to entertain me as much as this one.

It’s weird how books can literally move us, bring us to tears. Another harrowing, heart breaking, horrific experience that will live in my mind, and in my heart.

Arc review ✨

This was a wild ride. Buckle in! if you think you know where this is going, I assure you, You. Do. Not. My heart was invested in this story. It also had parts that will make you laugh at the same time that are you freaking out. Just wild. The horrific imagery was well done and that hotel part referencing that one movie that we all seemed to be a bit freaked out by and all watched way too young thinking it was a kids movie LOL.. so good. I personally did not like Nestlings as much (I haven’t read Mary) but I am so glad I gave this author another shot. I’ll absolutely read future works from this author.

Also can we talk about the afterwords he writes? I absolutely love how personable they are and the influence for the story.

So good. I recommend! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early ebook in exchange for a review 🖤

“No one will be spared when the wolf comes home.”

WOWOWOWOW.

Graphically horrifying and utterly moving, Nat Cassidy has created a masterpiece. This novel was truly a shape shifter in the best way. Fun & campy, dark & emotional all in one.

Fast-moving plot. Beautiful writing. At times quite emotional, with some deliciously gory horror scenes. Unique as fuck. Asks the reader to address how the horror of everyday can make monsters of us all & how we can move on from this knowledge.

“Maybe the true horror of the werewolf is that the change is never permanent.”

Thank you endlessly to Tor Nightfire for letting me read this early! Y’all pick this up on April 22nd, you won’t regret it.

I think Nat Cassidy has been hanging out with Grady Hendrix! When I started this, Cassidy's newest, I thought I knew where we were and where we were going. I did not. Wildly inventive, not a little disgusting and with Cassidy's signature wit and storytelling talent, this is a fun horror read. While it doesn't reach the heights, for me, of Mary, When the Wolf Comes Home cements Cassidy as a must-read.

Magnificent. A gut-wrenching horror that combines the effects of childhood trauma, parenthood and found family. Emotionally-charged with a never-ending shadow of impending doom, Jess reminds me so much of my transition into adulthood and the crazy period of when I was finding myself. She has so much heart and she gave this crazy story the lightness that it needed. I had to think about this one for a while.

One of my most anticipated books this year and boy it didn’t let me down! I absolutely loved Mary and Nestlings and was pumped that Cassidy had a new book coming out. This book had its hooks in me from the start and did not let me go. It jumps right into the wild rollercoaster ride that this book is and doesn’t stop. There’s gore galore and gross scenes that I won’t be able to get out of my head. I absolutely loved the relationship between Jess and the little boy and watching it grow throughout the book. The boy is absolutely adorable and I found myself giggling at things he would say. In true Cassidy fashion this book is weird, gory, and wild.

Overall, I highly recommend picking this one up especially if you loved Cassidy’s other works and Bury Your Gays as it gave me similar vibes to that book as well. When the Wolf Comes Home is going to be the perfect book for spooky season.

Jess, a down on her luck actress turned waitress, is surprised when a 5 year old boy shows up on her doorstep looking for help hiding from his father. When the father shows up there Jess and the boy go on the run. Blood and death seem to follow the father and son wherever they go. Can Jess protect the boy and herself from meeting a horrible end?

The new horror novel from Nat Cassidy is a fast paced bloody ride full of tension and dread. It is a paranormal story with a werewolf element that full of thrills. The main characters are likable and multi-dimensional. If you are looking for a traditional werewolf story you will be disappointed. This one subverts all expectations. It is a great exploration of anxiety, fear, grief, and complicated family dynamics. If you are a fan of fast-paced horror stories with high stakes I would highly recommend checking out When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy.

When the Wolf Comes Home is a well-written, thoughtful work. It did not hit for me in the same way as Nestlings and Mary (both of which I loved) but was still a compelling novel from Cassidy. I continue to be a big fan and look forward to what he writes next!

“But the fear of what happens next is still so strong.”

Horror fans, I am begging you to read this book. I always expect an emotional response from horror novels, but this goes above and beyond. Fear, anxiety, sure. But also, heartbreak, despair, wonder, connection, shock, full blown punches to your gut.

Each character was so dynamic, there were parts of them I loved and hated at the same time. Then you’d find something out about a character and you would hate yourself for hating them for a second! Feelings are complicated.

My god, Nat Cassidy can write a book. And don’t ever skip over reading the Afterword.

Pick this book up, go into it blind, and buckle up.

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