Thank you so much Harlequin Press for the ALC!! I really enjoy a good horror book and this sounded like the perfect book to switch it up from my usual genre. It shines a light on a subject that happened in recent years- the mistreatment of Asians during the pandemic. I wasn’t sure how the pandemic was going to play into the plot, but I was left in tears at the end. There are a string of murders in this book that have you guessing who is behind it. It was also interesting that there were ghosts in this story.

The horror elements were both body horror and ghost elements that have your skin crawling. The author’s writing made the ghosts come to life and feel so real. I felt like I was actually in the room with Cora.

Cora’s inner monologue was gritty and real for someone who suffers from anxiety and is afraid of germs. Which is totally understandable given how horrible COVID is.

Overall, 4.5 stars. I’m so glad I got to listen to this book! If you’re a horror fan that also loves ghosts and reading about political issues this is going to be the perfect book for you.

This book starts off right away with a punch to the gut and it doesn't slow down from there. From the first chapter, my attention was held and I wanted to speed read through this to see how dark it was going to get. It did have it's gruesome moments that are expected with horror, but I find the quieter moments to be much more horrific in any horror novel.

I remember reading and hearing about all of the Asian hate during Covid and being completely horrified by it then. Kylie Lee Baker takes those moments and makes us face it all over again without holding back. I kept thinking to my, Did she pull this from real life? (And I know at least some of it was.) That's the truly scary part of this book. People did terrible, racist things in real life and didn't face consequences and caused people to live in fear when we were all already a little scared. This is what scares me in horror novels. It's not the monsters and supernatural elements--it's the human reactions to the situations they're put in because those things could happen in real life. This is what made Bat Eater such a success to me.

That said, I was taken by surprise with the ghosts. I thought at first they were hallucinations, though I do like the cultural aspect in the involvement of the ghosts. The way I read the description to the book, I didn't anticipate a supernatural element (and didn't see appropriate tags on Goodreads), but that could be on me. When I went back, I saw the mention of hungry ghosts. I do think this book is plenty terrifying without the supernatural element, but I do love that this aspect allowed us to learn more about the culture and Cora's relationship with it.

I felt like conclusion involving the killer and what Cora did happened a little fast. Blink and you miss it kind of fast for what happened to him. I do like and approve of the character development we got from Cora by the end. It was nice to see her come into her own and stop taking everyone's shit.

Bat Eater and Other names for Cora Zeng
By Kylie Lee Baker
Narrated by Natalie Naudus
4.5 ⭐️

This book is intense and jarring. It puts human indecency front row and center. It’s not comfortable. It’s well written. The narration of the audiobook is also very good.

Discrimination against Asian people during the pandemic is a central theme. Being biracial and not fitting in a familial “category” is also heavily focused on. Finding like-abused people and the journey to becoming unlikely friends is present as well. Mostly how cruel humans can be and are is the thread that weaves this story. It’s not for the faint of heart. It will make you think. It will likely make you very, very angry. I’d full heartedly recommend this one is any format to anyone who thinks it sounds good to them. It’s a very powerful book.

I purchased a physical copy of this book and received an audiobook ARC from the publisher as well.

This novel starts off strong with the first chapter and continues throughout. Cora works for a clean-up company that takes care of "messes" after a crime scene. Cora and her co-workers start to notice that most of the subjects are Asian women and bats are at the crime scene. It should be noted that this novel takes place during the pandemic in NYC. Throughout the book, Kylie Lee Baker shows readers the prejudice and hate Asians are subjected to because the virus was nicknamed the China Flu. I will be honest, I did not realize how bad the hate was toward an entire population of people during the pandemic. That is my privilege showing, but I see now, which is the beauty of reading books by diverse authors. This novel is fast paced, as Cora and her friends try to find out who is behind these murders. I absolutely loved this novel, filled with ghosts and Chinese traditions and beliefs.

5⭐️

I've been a little leery about reading stories that focus on COVID and I was hesitant on reading this one. I'm so glad I pushed past that, though! This book really focused on how bleak things were during the height of 202 and how on edge everyone was. This book also highlighted how Chinese people suffered from higher rates of racism and hate crimes during that time.

This was a perfect mash up of a gory, gruesome horror story, a ghost story, a who-done-it mystery, and a social commentary on racism in the US. I loved the use of the bats as the glue that tied all of the deaths together when everything else was so different between each person. The ghost trying to help solve the case added to the tension and the fact that there were enough gruesome murders and mutilated bodies that Cora wasn't able to guess who the ghost actually was was a nice touch.

I also loved how this showed how resilient someone can be when they have to be. Cora has spent almost her entire life doing whatever her half-sister Delilah said. Cora hated making her own decisions and would do what she was told to avoid confrontation. Cora finding the job as a crime scene cleaner that fits to her strengths and compulsions (I don't think it's ever specifically says, but she shows the signs of OCD) was a great first step in making something of her own life after Delilah's death. Yifei and Harvey pulling Cora out of her shell and forming their own little found family was the perfect gang to pull for in this crazy story.

Thank you Netgalley, MIRA and Harlequin Audio for providing this ARC to me!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Audio Review: the audio copy of this book really adds to the story. Because this novel is haunting at times, I would advise listening to increase intensity of the story, reading physically to decrease intensity.

Review: I don't know where to start with this review. This is one of the best books I have ever read and is easily on my favorite of all time list. Per the usual I'm not going to go into detail about the synopsis in my review.

This is a heartbreaking story, all the way through. That's what I want you to know before you pick it up. This is a truly heartbreaking story for many different reasons but should be read and heard and felt. There is one scene (many) in particular that I will never forget or get out of my head. At the same time I was scared, horrified, intrigued, sad, and almost to tears. ALL I N ONE SCENE. That shows the depth of this book. Every word, every sentence, every character, packs a punch. The writing is crafty, humorous, dark, real, raw, gruesome, and so much more.

This is a very graphic story and not for the faint of heart. This should in no way be an intro horror. The body horror and graphic content is in everything. To balance that out, we get dark humor and a strong found family through a group of co-workers and friends. I wish I had the words to communicate how special the relationships within this book are.

That brings me to my next point, I'm not sure how to write a review for a book like this. I just really urge you to give it a try. There are a lot of potential triggers in this story and it's one that deserves to be heard just take care of yourself while you read it.

Wow... Just, wow. This was such a surprising book.

Set in 2020, the story follows Chinese American Cora Zeng after an event that changes her forever. She becomes a crime scene cleaner after that and her life is dominated by anxiety and fear. She's obsessed with cleanliness not just because of her personal trauma, but also because of COVID.

In her work, they start noticing a pattern: all the victims are Asian women, and bats are left at the crime scenes. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is targeting Asian women and no one's doing anything about it. On top of all that, Cora starts getting haunted by a "hungry ghost," and things simply start unraveling for her.

This book combines mystery, horror, and social commentary so well. I couldn't stop reading.

Yes, this is a COVID book, but it's not just about the pandemic, it's also about grief, loss, Asian racism, white supremacy, violence, dehumanization, desensitization, and how broken the system is. It's gorey, bleak, sad, enraging, and, unfortunately, real. But there's also beauty, strength, and culture.

It's also beautifully written and hard-hitting. I highlighted so many lines and felt so much for the characters and the Asian community they represent. This story provides a lot of perspective and though it's a tough read, it's a relevant one cause even if the pandemic is over (?) racism and white supremacy prevail, so uplifting stories about marginalized communities will always be important.

The audiobook was great! The narrator did a good job with this so it's a great way to consume the story.

This was a hard one for me to rate because I love horror but not gore. Yes, I knew this was gory, going in, and I dove in anyway. The horror, in it's numerous forms, was magnificent. The gore was, well.....gory. Which is to say, the story was so good, it kept me going through the 'yucky stuff'.
This was terrifying, unnerving and heartbreaking.

Horror • Mystery • Supernatural • Folklore
Expected Publication • 29 April 2025

Thank you @_mira_books_ @htp_hive & @harlequin_audio for the free ALC and e-book.

·˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀➛ This will be in contention for top Horror of 2025 · ←˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀

From the opening chapter, you can’t look away. A book that never pulls its punches, provides gripping social commentary, and blends Chinese lore and superstition against a backdrop of stereotypes and violence toward Asian Americans during the so-called “China virus”.

Cora Zeng is unemployed and needs rent money so she becomes a CSI-style crime scene cleaner. It’s one of the few things that she can stomach, ironically, as it’s impersonal and she can hide behind her mask and hazmat suit. As she and her crew respond to calls, a pattern emerges — though the deaths take different forms, the killer has a calling card involving bat entrails and body parts.

Cora is not OK but she’s getting by. She suffers from a few things, predominantly fear and PTSD following an assault and murder she witnesses and also some form of germaphobia/OCD. She’s also either losing her mind or food/drink is going missing from her apartment [where she lives alone]. Or it could be a restless spirit who hasn’t moved on to the afterlife, if you believe her Aunty Z, who is an expert on hungry ghosts.

I usually shy away from books relating to COVID-19 but this one is different. It’s not just about “what we all went through” “together”. This will punch you in the gut, make you laugh, terrify, and make you think hard about racism and domestic terrorism in our country.

‧₊˚🎧⊹ Narration of audiobook by Natalie Naudus was on point! This is the way to read this book!

TW: Murder, Gore, Misogyny, Assault, Racism, Racial Slurs

A ghosty, bloody, serial-killer horror with biting social commentary

Cora Zeng is a crime scene cleaner. Cora starts noticing a trend of Chinese women being the ones dead at the crime scenes, and after finding bats at a few scenes, Cora suspects something more sinister is afoot. Together with her two other crime scene cleaner coworkers, Cora tries to uncover the truth.

Because of the crew, it felt a bit like R-rated Scooby-Doo at times, which I thoroughly enjoyed. One of my favorite types of horror is real-world horror, where everyday people are the villains and are capable of cruel, horrific acts. This book had such sharp commentary on racism against Chinese people - especially after Covid - while also incorporating a ghost story.

This was a wild, action-packed, non-stop ride. I listened to the audiobook in one day.

I'd recommend this to horror fans, especially fans of socially conscious horror. It is a bit gruesome, so I wouldn't recommend it to those who are more squeamish/sensitive.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

YEP THIS WAS GREAT. Definitely going to be on my top horror of 2025 list.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is a horror/thriller set in early COVID days. The book opens with our Chinese American MC Cora witnessing her sisters murder on the subway in NYC after being called a 'bat eater' by her killer. She then becomes a crime scene cleanup person in the months following and notices too many asian women are being murdered.

This books really broaches the rampant asian hate crimes that have always occurred but really increased with the onset of COVID. It's something I don't feel like I heard enough about during the pandemic (also well illustrated in the book!) but I know it was occuring.

This is filled with amazing characters, some light found family/friendship, a serial killer on the loose, and lots of wild ghosts! There's a decent amount of really well written and creative gore and I could not put it down. I started and finished this in one day and I want more horror from this author in the future!

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free digital audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cora Zeng and her sister discussed what they should do when a horrific incident occurs. Cora is deeply affected. We fast forward, and she is working as a crime scene cleaner. Cora's obsession with cleanliness creates a bizarre tension as she comes in contact with disturbing things and people. Her experiences are very visceral and vivid as she begins to hear ghosts and see things in the shadows, making for some intense and scary interchanges.

The book weaves Chinese folklore into the narrative, transforming ghostly superstitions into something tangible. The phrase "bat eater" takes on a derogatory meaning and starts to paint a pattern involving the crime scenes as Cora is desperate to find a killer and soothe the ghosts haunting as she feels her reality slipping. Cora starts piecing all the deaths together, escalating to a climactic and shocking end.

I would classify The Bat Eater as a psychological horror that provides social commentary on the monstrosity of real-world prejudice. It covers grief, trauma, and the emotions that refuse to stay buried. I recommend it for those who love stories that pull from cultural folklore and about what hides in the shadows.

An excellent audiobook narration that exudes skill, technique, and an understanding of the story's tone, pacing, and character development.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Audio, for the gifted audiobook.

This had me hooked right away. I adore horror books that are rooted in real, relatable events (in this case, the book is set during the onset of COVID).

The way the author included Chinese traditions for honoring the dead was hauntingly beautiful and added a lot of depth to the hungry ghosts storyline. At the same time, the book doesn’t shy away from highlighting the real horror of hate and anti-Asian racism during the pandemic. The balance between supernatural horror and the horrors of discrimination made this so impactful.

I also really enjoyed listening to this book in audio format. The narrator was strong and kept me invested in the story throughout.

This would be great for horror lovers that enjoy real-world settings and societal themes. It is creepy (and body horror-y), but it’s also a powerful reminder of hate society continues to perpetuate. Highly recommend!

This book hooked me in immediately. I enjoyed the relationship between the characters and the incorporation of how Chinese honor their dead. The horror was perfect, but so was the social of commentary of the racism against Asians during the pandemic and throughout history. Not much has changed and in times of crisis, our country is still prone to use scapegoats.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the gifted ALC.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng immediately catapulted me back to those two scary weeks during March of 2020. The abrupt silence, fear, terror. The uncertainly. The moments of slowed down peace. Of an awakening in society. The realization that people are not how I always thought they were: empathetic and caring. And instead were selfish, uncaring and unsympathetic.

This beautiful and horrifying book was nuanced and thought provoking. I like to hope that I am deeply empathetic, but I always appreciate an opportunity to enhance my empathy and to take a walk in someone’s shoes. This book forces you to do just that.

At first, I saw myself in the post-pandemic spike in Cora’s health anxiety, her trauma based OCD, her panic and general anxiety. But then that part of my mind quieted and I sat with all of the ways Americans, once again, found ways to blame anyone who didn’t look like them. Somehow, I am always surprised at how horrible and mean people can be to each other. It is despicable.

“Do not let the empathy stop at the borders of your own community.”

This book emphasizes the utmost horror of COVID. It wasn’t only the people we lost, but the things we lost, too, as a society, and as individuals. It reiterates how much compassion we have lost. It truly blew me away. I cannot recommend this book enough.

So dark and disturbing. The realization that angey, hungry ghosts are not the true horror of this book just hits so hard. Excellent cultural representation.

This audiobook was an unexpected gut-punch in all the best ways. It follows Cora, a 24-year-old germaphobe, who’s half-Chinese and half-white. She’s been living in her sister Delilah’s shadow... and pretty much the whole world's. But her life falls apart when Delilah dies in a gruesome subway tragedy. Fast forward a few months, and Cora is cleaning crime scenes with a sketchy, under-the-table crew. She’s still grieving, still haunted by the past. Then, she starts noticing a chilling pattern: an unusual number of dead Asian women. And bats. Lots of bats. Slowly, she realizes she’s caught in something much bigger—something that blends real-life horrors with paranormal ones.

I wasn’t sure about reading a book set during the pandemic—it felt too soon, too raw. But this story? It needed to be told. Through Cora’s eyes, we see the harsh realities of anti-Asian hate during COVID. The violence, the prejudice, the dehumanization—it’s horrifying, but it’s real, and the author doesn’t shy away from it.

What makes this book stand out is how grounded it feels. Cora isn’t some over-the-top hero; she’s messy, scared, and painfully human. The plot doesn’t rely on cheap twists or forced connections. Everything unfolds naturally, and by the end, you realize how brilliantly the author wove it all together.

If you love stories about revenge, grief, and self-discovery, this book is for you. It’s a deeply emotional read that sneaks in moments of rage, hope, and even humor. And for fans of the "good for her" trope? You’ll love Cora’s journey. I went in for the intriguing premise and stayed for the raw, beautiful storytelling. It’s a haunting, powerful audiobook that will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommend.

Brilliant, horrifying, and incredibly powerful.

After seeing rave reviews from numerous people, I had to see what everyone was talking about.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zheng is a powerful exploration of loneliness, community, and belonging in the face of hatred. This book is a must-read, an important and haunting experience for readers.

Kylie Lee Baker stunned me with her ability to evoke such strong emotions within me. Her writing and the way in which she tells this story is simply genius. I was reeling and completely devastated at the end.

If you are looking for a visceral experience, read this book. I do recommend reading with care. And do not skip the author’s note at the end, while dark there is still some light in this world.

A note on the narration: I love Natalie Naudus. She was an excellent choice for telling this story. Her performance adds even greater emotion to this story. I started listening to the audio about halfway through the book, and I finished in one sitting because I was so enthralled.

My rating: 5⭐️

A Chinese American woman navigates living in NYC at the beginning stages of the pandemic as East Asians are being targeted by a killer

"And you know what the cops told me? They said that's not enough to go on. 'We can't just look for white men. You should have looked harder', they said. But white men are going after Asian girls, and that's all THEY have to go on, us being Asian. No one wants to look harder at us."

Cora begins working as a crime scene cleaner in Chinatown in 2020 following the extremely brutal murder of her sister. The murderer yelling out 'Bat Eater' as he does it. Cora begins to recognize a pattern in the crime scenes she is cleaning, and at the same time, she is being haunted by what she believes is the hungry ghost of her sister. She must navigate how to keep herself safe in a ever growing violent territory for East Asians, but also how to satiate her sister's ghost and her complex trauma that rears its head.

I really enjoyed reading both angles of this story. The author wrote this in a way that makes YOU decide what will come of it. It is very clear who is dying, and the specific ways they are dying but Cora does not outwardly express "hey this Chinese woman was murdered because of vile, racist rhetoric", instead the author shows us the actions of the killer and has us deduce it's intention until the ultimate reveal. I also really enjoyed the angle of the hungry ghosts, and Cora's discovery into why they are haunting her and what they want.

The reason this book didn't hit 4 or 5 stars for me is that these two angles combined were overwhelming to the plot. The heaviness of this serial killer is just as important as the inner traumas the hungry ghosts brought out in Cora. I don't think we were able to fully sit and digest either of these plot lines because it flopped back and forth so rapidly. Something really big and shocking would happen with the killer but we would fly past it because the hungry ghost was also in frame and calling for Cora's attention.

I still believe this is 100% worth the read. 2020 was a lived experience for all of us, a nightmare to those who lost someone, but it has been the most terrifying for our Asian neighbors. The violence they experienced daily. Kylie Lee Baker ends her author's note with something I will not forget..

"Do not let your empathy stop at the borders of your own community"

This book was even better than I expected!! The found family was heartwarming and gave the majority of the book an overall warm vibe. Odd for a horror, but I stand by it 🤣 I really liked Cora, she was an easy protagonist to get invested in from the beginning, and her story arc was done effortlessly. I really enjoyed seeing her come into her own and gain confidence throughout the story. There are definitely a lot of heart wrenching moments, but I really really enjoyed this one! In addition, I thought that the narrator did an absolutely stellar job bringing the story to life!