Cora, a Chinese American, is a crime scene cleaner in the midst of the 2020 pandemic. After experiencing a traumatic event that involved her sister, she seems to be in a haze. While exhibiting OCD behavior to the extreme, she’s found she’s been more forgetful of things. Trouble seems to be following. And why do all the crime scenes she ends up at involve Asian victims and bats?!

First, if Kylie Lee Baker writes it, I will read it. Second, if Natalie Naudus narrates it, I will listen to it.

This book was so damn good. The perfect amount of creepy with some sad realities. There were times I related to Cora as an Asian American. I enjoyed the supernatural addition and the semi-retribution. I don’t want to say much more to avoid spoilers. Just know, if you enjoy supernatural like thrillers with quite a bit of gore (she is a crime scene cleaner after all)…then definitely check this book out.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Harlequin Audio for an ALC!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
This is a truly excellent and grotesque horror novel. This takes place in New York during the COVID pandemic. Our main character Cora is an American of Chinese descent who has model wannabe sister and Cora deals with some anxiety and OCD tendencies. When something absolutely horrific happens she falls into a job cleaning up after crime scenes. These crime scenes start to have gruesome and strange connections. There are some very visceral scenes that made me gasp out loud, there is also true horror in blatant racism that our main character encounters throughout the book. I highly recommend this to horror fans. Content warnings: some animal deaths-not pets, Covid, & racist slurs against those of Chinese and Asian descent throughout. 5⭐️

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 4.5/5⭐️

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker is a horror story set during Covid. Cora is a crime scene cleaner who has witnessed the murder of her sister. She is being haunted by inner turmoil, racial prejudice, and actual ghosts!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the ALC of this! The narrator was excellent! Seriously highly recommend you listen!

I seriously love Kylie’s writing. She is so good at painting a picture and really putting you in the book. She does such an excellent job of blending supernatural and horror with real world events in this book! It is so interesting how she weaves the supernatural and gore into this!

This is gory! Heads up if you are planning to read it. It really takes a great writer to blend real life brutal events with ghosts and gore. Definitely worth a read if you enjoy gory, supernatural horror that showcases social injustices in real world events!

The only thing I can say is that I had wanted more! More from Cora maybe later down the line more in the future on how she ends up coping. I know we have an ending but maybe I am just being greedy.

Do I like horror now?

To be clear, I generally avoid horror in all forms (books, TV, movies, you name it). But, I LOVE Kylie Lee Baker so I thought I would give Bat Eater a try and heck am I glad I did.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng mixes the myths of hungry ghosts with real life hate crimes perpetrated against East Asians during the pandemic. When Cora's sister is murdered almost immediately at the start of the book, Cora has to figure out who she is without her older sister to guide her. Four months later, Cora is working as a crime scene cleaner and finds a pattern in the murders she is cleaning. Oh and she ignored her aunt and did nothing to prepare for the Hungry Ghost Festival. But ghosts aren't real. Right?

What shook me to my core in this book wasn't the dismembered bodies or characters that you have grown to love dying. It was the fact that the hate crimes and slurs used aren't just fiction. As always Kylie Lee Baker does an outstanding job bringing her characters and the world they live in to life. This time, I honestly wish she didn't have so much life to base this story on.

On a different note, Natalie Naudus who narrated the book, kept me enraptured. The way Natalie narrated Cora's compulsions and regular panics felt just like the little voice inside my own head.

This book had me hooked from the first few pages. Cora Zeng, a crime scene cleaner in Chinatown, is already traumatized AF after watching her sister get murdered, and now she’s dealing with bat carcasses at her jobs, a possible ghost sister haunting her, and a string of dead Asian women that feels way too targeted. Set during COVID era in NYC, Baker does a great job of reminding us of the uncertainty and disgusting racism and hate crimes inflicted on the Asian community. She also delivers creepy supernatural vibes, messy family drama, and a murder mystery that keeps you guessing. The balance is ✨chef’s kiss✨gory but emotional, scary but deeply human.

Cora is such a compelling MC and I loved seeing her grow more confident in herself throughout. Her OCD, her grief, fear, her love-hate bond with her sister, even as a ghost?? relatable. All the characters are also so well-written, each with their own quirks and depth. And the atmosphere? Immaculate. Baker nails the tension, every scene feels like something’s lurking just out of frame. Plus, the way grief, guilt, culture, and justice weave together is so powerful.

Easily a five star read, this is a book that will cling to your mind like a hungry ghost. Highly recommended for fans of atmospheric thrillers, supernatural horror, and stories that refuse to look away from the darkness, both in the world and within ourselves 🖤

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you @htp_hive @htpbooks_audio @htpbooks #partner for the gifted copies of this book!

Let’s quick talk about that cover. It is such a stunning and beautiful horror book! SOLD on that alone. 😝 #ijudgeabookbyitscover

This book was haunting, unsettling, disturbing and deeply thought provoking at times. Much deeper than I had anticipated to be honest. In particular, the details around how Asians were treated during Covid was hard to stomach. I am super picky with horror books and this one was done really well. I thought the mystery behind Cora’s sister and Cora’s behavior and obsession with germs made for an enthralling book. Some of the situations that Cora was put in at work gave me the heebie jeebies. That whole spit scene grossed me out. 🙂‍↔️ Ha! This is a me thing but the only thing I didn’t love was the Covid details. I don’t know why but I still don’t like reading about it. All that being said, I thought it was done really well and it didn’t takeaway from the storyline and the rest of the book. If you are a fan of horror, like spine tingling tales about ghosts and enjoy a provocative story about social injustice.

This story begins in March 2020, with Cora Zeng and her sister Delilah out in NYC having finally secured toilet paper and now waiting for a train that doesn’t appear to be coming. But then the unthinkable happens; a man comes in just as the train rolls into the station and pushes Delilah into it’s path, decapitating her, and screaming “bat eater” as he leaves.

Flash forward a few months, and Cora is now a crime scene cleaner. She is in the bathtub of a particularly gruesome murder of an Asian woman, when she unclogs a bloody drain only to find the carcass of a bat. Soon, a pattern emerges of bats being found at the crime scenes of the brutal murders of other Asian women, yet no one is reporting on this connection or seems to care.

On top of this, it is Hungry Ghost month, where families burn Joss notes to honor their lost relatives. Those ghosts who haven’t had tribute paid will desperately seek out food to quench their hunger. Cora, having been raised by her white mother, doesn’t really follow these practices so doesn’t burn any notes and now finds she is being haunted by her sister’s hungry ghost. But her past history of mental health has her questioning if she is really seeing her sister, or if she might be having a psychiatric break again.

This whole book was wild and gory; a perfect mix of horror and commentary on violence and anti-Asian hate during the height of the COVID pandemic. There was so much mystery surrounding everything that was happening in this book. There were overlapping stories with the serial killer narrative, ghost haunting, and Cora’s daily struggles with navigating a pandemic, where she deals with racism and fears of getting sick. I really had no idea where this one was going. It shocked me multiple times as the story progressed and we saw these separate storylines intertwine. There were little hints throughout that made you think all different things could be happening and it was so well done in the end!

Kylie did an amazing job with writing Cora’s identity and really connecting us with the character. She has a Chinese father but was raised by her white mother (who is now a member of a cult), and has a lot of identity and abandonment issues due to this. I loved the relationship she created between Cora and her coworkers - Yifei and Harve. They team up to use Eastern traditions to help Delilah’s ghost pass on while also trying to solve the mystery of who the “batman” killer is. These three were a breath of fresh air in an otherwise pretty horrid tale. They all dealt with the horrors of their work and the pandemic in different ways, but I loved how they formed a little quirky family through it.

This was such so much more than a simple horror story. It was dark, it was gruesome, it was filled with tragedy and hate, but also had moments of joy and humor - hope in a bleak world. I can firmly say this will be one of my top books of the year! It was so well done!

I listened to this one on audio and Natalie Naudus did a fantastic job, as always, in capturing Cora’s emotions and inner turmoil. Natalie is one of my favorite narrators for a reason, and if you have the ability to read this one on audio, I highly highly recommend it!

3.5 stars for the story but the narrator bumped it up to 4 stars for me.

I thought this story was well written, thought provoking, and worth a read. No fault to the author it was just not something I enjoyed reading. However, because I enjoyed the narrator, I was able to finish.

Holy hell, this book. What a ride.

I’m not usually a horror film person—I’m the type who watches with my hands half-covering my face, which honestly defeats the purpose. But horror in book form? I’m in. Especially when it comes to Asian horror, which tends to hit different—more visceral, more psychological. This was my first read from Kylie Lee Baker, and it won’t be my last.

The way this book weaves together pandemic-era fear, anti-Asian racism, and folklore is bold and brilliant. And if you’re tired of hearing about COVID or racism against Asians, this probably isn’t the book for you. But it was the book for me. There's a very specific kind of racism Asian folks experience—often erased, often minimized. I've heard people argue we don’t count as people of color because of lighter skin tones. Not only is that grossly reductive (and wrong—Asia is a continent, not a monolith), but honestly? Screw that.

At the center of the story is Cora Zeng—a biracial Chinese American crime scene cleaner with intense germaphobia. Her hypervigilance, her grief, her exhaustion—it all felt deeply real. She’s still reeling after witnessing her half-sister Delilah pushed in front of a train in New York City at the start of the pandemic. From there, the story blends serial murder, ghosts, and racial trauma in a way that’s both unsettling and poetic. Cora’s job brings her into the aftermath of horror after horror—most of the victims Asian women—and the ghost of her sister is never far behind.

I didn’t grow up with the concept of hungry ghosts, but their presence here—rooted in Chinese mythology—feels both metaphorical and terrifying. The book is steeped in grief and rage, but also family, memory, and the complicated mess of identity. It’s sharp. It’s gutsy. And it lingers.

I loved every second.

Good for her (kinda) but bad for my mental stability.

Kylie Lee Baker doesn’t hold back. The horror is raw and emotional, but also deeply personal. It’s not just about blood and death. It’s about what it means to exist in a world that wants you to clean up its messes and stay silent and Cora doesn’t stay silent.

In some ways, this book reminded me of a more refined version of The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim. So if you want an elevated version of that without the caricatured characters, definitely pick this up.

Five stars, no notes.

Cora Zeng is a forensic crime scene cleaner who faces and washes away the most brutal of murders and suicides. Her job doesn’t phase her because she has witnessed the most horrific thing possible: the murder of her sister. Before fleeing the scene the murderer shouted two words: Bat Eater. Cora is haunted by her sister’s murder, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, bodies of East Asian women piling up, and the dismembered bodies of bats at the crime scenes.

I haven’t read any pandemic novels, mainly because I feel like it’s so fresh and raw that I just personally don’t want to relive it. I loved this novel because it’s a different perspective that shines a light on the violence, racism and stereotyping that Asians received during such a confusing and uncertain point in time. Cora’s story is heartbreaking, terrifying, and hits close to home by painting a picture of the uncertainty of life, religion, cultural identity and the grief that we all faced during the Pandemic.

Baker accomplishes to write modern horrors with cultural undertones and thrilling story telling that is both beautiful and disturbing. Baker shows the reader that true monsters are born from fear and how unpredictable life is. I loved the supernatural aspect pertaining to East Asian culture and their celebration of the Hungry Ghost Festival, it was freaking terrifying to say the least. The true fear represented in the novel stems from the monsters we try to run from but inevitably find in ourselves and others.

“Bat Eater” is a mystery and supernatural thriller that calls nostalgia to catching a masked man like the mystery gang and hunting ghosts with the Winchesters. I want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.

This was a well written book about real topics, so it had an added heaviness. It brought me back to the dark time of Covid-19 and all of the hardship it brought. I can’t speak personally on the racism but I feel the author did a great job of portraying how Asian people were treated and blamed for Covid. I liked the added darkness and horror, as well as the ghosts to the storyline.

This has a decent amount of gore, so if you’re not into that, stay clear! My stomach got a bit uneasy in some parts.

The audiobook was well done and I think the narrator did a great job of holding my attention.

Thank you NetGalley, HTP books, and HTP audio for my gifted ALC!

In March 2020, Covid-19 is spreading, unrest is spreading, hate is spreading, and Cora Zeng has no idea that things are about to change forever.

I have a feeling that this book will have a tremendous impact on me for some time. I was expecting horror and a ghost story, and that's certainly something I got, but I also got so much more. But let me start with the overall story. The first chapter of this book immediately draws you in. In a time when most of us didn't know what was coming next (2020), Cora and her sister Delilah are going about their day much like everyone else was. But the suddenness of having Delilah called a "bat eater" while being shoved into an oncoming train and Cora's immediate response was visualized so well with the writing it felt real. Cora's life following this incident, her new job, her new co-workers, her limited family, paints her carefully curated existence. When her and her colleagues start cleaning up murder after murder of Asian women, they start to see a pattern. And then it's Ghost Month and Cora is being haunted by her sister's ghost. And everything starts to unravel. The ending had me in tears. There is so much anger and grief in the ending, but also a little bit of light. This book, while fiction, has a lot of hard truths written into the story. Kylie Lee Baker has done a wonderful job at bringing all of that together.
5/5 for the audiobook. Natalie Naudus does such a good job bringing Cora and her inner thoughts to life. And her voice is lovely to listen to.

~Thank you to Harlequin Audio, Kylie Lee Baker and NetGalley for this complimentary ALC. All opinions are my own~

This is a new favorite for me! While the characters weren't fully fleshed out until about the halfway point, they were definitely fully developed after that. While the hungry ghosts were frightening enough, the commentary on racial bias and the impacts of a pandemic were even more terrifying.

Audio narrator feedback: Well done, love the different voices + kept me intrigued.

I enjoy horror films, but I’m new to the horror book genre. Being East Asian myself, I was drawn to the synopsis of this and was intrigued to see where the story would go 🥸.

⤷ Set in 2020, in the midst of covid-19, Cora Zeng witnesses the most horrible accident when her sister gets pushed in front of a train. The trauma that comes with that event, combined with her discoveries during her job as a crime scene cleaner begins to haunt her more ways than one.

The first chapter was jarring and sets up the story well. I appreciated the blend of Chinese folklore of the supernatural 👻 along with the real-world events. This is gory & graphic, and I felt the paranoia—but what left an impression were the nuanced themes it tackles.

Kylie does an incredible job addressing racism, hate crimes, and systemic injustice in the Asian community. I felt mad & upset reading because the issues highlighted are still painfully relevant today. It stirred up a lot of personal triggers from my own memories. 💭

Though the story is unique in its genre blend, I found the pacing to be uneven. Also as a personal preference, I wanted a bit more emotional connection with Cora and get a better understanding of her relationships and connections.

That being said, the last third of the book really ramped things up. The imagery was creepy and visceral. I audibly gasped at a couple scenes. It was a haunting conclusion and even influenced my dreams the night I finished😂.

Overall, this was a gripping read. If you’re in the mood for horror, true crime, and social commentary, this is for you! 🦇

Thank you, Netgalley for this ARC!

Clearly I’m an outlier on this one, as it’s getting a lot of praise and 5-star reviews. I was definitely expecting something different than what this book delivered. The premise sounded dark and unique, and the beginning pulled me in, but after that it went flat. The pacing dragged, and it never quite recaptured the momentum.

It also read very YA to me—something I don’t mind if I’m in the mood for it, but I went in expecting something more adult and horror-forward. The ending was just okay and didn’t leave much of an impact. This one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin books, & Harlequin Audio for the ALC & e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

W-O-W! This was an outstanding horrifying mystery thriller. Kylie Lee Baker is a fantastic writer - knowing how to present the story and get a reader in her grips. This was hard to stop, and I read it in two days (and would have in one if time allowed). Read the trigger warnings before reading or listening.

This story takes place in modern NYC during the COVID pandemic. Many people are blaming all East Asian people, and there is a killer on the use who is targeting Asian women. After Cora witnesses her sister's murder, she struggles and begins to keep to herself. She eventually confides her secrets to her coworkers and new friends, only to discover that she isn't crazy like she initially thought or was told.

Bat Eater includes a lot of Chinese cultural indicators mixed in with horror and common American prejudices and discrimination, highlighting Asian hate and all racism. This book also highlights how many were willing (and did) sacrifice people (particularly those most vulnerable) in the name of personal profit and capitalism, violence and systemic racism.

I recommend this title for everyone who has already forgotten what is was like to live through the COVID-19 pandemic, which is a lot of people since humans seem to have such short memories. Read the trigger warnings as there is violence, ghosts, and gore.

.If I could describe this book in one word it would be: Unafraid.

Kylie shies away from nothing. At all. it's honestly pretty refreshing. It sometimes feels like authors are too worried about the audience to do some of the things done in this book and I personally love the boldness.

The first chapter? All that in the first chapter? Insane.

I will admit, the middle was a little difficult for me to get into because Cora was kind of insufferable, but once it picked up I couldn't get enough.

I did also find the end a little bit... unsatisfying. In my opinion that was the point of how it worked out, but if that's not your jam, keep that in mind.

I can't say that I enjoyed this, but it was extremely well written and I know others will love it.

I expected a little more horror and mystery in the beginning, rather then our character dealing with undiagnosed OCD, but even that was so well done. Really that's my only feedback, felt like the horror took a long time to get to and it was a little underwhelming. Rather then a horror of ghosts, this was more introspection on the ghost of ourselves and our past.

Wow! This was beautiful and gory and unexpected. I am not someone that likes to read about the pandemic…. Yet. This one was such a unique perspective and horrifying in the best way. The writing was so well done that I truly see the images and feel the fmc’s inner thoughts. This was definitely a ghost story done right. Side note probably don’t eat anything while reading if you’re squeamish.