I usually shy away from COVID-19 fiction but this book gave an honest and horrifying perspective of the pandemic through the eyes of a chinese american woman. Equally horrific and sad!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio | MIRA for this ARC Copy!

I was so nervous to read this book because I did not want to lose any more faith in humanity, but seeing the reality that so many people experience every day is important, and this book is so well written and impactful that anyone who can get past the trigger warnings needs to read it. This story was so impactful and really gave such a tragic and raw insight about the abuse and racism that is still alive and well in America to this day. Seeing this through the eyes of Cora, who has so many internal struggles, had such a strong impact on the whole story.

This book reminded me in all the best ways of Stephen Graham Jones. Culturally specific roots? Check. Time and place specific, too? Check. Is this simply surreal, or is it horrific, moments that we live with the characters? Check. And Cora's willingness to blame herself, even when there's obviously a lot more in play, is also so reminiscent of Jade.

There were a few times where I wished things were more integrated, but Cora's journey is almost a slice of early pandemic life, and nothing was integrated then.

I wonder how well this book will hold up for people who cannot see themselves in the circumstances that Cora's describing, but for all of us who were worrying about how to make ends meet in Spring of 2020, this book is going to hit a lot of feelings and hit them hard. The fact that Baker expands this past just that shared experience to also reflect on the role of family, community, and societal bonds makes this more effective than any of the other books or memoirs that I've read that reflect on the pandemic so far.

ARC provided by Netgalley.

This was the perfect commentary of the COVID pandemic while bringing us tons of gore and body horror. If you want to read a horror book that gets you more mad and riled up about racism than afraid of boogeyman, then you need to pick this up.

As events ramp up in the story, Cora starts to lose her grip on reality a bit, which adds to the horror of Asian women being slaughtered across New York and as we find out who the killer(s) are, the fear is heightened.

Everything about this story was perfect. The character dynamics between Cora and her fellow clean up crew members were fantastic and everything felt too real. I am so glad this book was written. I am so glad it is coming out right now. It is the perfect time for this book, to be able to look back at the pandemic and the way our country handled things, through the lens of horror.

If you get the chance, read this via audiobook also. Natalie Naudus is the perfect voice for Cora Zeng and brings so much emotion to this story.

Thank you to @harlequinn and @htp_audio for the eARC and ALC. All thoughts are my own.

This was a good time. I know a lot of people who are not a fan of pandemic books, and if you are one of those people, I would avoid this one. Grief horror, but also something a little more gruesome. I think that the social commentary was done very well and was very effective. It was also much more gory than I was expecting, but that is not a bad thing. I like it and I would recommend! The narrator was also excellent.

Narrated by Natalie Naudus, Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker delivers a chilling ghostly thriller. The story takes place in New York City during Covid that touches on horror, cultural prejudices and culture. Addictive and dark, you’ll want to grab this one!

I’ve been digging thrillers and horror stories of late and was curious to try Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng. I am glad that I did. This twisted tale filled with hungry ghosts and prejudice while navigating New York during Covid held me captive.

Cora Zeng is a crime scene cleaner in April 2020. She enjoys cleaning despite the gore. After witnessing her sister being pushed in front of a train, nothing makes her squeamish. Her sister’s killer was never caught and at night she can still hear the last words he said as he pushed her… “bat-eater.”

Cora is going through the motions of daily life. She is haunted by her sister and despite friendships and even a caring Aunt; she feels like she is haplessly navigating rough currents. A series of unexplained killings in Chinatown gives Cora focus. She believes someone is targeting Asian women, and that someone is watching her. A ghostly, malevolent shadow follows Cora and believes it is her sister trying to tell her something. With the help of her friends and Aunt, Cora sets out to help.

I loved the cultural aspects of the Hungry Ghost Festival and their ideas regarding the dead. The story that unfolds was creeptastic. Horror fans will love the gore, and fans of ghostly encounters will be equally satisfied by this thriller.

Honestly, I couldn’t stop listening. The flow and prose were wonderful and the narration only furthered my enjoyment. Natalie Naudus captured Cora perfectly, as well as the tone of the story. She was perfectly suited for this well-written tale.

I liked this mostly. Induced strong feelings of revulsion which is what it wanted to do. Obviously I enjoyed the ghost stuff more than the hate crime stuff but it was tied together fairly well. Some may say it’s gratuitous or heavyhanded but so is racism.

Because I specifically had an audio arc copy, I do wanna say like up until very end I wasn’t sure how I felt about the audiobook specifically the levels (volume) and voice done for specific characters. There were a lot of emotional moments where the narrator would ratchet back and forth between a shout and a whisper, which I just didn’t enjoy. Didn’t affect the rating.

Overall, the book was good in the way of being fine. I did like the pandemic stuff. There were times where I found myself questioning my own memory and experiences. Like, is that how I felt at the time? Do I remember things being like this. We’ve certainly gone through a number of cultural shifts since the start of COVID and I appreciated being able to see the ways the author talked about it.

Soooo Good!! If you don't read horror, or avoid books set during COVID, make this book the exception! Especially if you're a thriller reader who's not easily squeamish, this is the perfect crossover for you.

Someone is killing young Asian women in NYC and wearing COVID surgical masks to conceal their identity. See why it has to be set during COVID? And that's without going into the larger picture of what spurs these murders to begin with. (Insert: Major plot element that I'm skipping over to avoid spoilers.)

Cora Zeng is part of a 3-person team that dons hazmat suits to clean up murder scenes.

As you'd expect from horror, gore and ghosts make frequent appearances. But what came as a welcome surprise was how often I laughed out loud at the trio's dialogue and Cora's internal thoughts. The writing also had such a pleasing cadence to it. It's hard to put into words why/how it hits just right. You just know it when you read it.

I really hope readers step outside of their genre comfort zones and give this genre-defying novel a chance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Truly a great read about taking such a historic event and taking your power from that narrative. I commend this author. Did a great job!

This book dealt with a difficult subject in such an interesting way. The story kept me so engaged that I just couldn’t stop listening/reading it. There were moments where I wondered where the situation was heading. Them towards the end everything seems to happen all at once and it’s so intense. The narrator really did a great job in giving Cora a voice.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC and ALC!

Cora Zeng: She Came, She Saw, She Confused and Consumed Us All

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is the literary equivalent of licking a battery and liking it. Cora isn’t just a character—she’s a fever dream wrapped in mystery, dipped in folklore, and sprinkled with a little “is she okay?” (Spoiler: she’s not. And that’s the point.)

Tuomainen—or perhaps some possessed, brilliant alter ego—gives us a protagonist who could eat a bat, rename your cat, and convince you to thank her for it. The names she’s called (and calls herself) are as bizarre and brilliant as the plot twists. One moment you're laughing; the next you're existentially spiraling—classic Tuesday.

It’s funny. It’s fierce. It’s feral. And like Cora herself, this book will haunt your brain and possibly rearrange your furniture.

This book was insane—in the best, most unsettling way possible. It’s horror that gets under your skin, not just with ghosts and gore (though there’s plenty of that), but with grief, rage, and the kind of fear that feels way too real.

Cora Zeng is a crime scene cleaner in pandemic-era NYC, but she’s already living in a personal horror story—her sister was murdered right in front of her in a hate crime, and now everything in her world feels off-balance. The way the book blurs the line between supernatural terror and psychological trauma is so well done. You’re constantly questioning: are the ghosts real? Is Cora unraveling? Is it both?

The writing is sharp, gritty, and weirdly beautiful. One moment you’re laughing at Cora’s dark humor, and the next you’re choking on anxiety because something is lurking in the shadows—or in her mind. It’s also deeply rooted in cultural trauma, calling out anti-Asian violence in a way that feels visceral, raw, and necessary.

There are moments in this book that feel like a fever dream—bat carcasses, haunted crime scenes, and ghost festival warnings that Cora refuses to take seriously until it’s too late. But it never loses focus. It’s chaotic, yes, but also incredibly controlled. Every haunting, every strange moment, every bloody mess serves a purpose.

If you like horror that hits emotionally as hard as it scares, Bat Eater is it. Unforgettable, unflinching, and totally unlike anything I’ve read before. Don’t sleep on this one.

This was such an interesting read. It took me a while to get into it, but it really brought me back into the world of COVID lockdown. The fear, the racism, the loneliness, the isolation…they were all well encapsulated here. The writing style was extremely vivid, and my skin was crawling throughout reading. This is a fairly gory read, so be prepared for that going in.

This was a dark read - check trigger warnings before reading. While it took me a while to get into, I did find myself really enjoying the story and appreciating the messages.

𝑩𝒂𝒕 𝑬𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑶𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑵𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒂 𝒁𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒃𝒚 𝑲𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒆 𝑳𝒆𝒆 𝑩𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒓 is narrated by Natalie Naudus who is a favorite of mine!
This came out this week from @htpbooks @htpbooks_audio and I've heard nothing but amazing things from @htp_hive about it! The raves were warranted. This is an intense horror story that follows Cora Zeng at the beginning of the pandemic and the horrific murder of her sister. She goes into a job cleaning crime scenes and must come to grips or find a way to escape a hungry ghost who won't give her peace.
This was a fantastic way to examine the way fear creates dehumanizing actions amidst a story of grief and family dynamics. I was riveted.
I really appreciated the way clear anti-Asian hate was shown in this story, from the brutal to the subtle. The afterward is also worth taking note and making a statement against hatred of any race is unfortunately a frustrating need still today.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This book was amazing!! Phenomenal narrator that brought the story to life. I actually cackled at a couple of parts haha!! Absolutely 5 stars!

Wow, what a book! Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng reflected the horrors of the reality of Asian hate and racism that occurred (and still does) in the US during the pandemic. Cora experienced an unending amount of trauma, it was emotional. The imagery was incredibly vivid. I don’t read horror often, so the gore was a little jarring. I enjoyed the mix of paranormal and mystery. There were so many times I gasped out loud. The audiobook performance was incredible! Natalie Naudus did a great job with characterization.

You know that feeling when you read something so profoundly impactful it triggers physical reaction?
At the end of 𝘉𝘢𝘵 𝘌𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 I felt nauseous. I felt angry. I felt heartbroken, disgusted, and deeply reflective.

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘, 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡, 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙜𝙚𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮.

𝘉𝘢𝘵 𝘌𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 is an apocalyptic tale grounded in chilling reality… and by that I mean New York City during the COVID lockdown.
The greatest city in the world (yes, I am a New Yorker) turned into a ghost town/breeding ground of anxiety and anger.
Specifically, anger toward Asian Americans.

“𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘰𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘪𝘻𝘻𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩 𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴.”

Cora Zeng is a Chinese American crime scene cleaner, haunted by hungry ghosts and her own unraveling mind. When a wave of brutal murders targeting Asian women sweeps through the city, the true horror isn’t just the violence… it’s that the police and media don’t seem to care.

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩.”

Some parts felt like a fever dream—disorienting, fragmented—but maybe that was the point. Life isn’t always a story with clean endings. Neither is 𝘉𝘢𝘵 𝘌𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳.
This is a horror novel that crawls under your skin, sets up camp in your chest, and lingers in your thoughts long after the final page.

The best part was the authors note lbs “can’t have Asian rights without acknowledging civil rights and BLM” period. This author is very wise and great at story telling while also being so real.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is one of the most haunting and emotionally powerful books I’ve read this year. Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic in NYC, it captures the weight of grief, racism, and generational trauma through the story of Cora, who is haunted by the loss of her sister and by a hungry ghost. Kylie Lee Baker doesn’t hold back in exploring how anti-Asian hate shaped the pandemic experience for so many, and she lays bare the painful truth of how police and media often ignore or minimize violence against communities of color. The anger and heartbreak in this book are palpable. The author’s note is a gut punch in the best way: “Do not let your empathy stop at the borders of your own community.” That line (and this story) will stick with me for a long time. I highly recommend the audiobook. Natalie Naudus delivers a stunning performance, especially in voicing Cora’s grief, fear, and resilience. Her narration brought an extra layer of intimacy and tension that made the story even more impactful. A must-read! Thank you to Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for the ALC!

There were so many aspects of Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng that made this book so enjoyable for me.

There is grief, ghosts, folklore, a group of lovable misfits with an insanely intriguing job. I felt a wide range of emotions reading this, sorrow, empathy, pure rage and even brief moments that made me cackle. I really thought this was a beautiful, heartbreaking story, and several weeks later I still think about it. I listened to this on audio, Natalie Naudus did an amazing job with it. This was my first read from Kylie Lee Baker, I immediately need more. Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng published earlier this week and is going to be in my top faves for the year. Thanks to MIRA and The Hive for my advanced audiobook! 🖤