Stasia isn't human. She's told everyone at every possible opportunity to since she was very little.

Grant's writing is a triumph. I haven't read any of her other books, but will definitely be picking them up after this one. Overgrowth is a poignant book about what it is and feels like to be human. It is very complicated and also quite gruesome at times, and the starting event is written in such a way that it sets the undertones of the book instantly. Stasia is such a lovable and caring character, it's hard not to root for her.

If you enjoy biological/body horror and alien invasions, then this is definitely the book for you. It captured my attention the entire way through, and the ending was not one I saw coming.

Well this author certainly knows how to write an original and somewhat creepy story. We know that Stasia isn't human, she realises that she isn't human and she tells everyone that she meets but still everything comes crashing down when her 'family ' return for her. Stasia finds herself on the run looking for answers and yet finding out that those who love her will also have to make life changing decisions.
I think essentially this is about what it is to feel human and finding humanity is not always what you might expect. For this reader when the aliens arrive it lost my attention a smidge although my favourite was without a doubt blink and you miss it a dragon ! Perhaps I enjoyed the human interactions more as I wasn't comfortable with my planets sentient lifeforms being consumed but I cannot fault that these characters make choices for themselves which felt both shocking and ultimately right for them. A perfect read if you just want to escape reality whilst looking up at the stars because there really are a lot of them !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts are I believe fair

First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Daphne Press for providing an ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.

PLANTED

In the vein of classics like Little Shop of Horrors, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Day of the Triffids, but with a huge twist (the point of view here is the alien's), Mira Grant's return to full-length fiction is a first-contact-meets-coming-of-age story packed with thought-provoking questions and social/cultural commentary. Set in a very near future (2031) over the span of a month, it chronicles the days preceding a plantlike alien armada's invasion of our planet, and the invasion itself, through the eyes of a hybrid character - alien in nature, human in appearance and by nurture - who both knows (and states) she's an alien and at times doubts she's deeply deluded...but mostly, simply, KNOWS. Then again, she has a lot of questions about herself and her origins, especially because more than thirty years have passed since when she allegedly fell on Earth and claimed the body of three-years-old Anastasia, and her people - who equipped her with a compulsion to announce their invasion plans - are taking their sweet time coming back for her.

BOUQUET

One of Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire's strengths is the ability to create fleshed out, complex characters who often straddle the line between "human" and "monster" in different ways (just think of her InCryptid series), yet are surprisingly easy to empathise with. Stasia is no exception, and being in her head while she tries to reconcile her Earthly upbringing with her burgeoning alien nature (no pun intended) both entertains and elicit questions about what it means to be human, or simply, to belong - especially if, as it's the case here, you don't like the human race much as a whole, but love some of its specimens a great deal. On the other hand, Stasia's dilemma is also that of her friends', every one of which used to have a different stance on her alleged alien nature, and now must not only put their beliefs in perspective, but also decide if they want to be allies and risk their very life to have Stasia's back. I loved the nuanced, complicated found family of lovers, friends and accidental associates at the core of the story (also, this wouldn't be a Grant book without a mad scientist of sorts whom you can root for and be annoyed at and find funny in equal measure 😂), and the discourse about identity and the different shades in which otherness may come (I can't speak for a group I'm not a part of, but personally, I found the trans-man rep to be handled with utmost care and empathy).

THORNS

Besides being a story about humanity and lack thereof, nature and nurture, and the fine line between the two pairs, Overgrowth can (I'll go as far as to say "ought to") be read as an allegory of colonialism and its acting under the pretense of having a higher moral ground than the people (here, planet) it decides to subjugate. And granted, Grant's near future is anything but a utopia - among other things, she touches upon climate change and the proverbial under-the-rug approach to such issue (does it sound familiar?). Only, if we draw a parallel between the alien invasion and your average human ones, we run into a problem...despite the rationale behind the first (which follows an articulate, yet somehow simplistic pattern you'll have to read the book to discover), in reality no one "asks" or deserves to be invaded. So you have to take the parallel between the alien armada and a military force taking over a real country with a grain of salt.
Apart from this potentially problematic point, I do have a couple of quibbles about the plot - for instance, a certain twist hinges on the government's not knowing who Stasia's friends are (not very likely), and we're left with questions about some of her family members (cat included), especially one who only gets mentioned for a specific purpose and is never heard of again. Anyhow, nothing that managed to impact my enjoyment of the story on a significant level. Imaginative worldbuilding/aliens, mad biology you can absolutely buy into (I'm in awe), well-rounded and mostly lovable characters, striking sociopolitical commentary and a bold epilogue that you probably won't see coming: welcome back, Mira Grant - it was worth the wait.

heartfelt, terrifying, exciting, full of complicated characters and eerie as hell. i was not expecting a book about body snatching plant aliens to leave me in tears, but here we are. anastasia miller was 3 years old when she found a beautiful plant in a forest and vanished for 3 days. the girl who came back was not the same. 30 odd years later, after telling people her whole life she was an alien and they were coming to invade, she finally got the proof she’d been telling the truth the whole time. from the very first line of this book, i was intrigued. this sci fi horror kept me hooked throughout, even with its lengthy chapters. the counting down to the inevitable invasion day had me in suspense, and i loved getting to know these characters who all meant something in some way to stasia knowing how high the stakes were about to get! she had her ride of dies, and i was all in with them. i loved the way this started and ended, the real reason she was telling this story - she doesn flit between thoughts and what she’s talking about a lot but that is pretty similar to how my brain works so i found it didn’t bother me in any way. i had not anticipated how this would all play out, but i had a blast finding out. kept me intrigued and guessing until the very end. not exactly a horror reader usually, it this has made me interested to check out more of mira grant’s work!
thank you NetGalley and publishings for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

For a book about alien plants, 'Overgrowth' is, if you'll forgive the pun, *meaty*. Thick with allegory (like all the very best of science fiction) it examines "otherness" -- and by extension, belonging -- smartly, compellingly and with a deliciously cynical misanthropy.

The story is beautifully narrated from the POV of Anastasia, one of a vanguard of aliens who have been sent to earth ahead of their invading armada. This narrative device is used to great effect as Anastasia is an oddly empathetic lead given she represents such a violent existential threat to the human race.

Through Anastasia and her very human interconnections and relationships, Grant is able to subvert the traditional, instinctual response we as readers might have to a planetary threat by making us question if we truly deserve to be saved. That's quite the feat.

At times, there was slightly too much exposition (always a danger of the genre) and there was a repetitive quality to the internal debate we witness through Anastasia's evolution, but otherwise it was a great, thoughtful read.

Delightfully dark and yet, ultimately hopeful, I really enjoyed this book.

I've been a huge fan of Mira Grant since the first moment I've read her book. I can't even express how excited I was when I saw the announcement of a new book by my favourite writer. And this one brings everything I love about her books.

There's a core group of characters, that involves friends and annoyances, that are impossible not to fall in love with. There's an amazing world building that takes inspirations from some classics like little shop of horrors and invasion of body snatchers, and then runs with the idea itself into a deeply intricate world of aliens that's impossible to not want more from. And then there's of course the dread and terrifying violence of Mira Grant's horror books which I personally love.

This book starts with a horrifying event that I think sets the tone of the whole book. Even when things seem to be slow and building up to the big events, the opening is constantly in your head reminding you that this story isn't going to have heroes in your traditional sense. I love all the little reveals of the story and the small and quiet tragedy of some of the choices the humanity didn't make.

It's a story that's a commentary on immigration, climate change, love and friendship and somehow it makes it work without feeling overwhelming or preachy. And I'm already looking forward to the next adventure the author will take me on.

I cannot express enough how beautiful Mira Grant's writing is, from the first few pages I was hooked and knew I would be adding her entire back catalogue to my TBR list.

This sci-fi takes inspiration from classics such as Day of the Triffids and the Midwich Cuckoos (both name-dropped in the book) but adds a clever, modern twist to the tale.

I found Stasia to be a fascinating and unique MC, and really enjoyed spending time with her. While this is, at its core, an alien invasion tale, it's also so much more than that, it's about politics, gender, sexuality and overall, found family. I adored most of the side characters and found them well-written and believable.

I also can't end with review without mentioning the world-building, you may think a novel set on Earth doesn't need much world-building, you'd be wrong. Mira Grant's beautiful, lush and evocative writing helped me picture the changing world and the alien influence on it perfectly.

My only criticism is that it felt a bit slow in the middle and slightly overlong. However that doesn't detract from how brilliant this book is.

I have to admit that I had no idea what to expect from this. I just got insanely curious. The cover made me curious. The summary made me curious. The concept made me curious. The genre made me curious. I just had to know what kind of book this was. Luckily Daphne Press granted me a digital review copy through Netgalley.

It's hard to describe this book and how I felt while reading it. This book is complicated and intriguing and in a way also gruesome, but strangely enough also sort of beautiful. The book starts with a very vivid description of how a little girl is eaten by an alien plant. At the time we have no idea where the story will go, but it does set the scene. This is not gonna be a completely pleasant story. These plants are up to no good.

And yet, I did really care about the heroine and her journey. I think it's hard not to. She might be an alien, but she's still a caring one. She cares about her friends, she cares about their fate and she's willing to fight for them, even if it means having to fight her own people. It's therefore really intriguing to see her manoeuvring through this crisis. And although not all decisions seem smart, they all make sense knowing the heroine and understanding the circumstances.

I also really liked the mythology of this story. We're never overwhelmed with information and technical details, but we learn just enough to understand what's going on. Since our heroine is also not very familiar with her own people, it also feels very natural that everything is explained to her, and therefore to us. I also really believe that this is the kind of extraterrestrial life that we will encounter one day. And no matter how gruesome they are, their goal is strangely enough kinda noble and beautiful.

Happy publication day to Overgrowth and many thanks to Daphne Press for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Horror and sci-fi are not usually my typical genres, but the summary of the plot was really intriguing and I must admit I was not disappointed. I have since find out that the author is sort of a giant in the genre and so I shouldn't be so surprised that the story structure was so robust, which is a welcome deviation from my usual reads, which tend to be quite lacking when it comes to world building or character development or both.

As soon as the second alien character was introduced, I enjoyed how different his personality was from the main character's, it really made me stop and think "of course, just because all these aliens are from the same species it doesn't mean that they all feel the same about humans and about their species invading Earth". Effectively these characters were strangers to each other, each a product of their own upbringing and geography, so of course they weren't going to be a monolith but I do think another author, in the same situation, would have struggled with giving them distinct voices and personalities.

I also particularly enjoyed the compulsion element - the MC has a stock phrase that she uses to explain she is part of an invading alien plant species, and this is not something that she consciously chooses to say or can keep hidden, it's presented more as like an unavoidable reflex which I thought provided some light comic relief. It also adds a lot to the plot, because if she had been able to keep her identity a secret then the premise of the book would have been very different.

In short, this is a book that I would not hesitate to recommend to others - even if, like me, they normally stick to other genres. Aside from some references to classic horror films which I understand are one of the main interests of the author, it is very easy to follow the story and I hugely appreciate the diverse cast of characters being distinguishable, a very rare quality these days.

I always love the way Grant turns biology into a mystery, focussing on our very biological composition to create fear. Characters excellent, writing nothing flashy but you don’t want it to be. Just a fun story!

Overgrowth is a gripping story that blends body horror, alien invasions, and a surprising amount of humor into a book that’s hard to put down. Grant wastes no time pulling readers into a tense, atmospheric narrative filled with high-stakes action.

What really stands out are the characters. They're complex, relatable, and often funny in the face of terrifying circumstances. Their reactions ground the story’s more outlandish sci-fi elements, and their interpersonal dynamics keep the tension alive even in quieter moments. Grant’s exploration of identity and humanity—what makes us us—adds depth to the gore and suspense, making the horror feel meaningful.

Despite being new to Grant’s work and sci-fi in general, I found Overgrowth to be immediately accessible. It never bogs down in exposition or drags through filler. The result is a page-turner that balances existential horror with just enough levity to make the darkness enjoyable rather than oppressive.

If you enjoy narratives where the monstrous and the human blur in unsettling ways, Overgrowth should be on your list.

I have been a massive fan of Mira Grant (and all of their works under Seanan McGuire too) for a good few years now and Overgrowth seriously delivers. This book saved me from a reading slump that was lurking right around the corner, keeping me up at bedtime to get through more of the story.

This is such a strong novel with incredibly nuanced themes. The idea of looking at the alien invasion through the perspective of one of the aliens who’s lived most of her life on earth was so interesting. It added another layer to the horror elements of the novel because it allows us to look at the ugliest parts of humanity and then fully sympathise with the ‘enemy’.

*minor spoilers in this paragraph* but I was so moved by the idea that if the humans had just asked the aliens to leave them alone, they would have. That if, instead of treating them with hostility and Independence Day levels of violence, they had just had a conversation with the aliens, everything would’ve been fine. We are doomed as a species because this is exactly how it would all play out.

I loved this book but nothing is without its flaws. There was occasional lapses in logic, loose ends to minor plot points, and character decisions that didn’t make a lot of sense. But overall, I thought this was gripping and eerie and emotional. Not to mention, i LOVED the ending.

Day of the tryfids meets body snatchers meets little shop of horrors.

I loved the unique take on an alien invasion by telling the story from the POV of the alien plant (pun intended). Whilst an interesting story of alien invasion I also enjoyed the social commentary on what it takes to be human and what determines someone identity. Based in a near future that doens’t feel to far away given what’s happening in the world at the moment.

Her friends commitment to protecting and helping her despite knowing everything they do was beautiful.

It was a clever and enjoyable read, creepy and disturbing at times and heartbreaking.

Overgrowth follows Anastasia. She’s a young girl who wanders into the woods alone, but when she returns home, she is no longer the real Anastasia.

Alien seeds found their way to Earth and began their journey to invade. The new Anastasia was one of those seeds that made its way to Earth and replaced the old Anastasia, as the seeds nature is designed to do.

What follows is adult Anastasia in a society that has received a strange signal from space.
During this time, we see Stasia as she struggles between her human connections and the roots she truly belongs to.

The alien species here is crafted with such harrowing uniqueness a from how they find planets, develop a ‘forest,’ and eventually transform into their true physical beings.

I had a lot of fun with this book- however, I found myself becoming bored throughout a good 50% of the middle portion. The introduction and ending are close to being 5-star reading moments.
The journey of figuring out how to handle the signal, human relationships changing admit the threat of invasion, and society’s reaction all became repetitive, slow, and felt like a waste of time.

When the plot picked up at around the 70% mark, I immediately became hooked again. No spoilers for this part though! The last 30% is almost exactly what I wanted throughout the entire novel- I just don’t think the slow build-up to get to this point should have taken as long as it did.

Remember that viral video some time ago of the woman on a plane yelling, “I’m telling you right now, that motherf— is not real!”? There’s a scene in this book that reminds me of that, and it was quite a funny part.

I listened to the audiobook, and I believe that tremendously helped me through the middle part. Narration is great in this one!

3 ⭐ overall, but the book definitely has some standout moments.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC!

A young girl ventures into the woods and is devoured by a monstrous plant from an alien planet. The plant subsequently generates a physical, biological replica of the girl. She goes on to claim to be an alien, doing so for the next 32 years. When a scientist discovers an alien sound signal, the girl is finally vindicated, and the story begins.

However, it doesn’t. Instead, it continues for chapters on end with the setup. We learn all about her friends, her work, her daily life, how ill-suited she is for normal existence, and about her transgender boyfriend. There’s no action; it’s just incessant description of how dull and unkind her life is. All the 30+ adults act like teenagers, and until I discovered their true ages, I genuinely thought they were high schoolers or college students, considering they live alone. That’s quite disappointing when one is seeking an adult fantasy. Another significant pet peeve of mine is the question of her boyfriend being transgender. I support representation and inclusion, but only when it’s relevant to the story, not just to tick boxes.

There’s no true alien encounter until more than 60% of the book is complete. Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish it. I don’t feel any sympathy or understanding for the main character. I found her annoying and beyond immature. The story drags on for too long to keep me invested, which is regrettable, as I found the premise and prologue fascinating.

Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the advance reader copy.

The synopsis for this book was interesting and I saw it was going to be a pick for a subscription box so wanted to read it ahead of time.

I think unfortunately for me the story seemed to draw me in around the 60% mark. I could see the points of the story where I imagined some other interesting thing happening.

There also should be a lot of trigger warnings for this book as the first part could be quite traumatic for readers.

Overall, my rating is based on the last 35% of the book as I wanted to DNF during the first half a few times.

“Overgrowth” is something that I would call contemporary science-fiction. It takes place in the world we know. However, in the past this world has been visited by an alien species. They planted their seeds and waited for them to grow.

When she was three years old, Anastasia in some mysterious circumstances, was replaced with an alien. She kept saying she’s not a human, she kept convincing people she is an alien, but no one listens. Is she the only one? Will aliens come with a visit?

Mira Grant creates a novel full of existential questions. How do we treat people that are different from what we would call “normal”? How hard is it to believe in what other people are saying? How would people react if they knew the truth all along but hadn’t accepted it? Reading “Overgrowth” has led me to many different thoughts about humans and their behaviour towards difference.

Besides that it’s a rather fast paced novel about first contact and probable course of space invasion. That part was a great entertainment, almost like a good sci-fi movie with lots of amazing action scenes.

Overall I did enjoy “Overgrowth”. It gave me exactly what I’m seeking for in science fiction - great amusement and a space for my own reflection.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and provide a review.

I'm not sure why this has been categorised as horror? This leans much harder in to cozy-sci-fi, with the exception of the opening, where our protagonist 3 year old is consumed by an alien invader plant and reborn as an alien. That bit was brilliant. From there, unfortunately, it went a bit off the rails for me. The entire book is incredibly heavy-handed on the "othering" metaphors, and even dangerous in some instances. While I haven't read any of the author's other works, she apparently often uses her work to comment and critique social issues i.e. gender identity, immigration, and climate change. This book could have been so good if it continued as it started, however the entire first 2/3 of the book was repetitive, the characters' decision making is suspect and unrealistic, and the aforementioned social commentary is just shoehorned in whenever possible. The ending seemed rushed, though I did enjoy that the humans didn't come out on top.

I set out to read a fun sci-fi horror. I got something much more complex, and I’m still bewildered by the tears this book teased out of me.

The story is set in the near future, the year 2031. Anastasia, since the age of three, has known she is extraterrestrial in nature and never tried to hide the truth, not even when she’s 35 years old. She’s always introduced herself as the vanguard of an invasion by alien plant people - making her a bit of a weirdo, as you can imagine. What it truly means, though, she will yet come to understand. In any case, humanity has been warned, over and over again. They dismissed it.

Maybe they shouldn’t have.

Holy shit but Overgrowth was such a mentally and morally challenging read! Making me question both sides of the situation, unable to come to a conclusion that would at least settle my mind. At times, I had to stop reading and just stare at the wall for a bit, to process and digest. The rising tension was very subtle, almost lulling me into a sense of “is something really about to happen?” despite me knowing that ooh yes, yes it is.

Mira Grant took her time with the pacing. It’s a slow, mostly character-driven story that is spiraling into something unknown yet inevitable - you know the invasion of Earth is coming, yet you have no clear idea of what shape it will take.

I honestly expected to be more creeped out, as one usually does picking up a book labeled as a horror, but I ended up being more...uncomfortably fascinated. If I had to sum up Overgrowth, it would probably be something like a situational/eldritch horror, existential psychological dread, and thought-provoking sci-fi (and sci-fi isn’t even my preferred genre!). Oh, and with a bizarre alien twist on nature vs nurture and cultural appropriation.

And throughout all this, there is an interesting cast of characters besides Anastasia. Some of them I adored - Graham, a trans man and Stasia’s boyfriend (I have such a soft spot for him!), Mandy, Toni (she was particularly delightful, an unhinged, traumatized scientist who was so often the unconventional voice of reason). Others I simply tolerated. And not every one of them is human.

The relationship between Anastasia and Graham brought me to tears at times, it’s been a while since I rooted this much for a couple in a book where romance isn’t even the sub-genre. Unconditional love that transcends absolutely everything is all I have to say.

All that said, I would’ve appreciated a bit more action that would speed the plot up, instead of the frequent introspection that got slightly repetitive at times. If you pick Overgrowth expecting a fast-paced story filled with constant tension, you could get a little bored.

Overgrowth is a captivating science fiction horror novel. It perfectly blends body horror and plant horror with an alien invasion narrative.

What I find particularly interesting is that the story is written from the alien’s point of view and not an Earth defender. Stasia’s story is fascinating, as she lived a very ordinary human life until the transmission from outer space confirmed her otherness. I loved reading about her network of friends, the perfect found family, and her conflicting loyalties to her race and the humanity that raised her. There is also a rather sweet queer romance subplot.

On the other hand, the side characters could be more developed. I think the story would benefit from another point of view, maybe from one of Stasia’s friends. I would love to know more about them.