WOLF is a propulsive, sometimes chilling, action-horror novel that was a blast to read. The audiobook narrator did a great job, particularly with voicing a five year old child without making him too annoying.

So glad I gave this book a chance. I DNFd Cassidy’s other two books, Mary and Nestlings, the writing just wasn’t vibing with me. I went into this expecting a werewolf story, which isn’t my favorite horror sub genre, but this book was sooo much more than that.

The pacing was perfect and immediately engaging. The horror was creative and vivid. Even the comedic beats worked.

Jess’ humor and personality made for a great MC.

The other books that I attempted to read by Cassidy had a more serious tone. This one was definitely lighter but the themes are still there and effective. It kind of had a Grady Hendrix feel to it. The premise did give me vibes of Stephen King’s Firestarter and the episode of Twilight Zone when the little boy can manifest things into reality. Fun times !!

Helen Laser does an amazing job narrating like always.

The world building is a little wonky but I honestly didn’t care, I was enjoying the read too much. And the ending *chefs kiss*

Highly recommend.

**Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC**

Add this title to my ever growing list of favorite novels to heal your childhood trauma to.

Nat Cassidy tackled the beast that fear is and transformed it into his newest thrilling and biting novel. A must read!

When Jess finds a five year old boy outside of her apartment, the struggling actress unexpectedly becomes his guardian as they must flee from the boy's dangerous father. As Jess and the boy attempt to run further away from danger, fear becomes their biggest enemy. The boy has the ability to turn his fears into reality.

Themes of parenthood, childhood trauma and complexities of familial relationships are portrayed so uniquely scary yet intensely accurate, creating anxiety inducing environments for our characters to expand on their fears.

This book will eat you around the edges, to only then devour you whole. I have never cried reading an afterword before, as well.... You've been beyond kind to share your words, Nat Cassidy.

It's a little scary how much insight Nat Cassidy seems to have into my life, even if he accidentally stumbles into it.

Recurrent themes of what it means to do no harm (especially when raising children), what makes a monster, flawed parents, responsibility, and the balance between fear & power.

There wasn't a moment when I wasn't engaged; I was fully immersed the whole time. Cassidy has a very accessible writing style that just works so well with my brain, and as always the narrator they got for this one does a fantastic job bringing the text to life.

Hard yes.

DNF. The tone of this just wasn’t for me. It’s a down on her luck woman with a lot of internal snark and “I’m so relatable” vibes. That will absolutely work well for some readers! It just doesn’t work well for me.

It also felt a little try-hard with the feminist messaging since Nat is a man after all. I appreciate what he was going for by highlighting workplace harassment and such, but it also felt like a checklist.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely Phenomenal—A Haunting, Imaginative Masterpiece

When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy is nothing short of spectacular. From the very first page, I was hooked—completely immersed in its deeply imaginative world, chilling atmosphere, and masterful storytelling. Cassidy weaves a tale that is both haunting and exhilarating, filled with intricate layers, emotional depth, and a narrative that grips you until the very last word.

One of the things I adored most was how seamlessly Cassidy ties in Easter eggs and references to his other works, making this novel feel like part of a larger, interconnected universe. Fans of his previous books will appreciate the nuances, but even if this is your first experience with his writing, you’re in for an unforgettable ride.

The theme of the novel resonated with me on so many levels, and Cassidy’s author’s note at the end added an extra layer of meaning that made the journey even more powerful. It’s clear that this book was crafted with passion and precision, and I have no doubt that it could translate beautifully onto the big screen—I would love to see it as a film adaptation!

For those who enjoy audiobooks, I highly recommend experiencing When the Wolf Comes Home that way. Helen Laser delivers an absolutely stunning performance, breathing life into the story in a way that only the best narrators can. Her voice work adds an extra dimension to the experience, making it even more immersive and unforgettable.

This book is a must-read for horror and dark fiction lovers, and I cannot wait for more people to experience this masterpiece. Nat Cassidy has once again proven why he’s one of the best voices in modern horror fiction.

Time of death 55%. I had to DNF at that point and just wasn't enjoying it at all. Which is a disappointment since I loved the first portion of the story. Sure, the MC was a bit irritating right from the start, but I could overlook that for the gruesome descriptions that would make any horror lover happy. The author really shines when it comes to gorey scenes. However, around 30% I felt like the rug was pulled out from under me and the storyline did a complete shift and became too silly for my personal taste. It never recovered from that point, unfortunately, and I just couldn't anymore. I think some fans of Grady Hendrix or Rachel Harrison books may enjoy the fine line this author walks between horror and humor, though. The writing itself is great, just not the story for me. The narrator was excellent though and did an amazing job acting out the role and providing tons of inflection. I would recommend that route for those interested in this book.

(5.0 Stars)

I don't know how to describe this book without giving away the plot. But if you like horror and/or psychological thrillers, you will absolutely love this book. The narrator(s) are great (Helen Laser and Nat Cassidy). Even the afterword is excellent.

The world has depth and layers. The Characters are unique and perfectly played out. The plot and story are just wonderfully wicked. I cannot wait to read more by this author!

Special thanks to #NetGalley for making this audiobook available for me to read, in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge Nat Cassidy fan and this book is no exception! This was such a great horror story on family and fathers and I was not expecting that ending. I love how well-written this is and the humor.

Well, I'm disappointed. And a little surprised at the same time.
Surprised because I was not expecting such a sad, touching and heartfelt story. Nat Cassidy delivers a heavy-drama and traumatic story about 2 people (a young woman and a 5-year old boy) with 'daddy issues' that seem so realistic and they connect to each other through their own struggles in life. The boy has something 'more' about him, that makes him the centre of the narrative. In general, this is a story about two young people trying to move on with their lives and finding balance and positive connections in life. The relationship between the young woman and the kid is stunning. So raw and real that you can't help but root for them. And I was not expecting that.

On the other hand, I got very disappointed because I thought, and wanted, this book to be a werewolf horror novel. And even though there is a werewolf, this is not a werewolf horror book. The wolf barely appears in 1/3 of the story. So, I got a little upset because I felt I was fooled by the cover.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator is really good, especially when she voices the young kid, and throughout all the dialogues.
I do recommend this book, and the audio, for any readers who enjoy close-to realistic stories about people struggling in life and trying to survive the horrors that life throws at our way. Just be very aware that this is NOT a 'werewolf horror novel'.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for allowing me to listen to a free advanced audio copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is the kind of audiobook that I take issue with because it sets such a high bar for audiobooks that I have trouble listening to other productions. From the intro and the heartfelt afterward read by the author to the inflection and feeling injected into the performance by the narrators, this is one of my favorite audiobooks in a long time. The book itself had obvious influence from multiple works, as Cassidy acknowledges, but the one that most struck me was Stephen King’s Firestarter but When the Wolf Comes Home has very modern sensibilities, with complex familial relationships and imperfect heroes - made obvious from an in-character conversation about another work: Who is the hero? I don’t want to give anything way, but Wolf either had multiple or none, but that’s okay because we were on their side anyway.

This book was absolutely unhinged, and I loved every minute of it. Jess, a waitress and actress, comes home one night to find a boy who is scared. She brings him into her apartment, and that is when all hell breaks loose. A large wolf or bear attacks people in her complex, and from then on, she is on the run with the kid from many strange horrors. First of all, I love the FMC because she is hilarious and sarcastic, and she is trying to face each problem with braveness and in stride. Jess and the boy are both dealing with daddy issues. While helping the boy deal with his fears, she is also working her past out for herself. So many strange things happen, which I am learning is Nat Cassidy's style. I absolutely loved this book!

STANDING OVATION! What a story…what a concept. This is a book about transformation and I mean that in every aspect of the word.
Be prepared to love these characters and be prepared to be shattered time and time again.
Arghh! I just want to discuss this so badly but I don’t want to give anything away. This was so fun to go into with no clue as to what it was about. I hope you can do the same.
I was seriously clapping at the end. I wish Nat was in the room with me so I could give him the biggest hug…right after I punched him wicked hard in the arm.
WHEN THE WOLF COMES HOME by Nat Cassidy publishing April 22 from Tor Nightfire
I listened to the audiobook from macmillan.audio and it was wonderful. Narrated by Helen Laser plus a wee bit by Nat himself. Helen did such a great job and I was captivated

I both listened to and physically read this story. I was loving the ebook but wanted to be able to listen and see how it translated to audio.
I did enjoy the narrator, but personally do not enjoy narration of children. As this story does have a child and the narration involves different voices at times for different characters, I didn't enjoy it as much in audio form.
The story itself is amazing, and I highly recommend someone read this is one form or another. Just personally I preferred the physical read.

5 star story.
4.5 star narration

This book wrecked my day (in a good way). Strips down the werewolf concept to its basic elements, and then does something totally different with it.

Thanks to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for an advance audiobook copy.

When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy was a pleasantly creepy and thrilling story about a young boy living with strange powers and a whole lot of fear. While this is a horror, and some scenes were definitely horrific, this seemed more like a thriller with a dash of science fiction mixed in. I generally expect more fear and discomfort from horror novels. That being said, this was stoll really good! I loved the complex dynamics between the boy and his father, the boy and the fmc, and the fmc and her mother. This was unique and attention grabbing. And the ending! What an unexpected twist! The audiobook narration was fantastic. It brought so much emotion to the story. You can really feel the fear of the young boy when you hear his voice.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review

Such a great audiobook. Couldn't stop listening to it. Thank you for the advance copy. Loved the narrators voice.

4.5 stars but I'll round it up to 5.

I received an advance audiobook copy of When the Wolf Comes Home By Nat Cassidy. Thank you netgalley.

The narration was great! The beginning trigger warning from the author was a definite draw in for this book. If the author has that type of humor, it has to be a fun book, right?

And yes, this was a fun listen. What an interesting take made into a funny (dark humor)/horror/suspense.

I really feel bad for the main female character, what an awful time she's having.

Definitely recommend this book, and prepare for a wild ride.

Be sure to stick around for the heartwarming afterward.

Cassidy has great, smart writing… that can also be incredibly dark and gruesome. I REALLY enjoyed this one.

What would you do if your fears came to life? That is really what is showcased here in this book. Our protagonist, Jess is joined by a young boy, scared and running for his life. After a terrifying encounter with the boy’s father, whom he is trying to escape, Jess is only just beginning to understand the depth of mess she is in right now.

Just like in Nat Cassidy’s previous book, Nestlings, this book parallels various horrors and difficult situations with the vulnerability of caring for children. In both books, what the protagonist would do for the love and protection of the child adds such a heartfelt gravity to the stories. That speaks to me.

After running with the boy, trying her best to get him and herself to safety, she discovers they may not be safe anywhere… not when the boy’s fears begin to manifest, creating danger and mortal peril at every turn.

This was just really fun. I loved the audiobook narration.

Nat did it again! Truly a horror novelist for the ages. When the wolf comes home is the kind of pull-on-your-heartstrings tale that only comes around once in a blue moon. A beautiful blend and homage to the horror stories before him and the lives in which we all need some kind of honor to or closure from— dads.