I was not entirely sure what to expect from “The Brood”, and was surprised at almost every juncture. Successful lawyer Mary Whelton is on her way to an isolated location to wrap up her preparations for an upcoming, high-profile court case when face intervenes and knocks her off course. Finding herself the captive of a strange woman called Girl who seems obsessed with what she calls “the brood”, Mary will need to call on all of her skills to make it through the encounter.

The pacing of the story was quite fast and did not lull, for me, at any point. I did find some aspects of Mary’s escape attempts to be repetitive, but I think that served to highlight the inescapability of some events in our lives. There are multiple discussions of traumas the characters have experienced, as well as a good amount of body horror, which I struggled with a little. While I do not typically enjoy body horror elements, what was included in this story was well-placed and helped to move the plot along in a meaningful way.

The Brood is fascinating, horrifying, beautiful and disgusting all in one. Body horror is not an easy genre but this book is great display of how to give just enough horror without forsaking an truly compelling plot. At first, it feels like a new Misery but with a 57 year old waspy woman instead of a depressed male author. But pretty quickly, the true story starts to poke its way through these assumptions. I found myself often times not wanting to know what would happen next, while being too transfixed to put the book down. A few parts did feel rushed, especially in the third act, but over all this is a great read.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc. This has elements of horror, magical realism, and thriller. Everything I love in a book. This was a really good book. I would recommend reading this.

The Brood is an eerie mix of horror and magical realism with a haunting atmosphere. The concept is intriguing, and the writing effectively builds tension, but the pacing feels uneven at times. While the novel explores compelling themes of transformation and the female experience, the characters—especially Mary—can be frustratingly detached. The horror elements are unsettling in a good way, but the plot’s surreal nature sometimes muddles the impact. Overall, it’s a unique, thought-provoking read, but it didn’t fully deliver on its potential

Rebecca Baum's upcoming novel, The Brood, blends horror and magical realism to explore the deep connections between women, their bodies, and the natural world. Set for release in October 2025, the story follows a New York City attorney seeking refuge from intense media scrutiny after the death of her controversial mentor. Her escape takes her into the forests of upstate New York, where she has a strange encounter with a swarm of cicadas that leaves her unconscious. When she wakes, she finds herself held in a remote cabin by a mysterious woman who believes she is her long-lost mother. As unsettling events unfold, the protagonist is drawn into an eerie world tied to the cyclical emergence of the cicadas.

With a strong atmospheric presence and a haunting narrative, the novel delves into transformation, identity, and trauma. The setting enhances the sense of isolation and mystery, while the psychological tension keeps the story gripping. Baum weaves a chilling and thought-provoking tale that lingers long after the final page.

This novel stands out for its ability to intertwine elements of folklore, psychological horror, and feminist themes. Readers looking for a dark, immersive, and intellectually engaging story will find it a compelling addition to contemporary horror fiction.

I love horror, but I find myself a little picky about which horror books I read because I always am left wanting more. In the case of this book, I quite enjoyed the pacing, but I still found myself wanting more.

Mary, our protagonist, finds herself on some backroads when she has a car accident. When she awakes, she’s in a small cabin with a grown woman who thinks Mary is her mother. And then a lot of cicadas come and start acting weird.

Like a lot of horror, it gets a little gross. But it’s also a horror that causes lots of thinking. Not everything may be as it seems, or at the very least, Mary doesn’t seem to know what’s real and what isn’t. She serves as a bit of an unreliable narrator because she’s having a hard time accepting her reality and seeing things for the way they are.

Like a lot of horror, there’s some underlying messages. But overall, it’s horror.

Thank you very much to Thomas & Mercer, Rebecca Baum, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Review of The Brood by Rebecca Baum

Rebecca Baum’s The Brood is a haunting and poetic novel that weaves themes of family, trauma, and transformation into an eerie and immersive narrative. Baum’s prose is rich and evocative, painting a world that feels both intimate and unsettling. The novel’s atmosphere is one of its greatest strengths, creating a sense of unease that lingers long after the final page.

While the book excels in mood and symbolism, its pacing is uneven. Some sections are deeply engaging, while others move too slowly or feel abstract to the point of confusion. The protagonist is compelling, but some supporting characters remain underdeveloped, making it harder to fully connect with their roles in the story. Additionally, the dialogue at times feels stilted, which can disrupt the emotional flow of interactions.

Despite these challenges, The Brood remains a striking and thought-provoking read. Baum’s talent for crafting an unsettling yet lyrical narrative is undeniable, making this novel a fascinating exploration of the darkness that lingers within and around us.

The Brood was an intense horror thriller that is more than what it seems at first glance. When the book starts, we meet Mary a wealthy high-powered attorney who has achieved her success by less than moral means. Mary is tough, confident, and driven if not exactly likable. While trying to evade the press that is following her due to some of those less-than-moral things I mentioned, she gets hopelessly lost in the backwoods of New York and after being in a single-vehicle car accident wakes up in a rundown cabin in the woods with the woman that "rescued" her being the only other person around. Think "Misery" Annie Wilkes vibes. Once Mary realizes she isn't exactly free to leave the story picks up the pace hurtling toward its surreal conclusion.

The tone throughout The Brood is tense, oppressive, and eerie which adds to the horror vibes. And, make no mistake The Brood is definitely a horror novel, but there are also much deeper themes being touched on throughout the story. The author explores abandonment, grief, motherhood, and women's relationships with themselves, bugs (yeah that's all I'm saying on that to say more would spoil the surprise), and each other.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with The Brood. It's a solid addition to the horror/thriller genre and I'm looking forward to seeing what the author brings us next. Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Rebecca Baum for the opportunity to read this ARC of The Brood.

Very atmospheric and creepy read! It’s going to be perfect for spooky October season. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for early arc of this book!

A really solid thriller! The characterization of Mary as a headstrong, confident woman (despite her many flaws) was a refreshing departure from the naive protagonists that so often populate these kinds of books. Her decisions and thoughts actually made sense, and weren't just convenient plot devices masquerading as action: trying to escape, trying to logic her way out of impossible situations, her moments of empathy towards Girl. The cicadas were very viscerally described, with certain moments making my skin crawl as much as Mary. Fast=paced and intense, I basically finished this book in one sitting. Would definitely recommend for horror and thriller fans!

[Just a quick note -- I think there's a minor typo on page 97 ("bonified" should be "bona fide").]

The Brood is on par with a few other indie religious horror stories I've read recently; Baum's imagery is striking and matriarchal, at times eerie. I would like to thank Netgalley for the eARC, this is not to be missed.

2.25/5 stars

An interesting concept with an eerie tone throughout. I enjoyed how easy it was to read and the fast paced nature of the story. However, I found problems with various aspects of the novel. The imagery of breasts was quite unsettling and seemed a bit unnecessary in the long run along with the milk aspects. Of course it’s maternal imagery but just felt underdeveloped to truly make the impact it was trying to give. I found the characterisation of the characters to not be the best. The way Mary spoke and her internal monologue didn’t seem to align with a middle aged woman and the other characters seemed to come across as exaggerated and not well thought out. The sensitive topics brought up in the novel were only touched upon and seemed to be chucked in to add more depth to it! The middle part of the novel was particularly boring for me and I found myself having to push through it. I liked the end but it felt odd when compared to the rest of the novel especially in regards to Girl and Mary’s relationship. Overall, whilst the novel was unique and easy to read, I found it too short and undeveloped. I think the novel could benefit from being longer with more detail put into certain aspects.

This was an intriguing horror novel exploring women and … insects? I’m not really sure how to feel about it. On one hand, it was definitely horror and gave me the gross, spooked feeling that there were bugs all over. On the other hand, it was just straight up gross? Congrats to the author though on writing an unputdownable book about one of my least favorite creatures on the planet. Intrigued and disgusted - feels appropriate for The Brood.