This had that feel that I was looking for and was engaged with the horror element. The characters had that overall feel that I was looking for and was glad I got to read this, it left me wanting to read more. I was glad I got to read this from Bethany C. Morrow and was invested in what was going on. I thought the supernatural element that I was wanting.

Holy moly. It is very rare that a horror novel actually horrifies and surprises me in its twists and turns, but The Body truly tore my brain apart (positive). I could not stop reading it; it was a compulsive and necessary read about religiosity, marriage, and guilt. 10/10 recommend, come ready to be terrified and to have your views blown wide open.

**Thank you to Tor Nightfire for the eARC of this chilling title - y’all rock!!**

The Body is everything I didn’t know I needed for spooky season. While this one doesn’t release until February, I think it’s going to be a PERFECT read for horror fans trying to claw their way out of winter.

I really enjoyed Morrow’s writing and will 100% be checking out more of her titles after this book. She also had a way of leaving me completely shocked in this story, as I never really knew what was going to happen next.

I loved the contrast of the perfect, religious congregant with some of the shocking actions in this book. Check this one out if you are a fan of religious horror, and suspense!!

Mavis describing her anxiety/panic in the first couple of pages REALLY drew me in. As someone who has similar obsessive thought patterns, it was nice to be represented that way and stayed pretty consistently throughout the story. I was worried it was going to drag on for a minute but around the 40% mark the events really picked up and then I was HOOKED and stayed up all night to finish it. I feel like there were some parts that could have been fleshed out a little more, but overall I was satisfied with how the story played out and how it ended overall.

"Don't" Mavis, thought.
This book centers around a married wife named Mavis, whom has let go of her religious duties and has tried to getaway from the church group her family was in. Filled with anxiety and stress, Mavis life starts to unwind in the craziest ways imaginable. The book said it was a supernatural horror but I didn't get the horror aspect. There were no scares or uneasiness. It seemed to me as more of a supernatural thriller/mystery.

I liked the way the author jumped timelines then brought it back full circle. It was easy to understand and the twist was great. It really made you think of the vows we take for granted so easily and under the most lightest circumstances. We don't think it's a big deal until it is. The author definitely brought this theme out and others like, womanhood, religious upbringings, cheating, etc. The trope in the book was "Don't" for women and how they are expected to remind themselves not to "go there" with their husbands.

Overall it was an interesting read. Some parts in the middle were slow but it kept me reading for some reason. I think Mavis actions kept me reading. It was like what was she going to do next. The ending was just okay and I wish it went into more detail about their church.

This was a mystery that had me gripped from the beginning. It scared me and had me thinking at the same time. It was really good.

This book pulls you deep into a story that lingers long after the last page. It’s equal parts eerie and thought-provoking—a masterful blend of suspense and emotion. A must-read!

I was lucky enough to receive a physical copy of this book, so I'll be reading and evaluating that instead!

This was a deeply unsettling mystery that had me gripped from the beginning, this was my first time reading this author but they have a new fan, I appreciated how authentic the characters felt and the emotional depth, highly recommend to fans of spooky mysteries!

I love a good horror book and this one did not disappoint. This is my first time reading Bethany C. Morrow so I will be looking for more reads by her! It was hard to put down to go to sleep!

I actually feel super blessed to be able to read an ARC from Tor Nightfire. Some of my FAVORITE authors are published by them. Because of that, I had some pretty high hopes for this book.

Mavis Dwyer has had a tough life, living in the shadow of her constantly critical parents. Now that she has her own family, a husband she adores, she tries to move away from a past that centered on control. When a near-death experience triggers several…bizarre…interactions, Mavis is forced to confront the religious group she left, which is helmed by her parents.

I found the mystery of the novel the most compelling part. Morrow sprinkles unsettling details in a way that kept me questioning what was really going on behind the scenes: why is this happening to Mavis? And when I received an answer to that question: what is she going to do about it? I definitely did not see the ending coming, which was fun, but I also questioned WHY it happened that way. I think my one gripe (and it’s just my opinion) is with the Epilogue. I didn’t think it fit with the characterization (trying to avoid spoilers here). Otherwise, I’d say Morrow is a masterful storyteller - withholding just enough details that we’re forced to keep going to find out what the hell is going to happen next.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Bethany C. Morrow’s The Body is a haunting, genre-bending novel that fuses psychological suspense with social commentary, exploring how identity, trauma, and truth collide in the most unsettling ways. It’s a book that lingers long after the final page, not because of its twists alone, but because of the questions it forces the reader to confront.

The Body is about the aftermath of violence—how communities respond, how survivors carry scars, and how truth is often contested in the shadow of power. Morrow crafts a narrative that is both intimate and expansive, centering on characters whose lives are irrevocably altered by a single act, yet refusing to reduce them to victims alone.

Morrow’s characters are layered, flawed, and deeply human. Their voices carry urgency and vulnerability, making the reader feel the weight of their choices and silences.

The novel’s settings—whether domestic interiors or public spaces—are charged with unease. Morrow uses the environment as a mirror for psychological states, heightening tension without resorting to melodrama.

This book interrogates how bodies are politicized, how trauma is inherited, and how narratives of violence are shaped by who gets to tell them. It’s as much about memory and erasure as it is about crime or mystery.

Morrow balances suspense with reflection, allowing the story to unfold in layers. The pacing is deliberate, ensuring that revelations feel earned rather than forced.

Her prose is sharp yet empathetic, weaving lyrical passages with stark realism. Dialogue carries emotional weight, often revealing more in what is left unsaid than in what is spoken.

The Body succeeds as a thriller and a meditation on identity. It’s not simply about solving a mystery but about confronting the ways society defines and distorts truth.

For readers who value crime fiction with psychological depth and cultural resonance, Morrow delivers a novel as thought-provoking as it is gripping.

Religious trauma induced by her parents and subsequently, their congregation, and intense emotional abuse by her ex have really done a number on Mavis. She has tried to get out of their grasp, but everything is coming back after a brush with death.

She has Jerrod now, her beloved husband… who she is absolutely terrified of losing. When she gets into a terrible accident, he is there afterward, by her side to care for her. The incessant fear never abates, though. Now… her past, vows made, and dark secrets are coming back.

This was absolutely NOT what I thought it was going to be. The unsettling feeling was there from the very start and didn’t let up. There is a level of magical realism that hits a little different in the religious/supernatural space. I loved this!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and found so many parts of it truly unsettling. I expected more gore, but the story as a whole was interesting. The ending wasn’t my favorite, but I know I’ll be thinking about the messages in this book for a few weeks.

ARC review

3.5/5 - rounded up.

this was a good read and had a nice dose of feminine rage or a 'coming to' moment when a woman realizes she has her own power.

those type of books have been hitting nicely for me this past year since i left my toxic marriage, and rage is a common emotion!

a woman is obsessed with being the perfect wife to her husband after a failed marriage (a big no-no in her religious family and upbringing). then a series of bizarre and escalating attacks begin on her and her husband, and she has to figure out why and how to stop it.

no spoilers, but the reason why the attacks were happening was based on a neat concept i had never heard of until reading this book. i think it was mostly executed pretty well.

the pacing was something i really enjoyed - the story opened with a bang, and things kept happening from there. some of the scenes were BRUTAL! i wouldn't say the book scared me but it definitely made me deeply uncomfortable a few times.

the writing was a bit... maybe overdone or convoluted in places, where i had a hard time following exactly what was being revealed. i don't know how to explain it, but i would find myself confused and need to reread and then i would usually understand what the author was trying to portray. BUT! there were a lot of quotes that i really enjoyed, like this one:

"The fact that Mavis didn't collapse into cardiac arrest made it worse. She felt like she ws hemorrhaging, but no one could tell. They didn't have to. It was all happening inside of her, in secret. Someone could deal a death blow and carry on like they'd done nothing wrong.

She wanted scars. Evidence. No more talons and invisible torture.

Mavis wanted blood."

This so accurately describes how unfair it can feel to have such strong inner emotions or turmoil but appear perfectly fine on the outside.

Overall, a fun and quick read for fans of feminine rage or cult-ish, somewhat gruesome horror.

Thank you so much Tor Nightfire for giving me a chance on an ARC!