Creepy, horror story vibes and I am LIVING for it. It's got what you're looking for from a horror book but also has a sprinkling of humor throughout so it doesn't feel too over the top and it works really well.

I'm hootin' and hollering! This was so good that it got me out of a reading slump. Another reviewer was spot on saying Morsel had an AHS: Roanoke feel. Folk horror-ish.

Morsel is a bit wilderness horror with a handful of gore and a sprinkle of the occult and supernatural. I gasped, cringed and made faces of distate (a compliment if you ask me). Oh, and it was creepy as fuck.

I would have loved if the novella was slightly longer (although I guess it wouldn't be considered a novella anymore) so some parts could be expanded on. Lou had all the elements to be a fully fleshed out character and I wanted to know more about her grief and plight.

That being said, I feel I must give this all the stars. It had been a second since I devoured a book like this one. I will be impatiently waiting for what Carter Keane writes next.

Lou is struggling financially, and can’t seem to get ahead. She saw her mom struggle to raise her her whole life, and how that she’s an adult and her mom is sick, Lou has taken on that financial responsibility. She knows she’s been slacking at work because she’s overwhelmed with her mom’s illness, but she needs this job. She’s terrified of being fired, so when her boss brings up her performance, he offers to let her change tasks for a while, which will be taking photos for property appraisals. Her first assignment takes her deep into rural Ohio, and this is where the red flags begin. But she’s desperate for money, so she ignores them against her better judgement.

I’m not going to give away any spoilers, but what follows is a creepy, horror-filled thrill ride that has Lou fighting for her and her dog’s, life. I loved how big of a role her dog, Riley, played in the novella too. It’s only about 200 pages, so it’s a fast read, perfect for someone who wants quick story with bite - 4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hauntingly terrifying. I haven't read such a good folk horror book since Kin. This was amazing! Great characters, settings and storylines. I'm going to look for more from this author, for sure!

**** 1/2 (rounded up) Many thanks to Net Galley for the ARC. Wow. What a debut! I absolutely loved it.

first impressions: fast-paced, couldn’t put it down, great main character with a unique voice (you could tell she wasn’t all there), a dog, a kick-ass bff.

I loved the backstory - the vibe is very much like The Old Gods of Appalachia podcast. I loved the allegory of being eaten alive by crapitalism

Reasons for taking off half a Star: what kind of dog is Ripley? A pitbull? And at first I thought the main character, Lou, was a dude. Still no idea what she looks like.

Overall, awesome book. Highly recommended for those who like gore with their social commentary.

Go and read this book right now, you’ll become equally as obsessed as I am. This is the perfect book for spooky season.

A spooky and intriguing read, perfect for the fall or halloween time. Its one you won't want to miss!

Hooray for fun horror! In my opinion, novels that are genuinely funny, exciting, and scary are hard to get right. TK Kingfisher nails it pretty much every time. And Carter Keane has come out swinging with this fantastic debut, Morsel.

Lou comes from a working-class background, has dragged herself though college, and landed an office job at a slightly questionable company. After a mess-up at work, Lou sees an opportunity to redeem herself in her (slimy) boss’s eyes by taking a trip to rural Ohio to check out a property. After seeing some strange symbols hanging from trees, things escalate incredibly quickly, and Lou starts to question who exactly she is working for.

Morsel gets a huge standing ovation from me. Lou is an absolutely bad-ass character, who kicks the crap out of every person that tries to hurt her or her beloved dog. She is funny and strong, and I genuinely loved every moment I spent with her.

The plot unravels wonderfully. Keane plants subtle seeds throughout, and the payoff is incredible. I was riveted.

Anyone whose corporate job has made them question their sanity will recognize a lot of things in this book. I’m not saying all CEOs are involved with supernatural horrors, but it sure made me question some things.

Morsel was an absolute joy to read, and I’m so excited about Carter Keane’s future.

I devoured this book. I can honestly say that the first chapter or 2 did not do it for me. The longer I read, the crazier things began to unfold. I wish there was a little more character development with the friendship between Lou and Emma. It was a little hard to know the status of their relationship at first.

I really enjoyed the gore and the imaginative monster/cult relationship. Very unique!

Overall a 5 star read!

Thank you so much Netgalley and Tor Publishing.

Morsel follows a woman and her dog sent on a last-chance work assignment in rural Ohio. After her performance slips following her mother’s illness, Lou is sent to appraise an isolated property. Things don’t seem right from the first steps onto the property. By the time she leaves, she’ll be running for her life.

From the first page, Keane hooked me with beautiful, haunting imagery. The descriptive language is so vivid that the setting is almost tactile. The atmospheric narrative captures the primal in both an abandoned woodland allowed to grow untamed and a person pushed beyond her limits. And it manages to capture all of this in around 200 pages. Morsel reads like that short story you were assigned in a high school Lit class that’s left you with a lingering unease all these years. I read it in one sitting and found new layers in it for days after. The author has crafted a chilling folk horror that’s a reflection on ambition and survival.

Morsel is perfect for fans of folk horror who like their scares with substance. It’s a small, eerie story with big, lasting impact.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is how to do a debut! I couldn't put this down! This is a story of loss, of life, of feeling like everyone/ thing just takes bite after bite from you. That sometimes the true monsters aren't hiding, but are around you everyday.

For Lou, our main character, life has really gotten her down time and time again. When she's offered a new gig from her current employer, she jumps at the change and she's off with her dog Ripley in tow. But once she reaches her destination she finds not all is what it seems in the woods....or in her life. That sometimes life will take its bites, you just have to learn to bite back.

My only thought is I do wish there was a little more background as far as the folk mountain type horror in this book. Some more build to it and the ones that "worship" it. But over all this was a fantastic read! The cover art is gorgeous and Carter Keanes story telling is phenomenal. I can't wait to add this to my collection upon its release and to follow Carter's writing career!
Thank you Tor Nightfire, Carter, and Netgalley for the arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story opens with our protagonist, Lou, a young professional who has finally landed her dream “office job,” hoping to provide a better life for herself and her aging mother. But after her mother’s recent illness, Lou is struggling, her mental health is faltering, and her work performance is slipping. When her boss gives her one last chance to prove herself—a land surveying project deep in rural Appalachia—Lou jumps at the opportunity. She packs up her dog and sets off for an abandoned property hours from home, determined to succeed. Yet from the moment she arrives, something feels off.

At its core, this is a horror novel, but it’s also surprisingly funny. I found myself laughing just as often as I was holding my breath. Lou’s sarcasm and dry wit shine through, and her inner monologue, especially her musings about how “monsters in the woods are bad, but capitalism is worse”, had me grinning.

As someone living in the economic and political landscape of 2025, I really appreciated this book as a darkly clever critique of capitalism and the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” myth. Even when you do everything right, it can still feel like you’re being eaten alive, and this story captures that feeling perfectly.

I did have some frustrations with Lou’s decisions at times; there were moments when I wanted to reach into the book and shake her. But those questionable choices ultimately made sense—especially given her growing apathy about whether surviving was even worth it if it meant returning to the grind of a capitalist nightmare.

Overall, this was a sharp, witty, and fast-paced horror story that felt both timely and relatable. I had a great time reading it and highly recommend it to anyone who loves their horror with a side of social commentary.

This girl named Lou is on the brink of losing her job by her boss but he gives her this appraisal assignment to go look at this abandoned house in the middle of the Appalachian forest. There is a lot of blair white project vibes to it she comes across a rabid coyote that scares her with her dog and then disappears. So she is worried she would come across to seeing it again.
I think the guy that lives next door to the home is odd too no computer no service to call out when she needs to message her friend.
I wish there was more character development for this neighbor and to her as well back before losing her job. I like the atmosphere it builds in this story it feels creepy/spooky and it is a folk horror.
There was a lot of scare in the middle chapters and it was fast paced made your heart pump flipping the page to find out what's going to happen next! Loved it!

Excuse me. it is criminal that this book isn't out yet to the public because WOW.
I don't think there is anything more perfect for spooky season, it'll keep you on the edge of your seat and on edge wondering just what's going to happen next.

Holy !! This book took me out of my happy place! The author kept me on the edge of my seat but I kept begging for more. Reminded me of an old SK book or maybe even some DK. It got my attention and kept it. Panic attack was lingering especially near the end. I will definitely be looking for more from this author. He is too good to miss!! #morsel

I am excited to review this author’s debut novel. I picked this up on a whim and a love of Appalachian horror and folk style stories. It exceeded my expectations. There’s a heavy air of mental health issues touched so please read the trigger warnings before pursuing. With that out of the way, the setting is beautiful, dark, and enticing. The characters are well written and the main character is multifaceted and their story is complex. The plot is well paced. This is a wild, gory ride to hell and a crawl back out the blood drenched other side. It is well worth the read and I want to see more of this author’s work.

What a read! This was definitely a Trip! I was looking for a good spooky/horror and this fit the bill completely.
Lou, worried about a meeting with her boss as she thinks she is losing her job, is given a property appraisal assignment that surprises her. It is just her and her dog these days besides her roommate. The insanity that follows as the property is in the Appalachian side of Ohio is written in such a fantastic way. I could not put this down until I finished it. Again, it was definitely a wild ride filled with great Appalachian folk lore and tales. Will definitely be getting a physical copy of the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for allowing me to read this early!