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alisonvh's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rosemary’s Baby meets Salem’s Lot. ‘Nough said.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Blood, Antisemitism, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Grief, Death, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Classism, Medical content, Mental illness, Gore, Child death, Vomit, Alcohol, and Ableism
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Drug use, and Dementia
blacksphinx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When it was pitched to me as "Rosemary's Baby meets Salem's Lot in New York City", I was interested. When I listened to Nat Cassidy talk about this book and he said it was, in part, a Jewish vampire story, I was sold. It more than delivered on those promises with a building that feels alive, some of the most horrific body horror I've ever read, and an extremely satisfying series of Chekov's guns going off at the end.
Please publishers, give us more disabled protagonists and more Jewish horror!
Please publishers, give us more disabled protagonists and more Jewish horror!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Gore, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death, Racism, Racial slurs, Antisemitism, Violence, Vomit, Body horror, Ableism, and Sexism
Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, Infertility, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent
This book in takes in New York City after the start of the pandemic; characters only take minimal precautions against covid.horriblestgremlin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Medical trauma, Racism, Antisemitism, Ableism, Vomit, Gore, Pregnancy, and Body horror
Moderate: Death of parent, Classism, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
bookdragon217's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"What does it mean to be a mother? But that was the trick. There was no one meaning."
Reading Nestlings by Nat Cassidy was such an amazing experience. There were moments when I was scared to death and triggered by some of my biggest fears but the payout was so worth it. Cassidy managed to play on the readers' fears with the horror aspects while at the same time delivering such depth and substance. So many of these moments will live rent-free in my brain and still give me the creeps. I don't know about y'all, but creepy babies, bugs, gargoyles, and old, tall buildings with loads of secrets give me so much anxiety. When I finished this one, I literally exhaled and said, "Wow! This book was great!"
The best part of this one was how Cassidy was able to weave in important themes to a NYC horror story without making it feel super heavy. The sweet spot was in the balance for sure. He showcased the horrors of the predatory housing system in NYC, the trauma of bed bug infestations, and the economic inequalities, especially in the healthcare system. I love how he explored Jewish identity and religiousness and wasn't afraid to challenge some longstanding beliefs or "curses." I could tell a lot of research and thought went into the representation of disability, motherhood, post-birth trauma and post-partum depression. It was handled with care and felt very personal. He really makes the reader take a deeper dive into ableism, grief from becoming disabled and parenthood based on one's own experiences with their parents. There was just so much to love about this one.
If you love horror stories that are going to fill you with dread, make you feel uneasy in your own home and make your skin crawl then run and grab yourself a copy. Turn off the lights, light a candle, get a warm blanket and hot drink, and enjoy the ride. This is one of the best horror books I've read this year. Nat Cassidy is an official auto-buy author from now on. I've gotten to meet Cassidy on three occasions and he is such a genuinely nice person.
#Nestlings #NatCassidy #horror #bookstagram #bookish #books
#reading #bookrecommendation #bookreviews #bookphotography #horrorbooks #nyc #bookworm #jewish
Reading Nestlings by Nat Cassidy was such an amazing experience. There were moments when I was scared to death and triggered by some of my biggest fears but the payout was so worth it. Cassidy managed to play on the readers' fears with the horror aspects while at the same time delivering such depth and substance. So many of these moments will live rent-free in my brain and still give me the creeps. I don't know about y'all, but creepy babies, bugs, gargoyles, and old, tall buildings with loads of secrets give me so much anxiety. When I finished this one, I literally exhaled and said, "Wow! This book was great!"
The best part of this one was how Cassidy was able to weave in important themes to a NYC horror story without making it feel super heavy. The sweet spot was in the balance for sure. He showcased the horrors of the predatory housing system in NYC, the trauma of bed bug infestations, and the economic inequalities, especially in the healthcare system. I love how he explored Jewish identity and religiousness and wasn't afraid to challenge some longstanding beliefs or "curses." I could tell a lot of research and thought went into the representation of disability, motherhood, post-birth trauma and post-partum depression. It was handled with care and felt very personal. He really makes the reader take a deeper dive into ableism, grief from becoming disabled and parenthood based on one's own experiences with their parents. There was just so much to love about this one.
If you love horror stories that are going to fill you with dread, make you feel uneasy in your own home and make your skin crawl then run and grab yourself a copy. Turn off the lights, light a candle, get a warm blanket and hot drink, and enjoy the ride. This is one of the best horror books I've read this year. Nat Cassidy is an official auto-buy author from now on. I've gotten to meet Cassidy on three occasions and he is such a genuinely nice person.
#Nestlings #NatCassidy #horror #bookstagram #bookish #books
#reading #bookrecommendation #bookreviews #bookphotography #horrorbooks #nyc #bookworm #jewish
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Body horror, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Antisemitism, Classism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexism and Alcoholism
bookedbymadeline's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
4.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the eARC!
First let me preface by saying I loved that there’s content warnings at the beginning of the book, I think it’s something all authors should do! Now onto the review.
First let me preface by saying I loved that there’s content warnings at the beginning of the book, I think it’s something all authors should do! Now onto the review.
The book is told through switching POVs between Ana and Reid mostly, but occasionally we get POVs from some minor characters. I was immediately pulled in and didn’t want to put this one down! The writing is atmospheric with Very tense, eerie vibes. I had goosebumps, felt like I was being watched and general creepy crawlies while reading (do not recommend reading at night right before bed) 🫣
It slowed a bit in the middle but overall the pacing was well done! The character development was also fantastic, I really liked Ana and watching her grow throughout the novel. Although both MCs were well written, Ana was so complex and had great depth to her 😍
This novel is incredibly written in its exploration of grief and motherhood. The topics of postpartum, disability, and infertility were well written/handled with care! I can’t speak for the disability community but the infertility rep made me feel so seen.
This novel is incredibly written in its exploration of grief and motherhood. The topics of postpartum, disability, and infertility were well written/handled with care! I can’t speak for the disability community but the infertility rep made me feel so seen.
I loved the acknowledgements as well! I’ve never been so moved by an authors note 💗
Nestlings is a unique horror novel in terms of the plot and adding to some horror lore with a new twist. If you like horror novels or movies/shows, I’d highly recommend! Nestlings is marketed as Salem’s Lot meets Rosemary’s Baby, but it also gave me Midnight Mass vibes 👻 I’ll definitely be checking out more of Cassidy’s horror novels!
Rep: Jewish MCs and author, paraplegia FMC, infertility rep
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Infertility, Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Body horror
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Ableism, Antisemitism, and Grief
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