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A review by atlas_shruggs
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
2024 review
Reading this book again had me glaring skeptically at the fine hairs on my arms. Shivers. Easton is still so fucking funny holy shit, they are fully me if I was in a horror novel, constantly firing out sarcastic quotes and beautifully stereotyping Europeans and Americans. I'm still sad that it isn't longer but now that it has a sequel I can't complain.
2022 review
This was just a well written, eerie read that I could barely put it down.
Essentially, the book is a retelling of Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, but I felt like it was so so much more than that. Just before reading this I listened to the audio book of the original story, and it definitely felt like it was lacking in so much substance. I get that it's an older short story, but much like T. Kingfisher, I felt myself wishing there was more to it than just "Guy visits creepy house, people die," and this did exactly that.
Easton was such a great narrator, having ka as the main character gave the reader more of a soldier's insight into what was going on, and getting the flashes of the horrors Easton experienced in the war really added to the gory factor of the story itself.
Also, just having a nonbinary character in a horror story set in the 1890's is such a rare occurrence, but having them be the main character? It felt revolutionary. It added so much in regards to gender roles, which Miss Potter's character did as well.
This was also way way funnier than I expected. Easton's sarcasm was so hilarious, I found myself openly laughing more than once.
If there was anything I would change, I would have wanted the book to be longer, but I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.
Reading this book again had me glaring skeptically at the fine hairs on my arms. Shivers. Easton is still so fucking funny holy shit, they are fully me if I was in a horror novel, constantly firing out sarcastic quotes and beautifully stereotyping Europeans and Americans. I'm still sad that it isn't longer but now that it has a sequel I can't complain.
2022 review
This was just a well written, eerie read that I could barely put it down.
Essentially, the book is a retelling of Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, but I felt like it was so so much more than that. Just before reading this I listened to the audio book of the original story, and it definitely felt like it was lacking in so much substance. I get that it's an older short story, but much like T. Kingfisher, I felt myself wishing there was more to it than just "Guy visits creepy house, people die," and this did exactly that.
Easton was such a great narrator, having ka as the main character gave the reader more of a soldier's insight into what was going on, and getting the flashes of the horrors Easton experienced in the war really added to the gory factor of the story itself.
Also, just having a nonbinary character in a horror story set in the 1890's is such a rare occurrence, but having them be the main character? It felt revolutionary. It added so much in regards to gender roles, which Miss Potter's character did as well.
This was also way way funnier than I expected. Easton's sarcasm was so hilarious, I found myself openly laughing more than once.
If there was anything I would change, I would have wanted the book to be longer, but I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, and Sexism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and War