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A review by thrynnies
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
There is nothing quite like placing a finished book in your lap, sitting back with slightly glazed eyes, and thinking "what the heck did I just read."
Don't be fooled by the shortness of this novella, it packs a potent punch and feels like its just the right amount of pages. I'd previously read <i> A House with Great Bones </i> by this author and the last quarter of the book totally lost me, despite loving the first bit intensely.
This author really knows how to write in a way that intrigues and thrills you. The descriptions are just enough to leave the rest up to your own horrifying imagination and I could picture everything going on quite clearly!
My one small gripe is that the main character took a while to describe themself. I understand why and sometimes first-person POV is a beast to write in that way but I had already gotten a clear image of them (kan?) in my head and had to do some awkward backpedaling. But such is the life of a visual-heavy reader, I suppose.
I was pleasantly satisfied with the entirity of the plot of this one though the conclusion of it all did roll out a bit quickly and the final pages tumbled between being too much and not enough, I'm not sure I would have added much to it but I did have questions. Don't all horrors leave you with questions though? . I loved the atmosphere of the story and it managed to be more horrifying than its predecessor, <i> The Fall of the House of Usher </i>. I was curious if the author was going to bring up possible incest themes--I only mention this because I wrote a paper about Poe's Usher in uni and if you are curious, no that isn't really expounded on, and is left just as curiously and strangely vague and perhaps up to interpretation There is something deeply unsettling about things growing inside your body that you are unaware of and I think I will never quite look at mushrooms the same way again.
Suffice to say, the horror in this novella was just the right kind for me. It teetered between fantasy, science fiction, historical, and (of course) settles snugly at the cozy spot of creepy as all get out. Seriously, this book is very unnerving in all the right ways. the scene with the hares...goodNESS. I could feel all my hairs stand on end
Very pleased to try another novella in the series :) Until next time~
Don't be fooled by the shortness of this novella, it packs a potent punch and feels like its just the right amount of pages. I'd previously read <i> A House with Great Bones </i> by this author and the last quarter of the book totally lost me, despite loving the first bit intensely.
This author really knows how to write in a way that intrigues and thrills you. The descriptions are just enough to leave the rest up to your own horrifying imagination and I could picture everything going on quite clearly!
My one small gripe is that the main character took a while to describe themself. I understand why and sometimes first-person POV is a beast to write in that way but I had already gotten a clear image of them (kan?) in my head and had to do some awkward backpedaling. But such is the life of a visual-heavy reader, I suppose.
I was pleasantly satisfied with the entirity of the plot of this one
Suffice to say, the horror in this novella was just the right kind for me. It teetered between fantasy, science fiction, historical, and (of course) settles snugly at the cozy spot of creepy as all get out. Seriously, this book is very unnerving in all the right ways.
Very pleased to try another novella in the series :) Until next time~
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror