A review by savvylit
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

What Moves the Dead is a delightful gothic read with excellent pacing and plenty of creepiness. This novella is also populated by a cast of characters both loveable and memorable. My favorite was narrator Alex, a very smart nonbinary soldier and a loyal friend. The way the story is written made me feel as though I was sitting in a smoky pub, listening to Alex confess this dark tale over shared drinks. Kingfisher is a truly incredible world-builder and I can't wait to read more of her work.

What Moves the Dead is, in fact, a reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe's short story The Fall of the House of Usher. And it truly excels as a retelling. I do not think that you have to be familiar with the original work in order to enjoy this book. That being said, I would recommend reading Poe's story first (available for free online) to truly appreciate the ways that Kingfisher has expanded upon the original.
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