literary gluttony

There are some books that make you question everything around you—like, say, that weird patch of fungus growing on your back porch. T. Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead is one of those books. A retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, this novella takes everything unsettling about the original and cranks it up to eleven. If you love gothic horror, creeping dread, and stories that make your skin crawl (sometimes literally), then buckle up.

The Setup: Something is Very Wrong at the Usher House

Our protagonist, Alex Easton, is a retired soldier who receives a troubling letter: their childhood friend, Madeline Usher, is gravely ill, and her brother, Roderick, fears she doesn’t have much time left. So Easton makes their way to the crumbling Usher estate, which is exactly as creepy as you’d expect—think decaying walls, eerie whispers, and a surrounding lake that looks like something out of a fever dream.

And Madeline? She’s wasting away, sleepwalking, speaking in riddles, and just generally exuding “haunted Victorian woman” vibes. Oh, and did I mention the weird fungal growths overtaking everything? Yeah. Things are not okay.

The Vibes: Gothic Dread with a Side of Dry Wit

Kingfisher is a master of atmosphere, and this book oozes gothic horror in the best way. The house feels alive (or rather, undead), and the slow, creeping decay infects everything—including the people inside it. The body horror is chef’s kiss disturbing, and the way she describes movement—things twitching just a little too much, bending the wrong way—will haunt you.

But what makes What Moves the Dead stand out is the balance of dread and humor. Easton’s wry, practical personality keeps the story from feeling too heavy. There’s also an amazing side character, an older British mycologist who is completely unfazed by the nightmare unfolding around her, which adds some much-needed levity. If you’ve ever wanted a book where gothic horror meets dry sarcasm, this one delivers.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Read This While Eating Mushrooms

At just over 150 pages, this is a quick read, but it packs a punch. Kingfisher takes Poe’s story and grows something new from its decaying roots—something that’s equal parts grotesque and mesmerizing. If you’re a fan of folk horror, gothic tales, or books that make you slightly afraid of nature, you need to pick this one up.

⭐ 4/5 stars ⭐ – A chilling, darkly funny, and deeply unsettling gothic horror novella that lingers like a creeping mold in your mind.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go bleach my entire kitchen because fungus is officially terrifying.