I would like to thank Tor Nightfire for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review
Publisher - Tor Nightfire
Published - Out Now
Price - £22 hardback £0.99 ebook
The year is 1899 and Sonia Wilson is a scientific illustrator without work, prospects or hope. When the reclusive Dr. Halder offers her a position illustrating his vast collection of insects, Sonia jumps at the chance to move to his North Carolina manor house and put her talents to use.
But soon enough she finds that there are darker things at work in the Carolina woods.
What happened to her predecessor, Halder’s wife?
Why are animals acting so strangely?
And what is behind the peculiar local whispers about ‘blood thieves’?
With the aid of the housekeeper and a local healer, Sonia discovers that Halder’s entomological studies have taken him down a dark road full of parasitic maggots that burrow into human flesh – and that his monstrous experiments may grow to encompass his newest illustrator . . .
Nature can often amaze us at how closely other animals share traits we see in humanity. A reminder of where we come from but sometimes we see something we don’t have any comparison with. Things that may indeed make us go urgh because who knows what lurks in the dark forest? In Wolf Worm by T Kingfisher we get a fun historical horror that offers all kind of creepiness to entertain.
Sonia Wilson is apprehensive but delighted she is once again going to be a scientific illustrator to assist a naturalist. But she finds Dr Halder is an unwelcome presence more interested in insects than people. However it’s not teaching in a school so Sonia adapts but finds a mystery in Dr Halder’s nighttime trips to a mysterious cabin in the woods. Strange noises and creatures at night suggest all is not well in the woods.
This was a lot of fun to read. A slow burn of a tale that steadily cranks up the tension and mystery that then lets rip (in more ways than one). Sonia is our narrator and Kingfisher makes a sympathetic but witty lead who we quickly side with. The strange isolated household of Dr Halder is a challenge but also allows her independence and a chance to do what she loves. Kingfisher captures her always seeing the world in colours and the delight creating art gives her. We soon get on her side.
Creepy woods, talk of devils, strange townspeople and more all make the classic feel of a stranger arriving in a place with secrets. Things do go bump in the night, there is a strong sense that Sonia’s curiosity may get her into trouble and indeed it does. I will aim to avoid spoilers but the actual resolution doesn’t quite go where you expect and leads to an interesting look at judgement and who gets to be the real monster. There are I can say going to be lots of parasitic insects and what they can do to flesh so those who do not like body horror may wish to turn away but for those who do Kingfisher has oozing delights to share with us.
However there is a slight sense of being on a safe ghost train. Sonia is a typical Kingfisher lead narrator with a sense of humour, the natural horrors are also quite familiar to me now and while the historical setting is intertwine there is a sense of I’m going on a ride that will unsettle me it won’t really scare me that much. I enjoy Kingfisher’s horror a lot but I did feel this was following a familiar path. Not necessarily an issue but I like horror to sometimes surprise me in less than pleasant ways.
Wolf Worm is a lot of fun and for those who like the idea of a horror rollercoaster then I can definitely recommend it.
