What do you think?
Rate this book
Dark Earth Rising
The Spore Queen
Forest. Fungi. Family secrets.
Reporter Maria Hart ventures into the depths of Nils Forest chasing a news story about a violent storm, but she never returns. Within months, four other people will also disappear in the woods.
Tech mogul David Eager lives at the forest’s edge. He is haunted by Maria’s disappearance, and something more. Fungus is common in the foggy woodland, but now it’s behaving in unnatural ways, creeping onto his property and into his dreams.
Maria’s friend, Amy Matthews, hears strange rumors about Nils Forest and, motivated by a dark secret, decides to investigate for herself. It’s no easy task. The terrain is notoriously rugged. But Amy is cunning and determined to find her former roommate, dead or alive.
Amy’s not alone. Maria’s mother, desperate for answers about her daughter, joins the search.
Together, they journey into the heart of Nils Forest where they make a chilling discovery—there’s a new fungus in these woods, and it has transformative powers. As they push deeper into the trees, they uncover a terrifying, mind-bending force. Her name is The Spore Queen.
Reporter Maria Hart ventures into the depths of Nils Forest chasing a news story about a violent storm, but she never returns. Within months, four other people will also disappear in the woods.
Tech mogul David Eager lives at the forest’s edge. He is haunted by Maria’s disappearance, and something more. Fungus is common in the foggy woodland, but now it’s behaving in unnatural ways, creeping onto his property and into his dreams.
Maria’s friend, Amy Matthews, hears strange rumors about Nils Forest and, motivated by a dark secret, decides to investigate for herself. It’s no easy task. The terrain is notoriously rugged. But Amy is cunning and determined to find her former roommate, dead or alive.
Amy’s not alone. Maria’s mother, desperate for answers about her daughter, joins the search.
Together, they journey into the heart of Nils Forest where they make a chilling discovery—there’s a new fungus in these woods, and it has transformative powers. As they push deeper into the trees, they uncover a terrifying, mind-bending force. Her name is The Spore Queen.
284 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2024
123 people are currently reading
954 people want to read
About the author
Debra Castaneda
25 books295 followersDebra Castaneda is an award-winning author of urban fantasy and dark fiction based on the central coast of California.
Her works include Barely Magic, the first book in the Maddy Madrigal Mysteries series of urban fantasy novels; The Spore Queen, The Devil’s Shallows, The Root Witch, The Copper Man, Circus at Devil’s Landing, and A Dark and Rising Tide, which comprise the Dark Earth Rising series of standalone novels, and The Monsters of Chavez Ravine, an International Latino Book Awards gold medal winner.
Debra loves writing character-driven stories about people who experience scary or magical things, and how they react when confronted with the unexpected. She’s committed to representing Latinas and Latinos in her books.
For inspiration, she draws from her experience as a TV and radio journalist, and as a third-generation Mexican American
Debra now lives on the central coast of California with her husband. She enjoys rediscovering the Mexican dishes of her childhood and texting her two daughters about her latest binge-watch.
~Subscribe to her newsletter for the occasional giveaway and the latest news at www.debracastaneda.com;
~Stay in touch with her at: @castanedawrites on Facebook & @castanedawrites on Instagram .
Her works include Barely Magic, the first book in the Maddy Madrigal Mysteries series of urban fantasy novels; The Spore Queen, The Devil’s Shallows, The Root Witch, The Copper Man, Circus at Devil’s Landing, and A Dark and Rising Tide, which comprise the Dark Earth Rising series of standalone novels, and The Monsters of Chavez Ravine, an International Latino Book Awards gold medal winner.
Debra loves writing character-driven stories about people who experience scary or magical things, and how they react when confronted with the unexpected. She’s committed to representing Latinas and Latinos in her books.
For inspiration, she draws from her experience as a TV and radio journalist, and as a third-generation Mexican American
Debra now lives on the central coast of California with her husband. She enjoys rediscovering the Mexican dishes of her childhood and texting her two daughters about her latest binge-watch.
~Subscribe to her newsletter for the occasional giveaway and the latest news at www.debracastaneda.com;
~Stay in touch with her at: @castanedawrites on Facebook & @castanedawrites on Instagram .
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
May 16, 2024
This is my first read by Debra Castaneda, and my first in the Dark Earth Rising series. What initially drew me to the book is the absolutely gorgeous cover, and then reading the synopsis, I just had to read it. I’m a lover of folklore, so this was right up my alley. Also nature, mushrooms, and the forest is what I base my life around…yes I love all kinds of mushrooms, and think they are an important part of our ecosystem…and also very delicious.
Reporter, Maria is another person to go missing in Nils Forest, and the people who have gone out in search parties to look for the missing, are returning, very sick. Fellow reporter Amy, who is also Maria’s roommate, goes into the forest, along with Maria’s parents to locate her.
This is a beautiful and interesting book in which nature fights back, which I applaud, though i didn’t really feel horrified by any aspect of the story. Though I do recommend this, and will definitely be reading more from DC.
Many thanks to the author and BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.
4 🍄🍄🍄🍄
Reporter, Maria is another person to go missing in Nils Forest, and the people who have gone out in search parties to look for the missing, are returning, very sick. Fellow reporter Amy, who is also Maria’s roommate, goes into the forest, along with Maria’s parents to locate her.
This is a beautiful and interesting book in which nature fights back, which I applaud, though i didn’t really feel horrified by any aspect of the story. Though I do recommend this, and will definitely be reading more from DC.
Many thanks to the author and BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.
4 🍄🍄🍄🍄
June 20, 2024
2.5
Sigh. The Spore Queen started off promising. The setting, centered around an ancient forest, and the early perspectives of an ailing man living on its outskirts and beset by troubling visions, as well as the investigation of a reporter into a series of mysterious disappearances and illnesses in the forest was compelling and interesting. Sure, the writing was lacking in depth and nuance and the characters were uneven, but I was happy to keep turning pages. But then the mystery is revealed pretty early on and all sense of suspense went out the window for me, and the book just became a trek through the woods with tiresome people.
I plan on giving Castaneda's work another chance and will hope for better next time around.
Sigh. The Spore Queen started off promising. The setting, centered around an ancient forest, and the early perspectives of an ailing man living on its outskirts and beset by troubling visions, as well as the investigation of a reporter into a series of mysterious disappearances and illnesses in the forest was compelling and interesting. Sure, the writing was lacking in depth and nuance and the characters were uneven, but I was happy to keep turning pages. But then the mystery is revealed pretty early on and all sense of suspense went out the window for me, and the book just became a trek through the woods with tiresome people.
I plan on giving Castaneda's work another chance and will hope for better next time around.
June 30, 2024
(3.5 stars, I really enjoyed this!)
This is a fun summer read that takes place in the area of Mendocino, CA near the Lime Kiln State Parks. A journalist heads out to the Redwoods to do a story on a storm that brought down a lot of trees. She never returns. Her parents, Lori and Julian are determined to find her.
This would be perfect for readers who enjoy
- Eco-Thrillers/Horror
-Nature with healing or magic properties like Chuck Wendig's, Black River Orchard
-Sporror, fungus, mushrooms, mycelium
-Missing people mysteries
- Mexican folklore, brujeria, gods and goddesses
- cults
- the stories, style, and subject of V. Castro and Jennifer Givhan's River Woman, River Demon
This is a fun summer read that takes place in the area of Mendocino, CA near the Lime Kiln State Parks. A journalist heads out to the Redwoods to do a story on a storm that brought down a lot of trees. She never returns. Her parents, Lori and Julian are determined to find her.
This would be perfect for readers who enjoy
- Eco-Thrillers/Horror
-Nature with healing or magic properties like Chuck Wendig's, Black River Orchard
-Sporror, fungus, mushrooms, mycelium
-Missing people mysteries
- Mexican folklore, brujeria, gods and goddesses
- cults
- the stories, style, and subject of V. Castro and Jennifer Givhan's River Woman, River Demon
November 23, 2024
Not my favorite book of Castaneda's Dark Earth Rising series, but I'll still pick up her next one the day it comes out.
April 23, 2024
This entry in the Dark Earth Rising series does not disappoint.
I love that Debra creates such vibrant characters that come alive on the pages of her stories. Combining their uniqueness with attributes from her own life, many of them seem more than just people written into existence. I always want to know what happens to them next once the story ends.
The settings are so atmospheric, mixing beauty with ominous traits. You don’t know whether to be afraid of the surroundings or immerse yourself in them. What I really enjoy is finding out about the real life places that are often the basis of Debra’s stories. I want to add them to a list of locations to visit, but would I be comfortable there as a tourist having read the Dark Earth Series tales?
The Spore Queen is a fantastic and immersive read taking place both in Mendocino (a real place) and Nils Forest (fictional setting). A string of disappearances and bloom of disturbing fungi may be more than coincidence.
There is so much to digest in the story itself, and the reader will find connections to Latin folklore and the supernatural which is a very cool concept along with the nature horror. Spores, mushrooms, mycelium abound within the tale and I cannot emphasize enough that we in the horror community need and love fungal thrillers!
I honestly cannot wait to read more from the mind of this author! Start anywhere in the series, but make sure to read them all.
I love that Debra creates such vibrant characters that come alive on the pages of her stories. Combining their uniqueness with attributes from her own life, many of them seem more than just people written into existence. I always want to know what happens to them next once the story ends.
The settings are so atmospheric, mixing beauty with ominous traits. You don’t know whether to be afraid of the surroundings or immerse yourself in them. What I really enjoy is finding out about the real life places that are often the basis of Debra’s stories. I want to add them to a list of locations to visit, but would I be comfortable there as a tourist having read the Dark Earth Series tales?
The Spore Queen is a fantastic and immersive read taking place both in Mendocino (a real place) and Nils Forest (fictional setting). A string of disappearances and bloom of disturbing fungi may be more than coincidence.
There is so much to digest in the story itself, and the reader will find connections to Latin folklore and the supernatural which is a very cool concept along with the nature horror. Spores, mushrooms, mycelium abound within the tale and I cannot emphasize enough that we in the horror community need and love fungal thrillers!
I honestly cannot wait to read more from the mind of this author! Start anywhere in the series, but make sure to read them all.
May 1, 2024
3.5☆
I must start this review by admitting that mushrooms completely creep me out, and I refuse to consume them in any way, shape, or form. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so seeing mushrooms around is commonplace. For me, though, seeing them is always like viewing a car crash, I feel sickened and disturbingly fascinated all at the same time.
Obviously then, I couldn't wait to 'devour' this new horror book by Debra Castaneda! The problem is, I didn't find this one to be horrific, and the mushroom storyline didn't terrify and repulse me as I expected it would. I really enjoyed the first 60% or so because I was pretty amped up looking forward to where I thought it was headed, but it went in a totally different direction. Much like A Dark And Rising Tide, which I really liked, I wasn't expecting the story to end when it did, especially since it seemed to start going where I thought it would all along.
All that being said, it was still an interesting book with a gorgeous cover, and I will definitely read Ms. Castaneda again!
I was provided a free copy through Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I must start this review by admitting that mushrooms completely creep me out, and I refuse to consume them in any way, shape, or form. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so seeing mushrooms around is commonplace. For me, though, seeing them is always like viewing a car crash, I feel sickened and disturbingly fascinated all at the same time.
Obviously then, I couldn't wait to 'devour' this new horror book by Debra Castaneda! The problem is, I didn't find this one to be horrific, and the mushroom storyline didn't terrify and repulse me as I expected it would. I really enjoyed the first 60% or so because I was pretty amped up looking forward to where I thought it was headed, but it went in a totally different direction. Much like A Dark And Rising Tide, which I really liked, I wasn't expecting the story to end when it did, especially since it seemed to start going where I thought it would all along.
All that being said, it was still an interesting book with a gorgeous cover, and I will definitely read Ms. Castaneda again!
I was provided a free copy through Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 3, 2024
Amy is a radio reporter who shared an apartment with Maria and has now taken her job since Maria's disappearance some months before in Nils Forest, California. Maria was last seen at the retreat near the forest run by David, a wealthy man who is suffering from a form of dementia that profoundly affects his mobility and could plunge him into hallucinations. He begins to worry that he has reached that stage when he sees and hears odd things near the forest. Before she disappeared, Maria told him that mushrooms were growing everywhere and appeared to be regenerating the trees following a severe storm and that she had found a strange one which she was taking to a mushroom expert to identify. The police aren't showing much interest in finding Maria despite the subsequent disappearances of other people. A man called Karl has recently gone missing in the forest but search parties are forced to turn back because the people become nauseous.
Amy resents what she sees as Maria's privilege. Maria was adopted by her aunt and brought up with every advantage. However, Maria suffered a lack of esteem and sense of lacking roots, so when her birth mother Lori had got in touch with her some months before her disappearance, she had been interested to learn anything Lori could tell her about her father Julian's heritage. Julian comes from Mexico and his great-grandfather was a bruja, a type of medicine man. Maria appeared to be fascinated with the history of the Aztecs from whom the original inhabitants of Mexico descend.
Lori comes to Nils Forest, desperate to find her daughter and rejoins Julian who has only just found out he had a daughter. Lori was forced by her rich and controlling parents, her father in particular, to give her baby up to be adopted by her aunt. They were not happy to have a child of mixed parentage and wanted to hush up the scandal. Amy finds them and they end up joining forces in an expedition to the kilns, a remote structure in the forest which Lori and Julian originally used as a haven and where Maria was conceived. There they discover that Maria has built a following with big plans.
I enjoyed this story and found the characters well developed, each with their own weaknesses, anxieties and needs. The descriptions of the various fungi growing in David's cabin and then in the forest are beautifully done. The story raises questions about cults and whether the ends justify the means; Maria and the others are trying to heal the Earth's wild places by spreading the fungus but there is a cost. The story ends rather inconclusively which is the only reason why I've given it 4 stars rather than the full rating.
Amy resents what she sees as Maria's privilege. Maria was adopted by her aunt and brought up with every advantage. However, Maria suffered a lack of esteem and sense of lacking roots, so when her birth mother Lori had got in touch with her some months before her disappearance, she had been interested to learn anything Lori could tell her about her father Julian's heritage. Julian comes from Mexico and his great-grandfather was a bruja, a type of medicine man. Maria appeared to be fascinated with the history of the Aztecs from whom the original inhabitants of Mexico descend.
Lori comes to Nils Forest, desperate to find her daughter and rejoins Julian who has only just found out he had a daughter. Lori was forced by her rich and controlling parents, her father in particular, to give her baby up to be adopted by her aunt. They were not happy to have a child of mixed parentage and wanted to hush up the scandal. Amy finds them and they end up joining forces in an expedition to the kilns, a remote structure in the forest which Lori and Julian originally used as a haven and where Maria was conceived. There they discover that Maria has built a following with big plans.
I enjoyed this story and found the characters well developed, each with their own weaknesses, anxieties and needs. The descriptions of the various fungi growing in David's cabin and then in the forest are beautifully done. The story raises questions about cults and whether the ends justify the means; Maria and the others are trying to heal the Earth's wild places by spreading the fungus but there is a cost. The story ends rather inconclusively which is the only reason why I've given it 4 stars rather than the full rating.
October 10, 2024
"He was standing on the precipice of something terrible that could lead to a frightening discovery or a permanent break from reality."
An immersive and mysterious tale that leads down a dark path into the forest, which holds an even darker truth. Beneath the redwoods folk lore unfolds into reality.
Beautiful setting beautifully described. Riveting characters.
An immersive and mysterious tale that leads down a dark path into the forest, which holds an even darker truth. Beneath the redwoods folk lore unfolds into reality.
Beautiful setting beautifully described. Riveting characters.
April 30, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Mycelium is fascinating, and I loved the concept of this book. I did some reading on the relationship between Mycelium and trees, and I often say they're smarter than people 😅 While this wasn't my favorite of The Dark Earth Rising Books, it was still a great read. You can't go wrong with Debra Castaneda's books!
Mycelium is fascinating, and I loved the concept of this book. I did some reading on the relationship between Mycelium and trees, and I often say they're smarter than people 😅 While this wasn't my favorite of The Dark Earth Rising Books, it was still a great read. You can't go wrong with Debra Castaneda's books!
October 21, 2025
An amazing story full of grief, guilt, jealousy and longing.
May 11, 2024
As always, this was beautifully written. Debra Castaneda has such a talent for drawing you in with darkly beautiful prose and flawed characters.
Like Debra, I find the world of mushrooms fascinating, and elevating them to a supernatural level worked so well in this installation of the Dark Earth Rising collection.
Read it. Love it.
Like Debra, I find the world of mushrooms fascinating, and elevating them to a supernatural level worked so well in this installation of the Dark Earth Rising collection.
Read it. Love it.
May 22, 2024
My first foray into environmental horror, this book was a disturbing yet fascinating read. Several people disappear after entering a forest. Fungus starts to spread in growing numbers, creeping around homes, even dreams. Is it all connected? Is nature finally taking revenge for all that it’s suffered?
This reminded me so much of a documentary I’ve watched, of course that was centered more on the recreational qualities of fungi and the mycelium, not the horror it might inflict. In fact, I believe it was based on a book, Mycelium Running, that was one of the two that the author recommends at the end of The Spore Queen.
Riveting stuff, mushroom flora. You never think it could be the star of growing horror and yet here we are. This book was not horror in a way that scares you sleepless or makes you jump at any and all creak, but it creeps up on you and gets a little under your skin because isn’t it so horrible, the thought of Mother Nature’s wrath? The unknown, growing and spreading unstoppable?
I also enjoyed reading about the characters in this book. While you get to know them through their points of view, you also get a very real look into their personalities and thought processes, and I like it when horror brings out the best and the worst in its characters.
If you’re into a wild tripping adventure into environmental horror, I highly recommend this book. I’ll surely be going back to read the rest of this series, though rest assured I think it doesn’t need to be read in order. Also can’t help but mention, if this was made into a movie, can’t help but think it’d be visually stunning. And terrifying.
Many thanks to the author for my ecopy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This reminded me so much of a documentary I’ve watched, of course that was centered more on the recreational qualities of fungi and the mycelium, not the horror it might inflict. In fact, I believe it was based on a book, Mycelium Running, that was one of the two that the author recommends at the end of The Spore Queen.
Riveting stuff, mushroom flora. You never think it could be the star of growing horror and yet here we are. This book was not horror in a way that scares you sleepless or makes you jump at any and all creak, but it creeps up on you and gets a little under your skin because isn’t it so horrible, the thought of Mother Nature’s wrath? The unknown, growing and spreading unstoppable?
I also enjoyed reading about the characters in this book. While you get to know them through their points of view, you also get a very real look into their personalities and thought processes, and I like it when horror brings out the best and the worst in its characters.
If you’re into a wild tripping adventure into environmental horror, I highly recommend this book. I’ll surely be going back to read the rest of this series, though rest assured I think it doesn’t need to be read in order. Also can’t help but mention, if this was made into a movie, can’t help but think it’d be visually stunning. And terrifying.
Many thanks to the author for my ecopy of this book. All opinions are my own.
May 9, 2024
I love other books by this author so I went in with high hopes and was not let down with how great it was. All of her Dark Earth Rising books are stand alones but kind of interweave together. This was so far was a favorite. It's theme is nature's revenge. Which I always cheer for. I will say it is fungi horror based but I get the feelings of mystery and suspense too. So it can be enjoyed by a bigger audience, in my small opinion. Which seems to be growing.
When someone, Marie, vanishes into the Nils Forest, a reporter, an eager one to get a bite into a good story and make sure she ensures her own good fortune, chases down every lead she can find. With so many disappearances. This brings her to the downward spiral in this book. It's a catch-22 book. Using the earth's resources and finding something that has gone missing or rather left. The moral lines are blurred honestly. No clear villain nor hero. Takes you, yeah you, to decide the answer within you. Does it say something about you which who chose, I would suggest. Very thoughtful and like a mind game.
This is a great book to start horror genre leap. Just the right at disgustable. Also if you liked the Last of Us series. Anf it also has Latin folklore tied into it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When someone, Marie, vanishes into the Nils Forest, a reporter, an eager one to get a bite into a good story and make sure she ensures her own good fortune, chases down every lead she can find. With so many disappearances. This brings her to the downward spiral in this book. It's a catch-22 book. Using the earth's resources and finding something that has gone missing or rather left. The moral lines are blurred honestly. No clear villain nor hero. Takes you, yeah you, to decide the answer within you. Does it say something about you which who chose, I would suggest. Very thoughtful and like a mind game.
This is a great book to start horror genre leap. Just the right at disgustable. Also if you liked the Last of Us series. Anf it also has Latin folklore tied into it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 7, 2025
The Spore Queen offers a mysterious and magical concept that pulled me in from the start. The cover art is absolutely stunning and sets the tone beautifully. I really enjoyed the magical elements woven into the story, which gave it an eerie, otherworldly vibe I found really appealing.
The short chapters kept the pages turning, but I felt that the brevity sometimes worked against the book’s potential. In particular, it lost some of the atmosphere and depth it could have had, especially after the characters left the forest. There were moments that felt a little rushed or skipped over, and I was left with a few unanswered questions by the end.
That said, I still enjoyed the read overall and appreciate Debra Castaneda’s creative vision. I’m definitely interested in exploring more of her work — she’s clearly a writer with a strong imagination and something unique to offer.
The short chapters kept the pages turning, but I felt that the brevity sometimes worked against the book’s potential. In particular, it lost some of the atmosphere and depth it could have had, especially after the characters left the forest. There were moments that felt a little rushed or skipped over, and I was left with a few unanswered questions by the end.
That said, I still enjoyed the read overall and appreciate Debra Castaneda’s creative vision. I’m definitely interested in exploring more of her work — she’s clearly a writer with a strong imagination and something unique to offer.
July 7, 2024
2.5
I went into this book full of intrigue and excitement but a little more than halfway through it all went downhill.
The writing was so clean, crisp and engaging. The characters were well developed, but the plot just got messy.
A reporter, Maria, goes missing in the Forest, weird mushrooms pop everywhere, some even curing critical diseases and more people disappear. Amy, Maria's friend and fellow reporter who actually despise her teams up with Maria's estranged Biological mother and clueless father to find the truth.
Mexican Folk lore, Eco Horror, mysterious cult, Generational Trauma, a lot of good things that went off the cliff. I really wish I could love this book.
I went into this book full of intrigue and excitement but a little more than halfway through it all went downhill.
The writing was so clean, crisp and engaging. The characters were well developed, but the plot just got messy.
A reporter, Maria, goes missing in the Forest, weird mushrooms pop everywhere, some even curing critical diseases and more people disappear. Amy, Maria's friend and fellow reporter who actually despise her teams up with Maria's estranged Biological mother and clueless father to find the truth.
Mexican Folk lore, Eco Horror, mysterious cult, Generational Trauma, a lot of good things that went off the cliff. I really wish I could love this book.
July 21, 2024
'The man looked past him, into the house. “I heard you were having some issues with fungus."'
The thing I'm discovering about this author's writing, after two books now, is the cinematic quality. It almost feels like I watched this as a movie. Magical mushrooms, mysterious mycelium, and spores, oh my.
'A slow, icy tingle moved up her spine. “The Spore Queen. Who is she?”'
The thing I'm discovering about this author's writing, after two books now, is the cinematic quality. It almost feels like I watched this as a movie. Magical mushrooms, mysterious mycelium, and spores, oh my.
'A slow, icy tingle moved up her spine. “The Spore Queen. Who is she?”'
May 14, 2024
Thank you, Debra Castaneda
I Love this book series. It's my fourth I have read in the series. This was darker then the stories in the beginning of the series.
Debra Castaneda atmospheric writing with a study pace begins the reader into the book with a good timing.
I recommend this book.
I Love this book series. It's my fourth I have read in the series. This was darker then the stories in the beginning of the series.
Debra Castaneda atmospheric writing with a study pace begins the reader into the book with a good timing.
I recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2024
This was a fun read and definitely something that got me out of my YEAR LONG reading slump!
January 10, 2025
i wish it was More....
May 30, 2024
Mushrooms can help save the world. But they can’t do it alone.
3+ stars. I enjoyed Debra Castaneda's "The Spore Queen" which I found to be a truly interestingly and well-imagined story even if I also thought it didn't live up to its potential. But saving the world through, quote, "the incredible secret life of fungus" and even moss-like plants has long been an interest of mine, one I've raised in forums (read: happy hour with the gang) over the years, particularly when the subject of climate change is discussed. So that was a particular part that was more than interesting and welcomed. I also thought she developed a number of intriquing characters and backstories - and yes, by that I also include the various diseases that popped up in a number of spots - even though, again, I would have liked to see more done with this crew throughout.
Fear gave off a musky smell, and the wet air was thick with it.
One key issue I had throughout the story is that this is one of those, well, for lack of a better word, 'performances' where I thought the author could have done more showing than telling. Although not a writer by any stretch of the imagination - heck, I don't even play one of TV - I'm led to believe that this is something that is stressed to folks of the profession. I'll give an example: Lori - a real mess of a lady that never really gets past her, well, past throughout - stresses time and again just how much of a jerk her dad was throughout her life. This is used to put into focus her issues with the current situation, her relationship obviously with both Julian and obviously Maria and why she is so intent of salvaging essentially this entire group's future through her efforts. However, we only get to "meet" her dad one time and in this instance he truly and surely shows just how much of an absolute d!ck he is! That one passage - which took part late in the book - put Lori's character in a whole new light for me, one I wish I had been able to see her with much, much earlier in the story. But just saying "my dad was an ass" over and over didn't quite get it done.
She was getting “Hansel and Gretel” vibes, and nothing could compel her to enter the woods alone.
I also found that the structure around a lot of these interesting characters was very uneven throughout. At the beginning, we of course meet David Eager who is suffering from a horrible disease in the form of Lewy body dementia. This has the - ugh, I hate to say it but it's true - advantage for this story in that the disease causes the victim to not only begin to lose their physical ability but also causes them to spiral into an abyss of nightmarish hallucinations that "blended into (his) reality with increasing frequency". Needless to say, David cannot trust his own eyes nor body about a lot of what he begins to see and experience, which also then keeps the reader on the edge as we wonder if all of this is real or not. However, there is a large portion of this book where we don't even see David, namely, while Julian, Lori, and Amy are off searching for Maria. And when he returns, well, his "transformation" is not only complete but it has happened in almost no time at all. He was far too interesting a character for me to have him just drop off the page like that, pun intended!
Shadows in the forest sometimes took human form. Awful shrieks came from the walls.
Speaking of time, I obviously wish the author had taken in fact a little more time with this book. Yes, that's my daily circumlocution that can be taken as an affirmation that I felt things were far too rushed. In my eyes, there could have easily been another 100 pages including more exposition - and certainly a much more fulfilling ending than what we got. Even the hike to the kilns - which throughout the book is said to be almost impossible for non-hikers to reach in any amount of reasonable time - takes place in what feels like just a few pages. No, Amy's naps during this trek do not make us feel like the hours are running by. Just with all that was involved - especially about the KNOWN missing hikers - I thought we could have had a lot more of a chance to really get to know the Forest better than we did. And on top of this, I felt that about the entire last third of the book was just extremely! rushed through, with little or no chance to experience how all this winds up at the point that it does.
I discovered something beautiful. Amid all the destruction, there was so much activity.
For example, what was the local sheriff's reaction to everyone suddenly turning up back at "home"? No, this isn't an episode of "Murder, She Wrote", though it took place in the same area where (I suspect) Jessica Fletcher routinely went on clever killing sprees (seriously, how many people in one area could die like that?). But still, shouldn't they have made a final appearance to kind of wrap things up and at very least show the general public they weren't total rubes and awful at their jobs? And did anyone notice that, yes, there were some folks that were still "missing" in all the ruckus (and obviously then very, very dead)? Even Amy's transition - which we are told about but only get to see the before and after - would have made for an interesting segue to the later missions. My point is simply the author successfully!!! makes us care about these folks but leaves us dangling far too much when we want to know what they went through, what they saw and how it affects their relationships with each other moving forward. In the lexicon of the area: bummer.
You are no longer alone. You belong to me. For I am the seasons and the rebirth.
But at the end of the day, again, I want to stress that I enjoyed the book, even if I found it had more potential than what was ultimately realized. I'd like to try more of Castaneda's work and see how her style shapes up with other characters and scenarios. No, I don't think this particular offer was really horror as goodreads wants to classify it - spooky I'll give you but that's it - but there are others in her catalogue that look to have some more potent scare factor involved. Goodness knows if we can reach back and pull an Aztec god out of our goodie bag, there's bound to be some more genuinely interesting avenues to explore!
P.S.
Jesus. I hope I don’t get poison oak on my vag.
3+ stars. I enjoyed Debra Castaneda's "The Spore Queen" which I found to be a truly interestingly and well-imagined story even if I also thought it didn't live up to its potential. But saving the world through, quote, "the incredible secret life of fungus" and even moss-like plants has long been an interest of mine, one I've raised in forums (read: happy hour with the gang) over the years, particularly when the subject of climate change is discussed. So that was a particular part that was more than interesting and welcomed. I also thought she developed a number of intriquing characters and backstories - and yes, by that I also include the various diseases that popped up in a number of spots - even though, again, I would have liked to see more done with this crew throughout.
Fear gave off a musky smell, and the wet air was thick with it.
One key issue I had throughout the story is that this is one of those, well, for lack of a better word, 'performances' where I thought the author could have done more showing than telling. Although not a writer by any stretch of the imagination - heck, I don't even play one of TV - I'm led to believe that this is something that is stressed to folks of the profession. I'll give an example: Lori - a real mess of a lady that never really gets past her, well, past throughout - stresses time and again just how much of a jerk her dad was throughout her life. This is used to put into focus her issues with the current situation, her relationship obviously with both Julian and obviously Maria and why she is so intent of salvaging essentially this entire group's future through her efforts. However, we only get to "meet" her dad one time and in this instance he truly and surely shows just how much of an absolute d!ck he is! That one passage - which took part late in the book - put Lori's character in a whole new light for me, one I wish I had been able to see her with much, much earlier in the story. But just saying "my dad was an ass" over and over didn't quite get it done.
She was getting “Hansel and Gretel” vibes, and nothing could compel her to enter the woods alone.
I also found that the structure around a lot of these interesting characters was very uneven throughout. At the beginning, we of course meet David Eager who is suffering from a horrible disease in the form of Lewy body dementia. This has the - ugh, I hate to say it but it's true - advantage for this story in that the disease causes the victim to not only begin to lose their physical ability but also causes them to spiral into an abyss of nightmarish hallucinations that "blended into (his) reality with increasing frequency". Needless to say, David cannot trust his own eyes nor body about a lot of what he begins to see and experience, which also then keeps the reader on the edge as we wonder if all of this is real or not. However, there is a large portion of this book where we don't even see David, namely, while Julian, Lori, and Amy are off searching for Maria. And when he returns, well, his "transformation" is not only complete but it has happened in almost no time at all. He was far too interesting a character for me to have him just drop off the page like that, pun intended!
Shadows in the forest sometimes took human form. Awful shrieks came from the walls.
Speaking of time, I obviously wish the author had taken in fact a little more time with this book. Yes, that's my daily circumlocution that can be taken as an affirmation that I felt things were far too rushed. In my eyes, there could have easily been another 100 pages including more exposition - and certainly a much more fulfilling ending than what we got. Even the hike to the kilns - which throughout the book is said to be almost impossible for non-hikers to reach in any amount of reasonable time - takes place in what feels like just a few pages. No, Amy's naps during this trek do not make us feel like the hours are running by. Just with all that was involved - especially about the KNOWN missing hikers - I thought we could have had a lot more of a chance to really get to know the Forest better than we did. And on top of this, I felt that about the entire last third of the book was just extremely! rushed through, with little or no chance to experience how all this winds up at the point that it does.
I discovered something beautiful. Amid all the destruction, there was so much activity.
For example, what was the local sheriff's reaction to everyone suddenly turning up back at "home"? No, this isn't an episode of "Murder, She Wrote", though it took place in the same area where (I suspect) Jessica Fletcher routinely went on clever killing sprees (seriously, how many people in one area could die like that?). But still, shouldn't they have made a final appearance to kind of wrap things up and at very least show the general public they weren't total rubes and awful at their jobs? And did anyone notice that, yes, there were some folks that were still "missing" in all the ruckus (and obviously then very, very dead)? Even Amy's transition - which we are told about but only get to see the before and after - would have made for an interesting segue to the later missions. My point is simply the author successfully!!! makes us care about these folks but leaves us dangling far too much when we want to know what they went through, what they saw and how it affects their relationships with each other moving forward. In the lexicon of the area: bummer.
You are no longer alone. You belong to me. For I am the seasons and the rebirth.
But at the end of the day, again, I want to stress that I enjoyed the book, even if I found it had more potential than what was ultimately realized. I'd like to try more of Castaneda's work and see how her style shapes up with other characters and scenarios. No, I don't think this particular offer was really horror as goodreads wants to classify it - spooky I'll give you but that's it - but there are others in her catalogue that look to have some more potent scare factor involved. Goodness knows if we can reach back and pull an Aztec god out of our goodie bag, there's bound to be some more genuinely interesting avenues to explore!
P.S.
Jesus. I hope I don’t get poison oak on my vag.
May 2, 2024
I want to thank the author for providing me with an ARC of this one! You're awesome!!!
This was a really enjoyable read. The story was an original idea that wasn't too scary but more on the spooky side of things.
I love the way the author includes environmental factors to her books. I find fungus and mushrooms to be super creepy. I first stumbled on "sporer" with Mexican Gothic and loved it ever since. It's a very niche sub-genre that needs more attention!
I liked the way the characters were written. They weren't all likable, but I don't think they were supposed to be. Amy drove me bananas, but I really cared about Lori and Julian. This was a lot more than just a horror book.
I think this book would be an enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys horror. I give it a 4.5⭐️s rounded up to 5 where applicable. This was easy to follow, well-paced, and had super creepy moments, but wasn't too dark.
This was the second book I have read by this author. I have previously read and enjoyed "A Dark and Rising Tide." Well done on this one, I'm excited to read more from this author in the future!!!
This was a really enjoyable read. The story was an original idea that wasn't too scary but more on the spooky side of things.
I love the way the author includes environmental factors to her books. I find fungus and mushrooms to be super creepy. I first stumbled on "sporer" with Mexican Gothic and loved it ever since. It's a very niche sub-genre that needs more attention!
I liked the way the characters were written. They weren't all likable, but I don't think they were supposed to be. Amy drove me bananas, but I really cared about Lori and Julian. This was a lot more than just a horror book.
I think this book would be an enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys horror. I give it a 4.5⭐️s rounded up to 5 where applicable. This was easy to follow, well-paced, and had super creepy moments, but wasn't too dark.
This was the second book I have read by this author. I have previously read and enjoyed "A Dark and Rising Tide." Well done on this one, I'm excited to read more from this author in the future!!!
August 9, 2024
The Spore Queen - DebraCastaneda
OK, I finished this, like, a week ago but thought I'd let all the amazing Books & Brews posts die down before I posted about it in case it got lost in the algorithm.
First things first, I loved it. I've read a few from Debra's Dark Earth Rising series & each one has one-upped the last. This one was by far my favourite.
This is very much a folk horror tale at the heart of a family drama & this study into nature versus nurture kept me hooked.
Parasitic life & the nature of what fungus is capable of has always intrigued me & Debra uses this subject immaculately, with its insidious nature always feeling like a very real threat. Along with writing that flowed & characters that stood out for their own good or bad reasons, it makes me excited to pick up the next book!
This was read via audiobook & the narrator was fantastic. It all meshed together to utilise both talents & made for a great story. Thank you Ms. Castaneda for the chance to read this.
🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄 5 out of 5 cheeky mushrooms!
OK, I finished this, like, a week ago but thought I'd let all the amazing Books & Brews posts die down before I posted about it in case it got lost in the algorithm.
First things first, I loved it. I've read a few from Debra's Dark Earth Rising series & each one has one-upped the last. This one was by far my favourite.
This is very much a folk horror tale at the heart of a family drama & this study into nature versus nurture kept me hooked.
Parasitic life & the nature of what fungus is capable of has always intrigued me & Debra uses this subject immaculately, with its insidious nature always feeling like a very real threat. Along with writing that flowed & characters that stood out for their own good or bad reasons, it makes me excited to pick up the next book!
This was read via audiobook & the narrator was fantastic. It all meshed together to utilise both talents & made for a great story. Thank you Ms. Castaneda for the chance to read this.
🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄 5 out of 5 cheeky mushrooms!
June 20, 2024
3.5 stars for a fascinating fungi story.
I love the idea of this book, and I love all the amazing mushrooms! 🍄 I just don't love this book. The concept and the message behind it are wonderful. The execution, however, was lacking. Amy was unbearable, Lori was pitifully, and Julian wasn't really a person. Maria was also very flat, unknowable, and childish. Also, I wish they had added a little more to the ending. Instead of the conclusion being this great reveal, I feel like a curtain just dropped before the last act could finish.
I love the idea of this book, and I love all the amazing mushrooms! 🍄 I just don't love this book. The concept and the message behind it are wonderful. The execution, however, was lacking. Amy was unbearable, Lori was pitifully, and Julian wasn't really a person. Maria was also very flat, unknowable, and childish. Also, I wish they had added a little more to the ending. Instead of the conclusion being this great reveal, I feel like a curtain just dropped before the last act could finish.
July 11, 2024
The Books of Horror Facebook group really hyped this one up but it fell flat for me.
I really liked the premise of the book but writing just didn't do it for me. I felt the writing wasn't horrible but it wasn't anything to exclaim over either, felt slightly amateurish. The end really disappointed me, it felt rushed and just kind of "meh."
I really liked the premise of the book but writing just didn't do it for me. I felt the writing wasn't horrible but it wasn't anything to exclaim over either, felt slightly amateurish. The end really disappointed me, it felt rushed and just kind of "meh."
September 15, 2024
My first book by this author and I'm not disappointed. Until close to the end. It feels a bit rushed and not fleshed out like the rest of the story. Plus, there's a lot of focus on David... until suddenly there isn't.
December 18, 2024
Outstanding book… as are all of Castaneda’s works. Definitely a favorite of mine so far this year!
December 14, 2025
Strange events start occurring in the picturesque little town of Mendocino following a devastating storm that ravages the primeval Nils Forest. In the aftermath of the storm’s fury, a white fungus called mycelium begins to sprout throughout the forest, speeding up the regeneration of the local ecosystem.
Tasked with covering the storm's aftermath, a reporter named Maria Hart interviews a local resort owner named David Eager and then ventures into the forest. She is never seen again. Search teams attempt to rescue Maria but are forced to turn back after they fall violently ill. Soon, other visitors to the forest also begin to vanish.
Wracked with guilt over having been compelled to abandon her daughter decades ago, Maria’s biological mother, Lori, decides to look for her missing child. She is joined in this effort by her former lover, Julian, who also happens to be Maria’s father.
They soon cross paths with Amy, one of Maria’s old friends from college, who is determined to make a name for herself by investigating the mysterious disappearances in Nils Forest.
In the heart of Nils Forest, the three of them are confronted by a cult led by an enigmatic figure called the Spore Queen.
Debra Castaneda masterfully instills a growing sense of dread by vividly depicting the characters' terrified reactions as they encounter the mysterious entity that has taken over the forest. Especially gripping is the narrative that unfolds from the viewpoint of David Eager, who begins to suspect that his sanity is deserting him when strange growths of fungi overrun his residence on the fringe of the forest.
The fungal outbreaks are masterfully depicted as powerful manifestations of the eldritch presence haunting the forest. Despite their humdrum appearance, these mysterious mushrooms can cure debilitating maladies or snuff out life instantly, depending on their creator’s inclinations.
The conflicting agendas of the main characters further enhance the narrative arc. Lori’s determination to rescue her daughter strikingly contrasts with Amy's cynical motives, a resentful young woman who secretly envies the affluence enjoyed by her missing friend.
However, towards the novel's final third, the horror component rapidly begins to wane, replaced by the more sentimental theme of a mother’s unswerving devotion towards her daughter. These two elements don’t mesh well together, detracting from what would have been an otherwise captivating read.
Tasked with covering the storm's aftermath, a reporter named Maria Hart interviews a local resort owner named David Eager and then ventures into the forest. She is never seen again. Search teams attempt to rescue Maria but are forced to turn back after they fall violently ill. Soon, other visitors to the forest also begin to vanish.
Wracked with guilt over having been compelled to abandon her daughter decades ago, Maria’s biological mother, Lori, decides to look for her missing child. She is joined in this effort by her former lover, Julian, who also happens to be Maria’s father.
They soon cross paths with Amy, one of Maria’s old friends from college, who is determined to make a name for herself by investigating the mysterious disappearances in Nils Forest.
In the heart of Nils Forest, the three of them are confronted by a cult led by an enigmatic figure called the Spore Queen.
Debra Castaneda masterfully instills a growing sense of dread by vividly depicting the characters' terrified reactions as they encounter the mysterious entity that has taken over the forest. Especially gripping is the narrative that unfolds from the viewpoint of David Eager, who begins to suspect that his sanity is deserting him when strange growths of fungi overrun his residence on the fringe of the forest.
The fungal outbreaks are masterfully depicted as powerful manifestations of the eldritch presence haunting the forest. Despite their humdrum appearance, these mysterious mushrooms can cure debilitating maladies or snuff out life instantly, depending on their creator’s inclinations.
The conflicting agendas of the main characters further enhance the narrative arc. Lori’s determination to rescue her daughter strikingly contrasts with Amy's cynical motives, a resentful young woman who secretly envies the affluence enjoyed by her missing friend.
However, towards the novel's final third, the horror component rapidly begins to wane, replaced by the more sentimental theme of a mother’s unswerving devotion towards her daughter. These two elements don’t mesh well together, detracting from what would have been an otherwise captivating read.
April 20, 2024
‘The Spore Queen’ is another great entry to the Dark Earth Rising series of books by Debra Castaneda! Each novel is a standalone, though the books are thematically related; from one point of view, the theme is nature’s revenge and eco-horror at its finest, from another it’s people having to confront the flaws in themselves on the occasion of facing a mysterious threat with urban-legend vibes. All four books succeed magnificently in this, the first one (“The Root Witch”) being my personal favorite, the paradigm of horror of this type; but now ‘The Spore Queen’ has arrived, and, honestly, it’s a pure blast. It begins as a slow burn that sets everything up front, and then heightens the tension bit by bit till you suddenly realize you’re having one hell of a good time!
‘The Spore Queen’ kept me gripped the whole way, the different POVs being utterly varied, the result totally unpredictable and the plot the kind that keeps you wondering how it would feel if the book were to get the movie treatment: it’s so easy to visualize what’s happening, even when the imagery carries lots of detail – mushrooms, colors, different natural settings! And all the while, you keep feeling you understand the characters and where they’re coming from.
It all starts with Maria Hart disappearing in the woods, and mushrooms, along with root-like structures, threads characteristic of a fungus, appearing all around the place. This “mycelium” is essentially an underground network, normally hidden from view, and, in fact, it’s a great metaphor for the whole book: the story is the unfolding of Maria’s “network” of people who’ve been 'hiding,' for one reason or another, from her – her biological parents (she’s adopted), her roommate (she’s not been very honest with her), the rich recluse who befriends her (and is facing serious medical issues), the cult building up around her out of sight. All these filaments mesh together and produce a very unusual end I was not prepared for.
I recommend this book for its eerie atmosphere, clean prose, and three-dimensional characters! And, of course, her supernatural majesty, the Spore Queen!
‘The Spore Queen’ kept me gripped the whole way, the different POVs being utterly varied, the result totally unpredictable and the plot the kind that keeps you wondering how it would feel if the book were to get the movie treatment: it’s so easy to visualize what’s happening, even when the imagery carries lots of detail – mushrooms, colors, different natural settings! And all the while, you keep feeling you understand the characters and where they’re coming from.
It all starts with Maria Hart disappearing in the woods, and mushrooms, along with root-like structures, threads characteristic of a fungus, appearing all around the place. This “mycelium” is essentially an underground network, normally hidden from view, and, in fact, it’s a great metaphor for the whole book: the story is the unfolding of Maria’s “network” of people who’ve been 'hiding,' for one reason or another, from her – her biological parents (she’s adopted), her roommate (she’s not been very honest with her), the rich recluse who befriends her (and is facing serious medical issues), the cult building up around her out of sight. All these filaments mesh together and produce a very unusual end I was not prepared for.
I recommend this book for its eerie atmosphere, clean prose, and three-dimensional characters! And, of course, her supernatural majesty, the Spore Queen!
April 25, 2024
A big thank you to Debra Castaneda for gifting me an arc of The Spore Queen. I had previously read one of her other novels, A Dark and Rising Tide, and loved it. This one, also, did not disappoint. This story’s focus is two fold. On one hand, it is a story of longing for what is lost, and on the other, it is a cautionary tale of mankind’s abuse of our planet and its resources. I love how an organism such as a mushroom becomes a complex and powerful instrument to mold and manipulate those who can help it regenerate what is lost.
Maria becomes instrumental in the fight but not without consequences. Her desire to find what was lost to her is the strongest catalyst in her decision making. The fungal organism also takes aim at David, and uses its healing properties to get what it wants from him. He’s a man with no future and will accept any help provided, even through questionable means.
I think the one thing I love most about this story is how emotionally and morally complex it is. The lines of right and wrong are blurred-giving way for the characters to get down to the meat of what makes someone or something good or bad. What is the right choice? Is it the right choice? Do the ends justify the means? Is group-think ever good? Can you straddle the morally ambiguous line and come away clean? And by the time you get to the end, you’re rethinking your view of the “villain”. It’s just not straight forward.
I really enjoyed this novel and all the food for thought it gave me. I also loved the nod to Aztec mythology and culture (it comes into play at a certain point in the book). If you are a fan of a horror/nature combination, this one’s for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Maria becomes instrumental in the fight but not without consequences. Her desire to find what was lost to her is the strongest catalyst in her decision making. The fungal organism also takes aim at David, and uses its healing properties to get what it wants from him. He’s a man with no future and will accept any help provided, even through questionable means.
I think the one thing I love most about this story is how emotionally and morally complex it is. The lines of right and wrong are blurred-giving way for the characters to get down to the meat of what makes someone or something good or bad. What is the right choice? Is it the right choice? Do the ends justify the means? Is group-think ever good? Can you straddle the morally ambiguous line and come away clean? And by the time you get to the end, you’re rethinking your view of the “villain”. It’s just not straight forward.
I really enjoyed this novel and all the food for thought it gave me. I also loved the nod to Aztec mythology and culture (it comes into play at a certain point in the book). If you are a fan of a horror/nature combination, this one’s for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews