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Wolf Worm
Something darker than the devil stalks the North Carolina woods in Wolf Worm, a new gothic masterpiece from New York Times bestselling author T. Kingfisher.
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 than 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 thiefs?”
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 as well.
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 than 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 thiefs?”
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 as well.
277 pages, Hardcover
First published March 24, 2026
About the author
T. Kingfisher
71 books31k followersT. Kingfisher is the vaguely absurd pen-name of Ursula Vernon. In another life, she writes children's books and weird comics, and has won the Hugo, Sequoyah, and Ursa Major awards, as well as a half-dozen Junior Library Guild selections.
This is the name she uses when writing things for grown-ups.
When she is not writing, she is probably out in the garden, trying to make eye contact with butterflies.
This is the name she uses when writing things for grown-ups.
When she is not writing, she is probably out in the garden, trying to make eye contact with butterflies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,469 reviews
December 4, 2025
Trigger warning: insects. So many insects. All the insects. And not cute insects like butterflies and ladybugs … we're talking screwworms and botflies here. I'm not generally scared of bugs and am very much a “catch and release” sort of person when it comes to creepy crawlies in the house, but even I was a little squicked out by this book.
Also, can we take a moment to marvel over what a prolific writer Kingfisher is? I'm pretty sure this is the third ARC of hers I've read this year, and I know there was at least one other ARC that I never requested due to a (admittedly very short-lived) NetGalley hiatus. She's one of my favorite authors, though, so I'm certainly not going to complain.
Anyway, Wolf Worm is a creepy story about parasitic insects and the lengths people will go to in the name of science. You may or may not find this book particularly scary depending on how you feel about insects, but there's definitely some body horror and several pretty gross scenes. I enjoyed it and was decently invested in the outcome, but I have to admit that this isn't one of my favorite Kingfishers. There's nothing particularly wrong with it, but body horror has just never been one of my preferred types of horror.
But, still, I mean, it's Kingfisher. This book is well written and suspenseful and kind of horrifying in parts. It's a slow burn, especially at the beginning, but I actually really enjoyed learning about all of the different insects. While I had some vague knowledge that botflies and their larvae existed before reading this novel, I am now absolutely terrified of encountering one in real life. Fortunately, I live in the northern US where such things are less common, but I'm probably going to wear a full beekeeping suit the next time I travel to Central or South America. Better safe than sorry, that's what I always say (especially when it comes to maggots that burrow around in your flesh).
3.7 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is March 24, 2026.
Also, can we take a moment to marvel over what a prolific writer Kingfisher is? I'm pretty sure this is the third ARC of hers I've read this year, and I know there was at least one other ARC that I never requested due to a (admittedly very short-lived) NetGalley hiatus. She's one of my favorite authors, though, so I'm certainly not going to complain.
Anyway, Wolf Worm is a creepy story about parasitic insects and the lengths people will go to in the name of science. You may or may not find this book particularly scary depending on how you feel about insects, but there's definitely some body horror and several pretty gross scenes. I enjoyed it and was decently invested in the outcome, but I have to admit that this isn't one of my favorite Kingfishers. There's nothing particularly wrong with it, but body horror has just never been one of my preferred types of horror.
But, still, I mean, it's Kingfisher. This book is well written and suspenseful and kind of horrifying in parts. It's a slow burn, especially at the beginning, but I actually really enjoyed learning about all of the different insects. While I had some vague knowledge that botflies and their larvae existed before reading this novel, I am now absolutely terrified of encountering one in real life. Fortunately, I live in the northern US where such things are less common, but I'm probably going to wear a full beekeeping suit the next time I travel to Central or South America. Better safe than sorry, that's what I always say (especially when it comes to maggots that burrow around in your flesh).
3.7 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is March 24, 2026.
December 9, 2025
4.5⭐️ oh how i love t. kingfisher
April 16, 2025
You know, I was just thinking that T. Kingfisher was missing some kind of bug/insect/vermin horror in her repertoire, and here it is. The book does take a while to really get going, though. At first we follow the scientific illustrator Sonia Wilson in 1899 as she comes to North Carolina to work for the bug specialist Dr. Halder. She is not looking forward to drawing all the insects that the doctor collects and studies, but she really needs the job and she just wants to do some good work. But already upon her arrival she hears something about the Devil living in the woods and about blood thieves mutilating bodies and Sonia might need to deal with more than she has signed up for. Her new employer also turns out to be a very rude man and the huge mansion he's living in is notably understaffed, so you can be sure that something sketchy is going on.
If you've read many other books by T. Kingfisher then chances are good that you stumbled upon the female-protagonist-goes-to-new-house-and-strange-things-start-to-happen formula before. I think I would be annoyed if any other author uses the same structure over and over again, but with her it just always works for me. The books are all different enough and they usually introduce cool, new concepts and intriguing plot elements. We've had curiosity shop dimension portals (The Hollow Places), weird bone animals (The Twisted Ones), underground rose children (A House with Good Bones), mean birds in the desert (Snake-Eater) and now we have different kinds of parasites in the woods. Kingfisher just always manages to hook me and she never fails to provide stories that I wouldn't get from anyone else. Her characters often have an unusual task to complete or they work an interesting job in general. Like, where else would I be able to read about a scientific illustrator making her way through a whole library of bugs? It was such an interesting mix of art and science, with Sonia being always close to an artistic crisis while also doing competent work although she doesn't have any deeper knowledge about bugs. The book was actually kind of informative in that regard. For one, I found out that wolf worms do exists and that it's another name for botflies. And if you know anything about them, then you can imagine that the book got bugs-under-the-skin gross and considering that that's the last place where bugs belong, it was disgusting. The YouTube algorithm decided once or twice before that I needed to see botfly removals and it was right, I needed to see that, but it also left me scarred and paranoid and with itchy skin. Same with this book.
I do have to say that the actual plot unfolds very slowly, especially for such a short book. I found it to be dragging around the 30 to 40 % mark, because it was mostly Sonia all by herself just starting to notice weird things. I think that she was kinda missing a sidekick and constant ally. There often is an animal companion or a hot handyman neighbor in Kingfisher books and this time the main character felt more isolated. She was friendly with the housekeeper and her husband and the local healer, but they weren't as present in the book, at least not during all the important plot points. There are plenty of unanswered questions that kept me reading through these slower parts, like the mystery of Sonia's predecessor who drew the most gorgeous illustrations but who no one ever talks about or the question of what her employer is doing in the woods in the middle of the night. So I wasn't exactly bored, but all the exciting things sure happened in the second half of this book where the entire story got better in general. There are many genuinely creepy moments and enough gross scenes that this book can confidently be called bug horror. It was great how everything tied into some local history and, surprisingly, some known supernatural creatures. I also really liked the ending and, after that, the acknowledgments where Kingfisher explains which parts of the story are real and what personal experiences led to this story. Overall, this was a solid new addition to the author's horror line-up, even if it wasn't a new favorite for me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
------------------------------
Pre-read: Wolf Worm? Umm, ok ... everything for you, Miss T. Kingfisher.
If you've read many other books by T. Kingfisher then chances are good that you stumbled upon the female-protagonist-goes-to-new-house-and-strange-things-start-to-happen formula before. I think I would be annoyed if any other author uses the same structure over and over again, but with her it just always works for me. The books are all different enough and they usually introduce cool, new concepts and intriguing plot elements. We've had curiosity shop dimension portals (The Hollow Places), weird bone animals (The Twisted Ones), underground rose children (A House with Good Bones), mean birds in the desert (Snake-Eater) and now we have different kinds of parasites in the woods. Kingfisher just always manages to hook me and she never fails to provide stories that I wouldn't get from anyone else. Her characters often have an unusual task to complete or they work an interesting job in general. Like, where else would I be able to read about a scientific illustrator making her way through a whole library of bugs? It was such an interesting mix of art and science, with Sonia being always close to an artistic crisis while also doing competent work although she doesn't have any deeper knowledge about bugs. The book was actually kind of informative in that regard. For one, I found out that wolf worms do exists and that it's another name for botflies. And if you know anything about them, then you can imagine that the book got bugs-under-the-skin gross and considering that that's the last place where bugs belong, it was disgusting. The YouTube algorithm decided once or twice before that I needed to see botfly removals and it was right, I needed to see that, but it also left me scarred and paranoid and with itchy skin. Same with this book.
I do have to say that the actual plot unfolds very slowly, especially for such a short book. I found it to be dragging around the 30 to 40 % mark, because it was mostly Sonia all by herself just starting to notice weird things. I think that she was kinda missing a sidekick and constant ally. There often is an animal companion or a hot handyman neighbor in Kingfisher books and this time the main character felt more isolated. She was friendly with the housekeeper and her husband and the local healer, but they weren't as present in the book, at least not during all the important plot points. There are plenty of unanswered questions that kept me reading through these slower parts, like the mystery of Sonia's predecessor who drew the most gorgeous illustrations but who no one ever talks about or the question of what her employer is doing in the woods in the middle of the night. So I wasn't exactly bored, but all the exciting things sure happened in the second half of this book where the entire story got better in general. There are many genuinely creepy moments and enough gross scenes that this book can confidently be called bug horror. It was great how everything tied into some local history and, surprisingly, some known supernatural creatures. I also really liked the ending and, after that, the acknowledgments where Kingfisher explains which parts of the story are real and what personal experiences led to this story. Overall, this was a solid new addition to the author's horror line-up, even if it wasn't a new favorite for me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
------------------------------
Pre-read: Wolf Worm? Umm, ok ... everything for you, Miss T. Kingfisher.
January 3, 2026
Wolf Worm is the kind of book that creeps up on you slowly and then refuses to leave your thoughts. T. Kingfisher has a way of making horror feel intimate and personal, and this one settled under my skin in the quietest, most unsettling way.
We follow Sonia Wilson, a talented scientific illustrator living in 1899, whose entire career has been tied to her father’s reputation. After his death leaves her with nothing—no job, no security, no real future—she jumps at the chance to work for the reclusive Dr. Halder, illustrating his insect collection at his isolated North Carolina estate. It feels like a lifeline. It isn’t.
From the moment Sonia arrives, everything feels… off. The woods seem to breathe. Animals behave strangely. People avoid answering questions directly. And there’s the unsettling fact that someone held this job before Sonia—and no one wants to talk about what happened to her. Kingfisher builds dread in such a subtle way that you almost don’t notice it happening until your shoulders are tense and you’re holding your breath.
Sonia is such a strong, believable protagonist. She’s smart, anxious, observant, and painfully aware of how easily women—especially women in science—are dismissed during this time period. Her inner thoughts feel real and relatable, and they pull you deeper into the story. Seeing the horror unfold through her scientific and artistic lens makes everything feel more vivid… and more disturbing.
Fair warning: this book does not shy away from body horror, especially when it comes to insects. There were definitely moments that made me squirm. But it never feels gratuitous—it all serves the story and the themes of obsession, exploitation, and the terrifying cost of unchecked ambition.
The pacing is a slow, atmospheric burn, and while the final act moves faster than the buildup, the payoff is worth it. The tension tightens, the truth comes into focus, and suddenly everything clicks into place in a way that’s both horrifying and satisfying.
Overall, Wolf Worm is eerie, smart, and deeply unsettling in that uniquely T. Kingfisher way. It may not be my absolute favorite of her books, but it’s one that stayed with me long after I turned the last page. I’m happily giving it four stars and would absolutely recommend it to readers who enjoy gothic horror with substance and teeth.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tor Nightfire for sharing another digital copy of this stunning horror novel by T. Kingfisher in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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We follow Sonia Wilson, a talented scientific illustrator living in 1899, whose entire career has been tied to her father’s reputation. After his death leaves her with nothing—no job, no security, no real future—she jumps at the chance to work for the reclusive Dr. Halder, illustrating his insect collection at his isolated North Carolina estate. It feels like a lifeline. It isn’t.
From the moment Sonia arrives, everything feels… off. The woods seem to breathe. Animals behave strangely. People avoid answering questions directly. And there’s the unsettling fact that someone held this job before Sonia—and no one wants to talk about what happened to her. Kingfisher builds dread in such a subtle way that you almost don’t notice it happening until your shoulders are tense and you’re holding your breath.
Sonia is such a strong, believable protagonist. She’s smart, anxious, observant, and painfully aware of how easily women—especially women in science—are dismissed during this time period. Her inner thoughts feel real and relatable, and they pull you deeper into the story. Seeing the horror unfold through her scientific and artistic lens makes everything feel more vivid… and more disturbing.
Fair warning: this book does not shy away from body horror, especially when it comes to insects. There were definitely moments that made me squirm. But it never feels gratuitous—it all serves the story and the themes of obsession, exploitation, and the terrifying cost of unchecked ambition.
The pacing is a slow, atmospheric burn, and while the final act moves faster than the buildup, the payoff is worth it. The tension tightens, the truth comes into focus, and suddenly everything clicks into place in a way that’s both horrifying and satisfying.
Overall, Wolf Worm is eerie, smart, and deeply unsettling in that uniquely T. Kingfisher way. It may not be my absolute favorite of her books, but it’s one that stayed with me long after I turned the last page. I’m happily giving it four stars and would absolutely recommend it to readers who enjoy gothic horror with substance and teeth.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tor Nightfire for sharing another digital copy of this stunning horror novel by T. Kingfisher in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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March 30, 2026Augh ew ew ewwwww oh my god botflies. I really thought that Adrian Tchaikovsky's Children of Time books marked as far as I was willing to go down the rabbit hole of Horrifying Creepy Crawlies but apparently not. also his spiders are nice. The botflies in this...are botflies. Oh my God.
There is a determined if deeply (relatably) fearful MC, a story that unfolds in a truly horrifying manner, a full southern Gothic atmosphere of the 'never ever go near the rural US or maybe just don't cross the Atlantic at all. it's the only way to be sure' vibe. But also, as is reliable with this author, enough human decency and love and belief that we can do better, or at least we just have to grit our teeth and try. A compelling, atmospheric book but don't read it before dinner. Or bed. or if you're near insects, because a standard house fly landed on my leg and I screamed. yeeesh.
There is a determined if deeply (relatably) fearful MC, a story that unfolds in a truly horrifying manner, a full southern Gothic atmosphere of the 'never ever go near the rural US or maybe just don't cross the Atlantic at all. it's the only way to be sure' vibe. But also, as is reliable with this author, enough human decency and love and belief that we can do better, or at least we just have to grit our teeth and try. A compelling, atmospheric book but don't read it before dinner. Or bed. or if you're near insects, because a standard house fly landed on my leg and I screamed. yeeesh.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!
update 3/27 - i had the pleasure of attending one of t.kingfisher's events and omg. the actual funniest person alive, and so incredibly knowledgeable. and so so sweet! i highly recommend attending one of her events if ever possible ♥️
t.kingfisher how can you write so many amazing novels in such a short amount of time? she is truly the brandon sanderson of her genre!
if you liked what moves the dead, then i think you will enjoy wolf worm, as the body horror premise is very similar.
4.5 stars — while i was absolutely creeped out and felt itchy numerous times throughout this book due to the insane amount of insect scenes in this book, i do feel that it could have been a tad longer? everything was wrapped up far too neatly for my liking, but i’m not terribly upset about it.
regardless, this was still a fantastic horror novel with multiple societal aspects in conversation with each other, especially religion and science in a post civil war era.
i also just love that all of t.kingfisher’s fmcs are older than 30.
as for the audio, the narrator did a phenomenal job!
very excited to dive into my next t.kingfisher arc!
——
very excited to dive into my next t kingfisher book! i love everything she writes
update 3/27 - i had the pleasure of attending one of t.kingfisher's events and omg. the actual funniest person alive, and so incredibly knowledgeable. and so so sweet! i highly recommend attending one of her events if ever possible ♥️
t.kingfisher how can you write so many amazing novels in such a short amount of time? she is truly the brandon sanderson of her genre!
if you liked what moves the dead, then i think you will enjoy wolf worm, as the body horror premise is very similar.
4.5 stars — while i was absolutely creeped out and felt itchy numerous times throughout this book due to the insane amount of insect scenes in this book, i do feel that it could have been a tad longer? everything was wrapped up far too neatly for my liking, but i’m not terribly upset about it.
regardless, this was still a fantastic horror novel with multiple societal aspects in conversation with each other, especially religion and science in a post civil war era.
i also just love that all of t.kingfisher’s fmcs are older than 30.
as for the audio, the narrator did a phenomenal job!
very excited to dive into my next t.kingfisher arc!
——
very excited to dive into my next t kingfisher book! i love everything she writes
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into this book blind. Knowing it was T. Kingfisher was enough for me, plus that cover is gorgeous.
I'm really glad I did not read the blurb beforehand because it took some unexpected and delightfuly horrific turns.
I loved the main character. She feels absolutely human and real. She's smart, very strong in her own way, and her inner dialogue is so funny, I would havebeen happy just to follow her day to day life.
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was absolute perfection. I really think this the best way to enjoy this story and it's characters.
Thank you so much Macmillan Audio for this ARC.
I'm really glad I did not read the blurb beforehand because it took some unexpected and delightfuly horrific turns.
I loved the main character. She feels absolutely human and real. She's smart, very strong in her own way, and her inner dialogue is so funny, I would havebeen happy just to follow her day to day life.
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was absolute perfection. I really think this the best way to enjoy this story and it's characters.
Thank you so much Macmillan Audio for this ARC.
June 10, 2026
A creepy, and sometimes absolutely disgusting slow burn with plenty of creepy crawlies!! I was expecting the ending to be a bit crazier from all the buildup, but I still enjoyed my time with this and was thoroughly grossed out!! 😅
Review of advance copy
1899, North Carolina. A naturalist/illustrator travels to an isolated community where she is asked to work for a man whose book is yet to be published. There is something strange and unsettling about this community that is set deep in the woods. Prone to sharp detail, she begins to unravel all the wrongs.
This is a Southern/Historical fantasy with horror that sneaks up on you. Oh and it has a LOT of bugs.
Full RTF!
Many thanks to BOTM and the publisher for an early copy.
Publication date: March 24, 2026
This is a Southern/Historical fantasy with horror that sneaks up on you. Oh and it has a LOT of bugs.
Full RTF!
Many thanks to BOTM and the publisher for an early copy.
Publication date: March 24, 2026
September 14, 2026
Well, this was no A Bug’s Life. Eeeeyuuck.
Early on, I made the questionable decision to Google botflies over breakfast, and yeah... Not one of my brighter ideas. It did the trick, though, because I couldn't get those images out of my head afterwards, which meant every mention of larvae, warbles and things wriggling around under the skin came with a fresh round of heebie-jeebies. I'm not a bug person at the best of times. I'm murderous when there's a single fly loose in my house, so when it comes to botflies, I'm running away, mate, not towards.
Set in 1899, Wolf Worm follows Sonia Wilson, a scientific illustrator who travels to rural North Carolina to work for Dr. Halder, an abrasive and obsessive entomologist who takes his work to some pretty disturbing places. It took me a little while to find my footing in the beginning, partly because this kind of historical gothic horror is still fairly new territory for me and I was concentrating on getting my head around the science and where everything was leading. Kingfisher's writing is accessible, though, and once the pieces started coming together, I was well and truly along for the ride.
Sonia was an interesting character to follow through all of this, particularly because of her curiosity and dry sense of humour. She’s naturally fascinated by Halder’s work while still being suitably horrified by some of what she discovers, which made her feel like the perfect person to throw into this absolute nightmare. I could definitely relate to that combination of wanting to know more while also wishing I’d never looked in the first place.
Her work as a scientific illustrator added another interesting layer, especially in the way she notices the landscape through colour, plants and the little details she might eventually put to paper. Working with Halder takes us much further into the world of insects and parasites than I ever personally needed to go, and while some of the entomology went over my head, I liked that the scientific detail wasn't just there to make everything sound clever. It feeds directly into the horror and ultimately into what is happening inside Halder's house.
There was something almost Frankenstein-ish about the whole setup that really worked for me. Throw in an overgrown house and garden, plenty of flora and fauna, a deeply questionable entomologist and experiments that made me want to crawl out of my own skin, and you've got a pretty effective little Gothic nightmare.
While the beginning was slower for me, the later reveals more than made up for it. Once we start getting a clearer picture of Halder’s work and exactly what has been going on, things get a whole lot creepier, and some of those experiments really stuck with me. You know that feeling when you’re suddenly convinced something is crawling on your back? That was me throughout this book. It’s the kind of story that’ll have you asking someone to check, only for them to tell you there’s absolutely nothing there. I’m never Googling unknown bugs over a meal ever again. T. Kingfisher, though? I’ll be back.
Early on, I made the questionable decision to Google botflies over breakfast, and yeah... Not one of my brighter ideas. It did the trick, though, because I couldn't get those images out of my head afterwards, which meant every mention of larvae, warbles and things wriggling around under the skin came with a fresh round of heebie-jeebies. I'm not a bug person at the best of times. I'm murderous when there's a single fly loose in my house, so when it comes to botflies, I'm running away, mate, not towards.
Set in 1899, Wolf Worm follows Sonia Wilson, a scientific illustrator who travels to rural North Carolina to work for Dr. Halder, an abrasive and obsessive entomologist who takes his work to some pretty disturbing places. It took me a little while to find my footing in the beginning, partly because this kind of historical gothic horror is still fairly new territory for me and I was concentrating on getting my head around the science and where everything was leading. Kingfisher's writing is accessible, though, and once the pieces started coming together, I was well and truly along for the ride.
Sonia was an interesting character to follow through all of this, particularly because of her curiosity and dry sense of humour. She’s naturally fascinated by Halder’s work while still being suitably horrified by some of what she discovers, which made her feel like the perfect person to throw into this absolute nightmare. I could definitely relate to that combination of wanting to know more while also wishing I’d never looked in the first place.
Her work as a scientific illustrator added another interesting layer, especially in the way she notices the landscape through colour, plants and the little details she might eventually put to paper. Working with Halder takes us much further into the world of insects and parasites than I ever personally needed to go, and while some of the entomology went over my head, I liked that the scientific detail wasn't just there to make everything sound clever. It feeds directly into the horror and ultimately into what is happening inside Halder's house.
There was something almost Frankenstein-ish about the whole setup that really worked for me. Throw in an overgrown house and garden, plenty of flora and fauna, a deeply questionable entomologist and experiments that made me want to crawl out of my own skin, and you've got a pretty effective little Gothic nightmare.
While the beginning was slower for me, the later reveals more than made up for it. Once we start getting a clearer picture of Halder’s work and exactly what has been going on, things get a whole lot creepier, and some of those experiments really stuck with me. You know that feeling when you’re suddenly convinced something is crawling on your back? That was me throughout this book. It’s the kind of story that’ll have you asking someone to check, only for them to tell you there’s absolutely nothing there. I’m never Googling unknown bugs over a meal ever again. T. Kingfisher, though? I’ll be back.
March 11, 2026
This may very well be the first horror to illicit any reaction from me. Turns out bugs x body horror is a blend that can make me feel physically ill while reading 😂
My goodness what a ride that was. Admittedly it took me a little while to get into, but once we tipped the balance from unnerving to terror, it’s safe to say I couldn’t put it down. Kingfisher’s usual witticisms proved a nice grounding point in our main character Sonia, an easy authenticity that anchored a plot which would otherwise risk feeling like surface level shock value. The story is terror embodied in all forms, from the slow creeping dread to the silent, almost blank overwhelm of being so scared you can only continue on autopilot. It’s a talent that T Kingfisher can showcase such strong emotions so wholly, so quickly. Her books always make for an interesting pick-up when you need a fast, riotous story.
My goodness what a ride that was. Admittedly it took me a little while to get into, but once we tipped the balance from unnerving to terror, it’s safe to say I couldn’t put it down. Kingfisher’s usual witticisms proved a nice grounding point in our main character Sonia, an easy authenticity that anchored a plot which would otherwise risk feeling like surface level shock value. The story is terror embodied in all forms, from the slow creeping dread to the silent, almost blank overwhelm of being so scared you can only continue on autopilot. It’s a talent that T Kingfisher can showcase such strong emotions so wholly, so quickly. Her books always make for an interesting pick-up when you need a fast, riotous story.
August 20, 2026
This historical fiction horror simultaneously uses a multitude of familiar tropes from the horror genre while at the same time piecing it together to create something different. The tone and the fmc's voice were very familiar to me having read Kingfisher before, much of this felt similar to Snake-Eater by the same author.
Set in 1899 North Carolina the cast of side characters is somewhat diverse, although I would have loved to see some of them get featured with more cohesive arcs. A lot of elements in this book felt familiar in this genre, although the story itself came together in a unique way and with enough new-ness that it didn't feel too much like a replication of other stories.
The fmc, Sonia is a naturalist and scholar who is fascinated by and excels at the art of drawing insects. I felt she was genuinely interested in her craft which made her feel more alive. As a scientific illustrator, she does not have enough money until Dr. Halder offers her a position illustrating his collection of insects. If that doesn't sound darkly sinister enough, rest assured, the not-so-good Doctor is hiding many more horrific deeds deep in the woods.
What Sonia uncovers is so sinister and gruesome that at first she nor anyone believe it. But it was no fever dream. Let's just say...experimentation with parasitic insects was never on my bingo card.
This also gave me some of the dread atmosphere that I got in Grave Empire by Richard Swann. It had elements from a couple other Kingfisher books I've read, maybe a little folk-horror feels, but again it was put together with enough new elements that I really enjoyed the story even if it was lacking in some areas. Similar to Kingfisher style, but different enough to be worth a read.
I listened to the Libby audiobook narration. The Southern accents for some characters were way too nasally affected which was a bit irritating at times.
Set in 1899 North Carolina the cast of side characters is somewhat diverse, although I would have loved to see some of them get featured with more cohesive arcs. A lot of elements in this book felt familiar in this genre, although the story itself came together in a unique way and with enough new-ness that it didn't feel too much like a replication of other stories.
The fmc, Sonia is a naturalist and scholar who is fascinated by and excels at the art of drawing insects. I felt she was genuinely interested in her craft which made her feel more alive. As a scientific illustrator, she does not have enough money until Dr. Halder offers her a position illustrating his collection of insects. If that doesn't sound darkly sinister enough, rest assured, the not-so-good Doctor is hiding many more horrific deeds deep in the woods.
What Sonia uncovers is so sinister and gruesome that at first she nor anyone believe it. But it was no fever dream. Let's just say...experimentation with parasitic insects was never on my bingo card.
This also gave me some of the dread atmosphere that I got in Grave Empire by Richard Swann. It had elements from a couple other Kingfisher books I've read, maybe a little folk-horror feels, but again it was put together with enough new elements that I really enjoyed the story even if it was lacking in some areas. Similar to Kingfisher style, but different enough to be worth a read.
I listened to the Libby audiobook narration. The Southern accents for some characters were way too nasally affected which was a bit irritating at times.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wolf Worm was another book where T. Kingfisher delightfully explores the world of nature. This time, we're focusing on insects. (Insert gif of female reader turning slightly green while reading and shivering uncontrollably.) Heehee! This was delicious!
Young Sonia Wilson arrives very late at the home of Dr. Holder, her new employer. In 1899, there aren't many jobs for young women. Luckily Sonia worked at illustrating plants due to her father's work in biology. After her father passed away, (following a long illness through which Sonia cared for him,) she was left with no money and no skills other than illustrating. She gets a gig illustrating insects for the good doctor and it includes food and board. She's understandably thrilled and gets to work. As time goes on a number of mysteries develop and we find out whether young Sonia has the gumption and wit to survive Dr. Holder's "experiments." What do you think? You'll have to read this to see!
I liked Sonia right off the bat so it was easy to empathize with her. She was a well drawn character with anxiety and wit, but also knowledgeable about her work and professional. I think her curiosity was a bit too over the top to be realistic, but I've come to accept this type of thing as part of T. Kingfisher's charm. It doesn't bother me and in fact, I find it fun.
What I also find fun is body horror and this book has that in spades. Imagine all of the repulsive insects you can think of, and then think about what they can do to the human body. There is all of that and more. So, yeah. FUN!
I listened to this on audio, but I have to admit that I wasn't crazy about the narrator. I enjoyed her voicing of Sonia, but there were a few other characters whose voicing I did not care for. Obviously this is a personal observation and your mileage may vary.
Overall, this was an entertaining listen and I ripped through it in only a few days. If body horror is your thing and you're good with creepy crawlies this is the read for you!
Recommended!
*ARC from Macmillan Audio
Young Sonia Wilson arrives very late at the home of Dr. Holder, her new employer. In 1899, there aren't many jobs for young women. Luckily Sonia worked at illustrating plants due to her father's work in biology. After her father passed away, (following a long illness through which Sonia cared for him,) she was left with no money and no skills other than illustrating. She gets a gig illustrating insects for the good doctor and it includes food and board. She's understandably thrilled and gets to work. As time goes on a number of mysteries develop and we find out whether young Sonia has the gumption and wit to survive Dr. Holder's "experiments." What do you think? You'll have to read this to see!
I liked Sonia right off the bat so it was easy to empathize with her. She was a well drawn character with anxiety and wit, but also knowledgeable about her work and professional. I think her curiosity was a bit too over the top to be realistic, but I've come to accept this type of thing as part of T. Kingfisher's charm. It doesn't bother me and in fact, I find it fun.
What I also find fun is body horror and this book has that in spades. Imagine all of the repulsive insects you can think of, and then think about what they can do to the human body. There is all of that and more. So, yeah. FUN!
I listened to this on audio, but I have to admit that I wasn't crazy about the narrator. I enjoyed her voicing of Sonia, but there were a few other characters whose voicing I did not care for. Obviously this is a personal observation and your mileage may vary.
Overall, this was an entertaining listen and I ripped through it in only a few days. If body horror is your thing and you're good with creepy crawlies this is the read for you!
Recommended!
*ARC from Macmillan Audio
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
SPOOKY. wolf worm is a fairly short historial fiction horror story. while horror isn’t my preferred genre, i can’t deny it was powerful enough to make me never want to see another insect ever again!
i was really impressed with the timing of this book. there wasn’t any excessive information dumping or lengthy backstories but it also wasn’t so fast paced that you didn’t get to feel the dread/suspense.
i found sonia’s nervous energy and inner monologues to be really funny! she could be pretty sarcastic when put in uncomfortable situations and i appreciated that humor in the darker settings.
the narrator did a great job! thank you netgalley for the arc.
i was really impressed with the timing of this book. there wasn’t any excessive information dumping or lengthy backstories but it also wasn’t so fast paced that you didn’t get to feel the dread/suspense.
i found sonia’s nervous energy and inner monologues to be really funny! she could be pretty sarcastic when put in uncomfortable situations and i appreciated that humor in the darker settings.
the narrator did a great job! thank you netgalley for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
T. Kingfisher is the queen of the slow burn. Her narratives creep up on you, slow and steady, building momentum until they smack you hard across the face.
Wolf Worm is no exception.
It starts innocuously enough. An unsuspecting historical fiction narrative about a scientific illustrator, her new employer and the manor house she’s come to live. There are dark woods to avoid, of course there are, woods should usually be avoided, that's where monsters lurk. But where is the doctor’s wife? And why is the shed locked? And why is that animal acting so strange? Before you know it you’re filled with dread, a creeping anxiety is rising in your chest. When did this book get so scary and why can’t you stop reading?! When the dread feels like it might consume you, when you’re not sure you can take anymore—WHACK—you’re smacked in the face with the reality of the situation. But T. Kingfisher isn’t done yet… No, not at all. Disoriented from the shocking reveal, she lands the final blow, one that leaves you staring blankly at the wall, contemplating everything you thought you understood about this story. And in a final parting gift, this book asks, what makes a monster?
Each time I read a new T. Kingfisher book I find myself in awe of her talent. Her prose never misses, her themes are thought-provoking, and her pacing, which usually feels bit slow at first, ALWAYS feels intentional. She knows how to build a story that will creep up on you, and most importantly a story that will stay with you.
This book fed my soul. Let it feed yours too. (aka go read this book)
Fun fact: parasitic worms gross me the f- out. When we covered parasites in my college biodiversity class I skipped the lecture on parasitic worms, failed that section on the exam too…I had originally planned to skip this read because of the parasitic maggots, but I told myself — I’ll enter the Goodreads giveaway and if I win I’ll give it a try. THANK YOU UNIVERSE for making me try this book. It was worth the mild discomfort. Actually the parasitic maggots weren’t as bad as I thought they’d be, my college textbook definitely grossed me out more. That said, this is still highly gross (though never gratuitously so), I’m comfortable with quite a bit of body horror and you should be too if you want to dive into this one. As always if you need additional details don’t hesitate to reach out to me, I’m happy to help a fellow reader consume with care!
OH! Do NOT skip the author's note it is fascinating.
Audio Narration: 5/5 Macmillan Audio is easily my favorite audiobook producers. Mary Robinette Kowal did a fantastic job. Each character had a distinct voice, her vocal range is stellar! The pacing & pausing were all perfect and the inflection and overall performance was one I will not soon forget. Highly recommend consuming Wolf Worm via audio!
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Macmillian Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Wolf Worm is no exception.
It starts innocuously enough. An unsuspecting historical fiction narrative about a scientific illustrator, her new employer and the manor house she’s come to live. There are dark woods to avoid, of course there are, woods should usually be avoided, that's where monsters lurk. But where is the doctor’s wife? And why is the shed locked? And why is that animal acting so strange? Before you know it you’re filled with dread, a creeping anxiety is rising in your chest. When did this book get so scary and why can’t you stop reading?! When the dread feels like it might consume you, when you’re not sure you can take anymore—WHACK—you’re smacked in the face with the reality of the situation. But T. Kingfisher isn’t done yet… No, not at all. Disoriented from the shocking reveal, she lands the final blow, one that leaves you staring blankly at the wall, contemplating everything you thought you understood about this story. And in a final parting gift, this book asks, what makes a monster?
Each time I read a new T. Kingfisher book I find myself in awe of her talent. Her prose never misses, her themes are thought-provoking, and her pacing, which usually feels bit slow at first, ALWAYS feels intentional. She knows how to build a story that will creep up on you, and most importantly a story that will stay with you.
This book fed my soul. Let it feed yours too. (aka go read this book)
Fun fact: parasitic worms gross me the f- out. When we covered parasites in my college biodiversity class I skipped the lecture on parasitic worms, failed that section on the exam too…I had originally planned to skip this read because of the parasitic maggots, but I told myself — I’ll enter the Goodreads giveaway and if I win I’ll give it a try. THANK YOU UNIVERSE for making me try this book. It was worth the mild discomfort. Actually the parasitic maggots weren’t as bad as I thought they’d be, my college textbook definitely grossed me out more. That said, this is still highly gross (though never gratuitously so), I’m comfortable with quite a bit of body horror and you should be too if you want to dive into this one. As always if you need additional details don’t hesitate to reach out to me, I’m happy to help a fellow reader consume with care!
OH! Do NOT skip the author's note it is fascinating.
Audio Narration: 5/5 Macmillan Audio is easily my favorite audiobook producers. Mary Robinette Kowal did a fantastic job. Each character had a distinct voice, her vocal range is stellar! The pacing & pausing were all perfect and the inflection and overall performance was one I will not soon forget. Highly recommend consuming Wolf Worm via audio!
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Macmillian Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
April 2, 2026
It seems like T. Kingfisher books usually have an element of weirdness that can leave me feeling ambivalent. This one is no exception.
Also, this book was surprisingly gross, but only because I didn’t read the genre descriptions beforehand. If I see that this author has a new book out, I read it without concerning myself with what it’s actually about 🤭
Also, this book was surprisingly gross, but only because I didn’t read the genre descriptions beforehand. If I see that this author has a new book out, I read it without concerning myself with what it’s actually about 🤭
May 13, 2026
Revolting, horrific, disgusting, terrifying, traumatic, sickening... and what ever other synonyms align.
5 stars!
⭐️
I feel like this book literally crawled under my skin, devoured my brain and unsettled me from beginning to end. I need therapy. I need another 10 showers to wash this book off of me. I may be spending my summer in a hazmat suit. I loved every second of it.
I have a new favourite author in T. Kingfisher 🫢
🦟🕸️🖤pre-read 🖤🕸️🦟
Definitely in need of a switch of genres after reading so much fantasy lately! Plus my MH is in the gutter this week so why not turn my depresso vibes into spooky vibes with a horror novel
I feel like this book literally crawled under my skin, devoured my brain and unsettled me from beginning to end. I need therapy. I need another 10 showers to wash this book off of me. I may be spending my summer in a hazmat suit. I loved every second of it.
I have a new favourite author in T. Kingfisher 🫢
🦟🕸️🖤pre-read 🖤🕸️🦟
Definitely in need of a switch of genres after reading so much fantasy lately! Plus my MH is in the gutter this week so why not turn my depresso vibes into spooky vibes with a horror novel
![Profile Image for rosie [exams - trying to keep up!].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1757724100i/154054288._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
October 16, 2025
ʚɞ wolf worm by t.kingfisher ⋆.˚
⋆.˚ 4/9/26 — 11/9/26
⊱ ۫ ׅ book no. 109 of 2026 ── .✦
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
𑣲 ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ɪᴍᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴꜱ/ᴘʀᴇ-ʀᴇᴀᴅ:
final goodreads achievement book AND it’s t.kingfisher? oh sign me UP 😛
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
╰› (⭐4.25)
❝ god knows hatred is more resilient than wildlife. ❞
⋆.˚ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
── .✦ 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕
oh this was SO SPOOKY!! 😰 but i LOVED it so much 🤭
body horror is something that always gets me, ESPECIALLY bugs, so this sounded perfect for me (or perfect to scare the absolute crap out of me, maybe 😓)
it absolutely delivered with the horror — so much so that when i was reading the chapter about the possum (if you know, you know) at night, i had to stop because i was getting too paranoid and couldn’t sleep 🙂↕️
there is something so uniquely terrifying about REAL BUGS that essentially take over your brain. i never ever want to be within a 5km radius of a botfly, thank you very much 🤞
the shed too??? oh my goodness gracious, i had CHILLS. i’m getting more just thinking about it 😓 plus the TWIST???? oh my days t.kingfisher ALWAYS eats 🙂↕️💝
i will say this one was pretty slow at the start, but the moment i got to around halfway (the possum…) i was INVESTED. 👀
── .✦ 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
sonia was honestly such a wonderful main character. i really enjoyed following her through her (horrifying 😓) story and was rooting for her so bad 🤞 i related to her so much due to the way she was CONSTANTLY apologising and nervous about her work not being good enough 😭 like you are me babe.
・・・・・
dr halder was SO creepy from the start. i always had such a bad feeling about him 🙂↔️ like what a meanie. the only good thing about him was that he had a cat. that’s it.
── .✦ 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
i LOVE t.kingfisher’s writing more than any other author. there, i said it!! 😛💘 yeah, i’m slowly but surely making my way through her backlog because her mind works in ways that make me so so happy 🥹🫶🏻
・・・・・
𑣲 ᴅᴏ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ?
yes, if you’re not squeamish about bugs!! 😚
⋆.˚ 4/9/26 — 11/9/26
⊱ ۫ ׅ book no. 109 of 2026 ── .✦
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
𑣲 ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ɪᴍᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴꜱ/ᴘʀᴇ-ʀᴇᴀᴅ:
final goodreads achievement book AND it’s t.kingfisher? oh sign me UP 😛
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
╰› (⭐4.25)
❝ god knows hatred is more resilient than wildlife. ❞
⋆.˚ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
── .✦ 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕
oh this was SO SPOOKY!! 😰 but i LOVED it so much 🤭
body horror is something that always gets me, ESPECIALLY bugs, so this sounded perfect for me (or perfect to scare the absolute crap out of me, maybe 😓)
it absolutely delivered with the horror — so much so that when i was reading the chapter about the possum (if you know, you know) at night, i had to stop because i was getting too paranoid and couldn’t sleep 🙂↕️
there is something so uniquely terrifying about REAL BUGS that essentially take over your brain. i never ever want to be within a 5km radius of a botfly, thank you very much 🤞
the shed too??? oh my goodness gracious, i had CHILLS. i’m getting more just thinking about it 😓 plus the TWIST???? oh my days t.kingfisher ALWAYS eats 🙂↕️💝
i will say this one was pretty slow at the start, but the moment i got to around halfway (the possum…) i was INVESTED. 👀
── .✦ 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
sonia was honestly such a wonderful main character. i really enjoyed following her through her (horrifying 😓) story and was rooting for her so bad 🤞 i related to her so much due to the way she was CONSTANTLY apologising and nervous about her work not being good enough 😭 like you are me babe.
・・・・・
dr halder was SO creepy from the start. i always had such a bad feeling about him 🙂↔️ like what a meanie. the only good thing about him was that he had a cat. that’s it.
── .✦ 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
i LOVE t.kingfisher’s writing more than any other author. there, i said it!! 😛💘 yeah, i’m slowly but surely making my way through her backlog because her mind works in ways that make me so so happy 🥹🫶🏻
・・・・・
𑣲 ᴅᴏ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ?
yes, if you’re not squeamish about bugs!! 😚
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well, that was creepy and gross! Wolf worm was also dark, gothic, unsettling, atmospheric, and captivating. T. Kingfisher has once again crafted a book which is hard to put down, unique, and sure to give readers the heebie-jeebies. I enjoyed the creepy and eerie mood, the dark and unsettling vibe, and the building dread and danger. I had a hard time putting this down while at the same time cringing at some scenes.
1899
Sonia Wilson is an out of work scientific illustrator who accepted a job by the peculiar and reclusive, Dr. Halder, to illustrate his collection of insects at his home in North Carolina. She is not unnerved by insects and yet, she can't help but feel uncomfortable. She hears the whispers of the locals, observes animals behaving strangely, and is a little too curious for her own good. Apparently, no one warned her what curiosity did to the cat!
If insects give you the creepy crawlies, this one might push you over the edge! I enjoyed the unique set of characters and the increasing tension and sense of danger. T. Kingfisher's vivid descriptions had me wanting to cover my eyes and put the book down, yet her wonderful writing and world building had me wanting more. Besides being entertained and creeped out, readers will learn some interesting facts about insects. I also enjoyed how T. Kingfisher shows how far one man of science will go in his research. I also enjoyed how she portrayed the female characters as being smart, inquisitive, and brave.
This book is more horrific than horror. It's not a blood and guts slasher gory book but a body horror book, which for me, is creepier. As I mentioned, Wolf Worm is unsettling and dark, but it is also wonderfully written, well thought out, riveting, and had me turning the pages.
I had both the book and the audiobook which made for an enjoyable reading experience. The narration of the audiobook was very well done!
*Be sure to read the author's note for her inspiration for this book!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Tor Nightfire, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
1899
Sonia Wilson is an out of work scientific illustrator who accepted a job by the peculiar and reclusive, Dr. Halder, to illustrate his collection of insects at his home in North Carolina. She is not unnerved by insects and yet, she can't help but feel uncomfortable. She hears the whispers of the locals, observes animals behaving strangely, and is a little too curious for her own good. Apparently, no one warned her what curiosity did to the cat!
If insects give you the creepy crawlies, this one might push you over the edge! I enjoyed the unique set of characters and the increasing tension and sense of danger. T. Kingfisher's vivid descriptions had me wanting to cover my eyes and put the book down, yet her wonderful writing and world building had me wanting more. Besides being entertained and creeped out, readers will learn some interesting facts about insects. I also enjoyed how T. Kingfisher shows how far one man of science will go in his research. I also enjoyed how she portrayed the female characters as being smart, inquisitive, and brave.
This book is more horrific than horror. It's not a blood and guts slasher gory book but a body horror book, which for me, is creepier. As I mentioned, Wolf Worm is unsettling and dark, but it is also wonderfully written, well thought out, riveting, and had me turning the pages.
I had both the book and the audiobook which made for an enjoyable reading experience. The narration of the audiobook was very well done!
*Be sure to read the author's note for her inspiration for this book!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Tor Nightfire, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
April 13, 2026
I LOVE IT HERE! This is one of my top T. Kingfisher horror novels of all time, maybe tied with A House With Good Bones; I would recommend to anyone, except if you're really squeamish about worms. The plot is fantastically done; the integration of this many different threads into one wonderful mass was incredible. I also just love how T Kingfisher writes friendship! The dynamic between Sonia and (spoiler alert!), as well as the dynamic between Sonia and Rose and Jackson Kent & Ma Kersey, was just utterly delightful.
Also, just a spoilered note, but I did not see this twist coming. This twist was SO much better.
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Also, just a spoilered note, but I did not see this twist coming. This twist was SO much better.
➽Follow me on Substack at ellexamines.substack.com
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February 5, 2026
Had to pause reading because at some point I could not stop from gagging (the possum if ykyk) and not in a slay way. This book is incredible. It really made me have a physical reaction. I absolutely adored the main character, her anxiety and her natural curiosity. And her inquiring determination to find the answers to her question. But omg, the bugs. The insects. So descriptive and informative that you can almost feel it crawl down your skin. T. Kingfisher is a genius.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher to send me an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher to send me an ARC. All opinions are my own.
April 14, 2026
Kingfisher really took that blowfly girl creepypasta and decided to make a whole novel of it, and somehow I always knew we were leading up to this.
The characters in Kingfisher's books are usually a little quirky, but endearing. The last three releases I've read though have pushed the quirky up to Disney levels of cringe, making them impossible for me to like and I've spent most of my time feeling irritated.
Sonia is the worst so far. A botanical illustrator, we get to hear her constant thoughts about plants and insects, complete with latin terms, the whole way through. When she paints, she's always thinking it's not good enough, and there almost feels like there's a pause as if I, the reader, am supposed to be telling her her work is wonderful, actually.
I wasn't sure about the surface level discussion of racism and slavery. While the main character is white, the author makes very sure to say that she Does Not Care About Such Things, and even though this is set post Civil War, slavery is only mentioned once.
I thought this was the most convoluted and silly plot so far. It was obvious by the half way mark exactly where this was going (unusual in a Kingfisher book) and any big reveals just had me rolling my eyes. I also felt that many characters would turn up right at the most convenient moment in the plot.
The characters in Kingfisher's books are usually a little quirky, but endearing. The last three releases I've read though have pushed the quirky up to Disney levels of cringe, making them impossible for me to like and I've spent most of my time feeling irritated.
Sonia is the worst so far. A botanical illustrator, we get to hear her constant thoughts about plants and insects, complete with latin terms, the whole way through. When she paints, she's always thinking it's not good enough, and there almost feels like there's a pause as if I, the reader, am supposed to be telling her her work is wonderful, actually.
I wasn't sure about the surface level discussion of racism and slavery. While the main character is white, the author makes very sure to say that she Does Not Care About Such Things, and even though this is set post Civil War, slavery is only mentioned once.
I thought this was the most convoluted and silly plot so far. It was obvious by the half way mark exactly where this was going (unusual in a Kingfisher book) and any big reveals just had me rolling my eyes. I also felt that many characters would turn up right at the most convenient moment in the plot.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 🌟
What a great way to start my 2026 reading!
This was deliciously thrilling and horrifying! I'm such a fan of Kingfisher's writing and storytelling. Every time I'm sucked into the story and get the chills. So now one with bugs?! Count me as completely disgusted. I loved it!
The beginning of the story was a bit slow, but the ending was everything!
What a great way to start my 2026 reading!
This was deliciously thrilling and horrifying! I'm such a fan of Kingfisher's writing and storytelling. Every time I'm sucked into the story and get the chills. So now one with bugs?! Count me as completely disgusted. I loved it!
The beginning of the story was a bit slow, but the ending was everything!
July 15, 2026
⋆.˚🦋༘⋆ Pre read:
I feel like I need to change genres for a bit, what better way to do it than with a gothic horror? It's a new to me author who also writes romantasies, I'm intrigued!
I feel like I need to change genres for a bit, what better way to do it than with a gothic horror? It's a new to me author who also writes romantasies, I'm intrigued!
April 22, 2026
Wolf Worm is a historical horror that absolutely commits to its premise: bugs. So many bugs.
Set in 1899, the story follows Sonia, a naturalist illustrator who takes a job illustrating an entomologist’s insect collection in a remote Southern manor. There are eerie woods, strange animals, local folklore about “blood thieves,” and a creeping sense that something is very wrong.
The atmosphere is strong, the writing is vivid, and I loved the scientific details but the pacing was a struggle. It took me nearly 3 weeks to read this shorter novel. It takes a long time to get to the actual horror, with much of the book spent rationalizing the strange events instead of fully leaning into them. When it finally picks up around the final stretch, it does get good. I just wish it got there sooner.
If you love bugs, gothic vibes, and a slow build, this might work for you. If not… this may feel like a very long walk through the woods waiting for something to happen.
Full review on my YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@hollyheartsbooks...
Set in 1899, the story follows Sonia, a naturalist illustrator who takes a job illustrating an entomologist’s insect collection in a remote Southern manor. There are eerie woods, strange animals, local folklore about “blood thieves,” and a creeping sense that something is very wrong.
The atmosphere is strong, the writing is vivid, and I loved the scientific details but the pacing was a struggle. It took me nearly 3 weeks to read this shorter novel. It takes a long time to get to the actual horror, with much of the book spent rationalizing the strange events instead of fully leaning into them. When it finally picks up around the final stretch, it does get good. I just wish it got there sooner.
If you love bugs, gothic vibes, and a slow build, this might work for you. If not… this may feel like a very long walk through the woods waiting for something to happen.
Full review on my YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@hollyheartsbooks...
June 6, 2026
4.25/4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Hardcover format 📚
Wolf Worm has all the things that I love in a horror book.
Gothic setting, great characters, and lots of unease and tension thrown into the plot.
Oh, and body horror. And insects.
Insects so big and horrifying that I’m scratching my head right now and squirming as I write this review.
Good God, so many insects. 👀
Be back soon. I need to go take a scalding bath.
Hardcover format 📚
Wolf Worm has all the things that I love in a horror book.
Gothic setting, great characters, and lots of unease and tension thrown into the plot.
Oh, and body horror. And insects.
Insects so big and horrifying that I’m scratching my head right now and squirming as I write this review.
Good God, so many insects. 👀
Be back soon. I need to go take a scalding bath.
April 30, 2026
A horror book about a female artist/naturalist that knows her shit about entomology. Excellent book
March 25, 2026
3.75/5 stars
oh t kingfisher the way im starting to fall in love with your writing needs to be studied...
im still dipping my toes lightly into horror and was admittedly scared that horror including bugs might take it a bit too far for me lmao but i can say that while it was gross, i still thoroughly enjoyed it
once i finish a t kingfisher book, i always find that im just yearning to put myself back into another book or world written by her and this time was no different!
my only complaint is that ive found the plot to be a little predictable for me - this genuinely hasnt taken away much enjoyment of the book though. t kingfishers greatest strength is the way they write, the prose is easy to grip onto and leaves you wanting to continue reading!
(i also actually strangely love reading the acknowledgments at the end of her books, theyre always super fun and informative most of the time! you can really see research was done)
the narration, while only done by one person, was absolutely perfect! sometimes our main character really get in her head and begins to blabber and drawl on with certain thoughts and this was executed so well by the narrator! you can hear the way they really put themselves into the shoes of the character that they should be at any point in time!
oh t kingfisher the way im starting to fall in love with your writing needs to be studied...
im still dipping my toes lightly into horror and was admittedly scared that horror including bugs might take it a bit too far for me lmao but i can say that while it was gross, i still thoroughly enjoyed it
once i finish a t kingfisher book, i always find that im just yearning to put myself back into another book or world written by her and this time was no different!
my only complaint is that ive found the plot to be a little predictable for me - this genuinely hasnt taken away much enjoyment of the book though. t kingfishers greatest strength is the way they write, the prose is easy to grip onto and leaves you wanting to continue reading!
(i also actually strangely love reading the acknowledgments at the end of her books, theyre always super fun and informative most of the time! you can really see research was done)
the narration, while only done by one person, was absolutely perfect! sometimes our main character really get in her head and begins to blabber and drawl on with certain thoughts and this was executed so well by the narrator! you can hear the way they really put themselves into the shoes of the character that they should be at any point in time!
August 29, 2026
T Kingfisher horror never misses. Also I highly regret googling wolf worm/botflies
April 26, 2026
I can’t stop scratching. Every prickle of air has me trying to claw my skin off because what if the Wolf Worms are inside me???
Do you mind GROSS insect horror? Oh like the rest of us, you do? Prepare to be freaked out! I don’t like insects or any sort of creepy crawly really but I do find parasites fascinating. However Kingfisher describes them so vividly it’s like you can feel them under your skin! I no longer want to learn about parasites, instead I wish I could forget.
At the end, the MFC stops using laudanum to help her sleep. She says, essentially, she can’t afford a laudanum habit. I’m like, girl, make those rich people pay for your laudanum! In fact Kingfisher should be sending out laudanum with this book because I will never sleep again 😭
Do you mind GROSS insect horror? Oh like the rest of us, you do? Prepare to be freaked out! I don’t like insects or any sort of creepy crawly really but I do find parasites fascinating. However Kingfisher describes them so vividly it’s like you can feel them under your skin! I no longer want to learn about parasites, instead I wish I could forget.
At the end, the MFC stops using laudanum to help her sleep. She says, essentially, she can’t afford a laudanum habit. I’m like, girl, make those rich people pay for your laudanum! In fact Kingfisher should be sending out laudanum with this book because I will never sleep again 😭
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