What do you think?
Rate this book
Squirming All The Way Up
After their mother dies, Joe and Anthony Sanderson reunite in rural Virginia to reconcile the events that tore them apart years ago. For Joe, it's a chance to indoctrinate his brother into the Fellowship of the First Divine. For Anthony, an investigative journalist, it's an opportunity to exploit a Christian White Nationalist cult.
Unbeknownst to either of them, an ancient being lurking underneath the town has insidious plans for them both.
"Powell masterfully crafts a cosmic horror cult extravaganza." -Angela Sylvaine, Bram-Stoker-Award -nominated author of Frost Bite"Promises to still be writhing in your brain long after reading." -David Washburn, author of DIY Exorcism"With his direct prose and clever storytelling, Joey Powell offers not only a book you won't be able to put down, but a tale to keep you up at night." -J.V. Gachs, author of Epiphany and Unholy"Frank, unapologetic, visceral, and gross, with one of the coolest monsters I've seen in a long time." -T.T. Madden, lead writer of Hunt a Blair Witch
Unbeknownst to either of them, an ancient being lurking underneath the town has insidious plans for them both.
"Powell masterfully crafts a cosmic horror cult extravaganza." -Angela Sylvaine, Bram-Stoker-Award -nominated author of Frost Bite"Promises to still be writhing in your brain long after reading." -David Washburn, author of DIY Exorcism"With his direct prose and clever storytelling, Joey Powell offers not only a book you won't be able to put down, but a tale to keep you up at night." -J.V. Gachs, author of Epiphany and Unholy"Frank, unapologetic, visceral, and gross, with one of the coolest monsters I've seen in a long time." -T.T. Madden, lead writer of Hunt a Blair Witch
157 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2025
28 people want to read
About the author
Joey Powell
8 books42 followersJoey Powell lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife, child, and many animals. He spends the majority of his days as a professional techie and the majority of his nights sifting through an ever-growing stack of books. In addition to being a devout consumer and creator of things spooky and weird, Joey has acted in several award-winning short films. Find him on Instagram as @wowcooljoeywrites.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 13, 2025
ARC for review. To be published August 15, 2025.
2 stars
Short horror about a couple in a religious cult and the husband’s brother, a gay investigator, who comes to visit them to find out more.
As much as I love a good cult story this was a bit gross and I really didn’t care about any of the characters all that much. This one just didn’t speak to me.
2 stars
Short horror about a couple in a religious cult and the husband’s brother, a gay investigator, who comes to visit them to find out more.
As much as I love a good cult story this was a bit gross and I really didn’t care about any of the characters all that much. This one just didn’t speak to me.
July 16, 2025
The Exorcist meets Jonestown.
"Fifty-Seven Minutes After Deworming" - this is how the opening scene starts, and it's freakin' brilliant!
Squirming All the Way Up is the story of Joe and Anthony, two brothers trying to save each other. Joe is deep in the clutches of a cult, trying to 'save' his brother by indoctrinating him. Anthony, an investigative journalist, is on a quest to find out what is really going on with his brother. Who is saving who? The two opposing views of the brothers are brilliant, creating tension. They both have good and bad qualities, written in a manner that both attaches the reader to them and makes the reader empathize with them. There are always two sides to a story.
The entire story centers around 'the deworming'. What is it? We don't know, but we sure as hell want to find out. The deworming concept is horrifying, and I love how we don't really know what it is, but we know we are getting closer and closer to finding out as we read more of the story. The way it was used to break up the time line with scenes that start with "X time BEFORE" or "X time AFTER" deworming is absolutely brilliant! It both creates a clear timeline for the reader, but also creates a shit load of tension and intrigue.
The key points in the story are epic. Things get real. When the deworming is revealed, it's completely terrifying!
The twists are outstanding the events are totally unexpected. When you think you know what is going on, you don't.
The ending totally floored me. It ain't over till it's over!
Joey is a talented writer. Many readers have been waiting for this book. It exceeded already high expectations. Read it.
"Fifty-Seven Minutes After Deworming" - this is how the opening scene starts, and it's freakin' brilliant!
Squirming All the Way Up is the story of Joe and Anthony, two brothers trying to save each other. Joe is deep in the clutches of a cult, trying to 'save' his brother by indoctrinating him. Anthony, an investigative journalist, is on a quest to find out what is really going on with his brother. Who is saving who? The two opposing views of the brothers are brilliant, creating tension. They both have good and bad qualities, written in a manner that both attaches the reader to them and makes the reader empathize with them. There are always two sides to a story.
The entire story centers around 'the deworming'. What is it? We don't know, but we sure as hell want to find out. The deworming concept is horrifying, and I love how we don't really know what it is, but we know we are getting closer and closer to finding out as we read more of the story. The way it was used to break up the time line with scenes that start with "X time BEFORE" or "X time AFTER" deworming is absolutely brilliant! It both creates a clear timeline for the reader, but also creates a shit load of tension and intrigue.
The key points in the story are epic. Things get real. When the deworming is revealed, it's completely terrifying!
The twists are outstanding the events are totally unexpected. When you think you know what is going on, you don't.
The ending totally floored me. It ain't over till it's over!
Joey is a talented writer. Many readers have been waiting for this book. It exceeded already high expectations. Read it.
August 10, 2025
Joey Powell's novella is perfect in every way: fast-paced, creepy, tense, deeply disturbing, occasionally absolutely claustrophic, and carrying a message against discrimination and hate. The premise is deceptively simple: two brothers get involved with a religious cult brainwashing people via unconventional means. One of the brothers, a former alcoholic and now a righteous member of the "Fellowship of the First Divine" (the aforementioned cult), has been a member for some time, and in fact considers himself an integral part of this Christian White Nationalist cult; the other, a gay journalist specializing in uncovering paramilitary groups and dangerous cults, has decided to shake his brother back into reality, and so accepts his invitation to visit and spend time with him and his young (and excessively devoted) wife. Neither brother realizes what the cult is involved with; neither has the faintest idea that the cult is serving an entirely different, monstrous, purpose.
The story is very rich in its implications, and very detailed in the masterful execution of its premises. This much richness presumably means that different people will get different things from it, though the emphasis on the cult members' bigotry, their promotion of a specific human type and rejection of everything not aligning with it, be it sexually, racially or even socially diverse, is bound to bring most readers' attention to the cult's transphobic and homophobic tenets; and, of course, their practices of transition therapy and deadnaming. That's one culturally relevant theme that can't be missed. However, for me personally what stood out was the author's subtle portrayal of the gay brother's attempts to deal with the cult members rationally, and, of course, failing disastrously at it. The idea that rationality doesn't work in this case was brought to light bit by bit, as the context demanded; and the worrisome, but inevitable, moral of this failure, is that there's no other way out than violence. This progressive realization was described with great care (whether it was the author's main intention or not), convincingly and unapologetically; this moral, as I understood it, made a deep impression on me, and it's actually what drives the story's last third forward.
On a final note, I should mention that this is not a work of mere psychological horror; there is a twist towards the middle, one that's been hinted all along, introducing cosmic horror and body horror elements of a revolting nature; but I won't spoil the surprise, limiting myself to quoting the title of the book's opening section: "Fifty-Seven Minutes After Deworming"! I hope that piques everyone's interest!
The story is very rich in its implications, and very detailed in the masterful execution of its premises. This much richness presumably means that different people will get different things from it, though the emphasis on the cult members' bigotry, their promotion of a specific human type and rejection of everything not aligning with it, be it sexually, racially or even socially diverse, is bound to bring most readers' attention to the cult's transphobic and homophobic tenets; and, of course, their practices of transition therapy and deadnaming. That's one culturally relevant theme that can't be missed. However, for me personally what stood out was the author's subtle portrayal of the gay brother's attempts to deal with the cult members rationally, and, of course, failing disastrously at it. The idea that rationality doesn't work in this case was brought to light bit by bit, as the context demanded; and the worrisome, but inevitable, moral of this failure, is that there's no other way out than violence. This progressive realization was described with great care (whether it was the author's main intention or not), convincingly and unapologetically; this moral, as I understood it, made a deep impression on me, and it's actually what drives the story's last third forward.
On a final note, I should mention that this is not a work of mere psychological horror; there is a twist towards the middle, one that's been hinted all along, introducing cosmic horror and body horror elements of a revolting nature; but I won't spoil the surprise, limiting myself to quoting the title of the book's opening section: "Fifty-Seven Minutes After Deworming"! I hope that piques everyone's interest!
July 27, 2025
This book perfectly represents the hate and discrimination people experience just for being a different race / sexuality than others. The relationship between the two brothers is another great representation of how family relationships look like when people choose to shut out their own family members simply due to who that specific family member loves. The creepy worms in the story made me feel like they were actually on me. So creepy! I love everything about this book including how it ended.
Make sure to read the trigger warnings given towards the beginning of the book prior to reading it.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Make sure to read the trigger warnings given towards the beginning of the book prior to reading it.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2025
I am honoured to have received Squirming all the way up as an ARC 🖤
This book drops August 2025 🖤
This was a quick read - under 200 pages. I felt the pacing was perfect and I loved the character development of Joe and Anthony.
I found this read an emotional and raw depiction of the prejudices faced by the LGBTQ+ community put together in a horrifying creature feature.
What is that squirming?
This book drops August 2025 🖤
This was a quick read - under 200 pages. I felt the pacing was perfect and I loved the character development of Joe and Anthony.
I found this read an emotional and raw depiction of the prejudices faced by the LGBTQ+ community put together in a horrifying creature feature.
What is that squirming?
August 28, 2025
Listen up y'all. Do NOT sleep on Joey Powell's work. This upcoming novella of his is among the top cosmic horror books I have ever read. Hailey Piper would be proud. This story follows Joe and Anthony Sanderson, who come together after their mother dies to reconnect and heal. Some events years ago fractured their relationship. But each has their own ulterior motives for mending fences. Joe is taking this opportunity to attempt to indoctrinate his brother into the Fellowship of the First Divine and he won't take "no" for an answer. It's so NOT even a cult or anything. Anthony, an investigative journalist, is using this proximity to exploit this "fellowship" as an extremist Christian White Nationalist cult. But it's literally NOT a cult … well, what the brothers do not know is there is an ancient being that is using its goop to do some insidious and pretty nasty shit. As you know, I do not like to give away key plot points so each reader has their own experience but when we have a countdown to and after "deworming" throughout the book, safe to say its gonna get gross. And it does. But, more than that, this novella has heart. It has some balls. It discusses some hard topics, such as grief, guilt, shame, acceptance of others, agency and love. This one is geared toward brotherly love, which is so expertly handled and navigated during the course of this story. And I mean, maybe it is a cult?? Read it to experience it firsthand. The entire time I was reading, I was picturing the movie The Testament. And I know if Joey had a cult, I'd be easily recruited. I am a Joe-liever and you should be too. Thank you so much Mr. Mad Axe Media for sending me this ARC I totally did not lose. I plead for you to read this once it drops August 15th, 2025, directly from Madness Heart Press! ALL HAIL MR. MAD AXE!
August 2, 2025
Fresh horror that feels terrifyingly plausible. I really enjoyed this exploration of the hate that blind faith creates. While it felt like the story could afford to slow down a bit in some parts, it is still an easy, fun read that leaves an impactful message.
You’ll enjoy this if you like: southern gothic feel, religious horror, & season 8 of the x-files.
Thank you NetGalley and Madness Heart Press for the ARC for an honest review.
You’ll enjoy this if you like: southern gothic feel, religious horror, & season 8 of the x-files.
Thank you NetGalley and Madness Heart Press for the ARC for an honest review.
June 30, 2025
If extreme cults, descriptive body horror and a heart pounding story from start to finish is what you are looking for in your next horror read - look no further!
Powell writes in such an addicting way while using horror tropes as a mirror to address some real world horrors that are very much alive in our world today. He did this very successfully and it makes one hell of a strong story.
Powell writes in such an addicting way while using horror tropes as a mirror to address some real world horrors that are very much alive in our world today. He did this very successfully and it makes one hell of a strong story.
June 17, 2025
Small town cult ✔️
Family trauma ✔️
Heebie-jeebies ✔️✔️✔️
I didn’t have reading a novella that made me cry while itching my skin on my list this year, but here we are!
Powell simultaneously gives heart and horrors in a compact story that I absolutely loved. As someone who is estranged from some siblings, this one hit me in the feels.
The descriptions in this read were so vivid..you guessed it…I was squirming.
I think we can all appreciate the meaning behind this story, too.
Family trauma ✔️
Heebie-jeebies ✔️✔️✔️
I didn’t have reading a novella that made me cry while itching my skin on my list this year, but here we are!
Powell simultaneously gives heart and horrors in a compact story that I absolutely loved. As someone who is estranged from some siblings, this one hit me in the feels.
The descriptions in this read were so vivid..you guessed it…I was squirming.
I think we can all appreciate the meaning behind this story, too.
June 15, 2025
This book blew me away. It’s raw in a way that made me cry. The characters are textured and feel real. The non-linear timeline draws you in and keeps you guessing from page to page without ever confusing the reader on how the events are unfolding. It’s also just beautifully written. Each word feels carefully chosen. It reads like poetry.
I’m very grateful to have received an arc of this book and it has been an immense privilege to see how much Joey Powell has grown as an author in such a short amount of time. It’s inspiring to see as a fellow creative.
I’m very grateful to have received an arc of this book and it has been an immense privilege to see how much Joey Powell has grown as an author in such a short amount of time. It’s inspiring to see as a fellow creative.
September 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
If you’re grossed out by worms, probably just don’t.
This is a pretty cut and dry alien cult story, that plays on white nationalism as a base for their belief system.
Jon and Anthony are brothers, and they couldn’t be more different. Jon is a pious member of his local church, and his brother Anthony is a sassy gay man that will always stand up for himself and the people that Jon’s church look down upon. They’ve been apart for a long while, but then the passing of their mother brings them together again.
Anthony can immediately tell upon arriving at his brother’s home in the church community that his wife Darla does not like him, but he navigates his way around her by trying to kill her with kindness.
Anyway, about this church. The Fellowship of the First Divine requires that its members take a blood test to be accepted into the fold. They have to be of at least a small percentage of Nordic descent, or things just won’t work out. After all, the All-Father is very particular about who its offspring squirms into to spread its messages of salvation.
Did I mention the All-Father is actually a giant alien worm? Yeah.
This book was just fine. It wasn’t anything spectacular to me. I didn’t feel connected to really any of the characters, and even the cult concept felt a little dry, and underwhelming. Like, where did this giant worm come from? Why does it need Nordic bloodlines? I fear it was missing a lot of exposition that could have done the story a lot of good.
This one gets a good old ‘meh’ from me.
If you’re grossed out by worms, probably just don’t.
This is a pretty cut and dry alien cult story, that plays on white nationalism as a base for their belief system.
Jon and Anthony are brothers, and they couldn’t be more different. Jon is a pious member of his local church, and his brother Anthony is a sassy gay man that will always stand up for himself and the people that Jon’s church look down upon. They’ve been apart for a long while, but then the passing of their mother brings them together again.
Anthony can immediately tell upon arriving at his brother’s home in the church community that his wife Darla does not like him, but he navigates his way around her by trying to kill her with kindness.
Anyway, about this church. The Fellowship of the First Divine requires that its members take a blood test to be accepted into the fold. They have to be of at least a small percentage of Nordic descent, or things just won’t work out. After all, the All-Father is very particular about who its offspring squirms into to spread its messages of salvation.
Did I mention the All-Father is actually a giant alien worm? Yeah.
This book was just fine. It wasn’t anything spectacular to me. I didn’t feel connected to really any of the characters, and even the cult concept felt a little dry, and underwhelming. Like, where did this giant worm come from? Why does it need Nordic bloodlines? I fear it was missing a lot of exposition that could have done the story a lot of good.
This one gets a good old ‘meh’ from me.
August 11, 2025
3.5 rounded up, for two points that we'll get to in a minute. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
This did exactly what it needed to do. You get the sibling relationship, you get the worms, and you get the creeping dread that comes with thinking about Christian nationalism's dream state for the world. I liked both brothers, and I think I enjoyed the growing dread and release of their conversations as Joe or Darla would say something horrific the most out of anything in the novella. It felt frightening in a very real way, as I've had conversations with someone where I'm just waiting for them to say something like that. The novella is not groundbreaking or subtle thematically, but it's doing the "worms as prejudice" thing. It's not going to be particularly subtle. The pacing was good and the body horror was appropriately gnarly. I was well-pleased.
My two downsides: the ending was a little abrupt and could have used a little more resolution, and the worms should not have been black in color. You're writing a novella about the horror of white nationalism; don't make the worms and associated goo black! Please go read chapter 42 of Moby-Dick, "The Whiteness of the Whale"! Alternatively, take a leaf out of Brainwyrms.
Overall, a fun quick read. Read if you want something in the same thematic realm as Brainwyrms but a little less viscerally disgusting.
This did exactly what it needed to do. You get the sibling relationship, you get the worms, and you get the creeping dread that comes with thinking about Christian nationalism's dream state for the world. I liked both brothers, and I think I enjoyed the growing dread and release of their conversations as Joe or Darla would say something horrific the most out of anything in the novella. It felt frightening in a very real way, as I've had conversations with someone where I'm just waiting for them to say something like that. The novella is not groundbreaking or subtle thematically, but it's doing the "worms as prejudice" thing. It's not going to be particularly subtle. The pacing was good and the body horror was appropriately gnarly. I was well-pleased.
My two downsides: the ending was a little abrupt and could have used a little more resolution, and the worms should not have been black in color. You're writing a novella about the horror of white nationalism; don't make the worms and associated goo black! Please go read chapter 42 of Moby-Dick, "The Whiteness of the Whale"! Alternatively, take a leaf out of Brainwyrms.
Overall, a fun quick read. Read if you want something in the same thematic realm as Brainwyrms but a little less viscerally disgusting.
August 11, 2025
If you’re looking for a book that slaps you with the reality of what’s going on in the world, as we speak, this is it!
Yes, this is a fictional reading, but nothing is more realistic, more accurate and current than what is described in this book!
White supremacy rooted in religion is something we are still an audience for every day!
And Joey managed to write about it within a horror story that feels like it’s crowding you under your skin!
Squirming all the way up is not a great story, but it’s also written amazingly and I couldn’t put the kindle down!
I’ve been lucky enough to receive this ARC and I will forever be grateful cause it really had me on the edge of my seat!
It follows the story of 2 brothers who have been far away from each other for too long and not just in terms of distance or time. The 2 are separated by ideals and beliefs that will impact the whole journey! But non of them are expecting what’s going to happen!
Absolutely a must read!!!
Yes, this is a fictional reading, but nothing is more realistic, more accurate and current than what is described in this book!
White supremacy rooted in religion is something we are still an audience for every day!
And Joey managed to write about it within a horror story that feels like it’s crowding you under your skin!
Squirming all the way up is not a great story, but it’s also written amazingly and I couldn’t put the kindle down!
I’ve been lucky enough to receive this ARC and I will forever be grateful cause it really had me on the edge of my seat!
It follows the story of 2 brothers who have been far away from each other for too long and not just in terms of distance or time. The 2 are separated by ideals and beliefs that will impact the whole journey! But non of them are expecting what’s going to happen!
Absolutely a must read!!!
August 18, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Madness Heart Press for an eARC copy of Squirming All the Way Up by Joey Powell.
A creepy novella that echoes the supernatural horror of Lovecraftian stories. I would say there are mentions of homophobia, transphobia, racial power, converstion and deadnaming, so I do advise readers to know this prior to reading. Joey Powell does a wonderful job weaving these issues in a way that makes sense with the story and in a way to illustrate the beliefs of some of the characters of the story.
While I enjoyed the story of the two brothers and the redemption of their relationship, it still felt like there was a lot missing in the narrative that could have been explored a lot more. I honestly think that the novella could have been expanded into a full novel, more world building, more understanding of the cult and the "worms." It could have been expanded a lot more to feel more well rounded and more polished.
But, overall it was enjoyable and I would recommend it to those who want a quick, scary read.
A creepy novella that echoes the supernatural horror of Lovecraftian stories. I would say there are mentions of homophobia, transphobia, racial power, converstion and deadnaming, so I do advise readers to know this prior to reading. Joey Powell does a wonderful job weaving these issues in a way that makes sense with the story and in a way to illustrate the beliefs of some of the characters of the story.
While I enjoyed the story of the two brothers and the redemption of their relationship, it still felt like there was a lot missing in the narrative that could have been explored a lot more. I honestly think that the novella could have been expanded into a full novel, more world building, more understanding of the cult and the "worms." It could have been expanded a lot more to feel more well rounded and more polished.
But, overall it was enjoyable and I would recommend it to those who want a quick, scary read.
August 16, 2025
"The worms crawl in...the worms crawl out..." I received an ARC of Joey Powell's novella SQUIRMING ALL THE WAY UP, and it's squeamishly good.
Crisp and authentic dialogue. Exploration of the nuances between relationships brothers share. Cults. Commentary on the dangers of religious indoctrination and baseless hate and hypocrisy in this American Hell Mouth. Worms. Have I mentioned the worms? Powell expertly weaves together these elements and more.
Is it too late for Joe and Anthony? Will the powerful lure of the Fellowship continue its hold? Definitely recommend this!
Crisp and authentic dialogue. Exploration of the nuances between relationships brothers share. Cults. Commentary on the dangers of religious indoctrination and baseless hate and hypocrisy in this American Hell Mouth. Worms. Have I mentioned the worms? Powell expertly weaves together these elements and more.
Is it too late for Joe and Anthony? Will the powerful lure of the Fellowship continue its hold? Definitely recommend this!
August 21, 2025
This story is a creative exploration into a world that still clings to ideas of a dangerous interpretation of Christianity. Taking place in a modern time where openly being who you want to be is widely accepted and encouraged, there still exist secular groups who aim to suppress those voices.
Squirming All the Way Up puts outdated ideas under a microscope and exposes how a single charismatic voice can weaponize those ideas for evil.
Joey Powell gives us unforgiving horrors that only get nastier as they unravel, promising to still be writhing in your brain long after.
Squirming All the Way Up puts outdated ideas under a microscope and exposes how a single charismatic voice can weaponize those ideas for evil.
Joey Powell gives us unforgiving horrors that only get nastier as they unravel, promising to still be writhing in your brain long after.
September 16, 2025
"Fifty Seven Minutes After Deworming"
What a way to open a book AND bounce around a timeline of events. Instantly hooked. Powell uses this throughout the novella, shifting us between various instances before, after and during deworming. What is deworming exactly? Well, what fun would that be if I told you? Read this book!
For real though, I had a blast with this. It's a story about brotherhood, family values, the ties that bind and seperate us
What a way to open a book AND bounce around a timeline of events. Instantly hooked. Powell uses this throughout the novella, shifting us between various instances before, after and during deworming. What is deworming exactly? Well, what fun would that be if I told you? Read this book!
For real though, I had a blast with this. It's a story about brotherhood, family values, the ties that bind and seperate us
September 19, 2025
"‘And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever … and ever …’ Make no mistake, his deceit is the work of the devil.”
Okay! I loved this one! I wasn't sure how worms and religious horror would go, but it went DAMN WELL!! This is the book for those who love reading about cults, spiritual trauma, religious horror, etc. Powell does an awesome job with the characters, and I really loved this writing style. This is another "new to me" author, and I now feel compelled to binge-read all of his work. Yeah, it's like that!
This is a nice, girthy story, but I also don't want to give too much away, especially with the synopsis below. But I HIGHLY recommend this book, it's definitely on my Top Godless Reads of 2025 list!
Okay! I loved this one! I wasn't sure how worms and religious horror would go, but it went DAMN WELL!! This is the book for those who love reading about cults, spiritual trauma, religious horror, etc. Powell does an awesome job with the characters, and I really loved this writing style. This is another "new to me" author, and I now feel compelled to binge-read all of his work. Yeah, it's like that!
This is a nice, girthy story, but I also don't want to give too much away, especially with the synopsis below. But I HIGHLY recommend this book, it's definitely on my Top Godless Reads of 2025 list!
August 15, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good cult horror, I love a good LGBT horror, and this one was pretty good. It does fall prey just a bit to a personal pet peeve I find in certain religious horror books, where certain character behaviors feel odd and out of touch because what is being portrayed is at war with how we're supposed to (currently or eventually) see certain characters.
For example, right from the start, one of our main characters, who has been raised in a bigoted church and is currently a member of a white nationalist Christofacist cult, uses a trans girl's correct pronouns and has to force himself to misgender her, even though he knew her pre-transition. Being raised in a comparatively more progressive Christian environment myself, I can say with confidence that none of these people need to make a solid effort to be bigoted, and certainly would not naturally respect a trans person's identity.
For another example, we get a tongue-in-cheek, critical sort of remark about this cult being white nationalist, and it's like... so you don't believe it? You don't believe these things, even though it's all you've ever known? It is very difficult in today's climate to read things like this where the people participating in these violent subgroups are "good people led astray". Perhaps in another timeline, this type of story would be heartwarming, but it left me a little colder than intended. Still, it was a good book, and I do recommend it!
I love a good cult horror, I love a good LGBT horror, and this one was pretty good. It does fall prey just a bit to a personal pet peeve I find in certain religious horror books, where certain character behaviors feel odd and out of touch because what is being portrayed is at war with how we're supposed to (currently or eventually) see certain characters.
For example, right from the start, one of our main characters, who has been raised in a bigoted church and is currently a member of a white nationalist Christofacist cult, uses a trans girl's correct pronouns and has to force himself to misgender her, even though he knew her pre-transition. Being raised in a comparatively more progressive Christian environment myself, I can say with confidence that none of these people need to make a solid effort to be bigoted, and certainly would not naturally respect a trans person's identity.
For another example, we get a tongue-in-cheek, critical sort of remark about this cult being white nationalist, and it's like... so you don't believe it? You don't believe these things, even though it's all you've ever known? It is very difficult in today's climate to read things like this where the people participating in these violent subgroups are "good people led astray". Perhaps in another timeline, this type of story would be heartwarming, but it left me a little colder than intended. Still, it was a good book, and I do recommend it!
June 15, 2025
You'll definitely be squirming while reading this story about a small town cult with a horrific "god".
Joe and Anthony are estranged brothers. Growing up in a cultish church, their mother chose to abandon the religion when the church rejected Anthony because he's gay. This caused bad blood between the brothers and they went their separate ways.
Joe is now a member of the same cult, married to an extremely devout woman. The church is a white nationalist, bigoted group who only allows certain people to join. Anthony is a journalist who's made a name for himself exposing such groups and other cults. And now, he's headed to reconnect with his brother although they both have ulterior motives.
Events are going to lead to the discovery of a terrifying monstrosity which resembles a giant worm which uses members to incubate its larvae. Joe seems to be just as homophobic as the rest but Anthony realizes something is controlling his brother. And as secrets are revealed, the horrifying truth of this cult is even more morbid than you first thought.
This one is filled with a lot of wormy ooze that'll make your skin crawl and shows how hate disguised as love can lead to some catastrophic consequences. With fleshed out characters, action, and a dreadful terror lurking underground, this is a book I highly recommend.
I received an ARC of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Joe and Anthony are estranged brothers. Growing up in a cultish church, their mother chose to abandon the religion when the church rejected Anthony because he's gay. This caused bad blood between the brothers and they went their separate ways.
Joe is now a member of the same cult, married to an extremely devout woman. The church is a white nationalist, bigoted group who only allows certain people to join. Anthony is a journalist who's made a name for himself exposing such groups and other cults. And now, he's headed to reconnect with his brother although they both have ulterior motives.
Events are going to lead to the discovery of a terrifying monstrosity which resembles a giant worm which uses members to incubate its larvae. Joe seems to be just as homophobic as the rest but Anthony realizes something is controlling his brother. And as secrets are revealed, the horrifying truth of this cult is even more morbid than you first thought.
This one is filled with a lot of wormy ooze that'll make your skin crawl and shows how hate disguised as love can lead to some catastrophic consequences. With fleshed out characters, action, and a dreadful terror lurking underground, this is a book I highly recommend.
I received an ARC of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
September 24, 2025
One of my favorite things about reading horror is when it tackles issues that are currently raging terror in our world, dealing with the very real consequences that we face on a daily basis.
SQUIRMING ALL THE WAY UP confronts white Christian nationalism head-on and at no point lets up. When the death of their mother reunites two brothers, their worlds collide in ways that neither of them expected. Between cults, ancient supernatural beings, and terror groups, nothing that happens seems ordinary.
The characters in SQUIRMING ALL THE WAY UP really impacted me in ways I didn’t expect. Joe and Anthony’s relationship felt very real, and their motivations, no matter how hard to understand, all seemed plausible. The way their relationship evolved seemed organic and I found myself really wanting to know how their story ended up. The supporting characters are also a wild bunch, and I just loved when they were part of the story as awful as they were.
Aside from the heavy topics, which at no point are subtle, it’s just a fun book to read. It’s fast-paced, disturbing, and really hits the creepy moments with cosmic and body horror in just the right ways.
SQUIRMING ALL THE WAY UP confronts white Christian nationalism head-on and at no point lets up. When the death of their mother reunites two brothers, their worlds collide in ways that neither of them expected. Between cults, ancient supernatural beings, and terror groups, nothing that happens seems ordinary.
The characters in SQUIRMING ALL THE WAY UP really impacted me in ways I didn’t expect. Joe and Anthony’s relationship felt very real, and their motivations, no matter how hard to understand, all seemed plausible. The way their relationship evolved seemed organic and I found myself really wanting to know how their story ended up. The supporting characters are also a wild bunch, and I just loved when they were part of the story as awful as they were.
Aside from the heavy topics, which at no point are subtle, it’s just a fun book to read. It’s fast-paced, disturbing, and really hits the creepy moments with cosmic and body horror in just the right ways.
June 17, 2025
There’s a lot of hate around at the minute. It feels like it’s more prevalent these days due to MAGA taking over social media. But it’s always been there and that’s what this rollercoaster of a novella examines.
It’s not often you get a creature feature with some bite and with this, Joey takes a gargantuan chunk out of the jugular.
Estranged brothers reunite following the death of their mother. Joe is a recovering alcoholic who’s found God and Anthony is an investigative journalist looking into a sinister religious cult.
The twist with this one is that the cult are controlled by an otherworldly worm that feeds on hate.
I devoured this book. Like the very best horror out there, Joey uses the creature to burrow down into the reach of the far right. And it’s not one sided, he manages to evoke sympathy from the haters.
And the writing is flawless. Joey Powell is one of those writers whose skill means you don’t see the joins as you’re too caught up in the action.
If you like horror with something to say that’s not preachy, you won’t go wrong with this one.
It’s not often you get a creature feature with some bite and with this, Joey takes a gargantuan chunk out of the jugular.
Estranged brothers reunite following the death of their mother. Joe is a recovering alcoholic who’s found God and Anthony is an investigative journalist looking into a sinister religious cult.
The twist with this one is that the cult are controlled by an otherworldly worm that feeds on hate.
I devoured this book. Like the very best horror out there, Joey uses the creature to burrow down into the reach of the far right. And it’s not one sided, he manages to evoke sympathy from the haters.
And the writing is flawless. Joey Powell is one of those writers whose skill means you don’t see the joins as you’re too caught up in the action.
If you like horror with something to say that’s not preachy, you won’t go wrong with this one.
August 28, 2025
You know what I love in a book? Cult weirdo’s. They’re so much fun to read about and they generally get their comeuppance too, which is always nice.
Squirming All The Way Up, it’s a tale of two brothers. Unlike a tale of two cities is it far less Dickensian and not set during the French Revolution. What is does have though, are two estranged brothers meeting up after some time and each has their own hidden agenda.
For a relatively short page count, this one really took me on a journey, and I was impressed with all the little details and how they all came together.
Powell writes in a way that isn’t overly flowery, but brings the depth to his stories that make them really well well filled out, yet not at all bloated. Words aren’t wasted as we follow the plot to its epic conclusion, and for someone who tends to skim read when things get dull, it’s definitely a blessing.
Intentional plot vagueness aside, I loved this one, and much like all of Powell’s stuff, it’s an easy introduction to the author.
Squirming All The Way Up, it’s a tale of two brothers. Unlike a tale of two cities is it far less Dickensian and not set during the French Revolution. What is does have though, are two estranged brothers meeting up after some time and each has their own hidden agenda.
For a relatively short page count, this one really took me on a journey, and I was impressed with all the little details and how they all came together.
Powell writes in a way that isn’t overly flowery, but brings the depth to his stories that make them really well well filled out, yet not at all bloated. Words aren’t wasted as we follow the plot to its epic conclusion, and for someone who tends to skim read when things get dull, it’s definitely a blessing.
Intentional plot vagueness aside, I loved this one, and much like all of Powell’s stuff, it’s an easy introduction to the author.
![Profile Image for Jamey [Longhollow.Lore].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1751370206i%2F7284478._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 4, 2025
Two brothers, separated by a tumultuous history and stark differences in belief, are reunited in an unexpected way. What unfolds is a story about blind faith, bias, and the unsettling pull of cult-like behavior - whether human or not. It asks us to consider: can we ever see beyond our own perceptions? Is there space for true variance in a world so shaped by conviction?
This was a quick read, yet it carried an urgency that made me need to know how it would end. Would the brothers find their way back to one another, or would this be a grim tale with no redemption?
Threaded throughout the story are political and religious undertones that push us to examine our own place, are we standing in earnest conviction, or in quiet naivety? It’s the kind of tale that lingers, unsettling in the questions it leaves behind.
A special thank you to Madness Heart Press and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a quick read, yet it carried an urgency that made me need to know how it would end. Would the brothers find their way back to one another, or would this be a grim tale with no redemption?
Threaded throughout the story are political and religious undertones that push us to examine our own place, are we standing in earnest conviction, or in quiet naivety? It’s the kind of tale that lingers, unsettling in the questions it leaves behind.
A special thank you to Madness Heart Press and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 6, 2025
It was an honor to be able to read this wild novella.
Underneath all the worms is a story of two brothers who reconnect after the death of their mother. Joe hopes to save his brother from his sinful life as a gay man. Anthony hopes to expose the white nationalist cult Joe is a part of.
While it is on the shorter side, about 150 pages, it is not an easy read. Trigger warnings for dead naming, queerphobia, and other things that might get me flagged on this site.
It is a relevant read during these trying times. It is also totally gross. I guarantee it will make your skin crawl.
And don't say I didn't warn you about the worms.
10/10 recommend you add this to your TBR.
Much appreciation to Joey Powell for sending me an ARC all the way back in March!
Underneath all the worms is a story of two brothers who reconnect after the death of their mother. Joe hopes to save his brother from his sinful life as a gay man. Anthony hopes to expose the white nationalist cult Joe is a part of.
While it is on the shorter side, about 150 pages, it is not an easy read. Trigger warnings for dead naming, queerphobia, and other things that might get me flagged on this site.
It is a relevant read during these trying times. It is also totally gross. I guarantee it will make your skin crawl.
And don't say I didn't warn you about the worms.
10/10 recommend you add this to your TBR.
Much appreciation to Joey Powell for sending me an ARC all the way back in March!
August 16, 2025
This is a book steeped in real-world horrors, plus a heaping dose of creepy, crawly body horror that wiggles its way under your skin.
After thinking about this for a couple of days, I still can't decide whether I liked this book or not. It is quite well written and has a thought-provoking theme, but I also didn't like any of the characters for a variety of reasons. The statement the story made also felt a bit heavy-handed at times, though maybe that isn't unwarranted as people have very strong opinions in regard to personal ideologies and religious zeal.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone looking for an uncomfortable, squirmy horror novel with a very pertinent message. 3.75⭐️
Thanks to Madness Heart Press for providing this book for review consideration via Netgalley.
After thinking about this for a couple of days, I still can't decide whether I liked this book or not. It is quite well written and has a thought-provoking theme, but I also didn't like any of the characters for a variety of reasons. The statement the story made also felt a bit heavy-handed at times, though maybe that isn't unwarranted as people have very strong opinions in regard to personal ideologies and religious zeal.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone looking for an uncomfortable, squirmy horror novel with a very pertinent message. 3.75⭐️
Thanks to Madness Heart Press for providing this book for review consideration via Netgalley.
September 8, 2025
4/5: Squirming All the Way Up
Brothers Joe and Anthony used to be close... then Joe joined a Christian White Nationalist cult and went a liiiiitle bit crazy.
Pros:
-FUN read
-Lets process religious (and political) trauma, but with monsters
-Kept me curious about wtf would happen when we finally hit zero on the continuous countdown clock and arrive at 'the deworming'.
Cons:
-I could have used maybe a little bit more of a character arc from Anthony (the non-culty brother).
If culty reads that are a little bit cosmic horror and a little bit body horror sound up your alley: give this a go. I could see this book being incrediblyyyyyy therapeutic for anyone dealing with religious and or/political (trump/QAnon) trauma.
Brothers Joe and Anthony used to be close... then Joe joined a Christian White Nationalist cult and went a liiiiitle bit crazy.
Pros:
-FUN read
-Lets process religious (and political) trauma, but with monsters
-Kept me curious about wtf would happen when we finally hit zero on the continuous countdown clock and arrive at 'the deworming'.
Cons:
-I could have used maybe a little bit more of a character arc from Anthony (the non-culty brother).
If culty reads that are a little bit cosmic horror and a little bit body horror sound up your alley: give this a go. I could see this book being incrediblyyyyyy therapeutic for anyone dealing with religious and or/political (trump/QAnon) trauma.
September 15, 2025
This one made me uncomfortable in all the best ways. Partially because anything with worms under the skin heebies my jeebies most thoroughly, partially because the timing of its release paired with the religious and political tone felt way too close to current reality. Take the cosmic horror aspect out of this and you've got a story that could believably happen.
As I've come to expect with Powell, the writing is excellent, the story is compelling and it all left me wanting more.
If you're looking for a story that blends cosmic horror with religious and political terror in a way that feels unnervingly relevant, this is the book you need!
As I've come to expect with Powell, the writing is excellent, the story is compelling and it all left me wanting more.
If you're looking for a story that blends cosmic horror with religious and political terror in a way that feels unnervingly relevant, this is the book you need!
September 28, 2025
In dreams, worms can represent the need for change. But the worms in this terrifying read are what's responsible for the dreams of Joe, terrifying visions that have him questioning whether his mother's soul ends up in the good or bad place. Then he dreams of Anthony, his gay brother whom he hopes to bring to the light before it's too late--thats what the worms want...And full disclosure?! Joe's new wife of 6 months creeps me the eff out! Such a prude, yet down to get squirmy with it, IYKYK
October 21, 2025
Something about a cult book, yeah? This book feels equal parts The Endless, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and all of those cool books from the 80’s with ooey gooey cosmic stuff. Joey Powell builds a solid story about two people and their relationship. Horror always has a meaning to me, and Powell was laser focused on a few things. It’s broody, gross, heartbreaking, and hella weird. K thx.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews