Bloodfire, Baby: A Novel

by Eirinie Carson

A maternal gothic tale of new motherhood and the torment of a centuries-old haunting

Before the shadow appeared, Sofia thought mothering would be all sun-drenched light and white linen sheets, as seen advertised by the momfluencers of Instagram. In her gorgeous home anchored in a posh suburb, far removed from her origins, Sofia revels in her success.

Motherhood seems like the natural next step, but when her husband travels for a work trip, leaving Sofia all alone with their unnamed three-week-old baby, she can’t quite square how mothering falls solely in her lap. Nobody seems able or willing to help not her husband, not her best friend, and certainly not the zealot mother she cut off long ago.

Her postpartum reality is overtaken by an ominous figure. Sleep-deprivation collides with a darkness that creeps in and begins to spread, threatening to consume her entirely. As her grip on reality slips away, Sofia learns of an insidious haunting that has plagued the eldest daughters in her family for generations. With her baby’s safety on the line, Sofia realizes she must confront her murky history or risk losing more than just the veneer of perfection.

Genres: Horror, Gothic

Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 17, 2026

Reviews

[OutlawPoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will say this gently because this may have been a friend/family sort of thing. This cover isn't quite doing it. I hope that, by publication time, this can be improved.

Now, to the book: This is an atmospheric and very traumatic read! While the pacing in the beginning was a bit slow for me (very, very stream of consciousness), it settled into a story I cared about. I loved our main character and felt for her - she was struggling so much!

You've got racism, generational trauma, and the absolute exhaustion of a new mother who just needs help. While I didn't suffer from any post-partum depression, there were times when things threatened to become overwhelming. Oh, I felt for our MC.

Though the pacing is rather deliberate, the story works and this was a good read!

* ARC via Publisher

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent first book. I think mothers will understand and resonate with this book strongly. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of a current timeline with past ancestors sprinkled throughout to lend explanation to the story. The stories of the ancestors and bearing witness to their experiences resonates deeply. Those stories are so often lost to time and it’s easy to see their revenants clinging to us like shadows.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Brenda Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book embodies new motherhood so well all my PTSD from newborn months returned.
the lack of sleep put me on the brink of hysteria so many times. my breast pump absolutely chanted to me.
the physical ability to separate from my child hurt so intensely. and I couldn't form a thought.

oh this author takes all of this and puts in a Gothic, shining, dysfunctional family horror. well done!

[Stacy40pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bloodfire, Baby by Eirinie Carson. Thanks to @duttonbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sofia is alone with her new baby. Her husband is traveling and everyone who was there for her during pregnancy doesn’t seem to be anymore. She soon begins to see an ominous shadow and a darkness that may consume her.

I loved the beginning of this one but the pacing in the middle dragged at times for me. I still recommend it because the author is talented and it is a good book. Just be aware there may be slowing down in the middle. This is a suspenseful and scary read about new motherhood and post partum depression. There’s a lot of symbolism in it and we get glimpses of the past ancestry that come into play later on. It spirals into darkness, which may have been unexpected but it happens slowly and you’re surprised where you find yourself!

“It can be dangerously to let the pain of the past define you, but even more dangerous to ignore it.”

Read this book if you like:
-Gothic horror
-Post partum and/or mental health spirals
-Ancestry history
-Slow, downward spirals

Bloodfire, Baby comes out 2/17.

[dessie*₊⊹ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice debut! I’ve read a few post-partum / motherhood horrors at this point but I found that the generational trauma, among other details the author included had this book standing on its own. The protagonist felt both haunted and insane. Even just the domestic aspects of her life were unsettling. (Most details about having a baby are enough to scare me.)
It felt dense though. I won’t lie about having to push myself through portions of it. This author’s still on my radar now. I’m between 3 and 4 stars.

[Agrippina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the current cover and font choice for this book are doing it a disservice. At first glance, it almost looks like something self-published (not to throw a stone at self-publishing, but you know what I mean). I requested the ARC because of the description, and I am very glad I did, but if I had seen the book at a store and judged it solely on its appearance, I would have walked right past.

If you are a new mother, this book can be very triggering - the endless cycle of care, the feeling of loneliness, friends who drift away, separated from you by interests, bedtimes, and the ability to enjoy a cocktail for Sunday brunch.

Carson did a great job describing Sofia's downspiral into insanity, but I do wish there was a little more to the shadows. The ending felt a bit rushed. All through the novel, we are trying to figure out whose blood she is mopping off the floor (and Carson is masterful in offering us options - could it be Amina? the baby? the mother-in-law? the best friend?), and yet the resolution comes very quickly and toothlessly.

Carson's writing is beautiful, and this is overall an enjoyable, haunting read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dutton, for sharing an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. The book is out on February 17, 2026.

[Carrie (scary.carrie.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Dutton for the gifted copy of this book!

Bloodfire, Baby is a terrifying look at motherhood and the impossibly high expectations put on both mothers and women in general. It approaches hard subjects like postpartum depression and the isolation and dehumanization some new mothers experience. The story is interwoven with Jamaican history and folklore, and examines the effects of slavery and racism and how those traumas can become generational traumas, a cycle of pain that never really ends.

I loved the brutal honesty of this story. It refuses to glamorize motherhood, instead focusing on the ugly things people don’t want to talk about. It reveals the heartbreaking truth of how people who are struggling can become invisible. The people who are supposed to care pull away because it makes them uncomfortable. The person who is struggling pulls deeper into themselves because they don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. Yet another cycle of pain that only ends with more pain.

The story is a bit of a slow burn, but deliciously so. The mood is off kilter from the beginning. The opening scene warns that something terrible is going to happen, and we are slowly drawn towards the inevitable. Once things start unraveling, all you can do is helplessly watch through parted fingers. Things get dark and unhinged—I was literally cringing at one scene in particular—but it was the creeping sense of dread that really got me. This book will be lingering in the shadows of my mind (and causing me anxiety 😅) for a long time.

Definitely check this one out!


5 / 5 stars
✔️ HIGHLY recommend!

[savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Sofia’s life is idyllic. She has married the love of her life, moved into the nicest suburbs the area has to offer, and has just had a baby girl. She’s left the trauma of her past behind, but after her daughter is born, strange things begin to happen. Her estranged mother won’t stop calling, and she begins seeing a strange entity around her home. Bloodfire, Baby is a generational horror story that entwines Sofia’s story with that of her ancestors.

Sofia’s struggle with motherhood is something that I think a lot of women will resonate with. Even before we have children, we are seen as mothers, whether it’s to our siblings, the children in our community, or even just the expectation of being future mothers. The pressure of that ideal is crushing, and Eirinie Carson illustrates that beautifully. The writing in this is very much leans into a stream of consciousness. The reader feels as though they are going mad alongside Sofia.

The pacing did feel a bit off. The book is slow in some parts and felt like it dragged a bit in the middle, but then something would happen and it would pick back up before slowing back down.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys horror that centers along motherhood, but especially to those who enjoy horror that tips into feeling more like literary fiction.

[Ember · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW WOW WOW! Eirinie girl there’s NO WAY this is your first novel EVER???? From the tag line to the first chapter I was HOOKED. I am not a mother but motherhood and postpartum is something that I’ve read a lot on and will eventually cross my path. Everything Sofia was describing everything she was going through, black mom white husband newborn baby facing postpartum alone. I was HOOKED! Then you mix in the horror of something or someone lurking and preying on you in this time of vulnerability. WOOF! Everything she experiences throughout the story terrifies me because THAT COULD BE ME! I truly truly enjoyed this back and commend the author on creating a piece of work like this on a subject that is deemed taboo.
I’m going to be thinking about this for a while!

Thank you Dutton Publishing for this advanced copy!

[Susannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Described as “a maternal gothic tale of new motherhood and the torment of a centuries-old haunting,” Bloodfire, Baby portrays a brand-new, first time mother, Sofia, who’s left alone caring for her newborn baby when her husband goes on a business trip for three weeks (!!!). Sofia, quite understandably, has a rough time in this scenario, struggling to take care of herself and the baby while reliving her own childhood trauma and difficult relationship with her mother. Naturally, horror ensues!

Reading fiction is always an inherently engaging experience for me, but it’s a rare novel in which I can completely immerse myself in every scene and lose myself in a character. Sofia was one such character. Between the strength of Carson’s visceral, vivid, original imagery and Sofia’s dynamic characterization, she became a truly sympathetic character. I found myself hanging on to her perspective and point of view even as she seemingly lost touch with reality and descended further into madness. Writing an unreliable narrator is one thing, but Carson has managed to pull off the impressive feat of writing a narrator considered unreliable by other characters but whose subjective experience is trusted implicitly by the reader. Sofia’s behavior starts so believable and understandable as an overwhelmed and isolated new mom that by the end of the novel, I found myself understanding her less-than-rational choices.

The italicized sections catalog the backstory of each woman in a lineage beginning with Sekesu, a woman born in Jamaica under the brutality of British colonial rule. Initially, these sections didn’t work for me as much as the present day narrative from Sofia’s perspective; I felt like they had some stylistic and tonal dissonance from the main narrative. As thrown as I was by the first of these sections, they grew on me significantly and I was totally on board by the end of Della’s narrative, and I was very, very satisfied with how these played out by the end of the novel.

While Bloodfire, Baby felt like its own truly unique work, it seemed to recall plenty of other media cataloging the challenges of motherhood, marriage, and generational trauma in a way that enhanced my reading experience. It felt like so many other genre-defining works across different mediums got together to produce a chimera completely its own but with aspects of other literature, music, or movies that I loved. I say that not to undermine the originality of Carson’s work or its cohesiveness as a single piece of literature, but to stress that it plays on some truly universal themes and fits right in with plenty of other critically acclaimed art.

Some examples: the depiction of the isolation, stress, and social pressures of new motherhood reminded me of Frida in the beginning of Jessamine Chan’s The School for Good Mothers, another 5-star read for me. Despite its critical acclaim, I didn’t personally like Rachel Yoder’s Nightbitch, but this is like what I wished Nightbitch could have been. The complicated maternal relationships and the horror-genre take on generational mental illness recalled Hereditary for me, also another personal favorite. I have less of a coherent justification for this, but Sofia’s relationship with Emil gave me vibes of “Me and My Husband” and “Wife” by Mitski.


In the lineage of Sofia’s ancestors that Carson traces, an intimate portrait emerges of one character from each generation down to the next. She begins with the atrocities and brutality of the slave trade and ends with Sofia’s contemporary life as a Black woman in suburbia, depicting the scourge of generational trauma yet the personal intricacies of each woman’s life. This step-by-step depiction of a lineage to the present day evoked Homegoing for me, which is also not a comparison I make lightly: I believe Homegoing is one of the greatest novels, and Yaa Gyasi one of the greatest authors, of the 21st century.

Finally, I was getting some serious Yellow Wallpaper vibes in the best possible way, between the obvious subject matter parallel of postpartum descent into madness to much subtler parallels of wording and imagery. I don’t know whether these were intentional callbacks to one of the original gothic depictions of postpartum depression, or whether these subtleties are just more evidence that Carson’s writing speaks to the lived experiences of so many new mothers – but either way I loved it.

[mood_reading_maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing for the e-ARC.

Bloodfire Baby was a slow paced and deeply cerebral, atmospheric, and haunting tale of generational trauma and motherhood. Carson didn’t shy away from the grim and dark thoughts that can occasionally rise to the front of one’s terribly sleep deprived and hormone addled brain. The narrator and protagonist, Sofia, is riddled with self doubt, inundated with skewed and “perfect” images of motherhood via social media algorithms, and so incredibly lonely. There is a unique sort of loneliness one can experience as a new parent, and in Sofia’s case she is pushed to her limit and comes undone at the seams. The intersection between sleep deprivation, unceasing caretaking, loneliness, and unwitting but self-imposed independence (in that “I’m fine. I can do it all. I don’t need any help” sort of way) creates a storm that wreaks havoc upon all who cross its path. There is a deep yearning for connection, and long buried trauma and pain for the FMC. If you had a traumatic birthing experience, or struggled with PPD, this book could definitely be triggering.

The writing style is lush and descriptive, leaning into the gothic undertones. There is constant confusion and anger simmering beneath all of Sofia’s interactions, but at the forefront of her internal thoughts. None of these characters are particularly likeable but Emil, Sofia’s husband, really takes the cake. Holy weaponized male incompetence Batman. I hated the guy! And his mother, Buffy? Well she was no better until the very very end. While I enjoyed the story, by 60% I was ready for something - anything - to happen. So much of the story takes place in Emil and Sofia’s well appointed home. It’s a bit suffocating…and admittedly, a tiny bit boring. But I think that’s the point. So much of new parenting is the rote tedium of it all. As Sofia often repeats: “I clean the baby dress the baby feed the baby,” all day and all night. The ending felt oddly unsatisfying. When the last line came, I thought…that’s it? And scratched my head a little. It ultimately fell a touch too flat for my liking.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of Uncorrected eBook File

New mother Sofia has discovered that motherhood is not at all what she’d envisioned. In a new home, far from everything that was once familiar, estranged from a mother she hasn’t spoken to in years, she has no support system. And with her husband, Emil, leaving for an extended [three weeks or more] work trip . . . .

And although Sofia says they will be alright, will they truly be okay?

=========

With its strong focus on postpartum depression and the horror of the shadows, this is sometimes a difficult book to read. Sofia is strong, but, left with too much to cope with on her own, eventually it becomes overwhelming and her descent into madness is both horrific and sad. The idea that motherhood is equivalent to confinement is likely to be a bit too much for some readers, but the effects of the isolation are spot on.

Well-written, the story is both atmospheric and filled with despair; the elements of ancestry and haunted generations is deftly woven into the telling of the tale but the overarching element here is Sophia’s growing depression.

Readers who enjoy psychological horror and tales of hauntings are sure to find much to appreciate here. However, new mothers may find this a bit difficult to read.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Dutton and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#BloodfireBaby #NetGalley

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sofia has just given birth and is struggling with emotions and exhaustion when her husband leaves her on her own for a three week work trip. He is not entirely unsupportive but the important thing is that he is not supportive in the way that she needs.

As the days tick by and the lack of sleep takes its toll, so do the constant calls from her estranged mother. Gradually, Sofia's postpartum depression spirals into something worse.

I think all mothers will be able to relate to Sofia up to a point, even those of us who didn't have cleaners show up to make our homes sparkle every day. Where Sofia and I go our separate ways is her refusal of any help with the baby. I know I would have given anything for a little help in those early weeks, even if it was just someone willing to sit with the baby for 15 minutes so I could take a shower. This is not her first bout with depression, and as we learn what it was like for her to be raised by a religious zealot who often seemed emotionally disturbed, it becomes apparent that this will not likely end well.

I understand the desire to portray Sofia's increasingly fragile state and slow decline in a gradual manner, but certain parts of the book felt repetitive and dragged on for me. I would recommend this more for readers looking for stories that revolve around generational trauma and depression than horror fans.

I read an uncorrected proof through Netgalley, so there might be adjustments to the final finished copy.

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generational trauma blended with psychological horror and wrapped in a gothic atmosphere evoking dark emotions like madness, guilt, decay and the feeling of slowly slipping into insanity. Tackling themes of motherhood, isolation, racism, religion and economic inequality. The ancestral background was most fascinating and definitely added to the stories sense of dread and trauma.

The book’s premise strong and the writing is raw and vivid but because there are so many heavy themes being tackled it can become a bit dense and the pacing can suffer a bit towards the middle. There is also a lot of symbolism in this story that, while festinating, can at times feel overwhelming. I found myself questioning if I was truly understanding what the author was trying to say.

At the same time the symbolism is what kept me turning the pages. Motherhood as confinement was a strong message. Showing that isolation becomes both physical and mental. As the MC’s feeling of isolation deepens the haunting moves from the halls of the home to the walls her mind. The mind becoming the haunted place.

Overall I found this a decent read with a strong premise just not as much horror as I was hoping there would be. Though the horror does pick up in the last 20% of the novel where it picks up and gets very intriguing.

[bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for inviting me to read this title early!

I agree with other reviews re: the cover of this book. I probably wouldn't pick it up if I saw it in a bookstore, and I hope it'll only improve when the pub date rolls around.

This one is a slow burn and for a while I wasn't sure if I liked it--the first probably 40-50% of the book are like a stream of consciousness domestic narrative since Sofia is just all alone with her thoughts after her husband (who sucks) goes on a three-week work trip not even a month after the birth of their first child. She struggles and at first it seems like it might just be a kind of postpartum cabin fever but it becomes clear after that that there's something more sinister going on.

The writing is very good and that is ultimately what kept me reading when I wasn't sure how I felt. I think it was an impressive fiction debut for sure! Along with the horror of it all, there's an interesting plot thread about Sofia's Jamaican ancestry and how she fits (or doesn't fit) into the suburban neighborhood that they move into to be close to her white husband's parents. The story is eerie and what Sofia goes through is definitely unsettling but by the end what I felt the most was sad.

This one is kind of slow moving to start but I think it has really good payoff!

[Jamie Madsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and steeped in atmosphere, this novel tackles an ambitious cluster of themes - motherhood, isolation, racism, religion, economic inequality - and weaves them into a narrative that’s as raw as it is effervescent. The ancestral element at the heart of this story is particularly compelling - motherhood as confinement, as a border you cross and can never quite return from. Sofia’s growing isolation, first within the walls of her home, then within the walls of her own mind, mirrors the disorientation of navigating two identities at once: mother and daughter, citizen of a new country and loyal child of the one she left. This novel treats nationality and motherhood as parallel homelands, each asking something of you, each shaping the stories you tell yourself about duty, sacrifice, and belonging. As Sofia’s sense of self frays, the haunting evolves from external to deeply psychological. Her once-beautiful dream house becomes a clever gothic metaphor for the pressures placed on women to build, maintain, and sacrifice for a home, whether that home is a family or a country. The exploration of generational wounds, cultural inheritance, and the fragile borders of the mind is deftly handled and deeply affecting.

[bookishwitherin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid debut novel. A literary gothic horror about motherhood, familial trauma, folklore and a descent into madness. One of main draws to this book was the folkloric/ancestry element to the story. I actually really loved that element and the origin of the shadow being that the FMC kept seeing. I believe this is the first novel I’ve read that the folklore history is Jamaican. Really enjoyed that.

I’m not a mother so I can’t relate to what the FMC was going through but I sure can empathize. Tack on the micro aggressions and subtle racism that she faced from people in her life, I could totally see why things turned out the way they did. The author does a really good job of having the reader sympathize with the FMC even though we sorta know she’s going down a deep destructive path.

The last 20% really sold the book for me. It’s a slow burn story that really paints the picture and descent of the FMC’s mind. But bam, that last 20% happens so fast I wish we had a little bit more time to sit with the revelations at the end.

Overall, a solid story that will definitely leave readers wanting more.

Thank you to Dutton Books for this advanced copy!

[Michelle Day Da Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will not be for everyone, in terms of taste. And you should tread carefully if you might not be in the place for some pretty heavy stuff.

That said, it was for me. I don't know how to label what it felt like to read this book. Enjoyed it seems like the wrong word. Moved, perhaps? In any case, the author perfectly captures, in the beginning, how the newborn trenches feel, and then, as the book moves on, how that can intensify into something much darker. I found the writing to be very powerful and the dual narrative with the story of Sofia's family heritage through the mothers line was an effective narrative too. I can't say much more without spoiling the details, but it was spooky and heart wrenching.

This is an extremely character driven and symbolic book. There is not much to the plot besides the devolution of Sofia's mental state, which I think also powerfully symbolizes how postpartum mental health can feel sometimes. Still, the pacing felt very slow in the middle 50% of the book.

This book will not hold your hand or make you feel good. In fact, you might feel a little insane too. But it will make you think.

[Alishia Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huge thank you to Penguin Random House for this ARC

This one just didn’t land for me the way I hoped. The premise hooked me, Jamaican ancestral shadows, legacy, haunting echoes of the past? I was ready to be obsessed. And truly, the concept is incredible. But execution-wise… whew. We didn’t really get a plot until about 86%, and by that point I was clinging on purely out of stubborn reader loyalty.

For most of the book, we sit with one woman doing and saying the same things on a loop, like being stuck in a spooky dream you can’t wake up from, eerie in theory, but it drifted into monotonous in practice. And that final line? Had me staring at my Kindle like… are you joking right now?

To be clear: the writing itself is strong, and the author clearly poured intention and cultural depth into this story. I LOVE the ancestral element, and I would absolutely pick up another book by them, just not this one.

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tale of psychological horror with a new mother who is either haunted by spirits, or spiraling into postpartum psychosis. This book is really well written. The way the author describes the deterioration of Sofia’s beautiful dream house is clever, emphasizing the gothic aspects of the novel. Unfortunately for me, this is one of those plots that focus on the character’s psyche, her thoughts and inner monologue, and the question of whether the horrible things she’s experiencing are real or not. I also always tend to think that I like gothic novels, but I seldom do. I enjoyed then beginning chapters but, when things really get weird, it felt a little too slow for my taste. I still wanted to know what was happening and how it was going to end. This is not a bad novel, I’m just not the right reader.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Dutton.

[Shea Lawlis Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review. This book comes out Feb 17, 2026.

I enjoyed the is a lot more then I thought I would!

This story follows Sofia, a new mom, through her postpartum experience. It reads to me more as horror, but MANY things that Sofia goes through are very valid and present among postpartum mothers.

The way this author writes about motherhood is amazing. It is definitely not all rainbows and butterflies in this story, in-fact, it is the opposite. Through her writing, the author shows the raw and isolating side of motherhood through Sofia’s perspective. Readers also get to see the tattered relationship Sofia has with her own estranged mother.

Some of the scenes truly put me on edge. They were raw, graphic, and uncomfortable, but in a great horror way. I personally don’t think newly postpartum moms should read this, as I think it could send them into a bad headspace. Triggers: PPD, death, mental health, etc.

[Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is so well executed. It’s a literary, slow-burn gothic thriller about early parenthood and identity, colonialism and racism, steeped in Jamaican folklore. There’s a generational curse, figures lurking the shadows, and claustrophobic element to the writing that builds tension and suspense throughout. I’ve read a lot of novels trying to do this that miss the mark, but “Bloodfire, Baby” really nails it.

Reading this reminded me of Victor Lavelle’s “the Changeling” and some of Samanta Schweblin’s stories about what it means to be a parent when maybe you or your baby or the world is actually a menacing force. Carson captures the sudden shift of identify and reality that happens in those early days. It’s not all easy, even when the well-intentioned stranger at the grocery store tells you to treasure every moment.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommend.

[Hollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Dutton and Netgalley for this ARC. This review contains my own honest opinion.

What a fever dream of a novel centering on motherhood, familial ties, and deep seated inherited traumas. This novel initially starts a bit slow and had lulled me into a calm that didn’t get to last long. As Sofia navigates being freshly postpartum and having a newborn her husband, Emil, leaves for a three week business trip. Shortly after he leaves Sofia finds herself running on little sleep, desperately trying to be a perfect Instagram worthy mom, and seeing shadows that she’s not sure are there or not. As the days progress Sofia has to wonder if it’s all in her head or if it’s something more.

There are a lot of things about this novel that made me practically screech as I watched happen but to reveal them would spoil this delightfully terrifying book. I look forward to seeing what Carson writes next.

[Tabathareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you PRH Audio for the gifted copy!

This book hit hard in a quiet, unsettling way. I really liked the generational trauma aspect of this which makes it a standout in the genre. The horror is layered beneath motherhood expectations, isolation, and the pressure to live up to curated perfection, and it all blends together in a way that feels deeply personal and uncomfortable.

The postpartum descent was handled with care and intensity, blurring the line between psychological horror and something more supernatural. Sofia’s isolation felt suffocating, and the family history added real weight to the haunting rather than using it as a gimmick. This is slow, heavy horror that lingers, and while it is not fast paced, the emotional payoff made it worth the journey.

The narration of this book was perfect. No notes - everything you want in a quiet horror.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A literary horror that will stick with me. Whew. This had me emotional on so many levels.

This felt a bit like cursed daughters meets night bitch. Generational trauma, religion, racism, motherhood, postpartum all wrapped up in a low horror novel.

I cannot believe this is a debut novel-fantastic! I could relate to Sofia on so many levels and I wonder if I would have read this when I was in the trenches of postpartum if it would have helped. I feel so seen as a mother and felt deeply hurt for Sofia.

She is flawed, but is also dealing with so much while trying to navigate a life she didn’t see for herself.

Absolutely devoured this.

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton publishing for the ARC!

[Briana Wilvert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story so realistically brings the struggles of new motherhood to life. The lack of sleep, the desperation for connection and help, the frustration. What it also does beautifully is add in additional layers: generational trauma, a historical haunting, and separation from community and tradition. It is so tense as Sofia descends into hysteria that it is difficult to tell what is real and what is not. She inspired in me such sincere sympathy and empathy as she became increasingly isolated. I appreciated that her ancestors' stories were woven throughout, so we could see how her context came to be. This overall both resonated with me and terrified me. Very well done. Thank you to Dutton Books and NetGalley for the e-arc for review!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows a new mother and threads her experiences with those of her mother and grandmother. I was immediately taken in by Sofia’s strong personality and the rage she feels bubbling under the surface as a new mother left to shoulder the task of taking care of a newborn and herself without adequate support.

As we watch her unravel more and more as the weeks slip by, her story begins to connect with that of her Jamaican ancestors in a very tangible way until the novel’s heart-pounding conclusion. This was a stunning story of generational trauma, postpartum mental health, and the identity crisis that occurs with matrescence. Wow.

[Megan Beech · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a new mother myself, this book really speaks to my motherly soul. Motherhood plus a postpartum haunting is a whole new experience in itself! Postpartum depression can plague a woman with uncertainty and going against things she might normally believe and do. Add mysticism and you've got a recipe for a great book!

This normally isn't a subgenre I particularly read but this was a nice change of pace and I really enjoyed it.

I would love to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jazmyn Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a lot of pregnancy and motherhood horror this year, and wow, this one left me speechless. It’s the perfect combination of gothic, unhinged, postpartum depression, haunted by shadows, and Jamaican folk lore?! Need I say anymore?
You will grieve and get angry with and for Sofia. You will feel almost everything she does. The author does an amazing job of that.
I will say though, if anyone is sensitive about pregnancy or postpartum this will not be the book for you. However, amazing AMAZING read.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, emotionally raw, debut. The introduction is intriguing, and combined with the delightful writing, I was immediately captivated. This gothic horror deals with generational trauma alongside the horrors that childbirth and postpartum depression can do to a person. While a slow-burn of a novel, I could feel the loneliness and the slow decent of Sofia into madness.
Highly recommend, and I can’t wait to see what Eirinie Carson does next!

4.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.