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ITCH!
Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26*** THE FOLK HORROR NOVEL CRAWLING UNDER YOUR SKIN FOR HALLOWEEN 2025 ***
Something moves on the forest floor . . .
Josie is at rock bottom. Burned out, heartbroken and recovering from an abusive relationship, she lives a haunted existence after returning to her isolated hometown on the edge of the Forest of Dean.
But the tall, dense pine trees are not the only things casting shadows across her skin.
Josie's hopes of a fresh start are horribly derailed when she stumbles across a dead woman's decaying, ant-infested body in the woods. The grim discovery sends her into a downward spiral, forcing her to face uncomfortable truths about the victim and her own past - all whilst battling the swarming black ants that seem to have burrowed into her mind . . . and her flesh.
As Josie struggles with infestations of all kinds, she scratches the surface of an age-old mystery - a masked predator stalks the forest around Ellwood, a place deeply gripped by ancient folklore and strange customs. So when the village dresses up for its annual festival, Josie gets closer and closer to unveiling a monster, and begins to ask
Are these dark crawling insects leading her to uncover the truth?
Or is she their next victim?
Something moves on the forest floor . . .
Josie is at rock bottom. Burned out, heartbroken and recovering from an abusive relationship, she lives a haunted existence after returning to her isolated hometown on the edge of the Forest of Dean.
But the tall, dense pine trees are not the only things casting shadows across her skin.
Josie's hopes of a fresh start are horribly derailed when she stumbles across a dead woman's decaying, ant-infested body in the woods. The grim discovery sends her into a downward spiral, forcing her to face uncomfortable truths about the victim and her own past - all whilst battling the swarming black ants that seem to have burrowed into her mind . . . and her flesh.
As Josie struggles with infestations of all kinds, she scratches the surface of an age-old mystery - a masked predator stalks the forest around Ellwood, a place deeply gripped by ancient folklore and strange customs. So when the village dresses up for its annual festival, Josie gets closer and closer to unveiling a monster, and begins to ask
Are these dark crawling insects leading her to uncover the truth?
Or is she their next victim?
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 2025
114 people are currently reading
4330 people want to read
About the author
Gemma Amor
43 books774 followersI'm a horror fiction author, podcaster, artist and voice actor from Bristol, in the U.K.
I write for the wildly popular NoSleep Podcast and various other horror fiction audio dramas. My traditionally published debut FULL IMMERSION is out from Angry Robot in September 2022.
Find me at @manylittlewords on Twitter and Insta.
Repped by Mark Falkin at Falkin Literary.
I write for the wildly popular NoSleep Podcast and various other horror fiction audio dramas. My traditionally published debut FULL IMMERSION is out from Angry Robot in September 2022.
Find me at @manylittlewords on Twitter and Insta.
Repped by Mark Falkin at Falkin Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
July 15, 2025
My review is published at Grimdark Magazine.
ITCH! is the new feminist folk horror by the Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award nominated author Gemma Amor. As the novel opens, Josie Jackson returns to her rural hometown following a bitter breakup with her abusive partner, Lena. Already physically and emotionally broken, Josie is unlikely to find any comfort with her temperamental widower father.
But the horror is only beginning for our ill-fated protagonist. Shortly after her return, Josie stumbles over a dead body while out for a hike. The corpse is beyond putrid: largely decayed and actively being devoured by an army of ants. When Josie reports her finding to the emergency hotline, they instruct her to remain with the body until the police arrive. But Josie cannot tolerate the stench any longer and passes out face-first into the corpse. The ants soon overrun her own body, giving Josie an incessant itching sensation even after she is rescued by authorities.
ITCH! follows several narrative threads, including the deceased woman’s backstory, the details of Josie’s abusive relationships, and the story of an annual occult event in Josie’s hometown known as Devil’s March, an eerie masked procession that occurs the first day after each autumnal equinox. Over the course of the novel, Gemma Amor masterfully weaves these disparate storylines into a veritable tapestry of horror, building to an enormously gratifying climax that left my mouth agape.
ITCH! is not for the squeamish, and certainly not for the dear readers among you who experience myrmecophobia. But for those who can stomach a tale overrun by both two- and six-legged monsters, Gemma Amor has composed a violent concerto that showcases a heroine ready to overcome the all-too real horrors that have pervaded her life. Altogether, ITCH! is an immensely satisfying novel and another highlight in Gemma Amor’s impressive body of literature.
ITCH! is the new feminist folk horror by the Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award nominated author Gemma Amor. As the novel opens, Josie Jackson returns to her rural hometown following a bitter breakup with her abusive partner, Lena. Already physically and emotionally broken, Josie is unlikely to find any comfort with her temperamental widower father.
But the horror is only beginning for our ill-fated protagonist. Shortly after her return, Josie stumbles over a dead body while out for a hike. The corpse is beyond putrid: largely decayed and actively being devoured by an army of ants. When Josie reports her finding to the emergency hotline, they instruct her to remain with the body until the police arrive. But Josie cannot tolerate the stench any longer and passes out face-first into the corpse. The ants soon overrun her own body, giving Josie an incessant itching sensation even after she is rescued by authorities.
ITCH! follows several narrative threads, including the deceased woman’s backstory, the details of Josie’s abusive relationships, and the story of an annual occult event in Josie’s hometown known as Devil’s March, an eerie masked procession that occurs the first day after each autumnal equinox. Over the course of the novel, Gemma Amor masterfully weaves these disparate storylines into a veritable tapestry of horror, building to an enormously gratifying climax that left my mouth agape.
ITCH! is not for the squeamish, and certainly not for the dear readers among you who experience myrmecophobia. But for those who can stomach a tale overrun by both two- and six-legged monsters, Gemma Amor has composed a violent concerto that showcases a heroine ready to overcome the all-too real horrors that have pervaded her life. Altogether, ITCH! is an immensely satisfying novel and another highlight in Gemma Amor’s impressive body of literature.
December 18, 2025
May I direct your attention to this absolutely eye-catching cover! It's a beauty, so of course I couldn't resist requesting this. 🐜🐜🐜
Folk horror, body horror, and bugs galore!
Josie leaves her abusive girlfriend behind and returns to her hometown on the edge of the Forest of Dean. She plans to recover and rebuild her life.
On a walk through the forest she discovers the dead body of a woman. While being horribly decomposed it is still evident that what happened to this woman was no accident.
After this discovery Josie can't help but to feel bugs everywhere. Under her skin, in her eyes, always moving as if trying to tell her something. Her need to scratch becomes unbearable.
Then it happens again. Another walk and another dead woman.
The local detective finds it highly unusual or highly unlucky that Josie discovered not one but two murder victims.
Josie, along with the hive of bugs writhing inside her, are slowly calling back repressed memories of her child hood. Is it possible she does know more than she thinks she does? You'll have to read this to find out.
I've heard great praise for Amor from other reviewers so I was stoked to score a copy of this.
And Amor proves she is indeed an excellent writer. The atmosphere was gloomy and the folklore of the town was well realized. Josie was a sympathetic character and her landlord Angela proved to be a wonderful friend and protector. I was absolutely digging the vibe.
I did find the ending to be drawn out and rather unsurprising which is a shame because everything up to that point (80%) was fantastic.
All in all I did enjoy this. The concept and Amor's imagination can't be denied. And, as luck would have it, I already have two of her other books downloaded on my kindle. Yay, me! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for my complimentary copy.
Folk horror, body horror, and bugs galore!
Josie leaves her abusive girlfriend behind and returns to her hometown on the edge of the Forest of Dean. She plans to recover and rebuild her life.
On a walk through the forest she discovers the dead body of a woman. While being horribly decomposed it is still evident that what happened to this woman was no accident.
After this discovery Josie can't help but to feel bugs everywhere. Under her skin, in her eyes, always moving as if trying to tell her something. Her need to scratch becomes unbearable.
Then it happens again. Another walk and another dead woman.
The local detective finds it highly unusual or highly unlucky that Josie discovered not one but two murder victims.
Josie, along with the hive of bugs writhing inside her, are slowly calling back repressed memories of her child hood. Is it possible she does know more than she thinks she does? You'll have to read this to find out.
I've heard great praise for Amor from other reviewers so I was stoked to score a copy of this.
And Amor proves she is indeed an excellent writer. The atmosphere was gloomy and the folklore of the town was well realized. Josie was a sympathetic character and her landlord Angela proved to be a wonderful friend and protector. I was absolutely digging the vibe.
I did find the ending to be drawn out and rather unsurprising which is a shame because everything up to that point (80%) was fantastic.
All in all I did enjoy this. The concept and Amor's imagination can't be denied. And, as luck would have it, I already have two of her other books downloaded on my kindle. Yay, me! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for my complimentary copy.
October 14, 2025
A fantastic slice of creepy crawly folk horror from Gemma Amor.
You all know how folk horror often turns out. Creepy behaviour from all the yokels, strange and unexplained traditions including some kind of ritual at the culmination. Itch follows many of these tropes, but somehow manages to make all of this feel almost natural in our modern world.
The narrative follows Josie who is a troubled soul, she's been through many a hardship (and many she has yet to realise) and has recently been forced back to here home town with its old world traditions. This is where things start getting strange, when she stumbles upon a grizzly discover. From there the plot unravels in its many layers.
The rest is for you to discover..!
Quite possibly Gemma's best work so far and one which I'll be reccomending for months to come.
I received an advanced copy for free and I'm leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.
You all know how folk horror often turns out. Creepy behaviour from all the yokels, strange and unexplained traditions including some kind of ritual at the culmination. Itch follows many of these tropes, but somehow manages to make all of this feel almost natural in our modern world.
The narrative follows Josie who is a troubled soul, she's been through many a hardship (and many she has yet to realise) and has recently been forced back to here home town with its old world traditions. This is where things start getting strange, when she stumbles upon a grizzly discover. From there the plot unravels in its many layers.
The rest is for you to discover..!
Quite possibly Gemma's best work so far and one which I'll be reccomending for months to come.
I received an advanced copy for free and I'm leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.
November 3, 2025
Searingly intimate writing brings you under the skin of this story, scratching, desperate from air. There is a claustrophobia to it, which is really wonderful. It is contemporary folk horror doing what it does best, blur the lines of reality and make you question yourself, repeatedly, living in the liminal space between modern life and tradition, ancient forest and tourist destination. The prologue, which is one a few sequences in the novel where we glimpse our protagonist’s childhood, immediately builds the whole world and goes a long way to shaping the tense, stultifying atmosphere that pervades the book. As the story progresses we get a wonderful sense of space, and the world is developed really well, bringing into this space where modernity threatens, traditions hanging on by a thread, but small-town life and rural pride try to serve as amber to trap the march of progress in its tracks. The main character is complex and vulnerable, and you immediately recognize her. The horror she experiences, compounded by what she has experienced—her childhood as well as what brought her home again, leaving the city behind—is emotionally devastating, especially because none of the individual pieces of her terror are unfamiliar to us, we just may be fortunate enough not to experience them in the particular combination and intensity she is. The writing, in this regard and in general, is great. It is moody and feverish at times, creating a sense of disorientation, but that doesn’t stop it from being skin-crawlingly vivid in its descriptions. The writing is sharp and clear in ways that feel discordant to the character’s experience, which adds a sense of unease to the reading experience, the recognition that things are lined up quite correctly, here, and it makes you perch on your seat, itching to make things line up.
The pacing and tone seem a little distracted at times, not knowing really what they want to be. The beginning has a more subdued pacing, one familiar to folk horror in general, dark in tone but with a sense of distance, dishevelment. In the back third there is a change of tone to something much more propulsive, accompanied by a much more frenetic pacing. Both of these work for me, it was just a little jarring to go from one to the other. There are a number of time jumps, which seem to happen really only because the timing of the final set piece has narrative significance, and yet these I thought worked, the world and characters and experiences enough that it feels natural enough. However, it might have been possible to use that (narrative) time to let the story segue between parts with less whiplash.
Nitpicking aside, this is a delightful novel. It is exploring misogyny, patriarchy, and parochialism, sure, but that is just the surface level. It is also interested in questions of identity and autonomy, questions of what draws us to dark places and people, and questions about how to grow into who we are meant to be without sacrificing the traditions that we come from. The horror is visceral and emotional, much more psychological than splatter but with enough details to make your skin crawl. The characters and the world-building are inviting and engaging, the mystery meaty enough to keep you interested, and overall a fun, thought-provoking time.
The pacing and tone seem a little distracted at times, not knowing really what they want to be. The beginning has a more subdued pacing, one familiar to folk horror in general, dark in tone but with a sense of distance, dishevelment. In the back third there is a change of tone to something much more propulsive, accompanied by a much more frenetic pacing. Both of these work for me, it was just a little jarring to go from one to the other. There are a number of time jumps, which seem to happen really only because the timing of the final set piece has narrative significance, and yet these I thought worked, the world and characters and experiences enough that it feels natural enough. However, it might have been possible to use that (narrative) time to let the story segue between parts with less whiplash.
Nitpicking aside, this is a delightful novel. It is exploring misogyny, patriarchy, and parochialism, sure, but that is just the surface level. It is also interested in questions of identity and autonomy, questions of what draws us to dark places and people, and questions about how to grow into who we are meant to be without sacrificing the traditions that we come from. The horror is visceral and emotional, much more psychological than splatter but with enough details to make your skin crawl. The characters and the world-building are inviting and engaging, the mystery meaty enough to keep you interested, and overall a fun, thought-provoking time.
November 27, 2025
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
Is this one of Gemma Amor’s best books?! I seem to think so!
Itch! brings folk horror, feminist rage and a creepy festival together in a thrilling plot of suspense and body infestation.
The plot starts off with our main character, Josie, coming back to the rural hometown that she tried to escape from. She's been suffering from a physically and emotionally abusive relationship and she needs to get away.
But coming back to Ellwood involves dealing with a contentious relationship with her father and a community that is struggling. It's not a good start for our girl!
When walking through the forest one day, Josie stumbles upon a dead woman. Not only has the woman been dead for days but the amount of decay means she's been dead for a while.
The number of ants and all types of creepy crawlies during this moment in the book is gag inducing.
And this moment starts a downward spiral of mental anguish for Josie as she imagines all types of bugs crawling over her skin and inside her, especially ants!
I do “okay” with body horror but something about this bug infestation gave me the f’ing creeps.
Amor brings all the horror with our crawling insects with this plot that I was starting to itch, get skirmish and tense up every time I started reading Itch!.
Absolutely brilliant for a horror book. I felt the horror!!
The strange festival that takes place in Ellwood is descriptive, creepy and I could visualize this happening during the spring equinox.
Seeing the participants hike through the forest while wearing grotesque scary masks and holding up an effigy was so so good.
I love folk horror for a reason, and I feel like Amor nails it with this festival.
This book was not only unsettling, but it was weird, riveting and I had creepy crawly good time with this. I'm so glad I got pre approved to read this!
Is this one of Gemma Amor’s best books?! I seem to think so!
Itch! brings folk horror, feminist rage and a creepy festival together in a thrilling plot of suspense and body infestation.
The plot starts off with our main character, Josie, coming back to the rural hometown that she tried to escape from. She's been suffering from a physically and emotionally abusive relationship and she needs to get away.
But coming back to Ellwood involves dealing with a contentious relationship with her father and a community that is struggling. It's not a good start for our girl!
When walking through the forest one day, Josie stumbles upon a dead woman. Not only has the woman been dead for days but the amount of decay means she's been dead for a while.
The number of ants and all types of creepy crawlies during this moment in the book is gag inducing.
And this moment starts a downward spiral of mental anguish for Josie as she imagines all types of bugs crawling over her skin and inside her, especially ants!
I do “okay” with body horror but something about this bug infestation gave me the f’ing creeps.
Amor brings all the horror with our crawling insects with this plot that I was starting to itch, get skirmish and tense up every time I started reading Itch!.
Absolutely brilliant for a horror book. I felt the horror!!
The strange festival that takes place in Ellwood is descriptive, creepy and I could visualize this happening during the spring equinox.
Seeing the participants hike through the forest while wearing grotesque scary masks and holding up an effigy was so so good.
I love folk horror for a reason, and I feel like Amor nails it with this festival.
This book was not only unsettling, but it was weird, riveting and I had creepy crawly good time with this. I'm so glad I got pre approved to read this!
November 27, 2025
3.25⭐
Josie has recently left behind an abusive relationship in London and has returned to her hometown village on the outskirts of the Forest of Dean. She is living in a “holiday let” apartment that her emotionally distant father begrudgingly allows her to use, and is trying to make some sense of her life while still reeling from an injury delivered by her former partner that left her in a coma for a period of time. When she stumbles upon the desiccated, ant-infested corpse of a young woman who bears a striking resemblance to Josie herself, she becomes plagued by the conviction that the ants have now taken up residence in her own skin, and that the body was left there as a message to her.
I really like Gemma Amor’s writing and the first half of Itch! was an enjoyable experience as this buggy folk horror was established, with your typical isolated small town that holds onto pagan traditions and functions in symbiosis with the surrounding natural habitat while concealing a dark underbelly. The descriptions of Josie’s insect hallucinations (or are they?) literally made my skin crawl. Amor does cozy very well too; I loved the descriptions of the local pub and the characters of landlord Angela and pub stalwart "Old Jacob." Unfortunately, after the initial set up, the story got bogged down in lost momentum, vague puzzle pieces and folkloric references were outlined but never firmly fleshed out, and the book plodded along to a foregone conclusion that was obvious from the start. I kept hoping for a shocking twist that never happened. Ultimately, Itch! failed to get under my skin, leaving me a bit disappointed and underwhelmed.
I may end up being in the minority here, and I think a lot of people will like this more than I did for its on-trend folk horror and female rage elements. These are themes in horror that I usually love as well, but I don’t think Itch! brought anything new to the table, aside from the ants.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stodder for a digital advanced readers copy. Itch! will be released on October 9, 2025.
Josie has recently left behind an abusive relationship in London and has returned to her hometown village on the outskirts of the Forest of Dean. She is living in a “holiday let” apartment that her emotionally distant father begrudgingly allows her to use, and is trying to make some sense of her life while still reeling from an injury delivered by her former partner that left her in a coma for a period of time. When she stumbles upon the desiccated, ant-infested corpse of a young woman who bears a striking resemblance to Josie herself, she becomes plagued by the conviction that the ants have now taken up residence in her own skin, and that the body was left there as a message to her.
I really like Gemma Amor’s writing and the first half of Itch! was an enjoyable experience as this buggy folk horror was established, with your typical isolated small town that holds onto pagan traditions and functions in symbiosis with the surrounding natural habitat while concealing a dark underbelly. The descriptions of Josie’s insect hallucinations (or are they?) literally made my skin crawl. Amor does cozy very well too; I loved the descriptions of the local pub and the characters of landlord Angela and pub stalwart "Old Jacob." Unfortunately, after the initial set up, the story got bogged down in lost momentum, vague puzzle pieces and folkloric references were outlined but never firmly fleshed out, and the book plodded along to a foregone conclusion that was obvious from the start. I kept hoping for a shocking twist that never happened. Ultimately, Itch! failed to get under my skin, leaving me a bit disappointed and underwhelmed.
I may end up being in the minority here, and I think a lot of people will like this more than I did for its on-trend folk horror and female rage elements. These are themes in horror that I usually love as well, but I don’t think Itch! brought anything new to the table, aside from the ants.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stodder for a digital advanced readers copy. Itch! will be released on October 9, 2025.
December 7, 2025
I think others will love this, it just wasn't for me.
The opening was intriguing and disturbing (in a great way), and then the plot became quite repetitive and predictable and I lost interest.
The opening was intriguing and disturbing (in a great way), and then the plot became quite repetitive and predictable and I lost interest.
June 26, 2025
gemma can do no wrong this is deliciously disgusting
review to come!
review to come!
October 23, 2025
Itch! felt sort of like a Twin Peaks meets The Wicker Man meets Longlegs kind of story, or something in that strange, eerie vein. I really enjoyed it at first, but it started to feel a bit long winded and repetitive after a while, and I found myself a bit confused about what was actually happening as the story jumped around a lot. I think the whole story could’ve been trimmed down quite a bit. That said, I really admire Gemma Amor’s writing, she tackles uncomfy topics so well, and the imagery here is fantastic. Her work always carries this heavy, melancholic darkness that feels so distinctly hers, which I love. She clearly knows how to craft a twisty, compelling story, this one just ran a little long for me!
October 15, 2025
🐜 ITCH! By Gemma Amor 🐜
A big special thank you to @netgalley and the publisher @hodderbooks for the advanced readers copy!
🐜 Synopsis
After getting out of an abusive relationship, Josie returns home to her small, quaint little town on the edge of The Forest of Dean.But even more horrors are waiting for her at home. Josie stumbles upon an ant infested body in the woods. From there, Josie gets sucked into ancient folklore and hunting a masked killer stalking the small town.
🐜My Thoughts
I loved this so much. The insect/body horror was unsettling in the best possible way. The elements of folklore weaved into the story really worked for me! I also love a good blend of horror and crime thriller. This book reminded me of Something In The Walls by Daisy Pearce—another book dealing with small towns and folklore.
🐜 Vibes
🪱 Folk/Small Town/Crime Horror
🪱 Bugs and body horror
🪱 Rituals
🪱 Good For Her/WomenSupporting Women
🐜 My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A big special thank you to @netgalley and the publisher @hodderbooks for the advanced readers copy!
🐜 Synopsis
After getting out of an abusive relationship, Josie returns home to her small, quaint little town on the edge of The Forest of Dean.But even more horrors are waiting for her at home. Josie stumbles upon an ant infested body in the woods. From there, Josie gets sucked into ancient folklore and hunting a masked killer stalking the small town.
🐜My Thoughts
I loved this so much. The insect/body horror was unsettling in the best possible way. The elements of folklore weaved into the story really worked for me! I also love a good blend of horror and crime thriller. This book reminded me of Something In The Walls by Daisy Pearce—another book dealing with small towns and folklore.
🐜 Vibes
🪱 Folk/Small Town/Crime Horror
🪱 Bugs and body horror
🪱 Rituals
🪱 Good For Her/WomenSupporting Women
🐜 My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 14, 2025
”Guilt was like a stain, and it leached into her very soul…”
This may come as a surprise to a lot of people but this is my first experience with a book written by Gemma and it was a f**king doozy. I was itchy, gagged a few times, and even felt creeped out by this and I loved every single second of it. Think 'To Be Devoured' meets Ants in a story that'll make you think twice about going into the woods.
Itch! came right out of the gate swinging and never let up. It was a non-stop roller coaster ride straight from the underground and holy s**t was it intense. My little eyes couldn't keep up with my brain. The creepy uneasy feeling was on every page and I still felt that way after completing this book. It was a wild time and one I would love to revisit soon.
This may come as a surprise to a lot of people but this is my first experience with a book written by Gemma and it was a f**king doozy. I was itchy, gagged a few times, and even felt creeped out by this and I loved every single second of it. Think 'To Be Devoured' meets Ants in a story that'll make you think twice about going into the woods.
Itch! came right out of the gate swinging and never let up. It was a non-stop roller coaster ride straight from the underground and holy s**t was it intense. My little eyes couldn't keep up with my brain. The creepy uneasy feeling was on every page and I still felt that way after completing this book. It was a wild time and one I would love to revisit soon.
September 10, 2025
‘What makes you think the Devil is a he?’
This is my first time reading anything from author Gemma Amor and okay girl you have yourself a dedicated fan now. ITCH! was everything I wanted and skin crawling-ly more.
Misogyny, trauma, abuse, infestation, death, and body horror, to name a few things this book portrays so uniquely. Well written and all consuming, somehow delicately handled and shoved down our throats!!
🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜
This is my honest review and I’d like to thank NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this ARC.
This is my first time reading anything from author Gemma Amor and okay girl you have yourself a dedicated fan now. ITCH! was everything I wanted and skin crawling-ly more.
Misogyny, trauma, abuse, infestation, death, and body horror, to name a few things this book portrays so uniquely. Well written and all consuming, somehow delicately handled and shoved down our throats!!
🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜
This is my honest review and I’d like to thank NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this ARC.
October 26, 2025
Great folk horror and insect horror!
December 30, 2025
Itch is a dark feminist folk horror that blends body horror, murder mystery, and small-town folklore into one addictive book!
From the start, Emma's writing completely pulled me in, and the way she sets the scene in the unsettling Forest of Dean was beautifully done. The book starts with our protagonist Josie discovering a decaying body that throws her into a spiral of mystery, folklore, and... squirm inducing ants, lots of them.
I loved how the book constantly kept me guessing about what type of horror it was, whether it was psychological, supernatural, or something else entirely. It made my reading experience feel tense and unpredictable. (which is so rare to find in horror nowadays)
Josie's character growth was also incredible. I was rooting for her through every dark, uncomfortable moment, and the side characters added extra depth and warmth to the otherwise unsettling story. The ant-eating scene alone will probably be enough to make your skin crawl, but it's also paired with folklore, mystery, and a subtle feminist undertone that makes it all feel meaningful.
Overall creepy, visceral, and beautifully written. The kind of horror that will not only keep you guessing but also get under your skin (pun fully intended) and stay with you long after you close the book.
From the start, Emma's writing completely pulled me in, and the way she sets the scene in the unsettling Forest of Dean was beautifully done. The book starts with our protagonist Josie discovering a decaying body that throws her into a spiral of mystery, folklore, and... squirm inducing ants, lots of them.
I loved how the book constantly kept me guessing about what type of horror it was, whether it was psychological, supernatural, or something else entirely. It made my reading experience feel tense and unpredictable. (which is so rare to find in horror nowadays)
Josie's character growth was also incredible. I was rooting for her through every dark, uncomfortable moment, and the side characters added extra depth and warmth to the otherwise unsettling story. The ant-eating scene alone will probably be enough to make your skin crawl, but it's also paired with folklore, mystery, and a subtle feminist undertone that makes it all feel meaningful.
Overall creepy, visceral, and beautifully written. The kind of horror that will not only keep you guessing but also get under your skin (pun fully intended) and stay with you long after you close the book.
October 9, 2025
“I just walked straight into a swarm—and I want to go back.”
Josie Ashford didn't return to her childhood home looking for horror, but she found it waiting. The crumbled town, the suffocating memories, and the murder case that drags up more than just ghosts of the past. Itch! It's folk horror that crawls under your skin, literally, and refuses to let go.
Josie is a brilliantly complex character. She is angry, raw, and painfully human. Her grief and guilt are woven into every page, and as the mystery unravels, so does she.
The decaying setting is alive, almost a character itself, and the way Amor intertwined myth, superstition, and insect imagery makes the atmosphere oppressive and unforgettable.
The writing is sharp and lyrical, pulsing with dread but grounded in emotional truth. This feels more than a murder mystery, it's a dark exploration of womanhood, trauma, and survival.
If I had one critique, it is that the pacing in the mode occasionally dragged, some scenes felt repetitive, slowing down Josie’s otherwise gripping emotional arc. But when the story kicks back into gear, it hits hard and doesn't let up.
However, the body horror is unsettling, the folk-horror haunting, and the ending left me deeply satisfied. By the time I turned the last page, I was feeling, scratching, and rooting for Josie through every harrowing moment. Itch! It is a triumph for fans of folk horror with a feminist twist. The atmosphere, emotional depth and the main character I will be thinking about for a long time. The kind of book that lingers long after you put it down.
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Hodder & Stoughton for a free ebook and an honest opinion.
Josie Ashford didn't return to her childhood home looking for horror, but she found it waiting. The crumbled town, the suffocating memories, and the murder case that drags up more than just ghosts of the past. Itch! It's folk horror that crawls under your skin, literally, and refuses to let go.
Josie is a brilliantly complex character. She is angry, raw, and painfully human. Her grief and guilt are woven into every page, and as the mystery unravels, so does she.
The decaying setting is alive, almost a character itself, and the way Amor intertwined myth, superstition, and insect imagery makes the atmosphere oppressive and unforgettable.
The writing is sharp and lyrical, pulsing with dread but grounded in emotional truth. This feels more than a murder mystery, it's a dark exploration of womanhood, trauma, and survival.
If I had one critique, it is that the pacing in the mode occasionally dragged, some scenes felt repetitive, slowing down Josie’s otherwise gripping emotional arc. But when the story kicks back into gear, it hits hard and doesn't let up.
However, the body horror is unsettling, the folk-horror haunting, and the ending left me deeply satisfied. By the time I turned the last page, I was feeling, scratching, and rooting for Josie through every harrowing moment. Itch! It is a triumph for fans of folk horror with a feminist twist. The atmosphere, emotional depth and the main character I will be thinking about for a long time. The kind of book that lingers long after you put it down.
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Hodder & Stoughton for a free ebook and an honest opinion.
December 12, 2025
A brilliant mix of body and folk horror exploring its themes sensitively and powerful. A highlight of my reading year strongly recommended
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
December 3, 2025
Review in the December 2025 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2025/12... (link live 12/4 at 7 am central)
There Words That Describe This Book: folk horror, trauma, investigative elements
Also bugs, strong sense of place, search for justice for dead girls. strong
Solid folk horror with a strong female main character-- a woman who has lived trough trauma and is finally uncovering past memories. She is working to overcome her trauma and heal and find the justice she can. The timeline and the up and downs of this process were honest here. Josie does not wave a magic wand to have a life of trauma fixed.
There is a good investigative element as well. The folk horror festival from the town-- Ellwood-- is creepy and the story is framed around one year from the day after until it happens the next year.
The way Amor is able to intersect the dead girls with the festival was original and horrific. It made everything more terrifying. And it was seamless. There is a twist in the investigation as to how the girls were killed that was chilling and unique.
Oh and bugs. Lots of bugs, especially ants. They are incorporated into the story but also are part of Josie-- they are the manifestation of her anxiety and trauma, but they are also the source of her strength and fearlessness. Are all of them real? Does it matter? It does not. it was a well employed and visceral narrative device that works from start to finish. Also try not to itch while reading this.
But this book is so much more than the bugs and I liked that. As a horror novel it did a great job weaving the folk horror and psychological horror subgenres but also the investigative elements were waved in well.
The investigative/mystery elements resolve realistically. They figure out who is responsible, but not every questions can be answered, not every dead girl found, and I liked that.
Readalikes: stories that take women who have suffered real trauma but also work to overcome it such as Mothered by Zoje Stage or The Haunting of Velkwood by Kiste or The Daughters of Blick Island by Christa Carmen. A Mask of Flies by Lyons and The Queen by Cutter for the bug horror fans. And anything by Simone St. James.
There Words That Describe This Book: folk horror, trauma, investigative elements
Also bugs, strong sense of place, search for justice for dead girls. strong
Solid folk horror with a strong female main character-- a woman who has lived trough trauma and is finally uncovering past memories. She is working to overcome her trauma and heal and find the justice she can. The timeline and the up and downs of this process were honest here. Josie does not wave a magic wand to have a life of trauma fixed.
There is a good investigative element as well. The folk horror festival from the town-- Ellwood-- is creepy and the story is framed around one year from the day after until it happens the next year.
The way Amor is able to intersect the dead girls with the festival was original and horrific. It made everything more terrifying. And it was seamless. There is a twist in the investigation as to how the girls were killed that was chilling and unique.
Oh and bugs. Lots of bugs, especially ants. They are incorporated into the story but also are part of Josie-- they are the manifestation of her anxiety and trauma, but they are also the source of her strength and fearlessness. Are all of them real? Does it matter? It does not. it was a well employed and visceral narrative device that works from start to finish. Also try not to itch while reading this.
But this book is so much more than the bugs and I liked that. As a horror novel it did a great job weaving the folk horror and psychological horror subgenres but also the investigative elements were waved in well.
The investigative/mystery elements resolve realistically. They figure out who is responsible, but not every questions can be answered, not every dead girl found, and I liked that.
Readalikes: stories that take women who have suffered real trauma but also work to overcome it such as Mothered by Zoje Stage or The Haunting of Velkwood by Kiste or The Daughters of Blick Island by Christa Carmen. A Mask of Flies by Lyons and The Queen by Cutter for the bug horror fans. And anything by Simone St. James.
December 15, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review! This book was WILD. Some genuinely uncomfortable moments that made my skin crawl, but I was locked in. As a girl with Daddy issues, this made me FEEL A LOT OF THINGS. It was very thrilling at the climax, I feel like I was destined to read this because I felt some type of closure from the ending as well.
December 21, 2025
this was easily one of the most bizarre books i’ve ever read
August 10, 2025
On the surface, this seemed tailor-made for me to enjoy: a whisper in old woods, the creeping thrum of folklore, the uneasy rituals of a town that keeps its secrets. However, somewhere between the promise and the page, my engagement slipped. The opening unspooled at a deliberate pace, ordinarily something I can get behind as long as there’s a taste of what to come, but the narrative looped its steps so often that momentum drained away.
Early on, the main character’s experience with domestic toxicity becomes the gravitational pull of the her arc, and it risked defining her entirely. While thematically relevant, it left little room for other facets of her character to breathe. The insect-laden imagery is rendered in such meticulous, almost hypnotic detail that I can see it unsettling many readers. I, however, am immune to bug-born dread, and so its intended graphic emphasis slid past me.
There’s craft here, atmosphere, and a voice some will sink into, but for me, the story wandered in circles until its path grew clear too soon. I closed the book wishing it had been shorter, sharper— like a single, deliberate bite that leaves you wondering if the itch will ever stop. I have no doubt that it will find its audience, even if that doesn’t include me.
Early on, the main character’s experience with domestic toxicity becomes the gravitational pull of the her arc, and it risked defining her entirely. While thematically relevant, it left little room for other facets of her character to breathe. The insect-laden imagery is rendered in such meticulous, almost hypnotic detail that I can see it unsettling many readers. I, however, am immune to bug-born dread, and so its intended graphic emphasis slid past me.
There’s craft here, atmosphere, and a voice some will sink into, but for me, the story wandered in circles until its path grew clear too soon. I closed the book wishing it had been shorter, sharper— like a single, deliberate bite that leaves you wondering if the itch will ever stop. I have no doubt that it will find its audience, even if that doesn’t include me.
August 13, 2025
Interesting concept based in the Forest of Dean, which creeped me out as I had recently read and watched a documentary on Fred and Rose West and they loved the Forest of Dean.
This is an unnerving folk, body horror kind of read. Josie stumbles across a body and then another. How odd to find 2 dead bodies. She leans on the her village friends and starts piecing things together.
There are a few chapters were the writing definitely pulled through and made me squirm mainly on the body horror. Well described. Along with the visionary of the forest it really bought it to life for me.
The reader is kept in the know and whilst you are with the MC throughout and understand her thoughts and feelings, it gives the game away. I would have liked more mystery and would have kept the anticipation going for me. I did find there were lulls in the book that maybe could have been scraped.
Overall I did enjoy this book with the few parts making me squirm
Thank you Netgally and Hodder & Stoughton for my copy in return for an honest review
This is an unnerving folk, body horror kind of read. Josie stumbles across a body and then another. How odd to find 2 dead bodies. She leans on the her village friends and starts piecing things together.
There are a few chapters were the writing definitely pulled through and made me squirm mainly on the body horror. Well described. Along with the visionary of the forest it really bought it to life for me.
The reader is kept in the know and whilst you are with the MC throughout and understand her thoughts and feelings, it gives the game away. I would have liked more mystery and would have kept the anticipation going for me. I did find there were lulls in the book that maybe could have been scraped.
Overall I did enjoy this book with the few parts making me squirm
Thank you Netgally and Hodder & Stoughton for my copy in return for an honest review
December 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with the ARC.
I may be in the minority here, but I really didn’t vibe with this book. I love folk horror, anything woods related, fever dreamy, small town vibes and such as. This was all of those things and still I was bored the whole time. It started very slow; I usually love a slow burn, but this felt very repetitive. The toxic abusive relationship was a turn off for me from the very start. This was presented really early on and it kept being brought up, as some kind of a character trait that defined the MC.
I am not disgusted by ants or any other insects, so the creep factor was not very impressive on me. But it was very well described. It’s not a bad book; it’s an okay story, although a bit predictable at the end. Maybe this would have been more for me if it was a novella length. 2.5 stars
I may be in the minority here, but I really didn’t vibe with this book. I love folk horror, anything woods related, fever dreamy, small town vibes and such as. This was all of those things and still I was bored the whole time. It started very slow; I usually love a slow burn, but this felt very repetitive. The toxic abusive relationship was a turn off for me from the very start. This was presented really early on and it kept being brought up, as some kind of a character trait that defined the MC.
I am not disgusted by ants or any other insects, so the creep factor was not very impressive on me. But it was very well described. It’s not a bad book; it’s an okay story, although a bit predictable at the end. Maybe this would have been more for me if it was a novella length. 2.5 stars
December 23, 2025
An Interesting one! I quite liked this for the body horror and unique storytelling.
The way the author uses Josie’s believed infestation to drive the plot alongside the horror was something different for me. The insects are simultaneously a reason to question Josie as a narrator, a driving force of action, and just really, really disgusting. The first few scenes with them are jaw dropping, but some of the effect wore off as the book went on. I think the folk horror elements were under explored in favor of the same insect filled body horror. It did get repetitive.
I also agree with some other reviewers about much of the plot being obvious to the reader. It’s just not as enjoyable in this instance with the slower pacing. As a reader I don’t wanna sit through pages of characters slowly sorting out things I realized 50 pages ago. But there was still a reveal and some other parts I really liked about the ending.
There’s a few small points of contention, but they just stick out more because of all the potential I felt with the concept. Gemma Amor crafted something memorable, and I just wanted something to push it over the edge. I still think ‘itch’ got a lot more right than it did wrong. I recommend it to other atmospheric, simmering, and gross horror enjoyers. 3.75 / 4 stars.
The way the author uses Josie’s believed infestation to drive the plot alongside the horror was something different for me. The insects are simultaneously a reason to question Josie as a narrator, a driving force of action, and just really, really disgusting. The first few scenes with them are jaw dropping, but some of the effect wore off as the book went on. I think the folk horror elements were under explored in favor of the same insect filled body horror. It did get repetitive.
I also agree with some other reviewers about much of the plot being obvious to the reader. It’s just not as enjoyable in this instance with the slower pacing. As a reader I don’t wanna sit through pages of characters slowly sorting out things I realized 50 pages ago. But there was still a reveal and some other parts I really liked about the ending.
There’s a few small points of contention, but they just stick out more because of all the potential I felt with the concept. Gemma Amor crafted something memorable, and I just wanted something to push it over the edge. I still think ‘itch’ got a lot more right than it did wrong. I recommend it to other atmospheric, simmering, and gross horror enjoyers. 3.75 / 4 stars.
December 15, 2025
“It’s human nature to form habits and idiosyncrasies specific to where you lay your head. It’s how you root yourself to the land, to your home. It’s what home is, for a lot of people.”
“Alone in the forest, with trees, with birds.”
It is rare to find a book that fits every single niche you love. It’s always lacking in some way, right? But Itch! was this book for me. It was everything. How do I express the ways this book filled my soul? This was the perfect book for me, and I think it’s going to be so hard to top this one.
I have always been a sucker for a British writer. They have this ability to put nature into words that makes me feel euphoric. My heart has always belonged to a moor, to a walkable village, circled like a hug by a body of water and a forest. Mist. Moss. A pub with a roaring fire. It’s all I’ve wanted for my life. So I seek out stories where Mother Nature, especially the British countryside, is a character. I fall into her lore. Her history. Her scent of green. Every. Single. Time.
As if that wasn’t perfect enough, we get folklore. The devil. A serial killer. Horror. And character growth. Literally every aspect I love in a multitude of books was beautifully written into Itch! And I can’t get enough of it.
This book occupied my mind, like a colony of ants burrowing and making a home between the spaces of matter. It was my every waking thought. It was in my dreams. It is clear I can only repeat myself and the love I have for this book. It was just brilliant.
I’m calling it. This is my 256th book of the year, and it is my favorite.
“Alone in the forest, with trees, with birds.”
It is rare to find a book that fits every single niche you love. It’s always lacking in some way, right? But Itch! was this book for me. It was everything. How do I express the ways this book filled my soul? This was the perfect book for me, and I think it’s going to be so hard to top this one.
I have always been a sucker for a British writer. They have this ability to put nature into words that makes me feel euphoric. My heart has always belonged to a moor, to a walkable village, circled like a hug by a body of water and a forest. Mist. Moss. A pub with a roaring fire. It’s all I’ve wanted for my life. So I seek out stories where Mother Nature, especially the British countryside, is a character. I fall into her lore. Her history. Her scent of green. Every. Single. Time.
As if that wasn’t perfect enough, we get folklore. The devil. A serial killer. Horror. And character growth. Literally every aspect I love in a multitude of books was beautifully written into Itch! And I can’t get enough of it.
This book occupied my mind, like a colony of ants burrowing and making a home between the spaces of matter. It was my every waking thought. It was in my dreams. It is clear I can only repeat myself and the love I have for this book. It was just brilliant.
I’m calling it. This is my 256th book of the year, and it is my favorite.
December 28, 2025
ITCH! follows Josie, who has recently returned to her hometown that is wreathed in strange traditions and yearly rituals, as she navigates putting her recently uprooted life back together and is attempting to forge down a new path. That is, until she finds a dead body in the forest and starts noticing bugs everywhere in her body.
I love a good folk horror, and the insect elements were so grotesque yet...empowering?? You're just going to have to read it to understand 🤭 The characters in this were really compelling (in both positive and negative ways) and the atmosphere was strangely cozy given the context.
I will say I did catch onto where it was going rather quickly, but that didn't detract from the experience at all. If anything, it made it more satisfying to see how the story played out without having to pay attention to hints/foreshadowing or keep an eye out for red herrings. I felt like I was putting the pieces together along with Josie, and it all came together beautifully.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Book Group for this ARC!!! 🖤
I love a good folk horror, and the insect elements were so grotesque yet...empowering?? You're just going to have to read it to understand 🤭 The characters in this were really compelling (in both positive and negative ways) and the atmosphere was strangely cozy given the context.
I will say I did catch onto where it was going rather quickly, but that didn't detract from the experience at all. If anything, it made it more satisfying to see how the story played out without having to pay attention to hints/foreshadowing or keep an eye out for red herrings. I felt like I was putting the pieces together along with Josie, and it all came together beautifully.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Book Group for this ARC!!! 🖤
November 21, 2025
Wow! What a fantastic debut novel!
Fresh, original story, great editing, truly not one boring or laggy moment in the 300 pages. A dark but fun read
Fresh, original story, great editing, truly not one boring or laggy moment in the 300 pages. A dark but fun read
December 15, 2025
WOWW!! What an amazing horrific story. I’m obsessed and love everything about this!!
December 23, 2025
I wanted to love this, but unfortunately it fell short due to it’s predictability.
December 30, 2025
written so badly that i kept thinking i was reading a children’s book. unsure why i even bothered to finish this but wanted to see if the author could redeem themselves; they couldn’t.
November 2, 2025
This story is very complex. The cover makes it look like it could potentially just be a creature feature about killer ants, but there’s so much more going on than that. (Though if insects of any kind are not your thing, be wary!)
It’s folk horror, mystery/thriller, and body horror with quite a bit of the darkest parts of human nature mixed in. The plot is centered around a very intriguing mystery, but overall this is a miserable story.
There is a lot of misogyny in this book, and the main character Josie is treated like garbage by almost everyone. She suffers mentally and physically for most of the tale. It’s tough to read about a character who is already a victim of horrible abuse then being forced to suffer even more, and at times it felt relentless.
The plot felt a little stretched out in the second half and dragged a bit for me. I found myself waiting for things to wrap up. There was a reveal that was not exactly shocking, but the additional details about what had been going on were very creative and interesting. I hesitate to use the word “fun,” since the story was so dark and disturbing, but I did like the way that Amor tied some of the plot lines together. The ants as a device seemed odd at first, but eventually I had a better understanding of the role they played and the creepy crawly imagery throughout was well done.
3.5 stars. My favorite of Amor’s books is still “The Once Yellow House,” and I highly recommend that one as a first read if you’re unfamiliar with her work. She is great at creating atmosphere, especially when it involves a natural setting.
Biggest TW: Domestic abuse, Self-harm, Misogyny, Depression, Suicidal Ideation, Substance abuse, Stalking/Harassment, Sexual Assault (graphic)
It’s folk horror, mystery/thriller, and body horror with quite a bit of the darkest parts of human nature mixed in. The plot is centered around a very intriguing mystery, but overall this is a miserable story.
There is a lot of misogyny in this book, and the main character Josie is treated like garbage by almost everyone. She suffers mentally and physically for most of the tale. It’s tough to read about a character who is already a victim of horrible abuse then being forced to suffer even more, and at times it felt relentless.
The plot felt a little stretched out in the second half and dragged a bit for me. I found myself waiting for things to wrap up. There was a reveal that was not exactly shocking, but the additional details about what had been going on were very creative and interesting. I hesitate to use the word “fun,” since the story was so dark and disturbing, but I did like the way that Amor tied some of the plot lines together. The ants as a device seemed odd at first, but eventually I had a better understanding of the role they played and the creepy crawly imagery throughout was well done.
3.5 stars. My favorite of Amor’s books is still “The Once Yellow House,” and I highly recommend that one as a first read if you’re unfamiliar with her work. She is great at creating atmosphere, especially when it involves a natural setting.
Biggest TW: Domestic abuse, Self-harm, Misogyny, Depression, Suicidal Ideation, Substance abuse, Stalking/Harassment, Sexual Assault (graphic)
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