What do you think?
Rate this book
The Midnight Muse
When a metal band’s lead singer vanishes in the woods, the mushrooms in the forest might know more than they’re letting on in this mycelium-metal horror novel from Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author Jo Kaplan.
The dead collect in low places. That’s what Brynn Werner, lead singer of metal band Queen Carrion, wrote in her notebook before she vanished while staying at a cabin in Oregon’s Umpqua National Forest.
A year later, on the anniversary of her disappearance, the rest of her bandmates visit the cabin to remember her and find a way to move on. But tensions arise over who should be their new singer and who is responsible for Brynn’s disappearance—tensions that boil over as they realize not all is as it seems at Trail Creek Cabin.
Strange entries in the guestbook write about visions of a pale form that moves through the trees, figures wearing gas masks lurk in the distance, and there’s a strange fungus growing from the wall of a tunnel in the cabin’s basement. Then they hear Brynn’s voice echo impossibly through the forest—and the pale form that emerges from the trees is her perfect likeness. Is it her ghost…or something else?
Brynn knew there was a secret in these woods. It’s why she chased her muse here to finish her masterpiece. The Midnight Muse is an alluring and grotesque dissection of self and fungus. Kaplan delivers an ominous spiral of psychological torment as the members of Queen Carrion slip into a more natural skin.
The dead collect in low places. That’s what Brynn Werner, lead singer of metal band Queen Carrion, wrote in her notebook before she vanished while staying at a cabin in Oregon’s Umpqua National Forest.
A year later, on the anniversary of her disappearance, the rest of her bandmates visit the cabin to remember her and find a way to move on. But tensions arise over who should be their new singer and who is responsible for Brynn’s disappearance—tensions that boil over as they realize not all is as it seems at Trail Creek Cabin.
Strange entries in the guestbook write about visions of a pale form that moves through the trees, figures wearing gas masks lurk in the distance, and there’s a strange fungus growing from the wall of a tunnel in the cabin’s basement. Then they hear Brynn’s voice echo impossibly through the forest—and the pale form that emerges from the trees is her perfect likeness. Is it her ghost…or something else?
Brynn knew there was a secret in these woods. It’s why she chased her muse here to finish her masterpiece. The Midnight Muse is an alluring and grotesque dissection of self and fungus. Kaplan delivers an ominous spiral of psychological torment as the members of Queen Carrion slip into a more natural skin.
413 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2026
25 people are currently reading
1978 people want to read
About the author
Jo Kaplan
26 books174 followersJo Kaplan is the Shirley Jackson Award nominated author of It Will Just Be Us and When the Night Bells Ring. Her short stories have appeared in Fireside Quarterly, Black Static, Nightmare Magazine, Vastarien, Horror Library, Nightscript, and Bram Stoker award winning anthologies. She has also published work as Joanna Parypinski. In addition to writing, she teaches English and creative writing at Glendale Community College and plays cello in the band Guerra/paz. You can find her on social media @joannapary.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
June 27, 2025
Instantly gripping, creepy and atmospheric! The Midnight Muse begins with Brynn, the lead singer from Queen Carrion, a heavy metal band, goes to a cabin in the middle of nowhere to get in touch with her muse and do some song writing. The band recently experienced some bad press (this is putting it lightly) after a tragedy at one of their concerts. She hopes to write some killer new songs. She was never seen again.
A year after Brynn went missing, the remaining band members of Queen Carrion, go to the same cabin in the woods. Things become creepy and eerie right off the bat. They find a book where other guests of the cabin mention having strange experiences but strange does not even begin to describe what the group experiences.
Often it is the things that go 'bump' in the night that people need to fear. In The Midnight Muse, it is other things that the group members need to fear. Things are about to get dicey as they become infected, being to change and die. This book brought so many different horror films to mind such as the blob, the thing, the cabin in the woods, the ruins, etc.
This book started off strong - very strong. I was completed invested in the story and on the edge of my seat. I could not get enough of the mystery of what happened to Brynn. Then as bizarre and strange things began to happen, I thought 'YES!' it's about to get REAL fast.
But then, it sorts of fell off a cliff for me. I was loving it until I wasn't. I literally went from; this book is amazing to "what the h*ll?" Sigh, it just lost me. I so thought this was going to be a huge hit with me, but around the 60% mark, I was not enjoying the book as much as I had been in the beginning.
I did love the creepy and eerie vibe of this book. I also enjoyed the atmosphere and the cabin in the books. I enjoyed the aspect of the band coming together to say goodbye and figure out where to go from there. What didn't work was some of the reactions of the characters. I would be beyond freaked out of my mind and some of their reactions are rather ambivalent. I found that I was loving the book when I wasn't quite so sure what was going on, but things were freaky weird. When I knew more of what was happening and what would happen, that is when my interest waned.
Others enjoyed this book more than I did so please read their reviews as well.
Thank you to Clash books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
A year after Brynn went missing, the remaining band members of Queen Carrion, go to the same cabin in the woods. Things become creepy and eerie right off the bat. They find a book where other guests of the cabin mention having strange experiences but strange does not even begin to describe what the group experiences.
Often it is the things that go 'bump' in the night that people need to fear. In The Midnight Muse, it is other things that the group members need to fear. Things are about to get dicey as they become infected, being to change and die. This book brought so many different horror films to mind such as the blob, the thing, the cabin in the woods, the ruins, etc.
This book started off strong - very strong. I was completed invested in the story and on the edge of my seat. I could not get enough of the mystery of what happened to Brynn. Then as bizarre and strange things began to happen, I thought 'YES!' it's about to get REAL fast.
But then, it sorts of fell off a cliff for me. I was loving it until I wasn't. I literally went from; this book is amazing to "what the h*ll?" Sigh, it just lost me. I so thought this was going to be a huge hit with me, but around the 60% mark, I was not enjoying the book as much as I had been in the beginning.
I did love the creepy and eerie vibe of this book. I also enjoyed the atmosphere and the cabin in the books. I enjoyed the aspect of the band coming together to say goodbye and figure out where to go from there. What didn't work was some of the reactions of the characters. I would be beyond freaked out of my mind and some of their reactions are rather ambivalent. I found that I was loving the book when I wasn't quite so sure what was going on, but things were freaky weird. When I knew more of what was happening and what would happen, that is when my interest waned.
Others enjoyed this book more than I did so please read their reviews as well.
Thank you to Clash books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to CLASH Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
3.5 stars.
How far would you go for inspiration?
This is the question posed by Midnight Muse as we follow a moderately successful metal group whose lead singer, and talented songwriter, Brynne Weaver, disappeared into the woods a year previous. On the anniversary the remaining band members rent a cabin in the area to try and find some closure. Their plan does not exactly run smoothly when they discover a mysterious passage under the house, worrying entries in the guestbook, and eerie singing in the trees.
The blurb for this book describes it as mycelium-metal horror, and it definitely lived up to that. There's just something about a creepy book with fungi that appeals to me. For the first half of the book I was appropriately uneasy as the horror mounted. The second half lost its way a little for me unfortunately, and there was an entire plot thread that didn't feel necessary.
I enjoyed a lot of the book, and the writing was good so I'll look out for more by Jo Kaplan in the future for sure.
3.5 stars.
How far would you go for inspiration?
This is the question posed by Midnight Muse as we follow a moderately successful metal group whose lead singer, and talented songwriter, Brynne Weaver, disappeared into the woods a year previous. On the anniversary the remaining band members rent a cabin in the area to try and find some closure. Their plan does not exactly run smoothly when they discover a mysterious passage under the house, worrying entries in the guestbook, and eerie singing in the trees.
The blurb for this book describes it as mycelium-metal horror, and it definitely lived up to that. There's just something about a creepy book with fungi that appeals to me. For the first half of the book I was appropriately uneasy as the horror mounted. The second half lost its way a little for me unfortunately, and there was an entire plot thread that didn't feel necessary.
I enjoyed a lot of the book, and the writing was good so I'll look out for more by Jo Kaplan in the future for sure.
January 5, 2026
Review in the January 2026 issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe This Book: cursed bands, liberal use of ephemera/foreshadowing and flashbacks, monster in the woods
Draft Review:After a tragedy at one of their shows, Brynn, the front woman for metal band Queen Carrion, headed off alone into the Oregon woods to reconnect with her “muse,” but never returned. One year later, the band goes into those woods to find her, except as readers know from the “After” chapters, narrated by drummer and Brynn’s long time best friend Harlow, now institutionalized, something in those woods finished off the rest of the band. This immersive novel is uneasy from its first pages and builds to all out visceral terror with well executed body horror and well placed twists. News articles, letters, found documents, and foreshadowing simultaneously flesh out the details and ratchet up the discomfort without sacrificing the compelling pace, while the music and scream will echo long after the final page is turned.
VERDICT: A solid horror novel with wide appeal that will work for fans of many subgenres such as sporror (Girl in the Woods by Wendy Wagner), cursed bands (My Ex, The Antichrist by Craig DiLouie), and the there’s something trying to kill you in those woods (This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer).
Also Sporror-- I would have thought this was a spoiler but it is signaled on the cover so I am fine saying it.
Multiple POVs
The PNW Heavy Metal band Queen Carrion was led by the talented Brynn. She always talked about her "muse." After a tragedy at a club in Portland, she went into the Oregon woods-- following her muse to complete the final song for their epic concept album. She never returned.
1 year later the band goes back to the same woods to get closure.
All of this happened before the "present" in the book. The present chapters are labelled "After" and are narrated only by Harlow -- the drummer and Brynn's best friend since childhood. It is clear that things went badly when the band returned to the woods and that most, if not all, of the band didn't return. Harlow is institutionalized.
There is a lot of foreshadowing and then flashbacks, also ephemera. All of it and the "After" chapters, increases the level on unease and makes the horror more present for the reader. There
The resolution of what happened to Brynn is included although, like the entire story, it is linked to a much larger, terrifying natural horror-- fungus associated. But this is a terrifying story of a monster in the woods, a SF sporror, and also there is a lot about the band, their "curse" (which is well explained and resolved within the book). It is cinematic with great characters-- many of whom you know are unreliable (Harlow for example but not only her) and yet all are people we want to follow. We want to learn more about each band member and are given enough to find them sympathetic. This matters as the monster in the woods starts knocking them off.
A few good twists are here as well. A realistic and immersive horror novel. I have read books by Kaplan before and I would read more again.
A terrifying addition to the Sporror subgenre like Girl in the Woods by Wagner, also a great music/cursed bands horror like My Ex, The Antichrist by DiLouie. It will satisfy both readers. Even some nature is going to kill you fans as well, especially those where you keep reading even though you know it is going to end badly like This Wretched Valley by Kiefer.
Three Words That Describe This Book: cursed bands, liberal use of ephemera/foreshadowing and flashbacks, monster in the woods
Draft Review:After a tragedy at one of their shows, Brynn, the front woman for metal band Queen Carrion, headed off alone into the Oregon woods to reconnect with her “muse,” but never returned. One year later, the band goes into those woods to find her, except as readers know from the “After” chapters, narrated by drummer and Brynn’s long time best friend Harlow, now institutionalized, something in those woods finished off the rest of the band. This immersive novel is uneasy from its first pages and builds to all out visceral terror with well executed body horror and well placed twists. News articles, letters, found documents, and foreshadowing simultaneously flesh out the details and ratchet up the discomfort without sacrificing the compelling pace, while the music and scream will echo long after the final page is turned.
VERDICT: A solid horror novel with wide appeal that will work for fans of many subgenres such as sporror (Girl in the Woods by Wendy Wagner), cursed bands (My Ex, The Antichrist by Craig DiLouie), and the there’s something trying to kill you in those woods (This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer).
Also Sporror-- I would have thought this was a spoiler but it is signaled on the cover so I am fine saying it.
Multiple POVs
The PNW Heavy Metal band Queen Carrion was led by the talented Brynn. She always talked about her "muse." After a tragedy at a club in Portland, she went into the Oregon woods-- following her muse to complete the final song for their epic concept album. She never returned.
1 year later the band goes back to the same woods to get closure.
All of this happened before the "present" in the book. The present chapters are labelled "After" and are narrated only by Harlow -- the drummer and Brynn's best friend since childhood. It is clear that things went badly when the band returned to the woods and that most, if not all, of the band didn't return. Harlow is institutionalized.
There is a lot of foreshadowing and then flashbacks, also ephemera. All of it and the "After" chapters, increases the level on unease and makes the horror more present for the reader. There
The resolution of what happened to Brynn is included although, like the entire story, it is linked to a much larger, terrifying natural horror-- fungus associated. But this is a terrifying story of a monster in the woods, a SF sporror, and also there is a lot about the band, their "curse" (which is well explained and resolved within the book). It is cinematic with great characters-- many of whom you know are unreliable (Harlow for example but not only her) and yet all are people we want to follow. We want to learn more about each band member and are given enough to find them sympathetic. This matters as the monster in the woods starts knocking them off.
A few good twists are here as well. A realistic and immersive horror novel. I have read books by Kaplan before and I would read more again.
A terrifying addition to the Sporror subgenre like Girl in the Woods by Wagner, also a great music/cursed bands horror like My Ex, The Antichrist by DiLouie. It will satisfy both readers. Even some nature is going to kill you fans as well, especially those where you keep reading even though you know it is going to end badly like This Wretched Valley by Kiefer.
July 14, 2025
What a cool book! I think this has been the most unsettling book I have read! The Midnight Muse blends body horror, claustrophobia, and government conspiracy, and the occult in such a seamless way! I really had a great time. I love the order in which information is shared with the reader, from the main story to the snips and peeks of third-party info.
My only complaints with this book- I wish the ending was either scarier and more open-ended OR more neatly tied up. It felt a little non-committal.
I wish we dug more into Harlow's experiences in the facility. Was Queen Carrion really following her? Were her visits from "Wendy" and "Lou" actually the Pseudo? There was such a gap in sophistication from when we saw the pseudo as Brynn before Harlow and Thorn are rescued and as how they are presented to Harlow in the facility (IF Wendy and Lou are the Pseudo and not just Harlow's imagination). I think the present/AFTER time period could have been more impactful or spooky.
All in all, I really liked this book and have already recommended it to all my spooky loving friends. Thank you for the chance to read and review!
My only complaints with this book- I wish the ending was either scarier and more open-ended OR more neatly tied up. It felt a little non-committal.
I wish we dug more into Harlow's experiences in the facility. Was Queen Carrion really following her? Were her visits from "Wendy" and "Lou" actually the Pseudo? There was such a gap in sophistication from when we saw the pseudo as Brynn before Harlow and Thorn are rescued and as how they are presented to Harlow in the facility (IF Wendy and Lou are the Pseudo and not just Harlow's imagination). I think the present/AFTER time period could have been more impactful or spooky.
All in all, I really liked this book and have already recommended it to all my spooky loving friends. Thank you for the chance to read and review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2025
thanks netgalley for the arc:)
I absolutely loved this one, the storyline was exciting and mysterious from the first page to the last. Especially in the beginning, the eerie atmosphere was written phenomenally, I really felt uneasy while reading, it was fantastic. The structure of the book with all the flashbacks, foreshadowings, excerpts of notebooks/blogs/letters and so on, additionally added to that, it was done brilliantly. As a huge metal fan myself I obviously loved all the music aspects as well, but I'm sure this book can also be a great read for non-metalheads. All in all huge recommendation for everyone who likes nature horror and body horror.
I absolutely loved this one, the storyline was exciting and mysterious from the first page to the last. Especially in the beginning, the eerie atmosphere was written phenomenally, I really felt uneasy while reading, it was fantastic. The structure of the book with all the flashbacks, foreshadowings, excerpts of notebooks/blogs/letters and so on, additionally added to that, it was done brilliantly. As a huge metal fan myself I obviously loved all the music aspects as well, but I'm sure this book can also be a great read for non-metalheads. All in all huge recommendation for everyone who likes nature horror and body horror.
August 6, 2025
Thank you netgalley for the arc
This was so unsettling!!! The body horror was top notch. When I read the synopsis and saw this was being marketed as a “mycelium-metal horror” I was already sold. As someone who loves mycology this really hit the mark in a lot of ways. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending it’s still really solid and I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes thriller/horror novels and bonus points if you like fungus lol
This was so unsettling!!! The body horror was top notch. When I read the synopsis and saw this was being marketed as a “mycelium-metal horror” I was already sold. As someone who loves mycology this really hit the mark in a lot of ways. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending it’s still really solid and I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes thriller/horror novels and bonus points if you like fungus lol
November 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
You know how people like to say oh, Stephen King, he makes mundane things into horror, you'll never look at sewer drains or lost pet posters the same, ohhh? Jo Kaplan does that to the little mold spots that grow in the corners of bathrooms. This is a very refreshing take on some common horror tropes (spooky woods, satanic metal, unethical science, etc) and I absolutely loved every second of it. Maybe one of my favorite reads of the year.
The pros: What can I say. The characters are fantastic, I loved everybody in the band (including Rhys, that jackass), and I loved getting perspectives from all of them. It's all in third person, but their narration styles are still distinct and personalized. And by the way, the prose is wonderful. It is well-balanced, beautiful when it needs to be and utilitarian at others, while still keeping the voice with which character we're following. Tension is held throughout this novel incredibly well. And the asides of various secondary sources - newspaper articles, interviews, notebooks, letters - are so interesting and a wonderful support of the story. I do really love that we, the readers, get the full story that no single other character does. It makes me want to re-read just x character's chapters to see that flow of knowledge, though I know in group events they don't retread much. And finally, like I already said, the horror. I loved it so much. I love the The Thing vibes (literally one of my favorite movies of all time), I love the bits of science, I love the little touch of eldritch we get in there. Such a fantastic time.
The cons: I have trouble pinpointing anything! I thought the ending wrapped up a little too fast, and there was one twist that I felt could've been foreshadowed more. There are a few things that were left unanswered that I felt like I should've had a little more information on, if not actual answers for. There's a spot in the middle-end or so where we have some odd dialogue/narration that recaps information in previous chapters that felt very awkwardly put in - I point this out because it's the only time I can recall it happening. But all said, I really can't find much to criticize!
Absolutely rocked, fuck yeah.
You know how people like to say oh, Stephen King, he makes mundane things into horror, you'll never look at sewer drains or lost pet posters the same, ohhh? Jo Kaplan does that to the little mold spots that grow in the corners of bathrooms. This is a very refreshing take on some common horror tropes (spooky woods, satanic metal, unethical science, etc) and I absolutely loved every second of it. Maybe one of my favorite reads of the year.
The pros: What can I say. The characters are fantastic, I loved everybody in the band (including Rhys, that jackass), and I loved getting perspectives from all of them. It's all in third person, but their narration styles are still distinct and personalized. And by the way, the prose is wonderful. It is well-balanced, beautiful when it needs to be and utilitarian at others, while still keeping the voice with which character we're following. Tension is held throughout this novel incredibly well. And the asides of various secondary sources - newspaper articles, interviews, notebooks, letters - are so interesting and a wonderful support of the story. I do really love that we, the readers, get the full story that no single other character does. It makes me want to re-read just x character's chapters to see that flow of knowledge, though I know in group events they don't retread much. And finally, like I already said, the horror. I loved it so much. I love the The Thing vibes (literally one of my favorite movies of all time), I love the bits of science, I love the little touch of eldritch we get in there. Such a fantastic time.
The cons: I have trouble pinpointing anything! I thought the ending wrapped up a little too fast, and there was one twist that I felt could've been foreshadowed more. There are a few things that were left unanswered that I felt like I should've had a little more information on, if not actual answers for. There's a spot in the middle-end or so where we have some odd dialogue/narration that recaps information in previous chapters that felt very awkwardly put in - I point this out because it's the only time I can recall it happening. But all said, I really can't find much to criticize!
Absolutely rocked, fuck yeah.
November 25, 2025
Simply put, an extraordinary achievement! Flawless writing, superb characterization, incredible plotting twists - not to mention the anxiety-inducing body horror scenes and the terrifying forest setting, full of atmosphere and raw beauty. Strangely, however, the premise felt quite familiar, and this took out a bit of the excitement for me: the book builds essentially on the same idea as Debra Castaneda's "The Spore Queen," which I'm not going to spoil for anyone by mentioning the details of either book. It follows closely the same pattern of people missing in the woods, has the identical story concept (Kaplan even has a "Queen Carrion" to Castaneda's "Spore Queen"), though without the ecological message, the cultish vibes or the eco-horror aspects of the latter. That said, if Castaneda's book is a beautiful sail-powered yacht, Kaplan's novel is a huge cruise ship you can lose yourself in for days, thanks to the strong LOST vibes and the portrayal of musical creation and metal band life in intimate detail.
“The Midnight Muse” excels on so many fronts, it's easy to see it as a major contender for best horror book of 2026: metalheads will love it, fans of trippy mycological horror will adore it, and readers of complex, densely plotted horror fiction will simply go crazy for it! And with good reason: alternating between different timelines (before and after the disaster figuring centrally in the book), including several formats in which the story is told (top secret documents, diary entries, interview transcripts, and so on), the information being given drop by drop without the book turning into a slow-burn thriller/mystery (in fact, the novel starts in one place and ends up in an entirely different spot, going from cabin horror to woods horror to scifi horror, crossing a bunch of surprising horror tropes), "The Midnight Muse" manages to tell a riveting though extremely complicated, occasionally over-the-top, horror story without ever missing a step.
If you're after a horror story that will slowly grow on you (pun intended), one that you'll have to stretch out so it'll last longer, with just the right amount of creepiness, then this is the book for you. Highly, very highly recommended!
“The Midnight Muse” excels on so many fronts, it's easy to see it as a major contender for best horror book of 2026: metalheads will love it, fans of trippy mycological horror will adore it, and readers of complex, densely plotted horror fiction will simply go crazy for it! And with good reason: alternating between different timelines (before and after the disaster figuring centrally in the book), including several formats in which the story is told (top secret documents, diary entries, interview transcripts, and so on), the information being given drop by drop without the book turning into a slow-burn thriller/mystery (in fact, the novel starts in one place and ends up in an entirely different spot, going from cabin horror to woods horror to scifi horror, crossing a bunch of surprising horror tropes), "The Midnight Muse" manages to tell a riveting though extremely complicated, occasionally over-the-top, horror story without ever missing a step.
If you're after a horror story that will slowly grow on you (pun intended), one that you'll have to stretch out so it'll last longer, with just the right amount of creepiness, then this is the book for you. Highly, very highly recommended!
August 4, 2025
Wow! What a twisty and quirky story. Mycelium! I love it.The story has all the feels for a horror and sci fi fiction. Dark, creepy, mystery, grotesque, anxiety. Yes, a few times I felt my heart rate go up. The writing flowed well. I did enjoy the breaks of "official" documents. I thought that was well done. Really pulled you into wanting to solve the mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for this early preview.
March 28, 2025
This is a super early review, so I will keep it short. I LOVED THIS!
If you love creepy body horror, nature horror, and isolated cabin in the woods vibes- this is the book for you.
On the anniversary of the vanishing of their lead singer Brynn, the rest of her metal band Queen Carrion gather at the place she went missing. A cabin in the Oregon woods, isolated, where something lurks. Something that drew Brynn in… and they can hear her faintly singing through the woods.
If I went off vibes alone, this would be a five star, but with the story, the characters, the music, the body horror… it is just off the charts!
If you love creepy body horror, nature horror, and isolated cabin in the woods vibes- this is the book for you.
On the anniversary of the vanishing of their lead singer Brynn, the rest of her metal band Queen Carrion gather at the place she went missing. A cabin in the Oregon woods, isolated, where something lurks. Something that drew Brynn in… and they can hear her faintly singing through the woods.
If I went off vibes alone, this would be a five star, but with the story, the characters, the music, the body horror… it is just off the charts!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Following a metal band who rent a cabin in the woods a year after their lead singer went missing there.
I love certain genres of metal, especially black metal, and I think maybe I got the wrong impression of this book. Black metal has a lot of lore in real life and I thought it would play into that, however it’s not really about a black metal band at all, they’re just described as metal. Which was fine, I wasn’t basing my enjoyment of the book on that anyway. But it would have been cool to dive into that.
Unfortunately, the rest of the story just didn’t do anything for me. The setting was cool and spooky, very influenced by Evil Dead and the characters even comment on it. The characters felt very juvenile in the way they act and the dialogue, while also getting almost zero backstory about any of them. It just felt plain and flat. The plot has multiple timelines which just jumped around and was too scattered. Body horror was super cool, definitely fits the “sporror” rage that’s happening currently, but it gets a little left behind after the first third. I really dislike fake songs in books and there was a lot in this as well. I’m not gonna imagine the characters singing the lyrics I’m sorry. That’s not unique to this book I just get annoyed by it in general. But anyway, this book simply does not go deep enough into anything for me, I thought the plot points and characters weren’t fleshed out and a lot of the characters actions didn’t make any sense to me in relation to the plot.
I love certain genres of metal, especially black metal, and I think maybe I got the wrong impression of this book. Black metal has a lot of lore in real life and I thought it would play into that, however it’s not really about a black metal band at all, they’re just described as metal. Which was fine, I wasn’t basing my enjoyment of the book on that anyway. But it would have been cool to dive into that.
Unfortunately, the rest of the story just didn’t do anything for me. The setting was cool and spooky, very influenced by Evil Dead and the characters even comment on it. The characters felt very juvenile in the way they act and the dialogue, while also getting almost zero backstory about any of them. It just felt plain and flat. The plot has multiple timelines which just jumped around and was too scattered. Body horror was super cool, definitely fits the “sporror” rage that’s happening currently, but it gets a little left behind after the first third. I really dislike fake songs in books and there was a lot in this as well. I’m not gonna imagine the characters singing the lyrics I’m sorry. That’s not unique to this book I just get annoyed by it in general. But anyway, this book simply does not go deep enough into anything for me, I thought the plot points and characters weren’t fleshed out and a lot of the characters actions didn’t make any sense to me in relation to the plot.
September 23, 2025
“The dead collect in low places”
Midnight Muse by Jo Kaplan
4/5✨’s
This was the perfect book to kick off spooky season. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Midnight Muse starts with the remaining members of Queen Carrion who are going on a trip to a cabin in the woods with Harlow, the bands drummer, being hellbent on searching for their missing lead singer Brynn, while the others are simply hoping for a relaxing vacation in the woods. Though the other members have accepted that Brynn is likely dead and will never be found, Harlow has never given up hope. The trip takes a sharp turn when Rhys, one of the band members, falls horrifically ill and the group learns about what grows, consumes, and calls out in the woods at night.
I was really engrossed in the first half of this book and looooved the body horror and vivid descriptions of what the characters were experiencing. The “monster” and story like was like nothing I’ve read before which I found refreshing. I enjoyed the way Kaplan added in scientific documents, entries in a guest log, and journal pages into the story line. The book kept me on my toes and I never knew what twists and turns were coming.
About halfway through the book slowed for me and I didn’t feel as engaged as I did during the beginning of the book, but I still really enjoyed it!
Quotes
“Because I’m only alive when I’m with you.”
“God feels too simple. Like a copout, easier to sealer than whatever’s really out there.”
“When you experience something that seems impossible, reality gets hard to hold onto.”
Midnight Muse by Jo Kaplan
4/5✨’s
This was the perfect book to kick off spooky season. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Midnight Muse starts with the remaining members of Queen Carrion who are going on a trip to a cabin in the woods with Harlow, the bands drummer, being hellbent on searching for their missing lead singer Brynn, while the others are simply hoping for a relaxing vacation in the woods. Though the other members have accepted that Brynn is likely dead and will never be found, Harlow has never given up hope. The trip takes a sharp turn when Rhys, one of the band members, falls horrifically ill and the group learns about what grows, consumes, and calls out in the woods at night.
I was really engrossed in the first half of this book and looooved the body horror and vivid descriptions of what the characters were experiencing. The “monster” and story like was like nothing I’ve read before which I found refreshing. I enjoyed the way Kaplan added in scientific documents, entries in a guest log, and journal pages into the story line. The book kept me on my toes and I never knew what twists and turns were coming.
About halfway through the book slowed for me and I didn’t feel as engaged as I did during the beginning of the book, but I still really enjoyed it!
Quotes
“Because I’m only alive when I’m with you.”
“God feels too simple. Like a copout, easier to sealer than whatever’s really out there.”
“When you experience something that seems impossible, reality gets hard to hold onto.”
May 12, 2025
Netgalley ARC!!
•
•
I was so stoked to be able to read an ARC of this book. Brynn and her muse will stick with me forever. There was body horror, biology, witchcraft, metal music, multiple perspectives and more. Fantastic book and Im looking forward to reading more from this author.
•
•
I was so stoked to be able to read an ARC of this book. Brynn and her muse will stick with me forever. There was body horror, biology, witchcraft, metal music, multiple perspectives and more. Fantastic book and Im looking forward to reading more from this author.
Read
December 17, 2025I don't rate books that I copy-edit. But in moments like these, I wish that I did. I received the manuscript of The Midnight Muse three days after the very sudden and quite traumatic death of my seventeen-year-old cat, who was everything to me. Feeling fractured and unmoored, I dove headfirst into this project, hoping that it would be the distraction I needed. Instead, I found myself alongside the main character, Harlow, navigating a reality more terrifying than anything in fiction—the loss of a loved one.
This exploration of grief, loss, and the uncertainty of how to move forward was, of course, one of many horrifying elements in this unique, atmospheric, and eerie novel. However, I didn't realize the magnitude of the role working with this manuscript had in my own grieving process. That is, until I submitted the edits and the dam I'd constructed on day one subsequently came crashing down.
Placing my own emotional entanglements aside, as an avid lover of horror and all the stories—whether on page or screen—the genre has to offer (and sometimes repeat to the point of oversaturation), The Midnight Muse sets itself apart as it's unlike anything I've ever read.
This exploration of grief, loss, and the uncertainty of how to move forward was, of course, one of many horrifying elements in this unique, atmospheric, and eerie novel. However, I didn't realize the magnitude of the role working with this manuscript had in my own grieving process. That is, until I submitted the edits and the dam I'd constructed on day one subsequently came crashing down.
Placing my own emotional entanglements aside, as an avid lover of horror and all the stories—whether on page or screen—the genre has to offer (and sometimes repeat to the point of oversaturation), The Midnight Muse sets itself apart as it's unlike anything I've ever read.
August 31, 2025
This ARC was given to me by NetGalley and CLASH Books. This doesn't affect my review. Thank you CLASH Books!!!
The Midnight Muse - 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
This book sounded right up my alley. Heavy metal, fungus, and horror are one of he best descriptions of a book I've ever heard. And I'm glad to say this book lived up to my expectations! It was graphic, the descriptions of the fungus are fascinating and horrifying, and the characters grab you and hold you in. The tension created is done masterfully. I really have nothing to complain about.
Some people dislike the ending of this book, but I actually enjoyed it. I thought it was an end that was satisfying, but lets the audience know that this whole... situation is still very unknown.
If you enjoy fungus horror, heavy metal, and the SCP Foundation (I don't think I've seen anyone bring up the SCP vibes the latter half of the book has), then this is for you. Please note that this book has pretty graphic alcoholism if that's a trigger for you!
The Midnight Muse - 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
This book sounded right up my alley. Heavy metal, fungus, and horror are one of he best descriptions of a book I've ever heard. And I'm glad to say this book lived up to my expectations! It was graphic, the descriptions of the fungus are fascinating and horrifying, and the characters grab you and hold you in. The tension created is done masterfully. I really have nothing to complain about.
Some people dislike the ending of this book, but I actually enjoyed it. I thought it was an end that was satisfying, but lets the audience know that this whole... situation is still very unknown.
If you enjoy fungus horror, heavy metal, and the SCP Foundation (I don't think I've seen anyone bring up the SCP vibes the latter half of the book has), then this is for you. Please note that this book has pretty graphic alcoholism if that's a trigger for you!
March 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Clash Books for the opportunity to read this one.
📝 Short Summary
This story leans hard into unsettling atmosphere and psychological dread, the kind that slowly creeps up on you until you realize you’ve been holding your breath for pages. Jo Kaplan builds a world where something always feels slightly wrong, and that tension keeps the story moving with a constant undercurrent of unease.
Review
This book absolutely delivered the kind of eerie, creeping horror I love to read. Jo Kaplan has a writing style that pulls you in quietly at first and then suddenly you realize you’re completely wrapped up in the darkness of the story. There is a very specific tone to this one that I really appreciated. It’s unsettling without needing to be overly graphic, and the tension builds in a way that gave me genuine chills while reading.
What stood out most to me was the atmosphere. The author has a talent for creating that lingering sense that something is off even in the calm moments. The pacing works well for this kind of story because it lets the dread simmer rather than rushing the scares. As a horror reader, I really enjoy books that focus on mood and creeping tension, and this one absolutely delivered that experience.
I also appreciated the way the writing keeps you slightly unbalanced as the story unfolds. You’re constantly questioning what is happening and where things are going, which made it hard to put down because I needed to know how it would all come together. Jo Kaplan has a way of making the ordinary feel disturbing, and that’s one of my favorite elements in horror fiction.
Overall this was a really enjoyable and chilling read for me. The writing is strong, the atmosphere is eerie, and the story left me with that lingering haunted feeling that good horror books often do.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely. If you enjoy atmospheric horror that slowly crawls under your skin and stays there, this is a great one to pick up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Clash Books for the opportunity to read this one.
📝 Short Summary
This story leans hard into unsettling atmosphere and psychological dread, the kind that slowly creeps up on you until you realize you’ve been holding your breath for pages. Jo Kaplan builds a world where something always feels slightly wrong, and that tension keeps the story moving with a constant undercurrent of unease.
Review
This book absolutely delivered the kind of eerie, creeping horror I love to read. Jo Kaplan has a writing style that pulls you in quietly at first and then suddenly you realize you’re completely wrapped up in the darkness of the story. There is a very specific tone to this one that I really appreciated. It’s unsettling without needing to be overly graphic, and the tension builds in a way that gave me genuine chills while reading.
What stood out most to me was the atmosphere. The author has a talent for creating that lingering sense that something is off even in the calm moments. The pacing works well for this kind of story because it lets the dread simmer rather than rushing the scares. As a horror reader, I really enjoy books that focus on mood and creeping tension, and this one absolutely delivered that experience.
I also appreciated the way the writing keeps you slightly unbalanced as the story unfolds. You’re constantly questioning what is happening and where things are going, which made it hard to put down because I needed to know how it would all come together. Jo Kaplan has a way of making the ordinary feel disturbing, and that’s one of my favorite elements in horror fiction.
Overall this was a really enjoyable and chilling read for me. The writing is strong, the atmosphere is eerie, and the story left me with that lingering haunted feeling that good horror books often do.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely. If you enjoy atmospheric horror that slowly crawls under your skin and stays there, this is a great one to pick up.
March 4, 2026
Twisted botanicals meet body horror and heavy metal music in this fast-paced, desperate exploration of creativity, grief and survival.
It follows Queen Carrion, a semi-successful band made infamous by the disappearance of their lead singer, Brynn. She followed her ‘muse’ into the Umpqua forest and never returned. Now the rest of them presume her dead, and they decide to take one last trip to the forest in her memory. But all of them have motives for being there, and tensions ratchet higher when a familiar voice echoes through the trees, and mysterious mycelium coats their cabin, eager to (literally) get under their skin.
This is a wild, gory, shocking ride that had me pulling faces and racing through the pages. The author has effectively taken something harmless and natural (the intricate fungal network beneath the earth, and its fruiting bodies above the ground) and questioned what would happen if it evolved into a predator. Something drawn to music and the taste of human flesh. She has also created characters who explore and exemplify the effects of grief, thwarted ambition, envy and suppressed creativity. Each one of them is flawed and hurting, but you root for their survival and development as they face almost impossible odds.
I will say, there’s a lot going on at any given time, and multiple POVs as well, but for me this only adds to the propulsive mayhem of the narrative. Sure, I finished the story with a few questions (since not everything is fully explained), but overall I like the ending and the way it all comes back to the music.
I recommend this to fans of Grady Hendrix’s We Sold Our Souls, those with a strong stomach for body horror, and anyone who finds the thought of the forest both fascinating and terrifying.
Thank you to @clashbooks and @joannapary for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
It follows Queen Carrion, a semi-successful band made infamous by the disappearance of their lead singer, Brynn. She followed her ‘muse’ into the Umpqua forest and never returned. Now the rest of them presume her dead, and they decide to take one last trip to the forest in her memory. But all of them have motives for being there, and tensions ratchet higher when a familiar voice echoes through the trees, and mysterious mycelium coats their cabin, eager to (literally) get under their skin.
This is a wild, gory, shocking ride that had me pulling faces and racing through the pages. The author has effectively taken something harmless and natural (the intricate fungal network beneath the earth, and its fruiting bodies above the ground) and questioned what would happen if it evolved into a predator. Something drawn to music and the taste of human flesh. She has also created characters who explore and exemplify the effects of grief, thwarted ambition, envy and suppressed creativity. Each one of them is flawed and hurting, but you root for their survival and development as they face almost impossible odds.
I will say, there’s a lot going on at any given time, and multiple POVs as well, but for me this only adds to the propulsive mayhem of the narrative. Sure, I finished the story with a few questions (since not everything is fully explained), but overall I like the ending and the way it all comes back to the music.
I recommend this to fans of Grady Hendrix’s We Sold Our Souls, those with a strong stomach for body horror, and anyone who finds the thought of the forest both fascinating and terrifying.
Thank you to @clashbooks and @joannapary for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2026
I really enjoyed The Midnight Muse by Jo Kaplan! Described as “mycelluim metal” mania and heavy on the atmospheric vibes and body horror, the novel hooks the reader right away and builds up to a wild crazy ride.
Members of the heavy metal band Carrion Crow go to an isolated cabin in the woods to try and get some closure on the anniversary of the disappearance of their lead singer Brynn Werner a year prior. Weirdness and fungal creepiness ensues. Eerie singing from the wood, A hidden room. Apparitions. Possession type horror. Gruesome detailed body gore. Paranoia and uncertainness that strains and fractures bonds between friends and bandmates. This story looks at the source, power, and elusiveness of the creative muse through a Sporror filled lens.
I especially liked the use of third person band members POVs with journal entries, interviews, scientific studies, and articles to tell the story. I always love an epistolary aspect in my horror stories! The novel jumps back and forth in time from the multiple POVs, slowly turning into a fever dream puzzle that twists and turns right up until the end.
This was a fun novel from CLASH Books, who is just killing it lately with great stories. Also this is my first book by Jo Kaplan, and I am looking forward to reading her previous works. Thank you to Netgalley and CLASH Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Members of the heavy metal band Carrion Crow go to an isolated cabin in the woods to try and get some closure on the anniversary of the disappearance of their lead singer Brynn Werner a year prior. Weirdness and fungal creepiness ensues. Eerie singing from the wood, A hidden room. Apparitions. Possession type horror. Gruesome detailed body gore. Paranoia and uncertainness that strains and fractures bonds between friends and bandmates. This story looks at the source, power, and elusiveness of the creative muse through a Sporror filled lens.
I especially liked the use of third person band members POVs with journal entries, interviews, scientific studies, and articles to tell the story. I always love an epistolary aspect in my horror stories! The novel jumps back and forth in time from the multiple POVs, slowly turning into a fever dream puzzle that twists and turns right up until the end.
This was a fun novel from CLASH Books, who is just killing it lately with great stories. Also this is my first book by Jo Kaplan, and I am looking forward to reading her previous works. Thank you to Netgalley and CLASH Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2026
wow. this was fantastic. i didn’t know what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t this! absolutely incredible. we got body horror, flashbacks, foreshadowing, journal entries, new articles, the whole nine! i IN THIS and it absolutely rocked my world. and has a huge metal fan, i loved the music aspect and getting to know the band mates. each of their perspectives and experiences were equally impactful and interesting. i was invested from start and to finish, eager to see what happened next. i really loved the steady and fast pacing of this, while also setting the tone perfectly where i’ve found a lot of horror i read to be a bit on the slow side, this pacing was perfect.
this book genuinely freaked me out and made me feel uneasy and unsettled. extremely imaginative and engaging, it truly haunted my kindle and my thoughts. i couldn’t put it down.
the writing was descriptive, vivid and grotesque with perfect flow. it felt like i was experiencing this nightmare with them all, and it genuinely scared the sh!t out of me. absolutely brilliant. fantastic from start to finish.
if you like metal, horror, and mindfcks, i highly suggest you check this out!
thank you so much to the author, publisher and netgalley for this early read, it was outstanding!
this book genuinely freaked me out and made me feel uneasy and unsettled. extremely imaginative and engaging, it truly haunted my kindle and my thoughts. i couldn’t put it down.
the writing was descriptive, vivid and grotesque with perfect flow. it felt like i was experiencing this nightmare with them all, and it genuinely scared the sh!t out of me. absolutely brilliant. fantastic from start to finish.
if you like metal, horror, and mindfcks, i highly suggest you check this out!
thank you so much to the author, publisher and netgalley for this early read, it was outstanding!
September 11, 2025
Unfortunately this book really wasn’t it for me. I found the premise intriguing however I felt the pacing was a bit “off”. I struggled to keep up with characters/location/plot and found myself having to re-read passages multiple times in order to take in and understand what was going on. The depth of the characters was a little inconsistent which made it difficult for me to have any great feeling or connection towards them. I do also think this book would have benefited from being a little shorter as it did go on for a looooonnggg time, only for the end to be a little underwhelming. A tighter edit may have done this story a little justice as there were some great concepts and spooky moments which unfortunately got lost in the rabble of everything else.
Thank you to NetGalley, Clash Books and Jo Kaplan for providing this ARC ✨
Thank you to NetGalley, Clash Books and Jo Kaplan for providing this ARC ✨
January 14, 2026
I wish i could rate this at a 3.75 tbh but well round up to a 4
so this book has a VERY gripping first half and i honestly started this anticipating it ending as a 5 star read for me but about 50%-65% in, it just kinda fell flat? i have more questions than i do answers in terms of some lore and i wish there was some more. it was kinda eerie and spooky and kind of gave me Jennifer Body’s vibes (and i LOVED that).
all things considered, this was good!! and i am so excited for it to come out so i can force my husband to buy it and read it. if you like body horror and being on the edge of your seat? this book is for you!
thank you to netgalley for this ARC!!
so this book has a VERY gripping first half and i honestly started this anticipating it ending as a 5 star read for me but about 50%-65% in, it just kinda fell flat? i have more questions than i do answers in terms of some lore and i wish there was some more. it was kinda eerie and spooky and kind of gave me Jennifer Body’s vibes (and i LOVED that).
all things considered, this was good!! and i am so excited for it to come out so i can force my husband to buy it and read it. if you like body horror and being on the edge of your seat? this book is for you!
thank you to netgalley for this ARC!!
August 27, 2025
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC -
As a horror and metal fan, this was a very fun read. Enjoying metal isn’t a requirement for this book, but enjoying horror definitely is. The horror itself was very well written and I felt attachment to the characters. My two main pieces of feedback: First, is that the characters often moved into very logical thinking quickly. I have to say, I would not be thinking logically if I was witnessing similar things. Second, is that as someone who’s less familiar with fungus and mushrooms, a little bit of additional explanation would have been helpful for me. Overall, creepy and eerie read.
As a horror and metal fan, this was a very fun read. Enjoying metal isn’t a requirement for this book, but enjoying horror definitely is. The horror itself was very well written and I felt attachment to the characters. My two main pieces of feedback: First, is that the characters often moved into very logical thinking quickly. I have to say, I would not be thinking logically if I was witnessing similar things. Second, is that as someone who’s less familiar with fungus and mushrooms, a little bit of additional explanation would have been helpful for me. Overall, creepy and eerie read.
September 6, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me to opportunity to read this amazing book.
Firstly, I love fungi inspired horror, but I never had LGBT metal fungi horror, which I loved.
This books mixes various past and present but does it perfectly, I never was confused.
The plot twist at the end was really well done, Jacqueline was so well writen.
I do wish it had been more saphic, more focus on Harlow feelings for Brynn.
All together I really could see this becoming a movie, for me I envisioned like that because all the descriptions felt so vivid some parts really terrifyed.
Firstly, I love fungi inspired horror, but I never had LGBT metal fungi horror, which I loved.
This books mixes various past and present but does it perfectly, I never was confused.
The plot twist at the end was really well done, Jacqueline was so well writen.
I do wish it had been more saphic, more focus on Harlow feelings for Brynn.
All together I really could see this becoming a movie, for me I envisioned like that because all the descriptions felt so vivid some parts really terrifyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2026
A nice blend of folk, body, psychological, and mushroom horror with a touch of dark horror. The basic plot follows a group of bandmates into the organ forest searching for their lost lead singer. Strange mushrooms are at play in the forest. Are they responsible for their missing friend? It had good pacing and uses some mixed media throughout the book. At times it did fell a bit chaotic; lots of characters, the story is told from multiple points of view, and goes back and forth in time. It’s a very unique story, definitely recommend.
Want to read
May 12, 2025🌺 Pre-Read:
Here’s to hoping I get an ARC of this! 🤞🏾
Here’s to hoping I get an ARC of this! 🤞🏾
August 20, 2025
the last of us meets a metal band
February 24, 2026
I received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!
This has been sitting in my NetGalley, taunting me, for so long as it was so far out when I first got it. It was WELL worth the wait and I almost wish I had read it sooner. This book mashed three of my favorite horror niches together into one, along with queerness/doomed yuri and I ate it UP.
Survival horror meets eco-horror meets the video game Control with doomed yuri and band dynamics.
Truly, could it get any better? Each page just got better and better. Something that this book did spectacularly well is the interweaving of the characters relationships with the horror and plot. Neither aspect felt disjointed or weirdly placed, it was all relevant and connected nicely.
The horror itself was phenomenal. The description, the body horror grotesque and easily pictured. I was thoroughly creeped out reading this, I had to take an afternoon to finish it because I kept having to interrupt my nightly reading routine by reading this then reading fanfic before I actually slept haha. Genuinely creeped me TF out!!
This is a horror staple, especially for queer horror. Perfect for fans of CG Drews, Control, and Chuck Wendig.
rounded up from 4.5
This has been sitting in my NetGalley, taunting me, for so long as it was so far out when I first got it. It was WELL worth the wait and I almost wish I had read it sooner. This book mashed three of my favorite horror niches together into one, along with queerness/doomed yuri and I ate it UP.
Survival horror meets eco-horror meets the video game Control with doomed yuri and band dynamics.
Truly, could it get any better? Each page just got better and better. Something that this book did spectacularly well is the interweaving of the characters relationships with the horror and plot. Neither aspect felt disjointed or weirdly placed, it was all relevant and connected nicely.
The horror itself was phenomenal. The description, the body horror grotesque and easily pictured. I was thoroughly creeped out reading this, I had to take an afternoon to finish it because I kept having to interrupt my nightly reading routine by reading this then reading fanfic before I actually slept haha. Genuinely creeped me TF out!!
This is a horror staple, especially for queer horror. Perfect for fans of CG Drews, Control, and Chuck Wendig.
rounded up from 4.5
September 5, 2025
“I’m seeing things that aren’t there.”
“How do you know they’re not there?” Lou asks. “Maybe you’re just the only one who can see them.”
Cursed and bloodcurdling—this book had me in a chokehold from chapter one.
A year after their lead singer Brynn Werner disappeared, what is left of the cursed metal band Queen Carrion ventures on a trip to stay at the cabin in Oregon’s Umpqua National Forest where Brynn vanished. Queen Carrion has a history with ghastly tragedies, but when Brynn’s voice sings to them from between the trees, they soon find themselves in a horror movie, with figures wearing gas masks and fungus moldering the walls in the basement.
She has seen impossible things, things which have irreparably broken the world.
The Midnight Muse is like nothing I’ve ever read, switching between two timelines—before and after the nightmare at the cabin—alternating different points of view with gossipy news articles, letters, notebook entries, research papers, and whatnot added in between. It gives the book a fast pace and holds your attention hostage, forcing you to turn the next page.
Now people know Queen Carrion. Not for their music, not for their talent, but because they are cursed.
Furthermore, each individual character was a true masterpiece—a Picasso, probably—with flaws deep like stab wounds, pasts haunting them, secrets they’d keep to the grave, and scars that could never be undone, and their own reason to come to the cabin in the first place.
And from the beginning, you know most of them are going to die.
Physically? She felt like shit. Mentally? Well, she was reaching the end of her rope.
Moreover, this book was unsettling. Goosebumps ran across my arms and I felt increasingly uncomfortable reading—which was great! Body horror, paranormal funguses, and the terror of real people. What a thrill to read something so bizarre.
She thought it funny how death could exist in such little things: the brief barrel of a gun, a switchblade concealed in the palm. It was so easy to make a choice—pull a trigger, slash a knife—that could not be undone.
In short, The Midnight Muse is deeply unsettling, horrifying, and an amazing read. Composed from a thousand parts, it is a masterful symphony. This book is for anyone who loves either metal, horror, or both. Dive into this book and let Queen Carrion haunt you!
Harlow thought she should have been horrified, but she had seen multiple people die this weekend and imagined there must be some kind of limit to the amount of horror a person could feel before their adrenal system just said, you know what, fuck it, let’s go get a pizza.
“How do you know they’re not there?” Lou asks. “Maybe you’re just the only one who can see them.”
Cursed and bloodcurdling—this book had me in a chokehold from chapter one.
A year after their lead singer Brynn Werner disappeared, what is left of the cursed metal band Queen Carrion ventures on a trip to stay at the cabin in Oregon’s Umpqua National Forest where Brynn vanished. Queen Carrion has a history with ghastly tragedies, but when Brynn’s voice sings to them from between the trees, they soon find themselves in a horror movie, with figures wearing gas masks and fungus moldering the walls in the basement.
She has seen impossible things, things which have irreparably broken the world.
The Midnight Muse is like nothing I’ve ever read, switching between two timelines—before and after the nightmare at the cabin—alternating different points of view with gossipy news articles, letters, notebook entries, research papers, and whatnot added in between. It gives the book a fast pace and holds your attention hostage, forcing you to turn the next page.
Now people know Queen Carrion. Not for their music, not for their talent, but because they are cursed.
Furthermore, each individual character was a true masterpiece—a Picasso, probably—with flaws deep like stab wounds, pasts haunting them, secrets they’d keep to the grave, and scars that could never be undone, and their own reason to come to the cabin in the first place.
And from the beginning, you know most of them are going to die.
Physically? She felt like shit. Mentally? Well, she was reaching the end of her rope.
Moreover, this book was unsettling. Goosebumps ran across my arms and I felt increasingly uncomfortable reading—which was great! Body horror, paranormal funguses, and the terror of real people. What a thrill to read something so bizarre.
She thought it funny how death could exist in such little things: the brief barrel of a gun, a switchblade concealed in the palm. It was so easy to make a choice—pull a trigger, slash a knife—that could not be undone.
In short, The Midnight Muse is deeply unsettling, horrifying, and an amazing read. Composed from a thousand parts, it is a masterful symphony. This book is for anyone who loves either metal, horror, or both. Dive into this book and let Queen Carrion haunt you!
Harlow thought she should have been horrified, but she had seen multiple people die this weekend and imagined there must be some kind of limit to the amount of horror a person could feel before their adrenal system just said, you know what, fuck it, let’s go get a pizza.
August 18, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and CLASH Books for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of the Midnight Muse by Jo Kaplan.
As a fan of the horror genre, this was disturbingly dark and creepy. If anyone saw my face while reading it, I’m sure it had a look of disgust on it. This was classic horror with enough gore and suspense to keep you reading.
Brynn Werner, singer & songwriter of Queen Carrion, vanishes while at the Trail Creek Cabin. A year later, her bandmates – Rhys, and his girlfriend Jacqueline; Wendy; Louella; and siblings, Harthorn and Harlow – visit the same cabin as a means of closure for her disappearance. For Brynn’s best friend, the drummer, Harlow, there are other motives.
The story is told via multiple timelines. There are the events that take place when the bandmates visit the cabin after Brynn’s disappearance. There’s the Aftermath of those events. Also employed in the novel are additional textual elements such as entries from the cabin’s guestbook, media articles related to past events, and scientific entries regarding the book’s subject matter lending credence to the story. I found this book to be somewhat similar to the Troop by Nick Cutter. If you enjoyed this one, you’d enjoy that one as well.
Should this ever be optioned for a movie, the soundtrack would be lit. And please incorporate a metal cover version of Garth Brooks’ song Friends in Low Places:
'Cause I've got friends in low places
Where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away
And I'll be OK
Yeah, I'm not big on social graces
Think I'll slip on down to the oasis
Oh, I've got friends in low places’
The final lesson here: Don't do drugs…especially mushrooms! And, be mindful of who or what you're fucking in the forest because the dead collect in low places.
As a fan of the horror genre, this was disturbingly dark and creepy. If anyone saw my face while reading it, I’m sure it had a look of disgust on it. This was classic horror with enough gore and suspense to keep you reading.
Brynn Werner, singer & songwriter of Queen Carrion, vanishes while at the Trail Creek Cabin. A year later, her bandmates – Rhys, and his girlfriend Jacqueline; Wendy; Louella; and siblings, Harthorn and Harlow – visit the same cabin as a means of closure for her disappearance. For Brynn’s best friend, the drummer, Harlow, there are other motives.
The story is told via multiple timelines. There are the events that take place when the bandmates visit the cabin after Brynn’s disappearance. There’s the Aftermath of those events. Also employed in the novel are additional textual elements such as entries from the cabin’s guestbook, media articles related to past events, and scientific entries regarding the book’s subject matter lending credence to the story. I found this book to be somewhat similar to the Troop by Nick Cutter. If you enjoyed this one, you’d enjoy that one as well.
Should this ever be optioned for a movie, the soundtrack would be lit. And please incorporate a metal cover version of Garth Brooks’ song Friends in Low Places:
'Cause I've got friends in low places
Where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away
And I'll be OK
Yeah, I'm not big on social graces
Think I'll slip on down to the oasis
Oh, I've got friends in low places’
The final lesson here: Don't do drugs…especially mushrooms! And, be mindful of who or what you're fucking in the forest because the dead collect in low places.
March 15, 2026
I'd like to start this review by thanking Book Sirens and the author for granting me early access to an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
*All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I gave this book 4.5 stars.
This is a new adult/adult horror story where the band Queen Carrion go to a cabin in the woods to chat about their future and to try and find out what happened to Brynn, their singer, who disappeared a couple of months before the events. It uses more than one POV and a dual timeline at times; both were really well done.
Strange things start happening and some evil finghi start killing...will they survive? Will they find out what they want to know?
T/C Warnings: body horror, death, violence, blood, alcoholism, addictions.
All characters, initially good or bad, did things they shouldn't and are morally grey. The author shows us their flaws, worries, obsessions and traumas, as well as the consequences of these and their actions, which made me enjoy this book even more.
The writing style helped keep you on the edge of the chair and needing to know more.
There's just one thing that she shows that makes me feel the need to clarify. It's not necessary to have lived through trauma to fall into some addiction and not everybody who suffers trauma fall on those.
This book is atmosphere driven, although plot and character are also properly developed.
Of course I'd recommend this book!
Let me know if you decide to read this book or if you’ve read it and what you thought of it.
*All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I gave this book 4.5 stars.
This is a new adult/adult horror story where the band Queen Carrion go to a cabin in the woods to chat about their future and to try and find out what happened to Brynn, their singer, who disappeared a couple of months before the events. It uses more than one POV and a dual timeline at times; both were really well done.
Strange things start happening and some evil finghi start killing...will they survive? Will they find out what they want to know?
T/C Warnings: body horror, death, violence, blood, alcoholism, addictions.
All characters, initially good or bad, did things they shouldn't and are morally grey. The author shows us their flaws, worries, obsessions and traumas, as well as the consequences of these and their actions, which made me enjoy this book even more.
The writing style helped keep you on the edge of the chair and needing to know more.
There's just one thing that she shows that makes me feel the need to clarify. It's not necessary to have lived through trauma to fall into some addiction and not everybody who suffers trauma fall on those.
This book is atmosphere driven, although plot and character are also properly developed.
Of course I'd recommend this book!
Let me know if you decide to read this book or if you’ve read it and what you thought of it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews