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The Flayed Man
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Expected 21 Jul 26Win a free print copy of this book!
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20 copies available
U.S. only
A complex mother-daughter relationship is taken to a new level in this fresh and propulsive novel of family curses, blood-thirsty ghouls, and budding romance set against the Mojave Desert and Las Vegas
Ellis Karsten spends nights working triage in the ER and days having the same conversation with her mom. The early onset dementia is exhausting, but the real challenge is their curse—Ellis’s family must feed daily on blood, or risk becoming mindless, skinless killing machines. When Ellis’s uncle, who supplies their blood, vanishes, she takes it upon herself to find a new source, aided by a prickly paramedic who’s equal parts unpredictable and intoxicating. But as Ellis fights to balance her bloodthirsty nature with a new relationship, her mom’s impossible demands transform into panicked warnings that a fabled monster, “The Flayed Man,” is stalking them.
As she traverses the desert in search of blood, Ellis risks her safety and her family’s secret, until it becomes clear that her mom is right: something ancient and hungry is hunting them, and it has come for her mom. Blood hunger begins to overtake Ellis, transforming her body into something ghoulish and frightening—exactly what The Flayed Man wants. In the end, she must decide who to trust, what she’s willing to sacrifice, and whether she is worthy of a life, and love, beyond her curse—or if she’s going to succumb to instinct and ravage the world.
Ellis Karsten spends nights working triage in the ER and days having the same conversation with her mom. The early onset dementia is exhausting, but the real challenge is their curse—Ellis’s family must feed daily on blood, or risk becoming mindless, skinless killing machines. When Ellis’s uncle, who supplies their blood, vanishes, she takes it upon herself to find a new source, aided by a prickly paramedic who’s equal parts unpredictable and intoxicating. But as Ellis fights to balance her bloodthirsty nature with a new relationship, her mom’s impossible demands transform into panicked warnings that a fabled monster, “The Flayed Man,” is stalking them.
As she traverses the desert in search of blood, Ellis risks her safety and her family’s secret, until it becomes clear that her mom is right: something ancient and hungry is hunting them, and it has come for her mom. Blood hunger begins to overtake Ellis, transforming her body into something ghoulish and frightening—exactly what The Flayed Man wants. In the end, she must decide who to trust, what she’s willing to sacrifice, and whether she is worthy of a life, and love, beyond her curse—or if she’s going to succumb to instinct and ravage the world.
240 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 21, 2026
About the author
Chloe Lauter
2 books10 followersCHLOE LAUTER’s debut novel The Flayed Man has been praised by Kirkus, Booklist and Library Journal, is one of Debutiful’s Most Anticipated Books of the Year, and an August 2026 Indie Next pick. Chicago Review of Books called it “everything you want in a literary horror novel.”
Her work explores monstrosity, autonomy and embodiment through a horror lens. Originally from Seattle, she now lives in Los Angeles.
Her work explores monstrosity, autonomy and embodiment through a horror lens. Originally from Seattle, she now lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 12, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this audiobook arc!
A debut novel that combines a fresh twist on the classic vampire trope with a complicated mother-daughter relationship, themes of family loyalty, and the beginning of a sapphic romance that added some tenderness to this dark story.
ER nurse Ellis goes back and forth from brutal shifts at her workplace and a tense home life where she takes care of her mother suffering from early onset dementia. Adding to their troubles is a family curse, forcing them to feed on blood daily, or risking their hunger turning them into monsters (a whole other level of hangry!). Then there are legends of the creature of “The Flayed Man”, whose real shape and lore varies depending on who is telling the story, and it seems to hunt Ellis and her mother. When their blood source runs dry, Ellis must go on a desperate search for more blood, and face The Flayed Man.
I really enjoyed this - I liked how this explores the characters’ relationships while still having a satisfying amount of blood and horror. I do feel like the mother-daughter relationship could have been fleshed out even more, but considering the length of the book, I think it was done well. I also liked the portrayal of Ellis, how she’s so loyal and protective of her mother, but also wants to be her own person, and has so much trauma and issues connected to her past and her relationship with her mother. I also liked the desert setting.
A few things - the fresh take on vampires, the complex mother-daughter relationship, the sapphic romance, the desert setting - reminded me of Night’s Edge by Liz Kerin, so readers who have enjoyed that book might like this one as well!
A debut novel that combines a fresh twist on the classic vampire trope with a complicated mother-daughter relationship, themes of family loyalty, and the beginning of a sapphic romance that added some tenderness to this dark story.
ER nurse Ellis goes back and forth from brutal shifts at her workplace and a tense home life where she takes care of her mother suffering from early onset dementia. Adding to their troubles is a family curse, forcing them to feed on blood daily, or risking their hunger turning them into monsters (a whole other level of hangry!). Then there are legends of the creature of “The Flayed Man”, whose real shape and lore varies depending on who is telling the story, and it seems to hunt Ellis and her mother. When their blood source runs dry, Ellis must go on a desperate search for more blood, and face The Flayed Man.
I really enjoyed this - I liked how this explores the characters’ relationships while still having a satisfying amount of blood and horror. I do feel like the mother-daughter relationship could have been fleshed out even more, but considering the length of the book, I think it was done well. I also liked the portrayal of Ellis, how she’s so loyal and protective of her mother, but also wants to be her own person, and has so much trauma and issues connected to her past and her relationship with her mother. I also liked the desert setting.
A few things - the fresh take on vampires, the complex mother-daughter relationship, the sapphic romance, the desert setting - reminded me of Night’s Edge by Liz Kerin, so readers who have enjoyed that book might like this one as well!
March 1, 2026
A new take on vampires with a surprisingly literary writing style.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Notes for upcoming Library Journal review:
Ellis Karsten bounces from her job as a nurse in the ER to her apartment in Las Vegas where she lives with her mother whose dementia is becoming worse.
She was raised with stories of The Flayed Man, a mythology that is unique to each family. While her mother deteriorates physically and mentally, she tells Ellis that The Flayed Man speaks to her.
The book deals with themes of family obligation, sacrifice, love, testing limits, and loneliness all within a new take on the vampire tale. In this urban, gritty vampire story the vampires are mortal and not indestructible. Their relationship to blood is also unique to the sub genre of vampire books.
The relationship between Ellis and her mother is tense because Ellis believes she has always disappointed her mother while simultaneously feeling as if much of what her mother has told her is a lie.
One of the subplots in the book is a sapphic love story with a complex and interesting , Veer.
Readers will share Ellis’ sense of desperation and increasing paranoia as her life unspools. She clings to Veer as she fights to know who she can trust given that her mother has regularly lied to her. Ellis also battles to not let the brutal side out, the side owned by what she calls the curse, even as she loses control of her life.
Readers of complex fiction with a gritty sensibility like Andy Davidson’s In the Valley of the Sun or Hailey Piper’s strong, complex female characters will love this book. It is a blending of Davidson’s style blended with the sort of characters PIper regularly features.
Ellis Karsten bounces from her job as a nurse in the ER to her apartment in Las Vegas where she lives with her mother whose dementia is becoming worse.
She was raised with stories of The Flayed Man, a mythology that is unique to each family. While her mother deteriorates physically and mentally, she tells Ellis that The Flayed Man speaks to her.
The book deals with themes of family obligation, sacrifice, love, testing limits, and loneliness all within a new take on the vampire tale. In this urban, gritty vampire story the vampires are mortal and not indestructible. Their relationship to blood is also unique to the sub genre of vampire books.
The relationship between Ellis and her mother is tense because Ellis believes she has always disappointed her mother while simultaneously feeling as if much of what her mother has told her is a lie.
One of the subplots in the book is a sapphic love story with a complex and interesting , Veer.
Readers will share Ellis’ sense of desperation and increasing paranoia as her life unspools. She clings to Veer as she fights to know who she can trust given that her mother has regularly lied to her. Ellis also battles to not let the brutal side out, the side owned by what she calls the curse, even as she loses control of her life.
Readers of complex fiction with a gritty sensibility like Andy Davidson’s In the Valley of the Sun or Hailey Piper’s strong, complex female characters will love this book. It is a blending of Davidson’s style blended with the sort of characters PIper regularly features.
July 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
The Flayed Man is a captivating, chilling horror novel.
This one was fantastic. From the first page, Chloe Lauter swept me away with her visceral, poignant, and propulsive prose. She beautifully explored hunger, appetite, dependency, family, loneliness, and manipulation, balancing the themes with feelings of belonging and hope. The characters were vivid and compelling. The sapphic romance was beautiful, and the mother-daughter relationship was thoughtfully developed. The plot was entertaining, and the pacing fit the story nicely. I loved Lauter’s take on vampires, and the horror elements were brilliant and chilling. The descriptions of the Mojave Desert and Las Vegas were immersive, cinematic, and haunting. I highly recommend this wonderful debut!
Avery May was an excellent narrator. Her voice fit the characters, emotion, and atmosphere beautifully. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC and to the author for the free ARC!
The Flayed Man is a captivating, chilling horror novel.
This one was fantastic. From the first page, Chloe Lauter swept me away with her visceral, poignant, and propulsive prose. She beautifully explored hunger, appetite, dependency, family, loneliness, and manipulation, balancing the themes with feelings of belonging and hope. The characters were vivid and compelling. The sapphic romance was beautiful, and the mother-daughter relationship was thoughtfully developed. The plot was entertaining, and the pacing fit the story nicely. I loved Lauter’s take on vampires, and the horror elements were brilliant and chilling. The descriptions of the Mojave Desert and Las Vegas were immersive, cinematic, and haunting. I highly recommend this wonderful debut!
Avery May was an excellent narrator. Her voice fit the characters, emotion, and atmosphere beautifully. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC and to the author for the free ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
Ellis Karsten spends her nights working in the ER and then takes care of her mother in her apartment during the day, who has dementia and is gradually deteriorating. Their family is cursed, requiring a daily source of blood to survive, which soon proves to be in jeopardy with the vanishing of her uncle.
This book was relatively short, but packed such a punch. It was engaging, creepy and unsettling, and yet so well written that the setting and storyline still managed to be portrayed beautifully. I enjoyed the queer romance subplot, unique premise, exploration of a complicated and tense mother-daughter relationship, and the appearance of the Flayed Man. The narration was perfect and kept me gripped the entire time.
Thank you, RBmedia (Tantor Media), Chloe Lauter and NetGalley for an ALC to review. All opinions are my own.
Ellis Karsten spends her nights working in the ER and then takes care of her mother in her apartment during the day, who has dementia and is gradually deteriorating. Their family is cursed, requiring a daily source of blood to survive, which soon proves to be in jeopardy with the vanishing of her uncle.
This book was relatively short, but packed such a punch. It was engaging, creepy and unsettling, and yet so well written that the setting and storyline still managed to be portrayed beautifully. I enjoyed the queer romance subplot, unique premise, exploration of a complicated and tense mother-daughter relationship, and the appearance of the Flayed Man. The narration was perfect and kept me gripped the entire time.
Thank you, RBmedia (Tantor Media), Chloe Lauter and NetGalley for an ALC to review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this fresh take on vampires. It felt unique while still delivering everything I want from horror. The body horror was graphic, unsettling, and so well done. I also loved the queer romance, which added so much heart to an otherwise brutal story.
I do wish the mother and daughter relationship had been explored a little more because I found that dynamic especially compelling. Even so, I was really happy with the way everything came together, and the ending was incredibly satisfying. Avery May did a fantastic job with the audiobook narration and brought the story to life. This was a 4.5 star read for me, rounded up to 5 stars.
Thank you to Tantor Media for the gifted ALC!
I do wish the mother and daughter relationship had been explored a little more because I found that dynamic especially compelling. Even so, I was really happy with the way everything came together, and the ending was incredibly satisfying. Avery May did a fantastic job with the audiobook narration and brought the story to life. This was a 4.5 star read for me, rounded up to 5 stars.
Thank you to Tantor Media for the gifted ALC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The premise of this story is what caught my attention. A cursed ER triage nurse, Ellis, who takes care of her mom who has the same curse(it’s inherited) and dementia. When their source of blood disappears Ellis has to find a new source. What I stayed for was the body horror and the really good n tasty traditional vampire trope with a new and modern twist. I thought it was really well done, could probably have one more edit to clean it all up, but it was super engaging and I really enjoyed the story.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is a dark, absorbing read about a daughter caring for her mother with dementia while simultaneously trying to stave off the blood-thirsty hunger threatening to destroy all she holds dear. Written in crisp, propulsive prose, this unique take on the vampire novel explores the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters and what we owe to those who have both raised and hurt us. The Flayed man had me on the edge of my seat–not so silently–rooting for Ellis and Veer, the woman who might just save her.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow, this was such an amazing take on the modern-day vampire! I just loved everything about this novel; I listened to it on audio and the narration was very well done. I can't believe that this is a debut. There is body horror in this, but the true horror is the generational trauma and mother daughter relationship toxicity. I can't wait to see what is next for this author, I will be sure to read it. Also, take a moment for that amazing cover, I just love it and need a physical copy for my shelf. Thank you RBmedia (Tantor Media), Chloe Lauter and NetGalley for an ALC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5 stars
I was expecting and hoping for more horror elements and more Flayed Man. This story did end up being beautifully written and soulful, but I wanted a horror. The Flayed Man only had a brief appearance, I would have enjoyed a bit more of a chase.
I did enjoy the ending. The emotions, especially grief, were palpable.
All in all, a good book. I’d read more by this author. Just don’t go in expecting to be in suspense or scared.
I was expecting and hoping for more horror elements and more Flayed Man. This story did end up being beautifully written and soulful, but I wanted a horror. The Flayed Man only had a brief appearance, I would have enjoyed a bit more of a chase.
I did enjoy the ending. The emotions, especially grief, were palpable.
All in all, a good book. I’d read more by this author. Just don’t go in expecting to be in suspense or scared.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow, this book is a wild ride. It's a wonderful example of an upmarket horror novel, as the plot points are at times horrifying, but they're told with really beautiful, evocative language. You sort of get lulled into the cushion of that language, but then startled back out again by the action. A great read, I blew through it in a couple of days, needing to know what happened!
tbr-arc
January 27, 2026i mean, the premise sounds pretty cool already.
*thank you to Soft Skull for the ARC*
*thank you to Soft Skull for the ARC*
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Vivid and gripping, laden with sensory details, story of a brave young woman struggling with a curse and the gradual deterioration of her mother. Could not put it down.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
loves lies bleeding meets vampires meets intense mommy issues
June 25, 2026
Review pending but wowzaaaa!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Nothing says romance like voluntary blood donations
Arc from NetGalley
Arc from NetGalley
May 22, 2026
delicious bite-sized horror story set in a grimy, gritty desert-y locale and holding a truly craaazy mother-daughter relationship as its emotional core. love vampire stories that eschew the pop culturified beautiful immortal vamp for the perhaps equally beautiful monstrous physicality of being a blood sucker. the plot is nicely concise and taut, the characters are great (mostly protagonist and her mother), the sense of wrongness and unease is real. a little bit overwrought in the writing sometimes, but the prose is mostly great, and i'll not hold it against a debut
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews