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Grief Eater
Not yet published
Expected 1 Jun 26Visceral, gritty, and unforgiving, GRIEF EATER is a zombie story like you’ve never read before.
When Kristina rises from her violent death, she’s not the same fragile woman her family once abandoned. She’s rageful, powerful, and hungry—for the blood of the ones who were supposed to love her. With a newfound craving to see vengeance and grief served, she launches into a once-in-an-undead-lifetime journey across blood-slicked highways to the scorched Australian bush and her hometown. As her body fails and her mind fractures, she’s left with one final question: Is she here to forgive, or to feed?
A transgressive, gory examination of queer identity and found family, GRIEF EATER sinks its teeth into trauma and what it means to be devoured by grief.
Advance Praise for Grief Eater
“Grief Eater is a scathing rebuke. And yet it has so much heart. Every line of Osborne’s gorgeous prose is a knife that cuts like a balm. Lyrical, constantly surprising, essential—Grief Eater takes a familiar genre and transforms it into something entirely new.” —Cadwell Turnbull, award-winning author of the Convergence Saga
“This story will not spare you. It will reach into your chest and eat your heart. Osborne writes with brutal clarity about abuse and betrayal, about the queer joy and chosen family that will help you survive it. About how love and a quest for vengeance can be strong enough to move the dead. I’ve never read anything like it.” —K Tidbeck, author of Amatka and Jagannath.
“Grief Eater is an embodied, sensory experience: screaming, snarling grief; monstrous hunger; the desire for answers that can only be found in blood. Horror at its finest, as glorious, gory relief and release.” —Angela Meyer, author of Moon Sugar
“Soaked in blood and loss, Grief Eater is a bittersweet tale that is redolent with the transformative closure that comes after confronting painful trauma. A visceral and unflinching read!” —Suzan Palumbo, author of Skin Thief: Stories and Countess
When Kristina rises from her violent death, she’s not the same fragile woman her family once abandoned. She’s rageful, powerful, and hungry—for the blood of the ones who were supposed to love her. With a newfound craving to see vengeance and grief served, she launches into a once-in-an-undead-lifetime journey across blood-slicked highways to the scorched Australian bush and her hometown. As her body fails and her mind fractures, she’s left with one final question: Is she here to forgive, or to feed?
A transgressive, gory examination of queer identity and found family, GRIEF EATER sinks its teeth into trauma and what it means to be devoured by grief.
Advance Praise for Grief Eater
“Grief Eater is a scathing rebuke. And yet it has so much heart. Every line of Osborne’s gorgeous prose is a knife that cuts like a balm. Lyrical, constantly surprising, essential—Grief Eater takes a familiar genre and transforms it into something entirely new.” —Cadwell Turnbull, award-winning author of the Convergence Saga
“This story will not spare you. It will reach into your chest and eat your heart. Osborne writes with brutal clarity about abuse and betrayal, about the queer joy and chosen family that will help you survive it. About how love and a quest for vengeance can be strong enough to move the dead. I’ve never read anything like it.” —K Tidbeck, author of Amatka and Jagannath.
“Grief Eater is an embodied, sensory experience: screaming, snarling grief; monstrous hunger; the desire for answers that can only be found in blood. Horror at its finest, as glorious, gory relief and release.” —Angela Meyer, author of Moon Sugar
“Soaked in blood and loss, Grief Eater is a bittersweet tale that is redolent with the transformative closure that comes after confronting painful trauma. A visceral and unflinching read!” —Suzan Palumbo, author of Skin Thief: Stories and Countess
94 pages, ebook
Expected publication June 1, 2026
16 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
About the author
Emma Osborne
11 books29 followersEmma Osborne (they/them) is a queer fiction writer and poet from Naarm Melbourne, Australia. Emma’s writing has appeared in Uncanny Magazine, Nightmare Magazine, Shock Totem, Apex Magazine, Queers Destroy Science Fiction, Pseudopod, the Review of Australian Fiction, the Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror, GlitterShip, HOMETOWN HAUNTS edited by Poppy Nwosu and WASTELANDS 3 edited by John Joseph Adams.
Emma is a graduate of the 2016 Clarion West Writers Workshop and are an Aurealis and Australian Shadows Award finalist.
Their debut novella “Grief Eater” is forthcoming at Interstellar Flight Press. They currently live in Sunbury with their girlfriend and three wonderful cats. You can find Emma on BlueSky at @redscribe.
Emma is a graduate of the 2016 Clarion West Writers Workshop and are an Aurealis and Australian Shadows Award finalist.
Their debut novella “Grief Eater” is forthcoming at Interstellar Flight Press. They currently live in Sunbury with their girlfriend and three wonderful cats. You can find Emma on BlueSky at @redscribe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
GRIEF. 🖤 BLOOD. 🩸 HUNGER. 🥩 In this queer zombie novella, told from the perspective of a girl who is already undead, horror and grief are so tightly intertwined that the monster story and the emotional story never really separate. It throws you straight into the horror and then wrecks you with its grief, trauma, and tenderness. This novella resonated with me in a big way and moved me more than I expected.
I had some mixed feelings about this one at first, but I ended up truly enjoying it, and parts of it hit me in a way that felt very personal.
As I mentioned, my first impression, honestly, was not the strongest. Just a few chapters in, I felt like the writing was more workmanlike than I enjoy—it did not immediately pull me in on a sentence level. As the novella goes on though, the writing starts to move in and out of different modes; sometimes it is very straightforward, sometimes more lyrical, and sometimes deeply emotional. I would not say that it always feels seamless, but I did end up appreciating that range, especially when the story leans into its heavier emotional moments.
What hooked me was the concept and the way the story opens. I really liked that from the first sentence, our main character is already a zombie. There is no slow lead-up. You are just dropped directly into her perspective, seeing the world through her eyes right away, and I thought that was such an effective choice. I also found the formatting and the way the story is told really interesting. As someone who loves creature lore and horror lore, I appreciated what this novella brings to the table. It shifts what we usually think of as zombies and makes the creature feel fresh again without losing that primal horror.
That was one of the biggest strengths for me: the zombie aspects feel distinct, and not just for the sake of being different—the changes actually support the emotional core of the story. What made it especially compelling is that the main character does not read like a flat monster; she is still aware, still functioning, and there is this constant tension between what she is now and whatever parts of her are still human. That internal conflict was fun to explore.
There are moments where you realize she is willing to kill people she knows, and that was one of the more unsettling things for me. She tells herself she only wants to take a bite, but she knows what that means... and those moments show how hunger and thirst can override restraint, even when some part of her still recognizes what she is doing. That tension between humanity and consumption runs through the whole book, and I think it is part of what makes the character so tragic.
At the same time, there is real tenderness in the story, specifically in the romance in her flashbacks. I thought those moments were genuinely soft, and I really liked the perspective they were written from. They add an important contrast because so much of the present-day narrative is violent, primal, and driven by rage, grief, and the urge to consume. The softness in those flashbacks gives the story another emotional layer, and for me it made the loss underneath everything feel even sharper.
The themes are heavy. There is a lot of internal conflict, a lot of struggle with identity, and a lot of trauma sitting underneath the horror. Even posthumously, our protagonist is still trying to understand what happened to her throughout her life, and that felt like such a strong representation of grief to me: sometimes grief does feel like floating, sometimes it feels like survival mode. After a traumatic childhood especially, there can be this numb, disconnected state that feels almost zombie-like. In that sense, I do think the story can be read as an allegory, and I think it handles that in a way that is intense but also emotionally honest.
The family dynamics and rejection themes hit hard too. The story touches on the pain of a deeply difficult mother-daughter relationship, and more broadly on having an abusive parent, a narcissistic parent, and siblings who either participate or look away. It also deals with not being accepted by society, but especially not being accepted by your family, and the overwhelming grief that comes with that. I think anyone who has experienced family rejection—and especially anyone who has done therapy and had to learn that grief comes in waves—will recognize something in this. You carry that grief for a long time; you may forever grieve the parent you deserved and did not have. That part of the novella felt very real to me, and for a number of reasons, very relatable and heartbreaking.
And because it matters here, I do want to mention the trigger warnings: homophobia, child abuse, and gore. This story is tragic, brutal, and emotional all at once. Even in its most reflective moments, it is still horror, and the rage and grief in it are tied to violence and consumption in a way that can be a lot.
For me, Grief Eater was intense, heartbreaking, and surprisingly resonant. I think it will connect with a lot of people, especially readers who are drawn to stories about grief, trauma, rejection, survival, and what it means to keep moving through it all. Even if you are afraid of what our main character is, this story still makes you care about her, and in a lot of ways, root for her.
This is a story about immense grief and desire for revenge that consumes just as much as the thirst for flesh. It is beautifully done, especially in its brevity. Definitely not one to sleep on. 🖤
Thank you to Interstellar Flight Press (via Netgalley) for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I had some mixed feelings about this one at first, but I ended up truly enjoying it, and parts of it hit me in a way that felt very personal.
As I mentioned, my first impression, honestly, was not the strongest. Just a few chapters in, I felt like the writing was more workmanlike than I enjoy—it did not immediately pull me in on a sentence level. As the novella goes on though, the writing starts to move in and out of different modes; sometimes it is very straightforward, sometimes more lyrical, and sometimes deeply emotional. I would not say that it always feels seamless, but I did end up appreciating that range, especially when the story leans into its heavier emotional moments.
What hooked me was the concept and the way the story opens. I really liked that from the first sentence, our main character is already a zombie. There is no slow lead-up. You are just dropped directly into her perspective, seeing the world through her eyes right away, and I thought that was such an effective choice. I also found the formatting and the way the story is told really interesting. As someone who loves creature lore and horror lore, I appreciated what this novella brings to the table. It shifts what we usually think of as zombies and makes the creature feel fresh again without losing that primal horror.
That was one of the biggest strengths for me: the zombie aspects feel distinct, and not just for the sake of being different—the changes actually support the emotional core of the story. What made it especially compelling is that the main character does not read like a flat monster; she is still aware, still functioning, and there is this constant tension between what she is now and whatever parts of her are still human. That internal conflict was fun to explore.
There are moments where you realize she is willing to kill people she knows, and that was one of the more unsettling things for me. She tells herself she only wants to take a bite, but she knows what that means... and those moments show how hunger and thirst can override restraint, even when some part of her still recognizes what she is doing. That tension between humanity and consumption runs through the whole book, and I think it is part of what makes the character so tragic.
At the same time, there is real tenderness in the story, specifically in the romance in her flashbacks. I thought those moments were genuinely soft, and I really liked the perspective they were written from. They add an important contrast because so much of the present-day narrative is violent, primal, and driven by rage, grief, and the urge to consume. The softness in those flashbacks gives the story another emotional layer, and for me it made the loss underneath everything feel even sharper.
The themes are heavy. There is a lot of internal conflict, a lot of struggle with identity, and a lot of trauma sitting underneath the horror. Even posthumously, our protagonist is still trying to understand what happened to her throughout her life, and that felt like such a strong representation of grief to me: sometimes grief does feel like floating, sometimes it feels like survival mode. After a traumatic childhood especially, there can be this numb, disconnected state that feels almost zombie-like. In that sense, I do think the story can be read as an allegory, and I think it handles that in a way that is intense but also emotionally honest.
The family dynamics and rejection themes hit hard too. The story touches on the pain of a deeply difficult mother-daughter relationship, and more broadly on having an abusive parent, a narcissistic parent, and siblings who either participate or look away. It also deals with not being accepted by society, but especially not being accepted by your family, and the overwhelming grief that comes with that. I think anyone who has experienced family rejection—and especially anyone who has done therapy and had to learn that grief comes in waves—will recognize something in this. You carry that grief for a long time; you may forever grieve the parent you deserved and did not have. That part of the novella felt very real to me, and for a number of reasons, very relatable and heartbreaking.
And because it matters here, I do want to mention the trigger warnings: homophobia, child abuse, and gore. This story is tragic, brutal, and emotional all at once. Even in its most reflective moments, it is still horror, and the rage and grief in it are tied to violence and consumption in a way that can be a lot.
For me, Grief Eater was intense, heartbreaking, and surprisingly resonant. I think it will connect with a lot of people, especially readers who are drawn to stories about grief, trauma, rejection, survival, and what it means to keep moving through it all. Even if you are afraid of what our main character is, this story still makes you care about her, and in a lot of ways, root for her.
This is a story about immense grief and desire for revenge that consumes just as much as the thirst for flesh. It is beautifully done, especially in its brevity. Definitely not one to sleep on. 🖤
Thank you to Interstellar Flight Press (via Netgalley) for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Women's and queer rage. Justice. Balancing life. After years of swallowing the abuse and utter rejection of her self, Kristina holds off becoming a full blooded zombie. On foot, Kristina returns to her home town, giving us glimpses into her life - a horror before becoming a zombie.
This book offers it all - in less than 100 pages.
This book offers it all - in less than 100 pages.
March 10, 2026
Five stars ★
SO FUCKING GOOD! My first ever zombie book and wow, what a good introduction to the genre.
This book is only about 90 pages but the impact it has is insane and I cannot recommend it enough.
This book is gory and queer and just all my favourite things put together. The way the author writes is heart breaking and devastating and so, SO great.
🖤 Sapphic FMC
🩸 Revenge plot
🖤 Throwback scenes
🩸 Trans rep!!
🖤 Female rage
“I am a devil made of vengeance, and I am hunting”
SO FUCKING GOOD! My first ever zombie book and wow, what a good introduction to the genre.
This book is only about 90 pages but the impact it has is insane and I cannot recommend it enough.
This book is gory and queer and just all my favourite things put together. The way the author writes is heart breaking and devastating and so, SO great.
🖤 Sapphic FMC
🩸 Revenge plot
🖤 Throwback scenes
🩸 Trans rep!!
🖤 Female rage
“I am a devil made of vengeance, and I am hunting”
February 4, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Interstellar Flight Press, and Independent Book Publishers Association for the eARC!
A great horror novella about a queer zombie woman seeking revenge on her parents and brother who made her life a living hell. I really like getting into mental health and dealing with the trauma that has haunted you for years. I also liked the ending, but understood that revenge doesn't always get rid of the trauma they caused. It definitely feels like a worthy punishment, but does it really solve the problem and get rid of the trauma they caused, even if they deserve it?
A great horror novella about a queer zombie woman seeking revenge on her parents and brother who made her life a living hell. I really like getting into mental health and dealing with the trauma that has haunted you for years. I also liked the ending, but understood that revenge doesn't always get rid of the trauma they caused. It definitely feels like a worthy punishment, but does it really solve the problem and get rid of the trauma they caused, even if they deserve it?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Don't sleep on this one folks.
The world as we know it has changed agter a deadly virus brings zombies to life. Kristina, a queer Australian, finds herself as one after a violent death. As a human she was fragile, abused for years from her homophobic family who had abandoned her. But as a zombie, blood makes her stronger than she's ever been before and she is pissed. Full of rage and grief, she treks back to her hometown.
This is a short novella, I have no doubt a lot of you will be able to finish this in a sitting, but it backs quite the visceral punch. The writing, I thought was very eloquent. One of those books that turns disturbing things beautiful as well as putting words to feelings you didnt know how to describe.
This book takes place in the mind of a zombie but she isn't mindless. This is kind of like the show 'Izombie' in the sense that Kristina also sees people's memories while she eats them which is a thing that I will always love. But unlike IZombie, Kristina isn't finding a quasi 'ethical' way to feed.
Its pretty bleak throughout and her family is disgusting. If you have any triggers regarding homophobia especially when its coming from family then tread lightly.
The world as we know it has changed agter a deadly virus brings zombies to life. Kristina, a queer Australian, finds herself as one after a violent death. As a human she was fragile, abused for years from her homophobic family who had abandoned her. But as a zombie, blood makes her stronger than she's ever been before and she is pissed. Full of rage and grief, she treks back to her hometown.
This is a short novella, I have no doubt a lot of you will be able to finish this in a sitting, but it backs quite the visceral punch. The writing, I thought was very eloquent. One of those books that turns disturbing things beautiful as well as putting words to feelings you didnt know how to describe.
This book takes place in the mind of a zombie but she isn't mindless. This is kind of like the show 'Izombie' in the sense that Kristina also sees people's memories while she eats them which is a thing that I will always love. But unlike IZombie, Kristina isn't finding a quasi 'ethical' way to feed.
Its pretty bleak throughout and her family is disgusting. If you have any triggers regarding homophobia especially when its coming from family then tread lightly.
January 29, 2026
4.5 stars! First of all, thank you to Netgalley for this ARC. This is a novella set in Australia during a zombie apocalypse. We follow our main character Kristina after she gets attacked and killed, when she is in her “zombie” form. Usually in a novella, you don’t get a lot of character depth. But I truly resonated with Kristina and came to care for her a lot. There are some gory/graphic parts, but this is also very emotional and examines her traumatic childhood. I loved learning about her and Josh’s friendship. And for what happens after that, I say GOOD FOR HER! This cover is also stunning. I highly recommend this one and would love to read more from this author!
March 1, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Grief Eater by Emma Osborne!
While I’m not usually a fan of zombie stories, this one was pretty fantastic. And to have so much character reflection in a novella and still fit in a spicy scene! Chef’s kiss! Emma Osborne waisted no words and made sure each one in this little gem were impactful and full of heart and pride. Absolutely fantastic.
While I’m not usually a fan of zombie stories, this one was pretty fantastic. And to have so much character reflection in a novella and still fit in a spicy scene! Chef’s kiss! Emma Osborne waisted no words and made sure each one in this little gem were impactful and full of heart and pride. Absolutely fantastic.
March 23, 2026
”There is nothing in this world that I ever need to be fearful of again. No. The world should be fearful of me.”
oh to be a zombie and get to eat all of your abusive homophobic family members 🧟♀️❤️
but in all honestly this novella packed such heart into less than 100 pages. Grief Eater is a visceral, gory, heart breaking and bleak story of a girl the moment she dies and rises again as a zombie. while our main character analyzes her life she thinks back on her abusive, homophobic family and decides she’s going to kill them. flashbacks of her life mixed with the current state of her death is a sad and painful journey but so meaningful all the same and im left with a range of emotions as i finish the last page.
”Now that I am dead, the rage is fire in my chest and my defences are ashes.”
what i take away most from this novella is that is meant to be lived how YOU want and how YOU deserve and nobody should be able to take that away from you.
i think this one will sit with me for a while ❤️🩹
thank you to netgalley and the author for an arc in exchange for an honest review~
oh to be a zombie and get to eat all of your abusive homophobic family members 🧟♀️❤️
but in all honestly this novella packed such heart into less than 100 pages. Grief Eater is a visceral, gory, heart breaking and bleak story of a girl the moment she dies and rises again as a zombie. while our main character analyzes her life she thinks back on her abusive, homophobic family and decides she’s going to kill them. flashbacks of her life mixed with the current state of her death is a sad and painful journey but so meaningful all the same and im left with a range of emotions as i finish the last page.
”Now that I am dead, the rage is fire in my chest and my defences are ashes.”
what i take away most from this novella is that is meant to be lived how YOU want and how YOU deserve and nobody should be able to take that away from you.
i think this one will sit with me for a while ❤️🩹
thank you to netgalley and the author for an arc in exchange for an honest review~
March 13, 2026
4.5⭐️ - I freaking loved this book. At just under 100 pages, it is a quick read, but the emotional weight it carries is enormous.
The story follows Kristina, who rises after a brutal death as something no longer fully human. Driven by hunger, rage, and years of buried pain, she sets out across the Australian bush to confront the people who abandoned her in life.
I loved how this novella explores and understands grief. Kristina is not just angry because she died. She is angry because of everything that came before it. The rejection, the abuse, the homophobia, and the quiet ways a family can fail someone who just wants to be loved for who they are. Her transformation into something monstrous almost feels symbolic of what unresolved trauma can do to a person. When the people who should protect you instead become the source of your pain, that grief has to go somewhere.
Kristina’s pain comes from a very real place that many queer readers will recognise. The longing for acceptance, the damage caused by rejection, and the complicated mix of love and resentment that can exist within families. The story allows space for that anger while also asking difficult questions about what healing might actually look like. There is plenty of gore too, but the violence feels necessary as it is tied to Kristina’s emotional state. Her hunger is not just physical. It is grief, rage, and the desperate need to be seen and acknowledged after a lifetime of being pushed aside.
For such a short book, Grief Eater manages to say a lot about trauma, identity, and the way grief can shape us. I honestly would have loved to spend even more time in this world!
Thank you to NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for the ARC.
The story follows Kristina, who rises after a brutal death as something no longer fully human. Driven by hunger, rage, and years of buried pain, she sets out across the Australian bush to confront the people who abandoned her in life.
I loved how this novella explores and understands grief. Kristina is not just angry because she died. She is angry because of everything that came before it. The rejection, the abuse, the homophobia, and the quiet ways a family can fail someone who just wants to be loved for who they are. Her transformation into something monstrous almost feels symbolic of what unresolved trauma can do to a person. When the people who should protect you instead become the source of your pain, that grief has to go somewhere.
Kristina’s pain comes from a very real place that many queer readers will recognise. The longing for acceptance, the damage caused by rejection, and the complicated mix of love and resentment that can exist within families. The story allows space for that anger while also asking difficult questions about what healing might actually look like. There is plenty of gore too, but the violence feels necessary as it is tied to Kristina’s emotional state. Her hunger is not just physical. It is grief, rage, and the desperate need to be seen and acknowledged after a lifetime of being pushed aside.
For such a short book, Grief Eater manages to say a lot about trauma, identity, and the way grief can shape us. I honestly would have loved to spend even more time in this world!
Thank you to NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for the ARC.
March 4, 2026
Fantastic story about pain, love, rage, and zombies. In a saturated genre, Osborne found an original take that makes for a great debut title. "Grief Eater" is the story of Kristina as she is bitten by a zombie and lies dying before resurrecting as one of the undead. However, this is not your typical zombie story. Instead, Emma Osborne created a wonderful story of a young woman reflecting on the pain and horror she suffered at the hands of her family, and turns that into a supernatural rage. Now, as a flesh-eating with newfound rage and power, she will trek across the country to seek revenge.
A powerful story in less than 100 pages, "Grief Eater" is now one of my all-time favorite zombie stories, and Emma Osborne is an author I am excited to see grow and continue to create. This is one ghoulish tale you will not want to miss.
A powerful story in less than 100 pages, "Grief Eater" is now one of my all-time favorite zombie stories, and Emma Osborne is an author I am excited to see grow and continue to create. This is one ghoulish tale you will not want to miss.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Interstellar Flight Press for sending me this ARC!
Grief Eater is a very intense and fast-paced story. I was not expecting this book to be so heavy and emotional. The trauma that Kristina experienced growing up shaped her entire being, even in death.
It was interesting to read from a 'zombie' perspective, to see how they processed emotions and actions and how intelligent they still were after they had been turned.
*spoilers below*
Her thirst for blood was almost as consuming as her need for revenge, and even if she didn't get the results she wanted from eating her worthless, abusive family, I'm glad she found enough peace to fade into the mindless blood lust she craved.
This was everything a novella should be. Fast paced, gripping and emotional. 4.5 stars
Grief Eater is a very intense and fast-paced story. I was not expecting this book to be so heavy and emotional. The trauma that Kristina experienced growing up shaped her entire being, even in death.
It was interesting to read from a 'zombie' perspective, to see how they processed emotions and actions and how intelligent they still were after they had been turned.
*spoilers below*
Her thirst for blood was almost as consuming as her need for revenge, and even if she didn't get the results she wanted from eating her worthless, abusive family, I'm glad she found enough peace to fade into the mindless blood lust she craved.
This was everything a novella should be. Fast paced, gripping and emotional. 4.5 stars
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March 11, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for this eARC!
Grief Eater is one of the most visceral books I have ever read, which is especially impressive being that it is less than 100 pages long. It's astonishing to me that such a short novella could be packed with as much gut-wrenching emotion and hurt as it is. Emma Osborne balances the line between gag-worthy gore and scenes that brought me to tears, both tender and terrible. The story is well-written, both technically and in the way it draws you in. I strongly reccomend this book to anyone who is intrigued by the book's blurb and can stomach some gore.
Grief Eater is one of the most visceral books I have ever read, which is especially impressive being that it is less than 100 pages long. It's astonishing to me that such a short novella could be packed with as much gut-wrenching emotion and hurt as it is. Emma Osborne balances the line between gag-worthy gore and scenes that brought me to tears, both tender and terrible. The story is well-written, both technically and in the way it draws you in. I strongly reccomend this book to anyone who is intrigued by the book's blurb and can stomach some gore.
February 27, 2026
Novellas are tough to get just right. This one does. The author is able to tell a great big story in less than 100 pages with a satisfying and bittersweet ending. No small feat. Kristina is a queer woman who suffered abuse from her homophobic family. Now that she’s been turned into a zombie, she is seeking revenge. Her journey from the city back to her childhood home is dangerous and the reader can’t help but root for this zombie. The writing is somehow beautiful and poetic even with the blood and guts. Highly recommend.
February 16, 2026
4.75/5
Thank you to Emma Osborne and NetGalley, my first ARC!
Grief Eater gripped me immediately due to the incredible cover art and title. I knew absolutely nothing else about it and how pleasantly surprised I was. Horror thrives on analogy and the zombie sub-genre in particular has always found itself being used to hold up a mirror to the repressed in our society, blind devotion to capitalism, the fear of the threat from within etc but this novella gives a new life to the repurposing of the undead.
What Osborne has done here is simultaneously write two great short stories - one that details a cast out queer main character that decides to undertake a quest to seek a vengeance and closure against their family and a second story that details a fantastic journey within a post-apocalyptic Australia that somehow manages to find several elements of originality in a sub-genre that has been flogged to death. Pun intended. These two stories run expertly together, peppered with contextual flashbacks that will break your heart, and then both come to a head as we hurtle to the finale and leave us with a cathartic, tragic and visceral ending.
I have minor quibbles and my biggest one is easily my most peculiar, I just wish it was longer. Anyone who has read my past reviews here, or especially on Letterboxd, knows that this is not something I say. Ever. Though I categorise it as a complaint here it should absolutely be noted as a compliment, I was just loving being in this world.
Thank you to Emma Osborne and NetGalley, my first ARC!
Grief Eater gripped me immediately due to the incredible cover art and title. I knew absolutely nothing else about it and how pleasantly surprised I was. Horror thrives on analogy and the zombie sub-genre in particular has always found itself being used to hold up a mirror to the repressed in our society, blind devotion to capitalism, the fear of the threat from within etc but this novella gives a new life to the repurposing of the undead.
What Osborne has done here is simultaneously write two great short stories - one that details a cast out queer main character that decides to undertake a quest to seek a vengeance and closure against their family and a second story that details a fantastic journey within a post-apocalyptic Australia that somehow manages to find several elements of originality in a sub-genre that has been flogged to death. Pun intended. These two stories run expertly together, peppered with contextual flashbacks that will break your heart, and then both come to a head as we hurtle to the finale and leave us with a cathartic, tragic and visceral ending.
I have minor quibbles and my biggest one is easily my most peculiar, I just wish it was longer. Anyone who has read my past reviews here, or especially on Letterboxd, knows that this is not something I say. Ever. Though I categorise it as a complaint here it should absolutely be noted as a compliment, I was just loving being in this world.
February 13, 2026
4.5/5✨
I didn’t know I needed to hear the story of a queer zombie until this.
I loved the novelty of the premise. Kristina, a freshly turned zombie, is driven by bloodlust and revenge. This is not a story of bumbling, brainless zombies - Kristina is a murder machine with sentience. She has the unique ability to relive the memories of those she eats. Realizing this, she sets out to devour her family and see how they really feel about her.
The trigger warnings are real in this one. We learn in detail about the physical and emotional abuse Kristina endured at the hands of her parents and brother. She left her home as soon as she turned 18 and found wonderful chosen family, but this can’t heal the wounds.
Kudos to the author for managing to write beautifully about gore and tragedy. The story flowed smoothly despite making my stomach lurch at times.
My only complaint was that her family was SO awful, it felt somewhat unrealistic. Obviously, there are some families like that, but it would have been nice to learn about the nuance of these characters to add a layer of depth to the story.
This is one of the best horror stories I’ve read in a long time!
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I didn’t know I needed to hear the story of a queer zombie until this.
I loved the novelty of the premise. Kristina, a freshly turned zombie, is driven by bloodlust and revenge. This is not a story of bumbling, brainless zombies - Kristina is a murder machine with sentience. She has the unique ability to relive the memories of those she eats. Realizing this, she sets out to devour her family and see how they really feel about her.
The trigger warnings are real in this one. We learn in detail about the physical and emotional abuse Kristina endured at the hands of her parents and brother. She left her home as soon as she turned 18 and found wonderful chosen family, but this can’t heal the wounds.
Kudos to the author for managing to write beautifully about gore and tragedy. The story flowed smoothly despite making my stomach lurch at times.
My only complaint was that her family was SO awful, it felt somewhat unrealistic. Obviously, there are some families like that, but it would have been nice to learn about the nuance of these characters to add a layer of depth to the story.
This is one of the best horror stories I’ve read in a long time!
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2026
Thank you NetGallery for the eARC! 4.5 ⭐️
I absolutely love zombie narratives. This novella follows Kristina and her journey of becoming undead. During this time, she searches for her family home, seeking revenge on a family that never loved her. While weaving in and out of the past and present, this gory tale does a beautiful job of recognizing grief and the importance of found family. And it definitely helps there’s inspiration from Native Australian culture—something I don’t find often.
I find the possibilities of the undead having some semblance of consciousness to be fascinating. Kristina was still herself to an extent, remembering her loved ones and her childhood, but also understanding that she is fundamentally not human anymore. Also using the undead narrative as a means of queer exploration—chefs kiss 🤌
Also, the gore!! The body horror was excellent!
I quite enjoyed this novella, and I think it’s a fantastic debut. I will absolutely be reading more from this author is the future!
I absolutely love zombie narratives. This novella follows Kristina and her journey of becoming undead. During this time, she searches for her family home, seeking revenge on a family that never loved her. While weaving in and out of the past and present, this gory tale does a beautiful job of recognizing grief and the importance of found family. And it definitely helps there’s inspiration from Native Australian culture—something I don’t find often.
I find the possibilities of the undead having some semblance of consciousness to be fascinating. Kristina was still herself to an extent, remembering her loved ones and her childhood, but also understanding that she is fundamentally not human anymore. Also using the undead narrative as a means of queer exploration—chefs kiss 🤌
Also, the gore!! The body horror was excellent!
I quite enjoyed this novella, and I think it’s a fantastic debut. I will absolutely be reading more from this author is the future!
February 9, 2026
♾️/5 ⭐️
This is going to be one of my top books of the year. I am legitimately mad that it’s only a novella, but I also don’t think I could have survived a full length novel? Told through the POV of Kristina, a freshly turned zombie, this tale of revenge is more gruesome and honest than anything I’ve read in a while. This reached into the darkest parts of me and simultaneously soothed them and stoked them to a burning fire of rage. Anyone who has lived through abuse will probably understand the complex emotions portrayed here. This is such an incredibly unique story that shows the devolution of a person’s humanity and their physical form as they fall deeper into their zombie sickness and their own plot for vengeance. It’s a perfect metaphor for grief. I don’t know if I will be able to stop thinking about this. Truly.
Content Warnings: addiction, cancer, child abuse, death of a parent, dismemberment, domestic abuse, gore, homophobia, violence, stalking
This is going to be one of my top books of the year. I am legitimately mad that it’s only a novella, but I also don’t think I could have survived a full length novel? Told through the POV of Kristina, a freshly turned zombie, this tale of revenge is more gruesome and honest than anything I’ve read in a while. This reached into the darkest parts of me and simultaneously soothed them and stoked them to a burning fire of rage. Anyone who has lived through abuse will probably understand the complex emotions portrayed here. This is such an incredibly unique story that shows the devolution of a person’s humanity and their physical form as they fall deeper into their zombie sickness and their own plot for vengeance. It’s a perfect metaphor for grief. I don’t know if I will be able to stop thinking about this. Truly.
Content Warnings: addiction, cancer, child abuse, death of a parent, dismemberment, domestic abuse, gore, homophobia, violence, stalking
March 22, 2026
ARC provided by NetGalley.
This was a HEAVY read. The themes of grief, trauma, and revenge are strong. I love the way the author blended together body horror with Kristina’s (the MC) emotions. The book starts out with Kristina turning into an undead and coming to terms with that. She realizes that when feeding on humans she is able to take a look into their memories throughout life. This gives her the idea to seek vengeance against those who have hurt her most, while also trying to find closure for the trauma she has endured from them. As a queer person this book hit very close to home and was honestly cathartic. I enjoyed this short but horrific novel and hope to see this author keep writing more horror stories.
This was a HEAVY read. The themes of grief, trauma, and revenge are strong. I love the way the author blended together body horror with Kristina’s (the MC) emotions. The book starts out with Kristina turning into an undead and coming to terms with that. She realizes that when feeding on humans she is able to take a look into their memories throughout life. This gives her the idea to seek vengeance against those who have hurt her most, while also trying to find closure for the trauma she has endured from them. As a queer person this book hit very close to home and was honestly cathartic. I enjoyed this short but horrific novel and hope to see this author keep writing more horror stories.
February 16, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
WOW!!! what a novella!
Grief Eater follows Kristina, a newly-turned zombie driven by a hunger not just for flesh, but for justice. Abandoned by the people who were supposed to love her, she sets off across the harsh Australian bush to confront those who failed her in life. When she finally reaches them, she faces one final, devastating question: will she feed… or forgive?
This story is gripping, atmospheric, and filled with tension from start to finish. Kristina is an incredibly relatable protagonist - so vividly written that I could feel her rage pulsing through every page. The memories of abuse and homophobia she endured, paired with her desperate need for validation and love, made this a surprisingly emotional and heart-wrenching read.
Overall, I absolutely loved this novella. It’s bold, raw, and beautifully crafted. Honestly, I could have happily devoured a full-length novel.
Highly recommended.
WOW!!! what a novella!
Grief Eater follows Kristina, a newly-turned zombie driven by a hunger not just for flesh, but for justice. Abandoned by the people who were supposed to love her, she sets off across the harsh Australian bush to confront those who failed her in life. When she finally reaches them, she faces one final, devastating question: will she feed… or forgive?
This story is gripping, atmospheric, and filled with tension from start to finish. Kristina is an incredibly relatable protagonist - so vividly written that I could feel her rage pulsing through every page. The memories of abuse and homophobia she endured, paired with her desperate need for validation and love, made this a surprisingly emotional and heart-wrenching read.
Overall, I absolutely loved this novella. It’s bold, raw, and beautifully crafted. Honestly, I could have happily devoured a full-length novel.
Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book!
This story was a really well done exploration of grief and trauma and I loved it! It explores the human need for love and justice even when we deep down know that we will never get it. It was hauntingly beautiful and even more incredible that the author did so much in this novella of less than a 100 pages. Mark your calendars for when this releases, you don't want to miss it!
This story was a really well done exploration of grief and trauma and I loved it! It explores the human need for love and justice even when we deep down know that we will never get it. It was hauntingly beautiful and even more incredible that the author did so much in this novella of less than a 100 pages. Mark your calendars for when this releases, you don't want to miss it!
March 23, 2026
I really enjoyed this unique zombie horror story. What a cool way to explore queerness, found family, familial trauma, and grief. This was the perfect length and pacing. I can’t wait to read more from the author!
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Interstellar Flight Press, and Independent Book Publishers Association for the eARC!
Emma Osborne doesn’t just write a story in Grief Eater; they craft a visceral, bone-deep experience that lingers long after the final page. This is a book that doesn't ask for your attention—it demands it with a snarl.
The protagonist is a revelation. She is rageful, powerful, and hungry, existing in a state of constant tension that feels startlingly real. Osborne captures that specific, jagged edge of trauma where the need for survival morphs into a transformative power. She isn't the "likable" hero in the traditional, polished sense; she is a raw nerve, and that makes her journey infinitely more compelling.
The prose is gritty and unforgiving. There is no sugar-coating the mechanics of loss here. The world-building feels heavy—weighted down by the literal and metaphorical burdens the characters carry. The unflinching Pace refuses to blink during the darkest moments, making the eventual payoffs feel earned rather than gifted.
At its core, Grief Eater is a masterclass in the exploration of grief and trauma. It strips away the platitudes we usually associate with "healing" and replaces them with a more honest look at the human condition.
It beautifully balances two seemingly opposing forces: The desperate, often quiet search for connection in a world that feels designed to isolate us. The righteous fire that drives us to make things right when the world has gone wrong.
Osborne has written a story that is as haunting as it is beautiful. It’s a rare find that manages to be both a gut-punch and a warm embrace. If you want a book that respects the complexity of your emotions while delivering a high-stakes, gritty narrative, Grief Eater is essential reading.
Emma Osborne doesn’t just write a story in Grief Eater; they craft a visceral, bone-deep experience that lingers long after the final page. This is a book that doesn't ask for your attention—it demands it with a snarl.
The protagonist is a revelation. She is rageful, powerful, and hungry, existing in a state of constant tension that feels startlingly real. Osborne captures that specific, jagged edge of trauma where the need for survival morphs into a transformative power. She isn't the "likable" hero in the traditional, polished sense; she is a raw nerve, and that makes her journey infinitely more compelling.
The prose is gritty and unforgiving. There is no sugar-coating the mechanics of loss here. The world-building feels heavy—weighted down by the literal and metaphorical burdens the characters carry. The unflinching Pace refuses to blink during the darkest moments, making the eventual payoffs feel earned rather than gifted.
At its core, Grief Eater is a masterclass in the exploration of grief and trauma. It strips away the platitudes we usually associate with "healing" and replaces them with a more honest look at the human condition.
It beautifully balances two seemingly opposing forces: The desperate, often quiet search for connection in a world that feels designed to isolate us. The righteous fire that drives us to make things right when the world has gone wrong.
Osborne has written a story that is as haunting as it is beautiful. It’s a rare find that manages to be both a gut-punch and a warm embrace. If you want a book that respects the complexity of your emotions while delivering a high-stakes, gritty narrative, Grief Eater is essential reading.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*advanced ebook obtained from Netgalley, many thanks to them and the publisher, Interstellar Flight Press*
I love zombies - I always have. They're probably my favorite "movie monsters," and this novella's take was incredibly fascinating. I loved the way zombie lore was tweaked to allow for this exploration of death and grief, and reading from the perspective of someone who has died and become something more, who catalogues the way they change both physically and emotionally, was really engaging. It helps that the main character was easy to empathize with - she is a girl who has been hurt and is still trying to figure herself out. Becoming a monster allows her a second chance to process her life before she fully lets go like some of the other more mindless instinctual zombies, and the inevitability of that is brutal. Her analysis of herself and her own memories, now slightly divided from her human emotions, was a really interesting introspection. I grieved for her own existence more than she did, and I absolutely cannot get her best friend out of my mind.
There were so many lines that stuck out to me - the writing was gorgeous and visceral, and it transitions naturally between flashbacks and the present. It reads kind of like a journal, as she catalogues what she remembers and what motivates her, from her first love to her poor excuse for a family. I appreciated that the prose has simpler, direct moments, especially during action/present-day narration, but then it has these moments that are poetic and insightful, especially as the protagonist reflects on herself, or comes to terms with her new existence.
I strongly recommend this novella - for anybody, but especially queer girls coming to terms with themselves, or processing grief and trauma.
I love zombies - I always have. They're probably my favorite "movie monsters," and this novella's take was incredibly fascinating. I loved the way zombie lore was tweaked to allow for this exploration of death and grief, and reading from the perspective of someone who has died and become something more, who catalogues the way they change both physically and emotionally, was really engaging. It helps that the main character was easy to empathize with - she is a girl who has been hurt and is still trying to figure herself out. Becoming a monster allows her a second chance to process her life before she fully lets go like some of the other more mindless instinctual zombies, and the inevitability of that is brutal. Her analysis of herself and her own memories, now slightly divided from her human emotions, was a really interesting introspection. I grieved for her own existence more than she did, and I absolutely cannot get her best friend out of my mind.
There were so many lines that stuck out to me - the writing was gorgeous and visceral, and it transitions naturally between flashbacks and the present. It reads kind of like a journal, as she catalogues what she remembers and what motivates her, from her first love to her poor excuse for a family. I appreciated that the prose has simpler, direct moments, especially during action/present-day narration, but then it has these moments that are poetic and insightful, especially as the protagonist reflects on herself, or comes to terms with her new existence.
I strongly recommend this novella - for anybody, but especially queer girls coming to terms with themselves, or processing grief and trauma.
February 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for this eARC of Grief Eater by Emma Osborne, out June 1st, 2026.
I’m finding it difficult to put into words the way this novella burrowed between my ribs and sank its blackened, broken fingernails into the softest parts of my heart. Feminine rage is bloodthirsty. It demands revenge.
Experiencing the zombie apocalypse through the internal monologue of a still-lucid zombie, as she hunts down the family who abused and abandoned her, is unlike anything I’ve read before. Kristina’s rage is visceral and unflinchingly honest, so much so that you can’t help but root for the "monster" every step of the way.
While Grief Eater is a story of reprisal, it is also stitched together with flashbacks of Kristina’s life before the end: moments where she found happiness, safety, and community outside the nuclear family she was born into. For many queer people, chosen family is not just a preference but a necessity - a means of survival, of not being alone.
Losing that circle at the end of the world carried a completely different weight of grief for me as a reader. To have found that love, and then to lose it, is devastating in a way that lingers.
Osborne’s prose is strikingly beautiful without ever becoming overindulgent. The writing is precise, allowing the emotion, horror, and despair to land with full force rather than being buried beneath ornamentation. That they accomplish this while fully realizing both character and narrative in just 94 pages is notable.
Be mindful of the gore (if you read splatterpunk, it’s light work), but note that the book contains significant depictions of child abuse, misogyny, and homophobia.
I’m finding it difficult to put into words the way this novella burrowed between my ribs and sank its blackened, broken fingernails into the softest parts of my heart. Feminine rage is bloodthirsty. It demands revenge.
I wonder how many of us ate the men who hurt them. I hope that all of those men got the violence they deserved.
Experiencing the zombie apocalypse through the internal monologue of a still-lucid zombie, as she hunts down the family who abused and abandoned her, is unlike anything I’ve read before. Kristina’s rage is visceral and unflinchingly honest, so much so that you can’t help but root for the "monster" every step of the way.
While Grief Eater is a story of reprisal, it is also stitched together with flashbacks of Kristina’s life before the end: moments where she found happiness, safety, and community outside the nuclear family she was born into. For many queer people, chosen family is not just a preference but a necessity - a means of survival, of not being alone.
Losing that circle at the end of the world carried a completely different weight of grief for me as a reader. To have found that love, and then to lose it, is devastating in a way that lingers.
Osborne’s prose is strikingly beautiful without ever becoming overindulgent. The writing is precise, allowing the emotion, horror, and despair to land with full force rather than being buried beneath ornamentation. That they accomplish this while fully realizing both character and narrative in just 94 pages is notable.
Be mindful of the gore (if you read splatterpunk, it’s light work), but note that the book contains significant depictions of child abuse, misogyny, and homophobia.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy!
Grief Eater is a queer horror novella following Kristina as she turns into a zombie. It's a story of hunger, of hurt, of rage and gore and also has memories of Kristina's past life.
Kristina is simply... amazing. She is queer and has been abused by her family for her whole life, also because of the fact she was queer, so the story deals with the heaviness of domestic violence and how it has affected her. Through her memories, we find out how absolutely horrible her family was and how Kristina got her vengeance. Shes a strong character, reborn into a body of hunger and rage, savage and resilient. If I say so myself, her turning into a zombie was the best that could've happened to her.
The book has a wide range of queer and Trans representation and delves into the themes of homophobia, abuse and self discovery and how hard it is in this world to come out and be supported. The author has done an amazing job with portraying the harsh reality of being different in this world and how experiencing this amount of abuse since being a child can truly affect you, better or worse. Overall, I think this book needs to be out there for everyone, because it shows the reality through hunger and gore. Absolute masterpiece.
Grief Eater is a queer horror novella following Kristina as she turns into a zombie. It's a story of hunger, of hurt, of rage and gore and also has memories of Kristina's past life.
Kristina is simply... amazing. She is queer and has been abused by her family for her whole life, also because of the fact she was queer, so the story deals with the heaviness of domestic violence and how it has affected her. Through her memories, we find out how absolutely horrible her family was and how Kristina got her vengeance. Shes a strong character, reborn into a body of hunger and rage, savage and resilient. If I say so myself, her turning into a zombie was the best that could've happened to her.
The book has a wide range of queer and Trans representation and delves into the themes of homophobia, abuse and self discovery and how hard it is in this world to come out and be supported. The author has done an amazing job with portraying the harsh reality of being different in this world and how experiencing this amount of abuse since being a child can truly affect you, better or worse. Overall, I think this book needs to be out there for everyone, because it shows the reality through hunger and gore. Absolute masterpiece.
February 4, 2026
This short little book packed a hell of a punch! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it, especially as a reader who doesn’t usually enjoy zombie stories. 🧟♂️
⚠️ Trigger warnings are real ⚠️ vivid descriptions of death, dismemberment, and zombies eating people. Absolutely enraging depictions of homophobia towards our main character, as well as physical/emotional abuse.
I really enjoyed the premise of this story and was immediately hooked. The book just dives right in to the story and plot with little preamble, which worked perfectly for the length. The narration goes back and forth between our (zombie) main character and flashbacks from her human life, where we learn about her relationship with her AWFUL family. The descriptions are visceral and the writing style was great, I feel like the book takes you on a roller coaster of emotions, from disgusted, to anxious, to sad, to enraged, and back again. 🎢
My only critique is just how irredeemably TERRIBLE the main character’s parents and brother were. Like, they were so over-the-top despicable that it somehow felt less believable. Giving them a few redeemable qualities could have made the emotional punches hit harder (though the justice was pretty sweet).
Overall, I would recommend this novella to someone who enjoys horror, gore, vivid writing, and revenge stories. Don’t expect a happy ending, but know that you’ll be satisfied. 👏
Thank you to Netgalley and Interstellar Flight Press for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! 📚
⚠️ Trigger warnings are real ⚠️ vivid descriptions of death, dismemberment, and zombies eating people. Absolutely enraging depictions of homophobia towards our main character, as well as physical/emotional abuse.
I really enjoyed the premise of this story and was immediately hooked. The book just dives right in to the story and plot with little preamble, which worked perfectly for the length. The narration goes back and forth between our (zombie) main character and flashbacks from her human life, where we learn about her relationship with her AWFUL family. The descriptions are visceral and the writing style was great, I feel like the book takes you on a roller coaster of emotions, from disgusted, to anxious, to sad, to enraged, and back again. 🎢
My only critique is just how irredeemably TERRIBLE the main character’s parents and brother were. Like, they were so over-the-top despicable that it somehow felt less believable. Giving them a few redeemable qualities could have made the emotional punches hit harder (though the justice was pretty sweet).
Overall, I would recommend this novella to someone who enjoys horror, gore, vivid writing, and revenge stories. Don’t expect a happy ending, but know that you’ll be satisfied. 👏
Thank you to Netgalley and Interstellar Flight Press for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! 📚
February 10, 2026
Unable to eat away the pain, Kristina finally decides to reclaim her self-worth and agency in death. Karma is a bitch with sharp teeth and a hunger for justice.
Grief Eater is a heartbreaking story detailing brutal, enduring trauma inflicted by those from whom we expect unconditional love. It follows struggles of being disempowered, silenced and left feeling unloveable.
Through her demise Kristina finds courage to face the most painful facets of her life and demands rage filled retribution. Osborne cleverly explores whether vengeance can ever be used as a healer; is it ever truly satisfying? The execution is tight and effective, leaving you seeped in Kristina’s frustrations. I found myself feeling that building anticipation and fury through the journey.
This is a brutal and beautifully cruel novella, crafted with smooth, emotionally visceral prose and is most definitely a worthwhile read.
Thanks NetGalley for letting me sink my teeth into this ARC.
Grief Eater is a heartbreaking story detailing brutal, enduring trauma inflicted by those from whom we expect unconditional love. It follows struggles of being disempowered, silenced and left feeling unloveable.
Through her demise Kristina finds courage to face the most painful facets of her life and demands rage filled retribution. Osborne cleverly explores whether vengeance can ever be used as a healer; is it ever truly satisfying? The execution is tight and effective, leaving you seeped in Kristina’s frustrations. I found myself feeling that building anticipation and fury through the journey.
This is a brutal and beautifully cruel novella, crafted with smooth, emotionally visceral prose and is most definitely a worthwhile read.
Thanks NetGalley for letting me sink my teeth into this ARC.
March 21, 2026
Review for advanced reader copy on NetGalley
💀🩸🥀
Absolutely adored this, read it all in one sitting- sorry, sleep schedule. This was worth it. I’ve read many horror books, and only a few have made me squirm because of how well-written the gore and violence was, and this was definitely one! (side note- all of the ones I can think of have sapphic main characters. Funny coincidence. Unless sapphic horror authors are just crazy good at writing violence.)
If you love zombie stories, women getting revenge, and holding your breath, this is absolutely the book for you. Emma Osborne did such an amazing job at making you truly care about the characters in such a short amount of time, and I loved the detail of showing her parents kind in some memories. I will absolutely be reading any and all books they publish in the future, because that writing style is IMMACULATE.
Extra points for no (graphic) animal deaths. Win for animal lovers everywhere!!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read Grief Eater in exchange for my honest review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💀🩸🥀
Absolutely adored this, read it all in one sitting- sorry, sleep schedule. This was worth it. I’ve read many horror books, and only a few have made me squirm because of how well-written the gore and violence was, and this was definitely one! (side note- all of the ones I can think of have sapphic main characters. Funny coincidence. Unless sapphic horror authors are just crazy good at writing violence.)
If you love zombie stories, women getting revenge, and holding your breath, this is absolutely the book for you. Emma Osborne did such an amazing job at making you truly care about the characters in such a short amount of time, and I loved the detail of showing her parents kind in some memories. I will absolutely be reading any and all books they publish in the future, because that writing style is IMMACULATE.
Extra points for no (graphic) animal deaths. Win for animal lovers everywhere!!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read Grief Eater in exchange for my honest review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for the eARC! This review is voluntary and all opinions stated are my own.
I've always had a soft spot for post-apocalyptic-zombie books, which might strike someone as odd given the content. I always appreciate when these books take a different route than expected.
Grief Eater definitely did that by putting us in the mind of Kristina who was bitten at the beginning of the book and spends the whole book a zombie with a goal in mind before giving into the "full zombie experience".
I really appreciated how this novella gave us tid-bits of Kristina's life pre-bite and how the rage, loss, and grief from her human-life lingered and fueled her. The bits about her best friend, Josh, as well as how she experienced fleeting memories of others when feeding struck me the most.
Safe to say, I enjoyed it!
I've always had a soft spot for post-apocalyptic-zombie books, which might strike someone as odd given the content. I always appreciate when these books take a different route than expected.
Grief Eater definitely did that by putting us in the mind of Kristina who was bitten at the beginning of the book and spends the whole book a zombie with a goal in mind before giving into the "full zombie experience".
I really appreciated how this novella gave us tid-bits of Kristina's life pre-bite and how the rage, loss, and grief from her human-life lingered and fueled her. The bits about her best friend, Josh, as well as how she experienced fleeting memories of others when feeding struck me the most.
Safe to say, I enjoyed it!
February 15, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC
This novella follows Kristina, a queer Australian, who has just been turned into a zombie. From her point of view we see the parts of her past that made her, for good or for growth. I felt deeply connected to her, and wanted for her what she wanted for herself. There is a long list of trigger warnings, so be aware of that before going in.
Emma Osborne’s writing is visceral and devastating. I haven’t read a lot of “undead” fiction but I did eat this up. For now this sits at a 4.5 for me, but I have a feeling I will have a difficult time not thinking about this for quite some, and may eventually bump it up to a full 5.
Having just finished this I feel quite undead myself. I am left wanting more but I have nowhere to look.
I look forward to reading more from Emma Osborne in the future!
This novella follows Kristina, a queer Australian, who has just been turned into a zombie. From her point of view we see the parts of her past that made her, for good or for growth. I felt deeply connected to her, and wanted for her what she wanted for herself. There is a long list of trigger warnings, so be aware of that before going in.
Emma Osborne’s writing is visceral and devastating. I haven’t read a lot of “undead” fiction but I did eat this up. For now this sits at a 4.5 for me, but I have a feeling I will have a difficult time not thinking about this for quite some, and may eventually bump it up to a full 5.
Having just finished this I feel quite undead myself. I am left wanting more but I have nowhere to look.
I look forward to reading more from Emma Osborne in the future!
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