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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, Paperback
Expected publication June 1, 2026
9 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Emma Osborne
11 books20 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 80 reviews
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!
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
February 8, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Interstellar Flight Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
This is the best "read now" book i've encountered on Netgalley, full stop.
The prose was poetic but the pace was perfect. I quite enjoyed the bit of back and forth between timelines we did because it built A LOT of history for our FMC in such a short novel. I was wanting for NOTHING, this was just so exquisite. The right amount of pain interlaced with sadness and longing topped with gore-filled depictions.
Such an interesting premise as well that lived up to the description. Very well written and I will be recommending this to my audience.
This is the best "read now" book i've encountered on Netgalley, full stop.
The prose was poetic but the pace was perfect. I quite enjoyed the bit of back and forth between timelines we did because it built A LOT of history for our FMC in such a short novel. I was wanting for NOTHING, this was just so exquisite. The right amount of pain interlaced with sadness and longing topped with gore-filled depictions.
Such an interesting premise as well that lived up to the description. Very well written and I will be recommending this to my audience.
February 15, 2026
Thank you Netgalley & Interstellar Flight Press for this eArc of Grief Eater.
Emma Osborne’s debut novella Grief Eater is horrifically gripping from the first page. Set in the concrete cityscape of Melbourne, Australia, we live inside the mind of a revenge driven zombie as she discovers the strengths of her new form while reflecting on the abuse she was inflicted in her mortal life.
Full of twisted family relationships, queer representation and a fresh take on an apocalyptic world from the POV of the Zombie. Grief Eater will have you rooting for the bad guy and sickened from the gore of it all.
Emma Osborne’s debut novella Grief Eater is horrifically gripping from the first page. Set in the concrete cityscape of Melbourne, Australia, we live inside the mind of a revenge driven zombie as she discovers the strengths of her new form while reflecting on the abuse she was inflicted in her mortal life.
Full of twisted family relationships, queer representation and a fresh take on an apocalyptic world from the POV of the Zombie. Grief Eater will have you rooting for the bad guy and sickened from the gore of it all.
February 3, 2026
A zombie novella that really throws a bloodied wrench at your heart. There is so much emotion written between these short pages that humanize the zombie. What does it mean to succumb to the monstrosities we call zombies? Are we still living or is there a new undead normal? A captivating read that changes the perspective of the zombie apocalypse.
Osborne’s writing leaves a mark like a zombie hunting humans. What are we all hunting from our lives? There is the reoccurring themes of dealing with grief and centering the conversation around the metaphor at cheating death with consequences. This will send shivers down your spine and send you down an emotional spiral. A world full of zombie’s in this medium paced novella. Thank you Emma Osbourne, Interstellar Flight Press, and Netgalley for this advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.
For tarot readings, recommendations, and reviews, visit my blog https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
Osborne’s writing leaves a mark like a zombie hunting humans. What are we all hunting from our lives? There is the reoccurring themes of dealing with grief and centering the conversation around the metaphor at cheating death with consequences. This will send shivers down your spine and send you down an emotional spiral. A world full of zombie’s in this medium paced novella. Thank you Emma Osbourne, Interstellar Flight Press, and Netgalley for this advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.
For tarot readings, recommendations, and reviews, visit my blog https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
To start thank you netgally for access to this ARC. I absolutely loved this book. So absolutely visceral. Being a novella, it was short and sweet, but I could have read even more. There are many zombie books but none quite hit like this one. I loved reading from the zombies point of view. I related so much to some of the traumatic experiences, and this book really dug deep. Don't sleep on this one guys
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
i enjoyed this book! the writing was very cinematic (although i'm quite the dramatic reader, and wish it was more descriptive and flowery) and the p.o.v. is SO interesting. It's so unapologetically queer, full of aching, trauma, guts, and revenge, and it's so damn grim, which i adored.
"they died before i came out. so they still loved me when they passed."
thank you, NetGalley, for providing this ARC!! this is an honest, unbiased review.
"they died before i came out. so they still loved me when they passed."
thank you, NetGalley, for providing this ARC!! this is an honest, unbiased review.
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!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley. I really enjoyed this short story, it really packed a lot in. Such a unique take on a zombie story. I love a 'good for her' story but this was also tinged with sadness, loss and the consuming grief most abuse victims feel when they realise their abusers just don't care and never did. Heartbreaking and memorable!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A zombie apocalypse told from perspective of a zombie that I bawled my eyes out to.
This queer horror deals with childhood trauma, homophobic parents, abuse and tremendous grief. Does turning into a zombie helps one let go of all that anger and resentment? Maybe not, maybe not even then.
The writing was poignant, the author's craft is top-notch, you should definitely put this novella (under 100 pages) on your TBR if you haven't yet.
This queer horror deals with childhood trauma, homophobic parents, abuse and tremendous grief. Does turning into a zombie helps one let go of all that anger and resentment? Maybe not, maybe not even then.
The writing was poignant, the author's craft is top-notch, you should definitely put this novella (under 100 pages) on your TBR if you haven't yet.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"I am a devil made of vengeance, and I am hunting."
This was a really strong and gripping novella that used the zombie genre in a way I haven't seen before. Kristina uses her newfound strength after turning to seek revenge on the family that abused her and cast her out for being queer.
It's a very emotional journey with a focus on Kristina processing and coming to terms with the way she was treated. It's visceral and messy in a way only the horror of the queer experience could be.
"I am a devil made of vengeance, and I am hunting."
This was a really strong and gripping novella that used the zombie genre in a way I haven't seen before. Kristina uses her newfound strength after turning to seek revenge on the family that abused her and cast her out for being queer.
It's a very emotional journey with a focus on Kristina processing and coming to terms with the way she was treated. It's visceral and messy in a way only the horror of the queer experience could be.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Grief Eater is a short read, but one that is so full of depth and emotion that it satisfies your hunger. This novella gave me everything I could’ve asked for in a zombie apocalypse. The atmosphere, the characters, and the story were all so fleshed out; the emotions on page were palpable. Honestly, I just loved everything about this!
Huge thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Huge thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 8, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC! My first book from NetGalley, and it was incredible. Captures rage born from a life of abuse and hidden queerness, expressed in a post apocalyptical, gore filled world. I really enjoyed this and felt like I truly was in our main character’s worn out Doc Martens.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Grief Eater
By Emma Osborne
Pub Date: Jun 1 2026
This book is short but it packs a punch. It's definitely a unique take on the zombie apocalypse story., told from the pov of a lesbian zombie.
Thank you to NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
By Emma Osborne
Pub Date: Jun 1 2026
This book is short but it packs a punch. It's definitely a unique take on the zombie apocalypse story., told from the pov of a lesbian zombie.
Thank you to NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is how you write a horror book! Visceral, dark, uncomfortable. A zombie book from the POV of the zombie while also diving a bit into the MCs backstory without making it feel like it's a dual timeline or making it confusing.
This was the perfect novella from start to finish. It's deep and powerful and starts off with a bang.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
This was the perfect novella from start to finish. It's deep and powerful and starts off with a bang.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wowwww! This one is dark & Revenge plays a huge part in the plot. Definitely a book for mature audiences, with a few triggers. There are dark themes, dark humor, great character development, suspense, horror, & will have you cheering on our fmc! By the end of this book, I was on the edge of my damn seat, waiting for the much needed "pay back"!
February 1, 2026
Osborne’s Grief Eater is an incredibly visceral and haunting horror-short. I absolutely loved the intensity of the writing, the anger and emotion really radiated from the pages.
Short stories can often be a little hit and miss, given the length it can be hard to resonate with the character but the time jump style plotting was utilised really well, even if I found some parts just a little repetitive.
I’d absolutely recommend this to any zombie or queer horror lover, and would love to read anything longer form by Osborne, as I think her writing style would be incredible with a chance to explore these themes in a bit more depth.
Short stories can often be a little hit and miss, given the length it can be hard to resonate with the character but the time jump style plotting was utilised really well, even if I found some parts just a little repetitive.
I’d absolutely recommend this to any zombie or queer horror lover, and would love to read anything longer form by Osborne, as I think her writing style would be incredible with a chance to explore these themes in a bit more depth.
February 2, 2026
This story is exactly what I was looking for: bloody, vengeful and gory to the extreme. Emma Osborne was not holding back at any point and I am so glad for that. Perfect pacing and plot, I was hooked from the first pages and have no criticism whatsoever. I will definitely read more of their work in the future.
Thank you NetGalley for the copy!
Thank you NetGalley for the copy!
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