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16 days and 04:41:35
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Hell to Pay
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Expected 30 Mar 27Win a free print copy of this book!
16 days and 04:41:35
2 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
The riveting, darkly humorous, and deeply strange story of three roommates whose everyday struggle to survive in New York is complicated by the intestine-eating demon who haunts their apartment.
Leni was kidnapped and almost sacrificed to the devil as a child, but now she’s perfectly fine. Aside from the fact that she has four reflections in the mirror…and one of them wants her to poison people.
Emerson was a leading heart surgeon until The Incident that left his patient dead. Now he’s too sick to work, keeps finding severed fingers in his water bottles, and is followed around by a faceless Girl Scout with a creaky red wagon.
Jasper is a line cook with a criminal record, just trying to keep his chosen family together. Sure, he sees a man in the shadows who likes the taste of blood, but he’s very good at ignoring that. He would do anything for Leni and Emerson. Anything.
They’re fine. They’re normal. They’re roommates making it work in New York City.
That is, until a demon leaves his sigil on their wall.
Now, they have seven days to bring Sychar a sacrifice, or he’ll tear off their skin. Who knew demon-slaying wasn’t a valid excuse to miss work? Why are murder supplies so expensive? Just how is a low-income household supposed to afford a human sacrifice?
As their personal ghosts grow louder and Sychar’s deadline draws nearer, Leni, Emerson, and Jasper discover just how far they’ll go to protect each other.
Leni was kidnapped and almost sacrificed to the devil as a child, but now she’s perfectly fine. Aside from the fact that she has four reflections in the mirror…and one of them wants her to poison people.
Emerson was a leading heart surgeon until The Incident that left his patient dead. Now he’s too sick to work, keeps finding severed fingers in his water bottles, and is followed around by a faceless Girl Scout with a creaky red wagon.
Jasper is a line cook with a criminal record, just trying to keep his chosen family together. Sure, he sees a man in the shadows who likes the taste of blood, but he’s very good at ignoring that. He would do anything for Leni and Emerson. Anything.
They’re fine. They’re normal. They’re roommates making it work in New York City.
That is, until a demon leaves his sigil on their wall.
Now, they have seven days to bring Sychar a sacrifice, or he’ll tear off their skin. Who knew demon-slaying wasn’t a valid excuse to miss work? Why are murder supplies so expensive? Just how is a low-income household supposed to afford a human sacrifice?
As their personal ghosts grow louder and Sychar’s deadline draws nearer, Leni, Emerson, and Jasper discover just how far they’ll go to protect each other.
Hardcover
Expected publication March 30, 2027
About the author
Kylie Lee Baker
17 books3,352 followersKylie Lee Baker grew up in Boston and has since lived in Atlanta, Salamanca, and Seoul. Her work is informed by her heritage (Japanese, Chinese, & Irish) as well as her experiences living abroad as both a student and teacher. She has a BA in creative writing and Spanish from Emory University and is pursuing a master of library and information science degree at Simmons University. In her free time, she plays the cello, watches horror movies, and bakes too many cookies. The Keeper of Night is her debut novel.
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Want to Read
June 11, 2026Pre-release: Finding out about this book few days after having finished Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng and I'm sat 🙂↕️💚
Want to Read
June 11, 2026thank you to the publisher for an arc! i can't wait to dive in, as i have absolutely loved all of kylie lee baker's books, but especially her horror novels: she definitely has found her genre in horror, and it was so exciting to have heard about this next novel at the release party of japanese gothic 🤍
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
How far would you go to protect yourself and your friends if a demon was going to kill you? From the author of "Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng" and "Japanese Gothic," two absolutely solid horror novels, comes something entirely different but just as interesting. Sometimes when an author is able to produce novels so quickly there's a drop in quality. But Baker is proving to be a powerhouse.
The three main characters: Leni, Emerson and Jasper, had an interesting dynamic as friends and roommates. They were as close as family and fiercely devoted to each other. But there were times when their inability to just communicate their feelings properly made me want to tear my hair out. (Know this: the sexual tension running in all directions among this triangle was...KIND of wild and only got wilder.) I don’t usually read books with this much romantic and lustful longing in them and TBH, it’s not my thing. But it was so interesting to see it in a horror story, and Baker was good at writing it. Does this play a major role in the plot? Sort of.
Although the POV is split amongst these three and alternates from chapter to chapter, I felt that Leni took center stage as the primary focus. She is haunted by past trauma and a truly fascinating manifestation of guilt and other personal ghosts in the present, that literally follow her everywhere like a posse. Emerson is suffering from the long effects of COVID, and it has affected his life profoundly. This will be important to his part of the story, so I feel it's worth mentioning because I know that some people don't like to be reminded about the realities of the pandemic when they're trying to escape into literature. (I feel that's valid, and I get it. Art is both a stark reflection of our reality and a means of avoiding it, depending on the person or the day, so I don't judge when it comes to topics like that one.) But do keep in mind that Baker is also writing about how racism and COVID were tightly intertwined with each other, and that should not be ignored. "Bat Eater" also explored this theme to a much deeper extent.
One of my favorite things in this book besides the scary stuff was actually the descriptions of food! Jasper works as a cook in a restaurant and many of those scenes made me so hungry. It was also interesting to see Baker comment directly on the literary industry, both the business side of it and from the perspective of a writer. Part of me had to wonder if the successful author character that Leni was forced to cater to at her job was based on anyone real. But I also don't want to speculate. Despite their frustrating habit of hiding their feelings and misunderstanding each other, each of the roommates was complicated, easy to visualize and had a well plotted backstory. Some of the hateful side characters in the book really raised my blood pressure. I hate feeling intense anger and stress when I read, though I know that’s sometimes the point an author is trying to make. This is the first of the three novels of Baker’s that has affected me to such a degree. (“Bat Eater” certainly had its moments, though.) I will say that if you stick with it, there is a rewarding catharsis.
I did find some of the action a bit repetitive. This is the reason I'm giving it a 4 instead of a 5. (Our three main characters go to work, get treated horribly, sulk about their situation, rinse and repeat.) But then again, this is the cycle of their lives and sometimes a reflection of real life. And Baker is skilled at building up the creepy suspense. She doles out the horror in spoonfuls before finally serving you a full meal, but once you sit down to that table it's a bloody feast. I really enjoyed the numerous scenes scattered throughout the narrative of Leni, Jasper and Emerson slowly feeling as if they were losing their minds as they felt the demon moving closer. In all three books that I've read by Kylie Lee Baker, she's been consistent at vivid horror imagery that stays with me for a while. And I wouldn't say that I was surprised by the ending, as Baker took me by the hand and pulled me towards the conclusion from page one. However, there were still some details that were unexpected and I can definitely see some people clutching their pearls over it. Make sure you read the afterword, because it made me chuckle.
Thank you to Netgalley for this early copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Racism, Harm to animals, Self-harm/Suicidal Ideation, Domestic abuse, References to substance abuse, Chronic illness.
The three main characters: Leni, Emerson and Jasper, had an interesting dynamic as friends and roommates. They were as close as family and fiercely devoted to each other. But there were times when their inability to just communicate their feelings properly made me want to tear my hair out. (Know this: the sexual tension running in all directions among this triangle was...KIND of wild and only got wilder.) I don’t usually read books with this much romantic and lustful longing in them and TBH, it’s not my thing. But it was so interesting to see it in a horror story, and Baker was good at writing it. Does this play a major role in the plot? Sort of.
Although the POV is split amongst these three and alternates from chapter to chapter, I felt that Leni took center stage as the primary focus. She is haunted by past trauma and a truly fascinating manifestation of guilt and other personal ghosts in the present, that literally follow her everywhere like a posse. Emerson is suffering from the long effects of COVID, and it has affected his life profoundly. This will be important to his part of the story, so I feel it's worth mentioning because I know that some people don't like to be reminded about the realities of the pandemic when they're trying to escape into literature. (I feel that's valid, and I get it. Art is both a stark reflection of our reality and a means of avoiding it, depending on the person or the day, so I don't judge when it comes to topics like that one.) But do keep in mind that Baker is also writing about how racism and COVID were tightly intertwined with each other, and that should not be ignored. "Bat Eater" also explored this theme to a much deeper extent.
One of my favorite things in this book besides the scary stuff was actually the descriptions of food! Jasper works as a cook in a restaurant and many of those scenes made me so hungry. It was also interesting to see Baker comment directly on the literary industry, both the business side of it and from the perspective of a writer. Part of me had to wonder if the successful author character that Leni was forced to cater to at her job was based on anyone real. But I also don't want to speculate. Despite their frustrating habit of hiding their feelings and misunderstanding each other, each of the roommates was complicated, easy to visualize and had a well plotted backstory. Some of the hateful side characters in the book really raised my blood pressure. I hate feeling intense anger and stress when I read, though I know that’s sometimes the point an author is trying to make. This is the first of the three novels of Baker’s that has affected me to such a degree. (“Bat Eater” certainly had its moments, though.) I will say that if you stick with it, there is a rewarding catharsis.
I did find some of the action a bit repetitive. This is the reason I'm giving it a 4 instead of a 5. (Our three main characters go to work, get treated horribly, sulk about their situation, rinse and repeat.) But then again, this is the cycle of their lives and sometimes a reflection of real life. And Baker is skilled at building up the creepy suspense. She doles out the horror in spoonfuls before finally serving you a full meal, but once you sit down to that table it's a bloody feast. I really enjoyed the numerous scenes scattered throughout the narrative of Leni, Jasper and Emerson slowly feeling as if they were losing their minds as they felt the demon moving closer. In all three books that I've read by Kylie Lee Baker, she's been consistent at vivid horror imagery that stays with me for a while. And I wouldn't say that I was surprised by the ending, as Baker took me by the hand and pulled me towards the conclusion from page one. However, there were still some details that were unexpected and I can definitely see some people clutching their pearls over it. Make sure you read the afterword, because it made me chuckle.
Thank you to Netgalley for this early copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Racism, Harm to animals, Self-harm/Suicidal Ideation, Domestic abuse, References to substance abuse, Chronic illness.
Want to Read
February 28, 2026New KLB novel about an intestine eating demon?! I'M IN, 2027 can't come soon enough!
![Profile Image for Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1746468325i/66224803._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
arc
July 27, 2026I feel so honored and absolutely excited to have an arc for this ✨🥹🥰
Can’t wait to read it! (Literally, I’m gonna start right now)
Thank you edelweiss and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this masterpiece 🙏🏻
Can’t wait to read it! (Literally, I’m gonna start right now)
Thank you edelweiss and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this masterpiece 🙏🏻
Want to Read
April 15, 2026an intestine eating demon haunting a nyc apartment
!! Take my money Kylie
!! Take my money Kylie
Want to Read
March 6, 2026i don't care what it's about...just take my money!
anticipated-2026
August 27, 2026Kylie Lee Baker made this sound fantastic at WorldCon!
Want to Read
July 30, 2026ARC received! Thank you, Hanover Square Press!!
Want to Read
June 12, 2026Brat green for the cover... wig
they-told-me-to-read-it
July 26, 2026
Want to Read
March 1, 2026KLB can write about the horrors of waking up to find your phone didn't charge through the night and I'd be seated
August 11, 2026
One thing I love about a KLB book is her ability to stick and move. Despite the fact that some might be deterred by this one not being "like" her usual, I found this one very much a trademark of this author with how much I enjoyed her savvy candor in writing alone. Descriptive horror and sadness embodies itself into the most beautiful words while we learn about three roomies in New York who are struggling past rent spikes and COVID blindness. While vastly nowhere near the same as her prior works, again, I loved this one, the way the characters worked themselves out of situations, and how darkly funny it was. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC.
not-released-yet-tbr
June 15, 202615/6/26: this sounds so interesting!! can't wait 👀
September 10, 2026
Review courtesy of an ARC provided by Edelweiss.
Whatever you’re expecting from the third major Kylie Lee Baker release, it is almost certainly not this.
In a similar vein to Cora, this novel is set in a post-COVID New York City, where we are introduced to our three major characters: Emerson, Jasper, and Leni. The trio shares a too-small, highly dysfunctional apartment managed by a neglectful slumlord who never misses an opportunity to rip them off and raise the rent. Despite being down on their luck and offering highly depressive individual perspectives as they navigate the racist landscape of the city outside, the love they share between them is magnetic and sets up a unique and exciting polyamorous love triangle.
Each character is fighting an emotional battle fraught with past traumas, mental and physical illness, career nosedives, and a general lack of purpose in a world that seems determined to keep them each pinned down by the neck without egress. This novel was a quick read, but because of this, the tone was consistently bleak - almost absurdly so, at times. I adore “unlikable” main characters in the horror genre especially, and still found the level of whinging in this a little difficult to care for.
That said, this is a story about learning to live with your demons, literal and figurative, so I appreciate Baker’s balls-to-the-wall bloodbath approach now that I’ve properly digested (iykyk) it! Hell to Pay is gory, kind of super insane, and pretty sexy. While it isn’t my favorite, it does deserves its flowers.
(And there’s a recurring bit about severed hands and fingers that I cannot get out of my head.)
Thank you to Hanover Square Press and the kind folks at Edelweiss for the opportunity to review this heavily anticipated release early.
Whatever you’re expecting from the third major Kylie Lee Baker release, it is almost certainly not this.
In a similar vein to Cora, this novel is set in a post-COVID New York City, where we are introduced to our three major characters: Emerson, Jasper, and Leni. The trio shares a too-small, highly dysfunctional apartment managed by a neglectful slumlord who never misses an opportunity to rip them off and raise the rent. Despite being down on their luck and offering highly depressive individual perspectives as they navigate the racist landscape of the city outside, the love they share between them is magnetic and sets up a unique and exciting polyamorous love triangle.
Each character is fighting an emotional battle fraught with past traumas, mental and physical illness, career nosedives, and a general lack of purpose in a world that seems determined to keep them each pinned down by the neck without egress. This novel was a quick read, but because of this, the tone was consistently bleak - almost absurdly so, at times. I adore “unlikable” main characters in the horror genre especially, and still found the level of whinging in this a little difficult to care for.
That said, this is a story about learning to live with your demons, literal and figurative, so I appreciate Baker’s balls-to-the-wall bloodbath approach now that I’ve properly digested (iykyk) it! Hell to Pay is gory, kind of super insane, and pretty sexy. While it isn’t my favorite, it does deserves its flowers.
(And there’s a recurring bit about severed hands and fingers that I cannot get out of my head.)
Thank you to Hanover Square Press and the kind folks at Edelweiss for the opportunity to review this heavily anticipated release early.
Want to Read
June 10, 2026I cannot WAIT to read this!! I can honestly say Bat Eater and Japanese Gothic are two of my favorite books I've ever read!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Equal parts riveting and sickening, Hell to Pay has the bravery to (correctly) say that amid some truly bone-chilling supernatural circumstances, the real horror is having to afford rent.
The promise of unconscionable violence hovers Damocles-like above every scene, tightening the tension, heady and inescapable as gravity. The only thing I wanted more than to look away from the demons, the abuse, the remnants of their vicious pasts was to keep reading to see what happened next.
Leni, Emerson, and Jasper each have strong, individuated voices, and I never stopped rooting for all three of our leads, even and especially when they were tempted to violence. I was not anticipating the juicy romantic subplots or the marrow-deep yearning they stoked, but they stole my whole heart.
Kylie Lee Baker has once again proven herself a must-read author. If you are a fan of Asian American bisexual wrongs, of the stomach-twisting horrors of modern life, or if you really really hate your job or landlord— this is the book for you. I adored it.
The promise of unconscionable violence hovers Damocles-like above every scene, tightening the tension, heady and inescapable as gravity. The only thing I wanted more than to look away from the demons, the abuse, the remnants of their vicious pasts was to keep reading to see what happened next.
Leni, Emerson, and Jasper each have strong, individuated voices, and I never stopped rooting for all three of our leads, even and especially when they were tempted to violence. I was not anticipating the juicy romantic subplots or the marrow-deep yearning they stoked, but they stole my whole heart.
Kylie Lee Baker has once again proven herself a must-read author. If you are a fan of Asian American bisexual wrongs, of the stomach-twisting horrors of modern life, or if you really really hate your job or landlord— this is the book for you. I adored it.
July 30, 2026
Thank to the publisher (netgalley and edelweiss) for an early review copy. I was (kind of?) on board until the last scene.
They have an orgy over a man’s dead body. I think I’m good on reading anything else by this author. Full review to come closer to pub date.
How do we get from Japanese gothic (a near perfect book) to this mess?
They have an orgy over a man’s dead body. I think I’m good on reading anything else by this author. Full review to come closer to pub date.
How do we get from Japanese gothic (a near perfect book) to this mess?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2026
Bat Eater was my favorite book of 2025 and since then I have requested any and everything that Baker has written. While Bat Eater was a 5 star read for me and Japanese Gothic was a 4 star, Hell to Pay unfortunately ended up being 2 stars.
Hell to Pay follows roommates Leni, Emerson, and Jasper as they navigate poverty and a rent hike from their predatory landlord. But when their apartment is marked by a demon, they have to decide how far they will go to not only keep their apartment, but their lives.
The premise for this book is really cool and I loved the cover. The story is easy to follow along and I enjoyed the first portion. BUT the characters are insufferable. They are all “woe is me” for the entire book and the character’s morals did not match their actions. I love a romance in horror, but the final coming together of the three characters in the way/ place/ time that it does was just so cringey and did not make sense. You can read spoiler reviews to know exactly what I'm referring to. The Emerson/ finger situation seemed ludicrous. Quite a few plot points were doing way too much unnecessarily. I think this book needs to cook a bit more / flesh out the characters, motivations, and make sure morality is matching their decisions.
Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Harper Collins, and Netgalley, for the ARC E-book in exchange for an honest review.
Hell to Pay follows roommates Leni, Emerson, and Jasper as they navigate poverty and a rent hike from their predatory landlord. But when their apartment is marked by a demon, they have to decide how far they will go to not only keep their apartment, but their lives.
The premise for this book is really cool and I loved the cover. The story is easy to follow along and I enjoyed the first portion. BUT the characters are insufferable. They are all “woe is me” for the entire book and the character’s morals did not match their actions. I love a romance in horror, but the final coming together of the three characters in the way/ place/ time that it does was just so cringey and did not make sense. You can read spoiler reviews to know exactly what I'm referring to. The Emerson/ finger situation seemed ludicrous. Quite a few plot points were doing way too much unnecessarily. I think this book needs to cook a bit more / flesh out the characters, motivations, and make sure morality is matching their decisions.
Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Harper Collins, and Netgalley, for the ARC E-book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Hell to Pay” by Kylie Lee Baker is basically what happens when three broke roommates in New York City are already dealing with enough personal trauma, and then a demon shows up and says, “Congrats! You have seven days to find me a human sacrifice or I’m going to ruin your entire existence.” Such a unique premise and a unique book with plenty of blood and gore. While not my favorite of Baker’s books, I loved how unhinged this book was, especially the ending.
Leni, Emerson, and Jasper are all dealing with their own supernatural baggage when a creepy sigil suddenly appears in their apartment. Leni recognizes it from the night she was kidnapped for a human sacrifice, so obviously this is not a good sign. Now they have a week to figure out what the hell is happening while also somehow continuing to worry about rent, jobs, their awful landlord, and regular everyday life. Because apparently demon problems don't qualify you for a break from adult responsibilities.
This book is weird. Like, gloriously, wonderfully unhinged weird. There’s an intestine-eating demon, severed fingers, ghosts, disturbing reflections, a faceless Girl Scout dragging around a little red wagon, body horror, blood, gore, and eventually some truly bizarre sacrifice-related stuff. If you're looking for something normal, this probably isn't it. If you're looking for something that makes you repeatedly think “what the actual hell am I reading?” then you've come to the right place.
But underneath all the insanity, I actually really liked the found-family aspect. Leni, Emerson, and Jasper are all pretty messed up in their own ways, and none of them are particularly perfect people. They're dealing with trauma, the effects of COVID, racism, complicated relationships, and their own questionable choices, but they've somehow become each other's safe place. Their willingness to protect one another is really the heart of the story.
I also loved that the supernatural horror is mixed with the very real horror of being broke and trying to survive in New York. There are demons haunting the apartment, but they still have to worry about rent. That contrast gives the book a surprisingly funny edge, and Baker's dark humor worked really well for me.
The three characters are also dealing with the question of whether what they're seeing is actually supernatural or just the result of their own trauma. Are all three being haunted? Only one? None of them? Something else entirely? I liked that uncertainty because it makes you question what's actually happening along with them.
The pacing is probably the biggest thing to know going in. This isn't nonstop demon-slaying from beginning to end. The story takes its time getting into the characters and focuses quite a bit on their internal struggles and relationships. There's a slow-building sense of dread as that seven-day deadline gets closer. So if you're expecting constant action, you might find it a little slow in places.
Overall, “Hell to Pay” is a deliciously bizarre horror story with demons, body horror, and a surprisingly sweet found-family core. It's messy in places, but it's also creative and unlike a lot of other horror I've read lately.
“Hell to Pay” by Kylie Lee Baker is basically what happens when three broke roommates in New York City are already dealing with enough personal trauma, and then a demon shows up and says, “Congrats! You have seven days to find me a human sacrifice or I’m going to ruin your entire existence.” Such a unique premise and a unique book with plenty of blood and gore. While not my favorite of Baker’s books, I loved how unhinged this book was, especially the ending.
Leni, Emerson, and Jasper are all dealing with their own supernatural baggage when a creepy sigil suddenly appears in their apartment. Leni recognizes it from the night she was kidnapped for a human sacrifice, so obviously this is not a good sign. Now they have a week to figure out what the hell is happening while also somehow continuing to worry about rent, jobs, their awful landlord, and regular everyday life. Because apparently demon problems don't qualify you for a break from adult responsibilities.
This book is weird. Like, gloriously, wonderfully unhinged weird. There’s an intestine-eating demon, severed fingers, ghosts, disturbing reflections, a faceless Girl Scout dragging around a little red wagon, body horror, blood, gore, and eventually some truly bizarre sacrifice-related stuff. If you're looking for something normal, this probably isn't it. If you're looking for something that makes you repeatedly think “what the actual hell am I reading?” then you've come to the right place.
But underneath all the insanity, I actually really liked the found-family aspect. Leni, Emerson, and Jasper are all pretty messed up in their own ways, and none of them are particularly perfect people. They're dealing with trauma, the effects of COVID, racism, complicated relationships, and their own questionable choices, but they've somehow become each other's safe place. Their willingness to protect one another is really the heart of the story.
I also loved that the supernatural horror is mixed with the very real horror of being broke and trying to survive in New York. There are demons haunting the apartment, but they still have to worry about rent. That contrast gives the book a surprisingly funny edge, and Baker's dark humor worked really well for me.
The three characters are also dealing with the question of whether what they're seeing is actually supernatural or just the result of their own trauma. Are all three being haunted? Only one? None of them? Something else entirely? I liked that uncertainty because it makes you question what's actually happening along with them.
The pacing is probably the biggest thing to know going in. This isn't nonstop demon-slaying from beginning to end. The story takes its time getting into the characters and focuses quite a bit on their internal struggles and relationships. There's a slow-building sense of dread as that seven-day deadline gets closer. So if you're expecting constant action, you might find it a little slow in places.
Overall, “Hell to Pay” is a deliciously bizarre horror story with demons, body horror, and a surprisingly sweet found-family core. It's messy in places, but it's also creative and unlike a lot of other horror I've read lately.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A strange, bloody, and deeply unsettling horror story with a premise that immediately grabbed my attention. Three roommates, an intestine-eating demon, a mysterious sigil, and seven days to find a sacrifice. Honestly, what’s not to love? It’s the kind of bizarre setup that makes you eager to see where the story will go.
Baker does an excellent job building a sense of unease, with plenty of genuinely creepy and grotesque moments along the way. The body horror is especially effective, and I enjoyed how the disturbing imagery is balanced with a surprisingly dark sense of humor. Beneath all the blood and chaos, the story also explores themes of trauma, poverty, social expectations, and the different ways people cope with difficult circumstances.
Baker’s writing is vivid and descriptive, bringing the unsettling imagery to life. Even when the story became a little messy, there was always something strange or interesting happening to keep me engaged.
The story explores themes of trauma, poverty, social expectations, and the different ways people cope with difficult circumstances. Baker’s writing is vivid and descriptive, and even when the plot became a little chaotic, there was always something interesting enough to keep me engaged. That said, the story tries to juggle a lot of different elements, and at times it felt like too many ideas were competing for attention. The ending was a bit of a mixed bag for me as well. There were some memorable and appropriately disturbing moments, but I didn’t feel that all the buildup ultimately delivered the payoff I was hoping for. Some revelations felt rushed, while other storylines seemed less fully resolved than I would have liked.
Overall, Hell to Pay is creative, gruesome, strange, and completely unafraid to take some big swings. The unusual premise, atmospheric writing, graphic horror, and dark humor kept me engaged throughout. There’s a lot here that worked for me, but the story ultimately felt like a mixed reading experience.
Baker does an excellent job building a sense of unease, with plenty of genuinely creepy and grotesque moments along the way. The body horror is especially effective, and I enjoyed how the disturbing imagery is balanced with a surprisingly dark sense of humor. Beneath all the blood and chaos, the story also explores themes of trauma, poverty, social expectations, and the different ways people cope with difficult circumstances.
Baker’s writing is vivid and descriptive, bringing the unsettling imagery to life. Even when the story became a little messy, there was always something strange or interesting happening to keep me engaged.
The story explores themes of trauma, poverty, social expectations, and the different ways people cope with difficult circumstances. Baker’s writing is vivid and descriptive, and even when the plot became a little chaotic, there was always something interesting enough to keep me engaged. That said, the story tries to juggle a lot of different elements, and at times it felt like too many ideas were competing for attention. The ending was a bit of a mixed bag for me as well. There were some memorable and appropriately disturbing moments, but I didn’t feel that all the buildup ultimately delivered the payoff I was hoping for. Some revelations felt rushed, while other storylines seemed less fully resolved than I would have liked.
Overall, Hell to Pay is creative, gruesome, strange, and completely unafraid to take some big swings. The unusual premise, atmospheric writing, graphic horror, and dark humor kept me engaged throughout. There’s a lot here that worked for me, but the story ultimately felt like a mixed reading experience.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A demon’s desire to fill your brain with obsessive thoughts that coerce you to present as the worst image of yourself. But what is a demon anyway? Maybe it is presence, an evil entity, or the evils that guide the social constructs of society. Another beautiful prose written by Baker that dances with demons with a splash of dark comedy. Baker’s register stays consistent creating Asian American literature that deconstructs what it means to be multi-racial and to belong or not feel like you belong amongst two societies. Ultimately, the demons that infiltrate your mind after engaging with social constructs, racism, and stereotypes all day.
The protagonist is morally grey who may have choices that need to be made in the wake of being in the presence of a demon. A series of unravelling choices and possible unfortunate events? A musing of what it means to tackle the darkness within and around. The characters come alive through descriptive dialogue and how they interact with others as the story unravels. What do all these character’s connections mean? Everything makes sense in the end and the end is what won the story for me. As it became faster paced I felt more invested in reading the fate of the plot.
The bit of the narrative that fell flat for me is how the beginning is terribly slow paced. I would have loved to see the setting come alive here to help build that creepy ambience. Sometimes a slow burn feels too slow for me, but I am glad I continued to read this one because I was not disappointed. I was left to think about what it means to come across demons at an inconvenient time. Well, I guess there would never been a convenient moment to meet a demon. Thank you Kylie Lee Baker, Hanover, and Netgalley for this advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews, tarot readings, and recommendations, visit my blog, https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/
The protagonist is morally grey who may have choices that need to be made in the wake of being in the presence of a demon. A series of unravelling choices and possible unfortunate events? A musing of what it means to tackle the darkness within and around. The characters come alive through descriptive dialogue and how they interact with others as the story unravels. What do all these character’s connections mean? Everything makes sense in the end and the end is what won the story for me. As it became faster paced I felt more invested in reading the fate of the plot.
The bit of the narrative that fell flat for me is how the beginning is terribly slow paced. I would have loved to see the setting come alive here to help build that creepy ambience. Sometimes a slow burn feels too slow for me, but I am glad I continued to read this one because I was not disappointed. I was left to think about what it means to come across demons at an inconvenient time. Well, I guess there would never been a convenient moment to meet a demon. Thank you Kylie Lee Baker, Hanover, and Netgalley for this advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews, tarot readings, and recommendations, visit my blog, https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/
September 23, 2026
The main characters are described as morally gray but I consider them more amoral. They are very woe-is-me yet willing to hurt others to satisfy themselves. Also I find miscommunication/they could never like me annoying enough with two characters but downright unbelievable with this trio. Every chapter no matter the POV is “I would do anything for these two people who also do so much for me but there is no way either of them could love me” over and over again.
The story and background of the characters are interesting when you are able to remove them from their poor me mentality, but I left the novel a bit disappointed overall as a follow up to Japanese Gothic, which I loved.
As a child, Leni was kidnapped and nearly sacrificed to a demon. Now, as an adult, she’s an assistant at a publishing firm with her own novel idea buried deep in a drawer, and extra reflections in every mirror. She has recently moved in with Emerson, who she met online, and his roommate Jasper. Emerson is an ex-heart surgeon suffering from long COVID and a smattering of other illnesses, who is currently doing night shift volunteer gigs to maintain a sense of self, and trying to ignore the severed fingers he keeps finding everywhere. Jasper is a recovering addict with a criminal record working as the ‘authentic’ face of a noodle house owned by a white man who doesn’t pay him nearly enough. The three have been managing to scrape by but after being notified that their rent cost is increasing, they come home one night to find a demons sigil on their wall.
They have seven days to provide the demon Sychar with a sacrifice or they are doomed.
As the group uses their limited resources to try to achieve the goal, they realize the lengths they are willing to go to for each other.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
The story and background of the characters are interesting when you are able to remove them from their poor me mentality, but I left the novel a bit disappointed overall as a follow up to Japanese Gothic, which I loved.
As a child, Leni was kidnapped and nearly sacrificed to a demon. Now, as an adult, she’s an assistant at a publishing firm with her own novel idea buried deep in a drawer, and extra reflections in every mirror. She has recently moved in with Emerson, who she met online, and his roommate Jasper. Emerson is an ex-heart surgeon suffering from long COVID and a smattering of other illnesses, who is currently doing night shift volunteer gigs to maintain a sense of self, and trying to ignore the severed fingers he keeps finding everywhere. Jasper is a recovering addict with a criminal record working as the ‘authentic’ face of a noodle house owned by a white man who doesn’t pay him nearly enough. The three have been managing to scrape by but after being notified that their rent cost is increasing, they come home one night to find a demons sigil on their wall.
They have seven days to provide the demon Sychar with a sacrifice or they are doomed.
As the group uses their limited resources to try to achieve the goal, they realize the lengths they are willing to go to for each other.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
August 28, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for giving me an ARC.
I had an absolute blast with this book. Guys, this book had such lovable characters and I was rooting for them, no matter if they got better or worse - I was in their side backing them up regardless of the path they chose to go down. The relationships between Leni, Jasper, and Emerson were so heartwarming and gooey and the book gave them the perfect ending that just left you wanting more. Or, at least, I wanted more.
I'm upset the book's not out right now because I want a physical copy on my shelf to reread that's how much I loved it.
But back into why I liked it: the characters cared deeply about one another and would whatever it took to save the others while battling their own demons. It was such a character-driven narrative, and it really worked because Baker made me fall in love with all three roommates that I loved all their perspectives equally, valuing my time with them, learning about what haunted them and what motivated them.
The plot picks up dramatically near the end, resolving fairly quickly, which is my only criticism, but because of how much I loved the book overall, I don't really even mind it. I didn't want to put the book down and was so sad when it ended, which I think marks a great book.
If you're squeamish, do be warned, but if you found Maeve Fly by CJ Leede hot and could handle the gore from The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim, I recommend this book. I personally don't think the body horror is too offensive, but everyone's different.
Absolutely recommend reading this. I had a ball.
I had an absolute blast with this book. Guys, this book had such lovable characters and I was rooting for them, no matter if they got better or worse - I was in their side backing them up regardless of the path they chose to go down. The relationships between Leni, Jasper, and Emerson were so heartwarming and gooey and the book gave them the perfect ending that just left you wanting more. Or, at least, I wanted more.
I'm upset the book's not out right now because I want a physical copy on my shelf to reread that's how much I loved it.
But back into why I liked it: the characters cared deeply about one another and would whatever it took to save the others while battling their own demons. It was such a character-driven narrative, and it really worked because Baker made me fall in love with all three roommates that I loved all their perspectives equally, valuing my time with them, learning about what haunted them and what motivated them.
The plot picks up dramatically near the end, resolving fairly quickly, which is my only criticism, but because of how much I loved the book overall, I don't really even mind it. I didn't want to put the book down and was so sad when it ended, which I think marks a great book.
If you're squeamish, do be warned, but if you found Maeve Fly by CJ Leede hot and could handle the gore from The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim, I recommend this book. I personally don't think the body horror is too offensive, but everyone's different.
Absolutely recommend reading this. I had a ball.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Yep. Still amazing. She did it again.
Glad to have had the opportunity to receive an ARC from Edelweiss+ .. and, appreciated every page of it. Having had the privilege of reading 2 previous smashes from Kylie Lee Baker, I was eager to get to this one!
Great story. Great people. Lots of tension and drama.
Different yet again from her last one(s). and darn near as incredible. Tone, pacing and style are again a slight evolution here for her. and, just as successful-- if not entirely to everyone's tastes. Def some heavy gore, some creeps and cringe-worthy moments. I can see why some people may not appreciate this new iteration of her work, but at the same time, this one leans on some approaches that make this one a little more rapid/urgent? and maybe a little more of a thriller? A lot of Gray characters and pretty bleak at times/throughout.. but, IMHO, shows the depth of the emotive feelings and palpable moments that Baker is able to so expertly paint. The way she can dole out the story, shifting POV, moving the pieces along, flashbacks and character introspection along the way.. is just impressive.
Anyway.. loved getting ahold of this one. Was engrossed all the way through.
and, she remains one of the authors that I will grab a copy of whatever she writes next.
Glad to have had the opportunity to receive an ARC from Edelweiss+ .. and, appreciated every page of it. Having had the privilege of reading 2 previous smashes from Kylie Lee Baker, I was eager to get to this one!
Great story. Great people. Lots of tension and drama.
Different yet again from her last one(s). and darn near as incredible. Tone, pacing and style are again a slight evolution here for her. and, just as successful-- if not entirely to everyone's tastes. Def some heavy gore, some creeps and cringe-worthy moments. I can see why some people may not appreciate this new iteration of her work, but at the same time, this one leans on some approaches that make this one a little more rapid/urgent? and maybe a little more of a thriller? A lot of Gray characters and pretty bleak at times/throughout.. but, IMHO, shows the depth of the emotive feelings and palpable moments that Baker is able to so expertly paint. The way she can dole out the story, shifting POV, moving the pieces along, flashbacks and character introspection along the way.. is just impressive.
Anyway.. loved getting ahold of this one. Was engrossed all the way through.
and, she remains one of the authors that I will grab a copy of whatever she writes next.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
One thing that Hell to Pay has in common with Japanese Gothic in particular is the slow and creeping horror. Kylie Lee Baker is fantastic at including these small incidents that are so uncanny and unsettling, yet on their own they could also be nothing. Altogether, they create a shadow that is slowly falling over the story, pulling you in deeper and darker.
I appreciated that each character had their own complicated background and traumas, which in the end really made the story and what was happening to them come together. They were all haunted by their own demons, and in the end that allowed them to believe in these separate experiences they were having.
I unfortunately did end up being disappointed in the ending. Not the threesome; they were obsessed with each other and I loved it, so honestly that needed to happen. But everything else about it fell a little flat.
I liked more than I disliked about the story, would definitely recommend, and I could even see myself doing a reread to see what I could catch the second time around. I just wish the end had packed more of a punch.
The landlord though? I’m glad it was him, he deserved to get eaten.
I appreciated that each character had their own complicated background and traumas, which in the end really made the story and what was happening to them come together. They were all haunted by their own demons, and in the end that allowed them to believe in these separate experiences they were having.
I unfortunately did end up being disappointed in the ending. Not the threesome; they were obsessed with each other and I loved it, so honestly that needed to happen. But everything else about it fell a little flat.
I liked more than I disliked about the story, would definitely recommend, and I could even see myself doing a reread to see what I could catch the second time around. I just wish the end had packed more of a punch.
The landlord though? I’m glad it was him, he deserved to get eaten.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Quite possibly my new favorite Kylie Lee Baker book! It's hard to say because it's been quite awhile since I read Bat Eater, but what I do know for a fact is that this was a much more enjoyable book to read. It was also incredibly romantic, which I hadn't expected at all, but absolutely loved. Leni and Jasper and Emerson are just really great, and I was rooting for them the entire time.
All that gushing said, I do have to mention that I felt like there were a few inconsistencies that I'm not sure were intentional, and while they didn't really bring my enjoyment of the book down, they did stop and give me pause, mainly when it came to the precautions Jasper and Leni were said to be taking re: COVID and to help keep Emerson safe. This was an ARC though, so things might change ahead of the finished edition.
All in all, highly recommend this! I love what Kylie Lee Baker is doing in horror, and I can't wait to read what she writes next.
All that gushing said, I do have to mention that I felt like there were a few inconsistencies that I'm not sure were intentional, and while they didn't really bring my enjoyment of the book down, they did stop and give me pause, mainly when it came to the precautions Jasper and Leni were said to be taking re: COVID and to help keep Emerson safe. This was an ARC though, so things might change ahead of the finished edition.
All in all, highly recommend this! I love what Kylie Lee Baker is doing in horror, and I can't wait to read what she writes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hell to Pay by Kyle Lee Baker pairs well with chili infused intestines.
The story is told from the POV’s of struggling roommates Leni, Emerson, and Jasper. Leni was almost sacrificed to a demon as a child, Jasper is a line-cook with a felony record, and Emerson was a top heart surgeon until he killed his young patient on the operating table.
The trio’s landlord is a real ass hat, and to make matters worse, a demon leaves his sigil on their apartment wall, leaving the roommates seven days to produce a sacrifice or he will tear off their skin.
The book ends in what I can only describe as a cannibals’ wet dream.
I would recommend this book to fans of demons, shitty people getting their intestines handed to them, MMF action, dark humor, and cannibalism.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for an ARC of Hell to Pay.
The story is told from the POV’s of struggling roommates Leni, Emerson, and Jasper. Leni was almost sacrificed to a demon as a child, Jasper is a line-cook with a felony record, and Emerson was a top heart surgeon until he killed his young patient on the operating table.
The trio’s landlord is a real ass hat, and to make matters worse, a demon leaves his sigil on their apartment wall, leaving the roommates seven days to produce a sacrifice or he will tear off their skin.
The book ends in what I can only describe as a cannibals’ wet dream.
I would recommend this book to fans of demons, shitty people getting their intestines handed to them, MMF action, dark humor, and cannibalism.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for an ARC of Hell to Pay.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Closer to Bat Eater than Japanese Gothic, Hell to Pay returns to KLB's origins of exploring anti-Asian racism through horror. Some musings:
-This book is graphic, like, Innamorata levels of graphic. You have been warned. Do not read if squeamish.
-The demented polycule of roommates has a charm and romance to it I wasn't expecting.
-WHEW BOY that is a sharp RF Kuang parody there - extremely on the nose (if not intentional - it sure seems like it).
- I love a demon and sacrifice although the ending didn't quite wrap up the loose ends. There was one reveal that moved on a bit too quickly for me.
-I love KLB's twisted sense of what is scary - she does a great job of reminding you that humans are scarier than any supernatural beings.
I'd give it 3 stars overall - less tightly plotted than Bat Eater and Japanese Gothic, but still a delicious (lol) time.
-This book is graphic, like, Innamorata levels of graphic. You have been warned. Do not read if squeamish.
-The demented polycule of roommates has a charm and romance to it I wasn't expecting.
-WHEW BOY that is a sharp RF Kuang parody there - extremely on the nose (if not intentional - it sure seems like it).
- I love a demon and sacrifice although the ending didn't quite wrap up the loose ends. There was one reveal that moved on a bit too quickly for me.
-I love KLB's twisted sense of what is scary - she does a great job of reminding you that humans are scarier than any supernatural beings.
I'd give it 3 stars overall - less tightly plotted than Bat Eater and Japanese Gothic, but still a delicious (lol) time.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
No more horror books by Kylie Lee Baker for me....
I honestly don’t even know what to say, the plot of this book was so gross. I read the author’s last two horrors and they were also creepy and disgusting in their descriptions, but at least they were atmospheric—this book took the gross descriptions to a whole new level, though. Why did I keep reading her horror books? I have no idea. They’re short and fast reads, so I kept going hoping I might eventually like something. But nope! It was boring, terrifying, upsetting for the characters, and just straight-up disgusting.
If that’s your thing, you’ll probably love it. It has 3 POV chapters following characters who are barely surviving together in an apartment. Each of them has a dark, heavy past, but now they have each other—and no matter how dark their thoughts are, they’re all in the same boat.
I honestly don’t even know what to say, the plot of this book was so gross. I read the author’s last two horrors and they were also creepy and disgusting in their descriptions, but at least they were atmospheric—this book took the gross descriptions to a whole new level, though. Why did I keep reading her horror books? I have no idea. They’re short and fast reads, so I kept going hoping I might eventually like something. But nope! It was boring, terrifying, upsetting for the characters, and just straight-up disgusting.
If that’s your thing, you’ll probably love it. It has 3 POV chapters following characters who are barely surviving together in an apartment. Each of them has a dark, heavy past, but now they have each other—and no matter how dark their thoughts are, they’re all in the same boat.
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