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The Infested
Monsters are real, and the United States is infested.
In 1900, a cursed stretch of the Midwestern frontier known as The Infested is overrun with ghosts, monsters, and things that should have stayed buried. Most people avoid it. Desdemona’s family calls it home.
Protected by magic, their homestead is one of the last safe havens for travelers crossing the haunted plains. But Desdemona aches to prove herself beyond the safety of their walls, haunted by the darkness outside and driven by a restless desire to understand the power calling to her.
Then her mother dies. Her father fails to return from the East. And a shadow creature appears on their land.
With bewitching strangers at the door, monsters gathering in the dark, and her siblings fractured by old and new resentments, Desdemona is forced to become the leader she never wanted to be…if only to protect those she loves and to discover her true place in the world.
If she fails, her father may come home to find their sanctuary a graveyard.
In 1900, a cursed stretch of the Midwestern frontier known as The Infested is overrun with ghosts, monsters, and things that should have stayed buried. Most people avoid it. Desdemona’s family calls it home.
Protected by magic, their homestead is one of the last safe havens for travelers crossing the haunted plains. But Desdemona aches to prove herself beyond the safety of their walls, haunted by the darkness outside and driven by a restless desire to understand the power calling to her.
Then her mother dies. Her father fails to return from the East. And a shadow creature appears on their land.
With bewitching strangers at the door, monsters gathering in the dark, and her siblings fractured by old and new resentments, Desdemona is forced to become the leader she never wanted to be…if only to protect those she loves and to discover her true place in the world.
If she fails, her father may come home to find their sanctuary a graveyard.
Hardcover
First published October 13, 2023
About the author
Renee Lake
14 books130 followersRenee Lake is a Puerto Rican author from Utah who has always preferred the haunted corners of a story.
As a child, she wanted to be a vampire far more than she ever wanted to be a princess, filling notebooks and old floppy disks with tales touched by darkness. That love of eerie things never left. Her writing often blends whimsy with shadow, exploring the strange, the unsettling, and the beautifully macabre.
Renee is married to a fellow book lover, and together they are raising four children in a house with more bookshelves than empty walls. She loves bats, Halloween, dinosaurs, and stories that refuse to behave. She is also passionate about women’s reproductive rights, equality, and creating worlds where the monstrous often reveals the truth.
Her least useful superhero power is hearing a song once and being able to sing it back.
When she isn’t working full-time, taming wild children, or writing something spooky, Renee can usually be found exploring the wilds of Thedas, shopping at the Citadel, or adding just one more book to an already haunted shelf.
As a child, she wanted to be a vampire far more than she ever wanted to be a princess, filling notebooks and old floppy disks with tales touched by darkness. That love of eerie things never left. Her writing often blends whimsy with shadow, exploring the strange, the unsettling, and the beautifully macabre.
Renee is married to a fellow book lover, and together they are raising four children in a house with more bookshelves than empty walls. She loves bats, Halloween, dinosaurs, and stories that refuse to behave. She is also passionate about women’s reproductive rights, equality, and creating worlds where the monstrous often reveals the truth.
Her least useful superhero power is hearing a song once and being able to sing it back.
When she isn’t working full-time, taming wild children, or writing something spooky, Renee can usually be found exploring the wilds of Thedas, shopping at the Citadel, or adding just one more book to an already haunted shelf.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 22, 2026
I’m excited to introduce the new Author’s Edition of The Infested!
This edition features the complete novel along with two brand-new short stories that expand the world of the Infested. It is independently published by the author and is no longer affiliated with Midnight Meadows Publishing.
Step into the darkness—and listen closely when it calls your name.
This edition features the complete novel along with two brand-new short stories that expand the world of the Infested. It is independently published by the author and is no longer affiliated with Midnight Meadows Publishing.
Step into the darkness—and listen closely when it calls your name.
July 5, 2022
I got to be a beta reader for this novel (what an honor!) and was greatly impressed. Pioneer days in the US.? Check. Paranormal family? Check. Even LGBTQIA+ characters? Check.
Our main MC is tasked with not only running her family farm during the Oregon Trail days, managing her four other siblings, and dealing with the (mostly) nasty magical creatures that inhabit the Midwest U.S., she also must handle her own magical power and anxiety. When a pair of strangers come seeking shelter from one of the native horrors, things get even worse.
Scary, detailed, and well written. The characters are very fleshed out and the “bad guys” are not who you think they are. If you have an over-active imagination, I recommend reading during daylight!
Our main MC is tasked with not only running her family farm during the Oregon Trail days, managing her four other siblings, and dealing with the (mostly) nasty magical creatures that inhabit the Midwest U.S., she also must handle her own magical power and anxiety. When a pair of strangers come seeking shelter from one of the native horrors, things get even worse.
Scary, detailed, and well written. The characters are very fleshed out and the “bad guys” are not who you think they are. If you have an over-active imagination, I recommend reading during daylight!
December 1, 2024
This book has a unique and extremely interesting setting: the mid-west of the 1800s has been overtaken by monsters, zombies, ghosts, and other “creatures”. Very few people live there, and it’s called the Infested. But one particular family has set up a way station and homestead of sorts. This family has a special connection to the Infested.
I burned through this book quickly. It moves along nicely, and really drew me in. I personally thought the last two chapters were a bit of an abrupt change. It felt just a bit disjointed. If not for that, this would have been a 5 star read for me.
Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I burned through this book quickly. It moves along nicely, and really drew me in. I personally thought the last two chapters were a bit of an abrupt change. It felt just a bit disjointed. If not for that, this would have been a 5 star read for me.
Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2024
First off what was that ending? Seriously I have never read something like that, she just dropped a huge bomb on you and you just have to live with that!!! No this is not a spoiler or something, you will all just understand when you read it.
Okay so when I started this read, I was immediately sucked into the story. The dual pov made the book so much more interesting. It always stopped at the right moment, so you would curse yourself because it switched to the other person and you wanted to know what happened to the one you were just reading.
This book was supposed to be creepy and at some points it was, but I had some troubles with envisioning some of the monsters.
Then the story itself, I have never read something like this before and I enjoyed it so much! These characters grow on you. And you really want them to solve their problems or come home safely.
Last but not least I want to thank the author and midnight meadow publishing for providing me with an earc.
Okay so when I started this read, I was immediately sucked into the story. The dual pov made the book so much more interesting. It always stopped at the right moment, so you would curse yourself because it switched to the other person and you wanted to know what happened to the one you were just reading.
This book was supposed to be creepy and at some points it was, but I had some troubles with envisioning some of the monsters.
Then the story itself, I have never read something like this before and I enjoyed it so much! These characters grow on you. And you really want them to solve their problems or come home safely.
Last but not least I want to thank the author and midnight meadow publishing for providing me with an earc.
June 25, 2026
I’m excited to introduce the new Author’s Edition.
This edition features the complete novel along with two brand-new short stories that expand the world of the Infested. It is independently published by the author and is no longer affiliated with Midnight Meadows Publishing.
Step into the darkness—and listen closely when it calls your name.
This edition features the complete novel along with two brand-new short stories that expand the world of the Infested. It is independently published by the author and is no longer affiliated with Midnight Meadows Publishing.
Step into the darkness—and listen closely when it calls your name.
October 15, 2023
This is terrifying, weird and creepy. I love the pioneer/wagon train aspect. That's my jam.
It was good rewriting of history with supernatural elements.
It was good rewriting of history with supernatural elements.
November 23, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! This book is a true gem in the world of horror fiction. Lake's storytelling skills are unmatched as she weaves a chilling and immersive narrative that will have you hooked from start to finish.
The characters are incredibly well-developed, each with complexities and motivations that add layers to the gripping plot. You will also find yourself immersed in an eerie atmosphere that seeps into every chapter, keeping you on the edge of your seat, heart pounding with anticipation.
What sets this book apart is its ability to tap into primal fears. The lurking horrors described in the story will send shivers down your spine, making you question every shadow and creak in your own home. The pacing is relentless, driving the suspense forward with each turn of the page.
The prose is masterful, painting vivid and haunting scenes you will think about long after reading. This is a must-read for any fan of horror, a captivating journey into the depths of fear that will leave you breathless and wanting more.
I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a genuinely immersive and spine-tingling read.
The characters are incredibly well-developed, each with complexities and motivations that add layers to the gripping plot. You will also find yourself immersed in an eerie atmosphere that seeps into every chapter, keeping you on the edge of your seat, heart pounding with anticipation.
What sets this book apart is its ability to tap into primal fears. The lurking horrors described in the story will send shivers down your spine, making you question every shadow and creak in your own home. The pacing is relentless, driving the suspense forward with each turn of the page.
The prose is masterful, painting vivid and haunting scenes you will think about long after reading. This is a must-read for any fan of horror, a captivating journey into the depths of fear that will leave you breathless and wanting more.
I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a genuinely immersive and spine-tingling read.
July 11, 2026
The Infested by Renee Lake
🍵🍵🍵🍵 4 Cups
"Unexpected Biscuit Emergency"
* Needed a second pot.
* Stayed up later than intended.
* Strong urge to discuss characters with anyone available.
WOW! I knew this was going to be my jam from the blurb alone. I could feel it in my bones (just not infested ones!) Lake knows how to weave a story and build a world, answering your questions as everything begins to unfold around you with this creeping dread and delicious horror. The book was arranged into 3 stories of the same world from slightly different points in time. The initial story is about a family from two points of view: one on the homestead and one on the trail. Each viewpoint builds slowly towards the culmination of events. The creatures in the Infested are horrifying and oddly beautiful at times, with some outright terrifying and dangerous and others seemingly a lot less so...until it's too late. Lake has a great way of building tension and drawing out that panic and distress, especially when focusing on the Caravan on the Trail parts of the story. The Infested was so bleak at times and beautiful in others, and you felt that in the writing; the unease and disquiet that settled in your bones on that journey, never quite knowing what might be lurking.
The other stories are much shorter, earlier points in history, looking at two separate sets of characters and their experience with The Infested, and I enjoyed those little vignettes as well.
I read this on my Kindle well into the wee hours (thankfully not waking my husband), hooked and determined to know what was going to happen next. I didn't want to put it down. Some of the characters perhaps lacked some emotional depth, but the events of the story itself were compelling enough for me that it wasn't problematic.
Perfect for readers who love:
• Horror/Supernatural
• YA
• Queer Romance
• Alternative History
Final verdict:
Great fun read with some fantastic unsettling moments of disquiet and bleak Lovecraftian-esque horror! Would absolutely recommend it to friends, family and others!
Thank you to Renee Lake & Victory Editing for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
🍵🍵🍵🍵 4 Cups
"Unexpected Biscuit Emergency"
* Needed a second pot.
* Stayed up later than intended.
* Strong urge to discuss characters with anyone available.
WOW! I knew this was going to be my jam from the blurb alone. I could feel it in my bones (just not infested ones!) Lake knows how to weave a story and build a world, answering your questions as everything begins to unfold around you with this creeping dread and delicious horror. The book was arranged into 3 stories of the same world from slightly different points in time. The initial story is about a family from two points of view: one on the homestead and one on the trail. Each viewpoint builds slowly towards the culmination of events. The creatures in the Infested are horrifying and oddly beautiful at times, with some outright terrifying and dangerous and others seemingly a lot less so...until it's too late. Lake has a great way of building tension and drawing out that panic and distress, especially when focusing on the Caravan on the Trail parts of the story. The Infested was so bleak at times and beautiful in others, and you felt that in the writing; the unease and disquiet that settled in your bones on that journey, never quite knowing what might be lurking.
The other stories are much shorter, earlier points in history, looking at two separate sets of characters and their experience with The Infested, and I enjoyed those little vignettes as well.
I read this on my Kindle well into the wee hours (thankfully not waking my husband), hooked and determined to know what was going to happen next. I didn't want to put it down. Some of the characters perhaps lacked some emotional depth, but the events of the story itself were compelling enough for me that it wasn't problematic.
Perfect for readers who love:
• Horror/Supernatural
• YA
• Queer Romance
• Alternative History
Final verdict:
Great fun read with some fantastic unsettling moments of disquiet and bleak Lovecraftian-esque horror! Would absolutely recommend it to friends, family and others!
Thank you to Renee Lake & Victory Editing for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
July 5, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for the ARC of this book, The Infested.
I went into this book blind and it was NOT for me. I thought it was written okay, but it left me with more questions than answers. I think if there was more overview of the monsters in the beginning of the book, then that would have set the story up much better for being a horror (or at least somewhat scary) book. We were just told there were monsters and that they were bad, but I didn't feel any emotion around it.
At first, I didn't like how the POV chapters were set up and you didn't know who was talking until you were halfway through the chapter. I think that put a bad taste in my mouth.
Another thing that pissed me off -Why do we need to comment on Desi needed to be fat to do magic??
I wish I had more feelings about the book. I didn't care for the dad's POV and found it to be a tad boring. And the only thing I felt for the homestead's POV was anger at the kids for being so trusting and their constant bickering.
The ending was also not great.
I'll give it 1.5 stars because the plot was unique, even if it wasn't executed well.
I went into this book blind and it was NOT for me. I thought it was written okay, but it left me with more questions than answers. I think if there was more overview of the monsters in the beginning of the book, then that would have set the story up much better for being a horror (or at least somewhat scary) book. We were just told there were monsters and that they were bad, but I didn't feel any emotion around it.
At first, I didn't like how the POV chapters were set up and you didn't know who was talking until you were halfway through the chapter. I think that put a bad taste in my mouth.
Another thing that pissed me off -Why do we need to comment on Desi needed to be fat to do magic??
I wish I had more feelings about the book. I didn't care for the dad's POV and found it to be a tad boring. And the only thing I felt for the homestead's POV was anger at the kids for being so trusting and their constant bickering.
The ending was also not great.
I'll give it 1.5 stars because the plot was unique, even if it wasn't executed well.
November 24, 2023
I'll be honest, I wasn't as hooked by the first chapter or two of this book as I would have liked to be. However, once I started reading it and getting into the world of The Infested, I couldn't stop. I read this on my phone, on the plane, and on the couch as I prepared for Thanksgiving dinner; it had its hooks in me and I couldn't put it down. The worldbuilding of this alternate universe was fantastic, steeped in mystery and intrigue yet still telling the audience enough to be afraid. I personally need an encyclopedia of all of the monsters in this book; I want to know more!
As for the story itself, the pacing was a bit wonky, but the character moments and relationships built between them made up for it. Yay for gay people! The twist at the end was absolutely WILD. I finished the last 40-ish pages on the couch and at the end I gasped in surprise, to the point where my mom asked me what the look on my face was. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be looking for more supernatural/magic horror. Thank you to NetGalley and Renee Lake for this opportunity!
As for the story itself, the pacing was a bit wonky, but the character moments and relationships built between them made up for it. Yay for gay people! The twist at the end was absolutely WILD. I finished the last 40-ish pages on the couch and at the end I gasped in surprise, to the point where my mom asked me what the look on my face was. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be looking for more supernatural/magic horror. Thank you to NetGalley and Renee Lake for this opportunity!
February 13, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
The Infested is an alternate history western style horror story that starts off slow but pays off in the end. The story surrounds a family living in the midst of the Infected, the middle part of the United States circa 1900 which has been taken over by dark creatures and wild magic. The family loses their mother and receives two unexpected visitors. Strange things start happening, manipulating the siblings in different ways.
I love that in this alternate history, lgbtq people are seemingly considered the norm as opposed to how actual history has treated the community.
This story is original and fun once it gets going. You just need to push through the first 40%
3.5 rounded up for goodreads.
The Infested is an alternate history western style horror story that starts off slow but pays off in the end. The story surrounds a family living in the midst of the Infected, the middle part of the United States circa 1900 which has been taken over by dark creatures and wild magic. The family loses their mother and receives two unexpected visitors. Strange things start happening, manipulating the siblings in different ways.
I love that in this alternate history, lgbtq people are seemingly considered the norm as opposed to how actual history has treated the community.
This story is original and fun once it gets going. You just need to push through the first 40%
3.5 rounded up for goodreads.
January 5, 2024
I'm giving this book an extra star because I think there needs to be a lot more Western horror. There is something so especially creepy about knowing there are unexplainable things out there that want to kill you when you are facing a wild, unexplored area.
The book was creepy, but it kept losing my attention. Something terrible would happen, and then we would move on, and it just didn't feel like the stakes were being built up. I should have been a lot more scared than I was.
However, the world building was awesome, and even though this one didn't hit it for me personally, I hope Lake writes more horror so I can read her next book.
Thanks to NetGalley for making this available to me
The book was creepy, but it kept losing my attention. Something terrible would happen, and then we would move on, and it just didn't feel like the stakes were being built up. I should have been a lot more scared than I was.
However, the world building was awesome, and even though this one didn't hit it for me personally, I hope Lake writes more horror so I can read her next book.
Thanks to NetGalley for making this available to me
October 19, 2023
3 Stars! This book was written very well, and was set with the correct tone of where this book was set. It was unique and different and original which is not always seen. I liked the west, the creepy wagons and the swing!! Including the Overall premise and different characters.
I was expecting it to be scary, but for me it wasn’t, however I am a complete horror nerd. It’s still creepy and adventurous, and good for anyone that wants a different read.
Thank you to Netgally and Renee Lake for this ARC✨
I was expecting it to be scary, but for me it wasn’t, however I am a complete horror nerd. It’s still creepy and adventurous, and good for anyone that wants a different read.
Thank you to Netgally and Renee Lake for this ARC✨
November 9, 2023
3.5.
A well done book! It had all the right tones to make it creepy and spooky, while also having some heartwarming moments between the siblings and little bits of joy scattered in.
I really liked the entire concept of this. The monsters were cool, I wish we got to know a bit more about them and about the infested as a whole. I think the book could’ve benefitted from more description all round actually. But regardless, a good read with an interesting story, good, well thought-out characters, and an original idea.
A well done book! It had all the right tones to make it creepy and spooky, while also having some heartwarming moments between the siblings and little bits of joy scattered in.
I really liked the entire concept of this. The monsters were cool, I wish we got to know a bit more about them and about the infested as a whole. I think the book could’ve benefitted from more description all round actually. But regardless, a good read with an interesting story, good, well thought-out characters, and an original idea.
October 22, 2023
This has a lot to make an interesting creepy western book, but somehow it fell flat for me.
Part of it was no matter how the book ended, the times we switched over to the fathers point of view, I just couldn’t care,
The creatures were cool, and I actually liked the sibling and their disruptions of the families life, but this story ended up being just not for me, as even with the cool concepts, I found it difficult to enjoy the story.
This definitely has an audience, just not me.
Part of it was no matter how the book ended, the times we switched over to the fathers point of view, I just couldn’t care,
The creatures were cool, and I actually liked the sibling and their disruptions of the families life, but this story ended up being just not for me, as even with the cool concepts, I found it difficult to enjoy the story.
This definitely has an audience, just not me.
July 6, 2026
*thank you netgalley for the ARC so i was able to read and give this honest review*
2.5 stars rounded up
Yes it didnt start off fast i had to restart cuz i zoned out but glad i stuck with it. Love me a creature feature but i kind was through off with the character of Desdemona. I didnt know to like or hate her but the story was ok. I right in the middle of if i liked it or not which i kinda did. Its average book for me.
2.5 stars rounded up
Yes it didnt start off fast i had to restart cuz i zoned out but glad i stuck with it. Love me a creature feature but i kind was through off with the character of Desdemona. I didnt know to like or hate her but the story was ok. I right in the middle of if i liked it or not which i kinda did. Its average book for me.
August 26, 2024
I picked this up because I heard it had sapphics, and that’s basically all I read. I’m not usually a fan of horror, so I’m surprised I liked it.
This does not end happy, though. That’s horror for you!
** Thanks Midnight Meadow for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
This does not end happy, though. That’s horror for you!
** Thanks Midnight Meadow for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
October 15, 2024
An absolutely captivating story! This book was truly amazing!! I loved the characters and the plot. The surprise twists thrown in were shocking to say the least. Desi, Rowena, Ambrose, Marian and Helen were terrific characters! An excellent book for the spooky season!!!!
November 3, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. Equal parts spooky and magical. I will definitely be reading more by this author
November 21, 2025
3.5
Pretty decent until the end. That was… huh?
Pretty decent until the end. That was… huh?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2023
Omigod I was hooked by the first chapter or two of this book surprisingly. I did go blind but I did not disappoint even a bit. Once I started reading it and getting into the world of The Infested, I couldn't stop. The world building of this alternate universe was fantastic, steeped in mystery and intrigue yet still telling the audience enough to be afraid.
As for the story itself, the pacing was a bit wonky, but the character moments and relationships built between them made up for it. The twist at the end was absolutely amazing. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be looking for more supernatural/magic horror.
As for the story itself, the pacing was a bit wonky, but the character moments and relationships built between them made up for it. The twist at the end was absolutely amazing. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be looking for more supernatural/magic horror.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews