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The Exodontists
The Exodontists dream of bleach and teeth...
In this whimsical Halloween horror novel, the Exodontists--a family of tooth-loving immortal monsters--must fight to keep their home after Spirit Halloween takes over the abandoned warehouse they live in.
Worse, still: The warehouse isn't only their home. It's also where they've run a free dental clinic for the last few decades, serving the needy and providing goodness for the human town they dwell in.
But trying to share the warehouse with the Halloween store ends up culminating in an epic grudge match to the death after the Exodontists unwittingly attract the attention of Garrett, a nasty incel employee of the Halloween store.
And things get violent.
Emotional. Dramatic. And oh-so exciting.
In this whimsical Halloween horror novel, the Exodontists--a family of tooth-loving immortal monsters--must fight to keep their home after Spirit Halloween takes over the abandoned warehouse they live in.
Worse, still: The warehouse isn't only their home. It's also where they've run a free dental clinic for the last few decades, serving the needy and providing goodness for the human town they dwell in.
But trying to share the warehouse with the Halloween store ends up culminating in an epic grudge match to the death after the Exodontists unwittingly attract the attention of Garrett, a nasty incel employee of the Halloween store.
And things get violent.
Emotional. Dramatic. And oh-so exciting.
392 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Did Not Finish
August 28, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
With the exodontists, I was not sure what was going on. I felt like I was suppose to like them and find them endearing, they’re a cursed little family that is being forced from their home…
But to see them interact with humans it felt sinister.
When I gagged twice in two back to back pages, I had to put this down.
I thought this book was going to be something else entirely. Not for me.
With the exodontists, I was not sure what was going on. I felt like I was suppose to like them and find them endearing, they’re a cursed little family that is being forced from their home…
But to see them interact with humans it felt sinister.
When I gagged twice in two back to back pages, I had to put this down.
I thought this book was going to be something else entirely. Not for me.
Read
June 1, 2026This is NOT a “whimsical Halloween story.” Whomever is marketing this disturbing horror book as whimsical is misleading readers. There are whole audiences for disturbing horror who would eat this book up, so why not market it as such instead of lying to whomever buys the book?
The content warnings are also wrong. The sexual assault is told in flashbacks but those flashbacks are repeatedly ON THE PAGE.
This book also needs re-editing because there are continuity errors and spelling errors that need to be fixed before publishing. I’m sorry, I loved Landlocked In Foreign Skin but if this is what the rest of your books are (glorifying sexual assault, women hating abusers getting happy endings and graphic forms of abuse being described and repeated throughout the book passing off as a story) then you’ve lost me as a reader Drew. I’m sure this book will find its audience but don’t mislead readers into thinking this is a whimsical Halloween story.
It’s dark. It’s disturbing, it’s horrific. (And not in a good horror way) It’s repetitive and too long, with multiple chances at the story ending prior to its actual end.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC but it’s a huge no for me.
The content warnings are also wrong. The sexual assault is told in flashbacks but those flashbacks are repeatedly ON THE PAGE.
This book also needs re-editing because there are continuity errors and spelling errors that need to be fixed before publishing. I’m sorry, I loved Landlocked In Foreign Skin but if this is what the rest of your books are (glorifying sexual assault, women hating abusers getting happy endings and graphic forms of abuse being described and repeated throughout the book passing off as a story) then you’ve lost me as a reader Drew. I’m sure this book will find its audience but don’t mislead readers into thinking this is a whimsical Halloween story.
It’s dark. It’s disturbing, it’s horrific. (And not in a good horror way) It’s repetitive and too long, with multiple chances at the story ending prior to its actual end.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC but it’s a huge no for me.
June 8, 2026
This was an incredibly immersive read that made it easy to visualize every scene as it unfolded. When certain characters were frustrating + unlikeable...they felt authentic ; and I found myself deeply invested in their journeys. The concept itself for this book was unlike anything I've read before and the way everything came together by the end felt both unique and well executed.
I would give this book a solid 7.5/10 and I enjoyed it enough that I plan to purchase a physical copy for my home library when it's released. One of the book's biggest strengths is its originality. A story centered around a family of monsters who harvest teeth and provide free dental care, paired with a Spirit Halloween taking over their home // all the chaos that follows immediately grabbed my attention.
I first discovered this book while scrolling through Instagram. The cover art was what initially drew me in but after reading the description I knew it was something I had to read. I was incredibly excited to have the opportunity to read an ARC; it lived up to the anticipation and will live rent free in my head now.
This ended up being a very quick read for me because I simply didn't want to put it down. While there were a few moments that felt slower than others, every detail ultimately served a purpose and connected back to the larger story (I'm glad those pieces of information were included because they helped create a richer and more complete narrative). The characters were another highlight. Each one felt layered and complex; carrying their own flaws, struggles, and motivations. I appreciated how well they fit together and how their relationships added depth to the story. This was one of those books that lingered in my mind long after I stopped reading for the day.
I think readers who enjoy weird, unconventional stories with multilayered characters will really love this book. At its core the story explores trauma, family dynamics, and the ways people are shaped by the things they've endured. There's plenty of drama, unexpected twists, and emotional depth woven into the strange and imaginative premise making it a memorable read for those who enjoy stories that are a little unusual.
What stayed with me most after finishing the book was how it handled pain, trauma, and avoidance. Beyond being completely drawn into the world of the Exodontists, I was struck by how every character seemed to be carrying some kind of burden. The story explores what can happen when people ignore their struggles, refuse help, or run from the things that hurt them.
This was a fantastic read and i will forever think about the Exodontists :)
I would give this book a solid 7.5/10 and I enjoyed it enough that I plan to purchase a physical copy for my home library when it's released. One of the book's biggest strengths is its originality. A story centered around a family of monsters who harvest teeth and provide free dental care, paired with a Spirit Halloween taking over their home // all the chaos that follows immediately grabbed my attention.
I first discovered this book while scrolling through Instagram. The cover art was what initially drew me in but after reading the description I knew it was something I had to read. I was incredibly excited to have the opportunity to read an ARC; it lived up to the anticipation and will live rent free in my head now.
This ended up being a very quick read for me because I simply didn't want to put it down. While there were a few moments that felt slower than others, every detail ultimately served a purpose and connected back to the larger story (I'm glad those pieces of information were included because they helped create a richer and more complete narrative). The characters were another highlight. Each one felt layered and complex; carrying their own flaws, struggles, and motivations. I appreciated how well they fit together and how their relationships added depth to the story. This was one of those books that lingered in my mind long after I stopped reading for the day.
I think readers who enjoy weird, unconventional stories with multilayered characters will really love this book. At its core the story explores trauma, family dynamics, and the ways people are shaped by the things they've endured. There's plenty of drama, unexpected twists, and emotional depth woven into the strange and imaginative premise making it a memorable read for those who enjoy stories that are a little unusual.
What stayed with me most after finishing the book was how it handled pain, trauma, and avoidance. Beyond being completely drawn into the world of the Exodontists, I was struck by how every character seemed to be carrying some kind of burden. The story explores what can happen when people ignore their struggles, refuse help, or run from the things that hurt them.
This was a fantastic read and i will forever think about the Exodontists :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2026
Received an ARC from Nefarious Bat Press
Let me tell you... I've never read a book with a similar premise as this one. The Exodontists are a family of wraiths who live in an abandoned warehouse and during the nighttime hours, they moonlight as dentists, helping the underserved with dental issues (because they just love teeth yo).
When a Halloween store takes over their warehouse, they are forced to co-exist and it doesn't go well to say the least.
This book kept me reading and I really enjoyed The Exodontists. Drew Huff never disappoints.
Let me tell you... I've never read a book with a similar premise as this one. The Exodontists are a family of wraiths who live in an abandoned warehouse and during the nighttime hours, they moonlight as dentists, helping the underserved with dental issues (because they just love teeth yo).
When a Halloween store takes over their warehouse, they are forced to co-exist and it doesn't go well to say the least.
This book kept me reading and I really enjoyed The Exodontists. Drew Huff never disappoints.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
Technical side of things: writing was really good and easy to get through. I enjoyed the author's writing style. The only thing I didn't like was how it sometimes started randomly slipping into first person and when the book is already weird and out there to begin with... to say it was confusing in those areas was an understatement.
The Exodontists is a weird little horror stories about, well, dental wraiths. Which, first of all, I want a dental wraith. I kind of want to be a dental wraith. They were very original, just--well, weird really is the best word to describe them. I found them personally to be delightful. Each had their own personality, their pros and cons. I enjoyed the descriptions of them, I enjoyed reading their struggles and how they dealt with them.
The villains mentioned in this book were... definitely villains. It's been a while since I disliked someone so much as I did one of the villains. I suppose that means he was well written, right? I was definitely rooting for him to suffer and if I could change anything, it would be having to go through his chapters because I could not have cared less. Especially with his tendency to poor baby whine. Someone put him out of my misery, right?
Still, I liked this book. The Woman was my favourite character and rather tragic. I would suggest everyone try this book at least once as long as they go in aware that this is not some book for kids (?? Where are people getting this idea??) and to read the TW list beforehand if you have concerns. For originality alone, I'm going to be very tempted to get a copy of this book when it comes out and I would happily read more about them or more by the author.
Technical side of things: writing was really good and easy to get through. I enjoyed the author's writing style. The only thing I didn't like was how it sometimes started randomly slipping into first person and when the book is already weird and out there to begin with... to say it was confusing in those areas was an understatement.
The Exodontists is a weird little horror stories about, well, dental wraiths. Which, first of all, I want a dental wraith. I kind of want to be a dental wraith. They were very original, just--well, weird really is the best word to describe them. I found them personally to be delightful. Each had their own personality, their pros and cons. I enjoyed the descriptions of them, I enjoyed reading their struggles and how they dealt with them.
The villains mentioned in this book were... definitely villains. It's been a while since I disliked someone so much as I did one of the villains. I suppose that means he was well written, right? I was definitely rooting for him to suffer and if I could change anything, it would be having to go through his chapters because I could not have cared less. Especially with his tendency to poor baby whine. Someone put him out of my misery, right?
Still, I liked this book. The Woman was my favourite character and rather tragic. I would suggest everyone try this book at least once as long as they go in aware that this is not some book for kids (?? Where are people getting this idea??) and to read the TW list beforehand if you have concerns. For originality alone, I'm going to be very tempted to get a copy of this book when it comes out and I would happily read more about them or more by the author.
September 17, 2026
I’ve been dying to get my hands on an ARC of The Exodontists, and now that I’ve finished, the main word that comes to mind is WEIRD. Totally chaotic, disgustingly weird, and virtually impossible to put down.
Drew Huff does a fantastic job of making you feel deeply uncomfortable... in the absolute best way possible. The horror here is gruesome, detailed, and completely unnerving. Strangely enough, at its core, this is actually a found family story (because family is everything to these exodontists), and the ending wrapped things up so nicely for a specific character that it almost felt full circle and... happy? My thoughts are a bit chaotic, but honestly, that chaos just works for a book like this.
A quick heads up before diving in: this is definitely not a read for the squeamish, and I highly advise proceeding with caution. Beyond the visceral horror, the story deals with heavy real-life triggers, including on page depiction of sxual assault / rpe and m*rder, which were personally harder to push through than the gore.
I did notice a few writing inconsistencies along the way that threw me off at times and it was a bit difficult to follow which characters were talking or thinking, which originally had me leaning toward a 3-star rating. However, that ending landed so well that it easily bumped it up to a solid 4 stars. If you can stomach the unsettling ride, it’s well worth the trip.
Thank you to Nefarious Bat Press, Drew Huff and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Drew Huff does a fantastic job of making you feel deeply uncomfortable... in the absolute best way possible. The horror here is gruesome, detailed, and completely unnerving. Strangely enough, at its core, this is actually a found family story (because family is everything to these exodontists), and the ending wrapped things up so nicely for a specific character that it almost felt full circle and... happy? My thoughts are a bit chaotic, but honestly, that chaos just works for a book like this.
A quick heads up before diving in: this is definitely not a read for the squeamish, and I highly advise proceeding with caution. Beyond the visceral horror, the story deals with heavy real-life triggers, including on page depiction of sxual assault / rpe and m*rder, which were personally harder to push through than the gore.
I did notice a few writing inconsistencies along the way that threw me off at times and it was a bit difficult to follow which characters were talking or thinking, which originally had me leaning toward a 3-star rating. However, that ending landed so well that it easily bumped it up to a solid 4 stars. If you can stomach the unsettling ride, it’s well worth the trip.
Thank you to Nefarious Bat Press, Drew Huff and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC!
I hate going to the dentist. I skipped my appointments for four years straight (don’t do that). I often dream about losing my teeth, so requesting and reading this book was my own personal torture. But I love being scared, and what better way than to face my biggest fear?
This book isn’t just pure horror if you’re afraid of dentists - if you’re a woman, it’s also a nightmare read. There’s a lot of violence against women; in fact, I’d say most of it is directed at them, so if you can’t stomach that, this might not be for you. However, it’s portrayed in a way that reflects our society and doesn’t romanticize it. It’s brutal, of course, and in some scenes, I wished for a more judgmental stance toward the aggressors - you’ll know what I mean when you read it. It’s deeply tied to the male characters, but still handled with nuance.
It’s Horror - real Horror - but it also has a touch of found family vibes! The best way to describe it would be Addams Family energy, only more gruesome and rarely wholesome.
Sometimes it felt a bit long especially after halfway through ad the gauntlet part felt a bit repeating. But all in all this was a great, nightmareish read, that I would recommend!
I hate going to the dentist. I skipped my appointments for four years straight (don’t do that). I often dream about losing my teeth, so requesting and reading this book was my own personal torture. But I love being scared, and what better way than to face my biggest fear?
This book isn’t just pure horror if you’re afraid of dentists - if you’re a woman, it’s also a nightmare read. There’s a lot of violence against women; in fact, I’d say most of it is directed at them, so if you can’t stomach that, this might not be for you. However, it’s portrayed in a way that reflects our society and doesn’t romanticize it. It’s brutal, of course, and in some scenes, I wished for a more judgmental stance toward the aggressors - you’ll know what I mean when you read it. It’s deeply tied to the male characters, but still handled with nuance.
It’s Horror - real Horror - but it also has a touch of found family vibes! The best way to describe it would be Addams Family energy, only more gruesome and rarely wholesome.
Sometimes it felt a bit long especially after halfway through ad the gauntlet part felt a bit repeating. But all in all this was a great, nightmareish read, that I would recommend!
August 9, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book.
Unfortunately I couldn’t see it through to the end. I love a good horror, but this is just depressing. It made me feel grimy, and I gave up just under half way through. Not for me!
Unfortunately I couldn’t see it through to the end. I love a good horror, but this is just depressing. It made me feel grimy, and I gave up just under half way through. Not for me!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Exodontists is one of the strangest horror novels I've read in a long time and I mean that as a compliment.
At its core, it's a wildly inventive story about a family of monsters running a free dental clinic out of a crumbling warehouse. On paper, the premise sounds completely absurd, but Drew Huff somehow transforms it into a compelling blend of body horror, dark comedy, and heartfelt family drama. Beneath the grotesque imagery and bizarre concepts lies a surprisingly touching story about identity, belonging, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. The Exodontists themselves are impossible not to root for. The novel is unsettling, frightening, and often laugh-out-loud strange, yet it's also unexpectedly endearing.
What impressed me most was the emotional core of the story. Despite the mutations, monsters, and mayhem, The Exodontists is ultimately about family. The emotional stakes remain strong throughout, anchored by Red's determination to keep his loved ones together. That warmth gives the horror extra weight and prevents the novel from becoming merely a parade of shocking ideas. Huff takes a premise that could easily have been a one-note gimmick and turns it into a wildly entertaining adventure overflowing with imagination. Every chapter feels like the product of an author constantly asking, "What's the weirdest thing I can do next?” and somehow making it work. The dental horror is deeply unsettling, the Halloween atmosphere is wonderfully immersive, and the brisk pacing kept me turning pages.
My only real criticism is that the novel occasionally seems more interested in introducing new bizarre concepts than fully exploring the ones already on the page. The creativity is undeniable, but there were moments when I wanted a little more depth and a little less chaos. Even so, those shortcomings never outweighed the sheer enjoyment of the experience. The combination of horror, dark humor, and genuine affection for its monstrous cast makes The Exodontists a memorable and distinctive read.
Overall, The Exodontists is a delightfully weird, surprisingly heartfelt nightmare that sometimes gets tangled in its own excesses but remains entertaining from beginning to end. It certainly won't appeal to every reader. It's strange, really strange and fully embraces body horror, absurdity, and unapologetic imagination. But for readers willing to surrender to its eccentric vision, the payoff is more than worth it.
At its core, it's a wildly inventive story about a family of monsters running a free dental clinic out of a crumbling warehouse. On paper, the premise sounds completely absurd, but Drew Huff somehow transforms it into a compelling blend of body horror, dark comedy, and heartfelt family drama. Beneath the grotesque imagery and bizarre concepts lies a surprisingly touching story about identity, belonging, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. The Exodontists themselves are impossible not to root for. The novel is unsettling, frightening, and often laugh-out-loud strange, yet it's also unexpectedly endearing.
What impressed me most was the emotional core of the story. Despite the mutations, monsters, and mayhem, The Exodontists is ultimately about family. The emotional stakes remain strong throughout, anchored by Red's determination to keep his loved ones together. That warmth gives the horror extra weight and prevents the novel from becoming merely a parade of shocking ideas. Huff takes a premise that could easily have been a one-note gimmick and turns it into a wildly entertaining adventure overflowing with imagination. Every chapter feels like the product of an author constantly asking, "What's the weirdest thing I can do next?” and somehow making it work. The dental horror is deeply unsettling, the Halloween atmosphere is wonderfully immersive, and the brisk pacing kept me turning pages.
My only real criticism is that the novel occasionally seems more interested in introducing new bizarre concepts than fully exploring the ones already on the page. The creativity is undeniable, but there were moments when I wanted a little more depth and a little less chaos. Even so, those shortcomings never outweighed the sheer enjoyment of the experience. The combination of horror, dark humor, and genuine affection for its monstrous cast makes The Exodontists a memorable and distinctive read.
Overall, The Exodontists is a delightfully weird, surprisingly heartfelt nightmare that sometimes gets tangled in its own excesses but remains entertaining from beginning to end. It certainly won't appeal to every reader. It's strange, really strange and fully embraces body horror, absurdity, and unapologetic imagination. But for readers willing to surrender to its eccentric vision, the payoff is more than worth it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Exodontists is an inventive, bizarrely heartfelt and profoundly horrifying novel. The premise intrigued me, but I was still surprised by how quickly I moved through it, and how invested I was in following the story to its conclusion.
This is my first book by Drew Huff, but certainly not my last. He has an excellent command of the sensory; I found myself reacting physically on multiple occasions, and I am not generally an easily affected reader. I was also impressed with his ability to move from one perspective to another without interrupting flow. Each character has a distinct voice without feeling forced, and the constant internal dialogues/hivemind intrusions add to the layering in an atmospheric way rather than an irritating one, which I think is noteworthy. This book does many difficult things well.
I was fascinated by the exodontists, which is a large part of what made this book work so well for me. They were almost seductive, in a horrible, sideways kind of way. My interest in their physiology and connection kept any of the weaker points of this book from impacting my experience too much. Despite my desire to learn as much as I could about the exodontists, and my delight in learning new things about them/watching them learn new things about themselves, I do think this book was a bit longer than it needed to be. More than once I found myself looking at the remaining pages and wondering what more could be waiting, that where I was seemed like the beginning of an end. Some of the narration tended toward the repetitive at times, and there were a few passages that felt unnecessarily explanatory.
Whether or not a reader will enjoy this book, if the premise sounds up their alley, will (I think) depend very heavily on whether or not they can stomach being in the mind of a character like Garrett for any length of time. He was a horrible, pathetic, monstrous antagonist, and I could have listened to Faith call him 'you fucking man' 100o more times. His horror at having a body (or at least a lower half) that was 'indistinguishable from Kind or Woman' gave me great delight. May his tongue never grow back. May the love of his family do exactly what he feared it would: rob him of everything that makes him Garrett.
Happy to see that (based on previous reviews) the description of this has been edited to reflect its themes and content. It is many things, but whimsical is not high on that list.
This is my first book by Drew Huff, but certainly not my last. He has an excellent command of the sensory; I found myself reacting physically on multiple occasions, and I am not generally an easily affected reader. I was also impressed with his ability to move from one perspective to another without interrupting flow. Each character has a distinct voice without feeling forced, and the constant internal dialogues/hivemind intrusions add to the layering in an atmospheric way rather than an irritating one, which I think is noteworthy. This book does many difficult things well.
I was fascinated by the exodontists, which is a large part of what made this book work so well for me. They were almost seductive, in a horrible, sideways kind of way. My interest in their physiology and connection kept any of the weaker points of this book from impacting my experience too much. Despite my desire to learn as much as I could about the exodontists, and my delight in learning new things about them/watching them learn new things about themselves, I do think this book was a bit longer than it needed to be. More than once I found myself looking at the remaining pages and wondering what more could be waiting, that where I was seemed like the beginning of an end. Some of the narration tended toward the repetitive at times, and there were a few passages that felt unnecessarily explanatory.
Whether or not a reader will enjoy this book, if the premise sounds up their alley, will (I think) depend very heavily on whether or not they can stomach being in the mind of a character like Garrett for any length of time. He was a horrible, pathetic, monstrous antagonist, and I could have listened to Faith call him 'you fucking man' 100o more times. His horror at having a body (or at least a lower half) that was 'indistinguishable from Kind or Woman' gave me great delight. May his tongue never grow back. May the love of his family do exactly what he feared it would: rob him of everything that makes him Garrett.
Happy to see that (based on previous reviews) the description of this has been edited to reflect its themes and content. It is many things, but whimsical is not high on that list.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(family)
It’s only my second time reading a Drew Huff book and I’ve only recently started reading horror, partly because my goal is to read ad widely as I can, and partly because my tastes are shifting. After being pleasantly surprised by My Name isn’t Paul I asked for an ARC of The Exodontists as soon as I saw it was available. Again, I wasn’t disappointed.
There are two things I love about Drew Huff’s writing: the play on language to convey “difference”, in nature, in thought, in world view, and the way the theme of the story gets explored. This book’s all about family and love. The good and the bad aspects of family, the destructive, selfish and performative part, as well as the part that is unconditional love, loyalty and forgiveness.
(does she really need to grow up?)
The line between love and violence is thin, and the more we love someone the thinner it gets, the more difficult it is for everyone to see it, for who hurts and who gets hurt. It becomes easy to forgive the unforgivable. There are good and bad families, but the perfect family doesn’t exist. This book portrays murderous families, the unluckiest ones, the families born and destroyed by violence. It portrays the love that the unwanted and the abused can feel, the good and bad choices we make in the name of love, how we’re never ready to create a family, never mind to willingly let go of it’s embrace. To love is to haunt and be haunted.
“The autumn leaves rot in their piles come spring, but look up—and what do you see? Buds. Blossoms. All lovely and new.”
Exodontists are created, they’re given a name, and they’re part of the family. They don’t grow old, they can’t die. They have a common conscience, but they’re also individuals. To create a new one, you rip out its teeth. Isn’t all creation violent? Isn’t a family’s influence eternal, whether we want it or not? To love or hate so strongly destroys a part of ourselves, and to be part of a family makes us not quite an indistinct mass nor individuals. To share is to have everything and nothing at all.
I received an eARC of the book from NetGalley and this represents my honest opinion
It’s only my second time reading a Drew Huff book and I’ve only recently started reading horror, partly because my goal is to read ad widely as I can, and partly because my tastes are shifting. After being pleasantly surprised by My Name isn’t Paul I asked for an ARC of The Exodontists as soon as I saw it was available. Again, I wasn’t disappointed.
There are two things I love about Drew Huff’s writing: the play on language to convey “difference”, in nature, in thought, in world view, and the way the theme of the story gets explored. This book’s all about family and love. The good and the bad aspects of family, the destructive, selfish and performative part, as well as the part that is unconditional love, loyalty and forgiveness.
(does she really need to grow up?)
The line between love and violence is thin, and the more we love someone the thinner it gets, the more difficult it is for everyone to see it, for who hurts and who gets hurt. It becomes easy to forgive the unforgivable. There are good and bad families, but the perfect family doesn’t exist. This book portrays murderous families, the unluckiest ones, the families born and destroyed by violence. It portrays the love that the unwanted and the abused can feel, the good and bad choices we make in the name of love, how we’re never ready to create a family, never mind to willingly let go of it’s embrace. To love is to haunt and be haunted.
“The autumn leaves rot in their piles come spring, but look up—and what do you see? Buds. Blossoms. All lovely and new.”
Exodontists are created, they’re given a name, and they’re part of the family. They don’t grow old, they can’t die. They have a common conscience, but they’re also individuals. To create a new one, you rip out its teeth. Isn’t all creation violent? Isn’t a family’s influence eternal, whether we want it or not? To love or hate so strongly destroys a part of ourselves, and to be part of a family makes us not quite an indistinct mass nor individuals. To share is to have everything and nothing at all.
I received an eARC of the book from NetGalley and this represents my honest opinion
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I liked this book far more than I was expecting!
Summary: The Exodontists, who are kind of like if vampires were toothless dentists who craved teeth instead of blood, find out that the front half of warehouse that they call home is going to be used as a Halloween shop. They are persuaded to let it happen as it'll only be there for a few weeks. Everything seems to be going well until the local incel decides to break into their side of the warehouse to house something.
I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved the Exodontists, the author did a fantastic job of giving each person a different voice without making anyone "quirky". There was only one part where I felt like the book was hinting at something (someone being related to someone else, I won't say any more than that), but then that thing was never mentioned again so I'm not sure if I was just looking into things too much.
The reason I knocked a star off was for two reasons. The first one was that at some points I found the story to be a little bit over explained. There were a few parts of the book (such as a part towards the end when a pipe bomb blows up, I can't be more specific cos spoilers but if you've read the book you know what I'm talking about) when I really didn't feel that the author needed to write multiple pages explaining what happened. The second reason I knocked off a star is because Garrett calling the Exodontists the "mc-creepy-asshole clan" started grating on me very quickly. I ignored it the first two times, then found it a bit overdone the next three times, and according to my Kobo it's mentioned fourteen times so I just had to knock my rating down.
Overall I'd recommend this book, especially to fans of weird media with creepy/spooky settings such as The Addams Family or The Pilo Family Circus, even though this book isn't really like either of those things it still reminded me of them.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Summary: The Exodontists, who are kind of like if vampires were toothless dentists who craved teeth instead of blood, find out that the front half of warehouse that they call home is going to be used as a Halloween shop. They are persuaded to let it happen as it'll only be there for a few weeks. Everything seems to be going well until the local incel decides to break into their side of the warehouse to house something.
I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved the Exodontists, the author did a fantastic job of giving each person a different voice without making anyone "quirky". There was only one part where I felt like the book was hinting at something (someone being related to someone else, I won't say any more than that), but then that thing was never mentioned again so I'm not sure if I was just looking into things too much.
The reason I knocked a star off was for two reasons. The first one was that at some points I found the story to be a little bit over explained. There were a few parts of the book (such as a part towards the end when a pipe bomb blows up, I can't be more specific cos spoilers but if you've read the book you know what I'm talking about) when I really didn't feel that the author needed to write multiple pages explaining what happened. The second reason I knocked off a star is because Garrett calling the Exodontists the "mc-creepy-asshole clan" started grating on me very quickly. I ignored it the first two times, then found it a bit overdone the next three times, and according to my Kobo it's mentioned fourteen times so I just had to knock my rating down.
Overall I'd recommend this book, especially to fans of weird media with creepy/spooky settings such as The Addams Family or The Pilo Family Circus, even though this book isn't really like either of those things it still reminded me of them.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Nefarious Bat Press for giving me an ARC of the book for my honest review:
The Exodontists by Drew Huff is a book that I would not normally pick up or would DNF pretty quickly. It was weird and, at times, not in a good way. I am not a sci-fi reader and the Exodontists (Red, Man, Woman, and Boy) started off making me feel like they were grey aliens. I'm still not quite sure how to categorize the hairless, sexless, toothless beings that they are. There was a lot of character set up, which I understand why Huff needed to explain everyone, but for me it was a rough start. The character of Garrett made me feel disgusted reading his chapters. I have not been instantly repulsed by a character in a long time, so kudos for that! His misogynistic view was tough to get through. I considered DNFing this book at several occasions during Part 1.
"Furious at the loss of his self and humanity, Garrett transforms the Exodontists' warehouse into a hellish gauntlet of jerry-rigged traps, challenging the Exodontists to venture in and return his teeth....or die. Red has six hours to brave the gauntlet and defeat Garrett, or face the ultimate destruction of his beloved, monstrous family..." (taken from the description of the book). I wish there was more to this part of the story, although it was my favorite part. It bounced back and forth between the traps and Garrett, but they were Saw-like to a lesser intensity. I loved when we were with the characters going through the traps.
The whole book seemed sleepy, interjected with a few scenes of action. I ended up liking it overall, but I needed more - more action, more horror... It dragged for me. I'm unlikely to recommend this book.
The Exodontists by Drew Huff is a book that I would not normally pick up or would DNF pretty quickly. It was weird and, at times, not in a good way. I am not a sci-fi reader and the Exodontists (Red, Man, Woman, and Boy) started off making me feel like they were grey aliens. I'm still not quite sure how to categorize the hairless, sexless, toothless beings that they are. There was a lot of character set up, which I understand why Huff needed to explain everyone, but for me it was a rough start. The character of Garrett made me feel disgusted reading his chapters. I have not been instantly repulsed by a character in a long time, so kudos for that! His misogynistic view was tough to get through. I considered DNFing this book at several occasions during Part 1.
"Furious at the loss of his self and humanity, Garrett transforms the Exodontists' warehouse into a hellish gauntlet of jerry-rigged traps, challenging the Exodontists to venture in and return his teeth....or die. Red has six hours to brave the gauntlet and defeat Garrett, or face the ultimate destruction of his beloved, monstrous family..." (taken from the description of the book). I wish there was more to this part of the story, although it was my favorite part. It bounced back and forth between the traps and Garrett, but they were Saw-like to a lesser intensity. I loved when we were with the characters going through the traps.
The whole book seemed sleepy, interjected with a few scenes of action. I ended up liking it overall, but I needed more - more action, more horror... It dragged for me. I'm unlikely to recommend this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
The Exodontists dream of teeth and run a free dental clinic in an abandoned warehouse. Red and his family are doing pretty well until a Spirit Halloween decides to prey on their abandoned building and open up a location there. Everything starts to unravel for Red and his family and the only thing left to do is protect themselves from the horrors that come with the Halloween store.
The Exodontists started off strong, but, unfortunately the first half of the book fell flat for me. However, once it got to the second half I had a great time. I wasn't that interested in the titular Exodontists in the first half of the book. I felt as if we were being told too much about them. They didn't feel like these creepy, undead, ghost-like figures. They felt just like human beings (which essentially they were). They just felt a bit too cartoony for my taste. I also wasn't a huge fan of focusing on Garrett, who was a pretty annoying incel. The characters around The Exodontists and Garrett were far more interesting and I loved reading their sections.
The most interesting character and my favorite character was Juan. His story captivated me the most. It's a shame that he was just a side character and only appeared for a short amount of time. His story is heartbreaking and moving and the way it wraps up broke me. His story was what kept me going. I truly wish it focused more on his story.
The Exodontists dream of teeth and run a free dental clinic in an abandoned warehouse. Red and his family are doing pretty well until a Spirit Halloween decides to prey on their abandoned building and open up a location there. Everything starts to unravel for Red and his family and the only thing left to do is protect themselves from the horrors that come with the Halloween store.
The Exodontists started off strong, but, unfortunately the first half of the book fell flat for me. However, once it got to the second half I had a great time. I wasn't that interested in the titular Exodontists in the first half of the book. I felt as if we were being told too much about them. They didn't feel like these creepy, undead, ghost-like figures. They felt just like human beings (which essentially they were). They just felt a bit too cartoony for my taste. I also wasn't a huge fan of focusing on Garrett, who was a pretty annoying incel. The characters around The Exodontists and Garrett were far more interesting and I loved reading their sections.
The most interesting character and my favorite character was Juan. His story captivated me the most. It's a shame that he was just a side character and only appeared for a short amount of time. His story is heartbreaking and moving and the way it wraps up broke me. His story was what kept me going. I truly wish it focused more on his story.
Did Not Finish
July 17, 2026First and foremost, I'd like to thank Netgalley and Drew Huff for approving me. The synopsis of The Exodontists made the novel sound like a fun horror-filled romp set in a Halloween Store, and I was so excited to dive into that. Unfortunately, I had to stop reading The Exodontists at 55 pages in due to encountering several of my triggers throughout the chapters.(Content warnings did not appear in Netgalley's synopsis of the book)
That being said, there's still so much to say at only 17% into the novel! You can tell that there are many layers to this story, much deeper than I had anticipated. We have complex, well fleshed-out characters who are driven by trauma, hopes, and ambition. The Exodontists themselves are also more complex than they first appear and each have a distinct personality.
The way Huff writes is engrossing. While "in" the various characters' POVs, Huff weaves in thoughts flowing through their stream of consciousness. Huff is able to tell their stories via glimpses and snapshots that has readers experience the characters' trauma in real-time.
The Exodontists is a very unique story, and I enjoyed watching all the threads form and begin to weave together. I truly hated having to put this book down, but doesn't it speak volumes of Huff's storytelling that it troubled me that much? I was enjoying the story, but I couldn't handle the content.
That being said, there's still so much to say at only 17% into the novel! You can tell that there are many layers to this story, much deeper than I had anticipated. We have complex, well fleshed-out characters who are driven by trauma, hopes, and ambition. The Exodontists themselves are also more complex than they first appear and each have a distinct personality.
The way Huff writes is engrossing. While "in" the various characters' POVs, Huff weaves in thoughts flowing through their stream of consciousness. Huff is able to tell their stories via glimpses and snapshots that has readers experience the characters' trauma in real-time.
The Exodontists is a very unique story, and I enjoyed watching all the threads form and begin to weave together. I truly hated having to put this book down, but doesn't it speak volumes of Huff's storytelling that it troubled me that much? I was enjoying the story, but I couldn't handle the content.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy!!
My teeth are blown away!! Not my socks, because this is about a ‘family’ of human-like entities who happen to also run a free dental clinic inside of an abandoned warehouse.
The family includes Red; the head and oldest member, Man; quite literally just a man, Woman; also quite literally just a woman, and Boy; the youngest member of the clan and the resident troublemaker. Everything is going well in the Exodontist family, until there is talks of a Halloween store being added to the warehouse. After a bit of manipulation and… scare tactics… on Red’s end, he finds out that it will just be one portion of the warehouse that will be converted into a store, and thankfully his family members will be added to the other half.
Everything seems to be going good, until employees of Haunted Halloween begin to suspect there is more lore to this hideous abandoned building. Enter Garrett, a man who survived a massacre and just murdered a young woman; and Faith, a young mother trying to escape her religious abuser. Will the Exodontists treat them with kindness, or will they try to defend their home?? Will they go after the operators of Haunted Halloween??
—👻 —
This was such an interesting premise. In a bit of reading slump a bit, because even though I enjoy horror about monsters and haunted buildings, they all started to read the same & I was getting quite bored. I’ve read one of Huff’s other works before, and it had a beautiful melancholic prose about a serious subject. I was so excited to read this, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity for an ARC!! This was sad, complex, detailed, and will make you cry at the end. The characters themselves have rich backgrounds and you really start to relate to them. Sometimes found family isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
My teeth are blown away!! Not my socks, because this is about a ‘family’ of human-like entities who happen to also run a free dental clinic inside of an abandoned warehouse.
The family includes Red; the head and oldest member, Man; quite literally just a man, Woman; also quite literally just a woman, and Boy; the youngest member of the clan and the resident troublemaker. Everything is going well in the Exodontist family, until there is talks of a Halloween store being added to the warehouse. After a bit of manipulation and… scare tactics… on Red’s end, he finds out that it will just be one portion of the warehouse that will be converted into a store, and thankfully his family members will be added to the other half.
Everything seems to be going good, until employees of Haunted Halloween begin to suspect there is more lore to this hideous abandoned building. Enter Garrett, a man who survived a massacre and just murdered a young woman; and Faith, a young mother trying to escape her religious abuser. Will the Exodontists treat them with kindness, or will they try to defend their home?? Will they go after the operators of Haunted Halloween??
—👻 —
This was such an interesting premise. In a bit of reading slump a bit, because even though I enjoy horror about monsters and haunted buildings, they all started to read the same & I was getting quite bored. I’ve read one of Huff’s other works before, and it had a beautiful melancholic prose about a serious subject. I was so excited to read this, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity for an ARC!! This was sad, complex, detailed, and will make you cry at the end. The characters themselves have rich backgrounds and you really start to relate to them. Sometimes found family isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Exodontists by Drew Huff is a novel seeped with body horror and familial bonds; it is not for the faint of heart. The novel follows a clan of bogeyman-esque creatures called 'Exodontists': semi immortal creatures who were once human (but now have no teeth and shed their skin frequently) and now perform free dental services in an abandoned warehouse. However, when their home is threatend, and old secrets threaten to come to light, the Exodontists must figure out what it really means to be a family.
This is honestly one of the most original premises that I have read in a long time, and Huff pulls it off really well; I was enthralled from the first page. Generally, the plot moved at a good pace, although there were times that it dragged a bit, but this did not detract too much from the reading experience. On that same note, the characters were mostly well rounded, but they felt a little flat a times. None of these opinions should put you off reading, though, as it still was a thrilling read.
Overall, I give The Exodontists 4.25/5 stars. I can't wait to see what else Drew Huff can put out, and I hope it's something as exciting and unique as this! Thank you to Nefarious Bat Press for providing this novel for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This is honestly one of the most original premises that I have read in a long time, and Huff pulls it off really well; I was enthralled from the first page. Generally, the plot moved at a good pace, although there were times that it dragged a bit, but this did not detract too much from the reading experience. On that same note, the characters were mostly well rounded, but they felt a little flat a times. None of these opinions should put you off reading, though, as it still was a thrilling read.
Overall, I give The Exodontists 4.25/5 stars. I can't wait to see what else Drew Huff can put out, and I hope it's something as exciting and unique as this! Thank you to Nefarious Bat Press for providing this novel for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
June 17, 2026
Review of advance copy recieved by Netgalley.
4.5 stars.
Drew Huff really continues to intrigue me with every book of theirs I read, being simultaneously grotesque, bizarre, funny, but also really heartfelt as well. I will say that there are a few trigger warnings here that I would suggest looking into before giving it a read, particularly involving SA.
The cast of tooth collectors here really grew on me, I loved Boy so much and I was so interested by Red and his backstory - I can't remember the last time that I sped through a book this quickly. Beneath the body horror (and there is a lot and it's utterly brilliant, I love Huff's brand of body horror ie The Divine Flesh) and dental imagery, there's a real sense of found family and belonging in such an amazing location (aka Spirit Halloween, shout out to Maureen honestly).
The imagination here is unfathomable like how the fuck do you come up with this shit man 😭 but I was fully committed and honestly wished that there had been a bit more to read since it flew by so quickly for me.
The only reason I have knocked off half a star from my review is honestly because I hated Garrett so much, but I do also appreciate a character that I can hate unconditionally.
Thanks, Drew!
4.5 stars.
Drew Huff really continues to intrigue me with every book of theirs I read, being simultaneously grotesque, bizarre, funny, but also really heartfelt as well. I will say that there are a few trigger warnings here that I would suggest looking into before giving it a read, particularly involving SA.
The cast of tooth collectors here really grew on me, I loved Boy so much and I was so interested by Red and his backstory - I can't remember the last time that I sped through a book this quickly. Beneath the body horror (and there is a lot and it's utterly brilliant, I love Huff's brand of body horror ie The Divine Flesh) and dental imagery, there's a real sense of found family and belonging in such an amazing location (aka Spirit Halloween, shout out to Maureen honestly).
The imagination here is unfathomable like how the fuck do you come up with this shit man 😭 but I was fully committed and honestly wished that there had been a bit more to read since it flew by so quickly for me.
The only reason I have knocked off half a star from my review is honestly because I hated Garrett so much, but I do also appreciate a character that I can hate unconditionally.
Thanks, Drew!
August 24, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
The premise of ‘The Exodonists’ sounded really promising. I was absolutely in for a gory ride from start to finish with creepy tooth obsessed ghouls, but I feel like the wires got a little crossed along the way in respect of the story. This felt like two separate concepts jumbled together, and tonally, it felt a bit confused as well.
From the perspective of a gory horror book, this was solid. It’s got all the gross scares and the nastiness, but it felt a little disconnected from the exodonists as a whole. There’s a lot of aggressive description in here, which is great, but it almost doesn’t fit with the characters.
Garrett as a villain is solid, but I did find that his ‘evilness’ went on too long. There was so much repetition and it just felt like it was getting a bit exhausting toward the end. I think the pacing was perhaps a little bit off, which was terribly sad, because conceptually it’s fantastic.
I do think it’s also of note that Garrett is as trash as he is. His views and his mindset (while worth a sigh every time the POV changes) is an interesting thing to explore. I definitely don’t have any issues with the content in this novel- it is horror, after all- but I just found it wasn’t paced out well for me.
The premise of ‘The Exodonists’ sounded really promising. I was absolutely in for a gory ride from start to finish with creepy tooth obsessed ghouls, but I feel like the wires got a little crossed along the way in respect of the story. This felt like two separate concepts jumbled together, and tonally, it felt a bit confused as well.
From the perspective of a gory horror book, this was solid. It’s got all the gross scares and the nastiness, but it felt a little disconnected from the exodonists as a whole. There’s a lot of aggressive description in here, which is great, but it almost doesn’t fit with the characters.
Garrett as a villain is solid, but I did find that his ‘evilness’ went on too long. There was so much repetition and it just felt like it was getting a bit exhausting toward the end. I think the pacing was perhaps a little bit off, which was terribly sad, because conceptually it’s fantastic.
I do think it’s also of note that Garrett is as trash as he is. His views and his mindset (while worth a sigh every time the POV changes) is an interesting thing to explore. I definitely don’t have any issues with the content in this novel- it is horror, after all- but I just found it wasn’t paced out well for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This thing was absolute nuts and super super fun. The Exodontists, a family of weird teeth monsters (but they’re not really monsters--they provide free dental care!) live in an abandoned warehouse that is about the turned into a Spirit Halloween type store. These things crave human teeth and sleep together in a giant pile of their discarded skin molts! There are some turf clashes that end up causing all kinds of problems for the Exodontists as well as their human neighbors. The Exodontists mostly want to coexist peacefully with humans, but the encroachment of the store disrupts their routine. They’re a family and all they want to do is take care of each other. It ends up being a lot easier to cheer for the teeth monsters than the incel! This book has lots of delightful gore and scares, but really it’s about family and the things that we will do to hold on to that sense of love and belonging (and to get it when we don’t have it). It’s releasing in October and I promise it would make a great Halloween read!
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of The Exodontists in exchange for my honest review.
What did I just read?! The Exodontists is weird, wild, creepy, and completely unlike anything I have read before—and I mean that in the best possible way. This book takes something as simple as teeth and turns it into something bizarrely unsettling. 😳🦷
I loved how chaotic and imaginative this story was. It has plenty of horror, body horror, dark humor, and strange moments that made me cringe, but underneath all the madness is a story about family, belonging, and how far we will go for the people we love. The Exodontists themselves are such an unforgettable and wonderfully weird group of characters that I found myself genuinely caring about them.
This is definitely not your typical horror novel. It is bizarre, fast-paced, gory, emotional, and absolutely bonkers in the best way. If you enjoy strange and original horror with a darkly fun Halloween atmosphere and a little heart beneath all the teeth and chaos, I definitely recommend giving this one a try!
What did I just read?! The Exodontists is weird, wild, creepy, and completely unlike anything I have read before—and I mean that in the best possible way. This book takes something as simple as teeth and turns it into something bizarrely unsettling. 😳🦷
I loved how chaotic and imaginative this story was. It has plenty of horror, body horror, dark humor, and strange moments that made me cringe, but underneath all the madness is a story about family, belonging, and how far we will go for the people we love. The Exodontists themselves are such an unforgettable and wonderfully weird group of characters that I found myself genuinely caring about them.
This is definitely not your typical horror novel. It is bizarre, fast-paced, gory, emotional, and absolutely bonkers in the best way. If you enjoy strange and original horror with a darkly fun Halloween atmosphere and a little heart beneath all the teeth and chaos, I definitely recommend giving this one a try!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Nefarious Bat Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! ♡
There are books that are weird because they are trying very hard to be weird, and then there are books where you genuinely wonder what sequence of electrical impulses produced the idea in the first place. The Exodontists is very much the latter!!
This is grotesque, upsetting, tender and committed to its own bizarre universe with a confidence I reaaaaally enjoyed. The body horror is excellent but what kept me reading was how much genuine sadness sits underneath all the teeth and flesh and general biological disrespect lol.
It does occasionally get overcrowded. There were moments where I wanted the book to choose one nightmare and stay there for five minutes instead of enthusiastically opening another door. Still, I would take something this strange and ambitious over safe horror basically every time.
Also, I would like Drew Huff to explain where these ideas come from. Actually, I don’t think I want to know.
There are books that are weird because they are trying very hard to be weird, and then there are books where you genuinely wonder what sequence of electrical impulses produced the idea in the first place. The Exodontists is very much the latter!!
This is grotesque, upsetting, tender and committed to its own bizarre universe with a confidence I reaaaaally enjoyed. The body horror is excellent but what kept me reading was how much genuine sadness sits underneath all the teeth and flesh and general biological disrespect lol.
It does occasionally get overcrowded. There were moments where I wanted the book to choose one nightmare and stay there for five minutes instead of enthusiastically opening another door. Still, I would take something this strange and ambitious over safe horror basically every time.
Also, I would like Drew Huff to explain where these ideas come from. Actually, I don’t think I want to know.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Like all of Drew Huff's books this one is weird, askew, and reads like a fever dream. But, as always, it's full of heartbreak, drama, and sadness.
The Exodontists are kinda human and kinda not. They're hairless, sexless, and have no teeth. At night they provide free dental services for free from their home, an abandoned old warehouse.
One day they learn that a Haunted Halloween store is leasing the space for the holiday and that's going to bring a lot of terrible things to not only them but the humans who work there.
The Exodontists LOVE teeth, obsessed with them actually, and this will account for some very squirmy uncomfortable scenes throughout. Yes it's weird and bizarre but it's also about family and belonging with several instances of rather heart warming moments. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
The Exodontists are kinda human and kinda not. They're hairless, sexless, and have no teeth. At night they provide free dental services for free from their home, an abandoned old warehouse.
One day they learn that a Haunted Halloween store is leasing the space for the holiday and that's going to bring a lot of terrible things to not only them but the humans who work there.
The Exodontists LOVE teeth, obsessed with them actually, and this will account for some very squirmy uncomfortable scenes throughout. Yes it's weird and bizarre but it's also about family and belonging with several instances of rather heart warming moments. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Off the bat, I want to make it clear: The Exodontists is a strange novel. Personally, that's a massive selling point to me, but this book, like most of Drew's work, is very bizarre and often feels like a weird dream. This comes through both in the plot, characters and the prose itself.
I loved every single element of this book. I thought the Exodontists themselves, as creatures and characters were super unique and interesting. Their lore and motivations were intriguing and I loved the stream of consciousness writing style that accompanied their presence on the page.
Also, I'm unusually drawn to any horror story with death-game elements included, so that was another huge pro for me.
I highly recommend this one. Drew Huff is the absolute master of horror that's strange and surreal, so if you're looking for a spooky, Halloween-y and trippy story, this book is for you.
🦷🦷🦷🦷🦷/5
I loved every single element of this book. I thought the Exodontists themselves, as creatures and characters were super unique and interesting. Their lore and motivations were intriguing and I loved the stream of consciousness writing style that accompanied their presence on the page.
Also, I'm unusually drawn to any horror story with death-game elements included, so that was another huge pro for me.
I highly recommend this one. Drew Huff is the absolute master of horror that's strange and surreal, so if you're looking for a spooky, Halloween-y and trippy story, this book is for you.
🦷🦷🦷🦷🦷/5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"They are Exodontists. They awoke inside the abandoned warehouse that rots outside of time, close to the ex-urban ports, and now they dwell within. They cast teeth in between clients, they nest, and they sing......They are a family bound by flesh and teeth and saliva. Oh, how they love. They are the Exodontists."
Drew Huff wrote the perfect horror novel for Halloween! The Exodontists have that old school Halloween feel with modern day elements. Drew's concept of a new kind of boogeyman mixing it with a fear most people have with dentists is brilliant. Diabolical, unhinged, disturbing, unsettling, with an ending that makes you feel like you're head spun around 360°.
As someone who has a fear of dentists & dental work, The Exodontists was a work of disturbing art. I enjoyed trying to guess what would happen next. I lived for the suspense. I gasped at the suprise at the end. I had a real fun & thrilling time reading this.
Drew Huff wrote the perfect horror novel for Halloween! The Exodontists have that old school Halloween feel with modern day elements. Drew's concept of a new kind of boogeyman mixing it with a fear most people have with dentists is brilliant. Diabolical, unhinged, disturbing, unsettling, with an ending that makes you feel like you're head spun around 360°.
As someone who has a fear of dentists & dental work, The Exodontists was a work of disturbing art. I enjoyed trying to guess what would happen next. I lived for the suspense. I gasped at the suprise at the end. I had a real fun & thrilling time reading this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Exodontists is a truly unique dark horror book. It’s the type you read, then sit there in silence after wondering what just happened. Going into it, I was interested in this book because I love dental horror and the main characters are monster orthodontists. But there’s so much more to the story… Family, changing dynamics, and loving someone enough to do what’s best for them are all huge themes. Losing yourself and your autonomy and the psychological horror of it plays into the story in the most delicious way.
This was very different from anything I’ve read recently, and I loved the experience of it. However, there’s misogyny was a little much for me. It was a main character trait, and it kept me from really connecting to the book.
Overall, I’ll definitely be reading more from Drew Huff. This was such an insane book, and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something dark and different.
This was very different from anything I’ve read recently, and I loved the experience of it. However, there’s misogyny was a little much for me. It was a main character trait, and it kept me from really connecting to the book.
Overall, I’ll definitely be reading more from Drew Huff. This was such an insane book, and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something dark and different.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
(ARC received from publishers)
A gooey body horror take on the vampire story, with lashings of small-ish town urban decay and human nastiness. Not even the Exodontists know where they come from or why, but came they did, existing in the shadows and surviving in a town that fears them because their hunger for teeth and strange powers come in very handy if you have no dental insurance and need someone to take your molars out; we see from not only the Exodontists' POV, where they're unsettling but you empathise with them and how they want to coexist on their own terms, and then we see the human's POV and how they're trying to stay calm in the face of strange, fetid creatures that are constantly creeping around your mouth. Throw in some human monsters and everyone sort-of trying their best at the same time and making it worse! Surprising stuff and oft horrible & bloody.
A gooey body horror take on the vampire story, with lashings of small-ish town urban decay and human nastiness. Not even the Exodontists know where they come from or why, but came they did, existing in the shadows and surviving in a town that fears them because their hunger for teeth and strange powers come in very handy if you have no dental insurance and need someone to take your molars out; we see from not only the Exodontists' POV, where they're unsettling but you empathise with them and how they want to coexist on their own terms, and then we see the human's POV and how they're trying to stay calm in the face of strange, fetid creatures that are constantly creeping around your mouth. Throw in some human monsters and everyone sort-of trying their best at the same time and making it worse! Surprising stuff and oft horrible & bloody.
June 3, 2026
Thank you to Nefarious Bat Press and NetGalley for the arc!
I have a lot of mixed feelings about the book. Ghosts/Vampires (without teeth) that eat teeth. Very creative different synopsis. I was curious about their lore and backstory, I wish I could have learned a little more but it’s not a deal breaker for me. I really hated Garrett, which we are supposed to, (I think?) I couldn’t tell if we were supposed to feel sympathy for him though hearing about his trauma and getting what I deem a happy ending. He KILLED MULTIPLE PEOPLE, and was so horrible and vial. I have trauma too and I’m not killing people and blaming it on my daddy issues and then expecting a happy ending for myself. I will say, I did enjoy reading the book and was looking forward to reading it at night. I wouldn’t call it a whimsical Halloween story, this was really weird and really dark.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about the book. Ghosts/Vampires (without teeth) that eat teeth. Very creative different synopsis. I was curious about their lore and backstory, I wish I could have learned a little more but it’s not a deal breaker for me. I really hated Garrett, which we are supposed to, (I think?) I couldn’t tell if we were supposed to feel sympathy for him though hearing about his trauma and getting what I deem a happy ending. He KILLED MULTIPLE PEOPLE, and was so horrible and vial. I have trauma too and I’m not killing people and blaming it on my daddy issues and then expecting a happy ending for myself. I will say, I did enjoy reading the book and was looking forward to reading it at night. I wouldn’t call it a whimsical Halloween story, this was really weird and really dark.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
What the actual hell did I just read. Respectfully.
Ghost/wraith dental creatures obsessed with TEETH who secretly provide free dental work at night??? A haunted Halloween store situation??? Body horror??? Found family??? Emotional damage????
This was so weird. Deeply weird. The kind of weird where I immediately needed other people to read it so I could yell about it.
And somehow underneath all the absolute chaos and tooth-related nightmare fuel, there was actual heart?? I weirdly cared so much about these creepy little freaks.
If you like bizarre horror that feels like a fever dream but also somehow makes you emotional, this is SUCH a fun time.
My jaw may never recover. 5 stars.
What the actual hell did I just read. Respectfully.
Ghost/wraith dental creatures obsessed with TEETH who secretly provide free dental work at night??? A haunted Halloween store situation??? Body horror??? Found family??? Emotional damage????
This was so weird. Deeply weird. The kind of weird where I immediately needed other people to read it so I could yell about it.
And somehow underneath all the absolute chaos and tooth-related nightmare fuel, there was actual heart?? I weirdly cared so much about these creepy little freaks.
If you like bizarre horror that feels like a fever dream but also somehow makes you emotional, this is SUCH a fun time.
My jaw may never recover. 5 stars.
May 30, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly had low expectations going into this book. Dentist/vampire monsters — what are you even supposed to expect from that?
But I flew right through it. And while this is indeed strange body horror, I was ultimately surprised that the monsters weren’t the monster of the story. The main themes here revolve around found family and the idea that regardless of your background, you deserve a chance.
So a body horror book with those weird dentist monsters turns out to have a really heartwarming message — wrapped in the body horror, of course. But the way it was executed felt refreshing, and the writing style was an easy read.
Which makes it one of the most original books I’ve read in a long time.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly had low expectations going into this book. Dentist/vampire monsters — what are you even supposed to expect from that?
But I flew right through it. And while this is indeed strange body horror, I was ultimately surprised that the monsters weren’t the monster of the story. The main themes here revolve around found family and the idea that regardless of your background, you deserve a chance.
So a body horror book with those weird dentist monsters turns out to have a really heartwarming message — wrapped in the body horror, of course. But the way it was executed felt refreshing, and the writing style was an easy read.
Which makes it one of the most original books I’ve read in a long time.
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