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Katzenjammer: A Haunting YA Psychological Thriller About Transformation and Buried Tragedy
American Horror Story meets the dark comedy of Kafka's The Metamorphosis as Cat searches for a way to escape her high school. A tale of family, love, tragedy, and masks--the ones others make for us, and the ones we make for ourselves. Katzenjammer will haunt fans of Chelsea Pitcher's This Lie Will Kill You and E. Lockhart's We Were Liars.
Cat lives in her high school. She never leaves, and for a long time her school has provided her with everything she needs. But now things are changing. The hallways contract and expand along with the school's breathing, and the showers in the bathroom run a bloody red. Cat's best friend is slowly turning into cardboard, and instead of a face, Cat has a cat mask made of her own hardened flesh.
Cat doesn't remember why she is trapped in her school or why half of them--Cat included--are slowly transforming. Escaping has always been the one impossibility in her school's upside-down world. But to save herself from the eventual self-destruction all the students face, Cat must find the way out. And to do that, she'll have to remember what put her there in the first place.
Using chapters alternating between the past and the present, acclaimed author Francesca Zappia weaves a spine-tingling, suspenseful, and haunting story about tragedy and the power of memories. Fans of Marieke Nijkamp's This Is Where It Ends and Karen McManus's One of Us Is Lying will lose themselves in the pages of this novel--or maybe in the treacherous hallways of the school.
Cat lives in her high school. She never leaves, and for a long time her school has provided her with everything she needs. But now things are changing. The hallways contract and expand along with the school's breathing, and the showers in the bathroom run a bloody red. Cat's best friend is slowly turning into cardboard, and instead of a face, Cat has a cat mask made of her own hardened flesh.
Cat doesn't remember why she is trapped in her school or why half of them--Cat included--are slowly transforming. Escaping has always been the one impossibility in her school's upside-down world. But to save herself from the eventual self-destruction all the students face, Cat must find the way out. And to do that, she'll have to remember what put her there in the first place.
Using chapters alternating between the past and the present, acclaimed author Francesca Zappia weaves a spine-tingling, suspenseful, and haunting story about tragedy and the power of memories. Fans of Marieke Nijkamp's This Is Where It Ends and Karen McManus's One of Us Is Lying will lose themselves in the pages of this novel--or maybe in the treacherous hallways of the school.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 28, 2022
23 people are currently reading
5060 people want to read
About the author
Francesca Zappia
12 books3,832 followersWriter of MADE YOU UP and ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS. Represented by Louise Fury of the Fury Agency.
Also wrote The Children of Hypnos serial on Wattpad (https://www.wattpad.com/story/9547883...).
Social Media: @ChessieZappia
You can find links to all my social media on my website, www.francescazappia.com.
Also wrote The Children of Hypnos serial on Wattpad (https://www.wattpad.com/story/9547883...).
Social Media: @ChessieZappia
You can find links to all my social media on my website, www.francescazappia.com.
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December 30, 2021No, I was not on drugs when I wrote this book.
June 29, 2022
Welp, this decides it. I've gone from loving ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS, my first experience with this author, to being perplexed and uncertain of how I felt (MADE YOU UP) to truly actively disliking everything else (NOW ENTERING ADDAMSVILLE and, of course, this one). I think Zappia and I have to part ways.
First off, the list of triggers for this book are rather plentiful, so please go find a full list. But in broad strokes we have violence (various types, including gun violence), body horror and gore (again, a variety), bullying (you guessed it, various kinds), and more.
I expected, from the pitch, that this was to be all kinds of strange and dark and surreal but after a certain reveal.. I feel even stranger about the whole experience. I don't think books with heavier subject matter or darkness need a happy ending but sometimes there's something. For this book? Don't expect anything.
While it is doubtlessly creative and sometimes the weirdness was.. winsome, even almost endearing, on the whole I just don't know what to do with this whole experience. Normally my one-stars are very distinctly in the "I hated this" category but this didn't inspire hate. It just didn't work. And it's not for me.
1.5 stars
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
First off, the list of triggers for this book are rather plentiful, so please go find a full list. But in broad strokes we have violence (various types, including gun violence), body horror and gore (again, a variety), bullying (you guessed it, various kinds), and more.
I expected, from the pitch, that this was to be all kinds of strange and dark and surreal but after a certain reveal.. I feel even stranger about the whole experience. I don't think books with heavier subject matter or darkness need a happy ending but sometimes there's something. For this book? Don't expect anything.
While it is doubtlessly creative and sometimes the weirdness was.. winsome, even almost endearing, on the whole I just don't know what to do with this whole experience. Normally my one-stars are very distinctly in the "I hated this" category but this didn't inspire hate. It just didn't work. And it's not for me.
1.5 stars
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
July 27, 2022
"I am all scars."
This was...weird creepy strange mind-boggling
freaky nightmarish
twisted bizarre experimental.
And sad. So so so sad.
My heart is breaking for Cat.
I think I need some time to process this book.
This was...
And sad. So so so sad.
My heart is breaking for Cat.
I think I need some time to process this book.
July 8, 2022
I really do love this author, but I really have to know, respectfully... did she have any suspicious foods or desserts while writing this book😭
August 2, 2022
I do adore messed up, twisty, outright weird books and this is certainly one of them. However, this was very dark, and the ending just left me feeling lost and depressed. I prefer hopeful endings and this was just... bleak.
Switching from the present day, where Cat is trapped in her school with other teens who are turning into unusual creatures - Cat's face mask, a boy with a cardboard head, a girl made of porcelain - to the past, in Cat's memories, where we start to piece together what happened then to cause what's happening now.
It really is a dark story, darker than I expected, with an ending that I did not see coming that was both shocking and devastating, knowing what this meant. The story left me feeling somewhat depressed, and while it will stick with me I don't think it's one I'd want to read again.
Switching from the present day, where Cat is trapped in her school with other teens who are turning into unusual creatures - Cat's face mask, a boy with a cardboard head, a girl made of porcelain - to the past, in Cat's memories, where we start to piece together what happened then to cause what's happening now.
It really is a dark story, darker than I expected, with an ending that I did not see coming that was both shocking and devastating, knowing what this meant. The story left me feeling somewhat depressed, and while it will stick with me I don't think it's one I'd want to read again.
Want to read
November 23, 2021I really, really love this cover and hope it does a good job of capturing the vibe of the story, because if it does... I need this. 👀
August 3, 2022
I never know how to begin reviews; most of the time I want to fan-girl or go off on rants right away. Other times, I step back and collect my thoughts before my word vomit comes out on the screen. I've sat on this one for two days, so I think I'm ready.
This. Book. Was. Incredible.
Eliza and Her Monsters was the first book I received in my very first book box from Owlcrate. I then picked up Made You Up and my love for Zappia's story-telling grew. Katzenjammer is different from her other works, but it doesn't fail to jab you in the heart.
Cat is trapped in a strange version of her high school where her friends and classmates are slowly turning into monsters. She has the mask of a cat and her best friend's face is cardboard with squiggly crayon eyes and mouth.
Are you still with me?
The book switches from past to present, showing us glimpses into Cat's life before she ended up trapped in her high school. With each memory she's forced to remember, she pieces together the reason why they're all trapped there.
And the reason is not what you'd expect.
And will also tear your heart wide open.
The pacing was quick and exciting, and I connected with Cat's character. I also adored the illustrations.
“Look, look, look what can happen, look what can be inflicted on another human, by humans. Look how we can be undone.”
This is a disturbing, dark story that part of me feels bad for loving because the themes are so sad and so heartbreaking. If you're OK with gore and bizarre things, this book will be perfect for you. Trigger warnings for bullying, violence, and death.
Thank you to Edelweiss for the arc.
This. Book. Was. Incredible.
Eliza and Her Monsters was the first book I received in my very first book box from Owlcrate. I then picked up Made You Up and my love for Zappia's story-telling grew. Katzenjammer is different from her other works, but it doesn't fail to jab you in the heart.
Cat is trapped in a strange version of her high school where her friends and classmates are slowly turning into monsters. She has the mask of a cat and her best friend's face is cardboard with squiggly crayon eyes and mouth.
Are you still with me?
The book switches from past to present, showing us glimpses into Cat's life before she ended up trapped in her high school. With each memory she's forced to remember, she pieces together the reason why they're all trapped there.
And the reason is not what you'd expect.
And will also tear your heart wide open.
The pacing was quick and exciting, and I connected with Cat's character. I also adored the illustrations.
“Look, look, look what can happen, look what can be inflicted on another human, by humans. Look how we can be undone.”
This is a disturbing, dark story that part of me feels bad for loving because the themes are so sad and so heartbreaking. If you're OK with gore and bizarre things, this book will be perfect for you. Trigger warnings for bullying, violence, and death.
Thank you to Edelweiss for the arc.
September 20, 2022
I honestly didnt know how to rate this book it was so weird yet I was hooked on the writing style and the main character Cat for a ya horror this book is messed up the ending made me feel horrid because without giving anything away not the best way to go ending essp with a ya book dealing with teens .. And I have one so Im not sure how to feel about this book was it crossing a line? Im not sure sorry!
May 18, 2022
This was such a fantastic book, loved the way it was told, back and forth, and oh, watching her past play out, there were some really awful moments! Such a great read!
June 8, 2023
The writing doesn't hold up so far but who knows maybe the inevitable twist will compell me to think that Zappia is actually capable of writing literary YA.
Because let's face it that's what she's trying to do. What with her agent comparing her to Kafka omg TvT
Upon finishing I do believe the novel had some merit. Unfortunately it's a book that just isn't very relevant outside the US because .
The twist also made sure that the themes in the novel - bullying and friendship - fell flatter than they should have.
Overall a disappointing story that doesn't really tackle any of the issues it mentions.
Because let's face it that's what she's trying to do. What with her agent comparing her to Kafka omg TvT
Upon finishing I do believe the novel had some merit. Unfortunately it's a book that just isn't very relevant outside the US because .
The twist also made sure that the themes in the novel - bullying and friendship - fell flatter than they should have.
Overall a disappointing story that doesn't really tackle any of the issues it mentions.
September 13, 2022
Full Review on The Candid Cover
Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia is a gripping horror novel that lingered with me long after I finished reading. With its eerie premise and gorgeous prose, I was initially impressed by how quickly the author drew me in. However, I had some issues with the book’s disturbing ending, making this a difficult review to write. I have mixed feelings about this one, but I would recommend it to those looking for a thought-provoking and suspenseful read.
Trapped in their school with no recollection of how they got there, Cat and her classmates are slowly transforming in gruesome ways. When a killer roams the school in search of their next target, Cat works to uncover their identity to hopefully find a way out. As the story alternates between the past and the present and Cat slowly pieces together what happened, shocking truths rise to the surface.
❀ GORGEOUS WRITING STYLE
I absolutely adored the writing style of this book and the way it sucked me in. While this is a horror novel, there are some really beautiful descriptions throughout the story that provide an interesting contrast to the gore in the content, and I was in awe of how easily Francesca Zappia immersed me in Cat’s terrifying world. The story is also told through short, fragmented chapters, which makes it incredibly difficult to put down, and I devoured every page, on the edge of my seat.
❀ INTENSE ENDING
While I was gripped by the premise and the prose, I had some major issues with the ending of this book that left me with mixed feelings. Without spoiling the final twist, I will say that it took me by surprise, but not in the most positive way. The ending is incredibly intense and contains topics that I am not comfortable reading about, and if I had been aware of this, I probably wouldn’t have picked this one up. I understand where the author was going with this twist, and the ending does explain a lot of plot, but I wished that I had been more prepared going into it.
❀ A SUSPENSEFUL READ
Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia is a suspenseful read with a shocking ending. I was hooked by the strange premise, and the writing style left me in awe. While I was initially loving this one, I was uncomfortable with the ending, and I urge readers to check the content warnings before diving in.
Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia is a gripping horror novel that lingered with me long after I finished reading. With its eerie premise and gorgeous prose, I was initially impressed by how quickly the author drew me in. However, I had some issues with the book’s disturbing ending, making this a difficult review to write. I have mixed feelings about this one, but I would recommend it to those looking for a thought-provoking and suspenseful read.
Trapped in their school with no recollection of how they got there, Cat and her classmates are slowly transforming in gruesome ways. When a killer roams the school in search of their next target, Cat works to uncover their identity to hopefully find a way out. As the story alternates between the past and the present and Cat slowly pieces together what happened, shocking truths rise to the surface.
❀ GORGEOUS WRITING STYLE
I absolutely adored the writing style of this book and the way it sucked me in. While this is a horror novel, there are some really beautiful descriptions throughout the story that provide an interesting contrast to the gore in the content, and I was in awe of how easily Francesca Zappia immersed me in Cat’s terrifying world. The story is also told through short, fragmented chapters, which makes it incredibly difficult to put down, and I devoured every page, on the edge of my seat.
❀ INTENSE ENDING
While I was gripped by the premise and the prose, I had some major issues with the ending of this book that left me with mixed feelings. Without spoiling the final twist, I will say that it took me by surprise, but not in the most positive way. The ending is incredibly intense and contains topics that I am not comfortable reading about, and if I had been aware of this, I probably wouldn’t have picked this one up. I understand where the author was going with this twist, and the ending does explain a lot of plot, but I wished that I had been more prepared going into it.
❀ A SUSPENSEFUL READ
Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia is a suspenseful read with a shocking ending. I was hooked by the strange premise, and the writing style left me in awe. While I was initially loving this one, I was uncomfortable with the ending, and I urge readers to check the content warnings before diving in.
July 14, 2022
I loved Eliza and Her Monsters, and the first page of this book caught my eye, so I was disappointed when I didn't like this book. Maybe it's just Not My Thing; it's quirky and weird and bloody, which I like, but I feel like the surrealism wasn't handled well enough -- at least in writing -- that I just couldn't get into it. I didn't really find Cat an interesting or consistent character, nor did any of the others appeal to me. As literature, I just couldn't get into this book or the backstory behind the weirdness.
I will say that while I was reading this, I kept thinking it would make a great video game along the lines of a Cuphead/Resident Evil-esque merger.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I will say that while I was reading this, I kept thinking it would make a great video game along the lines of a Cuphead/Resident Evil-esque merger.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2022
Wow… what I thought was going on in this book was totally different then what really was going on. I loved this book and I enjoyed how it flowed . I really liked the different characters and their relationship to one another. I can’t really explain to you what this book is about except for its a story about a bunch of teens stuck inside the school with no way out. Inside their school there is a killer among them and Cat is going to figure out who it could be.
June 28, 2022
Content warning: School bullying and violence, mention of eating disorders, and scenes of gore, blood, and death.
So, I have no idea whatsoever how to review this book! I mean- if I tell you what I didn't like about it, it would probably be a huge spoiler. But it seems unfair to just be like "there was this thing I didn't love" and then rate it thusly, no explanation provided. I'll try, okay? I'll do my best, but if you want the 100% Spoiler Free Guarantee™, here are my thoughts: it was bizarre but compelling, and I was definitely invested, but I wasn't sure I liked the road it took.
I was going to break it down into a likes versus dislikes but... I don't even think that is necessary, fully. I liked that it was fast-paced and exciting and I cared about what happened to Cat. I certainly was concerned for her, and the other kids, and I found myself very invested in her story, as unconventionally told as it was. Heck, I enjoyed the different kind of storytelling, it felt rather refreshing!
There is gore, yes. Which I did expect going in, so I was okay with it. The ending though.... look, the ending kind of tainted it for me? It's one of those that kind of overshadows everything you've just read, and without spoiling anything, just made me feel kind of uncomfy with the whole story. So while I did enjoy most of the book, even with the horror/gore elements, the ending of this one really lost me. But, I have seen reviewers who feel much differently, so if you can handle the content, it may be worth the read. It's certainly unique, there's no question there!
Bottom Line: I was really invested in this story, bizarre as it was, but felt a bit let down by the ending.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
So, I have no idea whatsoever how to review this book! I mean- if I tell you what I didn't like about it, it would probably be a huge spoiler. But it seems unfair to just be like "there was this thing I didn't love" and then rate it thusly, no explanation provided. I'll try, okay? I'll do my best, but if you want the 100% Spoiler Free Guarantee™, here are my thoughts: it was bizarre but compelling, and I was definitely invested, but I wasn't sure I liked the road it took.
I was going to break it down into a likes versus dislikes but... I don't even think that is necessary, fully. I liked that it was fast-paced and exciting and I cared about what happened to Cat. I certainly was concerned for her, and the other kids, and I found myself very invested in her story, as unconventionally told as it was. Heck, I enjoyed the different kind of storytelling, it felt rather refreshing!
There is gore, yes. Which I did expect going in, so I was okay with it. The ending though.... look, the ending kind of tainted it for me? It's one of those that kind of overshadows everything you've just read, and without spoiling anything, just made me feel kind of uncomfy with the whole story. So while I did enjoy most of the book, even with the horror/gore elements, the ending of this one really lost me. But, I have seen reviewers who feel much differently, so if you can handle the content, it may be worth the read. It's certainly unique, there's no question there!
Bottom Line: I was really invested in this story, bizarre as it was, but felt a bit let down by the ending.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
October 25, 2022
Horror YA. Hard to put down (I read it in less than 24 hours.) Weird. Violent. Bloody. Creepy AF. Lots of triggers. Absolutely heartbreaking.
I am going to be processing this one for a while.
I am going to be processing this one for a while.
October 16, 2022
Katzenjammer: ★★★★★
This is the most terrifying book you will ever read, and it should be.
I have never not loved a Francesca Zappia book, so despite my hesitance toward the horror genre, I had to read this. I read it in October because it's Halloween season, but the truth is that the horror of this book does not come through violence or visualization or gore or monsters or anything like that, but the sheer raw reality that lies behind this "body-horror-spooky-school-mystery" mask.
Katzenjammer is about the dangers of being a kid. And whenever this topic comes up, people are going to say that being a kid "isn't dangerous" and "kids have it so easy nowadays" because "back in my day..." and that's fine, but in my eyes that just translates to "I don't have kids" because if you did, you'd sure as heck care.
Katzenjammer's fantasy heckscape is pretty much as metaphorical as things get, so you have to be really open to interpreting strange things, but I'm telling you, there is so much depth, so much pain, and so, so much passionate, important anger in the writing of this book that you need to see. In short, without spoiling things: this group of high schoolers are trapped in a living, breathing school, without doors or means of escape. They can't remember how they got there but half of them have begun changing in weird, scary, self-destructive ways, like Cat, whose face is slowly morphing into a cat mask. On top of all this, the school's plumbing is filled with blood and there's a monster of some sort slowly killing off the changed teenagers. The teachers have become inanimate objects and only the athletic, popular kids have safe shelter and proper weapons.
You see where this is going, right?
Insight 1. Bullying:
I thought I'd never see the day a book accurately portrays the damage bullying causes. Without being cliche, and still depicting the pure frustration, insecurity, and fear bullying creates, Katzenjammer is flawless in its message towards bullies and OH MY WORD. I can't even describe it, it rips me apart, seeing this smart, strong-willed protagonist get torn to pieces over this massive thing no one sees but her. I have seen this story so many times in real life and it kills me.
For anyone who's read the book: I especially liked the way that the changes the kids go through is directly connected to the way they were bullied. As if they became what everyone thought they were. And also how the inanimate teachers just watched and did nothing, because of course. Of course.
Insight 2. Mental health:
No one writes mental health struggles like Zappia. I appreciate this novel for its mental representation so much. I think everyone should read this because it just--this book depicts everyone's struggle. Not just the "good guys". I'll leave it there.
Insight 3. School safety:
I don't want to say much about this book, just that it fueled an anger in me I did not think I had. And it's time to get angry, it really is. If I have to send a child to school in a bulletproof backpack one day, I'm not sending them to school.
Overall this book made me feel mad, it made me feel guilty, it made me feel not alone, it made me feel seen, it made child me feel seen, it makes me want to scream. I almost wish this book wasn't horror because I know it's going to stop some people from reading it when everyone on this planet should, but at the same time, it has to be horror, because that's what it is.
If Francesca Zappia ever saw this somehow, I just want to say thank you and I'm sorry. I'm sorry because I'm guessing you write a lot from experience, but thank you for turning that experience into something so beautiful as this. I know everyone who reads it will feel disturbed, but also comforted at the idea of having strength anything like yours.
Content warnings (these are actually in the copyright section of the book, but I'm gonna put them here too):
- language: this book is 15+ for sure.
- spice: necessary references, but nothing inappropriate really happens
- violence: everything you can think of
- trauma: possible eating disorder triggers, gun violence, references to insanity
This is the most terrifying book you will ever read, and it should be.
I have never not loved a Francesca Zappia book, so despite my hesitance toward the horror genre, I had to read this. I read it in October because it's Halloween season, but the truth is that the horror of this book does not come through violence or visualization or gore or monsters or anything like that, but the sheer raw reality that lies behind this "body-horror-spooky-school-mystery" mask.
Katzenjammer is about the dangers of being a kid. And whenever this topic comes up, people are going to say that being a kid "isn't dangerous" and "kids have it so easy nowadays" because "back in my day..." and that's fine, but in my eyes that just translates to "I don't have kids" because if you did, you'd sure as heck care.
Katzenjammer's fantasy heckscape is pretty much as metaphorical as things get, so you have to be really open to interpreting strange things, but I'm telling you, there is so much depth, so much pain, and so, so much passionate, important anger in the writing of this book that you need to see. In short, without spoiling things: this group of high schoolers are trapped in a living, breathing school, without doors or means of escape. They can't remember how they got there but half of them have begun changing in weird, scary, self-destructive ways, like Cat, whose face is slowly morphing into a cat mask. On top of all this, the school's plumbing is filled with blood and there's a monster of some sort slowly killing off the changed teenagers. The teachers have become inanimate objects and only the athletic, popular kids have safe shelter and proper weapons.
You see where this is going, right?
Insight 1. Bullying:
I thought I'd never see the day a book accurately portrays the damage bullying causes. Without being cliche, and still depicting the pure frustration, insecurity, and fear bullying creates, Katzenjammer is flawless in its message towards bullies and OH MY WORD. I can't even describe it, it rips me apart, seeing this smart, strong-willed protagonist get torn to pieces over this massive thing no one sees but her. I have seen this story so many times in real life and it kills me.
For anyone who's read the book: I especially liked the way that the changes the kids go through is directly connected to the way they were bullied. As if they became what everyone thought they were. And also how the inanimate teachers just watched and did nothing, because of course. Of course.
Insight 2. Mental health:
No one writes mental health struggles like Zappia. I appreciate this novel for its mental representation so much. I think everyone should read this because it just--this book depicts everyone's struggle. Not just the "good guys". I'll leave it there.
Insight 3. School safety:
I don't want to say much about this book, just that it fueled an anger in me I did not think I had. And it's time to get angry, it really is. If I have to send a child to school in a bulletproof backpack one day, I'm not sending them to school.
Overall this book made me feel mad, it made me feel guilty, it made me feel not alone, it made me feel seen, it made child me feel seen, it makes me want to scream. I almost wish this book wasn't horror because I know it's going to stop some people from reading it when everyone on this planet should, but at the same time, it has to be horror, because that's what it is.
If Francesca Zappia ever saw this somehow, I just want to say thank you and I'm sorry. I'm sorry because I'm guessing you write a lot from experience, but thank you for turning that experience into something so beautiful as this. I know everyone who reads it will feel disturbed, but also comforted at the idea of having strength anything like yours.
Content warnings (these are actually in the copyright section of the book, but I'm gonna put them here too):
- language: this book is 15+ for sure.
- spice: necessary references, but nothing inappropriate really happens
- violence: everything you can think of
- trauma: possible eating disorder triggers, gun violence, references to insanity
June 2, 2022
5 Stars
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
This book is highly disturbing, uncanny, macabre... and excellent. It takes body horror and bullying to the extreme, and the list of content warnings provided by the author and publisher should be carefully perused by anyone who doesn't want to dwell on such topics. This book isn't for the faint of heart, but for those who can stomach it, it is definitely worth the read.
My full review will be available June 10, 2022 at Gateway Reviews.
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
This book is highly disturbing, uncanny, macabre... and excellent. It takes body horror and bullying to the extreme, and the list of content warnings provided by the author and publisher should be carefully perused by anyone who doesn't want to dwell on such topics. This book isn't for the faint of heart, but for those who can stomach it, it is definitely worth the read.
My full review will be available June 10, 2022 at Gateway Reviews.
June 9, 2022
Rating: 4⭐️
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada/HCCFreazy for gifting me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warnings: bullying, mention of eating disorder, explicit violence, blood, gore, knife violence, death by hanging, gun violence, body dismemberment.
Cat doesn’t remember how she got trapped in her school. She doesn’t know some of her fellow classmates are changing into monstrous creatures, and others are not. As her memories start to resurface, she must fight to find a way out and survive the killer that’s killing them off slowly.
This book is disturbing. And terrifying but also hauntingly brilliant. The dual timeline plays such a key role in this story. The switch between past and present gives so much information but still keeps the mystery of it all. I really enjoyed the short chapters. It was easy to follow along with and was hard to put down. The characters were intense and creepy. Very American Horror Story-esque.
The biggest issue I had was with the ending. I can see where the author was trying to go but the events didn’t seem to line up as perfect as they could have. I can’t say too much or else I’ll spoil it but the ending still had me a little confused. This book had me thinking about every possible outcome and I was not expecting what had actually happened. The last 50 pages had me gasping and constantly saying “wtf” but I still couldn’t put it down.
This book was also very gruesome and will have you twitching and gawking at what is described. It was gory, bloody, and spine tingling. It’s very descriptive with the gore so please check trigger warnings before reading. Quite a few scenes had me gasping and feeling nauseous because of the descriptions.
Overall, this book was disturbing but in a weirdly satisfying way. I don’t usually read horror books, but I’d definitely recommend this one for the Halloween season!
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada/HCCFreazy for gifting me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warnings: bullying, mention of eating disorder, explicit violence, blood, gore, knife violence, death by hanging, gun violence, body dismemberment.
Cat doesn’t remember how she got trapped in her school. She doesn’t know some of her fellow classmates are changing into monstrous creatures, and others are not. As her memories start to resurface, she must fight to find a way out and survive the killer that’s killing them off slowly.
This book is disturbing. And terrifying but also hauntingly brilliant. The dual timeline plays such a key role in this story. The switch between past and present gives so much information but still keeps the mystery of it all. I really enjoyed the short chapters. It was easy to follow along with and was hard to put down. The characters were intense and creepy. Very American Horror Story-esque.
The biggest issue I had was with the ending. I can see where the author was trying to go but the events didn’t seem to line up as perfect as they could have. I can’t say too much or else I’ll spoil it but the ending still had me a little confused. This book had me thinking about every possible outcome and I was not expecting what had actually happened. The last 50 pages had me gasping and constantly saying “wtf” but I still couldn’t put it down.
This book was also very gruesome and will have you twitching and gawking at what is described. It was gory, bloody, and spine tingling. It’s very descriptive with the gore so please check trigger warnings before reading. Quite a few scenes had me gasping and feeling nauseous because of the descriptions.
Overall, this book was disturbing but in a weirdly satisfying way. I don’t usually read horror books, but I’d definitely recommend this one for the Halloween season!
June 27, 2022
Thank you to Kismet Books for the arc! If you're a book lover in the Wisconsin area, pop on over to Verona and check them out!
Gory, brutal, and horrifying, Katzenjammer may be the strongest of Zappia's books so far. This is not the popcorn horror of Now Entering Addamsville--this is bloody and twisty and gross, as well as a candid look into the American high school experience and just how cruel teens can be. I feel like the ending will be controversial, especially since the aspect of weren't really explained, but for me it brought the book from an admittedly very strong horror story into something more timely and relevant. I liked being able to pick up on the little details that led to which students were who even when they were unnamed, and I'm always a fan of split timeline perspectives. A metaphor for the all-too-accepted traumas of high school that touches on the very timely issue of wrapped in a cloak of body horror, as well as a metaphor for how those deemed to be "different" are treated, i.e. bullied, with little to no repercussions.
Since I had an arc it didn't have all of the illustrations included, but I'm very excited to see the finished product!
Gory, brutal, and horrifying, Katzenjammer may be the strongest of Zappia's books so far. This is not the popcorn horror of Now Entering Addamsville--this is bloody and twisty and gross, as well as a candid look into the American high school experience and just how cruel teens can be. I feel like the ending will be controversial, especially since the aspect of weren't really explained, but for me it brought the book from an admittedly very strong horror story into something more timely and relevant. I liked being able to pick up on the little details that led to which students were who even when they were unnamed, and I'm always a fan of split timeline perspectives. A metaphor for the all-too-accepted traumas of high school that touches on the very timely issue of wrapped in a cloak of body horror, as well as a metaphor for how those deemed to be "different" are treated, i.e. bullied, with little to no repercussions.
Since I had an arc it didn't have all of the illustrations included, but I'm very excited to see the finished product!
June 23, 2022
What did I just read? I still have no idea how I feel about this book.
The chapters are super shorts. I didn't like it at first but it grew on me (and they go back and forth between the present and the past).
There is so. much. gore. If you don't like gore, don't read this book.
It's really weird. I still don't know if it's a good weird or a bad weird. But I can say, without spoiling anything, that I was happy to see that the ending explains a lot. (I was afraid it was going to be one of these books that left you hanging).
TW for bullyin, homophobia and gore.
Sorry I'm not that much help, but I'm still processing the book😅
Many thanks to HarperCollins Canada for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The chapters are super shorts. I didn't like it at first but it grew on me (and they go back and forth between the present and the past).
There is so. much. gore. If you don't like gore, don't read this book.
It's really weird. I still don't know if it's a good weird or a bad weird. But I can say, without spoiling anything, that I was happy to see that the ending explains a lot. (I was afraid it was going to be one of these books that left you hanging).
TW for bullyin, homophobia and gore.
Sorry I'm not that much help, but I'm still processing the book😅
Many thanks to HarperCollins Canada for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 1, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. The writing was perfect and details really made you feel the story. It was really creepy and Gory and full of twists and turns which I enjoyed very much. That ending was unexpected and so intense but it fit the story very well . Also that cover is beautiful and so perfect . Really captures the character perfectly .
Thank you NetGalley and Frenzy presents (Harper collins) for giving me a chance to read and review this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Frenzy presents (Harper collins) for giving me a chance to read and review this book.
September 19, 2025
this book was definitely strange. it’s a balance of two parts: one half flashbacks, what you would find in your average YA novel. and one half weird and wicked, a fantasy world where everything is strange. the more you read the flashbacks, the more the parallel world begins to make sense: the characters become caricatures of themselves. small details connect to slowly paint a larger picture. i loved the creativity of this book, the heartbreaking picture it paints, stroke by stroke. at no point in either timeline did i find myself bored, unsatisfied, or wanting to put the book down. it was a compulsive, addictive read for me. in terms that were both straightforward and more metaphorical, a number of complicated, heart wrenching topics were tackled, in ways that could be both easily connected to and in ones that made you think harder. i know that katzenjammer isn’t a book for everyone, but it was absolutely for me. i loved it. i need to find another person who loved it just as i do, who saw into its soul and understood it.
December 13, 2022
DNF'd @ 15%
I was really looking forward to this, but I just couldn't get into it unfortunately.
I was really looking forward to this, but I just couldn't get into it unfortunately.
May 5, 2025
"Violence leaves scars."
July 8, 2022
“I stare at myself in the mirror and wonder how I got here, stuck inside School, with the plumbing full of blood and my face looking like this.
I don't remember. None of us do.”
1 Sentence Summary: Cat is stuck in School with no memory of how she got there—where the showers always spray blood instead of water, a cat mask is permanently stuck to her face, and her best friend’s head is a cardboard box—her classmates are all transforming and it’s getting worse every day, and when people start dying, Cat knows she has to get to the bottom of this before it’s too late.
My Thoughts: So, I am dead. This book killed me. I need about 7.48 years to finish processing.
I was so intrigued when I read the premise, and let me tell you, the book did not disappoint.
This was SO GOOD. But also so dark. Bizarre, creepy, and you never know what’s going on, in the best way possible. And the ending, OH MY GOSH. I can’t give anything away, but on second thought, I actually think I need about 23 years to process it all.
“If I can’t go back, where do I go?”
“Forward.”
Each chapter alternates between the present, where Cat is stuck in School, and her memories of the past, which might just be the key to unlocking how she got there. There’s also really cool art by Francesca Zappia (literally my hero) interspersed throughout.
Also, I have to proclaim it the winner of the unofficial ‘best start to a novel’ competition:
My eyes are gone. That figures.
I stare into the mirror in the girls' locker room for a full two minutes, examining the new emptiness in the eyeholes of my mask. Then I wait another minute before I jam a finger two knuckles deep into my eye socket. Nothing there. I should be scrambling my own brains.
Question of the day: What's stranger—trying to scramble your own brains, or wishing you could?
Whatever. It's not like I need eyes anyway.
It definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, so make sure you read the content warnings before going in, but I LOVED it. (I stayed up until like 2am to finish shh don’t tell anyone.)
(Also, side note: I've read every book Francesca Zappia has published, and they are all extremely different from each other, but I've loved all. of. them.)
Recommend to: Fans of creepy stories where nothing makes sense and that include hints of mystery, fantasy, horror, contemporary, romance, and suspense.
(Warnings: swearing; bullying; death; violence; mutilation; blood/gore)
“Look, look, look what can happen, look what can be inflicted on another human, by humans. Look how we can be undone.”
July 11, 2022
I received a physical ARC copy sent to me from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 stars - I am really not sure how to feel about this one because I felt completely underwhelmed by the ending but captivated by the beginning and premise. I will start off by saying I think Zappia is a fantastic writer. I have always really liked her writing style and she took it to another level with this one by integrating more horror vibes and I loved the dual timeline in this one. The overall mystery of the novel was good - I was wondering how the students were trapped inside the school (although the murders felt a bit lackluster to me and weren't really a more thrilling aspect of the book). I really enjoyed Cat's character and her overall story was interesting and her friendship with Jeffrey warmed my heart. I think the ending was the novel's biggest letdown for me. I don't think it lined up exactly as Zappia would have liked. I kind of get why they were stuck in this loop but also I don't? I feel like the novel still leaves you a little confused at the end and I am not sure that was the right path to take for such tough topics presented.
I am putting the trigger warnings under the spoiler tag:
3.5 stars - I am really not sure how to feel about this one because I felt completely underwhelmed by the ending but captivated by the beginning and premise. I will start off by saying I think Zappia is a fantastic writer. I have always really liked her writing style and she took it to another level with this one by integrating more horror vibes and I loved the dual timeline in this one. The overall mystery of the novel was good - I was wondering how the students were trapped inside the school (although the murders felt a bit lackluster to me and weren't really a more thrilling aspect of the book). I really enjoyed Cat's character and her overall story was interesting and her friendship with Jeffrey warmed my heart. I think the ending was the novel's biggest letdown for me. I don't think it lined up exactly as Zappia would have liked. I kind of get why they were stuck in this loop but also I don't? I feel like the novel still leaves you a little confused at the end and I am not sure that was the right path to take for such tough topics presented.
I am putting the trigger warnings under the spoiler tag:
May 3, 2022
Currently processing what on earth I just read. But for now - trigger warnings. I'll first list the version provided in the book by the author/publisher:
TWs: Bullying, violence, mentions of eating disorders, scenes of gore, blood, and death.
Now, here are the actual trigger warnings that contains possible spoilers, with spoiler tag (though spoiler tags apparently don't work on the app??), but I feel it's important to have the whole picture before diving into this book. Please please please take care of your mental health, this book is extremely violent and dark.
TWs:
TWs: Bullying, violence, mentions of eating disorders, scenes of gore, blood, and death.
Now, here are the actual trigger warnings that contains possible spoilers, with spoiler tag (though spoiler tags apparently don't work on the app??), but I feel it's important to have the whole picture before diving into this book. Please please please take care of your mental health, this book is extremely violent and dark.
TWs:
January 29, 2023
3.5 stars
I did like this book, but I wasn’t a big fan of the ending. The body horror was great. I don’t read a lot of horror but I really should; it’s much nicer than watching horror movies. The whole surrealist vibe was excellent, I loved how off everything was.
The ending was just a little disconnected for me, I don’t think the metaphors really conveyed the themes the way the author wanted them to. I didn’t really expect it to get so serious and dark, which is fine, but disjoined for me.
The author kind of sacrificed answers for an ending that would be emotional and convey some sort of message but I think she should have answered our questions instead.
An interesting read, it’d make an intriguing horror movie
I did like this book, but I wasn’t a big fan of the ending. The body horror was great. I don’t read a lot of horror but I really should; it’s much nicer than watching horror movies. The whole surrealist vibe was excellent, I loved how off everything was.
The ending was just a little disconnected for me, I don’t think the metaphors really conveyed the themes the way the author wanted them to. I didn’t really expect it to get so serious and dark, which is fine, but disjoined for me.
The author kind of sacrificed answers for an ending that would be emotional and convey some sort of message but I think she should have answered our questions instead.
An interesting read, it’d make an intriguing horror movie
July 6, 2022
The beginning hooked me and then...
This book totally messed me up. I think I understand what the author tried to do, or maybe not, what is clear to me is that it was not a book for me, for too many reasons, mainly I felt that it was too chaotic and secondly, the drama bored me.
It's twisted, but that's not what bothered me, I guess it's the whole concept that didn't sit well with me despite the underlying intention.
This book totally messed me up. I think I understand what the author tried to do, or maybe not, what is clear to me is that it was not a book for me, for too many reasons, mainly I felt that it was too chaotic and secondly, the drama bored me.
It's twisted, but that's not what bothered me, I guess it's the whole concept that didn't sit well with me despite the underlying intention.
July 15, 2022
Pretty weird, although not the weirdest book I've ever read. I loved the author's symbolism and metaphors for death and seeing how everything was revealed. Definitely a sensitive ending, considering recent events that have been going on, so please make sure you're in the right headspace before picking this up.
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