Hedgehogs

by Iseult Murphy

Your garden is their battleground.

After a new pesticide turns hedgehogs into flesh hungry maniacs, Harry must seek the help of a fox, a cat and a mouse if he’s to survive the night of the living hogs.

A Romero x Animals of Farthing Wood mashup like you’ve never read before.

Genres: Horror

76 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 26, 2022

About the author

Iseult Murphy started writing at a young age, entertaining her family with magazines that she wrote and illustrated as a child. In her teens, she won several local and national short story competitions, including three time overall winner of the RDS Young Science Writers competition, and had work placed in international writing competitions such as the BBC Wildlife Poetry competition.
Iseult is drawn to horror, fantasy and science fiction, as she feels that the most difficult aspects of life can be best explored through the lens of speculative fiction.
She currently resides on the east coast of Ireland with four dogs, a couple of humans and a cat. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, art and spending time with her animals.
Iseult’s speculative fiction short stories have appeared in over two dozen venues, most recently in Liquid Imagination and Frost Fire Worlds.

Reviews

[William Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the kind of unhinged anarchy horror that I had in mind when I picked up TerrorTome a few weeks back. Like a Garth Marenghi’s Cujo, this takes a successful and gruelling horror, and just shifts the characters a little off kilter whilst still matching the same level of intensity. This short story really lives up to that promise.

This was just a fun time all round. Rather than just resting on the strength of the cover and premise, the writing here is well crafted enough that it manages to deliver on the horror just as successfully as the chuckles. I never laughed out loud with this one, but I was constantly reading with a smile. For any fans of the classic creature features, this is a short story worth your time.

[R.E. Bunch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. Really a genuine joy to read on a dark rainy night. I love the imaginative twist on the classic zombie tale. It has many of the hallmark traits of a good zombie story but shrunk down to encompass the ecological world of the Irish/English countryside.

How far will one hedgehog go to save his species from the madness that has infected them? Unlikely friendships are formed, and bonds are tested as a plucky little hedgehog runs for his life through the night. Safety is an illusion in this book. The action starts high and stays pedal to the metal until the end. The world that Murphy constructed in less than 100 pages was passionate, gorey, and charming.

There were a few minor spelling and grammatical errors, but otherwise, this was a very thoughtfully laid-out story. The characters at the start of the chapter were just adorable. If you are an animal lover or interested in eco-horror this is a great short read. I also thought this would be an excellent middle-grade horror story for younger readers who are just getting into the genre.

[Scott Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a well written horror story with a fanciful touch. I felt for the characters and had concern for them during the adventure. It is a mixture of a few genres, the cutest of Disney animals who think and feel like people but the unforgiving nature of a zombie story.

I wouldn’t recommend it for children, which one has to say in this grand theft auto world but I think It would be a perfect story for a bunch of teenagers by a fire trying to scare each other.


Told from the perspective of Harry the Hedgehog this isn’t the usual tale of prancing through the forest making friends. As there is a small army of violent, aggressive “Zogs” creating an unstoppable force that Harry has to try to escape from. If you want a shorter zombie tale, without all the cliches. This book is the one for you!

[Kelly Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hedgehogs" has a subtitle that is not on the book cover: “Zombie hogs attack in this hilarious horror comedy.” The eye-catching cover shows a ferocious hedgehog with teeth bared and glowing, white eyes. It includes the caption, "Your garden is their battleground." Based upon the subtitle and reviews, I expected the book to be humorous. To my disappointment, I did not find this short story to be the least bit funny. It was gory, as you might expect from a zombie story. It was imaginative, but not realistic.
The very brief blurb includes a description of the short story that likens it to a "A Romero x Animals of Farthing Wood mashup like you’ve never read before." I am quite familiar with George Romero. In fact, I consider his "Night of the Living Dead" as one of the best classic horror films of all time. I have never heard of the "Animals of Farthing Wood."
The MP, Harry, the hedgehog is more fortunate than clever, though he is relatively good-natured. In this story, he has a cordial relationship with rabbits, deer, mice, a fox, and a cat, but is afraid of dogs. But when facing zombie hedgehogs, Harry is forced to put his fear aside and work together with his others, including a spaniel. While the story is not funny, it is short, 65 pages in the ebook, and a good choice if you are in the mood for an off-beat, fanciful zombie story.

[Jonathan Pongratz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this horror novella!

I'm a diehard fan of Iseult Murphy, and she really knocked it out of the ballpark with this one.

In a nutshell, a group of heroic animals must join forces when a mysterious substance creates a horde of undead hedgehogs.

I think what really set this story apart was the characters. Harry the hedgehog was a great MC, and quite a surprising one at that. I came into this read thinking the MC would be human, but having a hedgehog was so much better! Being in Harry's POV felt so authentic, and it's very clear to me that Murphy did her homework as to the limitations of hedgehogs as an animal and what their actions and thought process would be.

I also loved all the other great supporting characters. Cassie was obviously my favorite because I am obsessed with cats, but Tina the mouse, Roy the fox, and Merry the dog were great too! They embodied the attitude and demeanor of their animal spirit flawlessly.

Plot was the central focus here with a possible undead hedgehog apocalypse, and I was living for it! And that ending? Obviously I'm not going to tell you what happens, but it was gold!

If you're hankering for a great and unique horror story, this is the one to pick up!

[Bryony Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story is engaging and action packed. A short story, Horror Comedy that is rammed with characters. The MC is Harry a Hedgehog who must fight for survival against other animals, after they become infected!
I found the subtle undercurrent of current day issues like poison and pesticides for crops, relatable and worthy of exposure.
Maybe I was reading too much into it, but I liked the unlikely alliance and friendships. Again this could be another subtle message, considering this is common for real life when faced with a serious problem.
I feel the writer really did bring the characters to life, I found myself willing and cheering along Harry and his unusual band of friends.
The story is engaging and the fast pace is perfect. I do wonder if this could lead into a second book, the ending does leave it open for the possibility. I hope the writer does decide to continue this story, it would be very interesting to see where it goes.

[Readermom]

I saw the book cover and had to read the synopsis. I read the synopsis and couldn't resist--I love a zombie story in any iteration, so I was really excited about this fun, bite-sized find. This is an imaginative and clever take on a zombie tale. It's suitably gory (and I won't be sharing it with my kiddos). I only put the book down once but very reluctantly. I had to see what would happen to Harry, the MC, his companions, and the entire world (Would there be a hedgehog zombie apocalypse?). Murphy's dark sense of humour is delightful!! Loved the ending. I'll be on the lookout for more stories by Iseult Murphy.

[Louise Conway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this! One of the best short horror stories I've read. If the idea of rampaging zombie hedgehogs sounds a bit too crazy to anyone thinking of reading I'd urge them not to let it put them off, because this is 100% worth checking out

The plot is simple but very clever, all the details neatly tied up by the end. Reading it felt just like watching a zombie movie play out; the tension is sustained perfectly all the way through and I was on tenterhooks worrying about the fate of each character. Even though the story length is short the unusual protagonists' entertaining and endearing personalities are well written enough to come across very quickly and the overall descriptions are excellent

This story is both a fresh and imaginative take on the zombie genre that I couldn't put down. Definitely looking forward to reading more from the author

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t really sure what to expect here and even though I’m not much of a horror reader, I figured it couldn’t be too scary with hedgehogs in the center of the story. I have to say that I’m very pleasantly surprised by this book. For such a quick read, it really packed a punch. There was good detail for the world as seen by a small animal, the characters’ personalities were easily distinguishable by their unique traits, and the writing was more evocative than I expected. I could really feel the anxiety and fear, the pride and determination of the characters. I’ll definitely be checking out this author’s other works.

[Boots LookingLand · Rating 5 out of 5]

knew i was in for a treat when i realized it's told from the pov of a hog!
this delightfully horrifying short novella (long story?) is Bunnicula in tone, but really Wind in the Willows meets the Walking Dead. love all the animals in this and how they form an unlikely alliance against an overwhelming tide of zombiehogs (or zogs, as they are coined!). Harry the protagonist is adorable and Murphy really captures the scale of the world he lives in and the limitations of his poor little body!

beware of some absolutely horrific zombie feasting in the beginning, but it's all in good fun!

[Valinora Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this zombie hedgehog tale!!
Who would have thought Zombie Hedgehogs could be so terrifying? When all the hedgehogs except Harry become Zedhogs (or Zogs), Harry has to run (or scuttle??) for his life from the horde. The other animals he meets - rabbits, a fox, a cat - laugh at him, until they see the teeming zogs for themselves.
A gripping fun story, with lots of action, tense pacing, and guts (literally), I feared for, wept for, and smiled at Harry and his animal allies.
I got this novelette free as part of the author's All of Me novella book launch promo, and I really hope it's published in its own right, as I hugely recommend it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this tale of zombie hedgehogs and the brave animals who fought them. It had me on the edge of my seat. I was so scared for the hedgehog protagonist that I couldn’t stop reading. And for me, that’s a rarity. Masterfully written.

[Anselm Patey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful. This short story encapsulates all of Murphy's style and charm, from the classic horror of the hedgehog threat to the cleverly crafted, species-appropriate personality of each character. Loved it.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4-Star for such a short read.

This one hit my radar out of nowhere! A member of my extended book family in the online book community posted on Twitter she was looking for some cheap reads to spend some credit on at Amazon. Iseult Murphy threw her hat in the ring with Hedgehogs and we both thought it looked interesting so gave it a try as a quick little buddy read. If you aren't already keeping tabs on my friend, you're missing out as she continues to read some amazing books and does a great job in sharing her thoughts on those reads! You can find her blog at theshaggyshepherd.wordpress.com or on Twitter @dshaggyshepherd. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Back to the topic at hand being Hedgehogs. This was such a balanced mixture of part terrifying horror and cute little animal story. I never would have expected there to be a story with such a theme. However here we are an Iseult did a great job with such a short story.

As short as this read is, I thought the pacing was done really well. I never thought it felt rushed. In my opinion that's difficult to do in only about 65 pages. If you can imagine this mashup, I'd say this felt like a single episode of watching both The Walking Dead based around Animal Farm. I never thought something like that would work but it honestly did.

The world building was also done well for a limited amount of pages to create for us. The author did a great job in giving us details in this animal world and getting the reader to feel the emotions they are dealing with. Scale has a lot to do with this, but we go through different regions (a farm, a road and perhaps a farm house). Our different cultures come in the form of different animal species as well.

Even though I shouldn't be surprised by this point, the character development was also done well in Hedgehogs. We see our protagonist Harry grow throughout the book, but several of the supporting characters such as Cassie, Tina, Merry and Roy all go through some points of growth as well. As a reader I couldn't help but feel for Harry and his countless struggles in this story. But seeing his interactions and relationships along the way were very touching.

I'd say if you want a uniquely blended combination of horror and animal cuteness, give this one a shot! It's well worth the little time and money to give it a chance. I'd like to check out some more of Iseult's works in the future as well thanks to this little tale!

[Aaron Goodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hedgehogs by Iseult Murphy is an interesting cross between The Animals of Farthing Wood and zom-coms like Shaun of The Dead. The humour is subtle, in the sense that it is not laugh-out-loud funny, but the absurd nature of it makes the book funny in it’s own sort of way. I wouldn’t say it is hilarious, maybe humorous, and I found bits like the mention of the ‘monster’ on the road to fall into this category.

The characters seem a little basic in terms of their personalities and development, but this isn’t a book that is heavily into character, so it works. Add to the fact that they are animals with simple survival skills (just like the zombie hedgehogs), it didn’t really matter to me, plus this book is short and it would have taken away the fun of the zombie hedgehogs if we spent too long getting to know the characters. I liked that we could get straight into the action.

The writing feels like it is aimed at a YA/teen audience who want a quick read that they can enjoy. It is not complex or deep, which is exactly what I want in a book such as this. I think there are some moral warnings in this book about our use and abuse of the countryside, and although the events of this book are on the extreme not-gonna-happen kind, it is a polite and subtle reminder of what can happen if we take the natural world for granted. I liked this book a lot and it works well as an absurd standalone with all the elements you would expect from the horror genre.

[David Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hedgehogs by Iseult Murphy AKA the queen of comic horror. Keeps up the high standard of all her work. It is on the face of it a fast moving story aimed at the 12-16 market which feels like a mash up of World War Z and the Animals of Farthing wood. The story is reminiscent of the likes of Robin Jarvis and manages to be both entertaining and thought provoking at the same time. There are parts that are genuinely frightening and gory while other parts are genuinely laugh out loud.
What would make timid hedgehogs turn into a rampaging horde? Surely there is a message there about how we treat the world, nature and each other. But the story does not linger to long on that theme which in some ways is a pity, but understandable. The story is aimed at younger age group and perhaps it is right not to labour the point.
In any event this is a fast paced page turner with a twist at the end. A fox, a cat, a dog, a mouse and a hedgehog facing the apocalypse. My money was always on the cat surviving. I award this five stars.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun take on zombie themes

I wish this short book had been around years ago when my cousin was little. He was at that age where he really wanted to like scary stories like the older kids but wasn’t quite ready for The Walking Dead violence and death. This would have been a perfect book for me to read to him. It would be perfect for a young reader that wants a little intensity, but that doesn’t go full gore/horror.

That being said, I don’t think it’s just for young readers, as an adult there was still a lot of appeal. I enjoyed the original take on the zombie genre. My favorite parts where reading how the animals engaged with each other and how the respond to the event.

I picked this book because of the cover. How awesome is that cover?!?! I found it really beautiful and reflects the tone of the book well.

[Michael Kan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun, engaging short story that’s easy to get through and will keep you hooked throughout the plot. The book revolves around our main character “Harry,” a rather ordinary, but moral individual. Then his entire night is upended when he encounters an unusual smell and then a terrifying sight. He’s then forced to fight for his life with some unlikely, but interesting allies, in a gripping story that could be easily adapted to a TV episode or animated short. I don’t want to spoil too much, but the story takes an existing and very popular horror genre, but adds a new and delightful twist through the characters and environment they inhabit. I enjoyed the succinct and clear writing, which kept the story moving without filling it with unnecessary bloat. It’s a pretty action heavy tale. My only quibble is that I think the story deserves an even better, more creative title.

[Elle Sie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third of Iseult Murphy's stories that I've read and what I really find refreshing is that each of her horror tales is starkly different from the next. In this story, we follow Harry, a hedgehog. I enjoyed the moment, around a page or so into the first chapter, when I realised the main character was a hedgehog, a welcome surprise to have a different narrator for a change. The tone of the story is set early on when unwitting Harry witnesses a horrific scene: of a hedgehog mother being attacked and devoured by her babies, who had turned into zombie hoglets, or zogs. There was something so disturbing about this scene for me, in a delightfully horrific sense of course, maybe at the idea that something we nurture could then bite the hand that feeds. Harry and a band of animal friends spend most of the story trying to survive at the same time as finding the reason why the hedgehogs had changed into frenzied zogs. Time and again, Harry's squat body and spiky spines are a hindrance to him escaping, raising tension as the zogs are always close behind. This story was well written: the interesting animal point of view; the threat from the zogs previously established via a gruesome early scene and the ending, tying together an explanation with a shift in perspective bringing the story back in line with some of Murphy's other zombie works, of which I've read Seven Days in hell. It's a good read for fans of a different style of zombie horror with its anthropomorphic antagonists, though I'd say it's more of an absurdly gruesome read than a hilarious horror story.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hedgehogs are coming!

One of the most charming things about Iseult Murphy’s short novel, Hedgehogs, is the illustrations by the author. These starkly contrast the zombie hedgehog cover, which is the best indicator of what’s in store.

Equally lovable is the dialogue between Murphy’s characters, a hedgehog, fox, dog, cat and mouse, all with delightful names: Harry, Roy, Merry, Cassie and Tina. These animals, not natural allies, have to deal with an invasion of zombie hedgehogs (zogs) who have succumbed to a mysterious affliction caused by foraging in a farmer’s field.

Harry himself almost fell foul of this horror-story fete, but something in his hoggy brain told him to resist, so he finds himself fleeing from his flesh-eating cousins. In the night, with a multitude of zogs chasing him, he bumps into Cassie the cat, who has caught Tina the mouse and somehow persuades them the hedgehogs are coming, and nothing good can come from waiting to see what might happen. So our hero animals barricade themselves into Cassie’s house and fight off the swarm…

Murphy has elegantly combined what should be a simple children’s story with a tasty tang of late-night horror, with the inevitable twist at the end. Somewhat reminiscent of The War of the Worlds, Hedgehogs has a satisfying resolution, combined with the relentlessness of The Walking Dead. She has done an excellent job crafting this story: definitely one to read on a rainy evening.

[K.E. Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hedgehog Horror

I wasn't really sure what to expect when I picked up this short story, mostly I was drawn to the cover. There were hedgehogs and there was horror. It's like a really dark Disney movie with zombie animals. I don't read horror much but I liked this story although I would suggest anyone who dislikes animal deaths to avoid this one because there is a lot of it and it is quite graphic. The story was easy enough to follow and there was a good group of animals with their own personalities as they fight this zombie disease. There were only a few places in the story that seemed inconsistent to me. Cassie recovering from having a chunk of flesh torn out of her and the other animals injuries weren't consistent toward the end and they didn't seem as affected by those injuries at the end. Overall though I found this story very interesting and the ending is very foreboding.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Animals of Farthing Wood goes very very wrong - Hedgehogs by Iseult Murphy is a humorous horror with environmental overtones. When a new pesticide means that there is a veritable feast of insects on offer most of the hedgehogs tuck in with gusto, only one, Harry, gives it a second thought, and it is this hesitation that might save his life. In mere minutes he finds himself on the run from his former friends as the hedgehogs become a swarm of frothing at the mouth killers determined to chew through anyone who gets in the way. Harry is forced to enlist the help of some unlikely allies if he hopes to survive the night.
This was an absolute blast to read, and such a fun and funny concept, eco horror done right and in a way that will appeal to readers of most ages, scary in a way that would not traumatise a younger reader but with enough bite to satisfy those with a more jaded palate.
I loved it.

[Helen Whistberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorably gruesome short eco-horror tale. "Adorably gruesome" is not a phrase I ever expected to use in a review but I think it fits here. As a fan of animal fantasy, I was excited to see a tale told from the point of view of a hedgehog and his ragtag team of allies as they fight a zombie (hedgehog) apocalypse. I appreciated the ecological message folded into this fast-moving story as well as the endeavor to develop personalities for the animal characters that matched their species' natural behavior. The plot and resolution felt a little rushed, like it could have been fleshed out (if you'll excuse the terminology in this context) a bit more, but there is some unforgettable word imagery and very charming illustrations. Squeamish readers or those who can't stomach animal suffering will do well to steer clear of this one, but if you're looking for a quick, well-written horror read with an unusual protagonist, there's lots to enjoy here.

[Mark Sneed · Rating 5 out of 5]

One hedgehog against them all

Really enjoyed reading this part Animal Farm part Walking Dead tale. It is a mashup of two ideas and entertaining and the characters memorable. What was really nice to find beyond the good writing and ideas was great pacing. This is an animal story. It is a talking animal story. Really fun and entertaining story. Liked the different perspective of the possible zombie apocalypse. Very suspenseful. Hard not to enjoy Harry the hedgehog. All the characters were memorable. Fun read. My favorite part of the book is centered on the house where Tina takes Harry and the others. The last stand in the house is well done. Anyone looking for an interesting and lighthearted horror comedy about zombie hedgehogs will enjoy this book.

[Raymond Casillas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Fun to read high octane horror!

This is Brothers Grimm meet Night Of The Living Dead! I am surprised that this fable style novella packs such a punch of fright. Harry, the Hedgehog, is such a fragile, innocent character and yet so caring you just can't help but to love the little critter.
The show vs tell element is on spot, along with nail-biting edge-of-your-seat suspense. But the best part is to read how the characters, forced into friendship by circumstances, fight and protect each other's back and care for one another.
I guarantee you're going to love our feisty friend Harry and also agree that he deserves a series as well.
Go Harry!

[Ray W · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Prickly Situation

Like all of us, Iseult Murphy is concerned about the inevitable hedgehog zombie uprising. She explores her fears in this expertly-crafted short story that is in equal parts heartwarming and terrifying. Polished with a subtle wit, Hedgehogs is a secret treasure that I can't wait to share.

[C. Kiefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying and fun read, the downside is that it is relatively short. I feel as if certain aspects could have been expanded upon, and the characters felt a bit flat.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant little hedgehog horror. Read this inbetween longer books and loved it. Have read another of her books and will continue to read more!