Scan barcode
avidreader5678's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Infertility and Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
cottagecoregrandma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It wasn’t as scary as I would hoping (or told) it would be but it still creepy enough. I really loved the new take on vampires in this as well! I’ve also never teared up at an afterword before so thanks for that Nat Cassidy.
I didn’t personally like the mentions of covid and the pandemic, just because I read books to escape reality, but I understand why Cassidy included it.
I will definitely be picking up more Cassidy books in the future.
Graphic: Blood and Grief
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Racism, Vomit, and Antisemitism
csecen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, and Grief
Minor: Child death
athompson0429's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Gore
Minor: Ableism, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Antisemitism, and Medical trauma
gilmargirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
brandon_the_beldam2993's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There’s no other way to put it: The story is Cassidy’s take on Judaism Vampires.
Now the story itself is excellent and the characters feel incredibly authentic and not paper thin bores. Ana and Reid with their one year old daughter Charlie win a penthouse Apt in Manhattan in a housing lotto.
After escaping a landlord who as Cassidy says in the foreword “a racist sexist piece of shit” believe me that is the TIP of how unbearable the character of Frank is. The apt at The Deptford at first seems too good to be true, but as the novel moves along the atmosphere and building itself as well as its tenants become more deranged.
At the core of this story though is a theme of Motherhood and Ana’s experiences/adjustments living in a wheelchair after a dance injury caused by a hemorrhage in her spine and the effects of childbirth worsened it.
The book follows her conceived thoughts and attitude about her daughter, her husband, depression, anger, her mother’s internalized gaslighting on what it means to be a mother to her own daughter.
On top of all of all this horrific other shit happening in the building.
The imagery in this book is not for the faint hearted and will lead to some being upset especially if they’re new mothers. Because the climax of the book will you leave some devasted but it also leaves with a feeling of hopefulness.
I really really enjoyed this book.
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
The writer gives a pretty straightforward disclaimer before the book begins about the hardship the reader is about to be subjected to. This book isn’t for those faint of heart.kkalicky94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
bookdragon217's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Reading Nestlings by Nat Cassidy was such an amazing experience. There were moments when I was scared to death and triggered by some of my biggest fears but the payout was so worth it. Cassidy managed to play on the readers' fears with the horror aspects while at the same time delivering such depth and substance. So many of these moments will live rent-free in my brain and still give me the creeps. I don't know about y'all, but creepy babies, bugs, gargoyles, and old, tall buildings with loads of secrets give me so much anxiety. When I finished this one, I literally exhaled and said, "Wow! This book was great!"
The best part of this one was how Cassidy was able to weave in important themes to a NYC horror story without making it feel super heavy. The sweet spot was in the balance for sure. He showcased the horrors of the predatory housing system in NYC, the trauma of bed bug infestations, and the economic inequalities, especially in the healthcare system. I love how he explored Jewish identity and religiousness and wasn't afraid to challenge some longstanding beliefs or "curses." I could tell a lot of research and thought went into the representation of disability, motherhood, post-birth trauma and post-partum depression. It was handled with care and felt very personal. He really makes the reader take a deeper dive into ableism, grief from becoming disabled and parenthood based on one's own experiences with their parents. There was just so much to love about this one.
If you love horror stories that are going to fill you with dread, make you feel uneasy in your own home and make your skin crawl then run and grab yourself a copy. Turn off the lights, light a candle, get a warm blanket and hot drink, and enjoy the ride. This is one of the best horror books I've read this year. Nat Cassidy is an official auto-buy author from now on. I've gotten to meet Cassidy on three occasions and he is such a genuinely nice person.
#Nestlings #NatCassidy #horror #bookstagram #bookish #books
#reading #bookrecommendation #bookreviews #bookphotography #horrorbooks #nyc #bookworm #jewish
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism and Sexism
opossum_readz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
Postpartum depression, infanticide