Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

28 reviews

gilmargirl's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • 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

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blacksphinx's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

When it was pitched to me as "Rosemary's Baby meets Salem's Lot in New York City", I was interested. When I listened to Nat Cassidy talk about this book and he said it was, in part, a Jewish vampire story, I was sold. It more than delivered on those promises with a building that feels alive, some of the most horrific body horror I've ever read, and an extremely satisfying series of Chekov's guns going off at the end. 

Please publishers, give us more disabled protagonists and more Jewish horror!
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kkalicky94's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad fast-paced
  • 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

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aparker89's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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nikzzz3's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense

5.0

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ripxreads's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced
  • 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? It's complicated

4.75

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soobooksalot's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • 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

"You're going to want to scream when you open your eyes."
 Thank you so much to Tor Nightfire for my gifted copy of Nestlings for review!
 Something is amiss in Manhattan's beautiful and historic Deptford Apartments.
 Ana and Reid are chosen to live in the regal building through a housing lottery. Ana sustained a life-altering spinal injury while giving birth to daughter Charlie a year earlier. Depression, frustration and resentment are very real parts of her life. Charlie isn't adjusting well to the move.
 But those aren't the most worrisome parts of life at the Deptford. They rarely see others in the halls, and those who are around are unsettling. Ana sees things in their windows, despite being on the top floor. 
 It's all a bit alarming, actually. 
 This is my first book by Nat Cassidy and I'm an instant fan. Nestlings employs solid creepiness and some well-crafted icky/squirmy imagery, but not gratuitous gore. (Any blood is plot-necessary!)
 Horror fans - 100% recommended!
 Released on Oct. 31.
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kari_f's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

If unsettling books are your jam, you need to check out Nat Cassidy’s writing.

It felt reminiscent of a classic Stephen King novel, where its horror has mysterious, thriller-esque vibes. Add in the discomfort of a book like School for Good Mothers, and that might come close to describing the feel and tone of this novel.

While it definitely falls into the horror genre, there are so many deep topics that are explored through the writing. Just some of them include the grief of sudden disability, the difficulties of being a caretaker, complicated ideas on motherhood, postpartum depression, generational trauma, economic inequality, modern Judaism and antisemitism, and the overwhelming desire to fit in. Because of this, the book is quite heavy even before the urban horror aspects start to come into play.

I loved the creeping dread the author was able to infuse throughout the book; even after the reader has an idea of what’s going on, the tension and paranoia practically drip off every page. The descriptions are vivid enough to imagine oneself right there with the characters, which only added to the atmospheric unease. Be sure to read/listen to the afterward from the author - it’s quite powerful.

I will say that, much like a Stephen King novel, it took me a while to get into the story. But once I was invested, there was no way I could put this book down! It was a perfect spooky season read, and now I need to go pick up something light and happy!

*Note: I was given the advanced audiobook edition of the book, and I felt that Cassandra Campbell’s narration gave the perfect voices to the characters and added to the dread and unease of the book.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!


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