Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

11 reviews

pissylissy666's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was legitimately scary — I found myself wondering WTF am I reading and HOLY SHIT THATS HORRIFYING. It was a mystery, it was gory, it was gross, and I found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it, especially as things started to get revealed as what was happening. I guessed some of it with the hints the author provided but I still kept getting shocked by what I was reading

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stephanieanneauthor's review against another edition

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

5.0

I'm so happy I decided to listen to this audiobook so soon after finishing "Mary" as there are a number of parallels between the two stories. It also made me realize just how much I adore Cassidy's writing style. He's exceptionally skilled when it comes to writing characters I love to hate (and I thoroughly enjoyed how one character in particular got what was coming to them). I also love that his stories tend to focus on the marginalized and the outcast. This particular book has strong "Rosemary's Baby" vibes in addition to taking a completely unique approach to vampire fiction. There are so many elements at play that at times I worried that they'd all crash into one another in some sort of tangled mess, or something would be forgotten and unresolved. But Cassidy is a master at weaving those many, many threads together to form a satisfying conclusion. 

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samanthaleereads's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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dcnireads's review against another edition

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

4.5

in conclusion, men are weak unreliable trash and FUCK them kids. (just kidding. but also not really.)

in all seriousness, this book was unnervingly gross and terrifying with a freaky as shit (but unique) depiction of a mix between vampirism and cannibalism. it has dark and sometimes genuinely triggering takes on disability and mental illness, specifically postpartum depression and the realities + struggles of motherhood. it was, however, written with a truly understanding and considerate perspective towards the latter topics mentioned above, and it even got a bit inspiring towards the end. i feel the need to say that im surprised considering this was all authored by a man, and you normally wouldn't expect them to have sensible opinions about such matters that aren't downright disrespectful, tone-deaf and/or written insensitively. at this point i didn't even mind the jarring inclusion of covid out of nowhere.

i'm so sorry mr. cassidy, i was unfamiliar with your game. 4.5 stars for you sir. 



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mmccombs's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

3.5

That was nuts! And gross! It was a more gruesome version of Rosemary’s Baby and it really packed a punch. I enjoyed the setting and the creatures and the dynamics of disability and Jewishness at the intersection of horror. I did find this book a little long, it felt very flat plot-wise until the end. But the payoff was really interesting and the ending was unexpected in a good way. This was a compelling horror read, would definitely recommend!

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beccarettenberger's review against another edition

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

4.0

Trigger warning: this book shouldn’t be read by anyone that has difficulty with child abuse/endangerment/infanticide

**The Nestlings by Nat Cassidy - A Haunting and Unforgettable Journey**

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cassidy's *The Nestlings* is a gripping and atmospheric novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The story delves deep into the psychological terror of a young family as they move into a new home, only to find that something sinister lurks within its walls. Cassidy masterfully builds suspense, with every chapter pulling you further into a world where the line between reality and nightmare blurs.

The characters are well-developed, particularly the protagonist, whose descent into fear and paranoia is portrayed with chilling authenticity. The writing is evocative, bringing the eerie setting to life and making you feel every creak and shadow in the house. While the plot occasionally veers into familiar horror tropes, Cassidy's unique voice and fresh perspective keep the story engaging and unsettling.

Overall, *The Nestlings* is a must-read for fans of psychological horror. It’s a novel that will linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page. My only minor critique is that the pacing slows in a few places, but the overall experience is still thoroughly satisfying. Highly recommended for those who love a good scare with a strong emotional core.

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gawdz0rz's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense 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


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sonygaystation's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.25

I enjoyed this for a lot of reasons, but it definitely comes second to Mary (which blew me away with how much I just LOVED it). I really liked Ana as a character - her disability and her relationship with motherhood were so good. I also absolutely loveeeed the inherent Jewish-ness of the novel. I think the way it was incorporated was so satisfying and the fact that you couldn’t have major plot beats happen if you erased the Judaic aspects is so chef’s kiss. I’m not even religious and I want to see more religion in horror. The vampires were an interesting new take too. Not my favourite the way they were presented but definitely novel and cool! I do wish the book had maybe been a bit more scary or had more of the vampires doin their thing than it did, but also hearing about it was so GROSS LMAO that maybe I’m good with what we got. I also really enjoy hearing Nat Cassidy’s thoughts at the end of the book and it felt comforting that his 2021 was as much a dumpster fire hell year as mine was, even though I wish very much that there wasn’t need for comfort or to be comforting. Also Reed wins shittiest man award I hated him and baby bird was the cutest friggin nickname ever ok that’s all :)



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alisonvh's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Rosemary’s Baby meets Salem’s Lot. ‘Nough said.

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bibliograflieg's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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