Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

28 reviews

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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horriblestgremlin's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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bookb1itch's review against another edition

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

5.0

I'd like to thank the random bookshop who posted a picture on FB of a display of "Horror novels NOT by Stephen King."  I looked up a couple of titles, wondering "who is Nat Cassidy?"  A very good writer, that's who!  I loved the terror and humanity of this book.  It's essentially about dealing with misfortune and desperately wanting to belong.  The apartment building, the Deptford, is a character and although I don't want to be responsible for "spoilers" let's just say I want to research further about estries and the Jewish Vampire lore.  One of the best trigger-warnings I've ever read, which mentions various things including anti-semitism, depression and various other themes, but ends with "There's also a character who's a real racist, sexist piece of shit".  Frank is, unfortunately, so very believable.
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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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opossum_readz's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

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bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense

4.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the eARC!

First let me preface by saying I loved that there’s content warnings at the beginning of the book, I think it’s something all authors should do! Now onto the review.

The book is told through switching POVs between Ana and Reid mostly, but occasionally we get POVs from some minor characters. I was immediately pulled in and didn’t want to put this one down! The writing is atmospheric with Very tense, eerie vibes. I had goosebumps, felt like I was being watched and general creepy crawlies while reading (do not recommend reading at night right before bed) 🫣

It slowed a bit in the middle but overall the pacing was well done! The character development was also fantastic, I really liked Ana and watching her grow throughout the novel. Although both MCs were well written, Ana was so complex and had great depth to her 😍

This novel is incredibly written in its exploration of grief and motherhood. The topics of postpartum, disability, and infertility were well written/handled with care! I can’t speak for the disability community but the infertility rep made me feel so seen. 

I loved the acknowledgements as well! I’ve never been so moved by an authors note 💗

Nestlings is a unique horror novel in terms of the plot and adding to some horror lore with a new twist. If you like horror novels or movies/shows, I’d highly recommend! Nestlings is marketed as Salem’s Lot meets Rosemary’s Baby, but it also gave  me Midnight Mass vibes 👻 I’ll definitely be checking out more of Cassidy’s horror novels!

Rep: Jewish MCs and author, paraplegia FMC, infertility rep
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