Nestlings

I read Nestlings for a book club, and as someone who normally sticks to romance and fantasy, this was my first horror novel—and probably my last by this author. The setup was promising: a creepy NYC apartment, a mysterious past, and unsettling occurrences with a newborn. But the execution just didn’t land. Ana was a frustrating protagonist. Her bitterness and lack of connection to her child could’ve made for a compelling psychological arc, but instead felt inconsistent and unbelievable—especially given how hard she supposedly fought to become a mom. Reid was no better. His character veered into Peter Pan territory with his failed musician dreams and desperate need to feel special. His obsession with Camilla (the lead vampire-like creature) and refusal to be a real partner to Ana made him insufferable. What actually kept me reading was the Deptford building itself. The weird vampire lore, the architecture, and the hidden history behind its residents were all more interesting than Ana and Reid’s downward spiral. I wanted more about Camilla—her mysterious Hollywood past, her circle of creepy-yet-charismatic friends, and the eerie “baby conversion” program they ran. Honestly, I’d read a spin-off just about her. As for horror? The “vampires” were more gross than scary. Think bug tubes with centipede legs, sticky glue goo, and bat-like faces. Cool in theory, but the novel leaned too hard into body horror without giving me the suspense or psychological dread I was expecting. The ending was disappointingly flat. We get this bizarre moment of Ana as a wheelchair-bound savior figure and Reid becoming a doorman… seriously? All the interesting questions—Camilla’s true motives, Charlie’s fate, the vampire society—get brushed aside for a moralistic, tidy wrap-up that didn’t feel earned. Final thought: I came for creepy horror and left mildly grossed out, mostly confused, and honestly kind of bored. Still, Camilla was a standout character, and I wouldn’t be mad if she got her own book.

I liked it for the most part, but one thing stuck out ad not good imo. The switch from Ried going to fight back, to him going along with it. Just didnt add up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars

First I want to say that I was surprised that this was written by a man, his sensitivity to some very difficult subject matter was a breath of fresh air; as much as it can be in a horror book. At the end of this audiobook there is an added conversation with the author during which he explains how his personal experiences influenced the story; it then becomes clear how he addresses the issues so perfectly.

Now all that aside, this is one visceral horror story with a 10/10 in creep factor and an ending that left my jaw on the floor. I loved the gothic yet contemporary vibe of the old building amidst the bustling city, and the creature descriptions were vivid with a cool take on some classic character types.

Thanks to the Libro.fm Librarian ALC program and Macmillan Audio for this complimentary Audiobook Listening Copy. Sorry it took me so long to get to, but it was worth the wait for spooky season.

Very Rosemary's Baby, but with weird vampires.

must read