What Moves the Dead (Sworn Soldier, 1)

Description

An Instant USA Today & Indie Bestseller
A Barnes & Noble Book of the Year Finalist
A Goodreads Best Horror Choice Award Nominee

A gripping and atmospheric reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" from Hugo, Locus, & Nebula award-winning author T. Kingfisher

When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania.

What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady of the nerves.

Aided by a redoubtable British mycologist and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.

ADD TO MY SHELVES

Recommend book

BUY THE BOOK

176 pages

Average rating: 7.63

59 RATINGS

6 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

Write a review...

Kittycrow

Apr 22, 2024

10/10 stars

Honestly, I didn’t think this would be nearly as good as it was. But from start to finish, it kept me wanting more. I love the characters, and the humor throughout this book is amazing. The scenes really come alive and by the end, I also felt like Roderick.

GunsNLillies

Apr 09, 2024

10/10 stars

I absolutely cannot get enough of this. If I could only read one book for the rest of my life, it would be this one, hands down. Alex Easton is witty and intelligent, fearless and loving. The story is suspenseful and spooky and the showdown makes my heart race everytime. And as a bonus it is a reimagining of Edgar Alan Poe's Fall of the House of Usher. It doesn't get any better than this!

Anonymous

Mar 23, 2024

8/10 stars

I have loved all of T. Kingfisher's work so far and this one is no different. She writes with her normal flair and brings all the characters (and the token animal sidekick!) to life as she always does. I loved the gothic vibes of the setting and the general plot, but as always, what is most important to me are the characters, and that is one of Kingfisher's strengths that keeps me coming back for more of her books. All of her characters felt like...read more

Chuckstafer

Feb 02, 2024

8/10 stars

It took a while to get going, but it finally found its footing in the later chapters and delivered a good conclusion. Not necessarily an original idea, but it was executed very well.

LMahoney

Jan 26, 2024

10/10 stars

I loved this book. At first I was disappointed that it wasn't creepy but boy did it get to the right amount of spooky for me! Excellent audiobook. I really like the Ms. Potter reference and the non-binary main character.

Merged review:

I loved this book. At first I was disappointed that it wasn't creepy but boy did it get to the right amount of spooky for me! Excellent audiobook. I really like the Ms. Potter reference and the non-binary main chara...read more