What Moves the Dead
by T. Kingfisher
Kingfisher’s retelling of “The Fall of the House of Usher” is gothic, fungal, and pleasantly nasty in all the right ways. The novella leans into decay, body horror, and eerie natural detail while keeping a thread of mordant humor running through the prose. Alex Easton is a terrific narrator, pragmatic and sardonic enough to stop the atmosphere from becoming too self-serious. The pacing is tight, and the central mystery unfolds with satisfying dread. Kingfisher clearly loves the old gothic machinery, but she updates it with scientific curiosity and ecological creepiness. The result is both respectful and gleefully strange. It’s a quick read, but one that leaves behind a strong aftertaste of rot and intelligence. A wonderfully moldy gothic delight.
