What Moves the Dead (Sworn Soldier, 1)

T. Kingfisher proves once more what a consistently good writer and storyteller she is. Not only does she have complete command over the 176 pages of her latest novella, a retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher, but she’s managed to successfully combine horror and humor in the most remarkable way, which doesn’t really surprise me because she did the same thing with The Hollow Places and The Twisted Ones. Creepy, atmospheric and extremely unsettling, What Moves the Dead is another winner for Kingfisher fans, and a great place to start if you’ve yet to try this brilliant author.Retired Lieutenant Alex Easton receives a disturbing letter one day from an old friend, Madeline Usher, who says she is dying and asks Easton to come and visit her. Easton arrives at the Usher mansion and is shocked to see the house and grounds in a terrible state of decay. Even worse is the condition of Madeline and her twin brother Roderick, who both appear emaciated and ill. Roderick’s American friend Denton has also arrived at the mansion and is trying to determine the cause of Madeline’s decline. With the help of Eugenia Potter, an eccentric mycologist, and Easton’s servant Angus, Easton and Denton are determined to help their friends. But strangeness abounds in the house of Usher and the nearby lake, as the visitors begin to feel trapped by the odd events surrounding Madeline's illness.Savvy readers may recognize some of the Gothic details from another popular novel (I won’t mention the name of the book because it’s fun to figure it out on your own). After the first sentence I knew what Kingfisher was paying tribute to, and I thought she did a brilliant job of utilizing some of the same elements but putting her own unique spin on them. She also explains in her Author's Note why she did this, and by the way, the Author's Note is definitely worth reading!There are so many wonderfully bizarre elements in What Moves the Dead, and I don’t want to spoil anything for you so I’ll try to be vague. First of all, fungi and mushrooms play a big part in the story, and I have to say I’ve never seen them used in quite this way, even though I’ve read lots of horror stories involving fungi. And I will never look at hares the same way again ever, lol. If you think of rabbits and hares as sweet, fluffy creatures, then you might want to stay away from this book, as your image of them might be crushed forever. The author uses some well-tread Gothic elements that you’ll be familiar with, like the crumbling house of Usher with its peeling wallpaper, damp rooms and creaky floors. But she also adds some twists, like the nearby tarn (lake) that glows at night. And did I mention the hares?The story is set in a fictional European country with its own traditions, like the use of seven different sets of pronouns. Children and inanimate objects have their own pronouns (as does God!), and when you join the Gallacian army you become “sworn” and give up your gender and thereafter use different pronouns. Easton, although retired from the military, continues to use the non-binary “ka” and “kan” pronouns.And it wouldn’t be a T. Kingfisher story without engaging characters. Luckily we get a bunch of good ones in this story, including Easton’s servant Angus, who is simply delightful. Eugenia Potter is wonderful as well (and is the fictional aunt of someone you might recognize!) I loved the playful banter between the characters, especially with an American in the mix, which leads to lots of wryly funny jokes. Kingfisher’s prose is polished and elegant and perfectly suited for a Gothic mystery like this.Some of the descriptions of the fungi and the hares are gross and disturbing, so do beware if you have a weak stomach. I personally loved every disgusting detail! What Moves the Dead is fairly short and can be read in one sitting. In fact, you probably won’t be able to stop once Kingfisher hooks you with her mesmerizing storytelling skills and atmospheric prose. Highly recommended.

What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher is an engaging and chilling retelling of Edgar Allen Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. This horror novella takes you through a nightmare-filled journey in the ancestral home of the Ushers, where dark secrets and ominous forces lurk around every corner.The moment you open this book, actually before you even open it, you're drawn in by the stunning and vivid cover art, which perfectly captures the tone of the novel. As you delve into the story, you'll find T. Kingfisher's writing style to be captivating and atmospheric. The way the author describes the setting, characters, and events creates a sense of dread and tension that is palpable throughout the entire book. You'll feel like you're right there in the Usher mansion, experiencing the terror alongside the characters.Speaking of characters, the cast in What Moves The Dead is well-rounded and memorable. Alex Easton, the protagonist, is a retired soldier and a childhood friend of Madeline Usher. This bond adds an extra layer of complexity to the story, as Alex feels evocative of Poe's original tale. But T. Kingfisher takes it to another level with her vivid descriptions of fungal growths and possessed wildlife. Each character has their unique quirks and is given enough time to shine throughout the story.One of the best aspects of this book is the pacing. T. Kingfisher takes her time building the suspense, slowly unraveling the mystery of what's happening in the Usher mansion. But once things start to heat up, the pace picks up quickly, and you're left on the edge of your seat until the very final pages. It's a testament to the author's skill that they can create such a compelling narrative with less than 200 pages.The humor infused in the writing also added a nice touch to an otherwise dark and brooding book. It breaks up the tension and allows the reader to breathe a little before diving back into the horrors of the Usher mansion. It also added a bit of charm to the personalities of the characters that helps readers sympathize with them when the story gets tough.What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher is a must-read! It's a gripping, atmospheric, and haunting retelling that captures the essence of the original story while adding its touches. The pacing, writing style, and characters are all well developed, which makes it easy for readers to become captivated by the novel's atmosphere. The only downsides were that it took us this long to open the book and that even though the book was the perfect length, we could've read 200 more pages.

A shorter read than I expected for some reason. I never read the original Poe story this was based off of, so it was fresh to me and entirely creepy

O livro começa bem lento mas logo se transforma em algo profundo que cria um medo estranho, que vai te absorvendo aos poucos.O final podia ser menos corrido, mas no geral vale a pena. :D

good book

La historia se lee muy rápido pero la portada es tan endeble que se daña con mucha facilidad.

Great novel with interesting characters and amazing storytelling! It could definitely have been a bit longer though, the end seemed a bit rushed. Still absolutely one of my favorite books