A Masterpiece in Gothic Revival

Okay, I’m just gonna say it: What Moved the Dead absolutely wrecked me in the best way. I went in hoping for a cool gothic horror retelling and ended up full-blown obsessed. T. Kingfisher took Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, tossed it in a swamp, and somehow made it even more unsettling—and I mean that as the highest compliment.

The vibes? Immaculate. It starts kind of slow, but in that “I’m deeply unsettled and can’t put this down” kind of way. Every page is soaked in dread, and the tension creeps up like mold on old wallpaper—quiet at first, and then suddenly you’re just in it. There’s this strange, decaying beauty to everything, and the atmosphere practically drips off the page.

And the writing? Sharp, dry, occasionally hilarious (yes, in a horror story), and addictive. I love when horror doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still knows when to punch you in the gut with a truly grotesque moment. Kingfisher nails that balance.

Also, the characters? Weirdos, every one of them. But the good kind of weird—the kind you root for even while everything around them is rotting. And that house? Yeah, it’s its character. You can practically smell the mildew and despair.

If you’re into gothic horror with a pulse, a brain, and just the right amount of “what the hell is that thing?” then go read this. Seriously. It’s deliciously eerie, weirdly funny in places, and perfect for a night when you want to feel a little haunted in your soul.