[Book] What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
Book & Audiobook Review
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
Book & Audiobook Review:
I was expecting a gothic body horror experience, but what I got was something quite different. The gothic vibe was missing, and while there were hints of body horror, they were incredibly mild for the most part. The narration, however, kept things light and engaging, adding a quippy, almost comedic tone that softened any real sense of terror.
The protagonist comes across as charming, with a kind of Whedon-esque humor that makes them easy to listen to. But this casual, almost "huh, would ya look at that" attitude extends to all the characters. As events unfold, they seem to take everything in stride, which made it difficult for me to feel truly horrified or emotionally invested. The narrator captured this lighthearted approach, which might work well for other genres, but for a story that’s supposed to unsettle or frighten, it just didn’t quite land. I found myself more amused than tense, which wasn’t the effect I was hoping for.
As for the plot twist, it felt predictable from the very first chapter. The narrator does their best to build suspense, but if you’re familiar with Poe’s original story, the twist almost feels inevitable. The ending, which comes at you quickly in the audiobook, felt a bit too neat and rushed for my taste. I was left wanting a bit more time to process the conclusion, but the pacing just didn’t allow for that.
That said, I would definitely consider listening to more books by this author. The writing has a certain charm, and with different expectations or a different setting, I think I could enjoy it much more. This particular audiobook didn’t quite scratch the itch I had for gothic horror, but I’d be willing to give the author another shot with a story that better aligns with what I’m looking for. Ultimately, this felt more like a light, mildly spooky tale than the darker, creepier experience I had anticipated.
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