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The Queen
The national bestselling author of #HorrorBookTok sensation The Troop returns with a heart-pounding novel of terror about a young woman searching for her missing friend and uncovering a shocking truth.
On a sunny morning in June, Margaret Carpenter wakes up to find a new iPhone on her doorstep. She switches it on to find a text from her best friend, Charity Atwater. The problem is, Charity’s been missing for over a month. Most people in town—even the police—think she’s dead.
Margaret and Charity have been lifelong friends. They share everything, know the most intimate details about one another…but Charity carries a secret that even she is unaware of. A secret engraved into her DNA helix. For Charity is also known Subject Six, the crown jewel of Project Athena—a clandestine and unorthodox gene manipulation experiment, the brainchild of tech titan Rudyard Crate. And when Charity’s gene sequencing actualizes during a traumatic event at a high school party, it sets in motion a chain of events that will end in tragedy, bloodshed, and death.
And now Charity wants Margaret to know her story—the real story. In a narrative that takes place over one feverish day, Margaret follows a series of increasingly dreadful breadcrumbs as she forges deeper into the mystery of her best friend—a person she never truly knew at all…
On a sunny morning in June, Margaret Carpenter wakes up to find a new iPhone on her doorstep. She switches it on to find a text from her best friend, Charity Atwater. The problem is, Charity’s been missing for over a month. Most people in town—even the police—think she’s dead.
Margaret and Charity have been lifelong friends. They share everything, know the most intimate details about one another…but Charity carries a secret that even she is unaware of. A secret engraved into her DNA helix. For Charity is also known Subject Six, the crown jewel of Project Athena—a clandestine and unorthodox gene manipulation experiment, the brainchild of tech titan Rudyard Crate. And when Charity’s gene sequencing actualizes during a traumatic event at a high school party, it sets in motion a chain of events that will end in tragedy, bloodshed, and death.
And now Charity wants Margaret to know her story—the real story. In a narrative that takes place over one feverish day, Margaret follows a series of increasingly dreadful breadcrumbs as she forges deeper into the mystery of her best friend—a person she never truly knew at all…
384 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2024
About the author
Nick Cutter
12 books6,956 followersHello Everybody!
I've been asked to set this up by The Powers That Be, and I'm more than happy to, although I can't really say much about myself seeing as Nick Cutter doesn't exactly exist—he's a pen name. A cool, tough pen name! Your mileage will vary on whether you agree, but that was the thinking. Horror writers should have crisp, punchy names. Stephen King. Clive Barker. Nick Cutter. Not that I'm putting myself in their league, no way no how, but I'm just saying that was the idea behind the name.
Personally, I wanted to be known as Lemondrop Pennyfeather, but that suggested nom de plume was cruelly stricken down.
Aaaanywhoo, I've written this book, The Troop. Do you like horror books? Do you like Boy Scouts (not in a weird, Canteen-Boyish way, but in a nostalgic way)? Do you like seeing said Boy Scouts confront a vicious enemy on an isolated Island off the coast of Prince Edward Island? If you said yes to one or more of these questions, you may enjoy this book.
As for me: I've written a few other books under another name (the one my parents gave me). A few story collections, a few novels. One of them even got turned into a movie. I've written for magazines and newspapers, too. I cobble together a living with my pen, is what I'm trying to say—by hook or by crook. It's a lean living sometimes, but it's by and large an enjoyable one.
I live in Toronto with my fiancee and our baby boy, Nick ... so, yeah, the pen name is a little bit of an honorific for my son, too; we'll see, in time, if he thinks that was such a hot idea!
If you have any questions or want to know more, please shoot me a question. I'm pretty good about responding.
Yrs,
Nick Cutter
(but not really)
I've been asked to set this up by The Powers That Be, and I'm more than happy to, although I can't really say much about myself seeing as Nick Cutter doesn't exactly exist—he's a pen name. A cool, tough pen name! Your mileage will vary on whether you agree, but that was the thinking. Horror writers should have crisp, punchy names. Stephen King. Clive Barker. Nick Cutter. Not that I'm putting myself in their league, no way no how, but I'm just saying that was the idea behind the name.
Personally, I wanted to be known as Lemondrop Pennyfeather, but that suggested nom de plume was cruelly stricken down.
Aaaanywhoo, I've written this book, The Troop. Do you like horror books? Do you like Boy Scouts (not in a weird, Canteen-Boyish way, but in a nostalgic way)? Do you like seeing said Boy Scouts confront a vicious enemy on an isolated Island off the coast of Prince Edward Island? If you said yes to one or more of these questions, you may enjoy this book.
As for me: I've written a few other books under another name (the one my parents gave me). A few story collections, a few novels. One of them even got turned into a movie. I've written for magazines and newspapers, too. I cobble together a living with my pen, is what I'm trying to say—by hook or by crook. It's a lean living sometimes, but it's by and large an enjoyable one.
I live in Toronto with my fiancee and our baby boy, Nick ... so, yeah, the pen name is a little bit of an honorific for my son, too; we'll see, in time, if he thinks that was such a hot idea!
If you have any questions or want to know more, please shoot me a question. I'm pretty good about responding.
Yrs,
Nick Cutter
(but not really)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 24, 2024
This book gave me nightmares about being chased by flying insects, so thank you for that, Nick Cutter. If you have an insect phobia, you should definitely not even think about picking up this novel. Trust me, you'll regret it.
But, anyway. I can't say that The Queen is anything like I thought it was going to be. There's some horror and Cutter certainly knows how to write gory scenes, but this book is much more science fiction-y than I expected. I guess I should have figured it out based on the talk of “gene manipulation” and “gene sequencing” in the blurb, but in the words of the great philosopher Forrest Gump, “I am not a smart (wo)man.” There's not a ton of scientific detail, but the entire premise of the novel revolves around a tech mogul's science experiment gone wrong (right?), so … yeah.
There are parts of this book that I mostly enjoyed. The flashbacks to Rudyard Crate's childhood are fantastic, and they are by far the most terrifying parts of the story. I've always been a big fan of ants, but I'll stick to our docile, non-flesh-eating northern climate ants, thank you very much. I also found Rudyard's bug fetish to be disturbingly entertaining, even if there are some serious WTF moments to be had. Rudyard's undoubtedly the villain of this book, but he's an interesting villain with a crazy origin story. I liked Harry as a character, too, and I absolutely did not see that twist (you'll know it when you get to it) coming.
There's also not as much animal cruelty in this one as in Cutter's other books, so it has that going for it. There's a few dead wasps but that's about it.
The sci-fi bits, though? Not my thing. I don't feel like I can say much without spoiling things, but just … no. It's a ridiculous premise and I still don't quite get the “why” or the “how” and it's probably one of the oddest things I've ever read. I also didn't buy Margaret and Charity's supposed friendship – they're best friends who love each other so much, yet Charity spends the entire novel basically torturing Margaret. I mean, I know it's and bloody hell I don't even understand this book at all.
My overall rating: 2.55 stars, rounded up. If you enjoy sci-fi/horror novels of the “science experiment gone wrong” variety, however, don't let my low rating deter you from reading The Queen since you'll probably enjoy it a lot more than I did. The other early reviews on Goodreads are mostly positive.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 29, 2024.
But, anyway. I can't say that The Queen is anything like I thought it was going to be. There's some horror and Cutter certainly knows how to write gory scenes, but this book is much more science fiction-y than I expected. I guess I should have figured it out based on the talk of “gene manipulation” and “gene sequencing” in the blurb, but in the words of the great philosopher Forrest Gump, “I am not a smart (wo)man.” There's not a ton of scientific detail, but the entire premise of the novel revolves around a tech mogul's science experiment gone wrong (right?), so … yeah.
There are parts of this book that I mostly enjoyed. The flashbacks to Rudyard Crate's childhood are fantastic, and they are by far the most terrifying parts of the story. I've always been a big fan of ants, but I'll stick to our docile, non-flesh-eating northern climate ants, thank you very much. I also found Rudyard's bug fetish to be disturbingly entertaining, even if there are some serious WTF moments to be had. Rudyard's undoubtedly the villain of this book, but he's an interesting villain with a crazy origin story. I liked Harry as a character, too, and I absolutely did not see that twist (you'll know it when you get to it) coming.
There's also not as much animal cruelty in this one as in Cutter's other books, so it has that going for it. There's a few dead wasps but that's about it.
The sci-fi bits, though? Not my thing. I don't feel like I can say much without spoiling things, but just … no. It's a ridiculous premise and I still don't quite get the “why” or the “how” and it's probably one of the oddest things I've ever read. I also didn't buy Margaret and Charity's supposed friendship – they're best friends who love each other so much, yet Charity spends the entire novel basically torturing Margaret. I mean, I know it's and bloody hell I don't even understand this book at all.
My overall rating: 2.55 stars, rounded up. If you enjoy sci-fi/horror novels of the “science experiment gone wrong” variety, however, don't let my low rating deter you from reading The Queen since you'll probably enjoy it a lot more than I did. The other early reviews on Goodreads are mostly positive.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 29, 2024.
Want to read
March 17, 2024A new Nick Cutter book? Yes please!
I really Loved The Troop. Did not care for The Deep, and I am going to start Little Heaven very soon. I'll definitely have to keep an eye on this one:)
I really Loved The Troop. Did not care for The Deep, and I am going to start Little Heaven very soon. I'll definitely have to keep an eye on this one:)
Want to read
June 17, 2024
August 8, 2024
4.5
The Troop is one of my favorite horror books of all time; I recommend it to anyone looking at getting into the horror genre (I do have to warn them about the whole turtle business though lol). This didn't top it but it further solidifies my fervent love for Cutter's fucked up mind.
I will say there is a scene rather early on in the book that confuses me...like I don't know if it's a "me" thing or what. It was also on the long side, but not painfully long by any means.
Now! For the adoration:
This is the kind of strange, stomach-turning horror that I LOVE. Unhinged characters in an unhinged storyline. A cross between a really...really horrible trip and a nightmare straight from the fiery depths of the underworld. This was exciting stuff my dudes!
The Troop is one of my favorite horror books of all time; I recommend it to anyone looking at getting into the horror genre (I do have to warn them about the whole turtle business though lol). This didn't top it but it further solidifies my fervent love for Cutter's fucked up mind.
I will say there is a scene rather early on in the book that confuses me...like I don't know if it's a "me" thing or what. It was also on the long side, but not painfully long by any means.
Now! For the adoration:
This is the kind of strange, stomach-turning horror that I LOVE. Unhinged characters in an unhinged storyline. A cross between a really...really horrible trip and a nightmare straight from the fiery depths of the underworld. This was exciting stuff my dudes!
September 27, 2024
(Rounded from 3.5)
Nick Cutter definitely has a skill for getting under your skin, doesn’t he? This fast-paced, coming-of-age body horror will keep you squirming on the edge of your seat. The world-building and atmosphere are tangible, giving a great experience of late teenage awkwardness from someone sitting as far away from the cool kids’ table as possible. The main character feels complicated and genuine, and the constant flip-flopping, or tug-of-war, which comprises her emotional journey feels both earned and relatable. And the horror set pieces, which are well spaced throughout the story, are violent and gooey, visceral and upsetting. The writing is strong and propulsive too, combining first-person narration with text messages and voice mails when we follow our main character, and then a close third-person when we follow an ancillary character, the main (human) antagonist. We spend far more time with the MC than not, but this movement back and forth does a good job at keeping you engaged and really creating a shape to the story.
All that well-earned praise out of the way, I did experience a few stumbles with this book. I enjoyed the “treasure hunt,” or cat-and-mouse, quality of the majority of the book, our MC following an evolving trail of breadcrumbs to reach the climactic events. But the more I thought about it, it is hard to really reconcile why Charity, the titular Queen, would send her friend on this kind of hunt. I understand the need for our MC, Margaret, to bear witness. The heady and confusing amalgamation of attraction and repulsion, desiring validation and also revenge, all of that makes sense and it fits with the story… but this whole treasure hunt situation just feels contrived. I have no problem suspending disbelief for regarding the scientific and horrific elements of the story, but in part suspending that disbelief depends on all of the other scaffolding to be not just solid but impregnable. This narrative device, while it was fun and did keep the story moving, didn’t feel like it was grounded in any genuine or understandable motivation. Basically, it felt like something that came from the author not the character, and that isn’t an experience I generally want when reading, even when that narrative device is used to good effect in terms of pacing and unraveling the story’s mysteries. Speaking of pacing, I did think it was really strong. The prologue starts with a great bit of terror to get you hooked, then goes back a day so you have a foreboding knowledge of what is to come as you go through the more mundane actions of the story. And right when the story feels like it may be getting a little soft we switch to the POV of a new character and get a horrific flashback that feeds our need for the grotesque. Like this he does a great job at inserting little bits of violence and mayhem throughout the story, never giving us a chance to get bored, with horrific scenes that are disturbing and will make you skin crawl. However, with that said, going back to that original flashback, which serves as our (human) antagonist’s origin story… yeah, I’m not buying it. I mean, I buy that scene, that event, in all its upsetting detail. But how that trauma lead to his eventual obsession and the poisonous, deadly fruit it wrought? It just feels like a stretch, one I had a hard time making. It might have worked for me if there was more connecting the trauma to his eventual obsession, but that connective tissue was lost, and what is left made it really hard for me to ground his actions or motivations in any meaningful way, which just kept him at a distance for me, which just let some of the seams of the story show when they should have been hidden. And as long as I am kvetching, the last section before the Epilogue, which was more than 10% of the book’s length, felt like a giant distraction. The whole thing is written as an Esquire article that is exploring the events of the book, and it totally takes us away from the perspective of the characters that we cared about. Instead, it has a middle-aged male journalist, clearly standing in for Cutter himself, telling us how the whole events of the book make him feel, somewhat bluntly hitting us over the head with some of the themes and ideas the book itself is exploring. It feels like Cutter maybe didn’t trust us to see the nuance in his story, and he wanted to make sure we realized there was a lot more grey than black and white? I don’t know. It does give some follow-up information, a kind of high-level narration/summarization, but I would have loved for that to have come in Margaret’s voice. I appreciate what having an outsider to the events brought to it, an exploration of how a single story can infest a country’s collective attention span, can have a far larger blast radius than it might seem at first. There is a kind of honesty to what the after-effects of this horror story might look like in terms of government response and public safety/obsession, which I enjoyed. I just think I would have enjoyed it all more if it was time spent with our main character, so we could see her navigating the after-effects, her dealing with these multiple traumas, while also processing how the world outside of her was interpreting events. Instead of telling her story it felt like she became a specimen, pinned to a board to dissect, which felt contradictory to the intimacy of the rest of the journey.
That seems like a lot of complaining, especially when compared to how fun this story is. Because the truth of it is that it is a fun, brutal story that does a great job balancing graphic horror with genuine emotion. The writing is clear, direct, and effective, and the pacing is skillful and energetic. From a bird’s eye view the story is not completely original, something Cutter himself points out in his Acknowledgments, but it never feels derivative. Instead, it feels like a fresh take on the trails and tribulations of a coming-of-age story, just set against the backdrop of genetically modified monstrosities and Cronenberg-ian body horror. It is a fun, quick read that keeps you invested and a little grossed out the whole time, and it is definitely worth picking up.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Gallery Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Nick Cutter definitely has a skill for getting under your skin, doesn’t he? This fast-paced, coming-of-age body horror will keep you squirming on the edge of your seat. The world-building and atmosphere are tangible, giving a great experience of late teenage awkwardness from someone sitting as far away from the cool kids’ table as possible. The main character feels complicated and genuine, and the constant flip-flopping, or tug-of-war, which comprises her emotional journey feels both earned and relatable. And the horror set pieces, which are well spaced throughout the story, are violent and gooey, visceral and upsetting. The writing is strong and propulsive too, combining first-person narration with text messages and voice mails when we follow our main character, and then a close third-person when we follow an ancillary character, the main (human) antagonist. We spend far more time with the MC than not, but this movement back and forth does a good job at keeping you engaged and really creating a shape to the story.
All that well-earned praise out of the way, I did experience a few stumbles with this book. I enjoyed the “treasure hunt,” or cat-and-mouse, quality of the majority of the book, our MC following an evolving trail of breadcrumbs to reach the climactic events. But the more I thought about it, it is hard to really reconcile why Charity, the titular Queen, would send her friend on this kind of hunt. I understand the need for our MC, Margaret, to bear witness. The heady and confusing amalgamation of attraction and repulsion, desiring validation and also revenge, all of that makes sense and it fits with the story… but this whole treasure hunt situation just feels contrived. I have no problem suspending disbelief for regarding the scientific and horrific elements of the story, but in part suspending that disbelief depends on all of the other scaffolding to be not just solid but impregnable. This narrative device, while it was fun and did keep the story moving, didn’t feel like it was grounded in any genuine or understandable motivation. Basically, it felt like something that came from the author not the character, and that isn’t an experience I generally want when reading, even when that narrative device is used to good effect in terms of pacing and unraveling the story’s mysteries. Speaking of pacing, I did think it was really strong. The prologue starts with a great bit of terror to get you hooked, then goes back a day so you have a foreboding knowledge of what is to come as you go through the more mundane actions of the story. And right when the story feels like it may be getting a little soft we switch to the POV of a new character and get a horrific flashback that feeds our need for the grotesque. Like this he does a great job at inserting little bits of violence and mayhem throughout the story, never giving us a chance to get bored, with horrific scenes that are disturbing and will make you skin crawl. However, with that said, going back to that original flashback, which serves as our (human) antagonist’s origin story… yeah, I’m not buying it. I mean, I buy that scene, that event, in all its upsetting detail. But how that trauma lead to his eventual obsession and the poisonous, deadly fruit it wrought? It just feels like a stretch, one I had a hard time making. It might have worked for me if there was more connecting the trauma to his eventual obsession, but that connective tissue was lost, and what is left made it really hard for me to ground his actions or motivations in any meaningful way, which just kept him at a distance for me, which just let some of the seams of the story show when they should have been hidden. And as long as I am kvetching, the last section before the Epilogue, which was more than 10% of the book’s length, felt like a giant distraction. The whole thing is written as an Esquire article that is exploring the events of the book, and it totally takes us away from the perspective of the characters that we cared about. Instead, it has a middle-aged male journalist, clearly standing in for Cutter himself, telling us how the whole events of the book make him feel, somewhat bluntly hitting us over the head with some of the themes and ideas the book itself is exploring. It feels like Cutter maybe didn’t trust us to see the nuance in his story, and he wanted to make sure we realized there was a lot more grey than black and white? I don’t know. It does give some follow-up information, a kind of high-level narration/summarization, but I would have loved for that to have come in Margaret’s voice. I appreciate what having an outsider to the events brought to it, an exploration of how a single story can infest a country’s collective attention span, can have a far larger blast radius than it might seem at first. There is a kind of honesty to what the after-effects of this horror story might look like in terms of government response and public safety/obsession, which I enjoyed. I just think I would have enjoyed it all more if it was time spent with our main character, so we could see her navigating the after-effects, her dealing with these multiple traumas, while also processing how the world outside of her was interpreting events. Instead of telling her story it felt like she became a specimen, pinned to a board to dissect, which felt contradictory to the intimacy of the rest of the journey.
That seems like a lot of complaining, especially when compared to how fun this story is. Because the truth of it is that it is a fun, brutal story that does a great job balancing graphic horror with genuine emotion. The writing is clear, direct, and effective, and the pacing is skillful and energetic. From a bird’s eye view the story is not completely original, something Cutter himself points out in his Acknowledgments, but it never feels derivative. Instead, it feels like a fresh take on the trails and tribulations of a coming-of-age story, just set against the backdrop of genetically modified monstrosities and Cronenberg-ian body horror. It is a fun, quick read that keeps you invested and a little grossed out the whole time, and it is definitely worth picking up.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Gallery Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 18, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the book’s publisher for the ARC of this fantastic book
Someone please go check on Craig Davidson/Nick Cutter…this man is out of his mind and has crafted an absolutely gooey, crunchy, nerve shattering, horrifying and hilarious piece of body horror!! He is obviously a big fan of and is being inspired by horror classics like David Cronenberg’s version of The Fly and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Reader be warned, this book is definitely not for the faint of heart as some of the body horror descriptions are intensely graphic.
It’s hard to talk about the plot without giving away spoilers or key plot details, so you can just read the description on GoodReads or whatever your book website of choice happens to be. I am a huge fan of this author and tend to enjoy his work as Craig Davidson more as his writing is truly beautiful, even when the subject matter is bleak. However, I absolutely love that he uses his Nick Cutter pseudonym to put to paper every gross idea and circumstance that pops into his brain. If you’ve read The Troop or any other of his Cutter novels, you should know what you’re getting yourself into.
I had an absolute blast reading this one, so I am giving it an honest 5 stars. The writing is great, the characters are fun and it is a gory and pus filled good time! Pre-order this bad boy ASAP!
Someone please go check on Craig Davidson/Nick Cutter…this man is out of his mind and has crafted an absolutely gooey, crunchy, nerve shattering, horrifying and hilarious piece of body horror!! He is obviously a big fan of and is being inspired by horror classics like David Cronenberg’s version of The Fly and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Reader be warned, this book is definitely not for the faint of heart as some of the body horror descriptions are intensely graphic.
It’s hard to talk about the plot without giving away spoilers or key plot details, so you can just read the description on GoodReads or whatever your book website of choice happens to be. I am a huge fan of this author and tend to enjoy his work as Craig Davidson more as his writing is truly beautiful, even when the subject matter is bleak. However, I absolutely love that he uses his Nick Cutter pseudonym to put to paper every gross idea and circumstance that pops into his brain. If you’ve read The Troop or any other of his Cutter novels, you should know what you’re getting yourself into.
I had an absolute blast reading this one, so I am giving it an honest 5 stars. The writing is great, the characters are fun and it is a gory and pus filled good time! Pre-order this bad boy ASAP!
August 13, 2024
Reading for review in the October 2024 issue of Library Journal
You all....this book.....
Three Words Describe This Book: visceral, gripping, genetically altered wasps
Draft review thoughts. Cutter is on the top of his game here providing another intensely visceral and utterly gripping tale, a novel pushing 400 pages where the pages fly by, a story that can best be described as a battle of wills between Stephen King’s Carrie and Stephen Graham Jones’s Jade, as told by Mira Grant, and oh yeah....don't forget the wasps.
I need people to know this is a book that will stay with you, that you will have to scrape off of yourself both literally and figuratively.
More soon in October when the column publishes. And I will have a giveaway
You all....this book.....
Three Words Describe This Book: visceral, gripping, genetically altered wasps
Draft review thoughts. Cutter is on the top of his game here providing another intensely visceral and utterly gripping tale, a novel pushing 400 pages where the pages fly by, a story that can best be described as a battle of wills between Stephen King’s Carrie and Stephen Graham Jones’s Jade, as told by Mira Grant, and oh yeah....don't forget the wasps.
I need people to know this is a book that will stay with you, that you will have to scrape off of yourself both literally and figuratively.
More soon in October when the column publishes. And I will have a giveaway
August 14, 2024
well. as the kids would say, this was a "flop." maybe i wouldnt have hated it so much if nick didn't try to cram teen lingo and pop culture so hard into this book- it really dates it and left a bad taste in my mouth. it was more egregious than handyman method's on-the-nose satire of masculinity.. this just seems to be a trend that keeps escalating with each new book he writes. and not a trend i enjoy.
the horrors of being a teenage girl and having a destructive kindof gay teen friendship and turning into a monster with a girlheart and the insect body horror is so good and such a wealth of material but i just could not care about it until the very end, where it seems to coalesce into the point nick cutter was trying to make, but the journey to that point is not worth it imo. i see what you were trying to do but let someone else write it, i think.
the horrors of being a teenage girl and having a destructive kindof gay teen friendship and turning into a monster with a girlheart and the insect body horror is so good and such a wealth of material but i just could not care about it until the very end, where it seems to coalesce into the point nick cutter was trying to make, but the journey to that point is not worth it imo. i see what you were trying to do but let someone else write it, i think.
September 26, 2024
Nick Cutter has a way with bug horror. He gets things nice and squishy and goey. It’s so gross. I love his descriptions, and how he brings horror next level.
I was a little lost for the first half of this book. There is a lot of mindless wandering around on a sort of scavenger hunt of memories. Bouncing from that and the perspective of a Dr. Frankenstein type, there’s a lot going on. It all pulls together in the end tho. The last bit, is pretty terrifying. And gross.. did I say gross?
I was a little lost for the first half of this book. There is a lot of mindless wandering around on a sort of scavenger hunt of memories. Bouncing from that and the perspective of a Dr. Frankenstein type, there’s a lot going on. It all pulls together in the end tho. The last bit, is pretty terrifying. And gross.. did I say gross?
May 20, 2024
Thanks to the publisher for an ADVANCE READER'S EDITION.
Another great addition to the Nick Cutter brand and this time he fully captured my attention without any of the animal cruelty that I believe were key parts of his novels but left many other readers with mixed / did not finish emotions.
A big welcome back to my favourite horror writer.
Another great addition to the Nick Cutter brand and this time he fully captured my attention without any of the animal cruelty that I believe were key parts of his novels but left many other readers with mixed / did not finish emotions.
A big welcome back to my favourite horror writer.
June 25, 2024
This book was crazy good and scary as hell! I will never look at a bug the same way again, that's for sure. Cutter is a genius when it comes to horror. His books just ooze with disgusting imagery and terror-filled scenarios that one could only fathom in his/her worst nightmares. His words have a profound effect on your way of thinking, too. Like you know what you're reading isn't real, but holy shit! This or something like this could really happen. I'm actually a little blown away right now. The book starts out with an intense situation, then backtracks to the events leading up to it. I loved every minute of it! I couldn't read fast enough but then I reached part four and lost my momentum. These final chapters detail the aftermath and persons responsible for the chaos. I felt some of the details were necessary, but it got kind of boring here. The epilogue was surreal though and a great way to end the story. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend to all fans of horror and science fiction!
Thank you to the author, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for granting me early access in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to the author, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for granting me early access in exchange for my honest review!
September 9, 2024
This was quite the ride! Some parts were rather gory and graphic, other parts felt a bit sluggish to get through. Overall a good read, the author is incredibly good at describing and setting a scene, he conjures up some really vivid imagery which I love.
May 29, 2024
Nick never fails me as a reader...I have yet to read anything I haven't obsessed over so when I say I ate up this book....I ATE IT UP. I started this the second it hit my kindle and I devoured it page by page, it pulls you in and spits you out at the end. Nick's writing always gives me the hair standing up on the back of my neck and chills feeling.
This read is one that will always be in the back of my mind and I cannot shout praise loud enough. If you are in the market for a book that will hold you in it's grasp from the very first page, give you the eerie creepy vibes/atmosphere, plot driven with great characters and fantastic storyline then this will be for you!
Thank you @netgalley , @gallerybooks and author for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
This read is one that will always be in the back of my mind and I cannot shout praise loud enough. If you are in the market for a book that will hold you in it's grasp from the very first page, give you the eerie creepy vibes/atmosphere, plot driven with great characters and fantastic storyline then this will be for you!
Thank you @netgalley , @gallerybooks and author for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
September 26, 2024
Wow, what a ride! The moment I found out that Mr. Cutter was writing a new book I was chomping at the bit to read it. I’ve read and enjoyed his other books and I knew before reading The Queen that I was going to love it. I was spot on. I’m not one who usually enjoys science fiction, but there is something about Mr. Cutter’s writing that is captivating and unique. I read The Queen in two days because I couldn’t put it down.
I don’t want to give too many spoilers, but I will give a general idea of what the book is about. It centers around two teenage girls who are best friends since early childhood. Lately they have drifted apart. They each hold secrets that they hadn’t shared with the other. While one of the girls is completely aware of this, the other is oblivious to the feelings of her friend and the internal struggles that she is experiencing. I always enjoy a story that centers around young people because they see things differently, are more open to new ideas and are filled with a passion for life.
Not giving too much away I will say that hopefully you don’t an have an aversion to or are squeamish reading about bugs, because there’s are plenty of them in the storyline. The characters, other than the two girls are handful of other teenagers, the usual high school drama, some scientists and a severely damaged millionaire who wants to dabble at playing God. This man has had a fixation with bugs since his youth as a result of a tragic incident that drove his desires through his entire life. Ultimately he decided that he wants to fuse human DNA with that of an insect. Not any insect, but the queen of the species. As you can guess there were many failed attempts, and yet there was one that appeared to be a success…until puberty hit, and then all hell breaks loose. Although I’ve given you the gist of the story, I have barely touched the surface of the events that unfold.
I am awed by Mr. Cutter’s knowledge of the insect world and his mastery of the English language to be able to tell such a remarkable story. I was spellbound, awed and desperate to carry on with reading to its conclusion. I will absolutely be reading the book again in the near future. I wholly recommend The Queen and can truly say that you will become as absorbed in the story as I was.
I was privileged to have been an arc reader of The Queen and was asked to give my honest and unbiased opinion about the book. I am not receiving any compensation for my review and I hope in the future I can read more of Mr. Cutter’s books.
I don’t want to give too many spoilers, but I will give a general idea of what the book is about. It centers around two teenage girls who are best friends since early childhood. Lately they have drifted apart. They each hold secrets that they hadn’t shared with the other. While one of the girls is completely aware of this, the other is oblivious to the feelings of her friend and the internal struggles that she is experiencing. I always enjoy a story that centers around young people because they see things differently, are more open to new ideas and are filled with a passion for life.
Not giving too much away I will say that hopefully you don’t an have an aversion to or are squeamish reading about bugs, because there’s are plenty of them in the storyline. The characters, other than the two girls are handful of other teenagers, the usual high school drama, some scientists and a severely damaged millionaire who wants to dabble at playing God. This man has had a fixation with bugs since his youth as a result of a tragic incident that drove his desires through his entire life. Ultimately he decided that he wants to fuse human DNA with that of an insect. Not any insect, but the queen of the species. As you can guess there were many failed attempts, and yet there was one that appeared to be a success…until puberty hit, and then all hell breaks loose. Although I’ve given you the gist of the story, I have barely touched the surface of the events that unfold.
I am awed by Mr. Cutter’s knowledge of the insect world and his mastery of the English language to be able to tell such a remarkable story. I was spellbound, awed and desperate to carry on with reading to its conclusion. I will absolutely be reading the book again in the near future. I wholly recommend The Queen and can truly say that you will become as absorbed in the story as I was.
I was privileged to have been an arc reader of The Queen and was asked to give my honest and unbiased opinion about the book. I am not receiving any compensation for my review and I hope in the future I can read more of Mr. Cutter’s books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2024
Since childhood, Margaret and Charity have been inseparable. When Charity goes missing and no one seems to care, a mysterious package arrives on Margaret’s front step. Inside is an iPhone with a text that upends Margaret's world and provides insight into Charity’s whereabouts and perhaps who she’s been all along.
Set just outside Niagara Falls in author Nick Cutter’s hometown of St. Catherine’s Ontario, THE QUEEN is yet another unsettling, graphic, body-horror classic from the Canadian writer. Between the covers, this book goes to some truly wild places asking very little of the reader other than to sit back and marvel at the depravity of a horror writer at the top of his game. Cutter’s prose can sometimes feel like a gore-splattered car crash you just can’t turn your head from; you want to avert your eyes, but the true nature of human curiosity won’t let you. While I don’t think anything here is quite on the same level as the turtle scene in The Troop, it’s a different kind of horror that at times still left me reeling, audibly gasping “oh God”.
Although the book deals with some pretty intricate science surrounding gene manipulation, I never felt truly lost or overwhelmed by the amount of jargon (thanks to a few great analogies like you may find on the r/ELI5 subreddit). That said, it isn’t entirely four-hundred pages of carnage and sci-fi, there is also a tender coming-of-age novel in here about the power of friendship and young adults yearning for connection and understanding. People often dismiss genre-fiction, especially horror, believing that it doesn’t have anything important to say, but I would argue that those novels can be where authors can get the most introspective. Cutter does a wonderful job here digging into the awkwardness of youth, sex and the perils of personal growth.
I absolutely loved this book. Once I hit the halfway point, I powered through in a single afternoon to get to the end. If you’re a fan of Stephen King’s CARRIE, Cutter once again finds inspiration in King’s usage of mixed media much like he did with THE TROOP, expanding the scope of the novel’s true horror beyond Margaret's POV.
Nick Cutter (or Craig Davidson) rarely disappoints me and THE QUEEN is certainly no exception.
Set just outside Niagara Falls in author Nick Cutter’s hometown of St. Catherine’s Ontario, THE QUEEN is yet another unsettling, graphic, body-horror classic from the Canadian writer. Between the covers, this book goes to some truly wild places asking very little of the reader other than to sit back and marvel at the depravity of a horror writer at the top of his game. Cutter’s prose can sometimes feel like a gore-splattered car crash you just can’t turn your head from; you want to avert your eyes, but the true nature of human curiosity won’t let you. While I don’t think anything here is quite on the same level as the turtle scene in The Troop, it’s a different kind of horror that at times still left me reeling, audibly gasping “oh God”.
Although the book deals with some pretty intricate science surrounding gene manipulation, I never felt truly lost or overwhelmed by the amount of jargon (thanks to a few great analogies like you may find on the r/ELI5 subreddit). That said, it isn’t entirely four-hundred pages of carnage and sci-fi, there is also a tender coming-of-age novel in here about the power of friendship and young adults yearning for connection and understanding. People often dismiss genre-fiction, especially horror, believing that it doesn’t have anything important to say, but I would argue that those novels can be where authors can get the most introspective. Cutter does a wonderful job here digging into the awkwardness of youth, sex and the perils of personal growth.
I absolutely loved this book. Once I hit the halfway point, I powered through in a single afternoon to get to the end. If you’re a fan of Stephen King’s CARRIE, Cutter once again finds inspiration in King’s usage of mixed media much like he did with THE TROOP, expanding the scope of the novel’s true horror beyond Margaret's POV.
Nick Cutter (or Craig Davidson) rarely disappoints me and THE QUEEN is certainly no exception.
June 20, 2024
This was my first Nick Cutter book and after hearing all the hype about his other work, I was so excited to be approved for this.
At the start of the book I wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting into. We follow two POVs. One of a high school girl and one of a middle aged scientist/billionaire. The POV from Mag’s perspective was my favorite. I loved her inner thoughts and could appreciate her anxieties. Rudy’s POV just pissed me off, which I think was the objective, but also at times left me confused.
As someone who is not an expert on insects, some of the story was hard to follow. But by the second half of the story, I was hooked and had to see how it played out. After finishing and reflecting, I can truly see the beautiful puzzle Cutter crafted and I think the longer I think about this book, the more of that puzzle I’ll decipher.
This story was terrifying, heartbreaking, and oddly relatable. I promise you’ll never look at an insect the same.
Thank you to Gallery Books & NetGalley for this ARC.
At the start of the book I wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting into. We follow two POVs. One of a high school girl and one of a middle aged scientist/billionaire. The POV from Mag’s perspective was my favorite. I loved her inner thoughts and could appreciate her anxieties. Rudy’s POV just pissed me off, which I think was the objective, but also at times left me confused.
As someone who is not an expert on insects, some of the story was hard to follow. But by the second half of the story, I was hooked and had to see how it played out. After finishing and reflecting, I can truly see the beautiful puzzle Cutter crafted and I think the longer I think about this book, the more of that puzzle I’ll decipher.
This story was terrifying, heartbreaking, and oddly relatable. I promise you’ll never look at an insect the same.
Thank you to Gallery Books & NetGalley for this ARC.
May 14, 2024
Nick Cutter has done it again! “The Queen” is a relentless whirlwind of suspense, horror, and intensity with just the right amount of sinister, making it impossible to put down, exactly what I would expect from Nick Cutter. Masterfully building tension and terror with the turn of each page, Margaret's search for her vanished friend Charity leads her into a labyrinth of secrets and danger. Through Margaret's eyes, we witness the disturbing consequences of genetic manipulation, culminating in the perfect ending. “The Queen" will linger in your mind long after you finish the final page.
Many thanks to Edelweiss and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read and review “The Queen” before its publication date.
Many thanks to Edelweiss and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read and review “The Queen” before its publication date.
May 21, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
Nick Cutter has done it again, forcing me to only read this book while not eating, and in short bursts. Hair raising, disgusting and spine chilling, I never knew how much I was scared of bugs til I read this. One of his better books, this will STICK with me.
Nick Cutter has done it again, forcing me to only read this book while not eating, and in short bursts. Hair raising, disgusting and spine chilling, I never knew how much I was scared of bugs til I read this. One of his better books, this will STICK with me.
September 27, 2024
4.5 rounded up.
This is definitely my fav Nick Cutter book yet.
This is definitely my fav Nick Cutter book yet.
August 19, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It is the first I’ve read by Nick Cutter and I’m thinking of picking up some of his other books. The mix of sci-fi and horror was a good balance.
Most of the story takes place over the course of the day but it keeps a nice pace to where you don’t notice not much time has passed for the characters.
The only thing I could have personally done without was the random shortening of names. I don’t know why it bothered me so much.
Most of the story takes place over the course of the day but it keeps a nice pace to where you don’t notice not much time has passed for the characters.
The only thing I could have personally done without was the random shortening of names. I don’t know why it bothered me so much.
August 15, 2024
The Queen, the latest from Nick Cutter, contains the author's signature body horror combined with bugs, bugs, and more bugs, as well as some coming of age elements and mad science. There are vividly drawn scenes that will satisfy gorehound fans who enjoyed The Troop, and even some unforgettable imagery (ants, think ants) but many of the characters fall flat, occasionally tapdancing at the edge of interesting before the author goes off exploring in a new direction. When it's engaging, it's top notch, but often the book chugs along or even veers along hard-to-follow, or even downright confusing paths. Full disclosure, I want to like Cutter's work, but I have yet to find a book that really works for me. If you enjoyed the author's previous books, this one may be right up your alley. If not, this probably won't win you over.
August 20, 2024
Nick Cutter has a reputation for crafting chilling horror stories which is what we expected heading into his latest novel, The Queen. While we got the gory horror that we wanted, the book fell a bit short of our expectations feeling a bit more science fiction than horror in the end.
On a sunny morning in June, Margaret Carpenter wakes up to find a new iPhone on her doorstep. She switches it on to find a text from her best friend, Charity Atwater. The problem is, Charity’s been missing for over a month. Most people in town—even the police—think she’s dead.
Margaret and Charity have been lifelong friends. They share everything, know the most intimate details about one another…except for the destructive secret hidden from them both. A secret that will trigger a chain of events ending in tragedy, bloodshed, and death. And now Charity wants Margaret to know her story—the real story. In a narrative that takes place over one feverish day, Margaret follows a series of increasingly disquieting breadcrumbs as she forges deeper into the mystery of her best friend—a person she never truly knew at all…
Nick Cutter has a great ability to craft wonderful novels that is for sure. While some may find The Queen right up there alley, I did enjoy Cutters stunning ability to write gory scenes, but I just didn't get the same feelings as I have in previous Cutter works (read The Troop). This latest novel was not exactly what I was expecting. These things sometimes can fall on the reader as we set up our own preconceived notions of what the book should be before even reading it. The Queen was definitely an interesting enough read, but had a very different vibe than I was expecting.
As I said already, Cutter can craft a gory novel and The Queen is that type of body horror. The writing screams that Cutter is a fan of classic horror films such as Frankenstein or even David Cronenberg's The Fly. Nick gives us a tale filled with intensely graphic scenes that will make even the most seasoned readers skin crawl. However, writing a story that balances between science fiction and horror can sometimes bleed into one or the other and the fact this one leaned more into the sci-fi realm was one place that lost us. Yes, I understand that can be hard to understand for some, but that is how we felt when closing the book.
Lastly, the pacing was a bit off for me. Cutter has had some stellar novels published with no issues in pacing, but I felt The Queen was strange in the pacing department. Additionally, I had a hard time getting into the style of writing Cutter used in this novel. Those two things added to my struggles with the type of book didn't outweigh the quality of the story, but had some effect on my overall liking of the novel.
Nick Cutter has crafted a horror sci-fi novel that may not have met my expectations, but is definitely the wheelhouse for a lot of readers. The Queen is not what I expected when I open the first pages, but in the end we get a plot that is worth the journey if you can see past some other elements such as pacing and writing style that had me hung up. In the end, the book is definitely not a complete miss, The Queen will likely be held up against Nick's other offerings and with good merit.
On a sunny morning in June, Margaret Carpenter wakes up to find a new iPhone on her doorstep. She switches it on to find a text from her best friend, Charity Atwater. The problem is, Charity’s been missing for over a month. Most people in town—even the police—think she’s dead.
Margaret and Charity have been lifelong friends. They share everything, know the most intimate details about one another…except for the destructive secret hidden from them both. A secret that will trigger a chain of events ending in tragedy, bloodshed, and death. And now Charity wants Margaret to know her story—the real story. In a narrative that takes place over one feverish day, Margaret follows a series of increasingly disquieting breadcrumbs as she forges deeper into the mystery of her best friend—a person she never truly knew at all…
Nick Cutter has a great ability to craft wonderful novels that is for sure. While some may find The Queen right up there alley, I did enjoy Cutters stunning ability to write gory scenes, but I just didn't get the same feelings as I have in previous Cutter works (read The Troop). This latest novel was not exactly what I was expecting. These things sometimes can fall on the reader as we set up our own preconceived notions of what the book should be before even reading it. The Queen was definitely an interesting enough read, but had a very different vibe than I was expecting.
As I said already, Cutter can craft a gory novel and The Queen is that type of body horror. The writing screams that Cutter is a fan of classic horror films such as Frankenstein or even David Cronenberg's The Fly. Nick gives us a tale filled with intensely graphic scenes that will make even the most seasoned readers skin crawl. However, writing a story that balances between science fiction and horror can sometimes bleed into one or the other and the fact this one leaned more into the sci-fi realm was one place that lost us. Yes, I understand that can be hard to understand for some, but that is how we felt when closing the book.
Lastly, the pacing was a bit off for me. Cutter has had some stellar novels published with no issues in pacing, but I felt The Queen was strange in the pacing department. Additionally, I had a hard time getting into the style of writing Cutter used in this novel. Those two things added to my struggles with the type of book didn't outweigh the quality of the story, but had some effect on my overall liking of the novel.
Nick Cutter has crafted a horror sci-fi novel that may not have met my expectations, but is definitely the wheelhouse for a lot of readers. The Queen is not what I expected when I open the first pages, but in the end we get a plot that is worth the journey if you can see past some other elements such as pacing and writing style that had me hung up. In the end, the book is definitely not a complete miss, The Queen will likely be held up against Nick's other offerings and with good merit.
June 3, 2024
QOTD: What's the first book you ever reviewed?
Read my full review: https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-qu...
"In October 2022, I made my humble debut on bookstagram. My inaugural post was a very short and objectively poor review of Nick Cutter’s “The Troop,” a book which rekindled my love of horror. Now here I am, 100 or so instagram posts later, coming at you with a far longer, and subjectively adequate ARC review of Cutter’s latest nightmare-inducer “The Queen.” This is kind of a full circle moment for me, and whilst my gratitude to publishers is always sincere, when I say thank you Gallery Books for the ARC… I mean it, it comes out October 29th 2024.
Nick Cutter, the Hyde to Craig Davidson’s Jekyll, has struck yet again with another icky, itchy and insect-swathed odyssey that pulls you in and spits you back out with a thoroughly churned stomach, and hurt feelings. We have the utter displeasure of following multi-billionaire, tech-wizard and certified arse Rudyard Crate, and his sadistic brainchild “Project Athena.” Fueled by an admittedly devastating childhood trauma, Crate seeks to do something completely unprecedented, that no respectable person has ever attempted before… perhaps for good reason. We also follow Margaret, a teenage girl broken by the inexplicable disappearance of her best friend Charity. Her life, which has already been flip-turned upside-down, becomes even more complicated when she begins receiving text messages from a phone that appears upon her doorstep, messages that could only have been sent by her missing friend. These messages lure her and her “friend,” (wink wink) Harry down a bizarre rabbit hole- where they are subjected to everything from monsters in the wardrobe to a particularly vicious food-fight."
I am approaching the 3k followers mark, which is kind of insane to me, as is the fact I've read and reviewed this book? I'm thankful for you all!
Read my full review: https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-qu...
"In October 2022, I made my humble debut on bookstagram. My inaugural post was a very short and objectively poor review of Nick Cutter’s “The Troop,” a book which rekindled my love of horror. Now here I am, 100 or so instagram posts later, coming at you with a far longer, and subjectively adequate ARC review of Cutter’s latest nightmare-inducer “The Queen.” This is kind of a full circle moment for me, and whilst my gratitude to publishers is always sincere, when I say thank you Gallery Books for the ARC… I mean it, it comes out October 29th 2024.
Nick Cutter, the Hyde to Craig Davidson’s Jekyll, has struck yet again with another icky, itchy and insect-swathed odyssey that pulls you in and spits you back out with a thoroughly churned stomach, and hurt feelings. We have the utter displeasure of following multi-billionaire, tech-wizard and certified arse Rudyard Crate, and his sadistic brainchild “Project Athena.” Fueled by an admittedly devastating childhood trauma, Crate seeks to do something completely unprecedented, that no respectable person has ever attempted before… perhaps for good reason. We also follow Margaret, a teenage girl broken by the inexplicable disappearance of her best friend Charity. Her life, which has already been flip-turned upside-down, becomes even more complicated when she begins receiving text messages from a phone that appears upon her doorstep, messages that could only have been sent by her missing friend. These messages lure her and her “friend,” (wink wink) Harry down a bizarre rabbit hole- where they are subjected to everything from monsters in the wardrobe to a particularly vicious food-fight."
I am approaching the 3k followers mark, which is kind of insane to me, as is the fact I've read and reviewed this book? I'm thankful for you all!
August 18, 2024
The Queen by Nick Cutter grabbed my attention right away. The story follows Margaret, a teen whose friend has gone missing without a trace. Then, out of nowhere, a mysterious phone shows up at her door, kicking off a wild scavenger hunt to uncover the truth. What happens next is beyond anything she could have predicted, forcing her to confront things about her friend that no one should ever have to deal with. By the end, you’re left with a chilling question: If you found out your friend was a monster, could you still love them?
I ended up loving this book way more than I expected, especially since I am absolutely horrified of wasps. I’ll tell you, I have never read through squinted eyes before, but The Queen made me do just that. I couldn’t put it down—I NEEDED to know what was next—but I also couldn’t handle what was coming next at the same time. Squinted eyes clearly became my only option.
If you’re a fan of Stephen King or Joe Hill—someone who doesn’t need extreme horror but loves a story that’ll keep you up at night—then this book is for you. Also, if you grew up reading Goosebumps or watching Are You Afraid of the Dark?, you’ll appreciate this grown-up version of those kinds of tales.
This is the first Nick Cutter book I’ve read, and I absolutely loved his writing style, especially how he used text messages and .wav files sent to Margaret to tell Charity’s side of the story. I also really enjoyed how he wrapped up the story by closing it out with magazine articles, letters, etc. looking back on the situation—just brilliant. I’m giving The Queen a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars (rounded up to 5 out of 5 stars), and I’ve already ordered Nick Cutter’s other books.
Trigger warning: Beware if you absolutely cannot handle bugs.
I ended up loving this book way more than I expected, especially since I am absolutely horrified of wasps. I’ll tell you, I have never read through squinted eyes before, but The Queen made me do just that. I couldn’t put it down—I NEEDED to know what was next—but I also couldn’t handle what was coming next at the same time. Squinted eyes clearly became my only option.
If you’re a fan of Stephen King or Joe Hill—someone who doesn’t need extreme horror but loves a story that’ll keep you up at night—then this book is for you. Also, if you grew up reading Goosebumps or watching Are You Afraid of the Dark?, you’ll appreciate this grown-up version of those kinds of tales.
This is the first Nick Cutter book I’ve read, and I absolutely loved his writing style, especially how he used text messages and .wav files sent to Margaret to tell Charity’s side of the story. I also really enjoyed how he wrapped up the story by closing it out with magazine articles, letters, etc. looking back on the situation—just brilliant. I’m giving The Queen a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars (rounded up to 5 out of 5 stars), and I’ve already ordered Nick Cutter’s other books.
Trigger warning: Beware if you absolutely cannot handle bugs.
September 7, 2024
Any reader who has picked up a book by Nick Cutter knows what’s in store with his novels. The Queen is no different so, if you’re unfamiliar with the author or are not a fan of the most extreme, repugnant horror, you may not like it. I read a lot of horror and am not easily impressed but some of the scenes here grossed me out. This time he tells the story from the point of view of a teenage girl. The author is obviously not a teenage girl himself so I was impressed at how well he gets the psychology, as well as the love-hate relationship between best friends. as that age. The plot could have been a little more condensed, in my opinion. I really wanted to get on with the meat of the story and some parts had too many details and they didn’t work for me. Regarding how extreme the horror is… well, as a fan of non-fiction books about animals, I was not surprised. I’ve read a lot about ants, bees and insects in general and, for what I can tell, Cutter’s research is spot on. I liked Margaret’s voice. She is extremely resourceful for an immature teenager and her sense of humor is dark and funny. The writing is also of superior quality. So, in short, this is not a book I would recommend to everyone but, if you want to get freaked out with a great story, pick this up now.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Gallery Books.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Gallery Books.
July 12, 2024
The Queen by Nick Cutter follows Margaret, a teenager whose friend went missing over a month ago but is now communicating with Margaret through a mysterious phone Margaret found on her porch. This leads Margaret to begin searching for her friend and things escalate from there.
I have read a few books by this author and really loved this one so I’m bummed I didn’t love this one. It was interesting enough but it had a very different vibe than I was expecting. The beginning is very confusing because it feels like there is a lot going on that you should already know about as the reader. I thought the writing style in general was a little hard to get used to.
While I enjoyed the way the story went, the pacing was definitely strange in some parts. I also never really felt connected to any of the characters so that made me not really care what was happening to them.
This is a gross, nightmare inducing book in the visuals it evokes but I don’t think the surrounding story added to it very well. I would recommend this to people who love really gross horror because I think that was the best part about this book.
Huge thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have read a few books by this author and really loved this one so I’m bummed I didn’t love this one. It was interesting enough but it had a very different vibe than I was expecting. The beginning is very confusing because it feels like there is a lot going on that you should already know about as the reader. I thought the writing style in general was a little hard to get used to.
While I enjoyed the way the story went, the pacing was definitely strange in some parts. I also never really felt connected to any of the characters so that made me not really care what was happening to them.
This is a gross, nightmare inducing book in the visuals it evokes but I don’t think the surrounding story added to it very well. I would recommend this to people who love really gross horror because I think that was the best part about this book.
Huge thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 3, 2024
I want to thank Netgally for this early ARC in exchange for my honest review. [Pub Date: October 29, 2024]
If creepy crawlies send shivers down your spine, you might want to skip this one. But if you’re ready to face your fears then buckle up. What starts as a simple cell phone left on a porch quickly unravels into a relentless, bug-infested nightmare. Nick Cutter crafts a world so disturbingly vivid that your skin won’t just crawl—it’ll practically leap off your bones.
Yet, this story is more than just an onslaught of horrors. Beneath the layers of insect-filled dread lies a haunting tale of lost friendships, the brutal reality of growing up as an outcast, and the desperate search for belonging. It explores the deep-seated need to fit in, the heartache of feeling unloved, and the painful journey of finding where you truly belong in a world that doesn’t seem to care.
Despite the relentless terror, there's an unexpected sweetness woven into the narrative—Cutter masterfully blends horror with a touch of heart, leaving you both unsettled and strangely moved.
If creepy crawlies send shivers down your spine, you might want to skip this one. But if you’re ready to face your fears then buckle up. What starts as a simple cell phone left on a porch quickly unravels into a relentless, bug-infested nightmare. Nick Cutter crafts a world so disturbingly vivid that your skin won’t just crawl—it’ll practically leap off your bones.
Yet, this story is more than just an onslaught of horrors. Beneath the layers of insect-filled dread lies a haunting tale of lost friendships, the brutal reality of growing up as an outcast, and the desperate search for belonging. It explores the deep-seated need to fit in, the heartache of feeling unloved, and the painful journey of finding where you truly belong in a world that doesn’t seem to care.
Despite the relentless terror, there's an unexpected sweetness woven into the narrative—Cutter masterfully blends horror with a touch of heart, leaving you both unsettled and strangely moved.
August 25, 2024
Teenagers Margaret and Charity have been best friends since childhood. But after an incident at a party, Charity disappears. Margaret is devastated and becomes a virtual shut-in. Then one day she finds a cellphone on her doorstep with messages from Charity.
The story takes place over one day, in which Margaret is trying to discover where Charity is and what happened to her.
A mystery full of body horror, I found myself cringing at some of the scenes! (Anyone who's read the Deep by Cutter will know what I'm talking about) Although this isn't the usual type of horror that I read, I was totally invested in the characters.
At its heart it's a story of childhood friendships that grow apart as you become older, finding yourselves on different trajectories.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys body horror.
Also, if you have a bug phobia then you might want to skip this one.
I received an arc from NetGalley. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
The story takes place over one day, in which Margaret is trying to discover where Charity is and what happened to her.
A mystery full of body horror, I found myself cringing at some of the scenes! (Anyone who's read the Deep by Cutter will know what I'm talking about) Although this isn't the usual type of horror that I read, I was totally invested in the characters.
At its heart it's a story of childhood friendships that grow apart as you become older, finding yourselves on different trajectories.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys body horror.
Also, if you have a bug phobia then you might want to skip this one.
I received an arc from NetGalley. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
September 17, 2024
Having read 3 other Nick Cutter books did NOT prepare me for this experience.
I love it when an author I admire takes chances and stretches the reach of their talents. And that was the case here with The Queen.
The story is told from the 1st-person perspective of a teenage girl along with some mixed media. She is delivered an iPhone and then begins a somewhat threatening exchange with someone claiming to be her best friend who went missing a few months prior.
The plot goes places I never would have guessed, so I am reluctant to go into any details that may spoil the many surprises. Ultimately, the book explores themes of friendship, classism, trauma, obsession, and celebrity culture; and it’s quite gory in places.
For me, it was a quick and smooth read, one that I recommend (though it’s not for the squeamish).
I love it when an author I admire takes chances and stretches the reach of their talents. And that was the case here with The Queen.
The story is told from the 1st-person perspective of a teenage girl along with some mixed media. She is delivered an iPhone and then begins a somewhat threatening exchange with someone claiming to be her best friend who went missing a few months prior.
The plot goes places I never would have guessed, so I am reluctant to go into any details that may spoil the many surprises. Ultimately, the book explores themes of friendship, classism, trauma, obsession, and celebrity culture; and it’s quite gory in places.
For me, it was a quick and smooth read, one that I recommend (though it’s not for the squeamish).
July 6, 2024
I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars on this one. Most of it is fun, strange, and gross, and Cutter does a good job of intertwining the horror and the adolescent anxiety. There are some slow sections, though, and the in media res opening only sort of works. I'm not entirely sold on one of the character's motivation, which seems a little forced (even if the bizarreness is part of the horror), and I go back and forth on whether or not the alternate voicing of the epilogue works or is a disappointing shift.
If you're looking for a weird, page-turner horror book, this one will suit, but I feel like it could have been strengthened in ways that did affect my enjoyment (and not just possible formalist interests).
[Based on a NetGalley ARC.]
If you're looking for a weird, page-turner horror book, this one will suit, but I feel like it could have been strengthened in ways that did affect my enjoyment (and not just possible formalist interests).
[Based on a NetGalley ARC.]
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