Review: When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy

When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy

Publisher: Tor Nightfire

Publication Date: April 22nd, 2025
Paperback. 304 pages.

About When the Wolf Comes Home (from the publisher):

"One night, Jess, a struggling actress, finds a five-year-old runaway hiding in the bushes outside her apartment. After a violent, bloody encounter with the boy's father, she and the boy find themselves running for their lives.

As they attempt to evade the boy's increasingly desperate father, Jess slowly comes to a horrifying understanding of the butchery that follows them―the boy can turn his every fear into reality.

And when the wolf finally comes home, no one will be spared.

'Get your claws into this one, horror fiends. It's terrific. . . . Sink your teeth into a classic.'―Stephen King

'A crazy-good, balls-to-the-wall horror novel . . . it’s full throttle from the first pages.' ―Joe Hill

'This is the kind of great, big, epic horror novel we got back in the '80s that came out swinging for the fences and left everything on the field. Welcome back, you shaggy, bloody monster of a book!' ―Grady Hendrix The 25 Best and Most Anticipated Horror Books of 2025―Men's Health Most Anticipated Horror of 2025―Paste Magazine, LitHub"

I've been really enjoying Nat Cassidy's work over the last couple years, so I was excited to hear about his latest release, When the Wolf Comes Home, which sounded like it would bring something to Cassidy's work--and it did just that! Nat Cassidy truly is one of the best horror writers on the scene right now due to his ability to craft stories that have both terrifying elements and thought-provoking, multi-faceted aspects that provide incredible depth to each story. I was immediately drawn into this story and was really captivated by the premise.

We begin by following a fairly typical story in LA featuring Jess, a young actress who is trying to book auditions and make her way, but hasn't quite had that big break yet. She currently works at a diner, which isn't really providing her all that much in the way of excitement or fulfillment. One night, she happens to come across a young boy just outside her apartment. With no idea who the boy is where his parents are, she decides to try to help him out--and quickly discovers that there is more to his story than just being lost than she thought. I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll just say that once Jess and the boy realize they can’t stay in her apartment for a number of reasons, the two set off on a journey of their own. Along the way, Jess uncovers some truly shocking truths about the boy and how he ended up in his current situation.

I found Jess to be someone that I could easily connect with and relate to, and it was easy for me to become invested in her rather chaotic and unexpected journey in this book. Her reactions to the bizarre events happening around her felt pretty understandable given the truly extreme and just plain weird nature of them. I also appreciated that she had a bit of 'just go with it' vibe that felt entirely warranted, which I thought also showed that, as her core, she is someone with a pretty good heart who just wants to take care of herself and help those who need it.

I also really appreciated the book’s focus on fear as a theme, especially in how it affects the boy. But not only does When the Wolf Comes Home explore how fear literally affects the characters, it also dives deep into fear itself: what is it, what shapes our fears, what goes into fear, and what fear can drive us to do. The power of fear is real, and it's very present in this story. This book also goes to some pretty dark places and tackles some tough topics, which I thought Cassidy--as usual--tackled with nuance and care and did so wonderfully well.

People don't always expect horror books to be very emotionally moving or to explore deeper themes (which is odd, considering how often horror deals with grief, anger, trauma, etc...but I digress), but When the Wolf Comes home is genuinely a bit of a gut punch of a story. There's a lot of tragedy woven throughout the story, and the ending is also sure to bring out some emotions in readers as well. I thought it was the perfect conclusion to this story, even though it’s a difficult one, and I think it really drove home everything that had been explored in this book. 

When the Wolf Comes Home is a hefty story packed into a focused and concise narrative, if that makes any sense. The topics explored are fairly ambitious, but they're handled in a very streamlined and complete way. I thought the pacing was excellently executed and it felt fast-paced at times, but not too rushed, and still plenty of time exploring the inner mind of our protagonist and everything going on around her. I don't think I found my interest wavering at all while reading this, and in fact I went through it pretty quickly because I just couldn't seem to put it down.

I listened to the audiobook version of this and thought the narrator did an excellent job! She captured the tone of the story and Jess' experiences perfectly. I also enjoyed Nat Cassidy's own appearance, and I highly recommend sticking around to hear (or read) his author's note at the end, as I felt it added a lot to the story and provided a wonderful glimpse into some of his inspirations. 

When the Wolf Comes Home is quite a chaotic and tumultuous journey, but it's one that I was hooked on the entire time. I can't recommend it or Nat Cassidy's work enough!

*I received a copy of When the Wolf Comes Home in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

         

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

Tor Nightfire

Publication Date: October 31st, 2023

Paperback. 304 pages.

About Nestlings:

"Nat Cassidy is at his razor-sharp best again with his horror novel Nestlings, which harnesses the creeping paranoia of Rosemary's Baby and the urban horror of 'Salem's Lot, set in an exclusive New York City residential building.

Ana and Reid need a break. The horrifically complicated birth of their first child has left Ana paralyzed, bitter, and struggling―with mobility, with her relationship with Reid, with resentment for her baby. Reid dismisses disturbing events and Ana’s deep unease and paranoia, but he can't explain the needle-like bite marks on their baby."

I'm a little late in getting this review up, but for a book this good I think better late than never is perfectly apt here. Nestlings is a supremely dark, creepy, and intelligent story that builds up tension in such a slow burn manner that I felt constantly on edge and unsure of what was lurking around the next page. I'd been looking for a horror that would leave me feeling uneasy and disturbed, and Nestlings is the book that did just that and more. 

We follow Ana and Reid, new parents who have been having an exceptionally rough go of things since Ana's complicated and traumatic birth that left her physically paralyzed. Since then, it's been a struggle for the two as they not only have to go through the process of learning how to live with a newborn and be parents, but also must learn how to adapt to a brand new way of living for Ana. Ana also begins to struggle with feelings of resentment towards her new baby as a result of everything going on, which leaves Ana and Reid struggling to care for one another as well as they work through these many different struggles. 

It looks like their luck may have improved when they win a lottery for the chance to live in one of the luxury apartments at the famed Deptford building, known for its rich inhabitants. Unfortunately for Ana and Reid, life at the Deptford doesn't end up being as idyllic as they'd hoped, as their baby has been more upset than ever, their new neighbors are... odd, and things in the apartment have been putting Ana on edge in ways she can't quite describe. Reid's been digging into the Deptford's past with an interest almost bordering on obsession and has discovered it has quite a colorful past. And if old gargoyles perched on the tops of buildings have ever freaked you out, then this book is not going to make you feel better about them. 

Ana is an excellent character, especially for a horror novel like this. She's a bit of a badass for how she's managed to carry on with her life through all the traumas and struggles that have been thrown at her. Although she is now confined to a wheelchair, she really doesn't let this stop her and has adapted incredibly well to her new way of life--there's really nothing she can't do. Ana and Reid both have their own respective mental struggles, though Ana's postpartum depression has hit her hard and really led to some dark, scary moments for her. It's hard to watch Ana struggle through all of this sometimes, but I think the difficult journey that we follow her on is an important one that Cassidy handles with care and effectiveness.  

I have to say that Nestlings is not for the faint of heart because things do get really weird and really disturbing in ways that I'm not entirely sure I'd be able to adequately describe. This book is not only full of things that'll make you scratch your head and wonder what the hell you're reading, it's also got some pretty gnarly and gross moments that suited the ton and story perfectly. There are also some really intense  moments where I found myself sitting extremely tense as I rooted for Ana to get away from something or someone and I felt so incredibly creeped out watching it all unfold. Cassidy is truly an excellent horror writer who I think will only continue to write great things to shock us all. 

Something I also wanted to touch on was how well I think Cassidy managed to capture the rough, raw edges of grief and depression. Nestlings is horror and obviously very obviously dark in tone and subject matter regarding the Deptford and its internal happenings, but it's also very dark with regards to mental health and the dark places our minds can take us. I found myself highlighting an excessive amount of areas that I felt really captured my own feelings about many difficulties in life and that really set this book apart from others in its genre for me. There's a lot of thought and discussion around life and everything it throws at us, whether we are meant to look for signs that may help us, if there's ever hope for something more, and whether we as people can ever do enough or be strong enough to be who want to be and live how we want to. Based on the author's note at the end of the book, it sounds like he had some really rough times over the past couple years, and I think this is really reflected in the story and the sheer realness and rawness of the descriptions, and I appreciated his dedication to telling this story. 

Overall, I've given Nestlings 4.75 stars! I've still yet to read Nat Cassidy's previous horror novel, Mary, but I think my experience with Nestlings is going to be the kick in the pants I need to finally get around to it. 

*I received a copy of Nestlings courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Red River Seven by A.J. Ryan, Nestlings by Nat Cassidy, & The Paleontologist by Luke Dumas

   

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlights are:

Red River Seven by A.J. Ryan
Publication: October 10th, 2023
Orbit
Paperback. 304 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Seven strangers. One mission. Infinite horror.

A man awakes on a boat at sea with no memory of who or where he is. He's not alone - there are six others, each with a unique set of skills. None of them can remember their names. All of them possess a gun.

When a message appears on the onboard computer - Proceeding to Point A - the group agrees to work together to survive whatever is coming.

But as the boat moves through the mist-shrouded waters, divisions begin to form. Who is directing them and to what purpose? Why can't they remember anything?

And what are the screams they can hear beyond the mist?

Internationally bestselling fantasy author Anthony Ryan - writing as A. J. Ryan - delivers a nerve-shredding thriller in which seven strangers must undertake a terrifying journey into the unknown."

It's exciting to see Anthony Ryan writing some in a new genre, and this premise is one of the most compelling ones I've heard in a while. 

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy
Publication: October 31st, 2023
Tor Nightfire
Paperback. 304 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Ana and Reid needed a lucky break. The horrifically complicated birth of their first child has left Ana paralyzed, bitter, and with mobility, with her relationship with Reid, with resentment for her baby. That's about to change with the words any New Yorker would love to hear―affordable housing lottery.

They've won an apartment in the Deptford, one of Manhattan's most revered buildings with beautiful vistas of Central Park and stunning architecture.

Reid dismisses disturbing events and Ana’s deep unease and paranoia as the price of living in New York―people are odd―but he can't explain the needle-like bite marks on the baby."

I unfortunately still haven't gotten around to Nat Cassidy's Mary: An Awakening of Terror, but I'm still really curious about his horror and am so eager to dive into Nestlings. 

The Paleontologist by Luke Dumas
Publication: October 31st, 2023
Atria Books
Paperback. 368 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Curator of paleontology Dr. Simon Nealy never expected to return to his Pennsylvania hometown, let alone the Hawthorne Museum of Natural History. He was just a boy when his six-year-old sister, Morgan, was abducted from the museum under his watch, and the guilt has haunted Simon ever since. After a recent break-up and the death of the aunt who raised him, Simon feels drawn back to the place where Morgan vanished, in search of the bones they never found.

But from the moment he arrives, things aren’t what he expected. The Hawthorne is a crumbling ruin, still closed amid the ongoing pandemic, and plummeting toward financial catastrophe. Worse, Simon begins seeing and hearing things he can’t explain. Strange animal sounds. Bloody footprints that no living creature could have left. A prehistoric killer looming in the shadows of the museum. Terrified he’s losing his grasp on reality, Simon turns to the handwritten research diaries of his predecessor and uncovers a blood-soaked mystery 150 million years in the making that could be the answer to everything.

Are these the ravings of a madman? Or is there something supernatural at play? And what does this have to do with Morgan’s disappearance?"

I found Luke Dumas' previous release, A History of Fear, really interesting and written in a very detail and thoughtful way, so I'm looking forward to reading something new from him–especially with a premise as interesting as this! I love history, I love museums, and I love a madman. Can't wait to check this one out!

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne & Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy

     

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

 

This week's upcoming book spotlights are: 

The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne
Publication: July 26th, 2022
Redhook
Hardcover. 384 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Everyone knows the tale of Rapunzel in her tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there? 

Haelewise has always lived under the shadow of her mother, Hedda—a woman who will do anything to keep her daughter protected. For with her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned by her medieval village, and her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, of an ancient tower cloaked in mist, where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it. 

Then, Hedda dies, and Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the legendary tower her mother used to speak of—a place called Gothel, where Haelewise meets a wise woman willing to take her under her wing. 

But Haelewise is not the only woman to seek refuge at Gothel. It’s also a haven for a girl named Rika, who carries with her a secret the Church strives to keep hidden. A secret that unlocks a dark world of ancient spells and murderous nobles behind the world Haelewise has always known…"

I love Rapunzel retellings and I don't think we have enough of them! I already read an ARC and I adored it. I can't wait to see it published!

and...

Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy
Publication: July 19th, 2022
Tor Nightfire
Hardcover. 416 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:

"Nat Cassidy’s highly commercial, debut horror novel Mary: An Awakening of Terror, blends Midsommar with elements of American Psycho and a pinch of I'll Be Gone in the Dark. 

Mary is a quiet, middle-aged woman doing her best to blend into the background. Unremarkable. Invisible. Unknown even to herself. 

But lately, things have been changing inside Mary. Along with the hot flashes and body aches, she can’t look in a mirror without passing out, and the voices in her head have been urging her to do unspeakable things. 

Fired from her job in New York, she moves back to her hometown, hoping to reconnect with her past and inner self. Instead, visions of terrifying, mutilated specters overwhelm her with increasing regularity and she begins auto-writing strange thoughts and phrases. Mary discovers that these experiences are echoes of an infamous serial killer. 

Then the killings begin again. 

Mary’s definitely going to find herself."

This sounds like such a weird horror and I am so here for it!

What do you think about these upcoming releases? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?