Leech - Hiron Ennes

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In the frozen north of Vedira lies an isolated chateau, where the baron's doctor has died. Ordinarily, the doctor's death in such a remote place where the baron requires such close care would pose a problem. 

Thanks to the Interprovincial Medical Institute, however, the chateau in Vedira has an endless supply of doctors at the ready--doctors who, despite their different bodies, all share one consciousness that is, in fact, the Institute itself...

"Leech" is a claustrophobic gothic horror unlike anything I have ever read. Simply put (and that's hard, for a book this complex, layered, & downright perplexing at times), it's the unsettling story of a conscious parasite discovering a new parasite lurking within an unsuspecting human host with the intention of spreading and taking hold over the Institute as the dominant consciousness in humanity. 

Even simply put, it's not that simple, right? 

Nonetheless, "Leech" is a masterful feat for anyone looking for a challenging yet rewarding gothic read for the onset of spooky season. Its prose is gorgeously-written but dense and complex; perhaps the hardest piece to grasp here is the narration of the Institute's consciousness, and how our narrator--the nameless doctor--is an individual body but a collective mind. So, for readers undeterred by my review so far, open this book beside a crackling fireplace on a cold, stormy night. But know that "Leech" is as gory as it is conceptually complex; this is a horror in every sense of the word, and it might just leave you wanting to check your reflection in the mirror one more time before bed.

Rating: 4 Stars
Publication Details: Out Now, Macmillan-Tor/Forge 

*Huge thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing my review copy!*


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