INFORMATION ABOUT THIS BOOK
Publisher : Tor Nightfire
Publication date : March 2026
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, audiobook, and ebook
Print length : 288 pages
Genre: Gothic Horror Fiction
MY PERSONAL OPINION OF “Wolf Worm” by T. Kingfisher
I discovered this book through a YouTuber’s video showcasing Horror books, and I was intrigued by it. I put a hold on Libby and was able to read it a few weeks afterwards. I honestly enjoyed this book. As you know, I am not a fast reader; however, I read this book in three days.
The Good…
The story truly consumed me, and the main character, Ms. Sonia Wilson, was exquisite. She was smart, brave, open-minded, and had a natural common sense perspective that is not usually found. She was perfect for the story to unfold the way it did.
The story starts with Ms. Wilson arriving at the mansion of Mr. Halder, a naturalist scientist studying parasitic entomology, who hired Ms. Wilson as an illustrator. In the mansion with her are the housekeeper Mrs. Kent and her husband Mr. Kent (an interracial lovely couple that is not widely accepted), and the housemaid Sally.
As time passes, she discovers odd behavior from Dr. Halder, weird interactions with Mr. Phelps (a devout Christian who works with Dr. Halder), a mysterious shed, animals acting strange with parasitic worms, and the disappearance of Mrs. Halder, who was having an affair with a mysterious man. It all comes crashing down to a horrific truth, and yes, very, very, but extremely gross.
I truly recommend this book if you are looking to read something different, horrific, suspenseful, gothic, and yes, with lots of bugs.
The Bad…
I cannot find a specific bad opinion about this book. I think it’s important, though, to mention that the main subject is parasitic entomology; therefore, there are a lot of references to worms and insects, and the nasty parasitic behavior… In the reviews I saw, this was a drawback, so I went knowing this; however, for me it was just the perfect amount of information needed to fuel the grossness of the situation… it worked. However, if you don’t like to read scientific info or facts, this may be something you will not enjoy.
PREMISE OF THE BOOK AS FOUND IN AMAZON / GOODREADS:
After her father’s death, Sonia Wilson is without work, prospects, or hope. She is a talented scientific illustrator, but jobs are scarce for women in science in 1899.
So when the reclusive Dr. Halder offers her a position illustrating his vast collection of rare insects, Sonia jumps at the chance to move to his North Carolina manor house and put her talents to use.
Once there though, she encounters dark happenings in the Carolina woods, and even darker questions come to light, like: what happened to the illustrator who came before her? Why are animals acting so strangely? And what is behind the peculiar local whispers about “blood thiefs?”
With the aid of a healer, a housekeeper, and clues found in the journals of her mysterious predecessor, Sonia discovers that Halder’s entomological studies have taken him down a twisted road. His ground-breaking experiments come with a cost―one that Halder is paying with human flesh.
If Sonia can’t find a way to stop the monstrosity, she may be next under the knife.
MY RATING: 4.5
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
T. Kingfisher is the vaguely absurd pen-name of Ursula Vernon, an author from North Carolina. In another life, she writes children’s books and weird comics. She has been nominated for the World Fantasy and the Eisner, and has won the Hugo, Sequoyah, Nebula, Alfie, WSFA, Coyotl and Ursa Major awards, as well as a half-dozen Junior Library Guild selections.
- The Hollow Places
- Nettle & Bone
- The Twisted Ones
- What Moves the Dead (Book #1)
- What Feast at Night (Book #2)
- What Stalks the Deep (Book #3)
- A House with Good Bones
- Many more…
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