Leech

By: Hiron Ennes

Narrated by: Abigail Thorn

A surreal and horrifying debut, Hiron Ennes's Leech defies our understanding of identity, heredity, and bodily autonomy.

“A wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights... with worms!”—Tamsyn Muir

MEET THE CURE FOR THE HUMAN DISEASE

In an isolated chateau, as far north as north goes, the baron’s doctor has died. The doctor’s replacement has a mystery to solve: discovering how the Institute lost track of one of its many bodies.

For hundreds of years the Interprovincial Medical Institute has grown by taking root in young minds and shaping them into doctors, replacing every human practitioner of medicine. The Institute is here to help humanity, to cure and to cut, to cradle and protect the species from the apocalyptic horrors their ancestors unleashed.

In the frozen north, the Institute's body will discover a competitor for its rung at the top of the evolutionary ladder. A parasite is spreading through the baron's castle, already a dark pit of secrets, lies, violence, and fear. The two will make war on the battlefield of the body. Whichever wins, humanity will lose again.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor.com.

©2022 Hiron Ennes (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

2022, Audible.com Best of the Year, Long-listed

2022, BookPage Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

“Emotionally complex, wildly inventive, and full of squirming terror... This is a must-read for readers looking for something new from the horror genre.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“The fascinating world and original narrator that Ennes creates in their debut produce a sublime gothic sci-fi tale that grows into a story greater than the sum of its parts.” —Library Journal, starred review

“A strange and fascinating far-future world is gradually revealed in this accomplished combination of gothic horror and sci-fi.” —The Guardian

Entertaining and dark

Story keeps you engaged in figuring out this dark but engaging world. The twist and turns of events were as welcoming as the horrors that propelled them.

Descriptive and thick

The book is thick with descriptions, some are wasted in mundane and simple actions that distract and hide the main story… a bit confusing at times but nevertheless enjoyable

I’m excited to listen to it again

This one will require a second listen. It’s really a cool story and atmosphere! I think a second listen will solidify some of the details. Narrator did a great job!

Meh

Ok but nothing special, has a really solid beginning, ok middle, and go-hum end that allows for an undeserved sequel. The idea of following a hive mind type entity from its perspective was really cool and original. But as the story progresses we leave that kind set ting and go back to people resisting the hive mind, a thoroughly explored trope.

The exploration of what composes an entity (how much are we the sum of parts?) is interesting and good, but it really falls apart half way through.

If you have exhausted your back log in your wish list this is worth a try, if not I’d go to a wish list book.

Good, then even better the 2nd time

I’m honestly surprised by all the negative reviews. It’s a strong story with a sinister gothic feel, excellent narration, and I especially enjoyed my second listen and how all the pieces fit together.

Incredibly Original

An amazingly unique story. Fresh concepts and ideas, exposed in a beautiful writing style. Thorn is the perfect voice to bring it all out, with accent and tone that fit the scene perfectly. The author creates a mysterious world, and grants just enough information about it to keep you wanting more. Beyond excited for whatever Ennes creates next.

Excellent narration

After I finished the book I listened to it again. Great read. I really enjoyed the book.!

Hard to finish

Poor narration
Difficult to follow story
Unable to tell who was speaking
Unsatisfying listen
A struggle to finish

Fever dream

Disjointed as a fever dream, Leech is one of the most imaginative books I have ever read. I was really enjoying it up until the 60% mark and then I started to get bored. The author builds a fantasy world and drops us into it without much explanation about what is going on. The plot is both confusing and intriguing. The narrator’s pronunciation was often difficult to understand and I had to listen to some passages three times to make sense of her accent. I recommend Leech to anyone looking to shake up their brain a little by reading something weird.

Intriguing and dark, with a medical mystery

Smart concept with a compelling plot. Strong but understated world building. Brilliant and subtle performance by the narrator.