Name: Gabriella Lanouette's review of Leech by Hiron Ennes
Item: Leech
Rating: 4
Author: Gabriella Lanouette

Hiron Ennes

MEET THE CURE FOR THE HUMAN DISEASE “A wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights... with worms!” —Tamsyn Muir A surreal and horrifying debut, Leech defies our understanding of identity, heredity, and bodily autonomy. 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.

Leech

Gabriella Lanouette

This is one of those books that, while it is a 5 star for me, I would be picky about who I recommend it to -- not because of anything controversial about it, it's just a very specific vibe that's only going to work with certain tastes. But if you have those tastes, then boy does it WORK. The eloquence of it is stunning; there were certain scenes so perfectly described that they felt like watercolor paintings, images that I believe will stick with me for a while. 

The worldbuilding deserves praise as well. Some of my favorite parts were sections where the author dropped in details of the world and its history that were tantalizing but never fully explained, just mentioned in passing, given an extra sense of depth to the world behind the pages. Those details really make me hope that there will be more from the author written in this  same world someday.

Also, the hive mind aspect was what originally drew me to this book, and I was not disappointed in the slightest. The exploration of its consequences was fascinating the whole way through.

Theo

This is one of those books that, while it is a 5 star for me, I would be picky about who I recommend it to -- not because of anything controversial about it, it's just a very specific vibe that's only going to work with certain tastes. But if you have those tastes, then boy does it WORK. The eloquence of it is stunning; there were certain scenes so perfectly described that they felt like watercolor paintings, images that I believe will stick with me for a while. 

The worldbuilding deserves praise as well. Some of my favorite parts were sections where the author dropped in details of the world and its history that were tantalizing but never fully explained, just mentioned in passing, given an extra sense of depth to the world behind the pages. Those details really make me hope that there will be more from the author written in this  same world someday.

Also, the hive mind aspect was what originally drew me to this book, and I was not disappointed in the slightest. The exploration of its consequences was fascinating the whole way through.

second half lost me a little BUT a fascinating read if you want gothic horror scifi, SO dark and strange, medical, set in a post-apocalyptic renewed far future world, queer, explorations on humanity, a couple horror scenes that genuinely made me recoil

(the publisher/blurbs comp gideon the ninth and i wouldnt recommend it PER SE to tlt fans but i think if you appreciate what tlt does with genre you would appreciate this)

Unique and quite strange but it was enjoyable for the most part. Definitely a slower read.

Gabriella Lanouette &
Leech by Hiron Ennes

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Gabriella Lanouette &Leech by Hiron Ennes

Reviews

Join the club

Gabriella Lanouette &
Leech by Hiron Ennes