I would like to take this opportunity to correct a major regret in my life. Well, actually that’s an exaggeration, as this is more of a minor one. Last year, I took an extended break from blogging, and during that time, I read a fantastic work of horror called What Moves the Dead, the first book of T. Kingfisher’s “Sworn Soldier” series. I hated that I never reviewed it, but now I have a chance at redemption. I learned that the next book of the series is out, so in preparation I’ve reread What Moves the Dead. This retelling of the classic “The Fall of the House of Usher” serves as a great introduction to the works of T. Kingfisher, who manages to blend contemporary elements into a story that retains the Gothic feel of the original tale.
Alex Easton, a retired lieutenant and war veteran, receives a disturbing letter one day from an old friend, Madeline Usher, who says she is dying and asks Easton to come and visit her. Easton arrives at the Usher mansion and is shocked to see the house and grounds in a terrible state of decay. Conditions are no better inside, as both Madeline and her twin brother Roderick appear extremely emaciated. Also staying at the estate is Roderick’s American friend who is a physician attempting to determine the cause of Madeline’s decline. With the help of Eugenia Potter, an eccentric mycologist, and Easton’s servant Angus, Easton and Denton are determined to help their friends. But strangeness abounds in the house of Usher and the nearby lake, as the visitors begin to feel trapped by the odd events surrounding Madeline’s illness.
I’ve adored the great Edgar Allan Poe since childhood, so I was quite apprehensive about an author retelling one of his most famous tales. “The Fall of the House of Usher” is such an unsettling story, made more so by the fact that we are left with so many unanswered questions. The original leaves it to the readers to use their imaginations. Would a modern writer be able to capture that same Gothic style while also expanding the story in a satisfactory way? The answer is a resounding yes, as T. Kingfisher manages to tell a captivating story that feels like a work written over a century ago. The chilling atmosphere begins with the opening line:
“The mushroom’s gills were the deep-red color of severed muscle, the almost-violet shade that contrasts so dreadfully with the pale pink of viscera. I had seen it any number of times in dead deer and dying soldiers, but it startled me to see it here.”
There are so many wonderfully bizarre elements in What Moves the Dead. In order to avoid spoilers, I’ll try to be as vague as possible. First, fungi and mushrooms play a significant part in this story. While I’ve read plenty of horror stories that contain fungi, I appreciated how Kingfisher was able to use them in a completely unique way. Did I mention the hares? If you view them as sweet and fluffy, you may find yourself looking at them differently. The author manages to seep this novel with Gothic elements, such as the crumbling foundation of the Usher house with its peeling wallpaper, damp rooms, and creaky doors. But she adds some new features, such as a mysterious lake that glows at night.
Alex Easton is an extremely likeable protagonist. Born in a fictional European country called Gallacia with its own traditions, such as the use of seven different types of pronouns. Children and inanimate objects have their own pronouns. They even have unique pronouns for God! When you join the Gallacian army, you become “sworn: and give up your gender and thereafter use different pronouns. Easton, who is hinted at as non-binary even before joining the military, continues to use non-binary “ka” and “kan” pronouns.
The other characters in this story are just as engaging. Easton’s loyal friend and servant Angus is just a delight. The resident expert on fungi, Eugenia Potter, brings so much humor with her classic British stiff upper lip. The playful banter is so much fun, and there are some truly hilarious scenes, particularly at the expense of the American Denton. Kingfisher balances the frights and the humor with elegant and polished prose.
What Moves the Dead is fairly short and can be read in one sitting. In fact, I believe many will choose to complete it in one go because it is that mesmerizing. Kingfisher manages to draw you in with her captivating style of storytelling. While not all contemporary retellings do justice to the original works, this one manages to not only honor Poe’s tale but creates a thrilling story that you will want to read more than once. I did!
I Would Rather Be Reading 