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Leech cover art

Leech

By: Hiron Ennes
Narrated by: Abigail Thorn
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Summary

In the baron’s icebound castle, a parasite is spreading . . . From Hiron Ennes, Leech is an atmospheric Gothic horror, perfect for fans of Jeff VanderMeer and Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

'Unique and utterly assured, I will follow this writer anywhere' – Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl


In an isolated chateau, as far north as north goes, the baron’s doctor has died. The Interprovincial Medical Institute sends out a replacement. But when the new physician investigates the cause of death, which appears to be suicide, there’s a mystery to solve. It seems the good doctor was hosting a parasite. Yet this should have been impossible, as the physician was already possessed – by the Institute.

The Institute is here to help humanity, to cure and to cut, to cradle and protect the species from the horrors their ancestors unleashed. For hundreds of years, it has taken root in young minds and shaped them into doctors, replacing every human practitioner of medicine. But now there’s competition. For in the baron’s cold castle, already a pit of secrets and lies, the parasite is spreading . . .

These two enemies will make war within the battlefield of the body. Whichever wins, will humanity lose again?

‘A wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights . . . with worms!’ – Tamsyn Muir, author of Gideon the Ninth

Featured in The Times Best Sci-Fi Books and Winner of The Sydney J. Bounds Award for Best Newcomer at the British Fantasy Awards 2023.

©2022 Hiron Ennes (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

Leech isnt like anything Ive read before. Superb writing, interesting and fresh ideas, skilful execution. Highly recommended. I’ll be reading anything Hiron Ennes writes from now on (Tade Thompson, author of Rosewater)

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Strange and unique

The story told from a perspective of a hive-min parasite in a sort off Gloom card game setting. Chaotic, bizarre and miserable with a hopeful look in the end. And the performance is beyond amazing.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Bit hit and miss

The themes the story threatens to explore are interesting. Buy it doesn't really go anywhere with any of them.

Sprinkling just enough world building and history to keep you interested is fine. But the story doesn't reslly resolve much of anything. It just kind of meanders around at the edges of being compelling.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A bit of a let down

Great premise and promising first half quickly faded. The performance was one of the poorer in here, I would like to go back and read the book as it felt some bits were overly dramatic when they didn’t need to be, and the drama of the speech didn’t match the dialogue. Ultimately tue ideas are fantastic it just drifted into nothingness by the end

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Good narrator, poor writing

The narrator for me is the only reason I made it to the end.

The world building and characters are never explained or given context. I failed to care about any of the characters meaning the book mostly felt like a slog to the end.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I don’t think I can finish this

It started out well I enjoyed the narrator but now I can’t stop hearing her pronounce wwhhat and wwhy like Stewie from Family Guy and it’s driving me crazy 🤪

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