by Hiron Ennes
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.
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.
Reviews-
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Starred review from July 4, 2022
Emotionally complex, wildly inventive, and full of squirming terror, Ennes’s debut begins when the doctor assigned to the Château de Verdira dies under mysterious circumstances. The Interprovincial Medical Institute sends another of their own to replace him. The nameless protagonist arrives on a mission to discover how the previous doctor died while harboring one of the biggest secrets in this postapocalyptic world: the Institute is not only a medical association. It’s a hivemind of parasites that have systemically taken over the minds and bodies of every human medical professional to fulfill a mandate to protect and care for the human race—who have proven incapable of doing so themselves. The death of the chateau’s previous doctor marks the first time the Institute’s lost a body without remembering how. As the protagonist discovers it’s not the only parasite within the chateau’s walls, both the health of the chateau’s residents and the ironclad hold the Institute has on its hosts begin to crumble. Ennes builds a postapocalyptic world with an expansive history and innumerable creeping horrors hiding in its shadows. The author’s greatest strength is in narrative voice, rendering the Institute’s hivemind with laser precision. This is a must-read for readers looking for something new from the horror genre. Agent: Alexander Cochran, C&W. - Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl So much more than the horror story it may sound like. This is The Thing meets The Alienist, and to call it merely horror is a disservice . . . So unique and utterly assured, I will follow this writer anywhere going forward.
- Tamsyn Muir, author of Gideon the Ninth A wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights . . . with worms!
- Tade Thompson, author of Rosewater Leech isn't like anything I've read before. Superb writing, interesting and fresh ideas, skilful execution. Highly recommended. I'll be reading anything Hiron Ennes writes from now on
- Tim Lebbon, author of The Silence What a unique book! Surprising turns and staggering ideas – all woven together by beautiful writing. This is one to remember
- Cassandra Khaw, author of Nothing But Blackened Teeth I didn't know a book could perfectly convey the concept of a distributed intelligence, alive and aware of each of its proxies, but Leech is proof anything is possible in good hands
- Peter Watts, author of Blindsight If you've ever wondered what would happen if David Cronenberg and Edgar Allen Poe bumped into each other at the same parasitological conference, here's your answer
- Brom, author of the Sandman Slim series Ennes spins classic Gothic horror and fascinating science fiction into a creation that is disturbing, horrifying, and impossible to turn away from
- Django Wexler, author of The Shadow Campaigns series Leech is wonderful, with a truly unique protagonist, a goeey, squicky post-apocalyptic setting, and a dose of Gormenghast gothic. Perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and The Traitor
- Kameron Hurley, author of The Light Brigade A tense, disturbing work of Gothic horror that embraces difficult themes of power, abuse, agency and raw survival in an unforgettably apocalyptic setting. Gory, shocking, raw – and utterly humane
- The Times Hiron Ennes's debut is an intricate, well-observed marooned-community thriller
- Financial Times Uniquely compelling
