SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
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Wolf Worm
Group Reads Discussions 2026
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"Wolf Worm" Discuss Everything *Spoilers*
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1. What did you think of the world?I like historical fiction, especially when it is like this. I was weary at first when I realized it was recent US civil war. This past year I accidentally read two set in that time and totally ignored slavery, (WTF). I like that she showed an interracial couple in that time and a glimpse of what they faced. Also the nod to all the women (wives and daughters) that aided or even completely did the academic work of their male family members.
Also, I liked how Kingfisher presented a non fantastical world then introduced the fantasy.
2. What did you think of the characters?
Loved that the REAL monsters are humans, isn’t that just the facts. I know this isn’t a “new” take but I enjoy the trope. And usually where human monsters roam, there are incredible humans too.
3. What worked or didn't for you?
I have some primal fear of some insects so I was worried, although I was grossed out, especially that first scene where she finally discovered was in the shed, I was able to read it all! I wonder if I would be desensitized if I had to draw them over and over. Luckily I have no talent for drawing! 🤣
When Sonia is kidnapped, I was surprised Rose and Jackson would trust Phelps at all about searching for Sonia, I found that unbelievable and expected for Rose or Rose sending Jackson do more looking for her.
4. Overall thoughts?
I know some readers in the club are not a huge fans of Kingfisher, so this is coming from someone that generally enjoys her books (I’ve read mostly her fantasy, this is my second horror book by author), I really liked it. It drew me in immediately and even though I have little concentration right now, it kept me engaged. I liked the slow burn horror. Thought the vampire was interesting (more humanity than humans; Asa Phelps was the Devil the whole time of course) and the whole they are born of women visceral - like humans birth that which consumes them. I was SURPRISED Louisa was still alive, honestly thought Halder had killed her but everyone thought she “ran away” -
I agree with Nicol on several points: I very much appreciated that TK acknowledged the political tension of the time and place she was writing about. She's pretty good about that kind of thing. I also really liked that she SUPPORTED Wilson's anti-racism throughout the book, talking about her father's teachings and philosophy and that she wasn't just this unicorn of anti-racism for modern readers to identify with. Also agree that I liked the call out of the work women put in to academic publications, often uncredited.
Though I did wonder about the scene where the Kents were worried about their marriage being discovered. Like, they have the same name, and all live in the same small community, and this man works with the man they both work for. There are 7 named and present characters in this story. I find it extremely unlikely that it wouldn't already be well known. I feel like that this scene was added just to raise the tension and dislike of Phelps. But it just stuck out to me.
I also agree that I really liked the "monsters are the humans" aspect. And I like that she subtly called out the "for science" justification of inhumane and horrific experiments. I wish that had been a little more pointed though, by which I mean, it was presented as mainly stemming from his desire to punish Saul, and simply having the perfect opportunity because of what he was. But I think he'd have kept anyone down there if he thought he could without being caught. He probably very much regretted that slavery had been abolished, because it meant that he didn't have a ready stream of test subjects. (Though, let's be real, he still could have, had his means been his own. I think the only reasons he didn't go that route was he didn't need to because he had Saul, and before that, Louisa would have refused.)
I also very much agree about the visceral shudder reactions I had while reading this book. I used to be terrified of spiders and insects, especially flying ones, and have worked hard to get past that. Then I go and read a book about flesh-burrowing, intelligent, flying insects, and OMG WHY.
No, I'm still good. I'm good. Bugs are beneficial. Bugs are our friends. Acquaintances, actually. Frenemies? :P
Anyway, things I didn't like...
I felt like it took FOREVER to get to the point, especially for a book this short. I feel like this would have worked better for me as a novella. Cut out 100 pages from a 247 page book, and presto change-o! It works a lot better.
I was also super frustrated with Sonia's inner monologue. She's intelligent and competent and observant and a critical thinker... so every time she was like "I see this thing, but that thing must be impossible!" I wanted to slap her. You have eyes, you have a brain. Those things are telling you that it is NOT impossible. STOP IT.
But even before it was revealed that Saul was... different, I was still like, "yeah, sure, he's keeping people down there for experiments. He brings them enough food and water to keep them alive, and doesn't care if they get rickets, SONIA." Honestly, I expected for LOUISA to be the person in the shed, because everyone thought that Saul had died. Then when it was revealed to be Saul, I still thought there was another room or something where she'd find Louisa. There's a sound-proof and escape-proof torture shed on property? Yeah, they are in there. I was 100% sure and I was internally screaming that Sonia was not on my wavelength. LOL
I disagree with Nicol on Phelps being the devil though. In my mind, it'd be Halder that is the devil, if such a creature must be named that. In reality, he's just an unethical, immoral, and opportunistic sociopath. Phelps was just his lackey. Every monster needs one.
In my mind, Saul was the 'Devil' aka vampire. Nothing made me wonder otherwise. I'm terrified of spiders and buzzing in my ears, but the insect thing didn't scare me. A few scenes were a little creepy though.
I wished for a more disturbing ending. Louisa safe and sound all along? A 'kind' vampire who wasn't manipulating bugs to feed himself...
The inner monologue thing was atleast more bearable than The Hollow Places.
I'd like to know why the Possum was not going after the shed? Did I miss something??
Otherwise, I did get into and was actually enjoying it, until the ending.
Michelle wrote: "In my mind, Saul was the 'Devil' aka vampire. Nothing made me wonder otherwise. "To Phelps? For sure. But I think that the point TK was making was that Saul's actions (falling in love with a married woman, and simply being "different") were far less "devilish" than the actions inflicted upon him by the "good" men of god and science.
Regarding the possum, I think that that was at the beginning of the botfly's hivemind attempt to induce the animals to feed Saul, because Saul was trying to starve himself to death. It said that there was a small pile of animal carcasses, and a minor smell of decay, and I believe that Sonia had guessed that it was only a short time's worth of bodies. So, it was trying to induce animals to sacrifice themselves, but likely the possum didn't have good directions on where to go, but the imperative was driving it regardless.
Yes Becky frenemies!!!!! 🤣 As for Phelps being the devil I meant he’s always go on about the devil in the woods and he’s seen the devil, etc but he was the devil really 🤣. Totally true about Halder but I assumed Halder isn’t using religion to fearmonger or justify his actions, in his own mind he doesn’t need to, like Becky said a psychopath. I also thought Louisa might be in the shed or might be supernatural, at one point I thought she was like trapped in the creepy raccoon 🤣. I read the Hollow Places but don’t recall the inner dialogue. It does annoy me too when the MC is seeing something then goes on a lengthy inner dialogue to convince themselves they didn’t. It works in psychological thrillers where the narrator is unreliable otherwise I’m just screaming at the MC in my own head 🤣
The possum scene was frightening then grotesque with body and removing 🤮 but yeah I didn’t understand the why besides scaring everybody. But the scariest thing of all was the year long torture of Saul, so disturbing and then he always seemed pretty happy, making jokes. I guess everyone copes differently 🤷🏻♀️
I stand corrected, I think with The Hollow Places it was lots of discussion between 2 people about what had/might have happened (it was a while ago).I can kind of understand though if Phelps/Dr Halder were genuinely afraid/concerned of the risks of the blood thief (considering a fair few people had been killed by blood thieves)... I mean comparing a blood thief killer (how they may have percieved) and wife taker, to torture by botflies in the name of research... they kind of balance out a bit on the devil scales no?
I'm just playing Devils advocate ;)
I agree, Dr H was not a nice person.
The Possum scene was a bit creepy, but seeing as it was just a confused botfly/hive, that takes the creepiness away for me. I was hoping it was Saul controlling it to kill or something, because he'd lost the plot... maybe turned from a 'good' blood thief to a bad and crazy one, partly because of other people's misperceptions, which would have added an ironic and sad tone, instead of the happy ever after type ending.
I am one of those people who has not really enjoyed T. Kingfisher's writing in the past, in particular her fairy tell retellings, but I really enjoyed this. Some of it felt a little tropey, like Dr Halder as the insensitive, overly detached scientist and Phelps as the fire and brimstone Christian, and the themes weren't not very deep or original, but overall it was a fun read. I actually didn't mind the beginning being a bit slow--a lot of contemporary gothic horror is like that, so I'm just used it. I felt the ending could have been more succinct though. I like my horror novels to end fast and tidy.
I felt like I was watching a horror movie with Sonia investigating the shed. I kept screaming for her not to go inside. It was a crazy thing to do without any backup. I know that it led to Saul's release, but it was still a dangerous gambit on her part. The book also makes you wonder about scientific endeavors, especially when it comes to unwilling participants. How far should people go when it comes to science?
It also makes you wonder about following your intuition. Sonia knew that things were wrong with Halder and the religious guy; however, she pursued her curiosity. I know a part of it has to do with scientific endeavor, but if something doesn't seem right, it may be time to listen to your gut and leave.
I also like that the novel dealt with bugs. They creep me out lol
Mod
The thread keeps circling the idea that Saul is less monstrous than the men imprisoning him. Did the happish ending strengthen that reversal for you, or did it make the cost of the experiment feel too easy to escape?
Imre wrote: "The thread keeps circling the idea that Saul is less monstrous than the men imprisoning him. Did the happish ending strengthen that reversal for you, or did it make the cost of the experiment feel ..."Melanie, it wasn't any better reading it at night. *shudder* The icky factor of the infestation was just so creepy. I felt like I needed to take a bleach bath every time I put this book down.
Imre, not sure if that question was only directed at Melanie, but for me, Saul definitely was less monstrous than those imprisoning him. He can't help his nature and biology, but he can choose to do as little harm to meet his needs as possible, which, based on what we know, he does. That is not true of Halder or Phelps. They didn't care about the harm they caused, and in fact I think enjoyed it, because they felt entitled to the knowledge the experimentation would garner, and to revenge for the affair.
Thanks, Becky — it was open to everyone. I think your distinction between nature and choice is exactly what makes Saul feel less monstrous: his need is biological, while Halder and Phelps choose cruelty. Halder uses jealousy and science to justify what he does, while Phelps lets fear and religious certainty convince him to take part. I’m still torn about the ending, though. Does giving Saul and Louisa a future restore some of what was taken from them, or does it let the book move past the lasting cost of his captivity too quickly?
Imre wrote: "Thanks, Becky — it was open to everyone. I think your distinction between nature and choice is exactly what makes Saul feel less monstrous: his need is biological, while Halder and Phelps choose cr..."I felt like Saul was nonchalant about his captivating, sure he was mad enough but he also seemed well adjusted, if that makes sense. I said it before but I really thought Louisa was dead. Kingfisher gave us a hopeful, almost cozy ending which seemed different than the creepy bug horror from before that. But I guess I am happy in the end, I did hope the best for them, I just didn't expect it.
I think the book moves past the cost of captivity way too quickly. After years of torture, Saul turns out to be a well-rounded nice guy vampire who doesn't question his own ethics? No lasting trauma? Not even a spell of his 'nature' becoming a bit uncontrollable, in the dishing out of perhaps a few more hanging bodies of the unsuspecting public? The 'research' didn't ironically turn him into the beast they perceived? Not even for a little bit? Hmmm
Nicol wrote: "Imre wrote: "Thanks, Becky — it was open to everyone. I think your distinction between nature and choice is exactly what makes Saul feel less monstrous: his need is biological, while Halder and Phe..."That makes sense. What struck me too was how composed Saul seemed after everything he had endured, and how he could still joke. For me, the almost cozy ending did lessen the horror a little: the experience did not seem to leave as deep a mark on him as I expected, so some of the earlier dread lost its weight. Did the hopeful ending have that effect on you too, or did the contrast make the horror stronger?
Michelle wrote: "I think the book moves past the cost of captivity way too quickly. After years of torture, Saul turns out to be a well-rounded nice guy vampire who doesn't question his own ethics? No lasting traum..."I think that's entirely the point though. His refusal to be what he was seen as (a monster) makes the CHOICE of Halder that much more monstrous. Saul isn't an animal who operates on instinct for survival - he's a human with a bit different physiology and dietary needs. His humanity is the important bit - even after his captivity and prolonged torture, he retains it, retains a sense of humor (if a morbid one lol), where Halder never showed any humanity to begin with. I think that this is because he knows that he can and will bounce back quickly once he gets free. And once Sonia appears, the chance of that increases.
Even when he was captive, he exerted his will to starve himself to death. He didn't want to consume the animals that fed him - they were compelled to nourish him, and therefore the "colony", by the parasite exerting its control over them. Rather than submit to his baser instincts, he controls and rejects them.
To me, Saul's ethics weren't in question, those who kept him captive and used him for their own purposes were.
That being said, I do think that the book did gloss over the PTSD that should have been with a "happily ever after" ending.
I get all of that, and there’s no argument about Halder’s monstrous behaviour. It’s just a bit too clear-cut ‘Halder bad, Saul nice’ for me. I would have liked to see Saul really, really questioning his own choice to maintain his own good ethics. The ending makes him almost too admirable. A little bit of PTSD may have impacted on his will for humanity and, oddly enough, that may have made him more ‘human’ to me.
Yeah, I do like a conflicted character, so I can agree with you on that. It probably would have made him less “perfect”.
1. What did you think of the world?
2. What did you think of the characters?
3. What worked or didn't for you?
4. Overall thoughts?