Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

Nat Cassidy is at his razor-sharp best again with his horror novel Nestlings, which harnesses the creeping paranoia of Rosemary’s Baby and the urban horror of ‘Salem’s Lot, set in an exclusive New York City residential building.

Ana and Reid need a break. The horrifically complicated birth of their first child has left Ana paralyzed, bitter, and struggling―with mobility, with her relationship with Reid, with resentment for her baby. Reid dismisses disturbing events and Ana’s deep unease and paranoia, but he can’t explain the needle-like bite marks on their baby.

Goodreads Synopsis

Overall Rating

5/5

Spooky Rating

3/5

Quick Take

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy it at once a heartbreaking, terrifying, and gross horror novel that combines both Rosemary’s Baby and Salem’s Lot in a wholly original way. At this point I am positive that Nat Cassidy is a master of the horror novel, and I will read anything he releases!

Tell Me More 

Earlier in 2023, I read Mary by Nat Cassidy and was completely blown away by it. It was scary, original, insightful, and the writing was captivating. I was so mesmerized by it that I immediately picked up Cassidy’s second novel, Nestlings, upon its release. I am not usually fond of horror that follows the elements of the classic, Rosemary’s Baby, but Nestlings converted me. It was impeccable.

Nestlings follows Ana and Reid, a couple who recently had a baby. The birth left Ana paralyzed, and a large part of the novel focuses on her conflicting feelings for and about her baby due to the injuries that she suffered. The couple is given the opportunity to live in a low-income apartment in an old apartment building in New York City, but they soon discover that their “fortune” of being offered the apartment is more of a nightmare. Their baby begins acting differently, and something is off about the high-class residents in the building. But that is only the tip of the iceberg.

For this novel, Cassidy invented a unique take on the vampire mythos. His monsters were scary and gross, and I was utterly intrigued. The way he created such vivid imagery was mesmerizing, and it completely wormed its way under my skin. The story itself was atmospheric and haunting, with many a cringe factor, and I tore through its pages. For a shorter novel, there was so much horror packed within its pages that there was hardly any time to breathe. It was magnificent.  

If you are looking for an original horror story that features elements of classic horror, look no further than Nestlings by Nat Cassidy. You will not be disappointed!