Leech

(Hardback)

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'A wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights . . . with worms!' - Tamsyn Muir, author of Gideon the Ninth 'Highly recommended. I'll be reading anything Hiron Ennes writes from now on' - Tade Thompson, author of Rosewater 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 icebound 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 Leech by Hiron Ennes is an atmospheric Gothic triumph, perfect for fans of Jeff VanderMeer and Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Reviews

So much more than the horror story it may sound like. Ennes has created a world that's fully realized and disturbingly believable, a place both futuristic in its environmental disasters but Victorian in its manners and ways. This is The Thing meets The Alienist, and to call it merely horror is a disservice, as it's beautifully written and so strangely humane one feels empathy for a virus struggling, like all the humans about it, to survive. So unique and utterly assured, I will follow this writer anywhere going forward -- Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl
A wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights . . . with worms! -- Tamsyn Muir, author of Gideon the Ninth
Leech isnt like anything Ive read before. Superb writing, interesting and fresh ideas, skilful execution. Highly recommended. Ill be reading anything Hiron Ennes writes from now on -- Tade Thompson
What a unique book! Surprising turns and staggering ideas all woven together by beautiful writing. This is one to remember -- Tim Lebbon
I didnt 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 -- Cassandra Khaw
If youve ever wondered what would happen if David Cronenberg and Edgar Allen Poe bumped into each other at the same parasitological conference, heres your answer -- Peter Watts
Ennes spins classic Gothic horror and fascinating science fiction into a creation that is disturbing, horrifying, and impossible to turn away from -- Brom
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 -- Django Wexler
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 -- Kameron Hurley
Part of me admires the sheer level of craft that Ennes put into this book, but another part of me feels it must surely have been unearthed, whole and eerie and throbbing, in a box in a dark attic. Gothically bloody, beautifully written, and sharp as a scalpel to the amygdala. I loved it -- Freya Marske
Hiron Ennes's debut is an intricate, well-observed marooned-community thriller -- The Times
Uniquely compelling -- Financial Times
Fans of gothic horror will find a lot to love . . . Hiron Ennes juxtaposes cosily old-fashioned gothic imagery, such as snowy fields and cavernous castles, with genuinely shocking bouts of body horror . . . It's delightfully malignant, prompting questions about who the villain really is, and making Leech feel even more ambiguous and alluring -- SFX

Author Bio

Hiron Ennes is a writer, musician and student of medicine based in the Pacific Northwest. Their areas of interest include infectious disease, pathology and anticapitalist healthcare reform. When they're not hunched over a microscope or Word document they can be found playing in the snow or playing the harp (though usually not at the same time). They're queer in every sense of the word, and they really want to pet your dog. Leech is their first novel.