I don’t always read gothic psychologically thrilling dark academia sci-fi horror romance but when I do, I like it with shrooms. Preferably glowing ones.

And this delivered.

Firstly, fungi. They fascinate me. Something to do with them being neither plant, nor animal and sitting somewhere between beauty + decay, life + death. If mushrooms fascinate you too, you’re probably also going to appreciate this story.

Secondly, Grave Matter nails the experience of ADHD in ways that feel authentic which tracks, since author Karina Halle identifies as having it too. Sydney Denik, the FMC’s descriptions of time blindness, object impermanence and the impossibility of “just not worrying about something” felt accurate and I felt seen.

[Brief tangent, because what’s ADHD without a tangent: ADHD in women is chronically misunderstood. Too often we get slapped with co-curring diagnoses or even misdiagnosis instead of being taken seriously. We’re tired. Please don't gaslight us. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.]

Thirdly, I’ve been on hiatus from psychological thrillers for years now, because I’m too familiar with the formula and know what’s going to happen... possibly a bit of enhanced pattern recognition going on there. But I think it’s worth mentioning that while I could anticipate the twists in Grave Matter, it still worked for me.

That's because the mild horror, romance and gothic tones really set it apart from just your average cookie cutter psychological thriller. Set on a remote fog-shrouded island (my favourite), the uncanny and ominous atmosphere also has the thrill of never quite knowing what’s real. So if you’re someone who avoids psychological thrillers because you have genre fatigue, this one might pleasantly surprise you with its genre mish mash.

Finally, and for what it’s worth, I normally avoid student-teacher romances, especially if they have an uncomfortable power imbalance, but I didn’t hate this one at all. The spice is BDSM spicy and there may or may not be a scene within a patch of iridescent mushrooms.

Shoutout to the raven named Poe, 10/10, would hang out. Needed more scenes.

Would I recommend this? Yes! It made me remember why I love strange, genre-bending books that aren’t afraid to take risks, and also realise I need more mushrooms and botany in my fiction (running to read Mexican Gothic asap).

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Metal Blonde Books for the “advanced” review copy. Advanced in commas because this has been out for a year or something, and this sat in my backlog too long. That was a mistake, but better late than never.

Content warnings:
For all my fellow animal lovers, please be aware that there is animal death and animal cruelty in this one. Other triggers warnings I caught were deaths, death of a loved one (off-page/mentioned), violence, suicide (off-page), murder, medical content, gaslighting, grief, gore, body horror, Alzheimer's (mentioned), torture, sexual content.

Going into this book, I already knew from friends that it was going to be confusing, dark, and a little unsettling—and it absolutely lived up to that. The story kept me guessing from start to finish, and the ending completely blew me away because everything I thought was happening was totally off-base. For much of the book, I honestly believed the characters were either dead or experiencing some sort of hallucination, but the truth turned out to be even stranger—and in the most fascinating ways. The twists and layers made the story addictive and deeply engaging.

What really stood out, though, was the vivid, atmospheric writing. I usually have a hard time visualizing what I read, but here the descriptions were so immersive I could picture everything perfectly. From the fog rolling over the ground to the seaplane dock leading up to the buildings, to their walks through the woods and the hike they take together, every scene was detailed and lifelike. The characters had depth, and the layered storytelling made the entire island setting feel alive. If you want a book that keeps you guessing, makes you question what’s real, and draws you into a haunting, atmospheric world, this is an absolute must-read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was the perfect kick off to my annual fall spooky reading season, and while the author mentions this in her acknowledgements section, it’s definitely a book for fans of T Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead and Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic, and a dash of The Last of Us.

I was invested in the story right away and didn’t see the twists and turns coming at all, and one of the highest compliments I can give is that I didn’t care to try to figure them out. I was enjoying the ride and delighted to be on the journey that Halle was taking me on.

Tropes:
Professor (Dr) x Student (patient)
Slow Burn
Isolated PNW Setting
Haunted Forest
Morally Gray
Women in STEM

Psychological gothic dark academia romantic thriller

I didn’t love but I didn’t hate this book by any means. I enjoyed it but I also feel like it dragged on at some parts.

Admittedly, I thought I had downloaded this book and discovered past the archive date that I had not. It took me a while to track down a copy of this one from my local library but I finally received a copy to read for this review.

Ultimately, I did not finish this book but want to provide my feedback nonetheless. The premise of this novel, a gothic environmental horror/dark romance, is one I have had the experience of reading before so I was excited to give this a shot. I loved the atmospheric setting of this isolated island with natural fungi and marine life around that is being studied by a very privately funded group. My first issue was the pacing, the beginning felt almost as if I had missed something, it begins very abruptly on the island with little to no background. I also took issue with the very intense instant love connection between the FMC and her professor/therapist. The supernatural aspect that were introduced before I stopped reading felt abruptly introduced with no real explanation or breakdown of the magic system. Overall, the story was reading chaotically and clunky and it really distracted me. I did look up some more information about this to determine if I wanted to continue and ultimately, upon realizing that the dark romance trope would be continuing as a large focus of the book, I decided this book was not for me.

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book.

Grave Matter is the perfectly creepy book for the Halloween season. Sydney Denik flies to Vancouver to work at the Madrona Foundation on Alzheimer's research and soon discovers very strange things going on. She doesn't know what is real or if she's hallucinating. She is very drawn to professor Wes Kincaid and he seems to be just as obsessed with her. I knew there would be a twist at the end but wasn't quite sure what to expect. Grave Matter is far more "spicy" than what I usually read but the story-line was great and I enjoyed it very much.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 23 October 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)

I thought Grave Matter was an okay read. I really liked the dark, macabre vibe—it had that eerie atmosphere Karina Halle does so well. The twists were enjoyable, even if I found them a bit predictable at times.

Overall, it kept my attention and I appreciated the creepy, haunting tone, but it didn’t completely wow me. A solid, middle-of-the-road read.

delicious gothic psychological thriller. Be sure to read the trigger warnings. This book is written well and a good read.

This book was the perfect blend of gothic horror romance & psychological thriller. There were parts where I was creeped out, but there was no way I could have put the book down! The crazy science experiments had me wide-eyed & my jaw was on the floor with the twist that was thrown in! I was scared for Sydney and just wanted to help her! The ending was perfect for this book! Very well written book, I will definitely be reading more from this author!

I highly recommend going into this book without reading too many reviews. It had some nice surprises that I would hate to see ruined for anyone.

The basic summary of this story is that a group of college/grad students have been invited to help with research over the summer in a deserted area known for its fungi. The foundation that has hired them is supposed to be having groundbreaking success in discovering the cure for Alzheimers. When our main character, Sydney arrives on Vancouver Island, there are some strange events that happen and make her nervous but she has nowhere else to go so she decides it's in her best interest to carry on. However things only become more strange.

I really enjoy Karina Halle's writing style and I thought she really shone through in Grave Matter.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I have to say I put this book down SOOOO many times because I felt like I couldn’t get into it but when I sat myself down and read it it was shockingly good. So give it like 7 chapters lol. This is a unique story with flora and fauna that change what you think you know about everything and everyone.

What a wild ride of a book.
This book had a lot of interwoven stories that came together to wrap up this weird and wonderfully fascinating novel.
This book definitely took some unexpected turns and felt more like a dark fantasy than a romance novel.
I don’t know if this novel was for me, but I can definitely see the interest behind it.
And I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it so that’s a positive.

⭐⭐⭐½ – 4 ⭐

Grave Matter was such a haunting blend of dark romance and thriller—exactly the mix I love! Karina Halle’s writing drew me in right away, and I was completely sold the moment I saw that stunning cover. The setting is wonderfully eerie: an isolated research lodge on foggy Vancouver Island, layered with unsettling details like ghosts, snow falling in summer, and twisted secrets that kept me guessing. I loved the morally grey characters, the slow unraveling of what’s real vs. madness, and the tension-filled romance with the enigmatic psychologist. It’s dark, atmospheric, and delightfully creepy—a unique story that fans of darker thrillers and gothic romance will likely devour.

*Thank you to NetGalley for gifting this ARC!*

WHOA. WHAT A RIDE!
I don't think my heart stopped racing throughout the entire book.
Througout the entirety of the book, I had to keep reminding myself "it's not real. This is a fiction book." Because the way Karina Halle wrote some of the scenes, in the forest especially, I felt like I was Sydney. That I couldn't grasp the horror in front of me.
I knew Wes was gonna be so pivotal to this book with they way he kept tabs on Sydney!
SO SO SO GOOD!!!

If you have ever been to a somewhat desolate island research station (which I have) Karina Halle captures those vibes perfectly in Grave Matter. Follow aspiring mycologist Sydney as she hopes to leave behind her less than perfect life as she heads for a fog shrouded research station hoping it will give her a new hope for the life still ahead of her. what she doesn't realize is that the Madrona Foundation that is hiding a lot more than in the fog than just its research. The longer Sydney spends here the more she begins to question everything; what she sees, what she hears, even what she dreams and feels, where the lines between real and unreal get foggier everyday. This is the perfect rainy day read to keep you on the edge of your seat!

"Aspiring mycoloist Sydney Denis is getting a second chance. When a dream opportunity presents itself with a prestigious foundation doing promising Alzheimer's research, Sydney leaves the shambles of her old life to join a dozen other grad students at an isolated lodge hidden away in a remote, fog-shrouded inlet on Vancouver Island. "

This was everything I want out of a gothic horror/romance. Very spooky and atmospheric with great writing and lots of twists and turns.

This one is DARK. If you are into dark romance or romance with a horror element, this one is for you. Talk about a rollercoaster of plot twists and insane gut wrenching moments. If you get easily spooked, read this one during the day.

That being said, the romance element of this one pairs nicely with the horror plot. It was enjoyable and keeps you on the edge of your seat. You have a feeling of general unease and foreboding for the majority of the book. But - don't we all just love something thst makes us a little uncomfortable sometimes?

I came across #GraveMatter by #KarinaHalle after reading another book What Moves The Dead which also has to do with Fungi. Of course the idea of these organisms being able to do things we have never imagined is fascinating. So I was very much looking forward to reading this.

First off the book really truly is very good but it is a slow start. I almost DNF'd it more than once but I kept looking at the other reviews and several mentioned that it was a slow start but then it really picks up traction so I figured why not keep going and I am sooo thrilled that I did.

Syd has landed the chance of a lifetime being offered a spot with the Madrona company. Finding herself transported to a remote island with no outside intrusions she believes this is exactly where she will find her claim to fame. Of course she also hopes it will take while for them to find out that her scholarship from her school has been revoked and because of that she really shouldn't even be there. At least that's what she thinks until she lays eyes on the sexy Professor Kincaid.
She finds herself drawn into his orbit immediately and gets the feeling that maybe she somehow knows him. Not long after arriving though she begins to feel as if she is losing her mind.

She hears her name being whispered in the dark, someone stands outside her apartment window at night watching her. She believes she is seeing the ghosts of those that have died on the property and worst of all she swears that corpse's aren't staying dead.

Is she losing it or does Madrona Pharmaceuticals have something to hide?

I would like to thank #Netgalley for the chance to read #GraveMatter by #KarinaHalle in return for a fair and honest review.

3.5 ⭐️

The book started solid. I was intrigued and I wanted to keep reading and know what would happen.
I do think the story dragged a little mid-book, but then it picked up again and I was hooked once more. As a woman in STEM I loved the representation and the unique aspect of the story. The author clearly did her research, which I also appreciate.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC. I LOVED this book. It was creepy and moody, and the scientific aspect of the story fully drew me in. I was absolutely onboard for the romance, and the plot kept me guessing for most of the book. Would highly recommend!!!