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This Is My Body
A gripping, emotional, and darkly funny queer horror novel about family trauma and possession, for fans of Rachel Harrison and Catriona Ward.
Single gay mom Brigid always thought that cutting ties with her extremist Catholic family was the best thing she could have done for her daughter, Dylan—and for herself. But when Dylan starts having terrifying fits of unnatural violence, Brigid can’t shake her memories of a girl from her childhood who behaved the same way . . . until Brigid’s uncle, Father Angus, performed an exorcism.
Convinced that her daughter is suffering from demonic possession, Brigid does the thing she told herself she’d never she goes home. Father Angus is the worst person she knows, but he’s also the only person who can help her daughter.
But as Brigid starts to uncover secrets about Father Angus, that long-ago exorcism, and her family’s past, she realizes that she and Dylan have never been in more danger.
This Is My Body is a piercing journey into religious trauma and childhood shame, building towards a heart-pounding twisty climax that will spin your head all the way around.
Single gay mom Brigid always thought that cutting ties with her extremist Catholic family was the best thing she could have done for her daughter, Dylan—and for herself. But when Dylan starts having terrifying fits of unnatural violence, Brigid can’t shake her memories of a girl from her childhood who behaved the same way . . . until Brigid’s uncle, Father Angus, performed an exorcism.
Convinced that her daughter is suffering from demonic possession, Brigid does the thing she told herself she’d never she goes home. Father Angus is the worst person she knows, but he’s also the only person who can help her daughter.
But as Brigid starts to uncover secrets about Father Angus, that long-ago exorcism, and her family’s past, she realizes that she and Dylan have never been in more danger.
This Is My Body is a piercing journey into religious trauma and childhood shame, building towards a heart-pounding twisty climax that will spin your head all the way around.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2025
53 people are currently reading
6918 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay King-Miller
24 books77 followersLindsay King-Miller won the Colorado Young Authors Award in the second grade with a story that was blatantly ripped off from Goosebumps. Her influences have not changed much, although she’s become more sophisticated about their incorporation.
Lindsay earned a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona and an MFA in Writing & Poetics from Naropa University. She was the director of the Tucson Poetry Festival, founded the Tucson Poetry Slam, toured as a slam poet, taught composition and creative writing to middle school, high school, and college students, and wrote the popular advice column “Ask A Queer Chick.”
Her first book, Ask A Queer Chick: A Guide to Sex, Love, and Life for Girls who Dig Girls, was published by Plume in 2016.
Her personal essays and culture writing have appeared in Bitch Magazine, Glamour Magazine, Vice.com, Cosmopolitan.com, The Guardian, and many other publications in print and online. More recently, her fiction has appeared in Fireside Fiction, Baffling Magazine, and numerous other lit mags and anthologies.
Her debut novel The Z Word is forthcoming from Quirk Books in 2024. Lindsay is represented by Kate McKean at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about what she wishes she were writing. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her partner and their two children.
Lindsay earned a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona and an MFA in Writing & Poetics from Naropa University. She was the director of the Tucson Poetry Festival, founded the Tucson Poetry Slam, toured as a slam poet, taught composition and creative writing to middle school, high school, and college students, and wrote the popular advice column “Ask A Queer Chick.”
Her first book, Ask A Queer Chick: A Guide to Sex, Love, and Life for Girls who Dig Girls, was published by Plume in 2016.
Her personal essays and culture writing have appeared in Bitch Magazine, Glamour Magazine, Vice.com, Cosmopolitan.com, The Guardian, and many other publications in print and online. More recently, her fiction has appeared in Fireside Fiction, Baffling Magazine, and numerous other lit mags and anthologies.
Her debut novel The Z Word is forthcoming from Quirk Books in 2024. Lindsay is represented by Kate McKean at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about what she wishes she were writing. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her partner and their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
September 2, 2025
This was a great Possession story, including fantastic, absolutely toe-curling, Body Horror. Tongues, eyes, all the things, nothing was safe; just how I like it.
As an aside, I mistakenly believed this was YA, but it's definitely Adult. I'm not sure, I think there was just something about the cover that was saying YA to me.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
Original:
ARC received! Thank you, Quirk Books!!
As an aside, I mistakenly believed this was YA, but it's definitely Adult. I'm not sure, I think there was just something about the cover that was saying YA to me.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
Original:
ARC received! Thank you, Quirk Books!!
August 24, 2025
4.0 Stars
As someone who loves possession horror with a religious angle, the premise of this novel was right up my alley. As someone who grew up Catholic, I was immediately pulled with the elements involving the family history.
In terms of the other elements, I found the writing to be simple and the characters to be quite simple. With another plot, I likely wouldn't have enjoyed this novel as much.
I would recommend this to readers who share my love for this subgenre and aren't necessarily too particularly invested in prose or other literary style elements.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
As someone who loves possession horror with a religious angle, the premise of this novel was right up my alley. As someone who grew up Catholic, I was immediately pulled with the elements involving the family history.
In terms of the other elements, I found the writing to be simple and the characters to be quite simple. With another plot, I likely wouldn't have enjoyed this novel as much.
I would recommend this to readers who share my love for this subgenre and aren't necessarily too particularly invested in prose or other literary style elements.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
September 8, 2025
This is My Body by Lindsay King-Miller
3.85 rounded up to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮 orbs
Est. Pub. Date: Aug. 5, 2025
Bristlecone, Colorado
Orbs Prologue: I have existed longer than I care to remember. You have seen me, for I have proved useful. I am the perfect tool to oppress, torture, and restrain. I loop around my victim’s wrist, pulling taut against her struggles. Father Angus spitting the words “The Power of Christ compels you!” while simultaneously drenching the victim’s face in holy water. I remain composed, my braids tightening. My singular objective is to render you harmless. Dear reader, I am the rope that binds.
Brigid’s life is not going as planned. After giving birth to a daughter, she thought her life would be fulfilled. How could it not? Her partner has other visions. Left on her own, Brigid becomes a single mother to Dylan. Brigid is accustomed to challenges, for being a gay woman in an extremely conservative household has molded her into an adult with a fair amount of quirks. Who can blame her, really? Her mom was subservient to her brother Angus, whose tendencies bordered on the psychotic. Brigid’s childhood absence of self-discovery seemed self-ordained by the man of the cloth living under the very same roof.
Give credit where credit is due. Brigid’s parenting of Dylan seemed to be going well. Dylan was flourishing, or so it seemed until a small mishap at school demanded Brigid’s attention. An unconventional biting has occurred, and the result is Dylan having to take time away from the school premises. In the confines of their home, Brigid becomes fully aware of Dylan’s change in disposition. Her aggressive behavior and subsequent search for ritualistic remedies are proving to be more than Brigid can handle.
Author Lindsay King-Miller recreates a touch of The Exorcist with her own magnificent twists. King-Miller supplies readers with an intense glimpse at religious views and their negative impact on a child's psyche. In a modern display of real-life complexity, we might question the acceptance of religious factions regarding sexuality.
When I began the novel, I thought I had seen this story before, and in some regard, I was correct. Exorcism will always have a certain love affair within the horror genre. I experienced a solid plot divergence that, happily, separates itself from the standard homage to The Exorcist. As creepy as the stereotypical casting out of a demon seemed, it paled in comparison to the fear of the possible loss of a child. This is where the ultimate success in the book lies. The inner personal relationships of every family member are downright terrifying. That is where the true terror lies.
You want spooky? Yes, Orb. You want a little bit of romance? Sure, Orb. How about crystals, séances, tarot cards, and speaking with the dead? Of course, Orb. Dear reader, I may have found the book for you!
Orbs Epilogue: Tighten, tighten… What is this? A knife has severed my body. Unattaching, I fall to the ground. My frayed edges stretching out for connection. I watch as the scene unfolds. The victim’s body hovers above the bed, her body twisted and contorted. I stop to wonder what master I serve now, the woman or the priest? I do what only a sane piece of rope would do. I slowly crawl to the open window and offer a means of escape for whoever should be left standing.
Recommended reading!
Many thanks to the publisher, Quirk Books, for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
3.85 rounded up to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮 orbs
Est. Pub. Date: Aug. 5, 2025
Bristlecone, Colorado
Orbs Prologue: I have existed longer than I care to remember. You have seen me, for I have proved useful. I am the perfect tool to oppress, torture, and restrain. I loop around my victim’s wrist, pulling taut against her struggles. Father Angus spitting the words “The Power of Christ compels you!” while simultaneously drenching the victim’s face in holy water. I remain composed, my braids tightening. My singular objective is to render you harmless. Dear reader, I am the rope that binds.
Brigid’s life is not going as planned. After giving birth to a daughter, she thought her life would be fulfilled. How could it not? Her partner has other visions. Left on her own, Brigid becomes a single mother to Dylan. Brigid is accustomed to challenges, for being a gay woman in an extremely conservative household has molded her into an adult with a fair amount of quirks. Who can blame her, really? Her mom was subservient to her brother Angus, whose tendencies bordered on the psychotic. Brigid’s childhood absence of self-discovery seemed self-ordained by the man of the cloth living under the very same roof.
Give credit where credit is due. Brigid’s parenting of Dylan seemed to be going well. Dylan was flourishing, or so it seemed until a small mishap at school demanded Brigid’s attention. An unconventional biting has occurred, and the result is Dylan having to take time away from the school premises. In the confines of their home, Brigid becomes fully aware of Dylan’s change in disposition. Her aggressive behavior and subsequent search for ritualistic remedies are proving to be more than Brigid can handle.
Author Lindsay King-Miller recreates a touch of The Exorcist with her own magnificent twists. King-Miller supplies readers with an intense glimpse at religious views and their negative impact on a child's psyche. In a modern display of real-life complexity, we might question the acceptance of religious factions regarding sexuality.
When I began the novel, I thought I had seen this story before, and in some regard, I was correct. Exorcism will always have a certain love affair within the horror genre. I experienced a solid plot divergence that, happily, separates itself from the standard homage to The Exorcist. As creepy as the stereotypical casting out of a demon seemed, it paled in comparison to the fear of the possible loss of a child. This is where the ultimate success in the book lies. The inner personal relationships of every family member are downright terrifying. That is where the true terror lies.
You want spooky? Yes, Orb. You want a little bit of romance? Sure, Orb. How about crystals, séances, tarot cards, and speaking with the dead? Of course, Orb. Dear reader, I may have found the book for you!
Orbs Epilogue: Tighten, tighten… What is this? A knife has severed my body. Unattaching, I fall to the ground. My frayed edges stretching out for connection. I watch as the scene unfolds. The victim’s body hovers above the bed, her body twisted and contorted. I stop to wonder what master I serve now, the woman or the priest? I do what only a sane piece of rope would do. I slowly crawl to the open window and offer a means of escape for whoever should be left standing.
Recommended reading!
Many thanks to the publisher, Quirk Books, for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
June 13, 2025
This new twist on possession horror is fast-paced and packs an action-heavy final act. I enjoyed the overall story, I think it is a smart exploration of what it means to be possessed, to be overpowered and puppeted by powers more powerful than you can imagine. The pacing worked for the story, it added urgency to the narrative, and it made it a quick read. The final act/ending had a fun combination of expected twists and the unexpected, and none felt like rug-pulls or unearned.
So, taking a step back, I certainly enjoy this novel. But there were a few things that just didn’t quite work for me. I had a hard time believing the actions or decisions of the central character for the first two acts. When things get wild toward the end and characters are acting out of distress and so forth that all was fine, but in the beginning the relationship between her and her daughter, and the way she treated her 14-year-old daughter who was clearly in emotional distress, just felt really flat and like place setting. It isn’t that any of the characters felt boring or like cut-and-paste place-fillers, I still felt like the characters were held at arm’s length. Having chapters go back to our main character’s childhood were helpful, but something just didn’t leave me feeling convinced. From the flashbacks we see examples of the traumatic religious upbringing, but we don’t really see its effects, or, rather, we don’t see her grappling with it. We are told how it affected her, but there are decades between the flashbacks and the present and the character and narrative didn’t really give me experiential insight into how her childhood influenced/traumatized her, it all felt very expected and narratively convenient, but not visceral or emotional in any important way. Considering this story is using demonic possession and exorcism as a way to explore religious trauma it feels like the long-lasting effects of that trauma need to be something the audience has an emotional experience of, and here I just felt more like things were told to me, not shown.
The writing itself served the story, not overly descriptive or flowery but with a good amount of narrative propulsion. The chapters were crafted to end with a good amount of tension and yet not feel like cheap gags. Mostly the atmosphere and world-building weren’t entirely present or convincing, it really was depending on the reader to bring a lot to the table in that regard, but there were some wonderfully disorienting and unhinged moments that worked really well. In addition, there were a few scenes that added enough gore to remind the reader of what genre they were reading, a reminder of the stakes, and while the story didn’t linger on these scenes they were vivid and helped keep the narrative exciting.
In the end it is hard to really pinpoint why I didn’t enjoy this more. There is something about the characters and their actions that just feels more like narrative convenience than actual experience, and that persisted more or less through the first two acts. I found myself frustrated not with the character for making bad decisions but for the writing of the character which just felt more explanatory than revelatory, if that makes sense. I wanted to actually feel the impact of her difficult upbringing, to see how it has affected the last 20+ years of her life, and not just how it led to a few bad decisions. It just felt rote and not particularly interesting, not only because it wasn’t particularly harsh, as far as religious trauma can go, but also just because it always felt removed from the character, and so removed from me as a reader, and that made it harder to be invested. The religious themes basically feel secondary, yet, given the whole arc of the story they should always feel primary; it just wasn’t there, for me.
Still, it was an enjoyable and fast read, a different take on possession horror that (thankfully) is not another story about a priest losing his faith. For this alone it deserves to be read! While there did feel something perfunctory about them the characters still felt unique and not who you expect to see in this kind of story, and their identities played a role in the story, they weren’t just window-dressing. Add to that a few creepy scenes and a few bloody scenes and this is a fun addition to the genre.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Quirk Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
So, taking a step back, I certainly enjoy this novel. But there were a few things that just didn’t quite work for me. I had a hard time believing the actions or decisions of the central character for the first two acts. When things get wild toward the end and characters are acting out of distress and so forth that all was fine, but in the beginning the relationship between her and her daughter, and the way she treated her 14-year-old daughter who was clearly in emotional distress, just felt really flat and like place setting. It isn’t that any of the characters felt boring or like cut-and-paste place-fillers, I still felt like the characters were held at arm’s length. Having chapters go back to our main character’s childhood were helpful, but something just didn’t leave me feeling convinced. From the flashbacks we see examples of the traumatic religious upbringing, but we don’t really see its effects, or, rather, we don’t see her grappling with it. We are told how it affected her, but there are decades between the flashbacks and the present and the character and narrative didn’t really give me experiential insight into how her childhood influenced/traumatized her, it all felt very expected and narratively convenient, but not visceral or emotional in any important way. Considering this story is using demonic possession and exorcism as a way to explore religious trauma it feels like the long-lasting effects of that trauma need to be something the audience has an emotional experience of, and here I just felt more like things were told to me, not shown.
The writing itself served the story, not overly descriptive or flowery but with a good amount of narrative propulsion. The chapters were crafted to end with a good amount of tension and yet not feel like cheap gags. Mostly the atmosphere and world-building weren’t entirely present or convincing, it really was depending on the reader to bring a lot to the table in that regard, but there were some wonderfully disorienting and unhinged moments that worked really well. In addition, there were a few scenes that added enough gore to remind the reader of what genre they were reading, a reminder of the stakes, and while the story didn’t linger on these scenes they were vivid and helped keep the narrative exciting.
In the end it is hard to really pinpoint why I didn’t enjoy this more. There is something about the characters and their actions that just feels more like narrative convenience than actual experience, and that persisted more or less through the first two acts. I found myself frustrated not with the character for making bad decisions but for the writing of the character which just felt more explanatory than revelatory, if that makes sense. I wanted to actually feel the impact of her difficult upbringing, to see how it has affected the last 20+ years of her life, and not just how it led to a few bad decisions. It just felt rote and not particularly interesting, not only because it wasn’t particularly harsh, as far as religious trauma can go, but also just because it always felt removed from the character, and so removed from me as a reader, and that made it harder to be invested. The religious themes basically feel secondary, yet, given the whole arc of the story they should always feel primary; it just wasn’t there, for me.
Still, it was an enjoyable and fast read, a different take on possession horror that (thankfully) is not another story about a priest losing his faith. For this alone it deserves to be read! While there did feel something perfunctory about them the characters still felt unique and not who you expect to see in this kind of story, and their identities played a role in the story, they weren’t just window-dressing. Add to that a few creepy scenes and a few bloody scenes and this is a fun addition to the genre.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Quirk Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 12, 2025
TW/CW: Language, bullying, fighting, toxic family relationships, gaslighting, toxic relationships, blasphemy, homophobia, animal death (not graphic), death by suicide, death of parent, rape (not graphic), abortion (mention), incest, miscarriage, gory scenes, blood, violence
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Single gay mom Brigid always thought that cutting ties with her extremist Catholic family was the best thing she could have done for her daughter, Dylan—and for herself. But when Dylan starts having terrifying fits of unnatural violence, Brigid can’t shake her memories of a girl from her childhood who behaved the same way . . . until Brigid’s uncle, Father Angus, performed an exorcism.
Convinced that her daughter is suffering from demonic possession, Brigid does the thing she told herself she’d never she goes home. Father Angus is the worst person she knows, but he’s also the only person who can help her daughter.
But as Brigid starts to uncover secrets about Father Angus, that long-ago exorcism, and her family’s past, she realizes that she and Dylan have never been in more danger.
Release Date: August 5th, 2025
Genre: Horror
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Easy to read and understand what's happening
2. Loved the writing style
3. Liked the ending
4. Gory scenes
5. Greatest acknowledgements ever
What I Didn't Like:
1. Brigid's weird hallucinations
2. Some plot holes
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Why would Brigid open a new age store if she doesn't believe in what they sell? Seems like an odd choice.
Her daughter later asks this question (why would you open a store for things you don't believe in?) and Brigid answers that it was in irony from her religious days her and her ex thought it would be funny. Imagine having the money to open a business out of irony and spite just because. Plus, how long does the irony last when you've own the store for at least 14 years?
Wow Brigid tried to baby trap Gwen. No matter how many times Gwen said she did not want a baby and that she was not ready for one it's like Brigid didn't want to hear her. She went off and got pregnant without ever letting her know what she was doing. It's so sick the way it's described and she acts like Gwen should stay and she'll have a change of heart. No dear I'd be out too. She sounds like you have some issues. I wish we could have had a better understanding of why Brigid wanted a baby so much. The only thing that Brigid mentions about why is that she feels like it'll tie her to Gwen more and make them a family. So, I guess in the end they wouldn't be a family since Brigid did her own thing and had her own experience without Gwen.
Okay now Brigid has found this weird collection of dead eaten Birds in Dylan's room so now we're getting the first hint that maybe there's something wrong with Dylan and why she's behaving the way she's behaving.
I like Zandy. She's refreshing from the chaoticness that Brigid is. Honestly Brigid isn't a great person. She's bombastic and annoying at times.
The worst thing about Brigid is that she is so self-absorbed and anytime that Dylan approaches her to talk about something serious Brigid ends up telling her we'll talk about it later or we don't have the time for it right now. She shuts her down so many times that it's heartbreaking. I know that Brigid has past issues from her childhood I just really think you should listen to your child when they come to you. When a teenager comes to you to talk about something that means that they are valuing your opinion and trusting you so when you shut them down why would they keep coming to you if you're someone they can't talk to? It drives me up the wall how many times she dismisses Dylan's thoughts or feelings because something else is going on. Maybe this is Brigid's way of having avoidance to an issue because she doesn't know how to handle a problem since she has no coping skills from her own childhood.
Brigid's mother is the one that told Father Angus that she had been kissing Sandy. Brigid asked why she told on her but I think we know why she did. Brigid's mother lives in a kind of cult like status with her brother. It's common in cults for other members to tell on each other as a sort of loyalty to them. And yeah this is her daughter that she did tell on but in a sort of way she's getting a kind of perk back from her brother by telling him what her daughter did.
I'm so curious why the demon wanted rigid to go to her uncle's house. Because the demon says take me to the old man.
Dylan and Brigid go back to the uncle's house to have her exercised and there's a scene in the kitchen that kind of got on my nerves. Dylan starts insulting Brigid for not being there when her mother dies by suicide and not knowing that she left a note. It's so hard to know if this is the demon inside Dylan talking and saying these mean things to her mother or if this is just how Dylan is. If this is how Dylan is I honestly would leave the kid behind cuz she is terrible. She says the meanest things to her. And I know that teenagers are horrible humans but she's just saying things and she doesn't even know what happened between Brigid and her mother. Omg and Angus telling Brigid to go for a walk had me boiling. Who is this abusive jerk to tell her what to go do.
This is so weird to me that Dylan would want to stay with this man she literally just met. Why would she want to stay with this guy that she didn't even know existed in his house? I would feel so uncomfortable hanging out with some guy that I know nothing about and that my mother never talked about. I would wonder why she never talked to him and maybe there is a reason why they stopped communication. It's just so odd that a teenage girl would rather hang out with an old man that she never knew about. Now she's over here threatening her mother saying she'll tell the cops that she's the one that cut her tongue. I'm sorry but I would just leave Dylan behind then. So she can see what Brigid had to deal with day in and day out. That girl is being a total brat.
So much has happened. Zandy called Serafina and found out that really she had had a miscarriage and she believes it was because of the exorcism done to her. That was the blood on the mattress that she had under her. Now she's saying that Angus put in a demon inside her that made her actually kill her parents and she tells Brigid to get over there and rescue her daughter or else something will happen to her. So Brigid is on her way out of the door to go save Dylan but then Sandy stops her and tells her to think which I agree yes let's think this out you can't just rush her into a house. Dylan calls to say that Angus is acting weird and she wants to go home. She's all tears and crying. I'm over here wondering if Dylan is setting a trap to get Brigid to come over and they're going to trap her. Honestly I don't know at this point what is going on. Oh gosh, she even pushes poor Zandy out of the way rather than listen to her.
Now she's in Angus' house and I am honestly confused. She was upstairs and Dylan is sitting in the room and she's bruised up and she's in bad shape. Brigid runs downstairs to call 911 but then bees start coming out of the phone after she hears the person on the phone say Mom. In an attempt to escape the bees she goes to the laundry chute and somehow fits in it and now she's stuck in the laundry chute because it's endless and there are different things. The house starts changing. At this point I feel like I'm reading House of Leaves.
Oh so actually Adelaide was the one inside of Dylan this whole time and the demon that was inside Adelaide followed her into Dylan's body. I still didn't care for the way Adelaide treated people. She cut Dylan's tongue because she wouldn't let her talk. Ridiculous.
Angus is now dead though and eaten by Dylan's demon thing. Ew that was gross!
Final Thoughts:
I just had a lot of questions I feel like at the end mostly why who called Brigid to come to the house? Was it Adelaide or was it the demon? Why would they want her there? And I get that Dylan is tied up now but why wouldn't Dylan have tried to kill Angus when he was sleeping? He's an old man I can't imagine it would be very hard to kill him. Plus they have demon power and they're able to make these hallucinations happen so it could have been too hard to kill them off.
Overall though I enjoyed this read a lot. The story was interesting with Brigid's back and force between now and her childhood. I loved her and Zandys relationship. It was so sweet and wholesome.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Quirk Books for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Single gay mom Brigid always thought that cutting ties with her extremist Catholic family was the best thing she could have done for her daughter, Dylan—and for herself. But when Dylan starts having terrifying fits of unnatural violence, Brigid can’t shake her memories of a girl from her childhood who behaved the same way . . . until Brigid’s uncle, Father Angus, performed an exorcism.
Convinced that her daughter is suffering from demonic possession, Brigid does the thing she told herself she’d never she goes home. Father Angus is the worst person she knows, but he’s also the only person who can help her daughter.
But as Brigid starts to uncover secrets about Father Angus, that long-ago exorcism, and her family’s past, she realizes that she and Dylan have never been in more danger.
Release Date: August 5th, 2025
Genre: Horror
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Easy to read and understand what's happening
2. Loved the writing style
3. Liked the ending
4. Gory scenes
5. Greatest acknowledgements ever
What I Didn't Like:
1. Brigid's weird hallucinations
2. Some plot holes
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Why would Brigid open a new age store if she doesn't believe in what they sell? Seems like an odd choice.
Her daughter later asks this question (why would you open a store for things you don't believe in?) and Brigid answers that it was in irony from her religious days her and her ex thought it would be funny. Imagine having the money to open a business out of irony and spite just because. Plus, how long does the irony last when you've own the store for at least 14 years?
Wow Brigid tried to baby trap Gwen. No matter how many times Gwen said she did not want a baby and that she was not ready for one it's like Brigid didn't want to hear her. She went off and got pregnant without ever letting her know what she was doing. It's so sick the way it's described and she acts like Gwen should stay and she'll have a change of heart. No dear I'd be out too. She sounds like you have some issues. I wish we could have had a better understanding of why Brigid wanted a baby so much. The only thing that Brigid mentions about why is that she feels like it'll tie her to Gwen more and make them a family. So, I guess in the end they wouldn't be a family since Brigid did her own thing and had her own experience without Gwen.
Okay now Brigid has found this weird collection of dead eaten Birds in Dylan's room so now we're getting the first hint that maybe there's something wrong with Dylan and why she's behaving the way she's behaving.
I like Zandy. She's refreshing from the chaoticness that Brigid is. Honestly Brigid isn't a great person. She's bombastic and annoying at times.
The worst thing about Brigid is that she is so self-absorbed and anytime that Dylan approaches her to talk about something serious Brigid ends up telling her we'll talk about it later or we don't have the time for it right now. She shuts her down so many times that it's heartbreaking. I know that Brigid has past issues from her childhood I just really think you should listen to your child when they come to you. When a teenager comes to you to talk about something that means that they are valuing your opinion and trusting you so when you shut them down why would they keep coming to you if you're someone they can't talk to? It drives me up the wall how many times she dismisses Dylan's thoughts or feelings because something else is going on. Maybe this is Brigid's way of having avoidance to an issue because she doesn't know how to handle a problem since she has no coping skills from her own childhood.
Brigid's mother is the one that told Father Angus that she had been kissing Sandy. Brigid asked why she told on her but I think we know why she did. Brigid's mother lives in a kind of cult like status with her brother. It's common in cults for other members to tell on each other as a sort of loyalty to them. And yeah this is her daughter that she did tell on but in a sort of way she's getting a kind of perk back from her brother by telling him what her daughter did.
I'm so curious why the demon wanted rigid to go to her uncle's house. Because the demon says take me to the old man.
Dylan and Brigid go back to the uncle's house to have her exercised and there's a scene in the kitchen that kind of got on my nerves. Dylan starts insulting Brigid for not being there when her mother dies by suicide and not knowing that she left a note. It's so hard to know if this is the demon inside Dylan talking and saying these mean things to her mother or if this is just how Dylan is. If this is how Dylan is I honestly would leave the kid behind cuz she is terrible. She says the meanest things to her. And I know that teenagers are horrible humans but she's just saying things and she doesn't even know what happened between Brigid and her mother. Omg and Angus telling Brigid to go for a walk had me boiling. Who is this abusive jerk to tell her what to go do.
This is so weird to me that Dylan would want to stay with this man she literally just met. Why would she want to stay with this guy that she didn't even know existed in his house? I would feel so uncomfortable hanging out with some guy that I know nothing about and that my mother never talked about. I would wonder why she never talked to him and maybe there is a reason why they stopped communication. It's just so odd that a teenage girl would rather hang out with an old man that she never knew about. Now she's over here threatening her mother saying she'll tell the cops that she's the one that cut her tongue. I'm sorry but I would just leave Dylan behind then. So she can see what Brigid had to deal with day in and day out. That girl is being a total brat.
So much has happened. Zandy called Serafina and found out that really she had had a miscarriage and she believes it was because of the exorcism done to her. That was the blood on the mattress that she had under her. Now she's saying that Angus put in a demon inside her that made her actually kill her parents and she tells Brigid to get over there and rescue her daughter or else something will happen to her. So Brigid is on her way out of the door to go save Dylan but then Sandy stops her and tells her to think which I agree yes let's think this out you can't just rush her into a house. Dylan calls to say that Angus is acting weird and she wants to go home. She's all tears and crying. I'm over here wondering if Dylan is setting a trap to get Brigid to come over and they're going to trap her. Honestly I don't know at this point what is going on. Oh gosh, she even pushes poor Zandy out of the way rather than listen to her.
Now she's in Angus' house and I am honestly confused. She was upstairs and Dylan is sitting in the room and she's bruised up and she's in bad shape. Brigid runs downstairs to call 911 but then bees start coming out of the phone after she hears the person on the phone say Mom. In an attempt to escape the bees she goes to the laundry chute and somehow fits in it and now she's stuck in the laundry chute because it's endless and there are different things. The house starts changing. At this point I feel like I'm reading House of Leaves.
Oh so actually Adelaide was the one inside of Dylan this whole time and the demon that was inside Adelaide followed her into Dylan's body. I still didn't care for the way Adelaide treated people. She cut Dylan's tongue because she wouldn't let her talk. Ridiculous.
Angus is now dead though and eaten by Dylan's demon thing. Ew that was gross!
Final Thoughts:
I just had a lot of questions I feel like at the end mostly why who called Brigid to come to the house? Was it Adelaide or was it the demon? Why would they want her there? And I get that Dylan is tied up now but why wouldn't Dylan have tried to kill Angus when he was sleeping? He's an old man I can't imagine it would be very hard to kill him. Plus they have demon power and they're able to make these hallucinations happen so it could have been too hard to kill them off.
Overall though I enjoyed this read a lot. The story was interesting with Brigid's back and force between now and her childhood. I loved her and Zandys relationship. It was so sweet and wholesome.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Quirk Books for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 22, 2025
3/5 ✩
“I am being hollowed out like a Halloween pumpkin. It has eaten my slippery insides, all my seeds are cracked and chewed, my rind is carved into a smile. I’m empty and rotting.”
Thank you NetGalley and Quirk for providing me with this ARC.
QUICK SUMMARY
This Is My Body brings a new spin to the possession/exorcism subgenre, exploring generational trauma and the cycles of abuse we may perpetuate. King-Miller has a detail-oriented and descriptive narrative style that created some strong metaphorical imagery, however, the pacing and characters left a lot to be desired. In particular, I struggled to connect with Brigid, who was so unlikeable for me that it hurt my reading experience.
R.E.A.D.S. SCORE
R: 3/10
E: 4/10
A: 6/10
D: 5/10
S: 7/10
Total: 5.00/10.00
“I am being hollowed out like a Halloween pumpkin. It has eaten my slippery insides, all my seeds are cracked and chewed, my rind is carved into a smile. I’m empty and rotting.”
Thank you NetGalley and Quirk for providing me with this ARC.
QUICK SUMMARY
This Is My Body brings a new spin to the possession/exorcism subgenre, exploring generational trauma and the cycles of abuse we may perpetuate. King-Miller has a detail-oriented and descriptive narrative style that created some strong metaphorical imagery, however, the pacing and characters left a lot to be desired. In particular, I struggled to connect with Brigid, who was so unlikeable for me that it hurt my reading experience.
R.E.A.D.S. SCORE
R: 3/10
E: 4/10
A: 6/10
D: 5/10
S: 7/10
Total: 5.00/10.00
August 12, 2025
I absolutely LOVED this possession horror story!
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I was invested in this novel from cover to cover- the storyline was really unique and the characters were very compelling, as well as diverse. The overall writing style and feel of this novel reminded me of The Exorcist- it was expertly written and I felt that it brought new, creative ideas to the experience of being possessed. As a fan of possession/religious horror, I would definitely say this is a must read for any fan of the sub genre.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk Books for providing an eARC of This Is My Body prior to publication.**
.
I was invested in this novel from cover to cover- the storyline was really unique and the characters were very compelling, as well as diverse. The overall writing style and feel of this novel reminded me of The Exorcist- it was expertly written and I felt that it brought new, creative ideas to the experience of being possessed. As a fan of possession/religious horror, I would definitely say this is a must read for any fan of the sub genre.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk Books for providing an eARC of This Is My Body prior to publication.**
March 28, 2025
is it normal to straight up fist someone the first time you hook up with them after like 15 years of pining
August 10, 2025
Great book - great take on possession.
August 3, 2025
✨This Is My Body by Lindsay King-Miller ✨
Special thanks to @quirkbooks for the free Arc Copy!
Ah teenagers. Such a hard stage in life. Parents have to worry about love interests, attitude problems, and demonic possession… wait what?
Welcome to This Is My Body, a horror book that explores queer themes, toxic families, and religious trauma. I really loved the characters in this one. Zandy especially!
I FLEW through this book. If work hadn’t kept me busy I would’ve finished this one in two sittings. The story line is fast paced and kept me super engaged. I loved the twists on certain possession tropes. It has such a unique take on possession. Like I still have heebie jeebies from all the bug mentions. 🐜
Be sure to pick this one up if you’re looking for
✨queer rep
✨religious horror
✨toxic family dynamic
✨insect horror
✨body horror
✨exorcist vibes
✨a head full of ghosts vibes
Be sure to pick this one up this coming Tuesday, August 5th!
Special thanks to @quirkbooks for the free Arc Copy!
Ah teenagers. Such a hard stage in life. Parents have to worry about love interests, attitude problems, and demonic possession… wait what?
Welcome to This Is My Body, a horror book that explores queer themes, toxic families, and religious trauma. I really loved the characters in this one. Zandy especially!
I FLEW through this book. If work hadn’t kept me busy I would’ve finished this one in two sittings. The story line is fast paced and kept me super engaged. I loved the twists on certain possession tropes. It has such a unique take on possession. Like I still have heebie jeebies from all the bug mentions. 🐜
Be sure to pick this one up if you’re looking for
✨queer rep
✨religious horror
✨toxic family dynamic
✨insect horror
✨body horror
✨exorcist vibes
✨a head full of ghosts vibes
Be sure to pick this one up this coming Tuesday, August 5th!
August 6, 2025
This was a quick, enjoyable read with enough suspense that kept me interested to see what would happen next.
The FMC, Brigid, isn't a likable character. She's got a huge chip on her shoulder from her extremely questionable Catholic upbringing that she has never gotten over. She's someone who desperately needs therapy.
At times, it's difficult to sympathize with her. But then again, I don't have a daughter suffering from demon possession. So, I give her a pass on that front. YMMV though.
Despite Brigid's stubbornness and rigid ways, I actually did enjoy her storyline. She's not someone I'd ever be friends with, but her messy choices (baby trapping her ex?? asking her psychologically abusive priest uncle for help??) makes for a great story.
While this novel isn't all that memorable for me, I still had a good time, and I'd recommend it for readers who like queer-centric horror stories about demonic possession and religious trauma.
Thank you to Quirk Books and NetGalley for this arc.
The FMC, Brigid, isn't a likable character. She's got a huge chip on her shoulder from her extremely questionable Catholic upbringing that she has never gotten over. She's someone who desperately needs therapy.
At times, it's difficult to sympathize with her. But then again, I don't have a daughter suffering from demon possession. So, I give her a pass on that front. YMMV though.
Despite Brigid's stubbornness and rigid ways, I actually did enjoy her storyline. She's not someone I'd ever be friends with, but her messy choices (baby trapping her ex?? asking her psychologically abusive priest uncle for help??) makes for a great story.
While this novel isn't all that memorable for me, I still had a good time, and I'd recommend it for readers who like queer-centric horror stories about demonic possession and religious trauma.
Thank you to Quirk Books and NetGalley for this arc.
August 10, 2025
This one was wild! The pacing was done well and I basically devoured it. There were some genuinely chilling moments that will stick with me, and much of the story is spent alongside Brigid as she desperately tries to unravel what’s happening to her daughter. It’s a gripping possession tale layered with religious trauma, making it as thought-provoking as it is terrifying. While the ending strayed into some strange territory that felt slightly out of place, the journey getting there was pretty engaging so it hardly took away from the overall experience.
August 12, 2025
Dark, creepy and absolutely addictive.
Brigid's been called to the school. Her daughter, Dylan, has been in an altercation with another student. She's punished and told to go home. Brigid is reeling - who is this child of hers, that punches her friends and is this violent. But after that first sign, there are more. And Brigid should know, she was raised in a very Catholic house where her uncle believed he could spot something wrong with people - when they were possessed by demons.
This was such an addictive book. From that first uncomfortable head tilt, I was hooked. I had no idea what each twist would bring and my jaw dropped with every new revelation. I was completely sucked in and needed to know what would happen next. I made a few guesses and was so happy when the ending was even richer and more interested than I'd originally thought. Such a creepy, eerie, uncomfortable read about possession and I loved it!
Brigid's been called to the school. Her daughter, Dylan, has been in an altercation with another student. She's punished and told to go home. Brigid is reeling - who is this child of hers, that punches her friends and is this violent. But after that first sign, there are more. And Brigid should know, she was raised in a very Catholic house where her uncle believed he could spot something wrong with people - when they were possessed by demons.
This was such an addictive book. From that first uncomfortable head tilt, I was hooked. I had no idea what each twist would bring and my jaw dropped with every new revelation. I was completely sucked in and needed to know what would happen next. I made a few guesses and was so happy when the ending was even richer and more interested than I'd originally thought. Such a creepy, eerie, uncomfortable read about possession and I loved it!
August 22, 2025
”I am being hollowed out like a Halloween pumpkin. It has eaten my slippery insides, all my seeds are cracked and chewed, my rind is carved into a smile. I’m empty and rotting.”
This Is My Body was a strange one for me. I liked a lot of what it was trying to do but I didn’t love the execution.
On the plus side: possession horror + religious trauma = right up my alley. We got messy characters, cycles of family trauma and some seriously gross body horror. There’s a scene that had me physically squirming.
The writing itself is fun, vivid, unsettling and bloody.
But… and here’s where it lost me: the characters were annoying. Brigid, the main character, rubbed me the wrong way big time. I don’t mind unlikable characters (I actually enjoy them quite a lot) but Brigid’s manipulative streak and baby trap moment had me side-eyeing her for the entirety of the book. She felt super one dimensional too which didn’t help me to underhand why she was the way she was, especially considering the religious trauma theme throughout the book. The flashbacks gave me context but it felt like much of it was being told about her trauma rather than actually feeling its weight alongside her.
The pacing didn’t help either. The first half was extremely slow and when things started happening, I just… didn’t care much for it.
You’ll enjoy this book if you’re into:
🩸 Body horror
✝️ Religious trauma
😬 Messy/flawed characters
👥 Mother/daughter dynamics
A thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
This Is My Body was a strange one for me. I liked a lot of what it was trying to do but I didn’t love the execution.
On the plus side: possession horror + religious trauma = right up my alley. We got messy characters, cycles of family trauma and some seriously gross body horror. There’s a scene that had me physically squirming.
The writing itself is fun, vivid, unsettling and bloody.
But… and here’s where it lost me: the characters were annoying. Brigid, the main character, rubbed me the wrong way big time. I don’t mind unlikable characters (I actually enjoy them quite a lot) but Brigid’s manipulative streak and baby trap moment had me side-eyeing her for the entirety of the book. She felt super one dimensional too which didn’t help me to underhand why she was the way she was, especially considering the religious trauma theme throughout the book. The flashbacks gave me context but it felt like much of it was being told about her trauma rather than actually feeling its weight alongside her.
The pacing didn’t help either. The first half was extremely slow and when things started happening, I just… didn’t care much for it.
You’ll enjoy this book if you’re into:
🩸 Body horror
✝️ Religious trauma
😬 Messy/flawed characters
👥 Mother/daughter dynamics
A thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
August 11, 2025
Generational Trauma, Religious Warfare, and Abuse Cycles – OH MY!
This Is My Body is the queer religious horror novel you need to read this year. Lindsay King-Miller delivers a visceral, grungy, and deeply human story that blends unsettling horror with moments of surprising hope. It is raw, unflinching, and unforgettable.
Our protagonist, Brigid, is a queer woman who owns a mystic shop in full rebellion against the religious trauma that defined her youth. But when a troubled teen in her life begins spiraling, Brigid’s disturbing past may hold the only answers that can save them. The novel plunges headfirst into religious iconography and trauma, confronting the emotional and psychological toll such experiences take, especially for queer and questioning youth. As someone with my own complicated history with religion, I found this story both deeply resonant and, at times, emotionally difficult. That is exactly what made it so impactful.
King-Miller does not shy away from the cyclical nature of abuse or from the painstaking work of breaking it. The narrative weaves between flashbacks and present-day urgency, charting Brigid’s journey toward hard-earned realizations and the courage to save the person who needs her most. The beauty lies in how all these heavy themes converge, wrapped in the skin of a horror novel.
And make no mistake: the horror here is horrifying. Cosmic dread? Check. Demonic imagery? Absolutely. Terrifying, interdimensional insects? Oh yes. It all builds to a harrowing, unpredictable climax that kept me guessing until the final page.
It is unsettling, it is cathartic, and it is an absolute standout in queer horror fiction. Just a note: if religious trauma is a sensitive trigger for you, take care with this one. If you can stomach the darkness, you will find a story that is as much about survival and reclamation as it is about terror.
Do not miss this book. You will regret it if you do.
This Is My Body is the queer religious horror novel you need to read this year. Lindsay King-Miller delivers a visceral, grungy, and deeply human story that blends unsettling horror with moments of surprising hope. It is raw, unflinching, and unforgettable.
Our protagonist, Brigid, is a queer woman who owns a mystic shop in full rebellion against the religious trauma that defined her youth. But when a troubled teen in her life begins spiraling, Brigid’s disturbing past may hold the only answers that can save them. The novel plunges headfirst into religious iconography and trauma, confronting the emotional and psychological toll such experiences take, especially for queer and questioning youth. As someone with my own complicated history with religion, I found this story both deeply resonant and, at times, emotionally difficult. That is exactly what made it so impactful.
King-Miller does not shy away from the cyclical nature of abuse or from the painstaking work of breaking it. The narrative weaves between flashbacks and present-day urgency, charting Brigid’s journey toward hard-earned realizations and the courage to save the person who needs her most. The beauty lies in how all these heavy themes converge, wrapped in the skin of a horror novel.
And make no mistake: the horror here is horrifying. Cosmic dread? Check. Demonic imagery? Absolutely. Terrifying, interdimensional insects? Oh yes. It all builds to a harrowing, unpredictable climax that kept me guessing until the final page.
It is unsettling, it is cathartic, and it is an absolute standout in queer horror fiction. Just a note: if religious trauma is a sensitive trigger for you, take care with this one. If you can stomach the darkness, you will find a story that is as much about survival and reclamation as it is about terror.
Do not miss this book. You will regret it if you do.
August 15, 2025
When Brigid turned eighteen, she left her traumatic religious upbringing far behind - but when her daughter starts showing signs of demonic possession, who else can she turn to for aid?
This was a good, fast paced horror read with a lot of depth. It's delightfully unsettling and gross in turn, while also exploring trauma, cycles of abuse, and mother-daughter dynamics.
Brigid is a complex, flawed character who truly does want to do better, but at the same time is still traumatised by her childhood experiences. I do think Dylan could use more dimension - difficult in a possession narrative, but more establishment of her character at the beginning would lend more weight to the changes she goes through.
It gets deeply weird towards the end. In some ways I loved it, the twist was great, but in others it gets so confusing that I got a bit lost. The little moments of romance both past and present were very sweet and served as a good counterbalance to the darker scenes.
Recommended for readers wanting twisty possession horror with a queer focus!
This was a good, fast paced horror read with a lot of depth. It's delightfully unsettling and gross in turn, while also exploring trauma, cycles of abuse, and mother-daughter dynamics.
Brigid is a complex, flawed character who truly does want to do better, but at the same time is still traumatised by her childhood experiences. I do think Dylan could use more dimension - difficult in a possession narrative, but more establishment of her character at the beginning would lend more weight to the changes she goes through.
It gets deeply weird towards the end. In some ways I loved it, the twist was great, but in others it gets so confusing that I got a bit lost. The little moments of romance both past and present were very sweet and served as a good counterbalance to the darker scenes.
Recommended for readers wanting twisty possession horror with a queer focus!
July 20, 2025
This is My Body by Lindsay King-Miller. Thanks to @quirkbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Brigid always thought cutting ties with her extremist religious family members was the best thing, raising a daughter as a single gay mother. Her uncle performed a traumatic exorcism in front of her as a kid and it never left her memory. Now her daughter may be possessed and it’s possible her uncle is the only one who can help.
Possession is my favorite horror trope so I knew I had to read this one. I loved it! It has the perfect build of creepiness and then an explosion of excitement and horror at the end. There’s also a lot of back history and trauma to the story that tells a tale of religious abuse, homophobia, and harmful family we are sometimes born with.
“Oh, but I’m not empty, there’s something in here and it is climbing climbing climbing up the walls of me, ready to squirm out of my mouth and eyes and all my holes.”
This is My Body comes out 8/5.
Brigid always thought cutting ties with her extremist religious family members was the best thing, raising a daughter as a single gay mother. Her uncle performed a traumatic exorcism in front of her as a kid and it never left her memory. Now her daughter may be possessed and it’s possible her uncle is the only one who can help.
Possession is my favorite horror trope so I knew I had to read this one. I loved it! It has the perfect build of creepiness and then an explosion of excitement and horror at the end. There’s also a lot of back history and trauma to the story that tells a tale of religious abuse, homophobia, and harmful family we are sometimes born with.
“Oh, but I’m not empty, there’s something in here and it is climbing climbing climbing up the walls of me, ready to squirm out of my mouth and eyes and all my holes.”
This is My Body comes out 8/5.
August 3, 2025
I love a good possession novel when it is done well and This is My Body is a really fun twist on that type of story. I also love books about religious trauma, as a recovering Catholic myself, I enjoy stories that dissect the power structures and the way that people use their religious beliefs to control others even as the person doing the controlling thinks they are doing it for the good of the other person while they are in fact doing the opposite (very fitting for today’s political climate, yes?).
This book is fairly fast-paced, has a lot of conflict, and a lot of themes, in particular shame, suppression, oppression, the cycles of abuse (and how that abuse can look different, even (again) when we think we are doing what’s best), and the importance of allowing those you love choose their own path and their own control of their traumas and triggers.
Check this one out.
Thank you to Quirk for sending me an ARC!
This book is fairly fast-paced, has a lot of conflict, and a lot of themes, in particular shame, suppression, oppression, the cycles of abuse (and how that abuse can look different, even (again) when we think we are doing what’s best), and the importance of allowing those you love choose their own path and their own control of their traumas and triggers.
Check this one out.
Thank you to Quirk for sending me an ARC!
September 5, 2025
I had a great time with This Is My Body. I love a good religious/possession horror, so this story was right up my alley. I was surprised to see how much body horror was incorporated, too. There were a few scenes that really grossed me out. The pacing was fast, and I was never bored. The ending went off the rails a little bit, but I still enjoyed it. I'll happily read anything else this author writes.
July 18, 2025
4.5 stars! This book was cuckoo bananas exorcist channeling crazy good! I enjoyed the characters, the plot twists were well played, and the end was not what I was expecting. Only holding off on 5 stars because of one plot hole involving Brigid. Otherwise, that was a wild ride and worth every page!
Many thanks to the Horror Writers Association, StokerCon2025, and the publisher Quirk Books for the ARC. 😊
Many thanks to the Horror Writers Association, StokerCon2025, and the publisher Quirk Books for the ARC. 😊
August 1, 2025
Thank you to Quirk for the ARC.
Gross, Glorious & Gay. Just the way I like it. King-Miller is a rockstar all around.
Gross, Glorious & Gay. Just the way I like it. King-Miller is a rockstar all around.
Read
November 12, 2024Many of you are simply not ready for this! Lindsay's voice is clear and superb and so vividly real. Queers with Catholic trauma will find this resonating and sharp.
September 7, 2025
Thank you NeGalley, for an ARC of This is My Body. Thank you to Lindsay King-Miller for sharing your wonderful mind.
3.75/5 stars
I got a copy better late than never! Possession is my passion in the world of horror, so I will be extra critical in my review.
This is a different flavor of possession that gives readers like me a way of continued enjoyment in exploring this wonderful subgenera. First element to notice is the family dynamic. Single mom Brigid and only daughter Dylan. Brigid is a lesbian and this is important for two reasons. One, recognition/representation/open-mindedness and all the wonderful things. Two, it is a very LARGE focus of trepidation for our main characters and the web that weaves around the peripheral family.
The religious component in this story has a lot of bad blood. Bad family blood to be exact. Those of us in the LGBTQIA family will get a personal jolt and others may relate to the overbearing uncle or just simply oppressive negative connotations with the tides in Brigid's early life experience.
Lastly, the component of belief through experiences and self doubt. This is the most crucial element that can make or break a well written possession story.
So, we take Brigid's single mom world with a troubled teen and throw a sudden change of character in the mix, and we have take-off! The speed which things begin to happen must be sinister, which they were. There has to be a point of fear which cannot be ignored, and there was. There should always be an anchor for the possessed, and this can get a bit hazy towards the discovery point and all out action part. Lastly, there has to be a breaking point, the ultimate sacrifice. This was met, but surrounding it was an absolute reveal dump and, to me, it was just too much in one go.
This story has great character building with purposeful interactions. The writing style is very easy to get through/follow, and the length of the book was just right.
Aside from the info/reveal dump towards the end of the story, the actual mechanics of possession was one that really made me pause. I really had to grapple with the way the author created the dynamic. If you're like me and the rules of possession are pretty important to your level of enjoyment, when you get to that one point, just take a breath and wait for her to get the rest out so it will begin to ease back into the rules again.
There is definitely spooky stuff in here for those who are looking to make your skin crawl. My favorites are when Brigid spends the night at someone's house, and when they are in the uncle's room towards the end.
There are a few warnings: mention of miscarriage, rape and animal death.
Sneak Peeks:
When Brigid's father threw them out, Father Angus took them in, but he always made it clear that it was out of duty more than love. 21%
Finally, Brigid had a chance to explore the neighborhood she'd lived in since Kindergarten. Zandy took her to parks, libraries, empty elementary school playgrounds, all of them as revelatory to Brigid as stepping through a portal to Narnia. 31%
Not simply rotted, but torn away. No, she corrected herself, even though she didn't want to: bitten off. Devoured. She knew if she looked closely at that stretch of bone, she would see teeth marks. 37%
Demons were real. Brigid believed. No- she knew. 41%
It was strange how, beyond a certain point, being terrified felt so much like an otherworldly sense of calm. 48%
Oh, but I'm not empty, there's something in here and its climbing climbing climbing up the walls of me, ready to squirm out of my mouth and eyes and all my holes. I don't have much longer. We don't have much longer. It runs back and forth under my teeth. I wake up in the night and it's crouching on my tongue. 64%
Her misguided trust in him echoed through the years, warping everything she'd ever believed about herself. 66%
3.75/5 stars
I got a copy better late than never! Possession is my passion in the world of horror, so I will be extra critical in my review.
This is a different flavor of possession that gives readers like me a way of continued enjoyment in exploring this wonderful subgenera. First element to notice is the family dynamic. Single mom Brigid and only daughter Dylan. Brigid is a lesbian and this is important for two reasons. One, recognition/representation/open-mindedness and all the wonderful things. Two, it is a very LARGE focus of trepidation for our main characters and the web that weaves around the peripheral family.
The religious component in this story has a lot of bad blood. Bad family blood to be exact. Those of us in the LGBTQIA family will get a personal jolt and others may relate to the overbearing uncle or just simply oppressive negative connotations with the tides in Brigid's early life experience.
Lastly, the component of belief through experiences and self doubt. This is the most crucial element that can make or break a well written possession story.
So, we take Brigid's single mom world with a troubled teen and throw a sudden change of character in the mix, and we have take-off! The speed which things begin to happen must be sinister, which they were. There has to be a point of fear which cannot be ignored, and there was. There should always be an anchor for the possessed, and this can get a bit hazy towards the discovery point and all out action part. Lastly, there has to be a breaking point, the ultimate sacrifice. This was met, but surrounding it was an absolute reveal dump and, to me, it was just too much in one go.
This story has great character building with purposeful interactions. The writing style is very easy to get through/follow, and the length of the book was just right.
Aside from the info/reveal dump towards the end of the story, the actual mechanics of possession was one that really made me pause. I really had to grapple with the way the author created the dynamic. If you're like me and the rules of possession are pretty important to your level of enjoyment, when you get to that one point, just take a breath and wait for her to get the rest out so it will begin to ease back into the rules again.
There is definitely spooky stuff in here for those who are looking to make your skin crawl. My favorites are when Brigid spends the night at someone's house, and when they are in the uncle's room towards the end.
There are a few warnings: mention of miscarriage, rape and animal death.
Sneak Peeks:
When Brigid's father threw them out, Father Angus took them in, but he always made it clear that it was out of duty more than love. 21%
Finally, Brigid had a chance to explore the neighborhood she'd lived in since Kindergarten. Zandy took her to parks, libraries, empty elementary school playgrounds, all of them as revelatory to Brigid as stepping through a portal to Narnia. 31%
Not simply rotted, but torn away. No, she corrected herself, even though she didn't want to: bitten off. Devoured. She knew if she looked closely at that stretch of bone, she would see teeth marks. 37%
Demons were real. Brigid believed. No- she knew. 41%
It was strange how, beyond a certain point, being terrified felt so much like an otherworldly sense of calm. 48%
Oh, but I'm not empty, there's something in here and its climbing climbing climbing up the walls of me, ready to squirm out of my mouth and eyes and all my holes. I don't have much longer. We don't have much longer. It runs back and forth under my teeth. I wake up in the night and it's crouching on my tongue. 64%
Her misguided trust in him echoed through the years, warping everything she'd ever believed about herself. 66%
July 28, 2025
This is My Body is a queer possession/exorcism story (though, not your typical possession trope) that centers around religious trauma, family dynamics, queer shame, and cycles of abuse. We follow Brigid with alternating timelines of her time growing up with her mother and uncle Father Angus, as she navigates her queer realization, the abuse she suffered in her home, and even watching Father Angus perform exorcisms. Then, present day, as she experiences her teenage daughter, Dylan, who is increasingly becoming more and more ornery, to the point where supernatural and demonic energy is seeming to be the culprit. Brigid feels like she has no other choice but to bring Dylan back to the very house that broke her.
I loved this one for about 2/3 of the story. I loved the alternating timelines, the progression of adding a demonic presence, Brigid & Zandy’s story, and the descriptions of the possessed characters actions. I really enjoyed my reading experience… up until we approached the end. Brigid was a very, very unlikable character that made extremely questionable choices, which hurt this story for me. Not to mention, the end felt like it was the entire point of the plot just dumped there in the last couple chapters, which really made the story feel cheesy and just not adding up based on what the rest of the book seemed to portray. I get that it was going to be a twist, but it just didn’t hit because the pacing was so off. All in all, I did mostly enjoy my experience with this one, but I was anticipating something different.
Thank you to @quirkbooks for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
I loved this one for about 2/3 of the story. I loved the alternating timelines, the progression of adding a demonic presence, Brigid & Zandy’s story, and the descriptions of the possessed characters actions. I really enjoyed my reading experience… up until we approached the end. Brigid was a very, very unlikable character that made extremely questionable choices, which hurt this story for me. Not to mention, the end felt like it was the entire point of the plot just dumped there in the last couple chapters, which really made the story feel cheesy and just not adding up based on what the rest of the book seemed to portray. I get that it was going to be a twist, but it just didn’t hit because the pacing was so off. All in all, I did mostly enjoy my experience with this one, but I was anticipating something different.
Thank you to @quirkbooks for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
August 26, 2025
I was REALLY hoping this would be a five-star book for me. The “twist” was definitely unexpected, and though creative, it was not entirely satisfying. But it is one of the better horror novels I have read in the past year! I thoroughly enjoyed the eerie feeling that stayed with me throughout the book. It was very well written and didn’t start slow which I found VERY refreshing. I was hooked instantly.
Also, as a lesbian with a background in Catholicism accompanied by religious trauma, I felt SO represented and seen in this book. Brigid’s character and fear of her developing sexuality truly encompasses the struggles most queer people experience within organized religion. While extreme, it was very authentic and relatable!
I absolutely recommend this book!
Also, as a lesbian with a background in Catholicism accompanied by religious trauma, I felt SO represented and seen in this book. Brigid’s character and fear of her developing sexuality truly encompasses the struggles most queer people experience within organized religion. While extreme, it was very authentic and relatable!
I absolutely recommend this book!
July 31, 2025
I liked this. It’s fast paced, kinda campy and puts an interesting twist on a possession story. There were some really gruesome body horror moments but also some head scratching moments that didn’t come together for me. I enjoyed the flash backs to the MCs childhood and thought that was a strong aspect of the book. I almost wish we had more of that. The book really starts off quickly and I almost needed more time to get to know the characters so I could actually care about them.
The book also lost me during some parts that just kind of seemed thrown in there. Overall I enjoyed this book enough to say if it sounds interesting to you it’s worth a shot.
The book also lost me during some parts that just kind of seemed thrown in there. Overall I enjoyed this book enough to say if it sounds interesting to you it’s worth a shot.
July 3, 2025
I got way into this book. This is My Body had me from page 1. The characters were interesting and relatable. The situation and spiritual occurrences gave me the creeps, and I was suspicious of everyone, including Brigid. If it had been possible, I would have read this in one setting.
The end of the book got a little wishy-washy in parts, which is why I can't give 5 stars, but otherwise, it was a very enjoyable read.
This book was provided to me at no cost by the publishers and NetGalley. My opinions are honestly and freely given.
The end of the book got a little wishy-washy in parts, which is why I can't give 5 stars, but otherwise, it was a very enjoyable read.
This book was provided to me at no cost by the publishers and NetGalley. My opinions are honestly and freely given.
August 25, 2025
3.75 🌟 — rounded up.
It took me some time to connect with the story and the characters, but once I was, I couldn’t put this book down. The pacing was quick and the writing good.
This was a unique take on possession horror, which I enjoyed. The horror scenes were tense and scary, keeping me on the edge of my seat.
Definitely a recommendation for lovers of possession horror who are looking for a slightly different story with a fast-paced writing style.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
It took me some time to connect with the story and the characters, but once I was, I couldn’t put this book down. The pacing was quick and the writing good.
This was a unique take on possession horror, which I enjoyed. The horror scenes were tense and scary, keeping me on the edge of my seat.
Definitely a recommendation for lovers of possession horror who are looking for a slightly different story with a fast-paced writing style.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 9, 2025
I enjoyed this immensely until the end. It kind of all fell apart for me at the end and isn’t quite what I expected. Definitely a book about familial and religious trauma, so it packs quite a punch. Easy to read, harder to get through. All in all a solid addition to horror.
This will be out in August of 2025! Make sure to add it to your list. Thanks to NetGalley and Quirk for the copy of this ARC
This will be out in August of 2025! Make sure to add it to your list. Thanks to NetGalley and Quirk for the copy of this ARC
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