I received this book through NetGalley for a review. The Midnight Muse is a gothic blend of body horror and paranormal activity. The story is written from multiple POVs. The story is complex, the character development is good, and the pace is fast if you love mystery/thriller/horror books.

I wanted to love this, being both a horror and featuring a cast of characters in a metal band but this just fell flat for me. I think in order to write a compelling fungi horror it needs to be more compelling to its rivals on the market. The horror aspect itself lends aspects from existing media without a unique and powerful development of those tales, and perhaps was too on the nose. The characters I struggled to connect with, in part because the metal aspect of the book seemed to try too hard to be subversive and cool. The first half of the book was much more compelling than the second half, and I wonder if structurally it would’ve worked better by seeding the novel with parts later to build tension?

I was so stoked to be able to read an ARC of this book. Brynn and her muse will stick with me forever. There was body horror, biology, witchcraft, metal music, multiple perspectives and more. Fantastic book and Im looking forward to reading more from this author.

This is an eco horror nightmare which turns into something cosmic horrorish with a killer set up that delivers on the terror.

The lead singer of a heavy metal band goes to a cabin in the woods to find what she calls her muse. She's never seen again. Well, not in living form anyway.

One year later the rest of the band goes to the same woods to either mourn her or find out what happened. And what they uncover is absolutely horrifying. There's something in those woods which will infect people, change them, and yet retain some essence of that being. It's almost like The Thing meets the horrors of nature!

But the more they discover the worse things get as they start dying and being consumed by what lies below. And the real truth becomes an other worldly nightmare.

Heavy metal, creepy woods, terrifying threats from something, and secrets to uncover makes this novel a knockout. I highly recommend it.

very spooky atmosphere and lots of gross imagery, perfect for the horror reader! As the POV switched between past and present, I definitely felt the dread building, wondering when the inevitable was going to happen.

Wow, where do I start... This book was like if Daisy Jones & The Six had a fungi filled demon baby, and that would just be scratching the surface. The story was complex and layered and completely addicting. The body horror, dread, and fear inducing scenes were perfectly timed and placed. At no point did I know where the story was headed and I loved that!

The Midnight Muse is a dark, eerie mix of body horror, paranormal mystery, and dread—all set in an isolated cabin in the Oregon woods. When the remaining members of metal band Queen Carrion return to the site where their lead singer vanished, they’re pulled into something otherworldly and terrifying. The vibe is intensely atmospheric, blending classic horror tropes with deeper themes like obsession, sanity, and the cost of creativity. It’s gory, graphic, and deeply immersive, with a slow-building tension that explodes into surreal, violent chaos. Strange, haunting, and unforgettable—this is a must-read for fans of weird, literary horror.

A band that plays a possible curse in a cabin in the woods. Yes, please! This book was atmospheric, in the middle of the woods, haunting, and spectacular. This book was graphic, grotesque and glorious. The remaining members of Queen Carrion rent a cabin in the woods where their singer and songwriter, Brynn, disappeared the year before. The members begin taking mushrooms and while tripping, one even thinks she sees Brynn. This book was unhinged in the best way possible, which is my kind of book. I absolutely loved it, and the twist was chef's kiss!

Unfortunately for me, this was a DNF at about 30%. I really wanted to enjoy this book as I am a massive horror fan and this one sounded right up my street. However, for me, I struggled with connecting to the main character Harlow, I found her irritating and finding myself not really caring.
There were moments that I struggled with all of the characters and how they all seemed to be such individual characters but lack all character at the same time.
There was a particular chapter where the characters are in the woods and Rhys has vomited black sludge and the biggest reaction was “I’m not cleaning that” or when he crawls down a trapdoor headfirst and his girlfriend thinks “he’s been acting strange”. There were a few times through this book where I would read something like this and think I’m struggling, and ultimately it was this chapter where I realised I just wasn’t enjoying it enough to continue.

I am very sorry I didn’t like this book as much as I wanted to, as it sounds right up my street. However we live in a world where everyone has different tastes and I really hope that others enjoy this book more than I did.

A trip of epic metal proportions. A real page turner with a colorful cast of metal heads thrown into a fight for their lives in a remote PNW setting. Kaplan did a superb job in blending the subject matter of shrooms, inter-dimensional beings, and metal to make this horror fun and suspenseful. I highly recommend it!

The Midnight Muse was definitely creative, I’ll give it that. It also felt overly long, which dragged my enjoyment down from 5 stars to 3.75.

Essentially, a death metal band’s lead singer disappeared a year ago, and her bandmates went to the place she disappeared from to feel more connected to her. Then, lots of hi-jinx with mold before the book takes a screeching turn and ends up in The Cabin in the Woods/Stranger Things territory.

Well-written prose kept me interested, even when reading about something that could have been omitted. A stronger editor could have made this book completely sparkle.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

Now I want to start by saying that I group up not far away from where this book takes place and especially at night the place is spooky. I had high hopes that this book would meet my worst nightmare and it sadly didn't. There were a few moments that I was a little creeped out but this book could have taken it further.

Would I recommend it? Yes, it was an enjoyable horror.

This was such a spooky, gripping & fun time! There were moments I was genuinely scared!!

Written beautifully, I had to highlight some sentences as they were extremely meaningful even if written unintentionally!

A fantastic adventure!

The music we listen too has a profound ability to speak to us, connect with us and help shape us into the people we are. But what if the music decided to consume us, infiltrate our every being and take over our souls? Well, that is what happened to the lead singer of metal band Queen Carrion, Brynn Werner and ultimately, the rest of the band members.

Mainly focusing on the story of the band’s drummer, Harlow, we’re introduced to the rest of Queen Carrion (plus an additional groupie) staying together in a cabin in the woods (always a bad idea!), a year after the disappearance of their lead singer Brynn Werner (who just so happened to go missing in the same woods they’re staying in).

Wanting to understand what happened to Brynn the previous year, the band members gain more than just answers. They gain clarity and an insight into the person that Brynn is/was, or should I say, who Queen Carrion was.

This story is everything you could want from a horror story, fast-paced, intense, anxiety-inducing and generally just a scary read. The chapters in this book are split between the main events of the story in the woods, events that transpired before and after the main story, articles about the band (both before and after the main story) and reports which make more sense as you progress through the story. It can take a bit of getting used to the flip-flopping between timelines and different writing styles, but once you get used to it, it really helps immerse you into the story and learn more about Brynn through the perspective of everyone in her life.

After each (main) chapter, there’s a new revelation with some of these honestly having me sitting there with my mouth hanging open and one in particular I remember exclaiming ‘WTF’!

If you’re looking for a horror story to truly keep you on your toes, pick up The Midnight Muse when it releases on the 10th March 2026!

Many thanks to @clashbooks, Jo Kaplan and NetGalley for this ARC 💖

This book was a horrific delight! Supernatural elements, horror, eerie plots, genuine surprises throughout, offered a great read with unsettling themes that mixed with humour. Stalker obsession vibes and lots of vivid descriptions to make you jump! Really enjoyed this!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

It was a very nice read which reminded me a lot of « We sold our souls » by grady Hendrix, a band, supernatural, time jumps etc.
I really like those settings which start very realistic and then have a bit of horror supernatural with it. I enjoyed the pages as well about all the effects of specific mushrooms or parasites.
I thought that maybe 50 pages less would be good, some relationships lacked depth as in how did everyone really meet and did they even have fun as a band any memorable moment ?
How did some characters meet the supernatural or was it predestined etc.

But it was a pleasant read. I would 100% recommend it

The first half of The Midnight Muse is equal parts gripping suspense and grotesque thriller. Not for those with weak stomachs.

I thought Kaplan did a great job jumping between the past and present of the storyline. When moments were to intense it was nice to have a break and switch settings.

As much as I enjoyed the premise, I have to be honest, I didn’t finish the book, it was too scary and gross for me. I have camping trips planned this summer and I didn’t need this story in the back of my mind, so I can’t speak to the ending. There also wasn’t a character that I bonded with enough to make it worth riding out to the conclusion.

Dive into a hauntingly crafted tale with "The Midnight Muse," where the eerie atmosphere and a cursed band set the stage for a spine-tingling experience. What sets this book apart is its unique blend of mystery and horror, all wrapped up in the chilling backdrop of a cabin in the woods.

The plot centers around a band whose music seems to carry an unsettling curse, drawing readers into a web of suspense that keeps you guessing. Kaplan does an exceptional job of building tension, with each page turning up the intrigue while skillfully revealing just enough to keep you hooked without spoiling the twists.

The vivid descriptions of the ominous woods and the band’s eerie journey create an immersive experience that feels like a campfire horror story come to life. The unexpected twist at the end is a masterstroke, making this thriller not just another run-of-the-mill read but a standout in the genre.

Overall, "The Midnight Muse" is a thrilling ride that will captivate both horror aficionados and those new to the genre. If you're looking for a fresh and terrifying experience, this book should be next on your list. Just remember to keep the lights on!

There are so many awesome things about this book I almost don’t even know where to start. Heavy Metal meets found footage meets Evil Dead meets X-Files meets one of my new favorite books. Kaplan has written a book that joins familiar (and wonderful) parts to make a completely original and thrilling whole.

There are so many points where this book just goes one step further that it becomes almost giddy reading what’s going to happen next. It’s gross, it’s scary, it’s sad, it’s incredible. The writing is great, the pacing is fantastic, the way it skips around in time and type of media, and all of the characters are so well drawn. This is a fantastic, must read horror novel.

Midnight Muse is a chilling dive into floral terror—equal parts mesmerizing and deeply disturbing. It’s the kind of story that nestles itself into your mind like a seed, then festers. The imagery is lush and macabre, a mix of elegance and decay that’s hard to look away from.

This isn't a read for the squeamish—its visceral, skin-crawling detail will test your limits. But if you're drawn to horror that invades your senses and leaves a mark long after the final page, you’ll be right at home.