Review: Leech by Hiron Ennes

Every so often, a dark weird little book comes along that gladdens my blackened heart. This has certainly been the case with Leech by Hiron Ennes. Crossing multiple genres -- horror, sci-fi, dystopia, climate fiction, gothic, fantasy -- Leech is a difficult book to pin down, but I shall do my very best.

In a post-apocalyptic future, medical practitioners have all been taken over by a hive-mind parasite, known to itself as the Institute. In a bleak, far-north setting, in a strange gothic castle, the Institute finds one of itself dead, and suspects it may have parasitic competition. What follows is a twisted story that, without ever feeling overly laboured or 'academic', raises questions of gender, humanity, the climate crisis, trauma, and probably several more heavyweight topics I missed.

The fact Leech covers so many issues might put off some hardcore genre readers who are mostly looking for a great story. Don't. Leech more than delivers on twists and turns, on fantastic world building, on strange likeable and hateable characters, and on beautiful, engaging writing. Like the work of Michel Faber or Silvia Moreno-Garcia, this book can be enjoyed just for itself, or can be dug -- or, more appropriately, incised -- into by those looking for deeper meanings.

A number of questions are still left open at the end of the story, which I can sometimes find frustrating when I've really enjoyed a book. However, I like these little mysteries. They're not integral to the plot and I don't feel that they've been side-stepped or forgotten about. Rather, the author has left me with some gems to mull over and inspect on finishing the book. I can watch them gleam from many angles, and decide for myself how I think they best fit together.

Leech is a book I think would appeal to a wide cross-section of readers, lovers of genre or literary, those craving a story or academic depths, but particularly those looking for a strange new world to be lost in, and a diverse cast of peculiar characters to ride along with.

With thanks to the publishers and Netgalley.co.uk for the e-advanced review copy.

Leech by Hiron Ennes is published on 29th September and can be pre-ordered here.