Leech by  Hiron Ennes

Leech

Hiron Ennes

This eerie and intriguing novel keeps you turning pages with its twists and revelations while deeply immersing you in its beautifully written and atmospheric world. It will especially appeal to fans of gothic horror, fantasy and science fiction, and anyone who enjoys dark but thoughtful explorations of humanity and survival.

Extract

'Everyone dies differently,' I say. 'Some more gracefully than others.'

'And this week has done no favours for his mood.' Didier shakes his head. 'Doctor, I would like to move quickly past this ... incident. I want a swift and painless transition, as I'm sure you do. So if you need anything from me, anything at all, do not hesitate to ask Emile. [...] You needn't leave the chateau. In fact, it's best if you don't. With winter rolling in, you don't want to find yourself caught outside our walls. It would be a great shame if we were to lose two physicians in the space of a week.'

In a small clinic on the prairies, a brain with a paranoid predisposition tries to decipher that as a threat, while another laughs at the suggestion. Didier does not threaten - at least not nearly as adeptly as his father.

'You will not lose me,' I say, with all sincerity. This particular host might succumb to the freezing storms and debilitating illnesses the winter brings, but I will not.

Parallels
  • Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky
  • The Thing - the film
  • The Invincible by Stanislaw Lem