The cold unaffecting halls of a bleak corporate workspace bathed in stark fluorescent lighting are rife with the possibilities for horror, a fact that Alma Katsu knows well as evidenced by her upcoming release, Fiend. But what about this common setting makes for the perfect horror playground, you may ask? Well, it’s the people who roam these halls, who inhabit grandiose corner offices, and utilize private elevators; we’re talking about the elite, the seemingly untouchable, the rich. But what if there was something that could dethrone the dynasty of the wealthy? An entity that could foreseeably eat the rich?
The Berisha family has long had an uncanny streak of good fortune; when problems arise, they seemingly disappear with folks going missing, mouths shutting, or even whistle-blowers perishing. A rumor persists, both among the public and the family, that the Berisha’s carry a curse. Cross them, and die. However, the patriarch of the family, Zef, has never shed light on the subject to his middle child and aspiring head of the clan, Maris. Despite the eldest boy, Dardan, on track to become the CEO of the family empire, Maris is determined to prove her worth to her father, a driving force that seems to motivate her to no end. This is the complete opposite to Nora, the baby of the family, who begs the family business to take a turn for the good, to devote their wealth to just causes. Yet, everyone’s wishes seem to take new shape when a lobbyist comes forward, one who plans to unearth all the wrongness with the Berisha family enterprise. Blood begins to spill, knowing no bounds, calling into question the true realities for the family and their secrets.
Fiend has notably received comps to the acclaimed limited series, Succession, and for damn good reason. Much like the Roy family, there’s lots of egos, lots of dysfunction, and lots of power up for grabs. But where a series like Succession remains deeply rooted in harsh realities, Katsu takes readers on an enthralling venture into the true depravities of the wealthy through the lens of horror. Perhaps one of the most enjoyable aspects of Fiend is the willingness to go there, to spill blood, to give shape and image to the simmering psychological components bubbling beneath each character’s skin. This style of sharp, unflinching story telling demands all attention, as looking away from these characters’ actions is simply not an option under the spell of Katsu’s prose.
Even more notable are the gender dynamics functioning within this novel, the examination of expectations from men and women even in the 21st century as a means to ensuring generational wealth and prominence. This is mostly easily seen through Zef’s treatment of Dardan and Maris, the automatic assumption at the eldest boy’s trajectory and the bleak outlook of the younger woman’s. Even beyond these interfamily constructs, Katsu offers a glimpse into the professional world where women are asked to be “in control, but not controlling,” to play nice, but not be a pushover, to be a walking contradiction. One scene in particular highlights these impossible expectations, holding the brightest spotlight to the social constructs and psychological games constantly being played for women in a place of power. Katsu’s commentary is brilliant and dazzling while simultaneously instituting intense levels of social dread and horror.
Written with the intensity and severity of the corporate machine, Fiend by Alma Katsu covers much ground in examining the horrors of power, wealth, and a landscape operating without a system of checks and balances. While this sounds like a lot of corporate/business related talk, the relationships between the Berisha family members undoubtedly flaunt these atrocities in their treatment of one another, family curse in operation or not. Masterfully told with the deftest hand, Alma Katsu gives us a memorable, violent venture into the savagery of the wealthy and the powerful. Fiend gives shape to cruelties that are no longer deniable, proving that this is must-read, modern horror at its absolute best.
Fiend by Alma Katsu hits shelves on September 16, 2025 from Putnam. The audiobook, narrated by Barrie Kreinik, is available for preorder via Libro.fm!
