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The Twisted Ones

The Twisted Ones is a 2019 horror novel by American author T. Kingfisher, the pen name of Ursula Vernon, a Hugo and Nebula Award-winning writer and illustrator known for her fantasy works such as the graphic novel Digger.^[1] Published by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, the book follows protagonist Mouse, a young woman tasked with clearing out her late grandmother's cluttered house in rural North Carolina, where she uncovers a disturbing journal revealing encounters with otherworldly creatures in the surrounding woods.^[1] Accompanied only by her loyal dog, Mouse confronts these twisted entities, blending folk horror elements with psychological tension in a narrative inspired by Arthur Machen's classic 1904 short story "The White People."^[2] The novel explores themes of isolation, hidden family secrets, and the uncanny, drawing on Southern Gothic traditions while incorporating Lovecraftian cosmic horror through its depiction of an ancient, malevolent force lurking in the forest.^[2] Critics praised its atmospheric tension, witty narration from Mouse's perspective, and Kingfisher's skillful escalation of dread, with the story structured around nested narratives that echo Machen's influence. Upon release, The Twisted Ones received widespread acclaim, earning the 2020 Dragon Award for Best Horror Novel, the RUSA Award for Best Horror, and a spot on Library Journal's Best Horror Books of 2019 list, while also being nominated for the British Fantasy Award and Locus Award.^[1] Its success solidified Kingfisher's reputation in the horror genre as her debut adult novel, followed by works like The Hollow Places (2020) and What Moves the Dead (2022).^[3]

Background

Author

T. Kingfisher is the pseudonym used by Ursula Vernon for her adult fantasy and horror fiction.^[4] Under her real name, Vernon is a prolific author and illustrator renowned for her work in fantasy and children's literature, including the long-running Dragonbreath series, which blends comic panels with prose to follow the misadventures of a young dragon navigating school and mythical challenges.^[5] This series, starting in 2009, established Vernon as a key figure in middle-grade fiction, earning praise for its humorous take on fantasy tropes and appealing to readers who enjoy hybrid formats similar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid.^[6] The series won the 2012 Sequoyah Book Award for Children's Literature.^[7] Vernon's career includes significant milestones in speculative fiction, such as her 2017 Hugo Award for Best Novelette for "The Tomato Thief," a story continuing the folklore-infused adventures of her character Grandma Harken.^[8] This win, along with earlier accolades like the 2012 Hugo for her webcomic Digger, highlights her versatility across mediums and genres.^[4] She has also received a Nebula Award for Best Short Story in 2014 for "Jackalope Wives," the Sequoyah Award, and other honors, solidifying her reputation as an influential creator in fantasy circles.^[4]^[9] Transitioning to adult-oriented writing under the Kingfisher pseudonym, Vernon began exploring darker themes in the mid-2010s, with early works like the 2015 fairy-tale retelling Bryony and Roses, a gothic-inflected Beauty and the Beast story that introduced elements of unease and enchantment. This was followed by the Clocktaur War duology—Clockwork Boys (2017) and The Wonder Engine (2018)—which combined steampunk fantasy with quest narratives involving automatons and espionage, marking her shift toward more mature, genre-blending adventures. By the late 2010s, Kingfisher's output increasingly incorporated horror, establishing Vernon as a versatile author capable of spanning children's whimsy to adult chills, a trajectory that continued into the 2020s with acclaimed works such as What Moves the Dead (2022, Hugo Award for Best Novella), Nettle & Bone (2022, Hugo Award for Best Novel), A House with Good Bones (2023), and What Feasts at Home (2024).^[4]^[10]^[11]

Inspirations

The primary inspiration for The Twisted Ones was Arthur Machen's 1904 short story "The White People," which provided the foundation for the novel's folk horror elements and its diary-within-a-story structure.^[12] Machen's tale, centered on a young girl's naive encounters with the supernatural, influenced the depiction of otherworldly creatures and corrupted innocence, with recurring motifs like the "twisted ones" directly echoing phrases from the original narrative.^[12] The novel also draws connections to regional North Carolina folklore, incorporating the unease of rural landscapes and legends of hidden realms to evoke a sense of isolation and lurking dread. T. Kingfisher, writing under her pen name, processed the disorienting "wall of green" undergrowth and tangled terrain of the North Carolina countryside, which contrasted sharply with her West Coast upbringing and amplified the story's atmosphere of concealed threats.^[13] This regional flavor manifests in subtle nods to local tales of effigies and unnatural entities in wooded areas, grounding the supernatural in a tangible sense of place.^[13] In the development process, Kingfisher aimed to modernize Machen's themes of innocence corrupted by the supernatural, addressing what she saw as dated elements in the original, such as unnatural dialogue in the young narrator's monologue. By reimagining these for a contemporary audience, she sought to preserve the story's eerie essence while making it more relatable and less archaic.^[12] This approach reflects her background in fantasy writing, where she often blends whimsy with darker undertones.^[12]

Content

Plot summary

Mouse, a freelance editor living in Pittsburgh with her dog Bongo, is tasked by her estranged father with clearing out her late grandmother's cluttered house in rural North Carolina after the recent death of her step-grandfather.^[14] As she sorts through the hoarded items, Mouse discovers her step-grandfather Frederick's diary, filled with disturbing rants about entities known as the "twisted ones" and references to a mysterious text called The Green Book, which he attempts to recreate from memory.^[15] Intrigued and unsettled, she ventures into the surrounding woods, where she uncovers strange white stones and encounters horrifying, otherworldly creatures, including twisted deer with unnatural features and crude effigies that seem to watch her.^[2] The discoveries draw Mouse deeper into the mystery, as she enlists the help of her quirky neighbor Foxy—a local taxidermist—and her family, sharing tales of local folklore that echo the diary's contents.^[16] Supernatural occurrences escalate, with apparitions of pale, humanoid "White People" from The Green Book lore appearing in the forest, accompanied by eerie sounds and a pervasive sense of being pursued.^[2] Bongo's instincts alert Mouse to lurking dangers, heightening the psychological tension as the boundaries between the familiar rural landscape and an ancient, malevolent force blur.^[15] The narrative builds to a frantic confrontation in the woods, where Mouse, Foxy, and their allies face the full horror of the twisted entities, racing against time amid mounting dread and revelations tied to her family's past.^[14] The story culminates in a desperate effort to rescue a loved one and eradicate the source of the terror, underscoring themes of isolation and inherited secrets through relentless, atmospheric horror.^[17]

Characters

The protagonist of The Twisted Ones is Melissa, who goes by the nickname Mouse, a thirty-something freelance editor grappling with family trauma and the aftermath of a breakup. Portrayed as pragmatic, witty, snarky, and resilient, she serves as the first-person narrator, bringing a genre-savvy perspective to the unfolding events while demonstrating growth from detachment to active confrontation with the unknown.^[18]^[2]^[19] Mouse's constant companion is Bongo, her loyal redbone coonhound, who acts as a sensory indicator for supernatural presences through his alert reactions and provides moments of comic relief amid the tension. Described as a supportive "good boy," Bongo underscores Mouse's emotional reliance on him during her isolation.^[1]^[19]^[20] Among the supporting human characters, Foxy stands out as the eccentric, folksy neighbor in her sixties, offering maternal guidance and local knowledge with hidden depths that aid Mouse's investigations. The deceased grandmother is characterized as a mean-spirited hoarder whose cluttered home sets the stage for discoveries, while her step-grandfather emerges through his journal as a quiet figure whose cryptic writings about strange encounters propel the narrative. Anna functions as a supporting figure tied to events from the 1960s, representing a trapped victim ensnared in the story's eerie legacy.^[19]^[1]^[19] The antagonistic entities, known as the Effigies or Twisted Ones, are depicted as constructed horrors—shambling, clacking figures made from sticks and debris—that evoke primal terror without elaborated personal histories, serving as manifestations of the novel's folkloric dread.^[19]^[2]

Themes

The Twisted Ones exemplifies folk horror through its depiction of rural North Carolina landscapes corrupted by ancient, malevolent forces, transforming idyllic woods into sites of supernatural intrusion. The novel draws on traditions of folklore where hidden, otherworldly entities—such as the enigmatic White People—disrupt the pastoral serenity, evoking a sense of isolation and inevitable doom for those who venture into these spaces. This corruption manifests in the perversion of natural elements, where everyday rural settings become gateways to cosmic terror, blending regional American gothic with archaic mythologies.^[2]^[21] Psychological themes permeate the narrative, particularly the protagonist's confrontation with grief and the inherited trauma embedded in familial legacies. The story explores how unresolved sorrow from loss warps perception, leading to an inheritance of emotional burdens that echo across generations, amplified by the discovery of a disturbing diary whose entries challenge the boundaries between truth and delusion. This unreliable narration heightens the madness, as the diarist's fragmented account blurs the line between psychological breakdown and genuine supernatural encounter, underscoring the fragility of the human mind under duress. The novel's inspiration from Arthur Machen's "The White People" serves as a foundational motif for this descent into inherited otherness.^[22]^[2] Central to the horror is the uncanny reimagining of nature, where familiar animals and landscapes morph into profound sources of dread, exposing human vulnerability to indifferent, ancient powers. Ordinary creatures and terrain—dense forests, twisted stones, and altered wildlife—take on grotesque, animistic qualities that evoke primal fear, contrasting the protagonists' rational worldview with the overwhelming, uncontrollable forces of the wild. This motif highlights humanity's precarious position, as the natural world, once comforting, reveals itself as a conduit for the inexplicable, leaving individuals isolated and defenseless against encroaching abnormality.^[22]^[2]

Publication

Release

The Twisted Ones was released in hardcover and trade paperback on October 1, 2019, by Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, in the United States.^[23] The publisher announced a first printing of 50,000 copies as part of its fall 2019 lineup in science fiction, fantasy, and horror.^[23] The novel was marketed as a standalone work of contemporary horror, drawing on T. Kingfisher's established voice in genre fiction and marking her debut in adult horror.^[23] Pre-release buzz built through advance reader copies distributed to critics, resulting in early reviews that highlighted its folk horror elements shortly after the announcement.^[15]^[2] Author events in 2019, including promotional appearances tied to the launch, further amplified interest among horror enthusiasts.^[24]

Formats

The Twisted Ones was published in hardcover by Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, in the United States on October 1, 2019, with ISBN 978-1534429574.^[14] A simultaneous trade paperback edition was released in the US by the same publisher, bearing ISBN 978-1534429567.^[1] In the United Kingdom, Titan Books issued a paperback edition on March 17, 2020, with ISBN 978-1789093285.^[25] Digital formats have been available since the book's launch, including an eBook edition for the US market with ISBN 978-1534429581, distributed through platforms such as Amazon Kindle.^[26] The audiobook version, produced by Simon & Schuster Audio and narrated by Hillary Huber, was released on October 1, 2019, with a runtime of 11 hours and 4 minutes and ISBN 978-1508297475.^[27] Huber's performance has been praised for enhancing the atmospheric tension of the narrative.^[28]

Reception

Critical reception

The Twisted Ones received widespread praise from critics for its masterful atmospheric building and the distinctive voice of protagonist Mouse, whose first-person narration blends wit, resilience, and folksy charm to draw readers into the rural North Carolina setting. Reviewers highlighted how the novel's sense of isolation and creeping dread emerges organically from the environment, with the wooded hills functioning almost as a character in their own right. Starburst Magazine commended the book's unsettling atmosphere, noting that it derives much of its power from "the unexpected, the incongruous, and the unexplained," creating horrors that feel like "crimes against nature" which corrupt the mind and linger long after reading.^[29] Similarly, the Chicago Review of Books praised Mouse's "folksy, rambling charm" and the novel's "rich regional dialect," incorporating local idioms like "crick" for creek to infuse the gothic elements with authentic Southern flavor.^[22] Critics also lauded the tension and horror elements, which effectively blend folkloric unease with modern psychological dread, often evoking Arthur Machen's The White People through nested narratives like the discovered "Green Book." Locus Magazine described the story as delivering "heart-stopping page-turning chills," with superb characterizations—particularly Mouse's sharp sensibility and her companion Foxy—amplifying the terror of strange creatures and effigies in the isolated woods.^[30] NPR emphasized the novel's "wrenching, grotesque, [and] charmingly eerie" folk-horror qualities, crediting the stories-within-stories structure for sustaining momentum and linking cosmic frights across settings from Wales to North Carolina. Publishers Weekly echoed this, calling it a "rich [in] atmosphere and characterization" occult thriller that combines genuine scares with resilient, down-to-earth protagonists.^[2]^[31] While overwhelmingly positive, some reviews noted minor flaws, such as the embedded manuscript sections that could test reader patience midway through due to their volume, potentially slowing the pace before the horror intensifies. The Chicago Review of Books observed that this "found" document, while integral, risks overwhelming the narrative flow for some. Such critiques were tempered by the consensus that these elements ultimately enhance the novel's layered dread, contributing to its acclaim, including nominations for prestigious awards like the August Derleth Award.^[22]

Awards

The Twisted Ones garnered recognition in prominent genre awards, affirming its impact in horror literature. It won the 2020 Dragon Award for Best Horror Novel, an accolade voted on by fans at Dragon Con that highlights the book's resonance within speculative fiction communities.^[32] The novel was a finalist for the 2020 British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel, known as the August Derleth Award, where it competed alongside titles such as The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling.^[33] Additionally, The Twisted Ones earned a nomination for the 2020 Locus Award for Best Horror Novel, positioning it among leading horror releases of the year as selected by Locus Magazine readers and professionals.^[34] It also won the 2019 RUSA Reading List Award in the Horror category, selected by the Reference and User Services Association for outstanding genre fiction.^[35] Furthermore, the novel was included in Library Journal's Best Horror Books of 2019 list.^[36]

References

[1]
The Twisted Ones | Book by T. Kingfisher - Simon & Schuster
4–8 day delivery 30-day returnsFind her online at RedWombatStudio.com. Product Details. Publisher: Gallery Books (October 1, 2019); Length: 400 pages; ISBN13: 9781534429567. Browse Related ...
[2]
Review: 'The Twisted Ones,' By T. Kingfisher - NPR
Oct 3, 2019 · Although a contemporary horror novel, The Twisted Ones ties itself to Machen's legendary story in ways that are both ominous and ingenious.
[3]
T. Kingfisher - Dublin Literary Award
Her debut adult horror novel, The Twisted Ones, won the 2020 Dragon Award for Best Horror Novel, and was followed by the critically acclaimed The Hollow Places.
[4]
T Kingfisher: books, biography, latest update - Amazon.com
She has been nominated for the World Fantasy and the Eisner, and has won the Hugo, Sequoyah, Nebula, Alfie, WSFA, Coyotl and Ursa Major awards, as well as a ...
[5]
Dragonbreath Series - Penguin Random House
Ursula Vernon Danny Dragonbreath can't breathe fire, but he'll make you laugh until smoke comes out of your nose. Told in a mix of comic panels and text, this hilarious middle-grade series is perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
[6]
Dragonbreath Series Book Review | Common Sense Media
Rating 5.0 · Review by Carrie KingsleyParents need to know that the Dragonbreath series by Ursula Vernon (Hamster Princess) mixes comic book panels and text to create the comedic adventures of ...
[7]
2017 Hugo Awards
Best Novelette. “The Tomato Thief”, by Ursula Vernon (Apex Magazine, January 2016); “You'll Surely Drown Here If You Stay”, by Alyssa Wong (Uncanny Magazine ...
[8]
Asking author Ursula Vernon to reveal what hides in The Hollow ...
Oct 14, 2020 · With “The White People,” the inspiration for The Twisted Ones, Vernon explains that Machen wrote a fascinating and interesting story, but she ...
[9]
Hostile Landscapes: PW Talks with T. Kingfisher - Publishers Weekly
Oct 10, 2025 · I was living there, and the first of my North Carolina horror novels, The Twisted Ones, was about coming to grips with what a strange ...
[10]
https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2023-hugo-awards/
[11]
THE TWISTED ONES - Kirkus Reviews
THE TWISTED ONES. by T. Kingfisher ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2019. Read this one ... Something is lurking just outside Mouse's house, and that effigy isn't ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[12]
The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher - I Read, Therefore I Blog
Apr 22, 2020 · The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher · You can order · Melissa (known as “Mouse”) works as a freelance editor in Pittsburgh where she lives with her ...
[13]
Book Review | The Twisted Ones - Righter of Words
Dec 28, 2023 · The Twisted Ones is a marvelous story, full of layers and sinister, suspenseful moments. There's kind of a metanarrative going on.
[14]
The Twisted Ones Character Analysis | SuperSummary
She is a dynamic and round character, beginning the story as a freelance editor seeking temporary escape from a bad breakup and ending as the survivor of a ...
[15]
THE TWISTED ONES by T. Kingfisher - SFFWorld
Nov 26, 2019 · As mentioned earlier, Mouse's grandmother was not a nice person, so of course she hid the Green Book from him. Mouse is an editor by trade ...
[16]
Recent reading: The Twisted Ones by T Kingfisher - Rachel Neumeier
Nov 7, 2019 · “The Twisted Ones” is actually drawn from a collection of horror stories by the author Arthur Machen-specifically the story “The White People”.
[17]
Just in time for Halloween, the best horror fiction of the year
Oct 29, 2019 · Kingfisher's horror debut, “The Twisted Ones,” connects contemporary regional horror with the work of the great Welsh fantasist Arthur Machen.<|control11|><|separator|>
[18]
A Chilling Southern Gothic Novel Set In Contemporary North Carolina
Oct 24, 2019 · The Twisted Ones is a Southern gothic tale told in the folksy, rambling charm of its narrator, Melissa. She is humble to the point of ...
[19]
https://www.sffworld.com/2019/11/the-twisted-ones-by-t-kingfisher/
[20]
Fall 2019 Announcements: SF, Fantasy & Horror - Publishers Weekly
Jun 21, 2019 · The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher (Oct. 1, trade paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-5344-2956-7). When a young woman clears out her deceased ...
[21]
The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher - Goodreads
$$13.99 Rating 3.6 (45,369) Oct 1, 2019 · The Twisted Ones ; Goodreads Choice Award. Nominee for Readers' Favorite Horror (2019) ; GenresHorrorFantasyFictionMysteryThrillerAudiobook ...
[22]
The Twisted Ones : T. Kingfisher - Amazon UK
In stock Rating 4.0 (6,983) Publisher, Titan Books (UK) ; Publication date, 17 Mar. 2020 ; Edition, 1st ; Language, ‎English ; Print length, 416 pages.
[23]
The Twisted Ones - Titan Books
Mar 17, 2020 · Description. When Mouse's dad asks her to clean out her dead grandmother's house, she says yes. After all, how bad could it be?
[24]
The Twisted Ones - Kindle edition by Kingfisher, T.. Mystery, Thriller ...
30-day returnsBook details ; Word Wise: Enabled ; Print length: 399 pages ; ISBN-13: 978-1534429581 ; Page Flip: Enabled ; About the author · T. Kingfisher is the vaguely absurd ...
[25]
The Twisted Ones
### Summary of The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher
[26]
https://www.amazon.com/Twisted-Ones-T-Kingfisher-ebook/dp/B07P55QS3X
[27]
THE TWISTED ONES - STARBURST Magazine
The Twisted Ones is an unsettling, atmospheric read that demands to be consumed in one sitting… and then will have you checking the windows and the doors before ...
[28]
Paula Guran Reviews Monster, She Wrote by Lisa Kröger & Melanie ...
7-day returnsJan 13, 2020 · Kingfisher (nom de plume of Ursula Vernon) offers a great deal more with The Twisted Ones than this reviewer's personal identification. Tasked ...
[29]
The Twisted Ones - Publishers Weekly
A witty young girl and horrific creatures tangle in this atmospheric folk horror novel from Kingfisher (a pen name for Ursula Vernon).
[30]
2020 Recipients - The Dragon Award
The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher. Best Comic Book Avengers by Jason Aaron, Ed McGuinness. Best Graphic Novel Battlestar Galactica Counterstrike by John ...
[31]
2020 British Fantasy Awards Winners - Locus Magazine
Feb 22, 2021 · The Twisted Ones, T. Kingfisher (Titan); Mistletoe, Alison Littlewood (Jo Fletcher); The Migration, Helen Marshall (Titan). Best Novella. WINNER ...
[32]
2020 Locus Awards Winners
Jun 27, 2020 · The Twisted Ones, T. Kingfisher (Saga); Anno Dracula 1999: Daikaiju, Kim Newman (Titan US & UK); The Pursuit of William Abbey, Claire North ...