What Rough Beast

Long-held grudges and ancient evils come to roost in this psychological, speculative horror that's Don't Let the Forest In meets Stranger Things. Featuring multicast narration!

Nothing stays buried forever...

Ava learned the hard way that speaking up means being shut out. A social outcast, she finds comfort in her job at a wildlife rehabilitation center, surrounded by the injured, the damaged, and the lame. Best of all, the work distracts her from the night that changed her life—and the boy she holds responsible for it.

Micah knows he’s not a good guy. His past is littered with mistakes, accidents, and things he’d rather forget. But feeling guilty and accepting punishment are two different things. He doesn’t know which is worse—the weight of what he’s done… or the growing feeling that it’s all about to be dragged into the light.

Hailey will do whatever it takes to rise up from her life of abject poverty. The biggest weapon she has is her looks, and she’ll use it to get what she wants—the richest boy in town. When Ava’s claims threaten their relationship, Hailey knows she must silence her—maybe forever.

When Ava unknowingly awakens an entity that has been biding its time underground, the three teens will be brought together on a night when something wants to be born and only a death will balance the scales.

© 2026 HarperCollins (Audiobook): 9780063370784

Release date

Audiobook: 27 October 2026