When The Wolf Comes Home + Treats
Conspiracy theories are basically just fairy tales for adults, aren’t they?
― Nat Cassidy
When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy found me the way some books are meant to, by chance, pulled from a free library with no expectations attached. I don’t usually choose horror unless it comes highly recommended so this felt like a safe way to step outside my usual reading habits.
From the opening pages, the novel draws you in emotionally rather than through shock. Jess is grieving her father, who left her long before his death and that complicated absence sits at the center of the story. Cassidy understands that grief doesn’t announce itself loudly; it lingers, distorts memory and quietly reshapes how we move through the world.
Although marketed as horror, the book works just as well—if not better—as a psychological thriller. The description barely hints at the depth of what unfolds. The tension builds slowly, pitter-pattering around the edges of the truly horrific, letting unease seep in rather than forcing it. The fear is patient, atmospheric and rooted in the mind.
What makes the novel effective is its restraint. Cassidy allows character and psychology to do the heavy lifting, so when the darker elements finally surface, they land with real weight. By then, you’re already invested in Jess and the emotional terrain she’s navigating.
When the Wolf Comes Home is a smart, unsettling read that will appeal to readers who may be wary of horror but appreciate fiction that explores grief, identity and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. It’s proof that sometimes the most disturbing things aren’t what jumps out at you but what follows quietly behind, waiting to be recognized.
Warm Chia–Cacao Porridge for Holding It Together
A healthy treat for late chapters and low light
Pairs with: grief, endurance, women who keep going
Ingredients
1 cup almond milk (or whatever milk keeps you steady)
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 tablespoon raw cacao powder
1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
A pinch of cinnamon
A pinch of sea salt
Optional: sliced banana, crushed almonds, or a splash of vanilla
Instructions
Warm the milk gently in a small saucepan.
Not boiling. Not rushing. Just enough to feel held.
Whisk in the chia seeds and cacao until the dark smooths out.
Add maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt.
Keep stirring—this part matters.
Attention changes texture.
Lower the heat and let it thicken for 5–8 minutes, stirring often.
It will look thin before it doesn’t.
So do most things.
Pour into a bowl.
Top with banana or nuts if you need a little extra grounding.
To Serve
Eat warm, preferably under a blanket or by a window.
This is a quiet kind of nourishment—
bitter and sweet,
rich without being heavy,
meant to keep you present while the story does its work.
This is not comfort food.
It’s staying food.