The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes

He was sent to kill a pest. Instead, he found a monster.

Enter the decadent, deadly city of Tiliard, a metropolis carved into the stump of an ancient tree. In its canopy, the pampered elite warp minds with toxic perfume; in its roots, gangs of exterminators hunt a colossal worm with an appetite for beauty.

In this complex, chaotic city, Guy Moulène has a simple goal: keep his sister out of debt. For her sake, he'll take on any job, no matter how vile.

As an exterminator, Guy hunts the uncanny creatures that crawl up from the river. These vermin are all strange, and often dangerous. His latest quarry is different: a centipede the size of a dragon with a deadly venom and a ravenous taste for artwork. As it digests Tiliard from the sewers to the opera houses, its toxin reshapes the future of the city. No sane person would hunt it, if they had the choice.

Guy doesn't have a choice.

“I will follow this writer anywhere.” —Gillian Flynn, New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl

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Praise for this book

“An intriguing work of whimsi-grotesquerie that's got it all: political intrigue, Wharton-esque manners, infectious disease, mysterious revenge, and, of course, toxic bugs.” —Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six

“A lush and seductive story, rife with opulent horror and decaying decadence.” —Sunyi Dean, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book Eaters

“The Works of Vermin is a brilliant, shapeshifting puzzle-box of a book, as beautiful as it is bewildering.” —Christopher Buehlman, author of The Daughters' War

“If you're a fan of Mervin Peake, Gene Wolfe, China Miéville— mammal, have I got a book for you.” —Peter Watts

“Ennes is an alchemist, and The Works of Vermin is its own, new element. A brilliant blend of intense intrigue and the fantastically macabre.” —Johnny Compton, author of The Spite House

“Tiliard is a wonderfully gooey, oozy, rotting mess of a city, full of gnawing vermin and weaponized perfume, and the story of its revolution is a squicky blast.” —Django Wexler, author of How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying

Praise for Leech



The RUSA Best Horror Novel of 2023!

Finalist for the British Fantasy Newcomer Award!

Finalist for the Endeavour Award!

“A wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights... with worms!” —Tamsyn Muir

“So unique and utterly assured, I will follow this writer anywhere going forward.” —Gillian Flynn, New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl

“Emotionally complex, wildly inventive, and full of squirming terror... This is a must-read for readers looking for something new from the horror genre.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“[A] fascinating jigsaw puzzle... [that] only gets more intriguing as the novel goes on... Fans of gothic horror will devour it.” —Booklist, starred review

“The fascinating world and original narrator that Ennes creates in their debut produce a sublime gothic sci-fi tale that grows into a story greater than the sum of its parts.” —Library Journal, starred review

“Leech is perfect for readers who wished that Wuthering Heights had been just a little more like Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation.” —BookPage, starred review

“Pure Gothic horror . . . [Leech] is a masterpiece of complex morality and uncertain identity, lurking within an intriguing puzzle” —The Wall Street Journal

“Leech uses language with starling acrobatism, creating a world steeped with more secrets than the human body can contain.” —Cassandra Khaw

About the Author

HIRON ENNES is a writer, musician, and student of medicine based in the Pacific Northwest. Their areas of interest include infectious disease, pathology, and anticapitalist healthcare reform. When they're not hunched over a microscope or word document they can be found playing in the snow or playing the harp (though usually not at the same time). They're queer in every sense of the word, and they really want to pet your dog.

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Title: The Works of Vermin
Author(s): Hiron Ennes
ISBN: 9781250811226
Copyright 2025
Release Date: October 14, 2025
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group
Countries: United States, Canada | Learn more about available countries
Language: English
Format: None available | Learn More about our supported formats

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