By Trang Thanh Tran.
Trang Thanh Tran has done it again, delivering a masterpiece of atmospheric horror that’s as deeply unsettling as it is thought-provoking.
They Bloom at Night is an evocative exploration of identity, belonging, and survival set against the eerie backdrop of a submerged Mercy, Louisiana—a town teeming with mutated wildlife, creeping red algae, and monsters both real and metaphorical.
The story centres on Noon, a Vietnamese-American teenager grappling with the suffocating weight of her past, her identity, and her fractured family. Tran masterfully interweaves themes of gender and sexuality with the raw, haunting realities of sexual trauma, cultural alienation, and strained familial ties.
Noon’s struggle to make sense of herself amid the chaos of her crumbling world is both heartbreaking and empowering.
Tran’s signature style—blending creeping, skin-prickling horror with deeply human truths—is on full display here. Mercy becomes a character in itself, its rising waters and festering algae mirroring the darkness within its people.
As Noon and the predatory leader’s enigmatic daughter join forces, the tension is palpable, building to revelations about the town, its monsters, and the twisted truth about what happens to those who drown.
What makes this book extraordinary is Tran’s ability to use horror as a lens for larger conversations. The terror of not belonging—be it to your own body, your community, or your family—is reflected in every shadow and every lurking creature.
The parallel between human monstrosity and the mutated world feels all too real, as does the chilling reminder that the greatest horrors are often human in origin.
They Bloom at Night is a must-read for fans of psychological and supernatural horror alike. Tran has solidified her place as a powerhouse in the genre, and this novel will undoubtedly haunt readers long after they turn the final page.
Thank you so much to the author - Trang Thanh Tran, and the team at Bloomsbury Circle for sending out this ARC!
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