Introduction
Published in April 2026, Overgrowth by Mira Grant is the modern-twist on the classical theme of alien invasions that has captivated sci-fi and horror readers alike.
A Summary
Anastasia Miller walked into the forbidden forest when she was 3 years old. She never came back out. But something that looked exactly like her walked out and began living the life Anastasia never got the chance to live. The only discernable difference is that the new Stasia insists she is an alien. She tells everyone she can - she can’t stop.
When an alien signal is being broadcast across the world, everyone around her realises she may not be lying. But can they bring themselves to turn their backs on humanity?
Writing Style
The chapters in this book can be long - sometimes over 40 pages - as the writing style is extremely descriptive. It is a singular, first-person POV, meaning there is internal monologue heavily packed into this novel.
My Thoughts
I was really hoping this book would be a 5 star read, but it did let me down and eventually I ended up at 3 stars. The premise was an interesting take on a classic type of fiction - alien invasion - but it lacked the depth in which I wanted it to go. I did love the opening section about Anastasia’s death which set such an eerie tone. The problem was that the book wasn’t able to keep up that same tone - partially due to its length and partially due to the fact it wasn’t willing to take risks with the characters. For a book with blood-sucking aliens made out of plants - there was nowhere near the amount of body horror needed to portray the story effectively. The entire book is in a first person perspective, and Stasia’s body is changing in ways she doesn’t understand, with cravings she hasn’t prepared for, and that should be disturbing but the writing ruins this completely. I felt more bored than disturbed by the fact her skin was growing green and her feet were becoming logs - which is honestly an interesting feat to achieve. I also didn’t enjoy the main character, who had no discernable character traits other than the fact she was an alien and she loved her boyfriend. Despite having no leadership qualities, she is treated as a leader by those around her in a very unrealistic way.
Having said all of that, it was still an enjoyable read. A lot of alien-based media doesn’t take the time to explain the species and Overgrowth does that flawlessly. It’s clear a lot of thought was put into it and I can appreciate that. I also really loved the inclusion of a trans person into a story where it isn’t necessary to the plot - it feels like media is moving more towards normalcy towards the topic.
Trigger Warnings
Please note this is a non-comprehensive list and there may be triggers in this book not explicitly stated here.
- Child Death
- Murder
- Body Horror
- Mild Torture
Recommendation
If you are truly a lover of alien-invasion literature, then I would recommend this. But I can’t recommend it as a good horror or an interesting read due to the length.