I acquired a overview copy from the writer. This doesn’t have an effect on the contents of my overview and all opinions are my very own.

The Dorians by Nick Cutter

Mogsy’s Score: 3.5 of 5 stars 

Style: Horror

Collection: Stand Alone

Writer: Gallery Books (Might 19, 2026)

Size: 400 pages

Creator Data: Web site

A couple of years in the past, I examine Canada’s growth of its MAiD program, which stands for Medical Help in Dying, permitting eligible sufferers with grievous medical situations to legally search physician-assisted dying. What struck me most although, is that its framework is taken into account one of the vital permissive on this planet. Whereas many nations strictly restrict this feature for terminally sick adults, Canada doesn’t. And ever since studying about it, I had a sense authors would ultimately start writing tales associated to the emotional and moral implications, and I used to be proper. The Dorians might be the second or third e book I’ve learn not too long ago that explores themes surrounding proper to die, bodily autonomy, concern of decline, and the way far persons are prepared to go with a purpose to finish their private struggling. Nick Cutter, the pseudonym for critically acclaimed Canadian creator Craig Davidson, takes these themes and pushes them into full-blown horror science fiction territory.

The story follows a bunch of aged characters nearing the top of their lives for various causes, who’ve all independently sought out MAiD. Every of them is approached by a mysterious physician named Astrid Marsh, who provides them the possibility to take part in a extremely experimental however life-altering remedy at her secluded analysis facility on a distant island. A few of these people are terminally sick and out of medical choices, whereas others are merely exhausted by previous age and feeling like they’ve change into a burden to society. What all of them share, nevertheless, is remorse. That lingering hope of an opportunity at a do-over is what drives a number of them to not less than hear Dr. Marsh out, even for individuals who have already made peace with the thought of assisted dying.

And certainly, it seems what the good physician has deliberate is nothing in need of revolutionary. In her analysis, she has found a approach to not solely cease growing older, however to reverse the organic clock utterly, restoring youth to these prepared to take part in her research. In fact, the remedy comes with huge dangers, and it’s positively not for the squeamish. The experiment facilities on the hydra, a primitive multicellular organism identified for its obvious organic immortality as they don’t age as a consequence of their stem cells present in a relentless state of renewal. And now, Dr. Marsh and her staff have discovered a approach to harness these regenerative properties and combine them into human hosts. Regardless of the uncertainty and hideousness behind the method, it’s not laborious to see why most of the members would take her up on the provide.

After his previous few novels, Nick Cutter feels absolutely again in his aspect with The Dorians. As a lot as I like a few of his weirder, extra formidable work, I actually assume he’s at his strongest when he’s tackling easy physique horror with a tightly managed solid of characters and a extra targeted premise. In any case, what’s extra anxiety-inducing than the thought of growing older? Shedding management of your physique is terrifying sufficient, however dropping your thoughts proper alongside is likely to be even worse. That concern sits on the middle of this novel, and the creator digs into it with all of the grotesque element he’s change into identified for.

And sure, the physique horror completely delivers. I merely adore it when horror novels incorporate a organic part, and in the event you’ve learn Nick Cutter earlier than, you already know he has a expertise for ensuring organic processes really feel disturbing in essentially the most skin-crawling methods attainable. However what actually makes the novel efficient, and likewise what I feel is its biggest power, is that the horror right here isn’t essentially of the “soar scare” selection, nor would I say it’s scary within the conventional sense. As a substitute, it’s unsettling on an thought stage, paired with vivid and typically nauseating imagery that turns into more durable and more durable to look away from.

However whereas Cutter clearly had a number of enjoyable exploring the nightmarish potentialities of Dr. Marsh’s hydra experiment, we nonetheless have a robust emotional thread working beneath all of the organic ick and gore. For one, the aged members all got here to the island pondering they have been staring down the ultimate stretch of their lives. A lot of them carry deep loneliness, resentment, or concern about what’s coming subsequent. In some methods, I want the story had spent extra time unpacking these concepts associated to the characters’ anxieties and remorse about growing older, which could have helped flesh them out extra as people. As a substitute, the plot spends a number of time delving into the backstory and psychology of the principle antagonist. Whereas essential and attention-grabbing in its personal proper, it additionally pulled the main target away from the others, and by the top, the villain was truthfully the one character who actually caught with me.

In the end, The Dorians was for me a extremely entertaining return to type for Nick Cutter. It’s gross and full of the form of physique horror that will get underneath your pores and skin, however it’s additionally considerate and emotionally messy. The novel does have some points, however I nonetheless really feel prefer it’s one in all his stronger works and properly price testing if the premise speaks to you.