Rat-She by Stephanie Ellis
Rat-She is a dystopian, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi horror novella by prolific author and poet Stephanie Ellis. Released on February 21, 2026, it weighs in at 121 pages.
I was so curious what was going to happen after the first few paragraphs. Ellis drops you into a dystopian world and does a fantastic job building a desolate wasteland stricken with oily, acidic rain, limited oxygen, and great expands of dirt and rock spreading as far as the eye can see. A worldwide agreement to cull Earth’s population by dropping bombs goes horribly wrong as the effects of radiation and intense pressure waves result in transformations no one could have predicted as inorganic matter melds with flesh.
We follow our main character Orla and her brother Silas who lost everyone they loved in the Great Migration and have banded together for safety in a herd of other hopeless and weary survivors in search of a deliverer: the Surgeon.
As a body horror fan, this was so much fun to read. I loved Metamorphosis and The Fly, so getting to experience Ellis’s version of mutated humans was a fresh and exciting experience. The desperation of the characters was palpable, especially when mothers and children were introduced. It was a weird dichotomy of caring and wanting people to be safe and also wanting to dive deeper into the mutations and see how dark it would go.
Though the story is not the same, there is a thin thread of the overarching feeling I get whenever I watch The Wizard of Oz. (Keep in mind, my favorite part of that movie is the flying monkeys!) The similarity merely lies in a group of lost, wandering individuals searching for help and hope, and an overpowering organization that is misleading them. This story does not mimic that one, it’s just the emotional feeling I had while reading and following Orla and Silas. It merely reminded me of the similar trials they encountered while seeking a glorified savior to redeem them.
One of the most intriguing parts of the hybrid individuals was watching how they reacted to situations as the mutations evolved. I made notes as I was reading about how humans who are considered specialists in the food chain can devolve into generalists if the environment dictates it.
A theme I enjoyed throughout the book was hive mentality. I loved how Ellis used vocabulary and actions to minimize the human aspects of the characters, building on the inevitable as the mutations they experienced progressed. Watching the slow changes connected me to the characters and stirred my emotions. Not only that, but the way some of the characters perceived themselves to be better than or more fortunate than Orla and Silas affected me. There were also harrowing scenes where mob mentality ruled, breeding opportunities to introduce one of my favorite moments in a story: a comeuppance. There’s a definite underlying tone of kill or be killed—but at what cost? Mixed in with the ravaged landscape, Ellis delivers a hellish world that will leave you shuddering.
Man had risen above the animal but his origins had reclaimed him.
This book also delves into psychological horror and the terrors humanity is capable of inflicting upon itself. There’s a great internal thread running throughout the book that touches on the strength of the mind and how it affects the outcomes of various situations. It’s a fascinating look at what humans are capable of when put in dire situations, and it might be the most frightening part of the book. There are definitely some dark scenes where I couldn’t believe such callous, easy cruelty. Add in tender moments of guilt and survivor regret, and Ellis allows you to experience the full gamut of emotions within the characters. She will tug at your heartstrings as well as kick up your anger!
Accepting change for survival, allowing others to help despite fear and the unknown, and giving in to inherent urges are all things I was left pondering after I finished the book. As a past student of biology and anthropology, the evolution of the characters mentally and physically thrilled me. I enjoyed the psychological and horrific path Ellis led me down, and the ending felt just right. I highly recommend grabbing a copy of this entertaining tale.
On a personal note, I loved reading through Stephanie Ellis’s About section on her website (see below). I, too, am a fan of Charles Dickens, and I’ve been to many metal shows that people might be shocked to learn about just by looking at me! I always enjoy learning a little bit about the author after I read a story or book, and now I’m especially looking forward to reading more of Ellis’s work in the future!
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Get to know Stephanie Ellis:
Stephanie Ellis is a writer of dark fiction and poetry with her work appearing in a variety of magazines and anthologies, some of which has featured in Ellen Datlow’s Best of Horror recommended reading longlists and in a Bram Stoker Award-nominated anthology. She is a Rhysling and Elgin Award nominated poet and has co-written poetry collections Foundlings (with Bram Stoker Award winner Cindy O’Quinn) and Lilith Rising (with Shane Douglas Keene). A hybrid author, her novels and novellas are a mix of self-published and traditionally published. She has a preference for writing in the gothic, folk horror, historical horror and postapocalyptic subgenres but will happily try something new as seen in her alt history cosy crime, Twiggy Voo? In fact, she prefers to be known simply as a storyteller rather than be labelled in any way.
She lives in Wrexham, Wales, with her family, where she spends a lot of time gazing out of the window by her desk watching the rain come down—it rains a lot in Wales. This sort of weather is the perfect excuse to stay indoors and read, her tastes varying from Charles Dickens to Ray Bradbury to Tananarive Due to Keith Rosson. She is also not averse to cosy crime in contrast to the darker side of fiction which she both writes and reads.
Music plays an important part in her life and whilst she is a metal fan, she loves punk (’70s naturally) and pagan folk. Gigs attended have been as varied as Nine Inch Nails, Wardruna and Bruce Springsteen. Much like books, she is prepared to try new artists.
When it is not raining – and she has the energy – she hikes hillsides, forests, and canal paths with her husband, Geraint.
She can be found online mostly at bsky: stephellis.bsky.social, but she can also be found on Instagram: stephanieellis7963 and Facebook: stephanie.ellis.353.
***Taken from Stephanie Ellis’s website
