The Resurrectionist: A Tale of Gothic Horror

by Kathleen S. Allen

Overview

A young Victorian woman unwittingly unleashes a monster into being in this gothic tale of medical mystery and sinister suspense, perfect for fans of DON'T LET THE FOREST IN and BELLADONNA.

Death is just the beginning.

When seventeen-year-old Dilly Rothbart finds her recently deceased father's hidden journal, her entire world is upended—for what she finds within are the steps to bring a dead soul back to life.

Intent on finishing her father's work and establishing herself as the greatest scientist in history, Dilly plunges into a medical underworld of corpse-stealing, grave-robbing, and even murder. And when her twin sister steps in the way of her studies, she'll do whatever is necessary to secure the recognition she deserves.

This twisty, atmospheric, Frankensteinian tale is about a group of ambitious young scientists who descend into corruption when a breakthrough discovery grants them the power of gods.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250341778
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	10/07/2025
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Kathleen S. Allen is a young adult writer of gothic horror, historical, fantasy, and speculative fiction. She has published poems, short stories, novellas, and novels. She prefers dark to light, salty to sweet, and tea to coffee. She is a fan of K-Pop, classic rock, and British detective shows. She lives in Los Angeles with a sassy Tortoiseshell cat.

Editorial Reviews

"The kind of unputdownable tale where the monsters aren’t nearly the most frightening part, The Resurrectionist will haunt you long after you’re compelled to reach the inevitable end. Perfect for anyone seeking thrills, chills, and a vivid trip through time back to the misty streets of Victorian London.” —Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of The Girls Are Never Gone

“A Frankenstein retelling with a feminist twist, this debut marks a bold new voice in Gothic fiction." —Gwen C. Katz, author of Among the Red Stars

"A monstrous work of art. Captivating, poetic, and alluring, The Resurrectionist is as dark and unsettling as spilled blood. This addictive story made the gruesome come alive." —K. A. Reynolds, author of Izzy at the End of the World

From the Publisher

2025-07-19
In the 1880s, a teenage girl seeks out the secrets of the dead.

When 17-year-old Dilly Rothbart’s father dies, she and her twin sister, Deirdre, are left to survive on their own, their mother having died in childbirth. Despite her physician father’s disapproval, Dilly has always dreamed of becoming a surgeon, and she still hopes to attend medical school. Deirdre, who’s more traditional in outlook, simply wants to find love and marry. Shortly after Father’s funeral, Dilly meets Benjamin Sinclair, a mysterious gravedigger, who also happens to be a medical student. Their encounter draws Dilly into a hidden world that exists behind the doors of the medical college and beneath the cemetery grounds. She soon learns that her father was a resurrectionist, searching for the secret to eternal life and engaging in alchemical experiments. As Dilly begins to follow the same path, her ambitions border on obsession—and following a tragic accident, she’s forced to confront the grim reality of her choices and the monstrous aftermath of her decisions. The story starts off at a slower pace, building into a gripping narrative filled with secrets, science, and death. Dilly’s determination to claim a place in a male-dominated field adds a compelling feminist layer, though some of those themes would have benefitted from deeper development. Still, this dark and atmospheric novel is sure to leave readers unsettled and eager to keep turning the pages. Main characters are cued white.

A twisty, haunting debut.(Horror. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews