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It's Not a Cult

'Fierce, freewheeling modern folk horror that thrums with originality' Financial Times

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It's Not a Cult

By: Joey Batey
Narrated by: Joey Batey
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Bloomsbury presents It's Not a Cult, written and read by Joey Batey.

'I loved it straight away ... characters so vivid you feel like they might be living in your wardrobe right now' NATASHA PULLEY, author of THE WATCHMAKER OF FILIGREE STREET

'Gloriously over-the-top and under-the-skin [with] shades of early Angela Carter' OSKAR JENSEN, author of HELLE AND DEATH

Callum, Melusine and Al play in a band with no name, baffling audiences in terrible pubs across the northeast of England with their ‘sound’. Their songs tell the stories of the Solkats: fictional northern gods of small things, of mishap and mayhem. Absolutely no one knows what they’re on about. But they believe in their music, and in each other. And they’re happy.

That is, until an act of violence at a pub gig goes viral, they catch the eye of a disillusioned influencer and suddenly go from having a cult following to having a cult, following.

All the Solkats want, Callum insists, is to have effect on the world. But as fans from LA to Australia flock to Northumberland, and each gig becomes larger and more lawless than the last, this effect starts to feel scarily… real. Which poses the question: if the Solkats really do exist, which is it more dangerous to anger: a wayward group of elder gods, or your biggest fans?

Because gods and cults both demand sacrifices. And one way or another they’re going to get one…©2025 Joey Batey (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Fantasy Horror Funny Witty
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Critic reviews

Fierce, freewheeling piece of modern folk horror that thrums with originality (James Lovegrove)
An incredibly fun read … Joey Batey has pulled another arrow out of his creative quiver and hit a bullseye
Vigorous, lurid, page-turning
Batey writes confidently, leaning into the mordant comedy, while also committing fully to the book's disturbing premise
Fabulously mad … I loved it straightaway … So convincing that I’m a little bit worried that somehow I too will end up living in a disused water park with purple hair and weird chalk symbols on the door. Usually, I’d say, oh, if people like this book or this book then they’ll love this, but actually, I can’t here: It's Not A Cult genuinely isn’t like anything else. But if you love characters so vivid you feel like they might be lurking in your wardrobe right now, wicked-clever jokes, and a brilliantly cynical take on the music industry (and death cults): this is fully for you (Natasha Pulley, bestselling author of THE WATCHMAKER OF FILIGREE STREET)
Gloriously over-the-top and under-the-skin. In his enthusiasm for an ornate turn of phrase and Gothic levels of grubbiness, Batey evokes shades of early Angela Carter and Nicola Barker (Oskar Cox Jensen)
Batey writes with fierce intelligence, delivering a terrifying and piercing exploration of fandom, fame and authenticity. It’s Not a Cult is a rich and provocative read that invites the reader into the world of Al, Melusine and Callum and the strange Solkats of which they sing
All stars
Most relevant
This is the first book I’ve read in a decade that makes me feel the way reading a new Terry Pratchett book used to feel. It’s not a thematic similarity, but there’s the same sort of depth of feeling, if that makes sense. There’s the same sort of annoyed, exasperated compassion for humanity and how stupid we can be as a collective. I bought a hard copy too, but I wanted to hear the songs as well as read them. Good call, as it turns out. It’s a beautifully written book, Funny, harrowing, bittersweet, weird. I loved it.

I loved it so much I bought it twice

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I got this audiobook because it was in the 2 for 1 sale and the title appealed to me!
It is difficult to really describe this book.
It really is something totally different.
Other reviewers have mentioned Terry Pratchet.
I'm not a fan of Terry Prachet, so can't comment on that.
The things I enjoyed were that it was set in Northumberland.
(I'm from the North East).
I also found the concept of an "accidental cult" forming totally fascinating!
The way social media works, you can envisage it happening in reality.
I sometimes got a little confused when there was detail about the individual solkats. (I think this is the point where the Terry Prachet fans may have a greater appreciation).
It it brilliantly narrated by the author.
I would recommend this book if you're prepared to give something different a chance 🙂

Something totally different!...

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I picked this title knowing nothing about it, but attracted to the setting (such a nice change to read something from the north east of England). When I realised the author was performing it, I wondered whether I'd have to return it – so often authors aren't the best at reading, even if they're good writers. But his narration was excellent. Half-way through the book I got so curious about him that I looked him up, only to discover that Joey Batey was the actor who played Jaskier in the Witcher TV series. That explains the acting and musical skills, then! But he can really write too. Often celebrities write books and you know they got the deal because of who they were. This isn't one of those.

It also isn't the sort of book I'd read normally. It's too nebulous, too inconclusive and, given the state of the world, too upsetting. It's all only too likely to happen to some poor musicians just trying to make their way. But it's the only audiobook I've listened to in over ten years of Audible where I had to just sit and listen to the last ten minutes, because the writing was so beautiful that it deserved ALL of my attention.

If you're looking for a book that's well written, beautifully narrated and which will stay with you, you should probably try this one.

Beautiful, terrible, wild and shockingly probable

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A really enjoyable listen! Joey Batey’s performance elevates the story. The perspective of the narrator (Al the drummer in the band) is fascinating, quiet, observational, and subtly unreliable, leaving you constantly questioning how much of what you’re being shown can be trusted. Is it supernatural or psychological? It’s a smart, unsettling exploration of toxic fandom, social media, and how easily art and belief can blur into something more dangerous. I will be looking out for Batey’s next novel.

Really enjoyable listen!

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I had expected this novel to have more of a dark comic tone, but it addressed a number of serious themes, within an absurd story.
I e

Not exactly what I expected but great!

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