It's Not a Cult cover art

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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Summary
 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 Scary
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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
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.
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Not exactly what I expected but great!

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It's narrated brilliantly, I loved the switches between Al and other characters. And the range between the funny and the heartbreaking! You think you expect what will come next, but you really don't — every plot turn ends up being much more than what you anticipated.

I also loved all the little details and mannerisms of the characters and how, again, the characters that you think you know manage to surprise you — the unexpected moments of kindness or courage from some of such characters were among the most powerful bits of the book for me.


Great work, really. Lowkey hoping for a companion music album now :)

Touching, thought-provoking, and wonderfully narrated

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I honestly can’t think of a better way of describing this book than sincere. It can be funny, moving, disturbing, and so many more things, but overall it feels sincere and genuine. I’ve just finished it, and I think this a book that will stay with me for a long time

Touching, moving, funny, weird, wonderful, and sincere

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The story itself is a really interesting concept and I think the performance by the narrator was great.

Now the negative here is just personal preference, which is why I'm giving it a middling review.
The way some of the story is written feels like simple things where a few words would do, quadruple the amount is used.

I still liked the story, but sometimes I think it just needs to get on with the story, that's what took me out of it a bit.

On the fence.

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