Genres:
Fantasy, Horror, Queer, Romance, Monsterlover
Pages:
320
Published:
April 2, 2024
Shesheshen has made a mistake fatal to all monsters: she’s fallen in love.
Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who happily resides as an amorphous lump at the bottom of a ruined manor. When her rest is interrupted by impolite monster hunters, she constructs a body from the remains of past meals: a metal chain for a backbone, borrowed bones for limbs, and a bear trap as an extra mouth.
Badly hurt by the hunters, Shesheshen’s nursed back to health by Homily, a warm-hearted human. Homily is kind and would make a great co-parent: an ideal place to lay Shesheshen’s eggs so their young can devour Homily from the inside out. But as they grow close, Shesheshen realizes that eating her girlfriend isn’t an option.
Just as Shesheshen’s about to confess her identity, Homily reveals something else: she’s hunting a shapeshifting monster that supposedly cursed her family. Has Shesheshen seen it anywhere?
Shesheshen didn’t curse anyone, so now she has to figure out why Homily’s twisted family thinks she did. As Shesheshen’s hunt for the monster becomes increasingly deadly, the bigger challenge remains: learning how to build a life with, rather than in, the woman she loves.
✧ Overall Score✧
7/10
A well written book, written from a truly monstrous perspective! I love stories that let me inside the head of something truly other, even though I think Shesheshan had a bit too much insight into human nature at points. A good read that I’m happy to have experienced.
✧ Enjoyment Score✧
6/10
A little more of a slog than I would have liked, it wasn’t a book that really kept me reading. I love the concept and there’s some very well written parts, but I feel like the plot gets bogged down quite a bit in areas.
✧ Writing Style✧
7/10
I liked Shesheshan’s consistent internal voice, but there were times that it was a bit more grating than entertaining. The writing is well done! It’s just that the POV character isn’t always the best teller of stories.
✧ Plot✧
6/10
I honestly didn’t see the twist coming! Though I’m not sure if that was me just not paying attention or a true lack of foreshadowing. An interesting story if not a fully believable one. I got a bit irritated at Homily being treated like she was utterly woobified. Like the thing with Epigram? Hm.
✧ Characterization✧
6/10
I get a solid feeling of character from Shesheshan, but everyone else is just kind of… Flat, including the love interest. I would like to see more nuance of personality and character… But perhaps Shesheshan is not the best lense to use if you want to get to know other humans. Also you… Don’t have to keep reminding us weirdly that Homily is fat. Why. Stop doing that. There’s just something irritating about the way it was written.