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tracysbookbalderdash's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Excrement, Death of parent, Death, Gore, Lesbophobia, and Emotional abuse
annaavian's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a peculiar and unconventional story that takes readers into a bizarre world filled with dark humor and unsettling scenarios. From the outset, it's clear this book isn't your typical read; it's weird, gory, and unlike anything I've encountered before.
The story is narrated from the perspective of Shesheshen, a monster who provides a fascinating viewpoint on human behavior and emotions. Wiswell excels in portraying the monster's observations with wit and insight, highlighting human peculiarities through an alien lens. This narrative approach is undoubtedly one of the novel's strongest aspects, offering a fresh and engaging take on the typical monster-human encounter trope.
However, while the concept and narrative voice are intriguing, the execution falls short in several areas. The characters, for the most part, come across as one-dimensional or downright unpleasant. The romance between Shesheshen and Homily lacks believability and depth, which undermines a significant part of the plot. Homily, in particular, feels underdeveloped and fails to evolve beyond her initial submissive portrayal, making it difficult to fully invest in her character arc.
As the novel progresses, the plot becomes increasingly disjointed and erratic. The introduction is captivating, setting up an intriguing premise with Shesheshen's discovery of humans and his interactions with Homily. However, the story loses its footing as it delves into the romantic subplot and Homily's family dynamics. The narrative logic begins to unravel, culminating in a disappointing plot twist regarding Homily's mother that feels forced and out of place.
Despite its flaws, "Someone You Can Build a Nest In" offers moments of dark humor and clever social commentary, particularly in its exploration of monster ethics and human relationships. Wiswell's ability to craft a unique perspective and inject humor into grim scenarios is commendable. However, the novel's inconsistent pacing, underdeveloped characters, and questionable plot choices ultimately detract from its overall impact.
Overall, "Someone You Can Build a Nest In" is an unconventional read that may appeal to those seeking a fresh take on the monster genre. While it has its strengths in narrative creativity and thematic exploration, it struggles with character depth, repetitiveness and narrative coherence. Readers should approach this book with an open mind, prepared for a strange and occasionally frustrating journey through the eyes of an unlikely narrator.
The story is narrated from the perspective of Shesheshen, a monster who provides a fascinating viewpoint on human behavior and emotions. Wiswell excels in portraying the monster's observations with wit and insight, highlighting human peculiarities through an alien lens. This narrative approach is undoubtedly one of the novel's strongest aspects, offering a fresh and engaging take on the typical monster-human encounter trope.
However, while the concept and narrative voice are intriguing, the execution falls short in several areas. The characters, for the most part, come across as one-dimensional or downright unpleasant. The romance between Shesheshen and Homily lacks believability and depth, which undermines a significant part of the plot. Homily, in particular, feels underdeveloped and fails to evolve beyond her initial submissive portrayal, making it difficult to fully invest in her character arc.
As the novel progresses, the plot becomes increasingly disjointed and erratic. The introduction is captivating, setting up an intriguing premise with Shesheshen's discovery of humans and his interactions with Homily. However, the story loses its footing as it delves into the romantic subplot and Homily's family dynamics. The narrative logic begins to unravel, culminating in a disappointing plot twist regarding Homily's mother that feels forced and out of place.
Despite its flaws, "Someone You Can Build a Nest In" offers moments of dark humor and clever social commentary, particularly in its exploration of monster ethics and human relationships. Wiswell's ability to craft a unique perspective and inject humor into grim scenarios is commendable. However, the novel's inconsistent pacing, underdeveloped characters, and questionable plot choices ultimately detract from its overall impact.
Overall, "Someone You Can Build a Nest In" is an unconventional read that may appeal to those seeking a fresh take on the monster genre. While it has its strengths in narrative creativity and thematic exploration, it struggles with character depth, repetitiveness and narrative coherence. Readers should approach this book with an open mind, prepared for a strange and occasionally frustrating journey through the eyes of an unlikely narrator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, and Lesbophobia
diken's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The safety of being disguised, and of not being wholly known, melted away as though by the heat of her blood. There was no reclaiming the safety of anonymity. What she yearned for was unity.
There was no deception to keep her safe from whatever Homily thought of her. If she wanted to be in love, then she had to grow used to it.
I read this book in one sitting, eating and petting my cat intermittently without being able to tear myself away. It's a very, very good book.
There's a lot I love here: queer romance, obviously, but also a completely unique and fascinating plot with just enough world-building and terribly lovable characters. The writing is straightforward and still poetic.
We know Shesheshen is a monster from the first page, and we never know too much about the kind of monster to make it boring or predictable. There is something to be said for fantasy books that have a deep, detailed taxonomy of monsters (and infodump that exposition right away in some compendium), but one of the highlights of this book for me was how organically the lore was introduced. We learn about Shesheshen as she learns about herself, and it feels really satisfying going on that journey with her.
There are a few heavy-handed moments discussing trauma and abuse, but they are accompanied by some really meaningful insights and beautiful prose. I highly recommend this book with the advance warning that there is a metric ton of body horror and horrible family dynamics; for me, it was absolutely worth it. If this turns out to be a series, I will definitely read the next one; regardless, I'll be waiting for the next John Wiswell release with bated breath.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Lesbophobia, and Child death
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