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sgrunwald96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent, Bullying, Grief, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
terriaminute's review against another edition
5.0
If you've ever felt that monsters get a bad rap, this novel is for you!
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Bullying, Death of parent, Child death, and Violence
kitsuneheart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Somehow, as a reader, I’m with Shesheshen on this. Infest me, Mommy.
This is definitely a pick for queer readers with family trauma. Despite this book being about a ravenous blob-monster on the run, so much of the real drama and interest is about Homily’s ruthless family, and how they have left scars on her past.
It’s also a rather asexual romance, where the asexuality is not a point of tension, which I really appreciate.
Somehow, I found this book almost cozy. The horror definitely comes through in the end, but I was so much more invested in Homily and Shesheshen’s romance and latching onto their every scrap of domestic bliss. I loved the end, and felt quite satisfied. There doesn’t need to be more. It’s just…nice. Very nice.
Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Bullying, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Body shaming, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, and Physical abuse
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Animal cruelty, and Death of parent
bonriki's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Violence, Blood, Bullying, and Gore
Moderate: Abandonment, Cannibalism, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
snowwhitehatesapples's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Cosy fantasy isn’t normally my cup of tea but the healthy dashes of good weirdness, horror, satire and humour have made this reading experience very enjoyable.
Someone You Can Build a Nest In follows Shesheshen, the resident shapeshifter monster of Underlook who falls in love with a kind human girl named Homily. However, despite Homily reciprocating Shesheshen’s feelings, their romance is not an easy one because:
a) Homily is part of the intense, complicated, toxic and extreme Wulfyre family who has made it their duty to slay wyrms like Shesheshen because her kind has somehow ‘cursed’ their family.
b) No matter how well Shesheshen mimics and learns, at the end of the day, she’s no human and a relationship built on lies is not something she can vibe with — and heavens, there are a lot of lies from all sides that need to be dealt with first.
So, what can a monster in love do but try her best anyway, am I right? Which, brings us this oddly lovable story that has humans VS monsters interwoven into everything, everywhere, all at once.
Wiswell has done a brilliant job telling this story through the perspective of a monster. It truly reads and feels alien, but as admirable as I find this (and as much as I enjoyed the other aspects of the story), I feel this has created a great emotional disconnect as well. I get that this is due to Shesheshen’s character and when she becomes more human in feeling and thinking, her narrative reflects that. However, the emotions in her narrative also stop coming to life after the climax and the story returns to this state of emotional disconnectivity. This could just be me, though, as I found the entire bit post-climax too neat. Nevertheless, I do appreciate the care Wiswell has in exploring different types of trauma, love, relationships and identity here.
If romance between a human and monster paired with a direct, unflinching narrative (remember, this is a horror fantasy too) doesn’t give you the ick, I think you’ll enjoy Someone You Can Build a Nest In too.
Thank you so much DAW and Wunderkind PR for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review! Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell will be available at all good bookstores.
Moderate: Blood, Animal cruelty, Gore, Murder, Bullying, Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, and Child death
Minor: Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
maryellen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Gore, Confinement, Death, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail