A review by jesshindes
Mrs Caliban by Rachel Ingalls

emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

 This book covers two of my current interests: novellas, and creature romance. It's a beautiful example of both. The central concept - unhappy housewife Dotty starts a relationship with a hunky sea creature who has escaped from a government lab - is just right for a story of this length, I think. You can get away at novella and short story length without too many detailed explanations or too much involved world building (altho the world that Ingalls hints at for Larry is just strange enough to feel plausible and intriguing), and concentrate on what you want to happen. Like a good short story, too, this novella somehow conjures a really thought provoking, moving emotional narrative from its fantastical premise. This is despite the fact that Ingalls' prose is never excessive. She has a dry, comic tone that's a little detached and (imo) very charming. And the book surprised me, in the end. I think my next move might be to read it all over again. 
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