The Shape of Water meets Mexican Gothic in this sapphic monster romance novella wrapped in gothic fantasy trappings
The old keeper of the keys is dead, and the creature who ate her is the volatile Lady of the Capricious House--Anatema, an enormous humanoid spider with a taste for laudanum and human brides.
Dália, the old keeper's protégée, must take up her duties, locking and unlocking the little drawers in which Anatema keeps her memories. And if she can unravel the crime that led to her predecessor's execution, Dália might just be able to survive long enough to grow into her new role.
But there's a gaping hole in Dália's plan that she refuses to see: Anatema cannot resist a beautiful woman, and she eventually devours every single bride that crosses her path.
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Library Journal Review
Dália becomes keeper of the keys at Capricious House upon the death of her mentor and predecessor at the hands--and mandibles--of the mistress of the house, humanoid spider Anatema. Someone has stolen a keepsake from Anatema, and it is Dália's job to find the thief and present them to Anatema for punishment--and consumption. In the process of her investigation, amid many long discussions with the mistress who has always fascinated her, Dália and Anatema find something they never imagined--the beauty and power of being seen for who and what one truly is. Capricious House is the most gothic of gothic houses, like something out of a Daphne du Maurier novel, owned by an actual monster instead of a merely human one. The mystery aspects allow readers to see what a peculiar place it is, but it's the tense and fascinating relationship between Dália and Anatema that gives the story its fast-beating heart. VERDICT Pueyo's (A Study in Ugliness & outras histórias) novella is recommended for fans of dark fantasy and readers who wants to give monster romantasy a try.--Marlene Harris
Publishers Weekly Review
Stylish, unnerving, and highly original, Pueyo's debut novella (after the collection A Study in Ugliness) is a delightful genre mash-up combining gothic horror with monster romance. As one of the many servants of Capricious House, Dália spends her days taking care of the property and its mistress, Lady Anatema. An ancient, partially humanoid but mostly arachnid creature that seeks a bride, Lady Anatema has eaten every candidate after they see her true form because she does not like to be perceived. Dália inherits the prestigious but dangerous role of keeper of the keys after Lady Anatema suddenly eats her long-term predecessor. The Lady maintains that Dália's predecessor stole some of her treasured belongings, but when that's proven wrong, Dália must investigate which of the servants is the real thief and recover the stolen items. Along the way, she begins to unravel the secrets behind several of the servants' lives and her relationship to Lady Anatema evolves past mere employer/employee. Despite their cautious closeness, Lady Anatema's single-minded focus on retrieving her belongings could put Dália at risk of the fate that has befallen all brides before her. Dália's personal growth and Anatema's inventive monstrousness are highlights, and Pueyo makes their romantic tension palpable. Despite the limited page count, this packs an emotional wallop. (Jan.)
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