Someone You Can Build a Nest In

De: John Wiswell

Narrado por: Carmen Rose

Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who happily resides as an amorphous lump at the bottom of a ruined manor. When her rest is interrupted by hunters intent on murdering her, she constructs a body using a metal chain for a backbone, borrowed bones for limbs, and a bear trap as an extra mouth. However, the hunters chase Shesheshen out of her home and off a cliff. Badly hurt, she's found and nursed back to health by Homily, a warmhearted human, who has mistaken Shesheshen as a fellow human. Homily is kind and nurturing and would make an excellent coparent: an ideal place to lay Shesheshen's eggs so their young could devour Homily from the inside out. But as they grow close, she realizes humans don't think about love that way.

Shesheshen hates keeping her identity secret from Homily, but just as she's about to confess, Homily reveals why she's in the area: she's hunting a shapeshifting monster that supposedly cursed her family. Shesheshen didn't curse anyone, but to give herself and Homily a chance at happiness, she has to figure out why Homily's twisted family thinks she did. As the hunt for the monster becomes increasingly deadly, Shesheshen must unearth the truth quickly, or soon both of their lives will be at risk. And the bigger challenge remains: surviving her toxic in-laws long enough to learn to build a life with, rather than in, the love of her life.

©2024 John Wiswell (P)2024 Tantor

Weird, but good

This was *way* more gory than I expected. It was billed as “cozy” and “humorous” and a “sweet love story”, so I expected something along the lines of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. Uh, no. There was a LOT of gore and violence, including child abuse (both physical and emotional). Some scenes were hard to take. But in between the gore and violence, there was humor, though it is *very* dry. And there was a sweet romance, it just didn’t seem like the main focus.

I think I would have liked it better with a different narrator. Ms. Rose ended each phrase with an upswing in tone, which became grating after just a few minutes. I think she was trying to show how Shesheshen didn’t think like a human, but it was just irritating.

I do think the author did a brilliant job in making Shesheshen very un-human. But I found myself rooting for her, despite her “monstrous” tendencies. So that’s quite an accomplishment as an author! Overall, this is a pretty brilliant book, just a little darker than I like and than I expected.

Unique characters, fast paced story

Enjoyed this book more than my last several because of how unique the main character is- allowed me to look at humans from the outside. The interplay between the main character and her friend emphasizes this. It also highlights “power corrupts” but can’t say more without ruining first experience. Don’t often recommend books to friends but I will this one.

Excellent Tale

A very interesting tale of family trauma in a fantasy setting performed by the perfect narrator for the story.

Great first novel. Please write more.

Wonderful character development. A few well disguised surprises. This is a completely unbelievable premise that I am thoroughly bought in to. That happened so gradually and gently I don’t remember when it happened.

Creative, Captivating, and a Little Contrived

This was such a imaginative and unique story. I love stories that can make you root for the horrible monster, and this one does it well. It was so good that I still rated it five stars despite some minor problems it has. In the interest of constructive criticism and not to dissuade you from buying it, I will explain them here. Firstly, whoever made the cover art should be shot. I passed over this wonderful book several times because I thought this was a straight horror book. Secondly, there are several instances where the main character is almost willfully stupid or unobservant in order to further the plot, which is a mortal sin in writing and something I hate. Fortunately, these instances are few and far between and don't matter so much but they could really have been handled more believably. The last complaint is that the scenes and the main character's appearance are almost never adequately described and there are times when the scenes transition from place to place in a jarring way. However, like I said, in the grand scheme of these, the bulk of this book is a 6 out of 5 so these minor issues can be overlooked but I do urge the author to take them to heart and improve these areas in the future to reach perfection.

Absolutely brilliant!

The narration is wonderful, and this novel is... I only hesitate to say "masterpiece" because the term is overused. But I use it here selectively. It's such an ingenious premise, and and the execution is impecable. This book is a masterpiece, like a piece of music concieved because of a clever melody and then elaborated upon until it becomes something so much grander. I'll be recommending it to anyone who will listen.

aw🥹

this was gross and absurdly tender and my fav monster romance I’ve ever read ever.

Double Jeopardy!

The narration was just stellar! One of the rare times where the narration actually enhances the story ( which was very good)

Came for the monsters

Stayed for the wholesome lesbians with mom trama

A fabulous story about the importance of cutting toxic people out of your so you can be your best self

Lovely!

I’ve created a new genre for this type of book. This a cozy horror and I am here for it.