AMost-AnticipatedBookof2024:LitHub,Polygon,Apple,Goodreads⭐“Wiswellraisesthebarontheoutcastasprotagonist...theultimatemonsterslayerstory,ifthemonsterisjustamisunderstoodcreaturesearchingforlove.“--KristiChadwick,LibraryJournal(starredreview)Discoverthiscreepy,charmingmonster-slayingfantasyromance--fromtheperspectiveofthemonster--byNebulaAward-winningdebutauthorJohnWiswellShesheshenhasmadeamistakefataltoallmonsters:she’sfalleninlove.Shesheshenisashapeshifter,whohappilyresidesasanamorphouslumpatthebottomofaruinedmanor.Whenherrestisinterruptedbyhuntersintentonmurderingher,sheconstructsabodyfromtheremainsofpastmeals:ametalchainforabackbone,borrowedbonesforlimbs,andabeartrapasanextramouth.However,thehunterschaseShesheshenoutofherhomeandoffacliff.Badlyhurt,she’sfoundandnursedbacktohealthbyHomily,awarm-heartedhuman,whohasmistakenShesheshenasafellowhuman.Homilyiskindandnurturingandwouldmakeanexcellentco-parent:anidealplacetolayShesheshen’seggssotheiryoungcoulddevourHomilyfromtheinsideout.Butastheygrowclose,sherealizeshumansdon’tthinkaboutlovethatway.ShesheshenhateskeepingheridentitysecretfromHomily,butjustasshe’sabouttoconfess,Homilyrevealswhyshe’sinthearea:she’shuntingashapeshiftingmonsterthatsupposedlycursedherfamily.HasShesheshenseenitanywhere?Eatinghergirlfriendisn’tanoption.Shesheshendidn’tcurseanyone,buttogiveherselfandHomilyachanceathappiness,shehastofigureoutwhyHomily’stwistedfamilythinksshedid.Asthehuntforthemonsterbecomesincreasinglydeadly,Shesheshenmustunearththetruthquickly,orsoonbothoftheirliveswillbeatrisk.Andthebiggerchallengeremains:survivinghertoxicin-lawslongenoughtolearntobuildalifewith,ratherthanin,theloveofherlife.
