Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Hugo and Nebula Award winner Kingfisher (Hemlock & Silver) provides all the chills, thrills, and laughs she's known for in this dextrous dark fantasy. In heroine Selena's "last thrash toward self-preservation," she takes her dog and flees her emotionally abusive fiancé, Walter, for her aunt Amelia's house in the tiny Western town of Quartz Creek, only to find that Amelia died a year ago. Selena is broke and out of options, so she stays in her aunt's abandoned home, slowly learning about Amelia through her travel journals--including the dark truth about her literally draining relationship with the mysterious "S," who now wants Selena to take her aunt's place. This time out, Kingfisher's prose is as stark as the desert setting, but still preserves all the usual charming creativity of her worldbuilding, including a host of supernatural spirits, like the friendly little squash gods in Selena's garden. The quirky townsfolk similarly delight (Selena's Grandma Billy is particularly hilarious) and "S"--eventually revealed to be the eponymous Snake-Eater, another desert deity--makes for a particularly sinister villain: amoral, vicious, and terrifying. Kingfisher remains extremely good at what she does. Agent: Helen Breitwieser, Cornerstone Literary. (Dec.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Selena has left her overbearing partner, without any real plan of where to go or what to do. She decides to head to her Aunt Amelia's home in Quartz Creek, even though she hasn't heard from her in a few years. Arriving in the tiny desert town, Selena discovers that her aunt has died, but the mayor (also the postmistress and chief of police) agrees that Selena should feel free to stay at her late aunt's home, known as Jackrabbit Hole House. As Selena settles in, she meets the odd inhabitants of Quartz Creek: Grandma Billy, her next-door neighbor; Father Aguirre, head of the local church; plus all of the local spirits and gods that live in the desert. When one takes a special interest in Selena, she finds herself caught between the desires of gods and an awakening on several levels. VERDICT Delightful supporting characters, intriguing mythology, and a neurodivergent protagonist come together for an entertaining story. Besides fans of Kingfisher's (Hemlock & Silver), place it in the hands of readers of Katherine Addison and Lois McMaster Bujold.--Kristi Chadwick
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