I Should Read That

Book review

Shesheshen has made a fatal mistake for a monster: she’s fallen in love.

Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who usually resides as an amorphous lump in the swamp of a ruined manor, unless impolite monster hunters invade intent on murdering her. Through a chance encounter, she meets a different kind of human, warm-hearted Homily, who mistakes Shesheshen for a human in turn.

Shesheshen is loath to deceive, but just as she’s about to confess her true identity, Homily reveals she’s hunting the shapeshifting monster that supposedly cursed her family. Shesheshen didn’t curse anyone, but to give them both a chance at happiness, she must figure out why Homily’s twisted family thinks she did. And the bigger challenge remains: surviving her toxic in-laws long enough to learn to build a life with the woman she loves.

Is this what romance readers feel? My feet are kicking, my cheeks are blushing. I used to read a ton of romance books, but have long since moved to fantasy and horror titles. While I like a dash of romance in my books these days, it’s rarely my favourite part of any book. I didn’t think that Someone You Can Build a Nest in would be the book my weird little heart was looking for, but it turns out it’s exactly what I needed.

Shesheshen is a wonderful character. She’s funny and clever, fiercly loyal and kind, and also a shapeshifting monster who feasts on human flesh and absorbs bones and organs to build her own body. Cute! I’m a sucker for the ‘learning what it means to be human’ trop you so often see in science fiction (it’s one of the reasons I love Star Trek so much), and it’s wonderfully utilised here. Shesheshen is a fantastically complex character with a lot of heart – I love her so much. But she’s not the only star of the show. The entire cast is wonderfully written. Homily, Shesheshen’s human love interest who has no idea her new girlfriend isn’t actually human, is the perfect match for Shesheshen’s ferocity. She’s quiet and kind, but struggles in the face of her awful family.

Alongside a large cast of side characters, both horrendous and hilarious, this book features wonderful worldbuilding and a quest for vengeance. It’s gory and bloody, sweet and cosy. Sure to delight both horror and fantasy fans, Someone You Can Build a Nest in is a sweet, unusual romance story for those of us looking for something a little off the beaten path.