H. Pueyo

But Not too Bold by Hache Pueyo is a Brazilian Gothic sapphic monster romance mystery novella. Yeah, I didn't think all those words went together either but I was delighted to find that it all works rather elegantly.

As long as you're not arachnaphobic.

Because there are spiders all over this book, from the tarantulas roaming the mysterious house to Madam Anatema, a literal spider-woman, who rules over the world of the house with a tempestuous tyranny.

The plot entwines a good mystery with a show more simple, though not cutesy, romance and those through-lines work well together. But the main reason to read this is the sheer power of the atmosphere. Every detail, from the deep-fried spider snacks to the elaborate folding screens, is absolutely vivid. There's so much here you almost can't process it all in one reading.

So if you like things a little bit creepy and a little bit marvelously weird (and don't mind the spiders), I definitely recommend this! show less

Cabaret in Flames is a dark, complex, and utterly delicious novella set in an alternate-Brazil. It is immediately engaging, centered on Ariadne, a human doctor, and the charming Gul, Quaint, as they search for Ariadne's missing savior-parent-mentor-crush, Erik. I absolutely LOVE QUAINT and found all the characters to be fascinating. The Erik-Ariadne dynamic—a complicated relationship that suggests an almost-lover layer—is particularly compelling, reminiscent of a marginally more healthy show more version of Jinx-Silco in Arcane.

The book tackles heavy, powerful themes in its exploration of overcoming trauma. It handles difficult subjects like sexual assault, the threat of forced pregnancy, limb loss, and general lack of bodily autonomy with depth. This focus on deep trauma within a world of brutal Guls elevates the story significantly.

My only complaint is that I had sooo many questions left by the end—I genuinely want more from this universe! A spin-off about Quaint and Erik, or exploring Quaint's past, would be perfect. Read this for a thrilling and emotionally resonant dark fantasy. show less

I received a free copy from Tor in exchange for my honest review.

This was a quirky, spider-filled, modern gothic, semi-horror tale, with a sprinkle of sapphic (and unexpected, for me) monster-fucker vibes to top it off. I enjoyed the atmosphere - creepy to me, mostly because I hate spiders - but the overall tale left me a little wanting. I felt like I didn't really understand the main character's motivations. That said, I would read more from Pueyo, because even though I didn't totally vibe show more with the story, I did enjoy the writing. show less

I really loved this book. I love dark fantasy and gothic horror and weird romances (especially sapphic romances). The vibes were immaculate and exactly what I was looking for. I loved the setting of this giant gothic house. I loved Anatema a lot although her anatomy confused me at times. I liked the protagonist as well and overall this is probably my favorite sort of aesthetic for a book. The premise is great and it was a quick and easy read.

That being said, I wasn't totally sold on the show more mystery part of the book. It went by so quickly and I'm just not sure it was necessary. I also didn't love the sort of weird bit with Lionel at the end. Maybe if the book was longer, it could have worked better and been explained more, but since its so short, I feel like it didn't need to happen and I didn't love it. I think I get what the author was going for and I understood all of the characters well enough, but I wasn't always completely convinced by their motivations. I think everything could have been fleshed out a bit more *or* left even more vague and atmospheric. It might be that the pacing is just a bit off and there's a bit too much exposition towards the end when Dalia solves the mystery. I think some of what happens after that could have been foreshadowed more as well (i.e., Lionel's behavior). I also would have liked more of a slow burn when it comes to Anatema and Dalia's relationship. As much as I love novellas, I just really wish the story was longer.

If you are my cousin who always reads my reviews, maybe just stop here...

Overall, the best parts were the atmosphere and descriptions of the setting and of course Anatema and Dalia. I thought their relationship progressed well and I was happy with the ending (which was very cute). Honestly I had kind of hoped for something a bit more... erotic or maybe a bit more sexual tension. If your audience is already buying into a humanoid giant spider romance then why not go all in. They're already in love after all. I don't necessarily need anything super graphic, but I don't know, I just sort of expected a bit more in that department. I need more yearning and longing. show less