Challenge Corner discussion

The Shape of Water meets Mexican Gothic in this sapphic monster romance novella wrapped in gothic fantasy trappings

The old keeper of the keys is dead, and the creature who ate her is the volatile Lady of the Capricious House⁠―Anatema, an enormous humanoid spider with a taste for laudanum and human brides.

Dália, the old keeper’s protégée, must take up her duties, locking and unlocking the little drawers in which Anatema keeps her memories. And if she can unravel the crime that led to her predecessor's death, Dália might just be able to survive long enough to grow into her new role.

But there’s a gaping hole in Dália’s plan that she refuses to see: Anatema cannot resist a beautiful woman, and she eventually devours every single bride that crosses her path.

ooh Chapter 1

and what an intro !! (view spoiler)[ Wow, Dahlia is bolder than I! lol

and if there's no theft, wouldn't that prove that the first girl was the thief or has she been completely cleared after she ate her? Yikes

and all the spiders around - no way! (hide spoiler)]

through Chapter 3

(view spoiler)[ well, once we were introduced to the Archaic one, I was glad Dalia made it through the night!

Interesting that Lionel is trusting people and she is discovering it.

I was shocked to learn the brides die by looking at her face?

I don't have any guesses as to who is stealing. . .yet. (hide spoiler)]

Ooo, I will start after work! I got a little behind, but I think my e-copy is like 83-pages, so shouldn't take us long!

no worries! It'll suck you in as soon as you start!

through 6 chapters

(view spoiler)[ well. . .now she's being courted!! Yikes
but I can't help but feel that somehow she will make it out of this. . .

and now that she has the little black hairs, I can't help but wonder if it was a Tarantula? Didn't she say the one moved into her room had black hairs? Could that be it?

but I still don't know who or why someone would be stealing. could the note writer be in the house?

and Yikes, I could NOT eat that many types and forms of spiders! lol (hide spoiler)]

through 8 chapters

(view spoiler)[ awe, just to be seen. that seems to be the theme - just to be seen for who/what you really are and still be loved

but what he did to save her - I'm so sad he's going to throw himself in there and I wonder if she can really save him.

but was The Archaic one still really wondering what happened or was it just Dalia still searching? I think now that The Archaic one was courting her, she hadn't mentioned it. . . (hide spoiler)]

and done!

I can't wait to see what you think

(view spoiler)[ what a great conclusion! I love Anatema finally came down just like she'd asked her to. I love that she threw such a tantrum but then was so touched by Dalia's favorite memory being with her.

ugh, such a great ending (hide spoiler)]

To Ch 4: What in heck!?
😁😆 This is definitely less coherent of a narrative than I tend to enjoy, but I am liking the writing, so I'm just gonna roll with it!

To Ch 5: I do love how brave (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

To Ch 7: I love though that Dshlia (view spoiler)[didn't see it, how taken with her Anatema is, yet the whole house is a twitter about it. I hope she remains safe. I feel like some dort of trickery is going to have to be involved if she wants to get out of this alive. (hide spoiler)]

To Pg 56: (view spoiler)[...move the way you move, look the way you look. There is nothing wrong with that. (hide spoiler)] How is this making me emotional!? 😭😭

To Ch 8: Uh-oh. Not (view spoiler)[Lionel! Is he involved? Minerva is the only blue tarantula, right? (hide spoiler)]

Done! What a beautifully-odd little book.(view spoiler)[I feel like maybe there is some folklore context or something from the author's culture that maybe I am missing that could maybe bring a lottle clarity to this story. But I think the overarching themes are universal and I loved how visual the descriptions felt. I normally enjoy a more conherant narrative style, but this really worked just the way it was. I actually just wish it were a little longer, but what a stunning ending. (hide spoiler)]

YESSS!! I'm so glad you loved this one too!! I know, I don't know how but it made me love it, made me emotional (view spoiler)[ and want them to fall in love!! WHAT?! How did it do that?! 😭😭

I know, I would have loved for it to be longer too! (hide spoiler)]