Synopsis

With only a few dollars to her name and her beloved dog Copper by her side, Selena flees her past in the city to claim her late aunt’s house in the desert town of Quartz Creek. The scorpions and spiders are better than what she left behind.

Because in Quartz Creek, there’s a strange beauty to everything, from the landscape to new friends, and more blue sky than Selena’s ever seen. But something lurks beneath the surface. Like the desert gods and spirits lingering outside Selena’s house at night, keeping watch. Mostly benevolent, says her neighbor Grandma Billy. That doesn’t ease the prickly sense that one of them watches too closely and wants something from Selena she can’t begin to imagine. And when Selena’s search for answers leads her to journal entries that her aunt left behind, she discovers a sinister truth about her new home: It’s the haunting grounds of an ancient god known simply as “Snake-Eater,” who her late aunt made a promise to that remains unfulfilled.

Snake-Eater has taken a liking to Selena, an obsession of sorts that turns sinister. And now that Selena is the new owner of his home, he’s hell-bent on collecting everything he’s owed.

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Read an Excerpt here (PDF file will open)

Review

This is the first novel I have read by this author, and I was not disappointed. It blends contemporary fiction with fantasy highlights, and while it could be considered a little dark, it kept me engaged and entertained. And I would disregard the horror category. This is not horror!

Selena is escaping life and decides to visit her aunt. Unbeknownst to her, she died a year prior. But this sleepy little desert town takes her in and helps her discover a new purpose in life. What she doesn’t realize is that her adventures here, along with the townsfolk, will give her a new leash on life, and she might realize that maybe this is just where she belongs.

There is a fun bunch of characters, including Grandma Billy, Father Aguirre, and the Mayor/Police Chief Jennie. And we can’t forget the Black Lab, Copper! These characters, and others, help round out the story. They provide humor, distraction, and support for Selena.

The fantasy part comes into play when the Snake-Eater god (aka a Roadrunner) decides that Selena has spurned him and is out to get her. We discover a lot about Selena’s mettle when she ends up in the underworld trying to save Grandma Billy and herself. There are a few surprises in store, so check it out soon!

This was an enjoyable read, and we give it 4 paws up.

About the Author

T. Kingfisher is the New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award–winning author of fantasy, horror, and occasional oddities, including What Feasts at Night, Nettle & Bone, What Moves the Dead, Thornhedge, A House with Good Bones, and A Sorceress Comes to Call. Under a pen name, she also writes bestselling children’s books. She lives in New Mexico with her husband, dog, and chickens, and does not trust roadrunners.

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