I’ve followed Hache Pueyo’s short fiction career for a while now—her 2019 story “An Open Coffin” published in The Dark made it into my first ever Short Fiction Spotlight in April 2019—so I was eager to get my grubby little critic hands on her debut book But Not Too Bold. The premise sounded weird and creepy but in an enticing way. Plus, that cover from Andrew Davis was so eye-catching! Despite my long-standing arachnophobia, I just had to give the novella a go (although I will admit I had to remove the cover while I was reading it… that spider *shudders*).
Dália, a young maid at the Capricious House, finds herself suddenly and unexpectedly promoted. She had been apprenticing under Ms. Matilde to learn how to become the next Keeper of the Keys, but thought it would be years before she finally ascended into the role. After the mistress of the manor impulsively eats Matilde, Dália must pick up the heavy keychain and head up to the top floor of the gaudy mansion. Anatema, the lady of Capricious House is, is not the typical wealthy woman galavanting about her extensive grounds. No, she’s actually a giant spider-like creature with a taste for gourmet foods and human flesh.
With Dália’s promotion comes a task with life-threatening consequences: find the person who stole one of the dolls Anatema crafts out of a memory from her consumed victims or be eaten herself. This is no standard murder mystery. As Dália investigates the staff and prods Anatema’s twisted mind, she learns truths that were meant to be kept secret and secrets that are too deadly to keep. Lady Anatema doesn’t just eat thieving housekeepers. She has spent years courting lovely young ladies, taking them as her brides, then devouring them when they inevitably displease her. To keep herself alive and intact, Dália must reveal the culprit; more importantly, she must convince her ancient, powerful boss she’s more valuable alive than as an amuse-bouche. And she must do all of this while also coming to terms with an attraction she cannot contain.
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But Not Too Bold
Although the marketing has been pushing But Not Too Bold as a monster romance, it’s not just that. There’s a lot bubbling under the surface of Pueyo’s novella. Amidst the tensions in the house, we get themes on labor and exploitation and on consent and power dynamics in relationships. None of these go very deep, largely due to the book barely cresting over 100 pages, but there are glimmers enough to get the reader engaged in larger conversations.
The murder isn’t really structured like a traditional mystery; there is no frantic pacing to ramp up tension, and the red herrings are cleared as quickly as they’re introduced. Pueyo uses the opportunity of the investigation to take the reader through the house and its inhabitants, and later into the nearby village. Dália’s conversations with these denizens gives us a wider view of the world and the magic propelling Lady Anatema. Yet Pueyo also limits this information. We see only a sliver of the world. Do not come into this expecting a rigid, thoroughly explained magical system or detailed description of Dália’s world. While light on explanations, the novella still feels rich with worldbuilding. Pueyo delivers an evocative, unnerving world and two main characters who you fear, fear for, and root for all at once. The “monster romance” elements are well-earned and charming in an eerie kind of way.
At only 100 pages, expect the chorus of readers exclaiming “I wish it was longer.” I, however, think But Not Too Bold is exactly the right length. This novella is punching far above its weight class. Hache Pueyo jams in a metric ton of creativity into a small package, yet still leaves room for unanswered questions and inexplicable worldbuilding teasers. Readers ready for an unsettling speculative experience with some sapphic monster romance on the side should be very satisfied.
But Not Too Bold is published by Tordotcom Publishing.
Read an excerpt.
