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Direct Descendant
This cozy horror novel set in modern-day Toronto includes phenomenal characters, fantastic writing, and a queer romance—the perfect balance of dark and delightful
This stand-alone novel from the bestselling author of the Peacekeeper novels mixes the creepy with the charming for plenty of snarky, queer fun—for fans of T. Kingfisher, Grady Hendrix, and Darcy Coates
Generations ago, the founders of the idyllic town of Lake Argen made a deal with a dark force. In exchange for their service, the town will stay prosperous and successful, and keep outsiders out. And for generations, it’s worked out great. Until a visitor goes missing, and his wealthy family sends a private investigator to find him, and everything abruptly goes sideways.
Now, Cassidy Prewitt, town baker and part-time servant of the dark force (it’s a family business) has to contend with a rising army of darkness, a very frustrated town, and a very cute PI who she might just be falling for…and who might just be falling for her. And if they can survive their own home-grown apocalypse, they might even just find happiness together.
Queer, cozy, and with a touch of eldritch horror mixed in just for fun, this is a charming love story about a small-town baker, a quick-witted PI, and, yes, an ancient evil.
This stand-alone novel from the bestselling author of the Peacekeeper novels mixes the creepy with the charming for plenty of snarky, queer fun—for fans of T. Kingfisher, Grady Hendrix, and Darcy Coates
Generations ago, the founders of the idyllic town of Lake Argen made a deal with a dark force. In exchange for their service, the town will stay prosperous and successful, and keep outsiders out. And for generations, it’s worked out great. Until a visitor goes missing, and his wealthy family sends a private investigator to find him, and everything abruptly goes sideways.
Now, Cassidy Prewitt, town baker and part-time servant of the dark force (it’s a family business) has to contend with a rising army of darkness, a very frustrated town, and a very cute PI who she might just be falling for…and who might just be falling for her. And if they can survive their own home-grown apocalypse, they might even just find happiness together.
Queer, cozy, and with a touch of eldritch horror mixed in just for fun, this is a charming love story about a small-town baker, a quick-witted PI, and, yes, an ancient evil.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2025
140 people are currently reading
12467 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Huff
151 books2,450 followersTanya Sue Huff is a Canadian fantasy author. Her stories have been published since the late 1980s, including five fantasy series and one science fiction series. One of these, her Blood Books series, featuring detective Vicki Nelson, was adapted for television under the title Blood Ties.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 311 reviews
January 6, 2025
It's simple: if something is described as "cozy horror" it has my undivided attention. Add a cute cover and a book should be perfect for me. Unfortunately, that was not the case with Direct Descendant. Don't get me wrong, there was so much potential here: long ago the residents of Lake Argen made a deal with a dark force so the town will prosper and stay safe. The members of the founding families inherit some abilities of the Dark, offer sacrifices from time to time and protect the town. And while it was nice to read about the residents living alongside an eldritch being and casually talking to a lake monster, it was also the only part of this book that I liked.
First of all, the ever comedic but never really funny writing style was kind of unbearable for me. I guess the "cozy" part refers to the low stakes, but everything was so unserious, there was basically no point in following the story. The characters weren't great either. Cassie is a member of a founding family and lived with the Dark for her entire life, and Melanie is an outsider who comes to town to look for a missing person and has no knowledge of the supernatural. They fall in love instantly, of course. (And honest to God, but Melanie was first described by her breasts and her ass, and I almost couldn't do it anymore at that point.) There are also like a million other people living in the town, whose names are thrown around constantly and if you think I could remember who anybody is you are wrong.
The plot was confusing at first, but when things were explained they were repeated over and over again. The whole pacing was off, because one character tried to figure out what happened to the missing person while the other already knew about that. I'm also sad to report that this book was not cozy at all. At least I don't think that a small-town setting and the existence of a bakery are enough to call a book cozy, if no such vibes are transported whatsoever.
I feel awful for rating an unreleased book so low, but it was truly not an enjoyable reading experience for me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and DAW Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, the ever comedic but never really funny writing style was kind of unbearable for me. I guess the "cozy" part refers to the low stakes, but everything was so unserious, there was basically no point in following the story. The characters weren't great either. Cassie is a member of a founding family and lived with the Dark for her entire life, and Melanie is an outsider who comes to town to look for a missing person and has no knowledge of the supernatural. They fall in love instantly, of course. (And honest to God, but Melanie was first described by her breasts and her ass, and I almost couldn't do it anymore at that point.) There are also like a million other people living in the town, whose names are thrown around constantly and if you think I could remember who anybody is you are wrong.
The plot was confusing at first, but when things were explained they were repeated over and over again. The whole pacing was off, because one character tried to figure out what happened to the missing person while the other already knew about that. I'm also sad to report that this book was not cozy at all. At least I don't think that a small-town setting and the existence of a bakery are enough to call a book cozy, if no such vibes are transported whatsoever.
I feel awful for rating an unreleased book so low, but it was truly not an enjoyable reading experience for me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and DAW Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2025
4 solid stars - a VERY Canadian 🇨🇦 “cozy horror” standalone novel with a sweet sapphic romance, strong Lovecraftian vibes, a quirky town & residents, humor and lots of fun - not quite sure why all the bad reviews, as it worked just fine for me. And I love me some Tanya Huff - this one felt pretty similar to her “Gale Women” trilogy (I’ve also read her 90’s vampire series with a Vancouver P.I. and a super hot Tudor vampire). Together!!
January 12, 2025
Welp, my first hate read of 2025 and no one is more surprised than me because this seemed right up my alley. I also can't stand leaving reviews like this, especially on an ARC, because I know how hard authors work on their books and I really do believe there is a right book for every reader; there are no bad books per se. My opinion comes loaded with all my baggage and preferences and it's just one opinion.
I pretty much scoop up any cozy horror book I see these days but my patience may have worn thin on the cozy genre. I feel like a lot of authors are now just capitalizing on its popularity and the books are starting to feel cookie-cutter and trope-heavy with boring stories. This book felt very much like that. But I thought cozy horror! eldritch monsters! cute cover! rom com! And Tanya Huff! What could go wrong? This was my first exposure to Tanya Huff but I couldn't have picked a worse book to start with because I really loathed this book. I kept reading in the hopes that it would get better and it was banking everything on its clever schtick and quirky charm, which just completely got lost on me.
The combination of cozy horror and rom com did not work for me, like, at all. Rom coms are supposed to be funny, or at least cringe, and this was trying so hard to be funny that it came across as a flippant, overly irreverent tone that was completely at odds with topics like murderous tentacled ancient gods and charming townspeople willy-nilly carting around corpses in public. The whimsy was just lost on me. It takes strong writing to pull off that juxtaposition and this just felt like it was phoning it in and relying on witty banter to carry the meat of it.
This is set in a small, quirky town in Canada - it was very Canadian and I will give it props for that - where four town denizens are guardians who watch over The Dark, a mysterious evil force inspired (a bit too on the nose at that) by cosmic Lovecraftian horror.
Until a stranger stabs himself in the foot and disappears behind the barrier, and his grandmother hires a woman, Melanie, an unemployed teacher and completely incompetent detective, to investigate what happened to him.
She doesn't do much investigating though. She meets one of the guardians, Cassie, and both of them have a love at first sight obsession with each other. I wasn't necessarily against instalove in this scenario, even though I loathe the lesbian U-Haul at first sight stereotype, because it was plausible in this weird small town scenario. But it was the way it was handled that bugged me. Cassie first notices Melanie's sexy body and the way her breasts push up against her shirt - that same observation written by a cishet man would be decried as misognyst and gross. It's not better when a queer woman does it. But okay, instalust happens, people drool over sexy people. But then they're instantly in love and planning their future at their first two dinner dates. I didn't see any chemistry between them other than they liked their boobs, and I could have cared less about their romance.
But then the mystery falls off and it's all about queer puppy love and colorful small town characters talking about murder, tentacles and mayhem like it's the price of eggs. This was going for Deadloch and Welcome to Nightvale meets Lovecraft vibes but it took cozy horror, turned it cuddly, cute and sappy, and made me want to gag.
There were also continuity errors, like okay we get it, Mel is good with the ugly dogs who don't like anyone, and annoying formatting on text messages (I hereby hate the ::text message:: format)
So, this may charm some people but it just annoyed the hell out of me from start to finish and I feel almost sorry for this terrible review. We won't love everything we try.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I pretty much scoop up any cozy horror book I see these days but my patience may have worn thin on the cozy genre. I feel like a lot of authors are now just capitalizing on its popularity and the books are starting to feel cookie-cutter and trope-heavy with boring stories. This book felt very much like that. But I thought cozy horror! eldritch monsters! cute cover! rom com! And Tanya Huff! What could go wrong? This was my first exposure to Tanya Huff but I couldn't have picked a worse book to start with because I really loathed this book. I kept reading in the hopes that it would get better and it was banking everything on its clever schtick and quirky charm, which just completely got lost on me.
The combination of cozy horror and rom com did not work for me, like, at all. Rom coms are supposed to be funny, or at least cringe, and this was trying so hard to be funny that it came across as a flippant, overly irreverent tone that was completely at odds with topics like murderous tentacled ancient gods and charming townspeople willy-nilly carting around corpses in public. The whimsy was just lost on me. It takes strong writing to pull off that juxtaposition and this just felt like it was phoning it in and relying on witty banter to carry the meat of it.
This is set in a small, quirky town in Canada - it was very Canadian and I will give it props for that - where four town denizens are guardians who watch over The Dark, a mysterious evil force inspired (a bit too on the nose at that) by cosmic Lovecraftian horror.
Until a stranger stabs himself in the foot and disappears behind the barrier, and his grandmother hires a woman, Melanie, an unemployed teacher and completely incompetent detective, to investigate what happened to him.
She doesn't do much investigating though. She meets one of the guardians, Cassie, and both of them have a love at first sight obsession with each other. I wasn't necessarily against instalove in this scenario, even though I loathe the lesbian U-Haul at first sight stereotype, because it was plausible in this weird small town scenario. But it was the way it was handled that bugged me. Cassie first notices Melanie's sexy body and the way her breasts push up against her shirt - that same observation written by a cishet man would be decried as misognyst and gross. It's not better when a queer woman does it. But okay, instalust happens, people drool over sexy people. But then they're instantly in love and planning their future at their first two dinner dates. I didn't see any chemistry between them other than they liked their boobs, and I could have cared less about their romance.
But then the mystery falls off and it's all about queer puppy love and colorful small town characters talking about murder, tentacles and mayhem like it's the price of eggs. This was going for Deadloch and Welcome to Nightvale meets Lovecraft vibes but it took cozy horror, turned it cuddly, cute and sappy, and made me want to gag.
There were also continuity errors, like okay we get it, Mel is good with the ugly dogs who don't like anyone, and annoying formatting on text messages (I hereby hate the ::text message:: format)
So, this may charm some people but it just annoyed the hell out of me from start to finish and I feel almost sorry for this terrible review. We won't love everything we try.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 14, 2025
This story did absolutely not work for me; it felt like it was trying too hard and actually grated on my nerves.
It felt like it was trying for cozy eldritch horror, but just got overwhelmed by the characters, tropes, and plot itself, never succeeding in attaining its goals.
It was confusing, then boring, then turned into an insta-love fest which I really could not take seriously considering the setting and circumstances.
Just overall a disappointing read.
It felt like it was trying for cozy eldritch horror, but just got overwhelmed by the characters, tropes, and plot itself, never succeeding in attaining its goals.
It was confusing, then boring, then turned into an insta-love fest which I really could not take seriously considering the setting and circumstances.
Just overall a disappointing read.
April 25, 2025
Several words come to mind: creepy, snarky, charming, cozy. Cozy eldritch horrors, anyone? But you get that in a small town that has an Agreement with the Dark. The Four, direct descendants of the original pact-makers, do the Dark's bidding when needed and the Dark keeps Lake Argen prosperous and untroubled. Cassie is the current Mouth, who can give orders that can't be resisted, and she is the last to see a stranger stab himself in the foot and disappear into the Dead Grounds.
When a private investigator comes to town to look into the man's fate, Cassie is instantly attracted to her. But she knows that at some point, she will have to explain her town's odd circumstances if she wants a real relationship. There may be some problems with that! Especially since the vanished man seems to be unsettling the Dark and changing the balance.
This book shows off Tanya Huff's sharp sense of humour and her vivid imagination. I loved the assortment of characters in Lake Argen, the wild, funny ravens, and the matter-of-fact dealing with the Dark. As if deals with the supernatural were an everyday thing. I love urban fantasy (even when it takes place in non-urban environments) and I really enjoy Huff's versions of it.
When a private investigator comes to town to look into the man's fate, Cassie is instantly attracted to her. But she knows that at some point, she will have to explain her town's odd circumstances if she wants a real relationship. There may be some problems with that! Especially since the vanished man seems to be unsettling the Dark and changing the balance.
This book shows off Tanya Huff's sharp sense of humour and her vivid imagination. I loved the assortment of characters in Lake Argen, the wild, funny ravens, and the matter-of-fact dealing with the Dark. As if deals with the supernatural were an everyday thing. I love urban fantasy (even when it takes place in non-urban environments) and I really enjoy Huff's versions of it.
Read
September 16, 2025Thanks to NetGalley for the digital arc. This book was really good! Like “procrastinate everything else in my life to finish it in 2 days” kinda good. Thankfully it wasn’t very horror-y (because I am a baby) and was much more like a humorous, cozy mystery with supernatural and satanic elements added in. It was dual first person POV, which I am not usually a fan of, but the author made it work well. I really liked the world building and all the little aspects that made the town and the characters seem more lifelike. Cassie and Melanie’s romance was sweet too, and very U-haul lesbian of them.
My only caveat is that the novel really jumps right to the story. It was quite confusing trying to figure out the context the first couple chapters, but I’d rather have that than an over-explained intro. 4/5 stars.
My only caveat is that the novel really jumps right to the story. It was quite confusing trying to figure out the context the first couple chapters, but I’d rather have that than an over-explained intro. 4/5 stars.
December 1, 2024
Thank you for the ARC provided through NetGalley.
I tried. I pushed through when other reviews said that it starts to make sense later and I pushed to the end in hopes that it was as cozy as other reviewers stated. I finished this book and I still have no idea what I read and why. The writing is like an awkward conversation which is from what I gather is the point because the town itself is filled with socially awkward characters isolated from the rest of the world. There were some charming moments and I at times did laugh, but reading this was a struggle. Cassie and Melanie’s instant love did not make sense. The start of the book jumps right into action with the only explanations being towards the end of the book.
I tried. I pushed through when other reviews said that it starts to make sense later and I pushed to the end in hopes that it was as cozy as other reviewers stated. I finished this book and I still have no idea what I read and why. The writing is like an awkward conversation which is from what I gather is the point because the town itself is filled with socially awkward characters isolated from the rest of the world. There were some charming moments and I at times did laugh, but reading this was a struggle. Cassie and Melanie’s instant love did not make sense. The start of the book jumps right into action with the only explanations being towards the end of the book.
November 10, 2024
This was a really cosy and charming book! I thought the romance was super cute, and if you liked The House in the Cerulean Sea but wish it was sapphic, I expect you'll have a good time with this. The humour was great, and lots of the jokes and comments made me laugh. The overall tone is very sweet, snarky, and enjoyable to read. I always love a book with eldritch horrors involved, and I thought taking a more humorous, light-hearted approach to this mini-genre was a really unique and fun idea!
However, I think the plot was weak and quite unsatisfying. Even though Melanie is supposed to be an investigator, it never felt like there was much of a mystery going on, as the characters all guessed exactly what was going on within a few chapters, leaving almost 200 pages of the book feeling like filler. There was no real suspense or stakes and I didn't feel that the plot was very compelling regarding the 'eldritch horror' aspect of the book, meaning the ending just felt underwhelming and predictable. The romance was very cute, but it relies HEAVILY on the insta-love trope, resulting in there being no tension or room to develop the relationship for the rest of the book. Very little actually happened in this story, and even though I thought it was written in a very charming way, that doesn't make up for the fact that there's not very much substance.
If you want a cosy, sapphic romance with a witty writing style that is easy to get lost in, I think this is a perfectly good choice. But if you are more like me and struggle to engage with a book with a weak plot and overly convenient solutions, this might not be the best option.
However, I think the plot was weak and quite unsatisfying. Even though Melanie is supposed to be an investigator, it never felt like there was much of a mystery going on, as the characters all guessed exactly what was going on within a few chapters, leaving almost 200 pages of the book feeling like filler. There was no real suspense or stakes and I didn't feel that the plot was very compelling regarding the 'eldritch horror' aspect of the book, meaning the ending just felt underwhelming and predictable. The romance was very cute, but it relies HEAVILY on the insta-love trope, resulting in there being no tension or room to develop the relationship for the rest of the book. Very little actually happened in this story, and even though I thought it was written in a very charming way, that doesn't make up for the fact that there's not very much substance.
If you want a cosy, sapphic romance with a witty writing style that is easy to get lost in, I think this is a perfectly good choice. But if you are more like me and struggle to engage with a book with a weak plot and overly convenient solutions, this might not be the best option.
July 20, 2025
IN A NUTSHELL
In theory, I shouldn't have bought this book. Firstly, it's a cosy Lovecraftian horror romcom novel - that shouldn't even be possible. Secondly, it's a romance with an insta-love plot. In practice, it's a Tanya Huff novel, so I knew that, however improbable it seemed, it was going to be fun.. I love her playful humour, her quirky but likeable characters and her ability to make the supernatural seem real and absurd at the same time. As I expected, this was one big smile and left me hoping it would be the first in a series.
I don’t normally enjoy romance novels, especially when the plot has a heavy dose of insta-love. BUT, this was a Tanya Huff romance, so exceptions had to be made.
‘Direct Descendant‘ kept me smiling even though bits of the book would normally qualify it as a Lovecraftian horror novel. I'm not a fan of Eldritch horrors with tentacles, but Tanya Huff managed to make some of them (the ones that weren't trying to kill everyone) seem cute.
The small lakeside town of Argen has everything a horror novel needs: a centuries old deal, sealed in blood, with THE DARK (undefined but definitely scary enough to justify being capitalised), a pair of hellhounds, flocks of lethally carnivorous shadows, revenants, a horde of eldritch horrors, and a lake where anyone who swims past the buoys gets eaten by Alice, the resident lake monster.
It's not the most obvious setting for a RomCom, especially when you add in an evil plot to release Hell on Earth, Nor is it usual to have one of our may-be-fated-to-be-together-or-may-be-forced-apart-forever lovers at the centre of the romance is THE MOUTH OF THE DARK, a role that doesn’t automatically place her on the side of the angels, requires her to lie to the woman she’s falling for.
The story is told from two points of view: Cassidy Prewitt, a direct descendant of one of the town's founders, part owner of the silver mine, local baker and MOUTH OF THE DARK and Melanie Solvich, an unemployed teacher from Toronto who has taken on a side-gig for which she is spectacularly unqualfied, to spend a week in Argen gathering data on the last days of a young man who disappeared there, apparent.y eaten by a bear.
I enjoyed the insider/outsider views. In the audiobook, Cassie and Melanie each had their own narrator, which worked well.
This isn't a horror story. There isn't a lot of tension. There are a lot of laughs. The insta-love takes the suspense out of the romance, but there are a few (very atypical for a RomCom) obstacles that put the relationship at risk. There's also a larger plot. It takes a while to unfold, and it's not the most memorable thing about the book, but it shapes the romance.
''Direct Descendant' reminded me of Tanya Huff's 'Gale Women' series. If you liked that, you'll probably like this.
I had a lot of fun with this book. It works as a standalone, but I’d be happy to go back to Lake Argen if Tanya Huff wants to take these characters further.
I recommend the audiobook version. I liked both narrators. My wife point out to me that Melanie's narrator sounds a lot like Sarah Michelle Gellar playing Buffy. Click on the YouTube link below to hear a sample.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rClW...
In theory, I shouldn't have bought this book. Firstly, it's a cosy Lovecraftian horror romcom novel - that shouldn't even be possible. Secondly, it's a romance with an insta-love plot. In practice, it's a Tanya Huff novel, so I knew that, however improbable it seemed, it was going to be fun.. I love her playful humour, her quirky but likeable characters and her ability to make the supernatural seem real and absurd at the same time. As I expected, this was one big smile and left me hoping it would be the first in a series.
I don’t normally enjoy romance novels, especially when the plot has a heavy dose of insta-love. BUT, this was a Tanya Huff romance, so exceptions had to be made.
‘Direct Descendant‘ kept me smiling even though bits of the book would normally qualify it as a Lovecraftian horror novel. I'm not a fan of Eldritch horrors with tentacles, but Tanya Huff managed to make some of them (the ones that weren't trying to kill everyone) seem cute.
The small lakeside town of Argen has everything a horror novel needs: a centuries old deal, sealed in blood, with THE DARK (undefined but definitely scary enough to justify being capitalised), a pair of hellhounds, flocks of lethally carnivorous shadows, revenants, a horde of eldritch horrors, and a lake where anyone who swims past the buoys gets eaten by Alice, the resident lake monster.
It's not the most obvious setting for a RomCom, especially when you add in an evil plot to release Hell on Earth, Nor is it usual to have one of our may-be-fated-to-be-together-or-may-be-forced-apart-forever lovers at the centre of the romance is THE MOUTH OF THE DARK, a role that doesn’t automatically place her on the side of the angels, requires her to lie to the woman she’s falling for.
The story is told from two points of view: Cassidy Prewitt, a direct descendant of one of the town's founders, part owner of the silver mine, local baker and MOUTH OF THE DARK and Melanie Solvich, an unemployed teacher from Toronto who has taken on a side-gig for which she is spectacularly unqualfied, to spend a week in Argen gathering data on the last days of a young man who disappeared there, apparent.y eaten by a bear.
I enjoyed the insider/outsider views. In the audiobook, Cassie and Melanie each had their own narrator, which worked well.
This isn't a horror story. There isn't a lot of tension. There are a lot of laughs. The insta-love takes the suspense out of the romance, but there are a few (very atypical for a RomCom) obstacles that put the relationship at risk. There's also a larger plot. It takes a while to unfold, and it's not the most memorable thing about the book, but it shapes the romance.
''Direct Descendant' reminded me of Tanya Huff's 'Gale Women' series. If you liked that, you'll probably like this.
I had a lot of fun with this book. It works as a standalone, but I’d be happy to go back to Lake Argen if Tanya Huff wants to take these characters further.
I recommend the audiobook version. I liked both narrators. My wife point out to me that Melanie's narrator sounds a lot like Sarah Michelle Gellar playing Buffy. Click on the YouTube link below to hear a sample.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rClW...
April 12, 2025
Overall a pretty big disappointment. Lots of good elements that never combined into an actual engaging story. It seemed to take forever for the two romantic leads to even meet, then it was an immediate relationship, then instantly thrown against the wall and shattered just so there can be a reunion/reconnection ending.
And so many uses of "S-word" instead of "sacrifice," it drove me up the goddamn wall. It felt like a TikTok video using "unalived," it made me cringe every time (and they said it A LOT). You're all adults talking to adults, just say the damned word you mean.
And so many uses of "S-word" instead of "sacrifice," it drove me up the goddamn wall. It felt like a TikTok video using "unalived," it made me cringe every time (and they said it A LOT). You're all adults talking to adults, just say the damned word you mean.
December 23, 2024
This was actually cute and creepy at the same time haha I’m not big on cozy fantasy but something about cozy horror was just hitting exactly how I needed it to. Had fun with it ☺️ my last book of 2024 🫡
November 17, 2024
Direct Descendant by Tanya Huff
Rating: 2/5 stars
Summary:
Generations ago, the founders of the idyllic town of Lake Argen made a deal with a dark force. In exchange for their service, the town will stay prosperous and successful, and keep outsiders out. And for generations, it’s worked out great. Until a visitor goes missing, and his wealthy family sends a private investigator to find him, and everything abruptly goes sideways.
Now, Cassidy Prewitt, town baker and part-time servant of the dark force (it’s a family business) has to contend with a rising army of darkness, a very frustrated town, and a very cute PI who she might just be falling for…and who might just be falling for her. And if they can survive their own home-grown apocalypse, they might even just find happiness together.
First Impressions:
I was so excited to dive into Direct Descendant. As a big fan of cosy mysteries, fantasy, magic, and fun and witty horror, the blurb gave me strong Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural vibes, which sounded like it was right up my alley. Unfortunately, this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Plot & Pacing:
The plot felt underwhelming overall. Around 80% of the book read like filler, with little actually happening to move the story forward. There wasn’t much suspense, the stakes felt low, and the horror elements didn’t come through. The ending, while tying up the story, felt predictable and lacked the satisfying payoff I’d hoped for.
Adding to the unresolved feeling of the story, there were moments that felt random or completely out of the blue. Since this is a standalone book, these loose ends and sudden twists only made the story feel more incomplete.
The pacing was another issue. The story moved very slowly for much of the book and was bogged down by an overload of unnecessary details. Random descriptions of what the characters were thinking or doing often felt irrelevant to the plot, which not only slowed the pace but also made it hard to stay immersed. I also found the constant pop culture references (including several mentions of Oompa Loompas!) distracting. Instead of grounding the story in the “real world,” they ended up pulling me out of the story.
This also impacted the moment when the plot finally started to pick up. By the time it does, my mind was so full of random information and details that I couldn’t fully immerse myself in the plot anymore.
Writing Style:
The writing wasn’t what I’d expected from a cosy fantasy-horror blend and often felt juvenile. It felt like it was trying too hard to be witty, and while some moments were charming, many felt forced. Additionally, the constant addition of random details made it harder for me to focus on the core story.
As someone with dyslexia, this style of writing made the book especially challenging to read. The clutter of unnecessary descriptions and word choices made my head feel heavy and broke my immersion in the story.
I was also hoping for a cosy yet atmospheric tone that would envelop me in the magic and horror of the world, but instead, the tone felt inconsistent.
Characters:
The characters were okay but ultimately not very memorable. They often felt one-dimensional, and I struggled to connect with them. Early on, it was difficult to differentiate between the POVs because the characters’ voices felt so similar.
While the romance was cute, it relied too heavily on instant attraction and lacked the buildup and tension that could have made it feel more impactful. The characters don’t meet until quite late in the story, and their relationship never really developed beyond surface-level chemistry.
World-Building:
The world felt small and underexplored, and the magic system wasn’t given room to breathe. Like much of the story, it relied on telling rather than showing, which left me with a lot of questions. The world-building had potential but ultimately didn’t feel fully realized.
Final Thoughts:
I really wanted to love Direct Descendant, but sadly, it fell short for me. The combination of a predictable plot, slow pacing, underdeveloped characters, and an overwhelming amount of random details made it hard to stay immersed in the story. While the concept had great potential, the execution didn’t quite deliver the cosy, magical, and horror elements I was hoping for.
There were a couple of elements I enjoyed. The inclusion of a cute monster added a fun and lighthearted touch, and there were moments when the story picked up the pace and became more engaging.
But unfortunately, this was a 2-star read for me. It was also my first book by Tanya Huff, and seeing as the writing style in this book didn’t work for me, I’m not sure if I’ll be picking up another of her books in the future.
That said, I think there’s definitely an audience that will enjoy this book! If you’re looking for a light and cosy read with some hints of magic and a touch of romance, Direct Descendant might be a fun read for you.
I had the wonderful opportunity to read this book as an ARC reader through NetGalley, for which I want to express my gratitude! This review is my honest and voluntary opinion, and I am thrilled to share my thoughts.
Rating: 2/5 stars
Summary:
Generations ago, the founders of the idyllic town of Lake Argen made a deal with a dark force. In exchange for their service, the town will stay prosperous and successful, and keep outsiders out. And for generations, it’s worked out great. Until a visitor goes missing, and his wealthy family sends a private investigator to find him, and everything abruptly goes sideways.
Now, Cassidy Prewitt, town baker and part-time servant of the dark force (it’s a family business) has to contend with a rising army of darkness, a very frustrated town, and a very cute PI who she might just be falling for…and who might just be falling for her. And if they can survive their own home-grown apocalypse, they might even just find happiness together.
First Impressions:
I was so excited to dive into Direct Descendant. As a big fan of cosy mysteries, fantasy, magic, and fun and witty horror, the blurb gave me strong Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural vibes, which sounded like it was right up my alley. Unfortunately, this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Plot & Pacing:
The plot felt underwhelming overall. Around 80% of the book read like filler, with little actually happening to move the story forward. There wasn’t much suspense, the stakes felt low, and the horror elements didn’t come through. The ending, while tying up the story, felt predictable and lacked the satisfying payoff I’d hoped for.
Adding to the unresolved feeling of the story, there were moments that felt random or completely out of the blue. Since this is a standalone book, these loose ends and sudden twists only made the story feel more incomplete.
The pacing was another issue. The story moved very slowly for much of the book and was bogged down by an overload of unnecessary details. Random descriptions of what the characters were thinking or doing often felt irrelevant to the plot, which not only slowed the pace but also made it hard to stay immersed. I also found the constant pop culture references (including several mentions of Oompa Loompas!) distracting. Instead of grounding the story in the “real world,” they ended up pulling me out of the story.
This also impacted the moment when the plot finally started to pick up. By the time it does, my mind was so full of random information and details that I couldn’t fully immerse myself in the plot anymore.
Writing Style:
The writing wasn’t what I’d expected from a cosy fantasy-horror blend and often felt juvenile. It felt like it was trying too hard to be witty, and while some moments were charming, many felt forced. Additionally, the constant addition of random details made it harder for me to focus on the core story.
As someone with dyslexia, this style of writing made the book especially challenging to read. The clutter of unnecessary descriptions and word choices made my head feel heavy and broke my immersion in the story.
I was also hoping for a cosy yet atmospheric tone that would envelop me in the magic and horror of the world, but instead, the tone felt inconsistent.
Characters:
The characters were okay but ultimately not very memorable. They often felt one-dimensional, and I struggled to connect with them. Early on, it was difficult to differentiate between the POVs because the characters’ voices felt so similar.
While the romance was cute, it relied too heavily on instant attraction and lacked the buildup and tension that could have made it feel more impactful. The characters don’t meet until quite late in the story, and their relationship never really developed beyond surface-level chemistry.
World-Building:
The world felt small and underexplored, and the magic system wasn’t given room to breathe. Like much of the story, it relied on telling rather than showing, which left me with a lot of questions. The world-building had potential but ultimately didn’t feel fully realized.
Final Thoughts:
I really wanted to love Direct Descendant, but sadly, it fell short for me. The combination of a predictable plot, slow pacing, underdeveloped characters, and an overwhelming amount of random details made it hard to stay immersed in the story. While the concept had great potential, the execution didn’t quite deliver the cosy, magical, and horror elements I was hoping for.
There were a couple of elements I enjoyed. The inclusion of a cute monster added a fun and lighthearted touch, and there were moments when the story picked up the pace and became more engaging.
But unfortunately, this was a 2-star read for me. It was also my first book by Tanya Huff, and seeing as the writing style in this book didn’t work for me, I’m not sure if I’ll be picking up another of her books in the future.
That said, I think there’s definitely an audience that will enjoy this book! If you’re looking for a light and cosy read with some hints of magic and a touch of romance, Direct Descendant might be a fun read for you.
I had the wonderful opportunity to read this book as an ARC reader through NetGalley, for which I want to express my gratitude! This review is my honest and voluntary opinion, and I am thrilled to share my thoughts.
September 3, 2025
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
April 8, 2025
Direct Descendant by Tanya Huff is the first book I have read by this author, and I have mixed feelings about it. The attractive cover art and the premise caught my attention right away. It was a very slow read for me until about two-thirds in. I was somewhat confused about what was happening and, at times, about who was speaking. There were many characters, and it took a while to get them all sorted out. Despite it being slow and unclear at first, I never felt like I wanted to DNF. One of the many things I love about reading is that each book is its own experience. This one, for me, was weird but overall entertaining.
I saw that there were mixed reviews, and I completely get that. It seems like the kind of book you either love or hate depending on personal preferences. Although some readers did not appreciate the writing style and humor, I really enjoyed it. The dialogue and interactions between all the characters were what kept me reading. I found it highly amusing and quirky, and I got a cozy feel from the story. It's not particularly cerebral or profound, but just kind of silly and fun. It's creative.
The "romance" was more of a subplot. As an instalove, it didn't completely convince me, but I chalked it up to the supernatural element and let it go. There was gay family rep and lesbian main characters and no conflict regarding same-sex relationships.
I am giving this one 3.5 stars.
I don't know if this author has written other sapphic fiction or not. If she has, I would be willing to give those a read.
#Eldritchhorror #cozy #smalltown #instalove #HEA #Canada
I received this free ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
I saw that there were mixed reviews, and I completely get that. It seems like the kind of book you either love or hate depending on personal preferences. Although some readers did not appreciate the writing style and humor, I really enjoyed it. The dialogue and interactions between all the characters were what kept me reading. I found it highly amusing and quirky, and I got a cozy feel from the story. It's not particularly cerebral or profound, but just kind of silly and fun. It's creative.
The "romance" was more of a subplot. As an instalove, it didn't completely convince me, but I chalked it up to the supernatural element and let it go. There was gay family rep and lesbian main characters and no conflict regarding same-sex relationships.
I am giving this one 3.5 stars.
I don't know if this author has written other sapphic fiction or not. If she has, I would be willing to give those a read.
#Eldritchhorror #cozy #smalltown #instalove #HEA #Canada
I received this free ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
May 3, 2025
Delightfully blasé about the eldritch horrors next door, cozy, humourful. Somewhat confused in its pacing, though that tends to play into the comedy factory of casually dropping gaggles of tweens with sharp implements onto the unwitting hordes writhing forth out of the Dungeon Dimensions.
{Review of an advanced reader's copy, courtesy of DAW Books and NetGalley.}
{Review of an advanced reader's copy, courtesy of DAW Books and NetGalley.}
June 10, 2025
This book was something else. I really enjoyed it as it reminded me of the podcast Welcome to Night Vale with all of the wacky things happening in the town. It was also very funny and I giggled at many of the jokes. I found the characters to be so fun to read about and I liked how each character had a quirk of their own. It really bought flavour to the book. I found the main couple to honestly be super cute like supernatural insta-love is just so nice sometimes.
My only nitpicks about this book is that
1) The ensemble cast was way too big. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed all of the characters and their oddities but it took me a long time to actually get who was who because of how many characters we were introduced to so quickly.
2) A lot of the fantastical elements of this books weren't explained that well at certain part. It felt like I had started a book without reading its prequel. It was very distracting especially at the start because we get all this information and it is barely explained. Had this only been from the perspective of Melanie, I could have excused this because she was an outsider coming into a supernatural town but this book was in a dual point of view with someone who was used to the oddities so it really confused me when something was brought up and I had no context behind this. For example I didn't understand the jokes behind Jeffrey's veganism because the book never gives context behind that. And this joke came up a lot but I didn't get that. Another example is the fact that the Guardians are never explained. Why are they Like That? I had assumed that they were fully just supernatural creatures but they have human family members and were implied to have been human before. What happened? Things like this irked me because I really wanted to learn more about the world this book was set in and yet I was left unsatisfied.
Ignoring its flaws, I really really enjoyed this book for what it was. It was a fun read and I hope that this book could have a sequel because i'd love to learn more about the world and its characters.
Just to add, seeing Chapelle Roan referenced in this book was so funny because damn that is so recent.
My only nitpicks about this book is that
1) The ensemble cast was way too big. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed all of the characters and their oddities but it took me a long time to actually get who was who because of how many characters we were introduced to so quickly.
2) A lot of the fantastical elements of this books weren't explained that well at certain part. It felt like I had started a book without reading its prequel. It was very distracting especially at the start because we get all this information and it is barely explained. Had this only been from the perspective of Melanie, I could have excused this because she was an outsider coming into a supernatural town but this book was in a dual point of view with someone who was used to the oddities so it really confused me when something was brought up and I had no context behind this. For example I didn't understand the jokes behind Jeffrey's veganism because the book never gives context behind that. And this joke came up a lot but I didn't get that. Another example is the fact that the Guardians are never explained. Why are they Like That? I had assumed that they were fully just supernatural creatures but they have human family members and were implied to have been human before. What happened? Things like this irked me because I really wanted to learn more about the world this book was set in and yet I was left unsatisfied.
Ignoring its flaws, I really really enjoyed this book for what it was. It was a fun read and I hope that this book could have a sequel because i'd love to learn more about the world and its characters.
Just to add, seeing Chapelle Roan referenced in this book was so funny because damn that is so recent.
March 16, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up
This was absolutely delightful. I adored the small town setting and all the characters and the world. If you were a fan of Welcome to Night Vale this is absolutely the book for you.
My only complaint is the romance - they meet at about the halfway mark of the book, and then the entire romantic subplot, complete with third-act break-up is crammed in that space. I did like the characters together, I just wish we had been given more space to see them interact as a couple before the drama starts. Kind of a shame, because the other book I read by this author, The Fire's Stone had an absolutely lovely slow-born romance.
All in all, though, I absolutely recommend this, just come for the cozy, Gilmore-Girls-meets-Chtulu vibes (never thought I would have found Eldritch abominations adorable).
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This was absolutely delightful. I adored the small town setting and all the characters and the world. If you were a fan of Welcome to Night Vale this is absolutely the book for you.
My only complaint is the romance - they meet at about the halfway mark of the book, and then the entire romantic subplot, complete with third-act break-up is crammed in that space. I did like the characters together, I just wish we had been given more space to see them interact as a couple before the drama starts. Kind of a shame, because the other book I read by this author, The Fire's Stone had an absolutely lovely slow-born romance.
All in all, though, I absolutely recommend this, just come for the cozy, Gilmore-Girls-meets-Chtulu vibes (never thought I would have found Eldritch abominations adorable).
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
dnf
April 25, 2025Godddd i made it like 24% into a book I had my fingers crossed would read smth like a lesbian eldritch fantasy Pratchett book, but this was just too insufferable. Finally dropped at the insta-love. It almost immediately crossed the line into insufferably quirky, tropey, self-congratulatory characters that all sound like they could audition for the same role in an off-beat comedy b-movie from the height of the hipster craze.
Within a couple pages, the love interest pats herself on the back for using an app to commend a city employee, and AGAIN for passing a waiter's "asshole test" because she doesn't argue about being served tap water. The most literal virtue-signaling used as character development i've ever read.
Within a couple pages, the love interest pats herself on the back for using an app to commend a city employee, and AGAIN for passing a waiter's "asshole test" because she doesn't argue about being served tap water. The most literal virtue-signaling used as character development i've ever read.
November 3, 2025
that was so bad i had to check 3 times it wasn't written by a man
sins:
- mc body shaming the love interest
- (rich) mc believing the (poor) love interest's wariness abt spending money was a "problem needing to be fixed"
- insta love
- breaking the 4th wall by the love interest understanding random noun capitalization in dialogue?
- shrugging off colonialism & perpetuating the myth that the First Nation "backed off and watched [their land get developed] from a distance"
i need to stop reading any kind of "lovecraftian" inspired novels they're all bad
sins:
- mc body shaming the love interest
- (rich) mc believing the (poor) love interest's wariness abt spending money was a "problem needing to be fixed"
- insta love
- breaking the 4th wall by the love interest understanding random noun capitalization in dialogue?
- shrugging off colonialism & perpetuating the myth that the First Nation "backed off and watched [their land get developed] from a distance"
i need to stop reading any kind of "lovecraftian" inspired novels they're all bad
January 12, 2025
Free ARC provided by DAW Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Publish date 18 March 2025.
I've liked some of Huff's books in the past, especially her military SF Confederation books, so I was willing to give this Canadian cozy horror a try, even if I didn't get along with Huff's most recent release. In Direct Descendant, Cassie is one of four descendants set to protect a small Canadian town under the sway of an ancient dark pact. But a strange man sacrificing himself on Midsummer's Day sets off a string of events that might endanger the pact--as well as sending English teacher Melanie into town to investigate...
I've had mixed experiences with books marketed as cozy, so I'm glad to report that this book pulled it off. Yes, there's a cute little town where everybody knows each other, and the Dark One benevolently answers the petitions of ten year olds (albeit with a melodramatic taste for the macabre). However, Huff manages to dodge being twee through a streak of genuine darkness that counterbalances the sweet and cozy elements. All dead bodies are sacrificed to the lake monster, not buried, due to the zombie risk. There's a small chance you might be selected to transform into a terrible eldritch monster. And the town has a remarkably high death rate, which the townsfolk take into stride with an aplomb more suited to villagers of a cute British hamlet with an elderly amateur sleuth.
I would be remiss to review this book without also mentioning the sapphic romance. The developing relationship between Cassie and Melanie is very instalove. However! I have a much higher tolerance for characters who are immediately convinced that they will have a summer wedding on sight, versus the thing where they're instantly attracted but spend the whole time having ugly little squabbles. Huff also takes the opportunity to lampshade the incredibly fast relationship development by making uhaul jokes.
However, while I enjoyed the characters and worldbuilding of Direct Descendant, I did have major issues with the plot and pacing (similar to the problems I had with Into the Broken Lands, alas). While the plot starts out with a bang during an unexpected human sacrifice, very little happens over the majority of the book. We just get vague hints that something might be amiss, and endless circuitous discussions about what might be happening, until something does happen in the very last fifth of the book. If you're entertained enough by the setting and the romance, this plotting might work for you, but I found it a bit disjointed.
If you're looking for a cozy fantasy novel that never slips into the twee, this book might be a good fit for you.
I've liked some of Huff's books in the past, especially her military SF Confederation books, so I was willing to give this Canadian cozy horror a try, even if I didn't get along with Huff's most recent release. In Direct Descendant, Cassie is one of four descendants set to protect a small Canadian town under the sway of an ancient dark pact. But a strange man sacrificing himself on Midsummer's Day sets off a string of events that might endanger the pact--as well as sending English teacher Melanie into town to investigate...
I've had mixed experiences with books marketed as cozy, so I'm glad to report that this book pulled it off. Yes, there's a cute little town where everybody knows each other, and the Dark One benevolently answers the petitions of ten year olds (albeit with a melodramatic taste for the macabre). However, Huff manages to dodge being twee through a streak of genuine darkness that counterbalances the sweet and cozy elements. All dead bodies are sacrificed to the lake monster, not buried, due to the zombie risk. There's a small chance you might be selected to transform into a terrible eldritch monster. And the town has a remarkably high death rate, which the townsfolk take into stride with an aplomb more suited to villagers of a cute British hamlet with an elderly amateur sleuth.
I would be remiss to review this book without also mentioning the sapphic romance. The developing relationship between Cassie and Melanie is very instalove. However! I have a much higher tolerance for characters who are immediately convinced that they will have a summer wedding on sight, versus the thing where they're instantly attracted but spend the whole time having ugly little squabbles. Huff also takes the opportunity to lampshade the incredibly fast relationship development by making uhaul jokes.
However, while I enjoyed the characters and worldbuilding of Direct Descendant, I did have major issues with the plot and pacing (similar to the problems I had with Into the Broken Lands, alas). While the plot starts out with a bang during an unexpected human sacrifice, very little happens over the majority of the book. We just get vague hints that something might be amiss, and endless circuitous discussions about what might be happening, until something does happen in the very last fifth of the book. If you're entertained enough by the setting and the romance, this plotting might work for you, but I found it a bit disjointed.
If you're looking for a cozy fantasy novel that never slips into the twee, this book might be a good fit for you.
October 26, 2025
Mettons que je suis généreuse en ajustant à la hausse, car certaines choses étaient très cool (comme cette fin, quand même). Mais ça aurait facilement pu avoir vingt ou trente pages de moins, ça aurait évite quelque répétitions et aurait resserré l'intrigue un peu.
January 7, 2026
I know this was set in a small town, but I did not need to be introduced to every resident.
January 9, 2025
E-ARC received from Edelweiss, thank you!
It's about time someone mixed horror into cozy to see what would happen. The story is excellent, both Cassie and Melanie's voices are fun and distinct. Bonus points for both of them being adorable lesbians who fall in love at first sight and make U-Haul jokes.
There's also a subtle but definite divide between Cassie, who's a Lake Argen native and sees the Dark and what the town does to keep the agreement as part of life, and Melanie, who views "hey, we made a pact with something inhuman to have decent lives" with the skepticism it DESERVES. Lake Argen sounds lovely and the baked goods sound divine, but Melanie's comment to Cassie about everyone accepting the 'welcome to Sunnydale' deal struck home. How much monstrosity are we willing to tolerate for reliable cell service and protection from tourists? How many s-words (the word in question is 'sacrifice', most townspeople try not to use it) has the Dark required over the years?
Side note, when Melanie (age 28-30 in a book set in the present day) makes the Sunnydale comment, and Cassie (same age, maybe a year or two younger) doesn't recognize the reference and says so, I felt my very bones wither. I'm so old, row me out into the lake and feed me to Alice.
It's about time someone mixed horror into cozy to see what would happen. The story is excellent, both Cassie and Melanie's voices are fun and distinct. Bonus points for both of them being adorable lesbians who fall in love at first sight and make U-Haul jokes.
There's also a subtle but definite divide between Cassie, who's a Lake Argen native and sees the Dark and what the town does to keep the agreement as part of life, and Melanie, who views "hey, we made a pact with something inhuman to have decent lives" with the skepticism it DESERVES. Lake Argen sounds lovely and the baked goods sound divine, but Melanie's comment to Cassie about everyone accepting the 'welcome to Sunnydale' deal struck home. How much monstrosity are we willing to tolerate for reliable cell service and protection from tourists? How many s-words (the word in question is 'sacrifice', most townspeople try not to use it) has the Dark required over the years?
Side note, when Melanie (age 28-30 in a book set in the present day) makes the Sunnydale comment, and Cassie (same age, maybe a year or two younger) doesn't recognize the reference and says so, I felt my very bones wither. I'm so old, row me out into the lake and feed me to Alice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2025
I loved the premise of this book.
Unfortunately, that’s all I loved about it.
The writing style was entirely too quippy and full of extraneous details that made it difficult to sink my teeth into the story. I don’t need to know the exact route and traffic and gas station stops the protagonist made along the way to her destination.
I also found the sentence structure confusing in a way that had me reading the same line several times trying to parse the meaning. This also happened with dialogue between the Four, where the dialogue chose snappiness over clarity or sense.
The author also made some frankly bizarre choices when it came to this book. Why have an unemployed teacher randomly do PI work when it’s clear to everyone, including the character herself, that she has no idea what she’s doing? Having an actual PI with experience and knowledge would have added such a delicious tension to this, but this opportunity was missed entirely. Instead, Melanie just ends up wandering around town having vague conversations with the locals that became repetitive and dull very quickly.
Cassie is also deeply uninteresting. She’s rich and bored and seems a little air headed, at one point it looks like she might have some character growth but that doesn’t actually go anywhere at all.
Additionally, having multiple POVs is great when it is done well. Unfortunately the voices of Melanie and Cassie are completely identical, and when they eventually have conversations with each other it’s only clear which is speaking based on context.
I also have to say that the romance piece was so underwhelming. It takes over a hundred pages for the characters to meet, and when they do they’re just immediately together. No development of the relationship, no tension, just instantly making out.
The descriptions of Meanie and Cassie’s bodies and outfits was also a bit much (“she had a long torso and small breasts” Like…okay, is that good?). They seem to be wearing clothes and haircuts of women several decades older than them, a minor criticism but it took me right out of the story knowing Cassie’s running around in khaki shorts with a late 90s hair cut.
The author also tries to tackle so many huge subjects in what is ultimately a horror romance. Truth and Reconciliation, transphobia, class divide, and so on. These are all worthy topics, but cramming a few moments of dialogue or exposition in between eldritch horror quips isn’t doing any of them justice. Having these storylines removed entirely, or at least play out without being so ham fisted about them, would have been way more effective.
Ultimately, this book tried to be way too many things, and in the end didn’t manage to be much of anything at all.
Unfortunately, that’s all I loved about it.
The writing style was entirely too quippy and full of extraneous details that made it difficult to sink my teeth into the story. I don’t need to know the exact route and traffic and gas station stops the protagonist made along the way to her destination.
I also found the sentence structure confusing in a way that had me reading the same line several times trying to parse the meaning. This also happened with dialogue between the Four, where the dialogue chose snappiness over clarity or sense.
The author also made some frankly bizarre choices when it came to this book. Why have an unemployed teacher randomly do PI work when it’s clear to everyone, including the character herself, that she has no idea what she’s doing? Having an actual PI with experience and knowledge would have added such a delicious tension to this, but this opportunity was missed entirely. Instead, Melanie just ends up wandering around town having vague conversations with the locals that became repetitive and dull very quickly.
Cassie is also deeply uninteresting. She’s rich and bored and seems a little air headed, at one point it looks like she might have some character growth but that doesn’t actually go anywhere at all.
Additionally, having multiple POVs is great when it is done well. Unfortunately the voices of Melanie and Cassie are completely identical, and when they eventually have conversations with each other it’s only clear which is speaking based on context.
I also have to say that the romance piece was so underwhelming. It takes over a hundred pages for the characters to meet, and when they do they’re just immediately together. No development of the relationship, no tension, just instantly making out.
The descriptions of Meanie and Cassie’s bodies and outfits was also a bit much (“she had a long torso and small breasts” Like…okay, is that good?). They seem to be wearing clothes and haircuts of women several decades older than them, a minor criticism but it took me right out of the story knowing Cassie’s running around in khaki shorts with a late 90s hair cut.
The author also tries to tackle so many huge subjects in what is ultimately a horror romance. Truth and Reconciliation, transphobia, class divide, and so on. These are all worthy topics, but cramming a few moments of dialogue or exposition in between eldritch horror quips isn’t doing any of them justice. Having these storylines removed entirely, or at least play out without being so ham fisted about them, would have been way more effective.
Ultimately, this book tried to be way too many things, and in the end didn’t manage to be much of anything at all.
November 28, 2024
We do not cuddle eldritch horrors...
But we do read about them!
Melanie, a currently unemployed teacher, finds herself hired by a rich woman to look for her lost grandson's last memories, and she ends up in a strange town filled with eccentric people. And hidden secrets.
This book was truly an experience. I found myself getting lost in the small town of Lake Argen. The small town charm was evident on every page, if one ignores the tentacles in the lake and creeping shadows. You know, the usual small town problems.
The sapphic romance was cute, albeit very rushed. Basically a love at first sight situation without much opportunity for development beyond physical attraction. The chemistry is there, don't get me wrong. It just was too rushed. As in 'move with me after two days of knowing of one another'-rushed. But because I was enjoying the rest of the book, it wasn’t as much of a bother in this case.
I enjoyed Melanie a lot more than Cassie who often felt too immature. So much so I thought she was a teen during the first few chapters. Even the other characters comment on her immaturity often.
But Cassie's POV brought the cozy eldritch horror I was so looking forward to. So, I ended up basically focusing on that and overlooking my qualms with her.
Overall, if you want a cozy sapphic romance (albeit rushed) set in a small Canadian town that's knee deep in eldritch horror, this book is for you.
My rating: 3.5/5 stars
Finally, thank you to NetGalley and DAW Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
But we do read about them!
Melanie, a currently unemployed teacher, finds herself hired by a rich woman to look for her lost grandson's last memories, and she ends up in a strange town filled with eccentric people. And hidden secrets.
This book was truly an experience. I found myself getting lost in the small town of Lake Argen. The small town charm was evident on every page, if one ignores the tentacles in the lake and creeping shadows. You know, the usual small town problems.
The sapphic romance was cute, albeit very rushed. Basically a love at first sight situation without much opportunity for development beyond physical attraction. The chemistry is there, don't get me wrong. It just was too rushed. As in 'move with me after two days of knowing of one another'-rushed. But because I was enjoying the rest of the book, it wasn’t as much of a bother in this case.
I enjoyed Melanie a lot more than Cassie who often felt too immature. So much so I thought she was a teen during the first few chapters. Even the other characters comment on her immaturity often.
But Cassie's POV brought the cozy eldritch horror I was so looking forward to. So, I ended up basically focusing on that and overlooking my qualms with her.
Overall, if you want a cozy sapphic romance (albeit rushed) set in a small Canadian town that's knee deep in eldritch horror, this book is for you.
My rating: 3.5/5 stars
Finally, thank you to NetGalley and DAW Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
February 2, 2025
Overall rating: 3⭐️
Tropes:
🪶 Insta-Love
🪶 Cozy Horror
🪶 Queer romance
🪶 Paranormal Mystery
🪶 Small Town
The story is set in a small town in Canada, plagued by Lovecraftian evil. The setting alone is what made me go “ooh I want to read this”. All the pieces were there, all the things I look for in a story - it just didn’t really work for me.
The romance was a bit off. The FMC objectifies the love interest, a woman named Cassie, in a very…masculine sort of way. I don’t normally enjoy insta-love, and this was no exception. Two dates in and they’re planning their future 👀
All in all, it was ok but it wasn’t for me. If you enjoy comedic horror and authors like Grady Hendrix, T. Kingfisher, and AJ Martinez, then you may enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for a chance to read and review this eARC and give my honest review.
Tropes:
🪶 Insta-Love
🪶 Cozy Horror
🪶 Queer romance
🪶 Paranormal Mystery
🪶 Small Town
The story is set in a small town in Canada, plagued by Lovecraftian evil. The setting alone is what made me go “ooh I want to read this”. All the pieces were there, all the things I look for in a story - it just didn’t really work for me.
The romance was a bit off. The FMC objectifies the love interest, a woman named Cassie, in a very…masculine sort of way. I don’t normally enjoy insta-love, and this was no exception. Two dates in and they’re planning their future 👀
All in all, it was ok but it wasn’t for me. If you enjoy comedic horror and authors like Grady Hendrix, T. Kingfisher, and AJ Martinez, then you may enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for a chance to read and review this eARC and give my honest review.
July 14, 2025
Really wanted to love this, great concept, but I fear even though I knew it was cozy Urban fantasy going in, I still wanted so much more as far as plot and substance. The humor felt very forced and the use of pop culture references totally pulled me out of the story. The one thing that could’ve saved this—the sapphic romance—might work for some people but for me the instant love and absolutely no yearning or slow burn made it very hard to believe they had any connection at all.
September 24, 2025
the premise sounded very intriguing and cozy but unfortunately I just did not like this book! all of the characters felt like they blended together, and none of the mystery elements were developed enough to make me care about or really follow the plot. the dialogue felt too heavy handed, and there were a few too many uses of the phrase “eldritch horror”
March 10, 2025
Honestly more 3.5 i wanted to like it so much and by the end I'd sort of come around but it just didn't hit quite right. A lot of worldbuilding I wanted to know more of and interpersonal relationships I found a little flat.
March 20, 2025
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
A charming, funny, and very Ontario-centered novel, Direct Descendent is a cozy Canadian love story with a demonic twist.
I love Tanya Huff. Her Confederation novels are one of my favourite sci-fi series and inspired me heavily in how to craft detailed alien species. So, when I saw this book pop up on NetGalley, I let out a very dramatic gasp. This sounded right up my alley, and it was, for the most part.
To get this out of the way, it’s not perfect. The story is a tad predictable, and the stakes weren’t high enough; I think more focus on the worldbuilding, perhaps before Melanie showed up, would have made that stronger.
The main thing that I didn't love about it was the love story. This is a preference thing, but it is insta-love, which I’m not a fan of. It’s very much a “they see each other across the room and they are in love” thing; the small amount of tension between them arises due to not so much a miscommunication trope but an “omission of the truth, and one gets mad” sort of thing, which wasn’t the most interesting romance plot to me.
Yet, I thought they were a cute couple, and I liked them both individually enough to want them to “get the girl,” so to speak, if only for their own happiness. I didn't dislike their love story, I just wasn't enthusiastic about how fast they fell for one another (I'm more into enemies-to-lovers).
The characters are very fun. We have Cass, having recently come into her role as one of the conduits for the eldritch entity living under the town, and Melanie, a school teacher laid off for speaking up for trans kids. Melanie needs money and accepts a weird job from an older lady to investigate the disappearance of a young guy named Travis. That’s the reason she goes to the town. Cass is trying to figure out why the young man sacrificed himself and what that means for the town.
The story moves at a languid pace, but that fits with the cozy theme. And the rest of the town is full of fun characters who aren’t deep but are quirky (a witch bookstore owner, a 40-year-old man-child who antagonizes Cass like a brother, “Alice” whom I won’t spoil, a cute little demon creature, a grouchy hotel owner), and there are a bunch of queer characters. This is a very queer-focused and inclusive book, which I loved too.
Huff has a certain style to her writing that might not appear to everyone - she’s more about describing situations than getting deep into characters’ heads (though it's not like there aren't internal struggles). The Confederation books are like this, too, and given she tends to write action-heavy stories, that might be where this comes from. I personally like it.
I also really liked the setting/concept of a town making a deal with an eldritch entity and all that it entailed. I don’t want to get into it, as it's more fun to experience as you go, but the plot is fun. There’s a bit of mystery, and there was a twist I sort of suspected (but not in the way it unravelled), which made sense, and how everything tied together was well done. It just takes time to get there.
Huff is also an expert at action sequences, and while there really only is one at the climax, it is a doozy and very fun.
Lastly, the thing I loved most was all the references to where I live. Now, I’m not as far north as the book is set, but I vacation up north and I love northern Ontario. And the book is just peppered with jokes and references about Ontario, our culture, the traffic in Toronto, and Tim Hortons. I found it so fun, as normally books are set in Toronto (as if nowhere else in Ontario exists), so I loved that we barely saw the city, and most of the book is set outside of it. I have done the drive Melanie does many times. I was just recently stuck on the 400 at Barrie. All of these things were so incredibly fun they overshadowed the lacklustre love story.
While not my favourite Huff novel, I enjoyed reading it and would love another set Lake Argen. But more banter and less insta-love, please. More of a Craig and Torin, if you will.
A charming, funny, and very Ontario-centered novel, Direct Descendent is a cozy Canadian love story with a demonic twist.
I love Tanya Huff. Her Confederation novels are one of my favourite sci-fi series and inspired me heavily in how to craft detailed alien species. So, when I saw this book pop up on NetGalley, I let out a very dramatic gasp. This sounded right up my alley, and it was, for the most part.
To get this out of the way, it’s not perfect. The story is a tad predictable, and the stakes weren’t high enough; I think more focus on the worldbuilding, perhaps before Melanie showed up, would have made that stronger.
The main thing that I didn't love about it was the love story. This is a preference thing, but it is insta-love, which I’m not a fan of. It’s very much a “they see each other across the room and they are in love” thing; the small amount of tension between them arises due to not so much a miscommunication trope but an “omission of the truth, and one gets mad” sort of thing, which wasn’t the most interesting romance plot to me.
Yet, I thought they were a cute couple, and I liked them both individually enough to want them to “get the girl,” so to speak, if only for their own happiness. I didn't dislike their love story, I just wasn't enthusiastic about how fast they fell for one another (I'm more into enemies-to-lovers).
The characters are very fun. We have Cass, having recently come into her role as one of the conduits for the eldritch entity living under the town, and Melanie, a school teacher laid off for speaking up for trans kids. Melanie needs money and accepts a weird job from an older lady to investigate the disappearance of a young guy named Travis. That’s the reason she goes to the town. Cass is trying to figure out why the young man sacrificed himself and what that means for the town.
The story moves at a languid pace, but that fits with the cozy theme. And the rest of the town is full of fun characters who aren’t deep but are quirky (a witch bookstore owner, a 40-year-old man-child who antagonizes Cass like a brother, “Alice” whom I won’t spoil, a cute little demon creature, a grouchy hotel owner), and there are a bunch of queer characters. This is a very queer-focused and inclusive book, which I loved too.
Huff has a certain style to her writing that might not appear to everyone - she’s more about describing situations than getting deep into characters’ heads (though it's not like there aren't internal struggles). The Confederation books are like this, too, and given she tends to write action-heavy stories, that might be where this comes from. I personally like it.
I also really liked the setting/concept of a town making a deal with an eldritch entity and all that it entailed. I don’t want to get into it, as it's more fun to experience as you go, but the plot is fun. There’s a bit of mystery, and there was a twist I sort of suspected (but not in the way it unravelled), which made sense, and how everything tied together was well done. It just takes time to get there.
Huff is also an expert at action sequences, and while there really only is one at the climax, it is a doozy and very fun.
Lastly, the thing I loved most was all the references to where I live. Now, I’m not as far north as the book is set, but I vacation up north and I love northern Ontario. And the book is just peppered with jokes and references about Ontario, our culture, the traffic in Toronto, and Tim Hortons. I found it so fun, as normally books are set in Toronto (as if nowhere else in Ontario exists), so I loved that we barely saw the city, and most of the book is set outside of it. I have done the drive Melanie does many times. I was just recently stuck on the 400 at Barrie. All of these things were so incredibly fun they overshadowed the lacklustre love story.
While not my favourite Huff novel, I enjoyed reading it and would love another set Lake Argen. But more banter and less insta-love, please. More of a Craig and Torin, if you will.
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