Snake-Eater

by T. Kingfisher

In an isolated desert town, a young woman seeking a fresh start is confronted by ancient gods, malevolent supernatural forces, and eccentric neighbours. A witty horror-tinged fantasy, perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Chuck Tingle, and Rachel Harrison.

When Selena travels to the remote desert town of Quartz Creek in search of her estranged Aunt Amelia, she is desperate and short of options. Fleeing an unhappy marriage, she has exactly twenty-seven dollars to her name, and her only friend in the world is her dog, Copper.

On arrival, Selena learns Amelia is dead. But the inhabitants of Quartz Creek are only too happy to have a new resident. Out of money and ideas, Selena sees no harm staying in her aunt's lovely house for a few weeks, tending to her garden and enjoying the strange, desolate beauty of the desert. The people are odd, but friendly, and eager to help Selena settle into her new home.

But Quartz Creek's inhabitants share their town with others, old gods and spirits whose claim to the land long predates their human neighbours. Selena finds herself pursued by disturbing apparitions, visitations that come in the night and seem to want something from her.

Aunt Amelia owed a debt. Now her god has come to collect.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Adult, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Contemporary

208 pages, Hardcover

First published November 11, 2025

About the author

T. Kingfisher is the vaguely absurd pen-name of Ursula Vernon. In another life, she writes children's books and weird comics, and has won the Hugo, Sequoyah, and Ursa Major awards, as well as a half-dozen Junior Library Guild selections.

This is the name she uses when writing things for grown-ups.

When she is not writing, she is probably out in the garden, trying to make eye contact with butterflies.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huh. This book is not at all what I was expecting. The Goodreads blurb calls it a “witty horror-tinged fantasy,” and I was envisioning a sort of A Sorceress Comes to Call meets What Moves the Dead mash-up. Instead, it's cozy? And kind of heartwarming? And mostly about the main character running away from her old life and starting a new one in a remote desert town? There's definitely some fantasy elements, but not as much as you might think considering it's T. Kingfisher, and very, very little horror. There's one scene that I might consider mildly creepy, but that's as “horror-tinged” as it gets.

Basically, imagine a T.J. Klune novel but without the romance, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect from this one.

But, despite the surprise coziness, I enjoyed this quite a bit. There's a whole “found family” thing going on, there's a dog that's the goodest girl ever, and there are some fun fantasy creatures, including an evil roadrunner and a were-pig … or a were-convergent-evolution-pig, if you want to get technical. The human characters are also delightful, and there's some rather interesting folklore woven throughout the story.

Don't expect lots of action, however, or even a fast-paced plot. This is a slow burn of a novel, and it really is more about Selena's move to Quartz Creek (and her subsequent emotional growth) than anything else — the “Snake-Eater” plotline is almost secondary to the rest of it. I do wish that Snake-Eater and the other desert gods had been given a little more page time, but I enjoyed following the more mundane part of Selena's journey just the same.

And the characters? Fantastic! There's Grandma Billy, a wise-cracking gun-toting septuagenarian and Father Aguirre, a Catholic priest with a twist. There's Copper, the best black lab ever to black lab, and, of course, there's Selena herself. Selena is a perfectly likeable main character, and I love that she plans out all of her conversations beforehand, because, uh … someone I know does the same exact thing, although I'd like to think that I … uh, they do it in a slightly less neurotic manner. Even Snake-Eater is a pretty fun character as far as villains go, and I, for one, will never accept a dead snake from a roadrunner ever again, just saying.

My overall rating: 3.85 stars, rounded up. Snake-Eater is definitely more cozy than horror, but it's still all kinds of entertaining.

Many thanks to NetGalley and 47North for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is January 1, 2026.

[Ricarda · Rating 5 out of 5]

T. Kingfisher having not one, not two, but three books out this year? Truly iconic behavior. By now I've read 2 out of 3 of these books via NetGalley, and both were a win for me (and let's be real, Alex Easton #3 will not disappoint me either). But Snake-Eater is my favorite of the year so far. It's the story of 30-year-old Selena who could really need a break from life. Her only option is visiting her estranged aunt for a while, so she leaves everything behind (except for her dog, of course) and takes the train to the small desert town of Quartz Creek. Her aunt has died, unfortunately, but Selena can still stay in her now empty house. She makes friends with the badass grandma next door and the local priest, and she starts to calm down a bit. Good for her, but it couldn't be me living in the desert with all the spiders, snakes, scorpions and angry chickens, and I haven't even mentioned these desert gods that come and take a look at Selena from time to time. The story is mostly cozy, but there are slight horror elements. Not to the extent of Kingfisher's other horror novels, though. It's not the first book by this author where the protagonist is left alone in the house of a relative and creepy things start to happen. There's The Twisted Ones, The Hollow Places and A House with Good Bones, and I never disliked any of these books so I will not start now. Snake-Eater started very similarly to these books and then went in a different direction. The story is more about Selena finding a new home and becoming a part of the community. Unfortunately, she also makes an enemy of a … bird, and this matter has to be sorted out first before Selena can truly settle down. Let's just say that roadrunners seem to be the worst kind of bird there is. It's a small story and mostly low stakes, but it focuses on all the right things. I felt represented as a Labrador owner, and honestly also as a person who overthinks and is unsure about everything. Selena is heavily struggling with anxiety and it was great to see how she just found the right people in the end. I don't have a single negative thing to say about this book, although it's a bit of a shame that it's a November release. This is the book for a hot summer day, and I'm speaking from experience.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and 47North for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[MagretFume · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story of second chances at life, found family and believing in your strength.

It gave me strong Discworld Witches vibes, and I loved the desert and small community setting.

As always with T. Kingfisher, the writing is perfect, the world vibrant and the characters complex and interesting.

Thank you 47North for this ARC!

[Elizabeth (Plant Based Bride) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Snake-Eater, we follow our protagonist, Selena, who has made the long journey (along wth her trusty canine companion, Copper) to arrive in a remote desert town to stay with her aunt after finally making the difficult decision to leave her long-term partner. But things are not as they appear in this tiny little town on the edge of a barren expanse of sand.

I have many mixed feelings about this little horror novella. Firstly, it feels less like horror than contemporary fiction with a dash of speculative elements, some of which left me more bewildered than intrigued. I have tried a few of T. Kingfisher's books, but I haven't been able to figure out her style or how I relate to it. I know that many people absolutely adore her work, but for my own tastes, something isn't quite clicking between us as author and reader.

The writing style was extremely choppy, made up of many short sentences, and the prose was blunt, lacking dynamics and variety in sentence structure and rhythm. I don't need every book I read to be written lyrically, but I do appreciate writing where you can tell the author has put thought into the rhythmic flow of the words, sentences, and paragraphs to enhance the reader's experience of their work.

Unfortunately, the short, repetitive, punchy sentences not only created a less enjoyable reading experience but also interfered with delivering important context for the story itself. It wasn't until the second half that I realized this was meant to be set in the future. The world-building was essentially non-existent, yet we continued to receive details about minor aspects that didn't feel relevant to the story and repeated the same ideas and phrases ad nauseam. In addition to the choppy and clunky writing style, the book alternated between third and first person, which I found jarring.

I actually loved most of the characters in this book, except for the main character, who I found quite frustrating. She came across as significantly younger than she was meant to be, lacking in maturity and self-awareness. Selena also constantly referred to her script - she plans what she's going to say ahead of time, creating a mental script for all kinds of situations (The word "script" in that context appears 38 times in this novella). The phrases "I didn't have a script for this situation" or "I have the perfect script for this situation" were used far too often. I understand and can relate to social anxiety and neurodivergence, and I don't mind reading about a protagonist who relies on scripts to navigate social interaction. However, the way this was constantly brought into her internal monologue in any scene where she interacted with others became extremely tedious. Once it has been established that Selena relies on scripts to navigate conversations, it can be alluded to or gestured at without being explicitly stated (in just a few variations on the wording) every single time.

I will say the setting was incredibly immersive. It takes place in the desert, and I really felt like I was there - like I could see and smell and taste what it was like in that still heat. I also thought the direction the story went in was intriguing and that the premise itself had potential. I grew attached to the characters and found their dynamics endearing, with a found-family, cozy dynamic. Ultimately, though I enjoyed aspects of this story and wanted to love it, the execution felt somewhat half-baked, and the reading experience itself was frustrating. I believe fans of quirky found family novels who aren't as picky about prose as I am will have a fun time with this novella, but sadly, it wasn't a hit for me.

Trigger/Content Warnings: sexual assault, violence, animal cruelty, animal death, toxic relationship, transphobia, death, grief, social anxiety

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Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite T Kingfisher novels, Snake Eater is a journey into the desert readers will not soon forget, especially as they are quite likely to read it for a second time. Selena and her intrepid lab mix Copper make an impulse journey to a tiny town in the south west to escape a verbally, psychologically abusive partner. There, Selena had hoped to stay with her Aunt Amelia, but once she arrives, she learns that her aunt has already passed on. The mayor of the town (who is also the head of the local postal service) encourages Selena to stay in her Aunt's home as it has been standing empty and no other kin have claimed it. As Selena has only 27 dollars to her name, she agrees and quickly meets a colorful cast of the town's residents who embrace her with open arms. Jack Rabbit Hole House, the name of her Aunt's home, seems to suit Selena perfectly, but as time continues, Selena realizes that the desert surrounding the house is home to quite a few unusual "people" who are not entirely "human people." And so begins Selena's decent down the rabbit hole of the local south western mythology and folklore which turns out to be far more fact than fiction.

I can't say enough good things about Snake Eater. I'm almost at a loss over where to even begin gushing. Fans of Hollow Places and Twisted Ones will love this book. I honestly can't imagine any sensible reader, regardless of their preferred genre, not recognizing this novel's excellence. There's something here for everyone--weird and wonderful wit and humor, thoughtfully handled trauma and recovery narration, deliciously described south western small town customs, outrageously lovable secondary characters, and all of it infused with a dose of T. Kingfisher-style horror which stands at the ready just in the corner of the reader's eye.

The pacing is just perfect--the novel never drags, but Kingfisher also takes the time necessary to include exposition and properly build the local color. The result is a beautifully balanced pace. Readers will enjoy the journey just as much as those moments of heart pounding suspense.

Characters:

The characters are as diverse as they are lovable. Grandma Billy is Selena's big hearted, blunt, no nonsense neighbor, and just about every thing she says makes me smile. She quickly becomes Selena's closest friend and town/culture guide, assuming a sort of mentoring position in Selena's life. She has a dry, wicked sense of humor and a rangy rooster who guards her home.

The local priest, Father Aguirre, is a character whose presence helps Kingfisher underscore that uniquely south-western blending of Catholicism and native religions, much the same way Irish culture incorporates Celtic folklore. Father Aguirre also represents a religious ideal which is so seldom seen today--he is unfailingly accepting, open minded, generous and brave--never judgmental, never bigoted, never fearful of change. His world view juxtaposes that of Selena's mother, and his friendship reinforces Selena's healing process rather than the trauma she's been running from.

Selena's black Lab mix, Copper is my favorite minor character. Like Kingfisher's other animal characters in past novels, Copper might not be able to use a human voice to communicate her thoughts, but from the way Kingfisher characterizes her actions and expressions, an actual voice is hardly necessary. Selena knows exactly what Copper is thinking (or at least she thinks she does), and dialogue Selena imagines taking place between them is hilarious. Given Copper's fur color, her name is quirky but, as is often the case in a Kingfisher novel, quirkiness can be a commodity.

If you are expecting dreadfully frightening reading from page one, you are reading the wrong book. That's not T. Kingfisher's jam. Her folk horror is far more subtle, and in my opinion, far more lasting. This is the type of novel that stays with you, one you want to experience again and again. When the scares begin, they begin slowly and carefully. Selena (and brilliantly even the readers) cannot quite tell if these scary moments are a product of reality or merely Selena's self-doubt post her psychologically abusive relationship with a man who has been gaslighting her for years. As Selena's confidence grows (truly beautiful character growth for readers to witness) the suspense quickens, and as Hamlet would say, "more things in heaven and earth" begin to challenge her previously held world view. I don't want to add any specifics to avoid spoilers here, but as the novel's climax approaches, Selena's story becomes impossible to put down.

This book is an absolute delight from beginning to end. It's my very favorite brand of T. Kingfisher novel. And I am so grateful to have another one after A House with Good Bones. This is not to suggest that her folk horror novels are in anyway repetitious--quite the opposite. T. Kingfisher never tells the same story twice with new character names. Each one is so unique, it's background so well researched, and as soon as critics try to pigeon hole her as new-southern gothic, she publishes a novel set entirely elsewhere, blowing the classification to bits. But her style does have certain hallmarks which I have come to seek out and cherish (her animal characters, her wit in describing local wisdom). One thing is certain--whenever there's a new T. Kingfisher on offer, I will always preorder automatically.

[Chewable Orb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher
3.80 rounded up to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮orbs
Pub. Date: Dec. 1, 2025
47 North

Quartz Creek…..

💡 Orbs Prologue: With an ovoid shape, I sit amongst others of my kind. The old woman’s hands retrieved me earlier this morning. Like a passenger on a bus, I am being shuttled off to my destination, Jackrabbit Hole House, to provide needed sustenance to an outsider. Who is this woman, Selena? As we enter the home, Selena’s dog, Copper, nuzzles the bucket I currently reside in. I find myself nudging my way downwards towards the bottom, in hopes that I may be one of the last eaten eggs. Why, you may ask? Quite simply, I am intrigued by this situation. This desert dwelling has a bit of a clandestine past, shall we say. How does one just show up unannounced and not expect some turbulence to beset them?

🔩 Nuts & Bolts: The cicada’s rhythmic sounds present a magical quality upon Quartz Creek. Perhaps this is the meditative tranquility that Selena has been searching for. Why else would someone depart their lives in the city in search of an aunt living in a remote desert town? I suppose this is how it is; one reaches a breaking point where their resilience shines through and they decide to fight back against their perceived oppression. The wind-blown saguaro cacti happily wave in salutations as Selena stands in shock at the news that her Aunt Amelia has unfortunately passed. Without much coin to her name, Mayor Jenny has invited her to stay at Amelia’s home, named Jackrabbit Hole House, with Selena being her only next-of-kin. Selena’s initial plan was to escape and remain in Quartz Creek for a short period of time to escape Walter, her overbearing boyfriend; however, as she has become more acclimated to the niceties of the people in the community, it dawns on her that she is happier in this climate. Without judgment, the townspeople take her in as one of their own, providing necessary knowledge of living in the desert. That is, until the mysteries of the land come to fruition. One in particular, known as Snake-Eater, has an unknowing place in Selena’s existence. With no introduction needed, author T. Kingfisher asks us to strap on our CamelBaks and walk into the dry barrens, presenting the mirage of sheer normality and replacing those ideals with a sense of wonderment and horror.

👍 Orbs Pros: T. Kingfisher possesses a prose that immediately clicks with me. Extremely accessible. Like the famous Lombard Street in San Francisco, T. Kingfisher provides twists and turns around every corner. I immediately felt sympathy towards Selena, providing a solid connection that held throughout. Not to be outdone by just Selena herself, the supporting characters held quite a bit of weight as well. Primarily, the old woman next door, Grandma Billy, and Father Aguirre, who provide stability and a sense of humor to the tense situations.

👎 Orbs Cons: Is it a bit outlandish? Sure! To pick up and leave a life on a whim with no money to your name at a distant relative's house might cause believability issues with the critics. A roadrunner? Seriously? A most unusual choice for an antagonist, and certainly might be a cause for contentment with some.

Recommended! Did I like this as much as one of T. Kingfisher’s other novels, for example, The Twisted Ones? No! BUT, this hit me differently. I didn’t feel that Snake-Eater contained those terrifying elements like The Twisted Ones, but instead it focused on a woman’s self-discovery while navigating Kingfisher’s expertly conceived otherworldly goodness. It is haunting, albeit in a slightly different presentation.

💡 Orbs Epilogue: As time has passed, the heat has become unbearable. I want to burst from within this calcium carbonate prison, if only to truly breathe in some sort of cool air. Upon my stay, Selena and Grandma Billy have been talking about something known as a Snake-Eater. Rattlesnakes left on the porch, a tribute of sorts? Grandma Billy has been a godsend for Selena; her fiery nature is starting to rub off on Selena, and I can see a grit that was absent when she arrived. Yesterday, an entity, a man—well, whatever it was—was seen rummaging in the garden again. Those darn scorpions keep crawling around everywhere, yet Selena refuses to kill them, bless her heart. Morning has arrived, with the chickens crowing like the sounds of a final death march. Finally, my time has come; I have been chosen. A worrisome thought has entered my wee little egg dome. What is this talk about sunny-side up or, much worse, scrambled? Much like Humpty Dumpty, my life is about to change, and that, my friends, is how I exit this crazy world.

Many thanks to 47 North for the ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A genre-bending piece of literary perfection.

If she writes it, I'll read it - except the worm book I can't handle that one.

Every book I've read from T. Kingfisher delivers and this is no exception. In fact, Snake-Eater is officially my favorite T. Kingfisher book.

I absolutely devoured this book! I would have finished it in a single sitting, but reason won and I finally dragged myself away from it at 3am - only to pick it up immediately the next morning!

I think the tag “witty horror-tinged fantasy” sums this book up well, but I might even add that it’s a bit literary fiction… Definitely a character study. Also a bit of a mystery. Honestly this book is doing a lot, but it balances all the elements so perfectly that a genre-definition is irrelevant.

This book has a little bit of something for every type of reader and I think it would make a spectacular slump-buster, or bridge for those looking to dip their toes in horror or fantasy!

So what did I love about this book, well aside from EVERYTHING…

Copper is the bestest girl in the whole world. I loved how she was portrayed and the representation of that very special relationship between a person and their pet.

Selena was deeply relatable for me. I saw myself in her many quirks, her scripts, her journey to connect, how difficult it is to try to belong, and how we sometimes need a little help to realize that we already do.

The portrayal of moving on from an abusive relationship, the struggles related to recognizing that you’re in one, removing yourself from the situation, and all the guilt related to needing help. I felt Selena’s struggles deep in my heart and loved watching her heal!

The wild af small town and its little gods, as well as the found family were perfect.

The mystery plot, the pacing, the unknown, the little hints in all the right places to propel you forward?! Excellent!

GO READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!

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Thank you NetGalley and 47North for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Holly Hearts Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trust me, the weird chicken cover will make TOTAL sense once you read the story.

So I really enjoyed the writing. I enjoyed the characters. Loved the setting. I just really didn’t like the “answer” to the mystery once we got there. We have a woman who runs away from her mundane life with her dog (my favorite character) to a very tiny desert town. Everyone's friendly, welcoming but the house she is staying at has some baggage. I like weird things but even this felt too… weird? and this isn't horror at all in my opinion. It's actually cozy and comical. I feel like the narrative built up all this tension only to hand me a conclusion that didn’t quite HIT, ya know? The so called villain of the story is disappointing and honestly its motivations grossed me out a bit if you thought about it for too long.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a free copy to review.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@hollyheartsbooks...

[Juliet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big T Kingfisher fan, and I think Snake-Eater is one of her best. I found it easy to identify with the protagonist (and her canine sidekick) and loved the motley cast of supporting characters, as well as the setting in an isolated desert community. The story has its share of horrifying moments, but is closer to folkloric fantasy than true horror. Five stars from me.

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was about halfway through this book when we realized that our king snake had escaped through a poorly sealed wire hole in her enclosure. Now that wouldn't be so worrisome if life hadn't also seen fit to bless our household with a surprisingly agile (surprisingly because she was declawed by her previous owner) little menace of a tuxedo cat, this situation gave the title of this book a particularly ominous feel.

Worry about my little snake aside, I had a great time with this book. There's something so dang charming about it (mainly the characters, they're all fantastic) and of course the fantasy of finding one's place in the world and realizing that you're not that terrible after all was all too appealing for me personally. The whole offbeat loner finding her place in the world is classic Kingfisher but this one was a little more cozy, well as cozy as you can get when you're also dealing with the end of a relationship that turned toxic but not in the way that makes it easy to hate the other person and an angry/horny/lonely god.

4.5 rounded up.

[Haly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆
Kingfisher delivered a fun, quirky, full of heart monster story. I can't call it horror but it does have spirits, monsters and a lot of surreal moments.

Each and every character is fully defined and each has traits that make them feel real. Anxiety driven Selena rehearses scripts in her head before interacting with people. She is a fully flawed main character, who slowly builds lasting relationships and a backbone!
Grandma Billy is a hoot! She doesn't hold back and has no compunction about saying the inside thoughts out-loud!
Father Aguirre is much more than a mere mortal priest! Besides having the patience of Job he has abilities the church may question.
Snake Eater is the embodiment of a self centered, all important, entitled male. Can a god be the embodiment of anything? I digress.
Copper, a loyal, loving Black Labrador is the sidekick every woman wants.

I received an early copy of Snake Eater for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you T. Kingfisher, the publisher and Prime Reading!

Favorite Quote:
"It's easier to get sick of people when there ain't many around."
Grandma Billy

[P.C. Cast · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love T. Kingfisher; she is an auto buy. Always. This book did not disappoint. The journey Selena, our MFC makes, is so satisfying to follow—I especially loved the found family she eventually accepts. The abuse Selena survives is far too typical in the real world. Her uber religious mother damages her so much that she easily falls prey to an awful man. Her bravery in escaping, even as broken as these two people have made her, is impressive. She flees to a little desert town where she finds sanctuary, old gods and goddesses, and a family worthy of her. I loved the very satisfying conclusion. If you need a dose of hope with a dash of paranormal, all written beautifully, choose T Kingfisher.

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This feels very much like a T. Kingfisher book. It's spooky yet heartfelt. It deals with domestic abuse while also having a lovely found family element, along with small gods who range from helpful to dangerous.

Selena is running away from her emotionally and psychologically abusive husband, hoping to find refuge with her aunt in a small desert town. When she arrives, her aunt has been dead for a year, but the townspeople welcome her to stay in her aunts house. But the house is near a thin place where spirits can be seen, including one who is angry her aunt is gone...

Selena reads as autistic, though it's not said on page. The book gets progressively more mystical and spooky but it's also a beautiful story of healing, personal growth, and finding a truly supportive community. I loved all the quirky townspeople and watching Selena slowly gain confidence. The audio narration is excellent and I definitely recommend this book! I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific!!!

Snake-Eater
By T. Kingfisher
What a wonderful book! It has heartwarming moments, a few slight horror moments, a lovely dog, wonderful friendships, and mythical gods.

The plot is intriguing, and the main characters are a joy! I hope the author has a follow-up book! This is so good!

[roxie]

t kingfisher is SPOILING us this year 🥲♥️

[Rina | Worldsbetweenpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Titan Books for the arc!

„I'm being stupid.“
„No, you're being human, and that's not
always an easy thing to be.“

- native spirituality
- spirit world
- found family
- cozy-horror
- historic zone

What I liked:
- The ragtag crew: shotgun-wielding Grandma Billy, Father Aguirre the priest for native spirit emergencies, the best dog Copper and the overthinking protagonist Selena. I simply loved them together!
- The neurotic and anxiety-ridden main character Selena. She was deeply gaslighted by her ex-partner, which worsened her self-esteem, but she slowly found her way back to herself throughout the story. I loved her inner voice and sarcastic humor in dire circumstances.

What I didn’t like:
- I wish there had been a few more spirits crossing into human spaces like the squash god and a deeper look into the lore and superstitions surrounding them.
- The story could have been a bit more fast paced or plot driven. While I liked the character focus I would’ve enjoyed a bit more action or a few more twists.

Writing style: 4/5
Characters: 4,5/5
Story & Plot: 4/5
Vibes: 4,5/5

[Rachel (Kalanadi) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Dead Inside · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Selena felt like a cross between a zoo animal and a total fraud.”

A delightful desert tale, a woman with anxiety finds solace when she visits her late aunts home in a weird town called Quarts Creek.

[Obsidian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great showing by T. Kingfisher though the beginning of the book moved a bit too slow and was really surprised this was pushed as horror, I mainly got cozy vibes while reading it (that is not a bad thing). I do hope that we get to see these characters in future works, I loved Selena, Copper, Grandma Billy, Father Aguirre, etc.

Snake-Eater follows Selena who we find has left her long-term partner with her dog Copper and a few of her belongings. She is going to stay with her aunt she has not seen in many years. All she knows is that her aunt lives in Quartz Creek and has a home there. When Selena arrives though, she finds a small town with not a lot of people and that her aunt has passed away about a year earlier. Selena has nowhere to go and doesn't want to stay at her aunt and rely on the townspeople she meets, but she quickly finds out that Quartz Creek is welcoming, but something seems to be watching her and could cause her harm in the end.

I felt for Selena, her mother and her ex did a number on her. She doesn't feel strong or capable, but farming the land and "seeing things" that should not be there, definitely changes her for the better. As I said above, I loved all of the characters and the time that Kingfisher spends on Grandma Billy and Father Aguirre.

The setting of Quartz Creek was great and I would love to explore more about that place and residents in other works in the future.

The ending was solid, and the additional ending to wrap up Selena's past didn't hurt.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy horror to be read in one sitting full of found family and creepy houses.

T Kingfisher pulls off ‘lonely woman moves to a strange place with her dog and uncovers family secrets’ very well.

Selena and her dog Copper venture to Quarts Creek, a tiny town where her aunt lives to escape grief and a controlling partner.
Jackrabbit Hole House is abandoned, but can it become a home for Selena?

I love how unique and bizarre Kingfisher’s horrors are. This time we have an evil roadrunner - a creature somewhere between a velociraptor and a chicken with a shiv.

”No different than knowin’ trigonometry or something like that. Comes up now and again, that’s all.”
Selena was fairly sure that trigonometry emergencies did not often involve zombie squirrels with their guts on a nail, but was still trying to think of a way to phrase that when they reached the outskirts of town.

The small community coming together vibes were EVERYTHING.
I also appreciated that Selena struggled with knowing how to interact with other people, especially new people.
She has to prepare scripts, worries about ‘normal’ reactions and behaviours, and is easily belittled, until maybe she’s not.

If you are looking to be scared, nail-biting, shocked; this isn’t that. Instead, it is a humorous story about a 30-year-old trying to find who she is, learn that she can be accepted by others, and her exchanges with Granny - her next door neighbour.

Arc gifted by publisher.

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[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, it's like a full novel version of The Tomato Thief but with sketchy roadrunners instead of mockingbirds. I knew there was a reason I side-eye any bird that looks like it can kick my butt.

Some of the things I like best about T. Kingfisher's writing are on full display in Snake-Eater. The Sonoran Desert setting - looooove. The desert is a character in its own right here. I've spent more time in the Mojave and Great Basin Deserts, but there's some overlapping vegetation (chollas! tough scrubby shrubs like jojoba!) and a lot of overlapping, uh, desert vibes? Kingfisher clearly knows deserts and small desert towns in which the postmaster can also be the mayor. The integration with desert mythology is seamless; just a bit of magical realism at first, and then, suddenly much more. And of course, there's found family with a companion animal who seems to embody the realities of dog-ness (if I had a Kindle, I could tell you how many times the word 'pee' comes up - it's a lot).

Our main character Selena, a bundle of anxieties and social deficits, is running away from her old life, a problematic mother (now thankfully dead, but do any Kingfisher heroines have good relationships with their mothers?), a problematic partner (very much not dead). She's off to the desert to stay with her Aunt Amelia. The only problem is that it turns out Amelia has been dead for a year, so Selena, with the encouragement of her new neighbor Grandma Billy, ends up staying at her aunt's house while figuring out her next move.

The house is friendly but a little odd. Colorful Talavera toilet. Kachina dolls. Minor gods in the garden? Selena, a former assistant manager at a deli, plunges into desert living with its gardening issues, small town ties, and unusual wildlife. Things are going well until the creepy nocturnal visitors start, as if someone doesn't want Selena to stay, after all.

If I'm going to quibble: I don't ever find T. Kingfisher all that scary, which is fine - I'm not a horror reader, and I don't read her so I can sleep with the lights on. I find her heroines a bit obtuse and reluctant to see paranormal stuff that is literally staring them in the face. Selena is on the diffident side of Kingfisher heroines, more like Cordelia in A Sorceress Comes to Call (despite being 30) than Sam of A House with Good Bones. She's coded as neurodivergent, though a more socially anxious kind than I identify with. But on the plus side, there's no awkward zero-chemistry Kingfisher romance, and the relationships between Selena and her dog Copper and her new neighbors Grandma Billy (salt of the earth kind of old woman plus a shotgun) and Father Aguirre (Jesuit priest with one foot in the spirit world and a whole lot of syncretism going on) are much more interesting.

Kingfisher's chatty randomness works for me, as it often does:

"Remind me, we'll plant you some corn for smut."

"Smut," said Selena blankly. Err...is this some kind of vegetable pornography?

"Corn smut!" said Grandma. "Not as fun as it sounds." She winked. "It's a mold thing, grows on corn. Looks like hell, and you can't grow it on that fancy corn they grow in Iowa. And corn breeds by the wind, so you don't get it within ten miles of those cornfields."

"Why do we want to grow mold?"

Grandma grinned like an elderly shark. "'Cause there's fancy restaurants in the city that'll pay a goddamn fortune for the stuff."

I gotta ask, what is up with the accent on the name Lupé in here? Spanish words that end in a vowel, n, or s are stressed on the second to last syllable, (so LOO-peh) with no need for an accent mark. An accent mark on the e means that this name would be pronounced Loo-PEH, which makes no sense. It's short for Guadalupe; I have never heard anyone stress the e, and I work with mostly Spanish-speakers on a Guadalupe River/Creek/watershed, so it comes up a bit. Did the editor on this one phone it in?

Minor stuff, really. I finished Snake-Eater in a day and had an excellent time. I always think I'm going to prefer Kingfisher's fairy tales, but honestly, I'll take her desert grit and magical realism any day. 4.5 stars, rounding up.

[Ярослава]

Поміж усього іншого, Кінґфішер пише комфортні горори про героїнь, які втікають від капіталістичної модерності, патріархату, урбаністичного відчуження до маленьких спільнот на узбіччі суспільства, де знаходиться місце для всіх, хто не вписався деінде з тих чи інших причин, де є міцні емоційні спільноти і взаємопідтримка, а цінність людини не зводиться до показників її продуктивності на роботі. Там теж діється якась жаска фігня, але more often than not фігня є метафорою патріархату, який долають силами цієї нової знайденої родини з вибору, клану, протиставленого нуклеарним родинам як основі організації суспільства (а вибір основної одиниці багато що за собою тягне, від стосунків з приватною власністю до гетеронормативності). У межах цієї формули в неї є більш вдалі тексти, є менш вдалі, й у менш вдалих, на жаль, дуже видно всю штучність базової конструкції. "Змієїд" мені здається невдалим, бо мені недосипали горору - якби горору було більше, можна було б слухняно боятися й не думати про те, як усе це працює.

Головну героїню, Селену, все життя затуркувала спочатку мати-релігійна фанатичка, потім партнер, який придирається до кожного її вчинку і дуже посилює ту соціальну тривожність, яка в неї є від початку. Коли мати помирає, Селена користається цим, щоб втекти зі свого життя, взявши тільки найдорожче, тобто собачку - й рушає перебути кризу до своєї тітки, яка живе десь у маленькому містечку пос��ред пустелі. Приїхавши, виявляє, що тітка, якій вона хотіла сісти на голову, вже рік як померла, а вона й не знала, бо для опції "піклуватися про інших" потрібен запас внутрішнього ресурсу, а Селені треба, щоб піклуватися про неї (книжка ще й не почалася гаразд, а Селена вже здобуває премію "племінниця року"). Тим не менше, їй пропонують заночувати в домі в тітки, а якщо схоче, то й лишитися надовше, і все містечко починає нею опікуватися, а паралельно починає діятися кріпота, але кріпоти недостатньо, щоб бути опорною конструкцією чи щоб замаскувати справжню опорну конструкцію - wish-fulfillment fantasy про спільноту твоїх людей, які прийматимуть тебе такою, як є, піклуватимуться про тебе, а тобі в цю спільноту взагалі ніяк вкладатися не доведеться. Власне, пояснення того, як це містечко посеред пустелі взагалі виживає, дублює те, як функціонують ці комфортні горори Кінґфішер: це нібито спеціальна історична зона, рустикальний діснейленд, куди в туристичний сезон приїздять люди з міст помилуватися старосвітчиною, накупити ремісницького треш-гендмейду й лишити туристичних доларів, задоволені тим, що комфортний, доіндустріальний, емоційно теплий спосіб життя досі існує на відстані витягнутої руки. Ми розуміємо, що реальні домодерні спільноти на узбіччі в такій ситуації не мають ресурсу підтримувати зайвих приблуд без корисних навиків, мають дуже чітко окреслені соціальні сценарії й карають за недотримання їх, гарувати там треба не менше, ніж в офісі, і то в гірших умовах, карочє, вони не є утопією. Але ж усі незадоволені нинішнім станом суспільства, тому є велика потреба помріяти про альтернативи, тому існує еко-туризм, тому досить популярна ця лінійка в Кінґфішер, тому - якщо брати інший політичний полюс у рамках тієї самої естетики - множаться tradwives-по-фермах у тіктоці (бо, попри очевидні політичні розбіжності, і Кінґфішер, і тредвайвс паразитують на одній sensibility). Але фантазія про інше суспільство, яка стоїть на тому, що люди фантазують про інше суспільство, ad nauseam - це у "Змієїді" вже перегин із мета-рівнями)))

А так соціальна тривожність людини, в якої під усі ситуації є заздалегідь заготовані скрипти, у "Змієїді" дуже здорово описана, can relate))))

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I might possibly live my life in the period between reading T. Kingfisher’s latest book and the publication of her next book. I adore her mind. She’s extremely funny and quirky in all the right ways. Now on to the story in question:

Snake-Eater is set in the American Southwest, most likely New Mexico, which I didn’t figure out until read the author’s note at the end (I’d been thinking southern Arizona throughout the entire book).

Selena is a very anxious person—to the extreme. This book is a MUST READ if you have or know someone who has anxiety. It’s honestly *the* best, most accurate portrayal of anxiety I’ve ever seen in a fictional character. I was fully rooting for Selena, but at the same time, I felt SO much empathy for the endless questioning of her own actions. I have a couple of loved ones who suffer from the same level of anxiety, and it’s hard for me to read such a clear account of how difficult their day-to-day life must be. How I wish I could remove those obstacles for them!

Anyway, Selena has done something unexpected; she’s abruptly decided to leave her partner of many years, and she impulsively buys a train ticket to her aunt’s last known address. It’s in the middle of nowhere in the southwestern desert of the US.

Things start to get very weird very quickly, as T. Kingfisher is wont to do. Although Selena doesn’t think people like her, she’s going to need everyone she can muster together in order to nullify a very real threat. Will she be able to trust herself enough to reach out for help?

Read it to cheer Selena on in her journey of self-transformation!


My thanks to NetGalley and 47North for an eARC! All opinions are mine.

[Quill&Queer · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Yeah so, my aunt was with a roadrunner biblically and a little green man keeps fondling my squashes"

[Faiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5ish but rounding up for the sheer entertainment factor! This reminded (both thematically and narratively) of Kingfisher’s previous book A House with Good Bones but this was the stronger of the two!

Escaping a terrible husband, 30-year Selena finds herself in a quirky and weirdly charming town trying to take care of her recently deceased aunt’s house. She keeps encountering weird stuff, but tbh as someone terrified of birds - the creepiest thing to me were all the chickens roaming around LOL. There’s a fun cast of side characters including Selena’s grandma who get roped into helping figure out these bizarre happenings. This was quite low on the horror factor and leaned more into the bizarre. It was also about Selena’s journey from a people pleasing pushover to gaining autonomy and assertiveness.

All in all a fun read but not particularly life changing!

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC!

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snake Eater is one of those books that feels both cosy and unsettling at the same time, kind of like curling up with a haunted blanket that occasionally growls at you.

The story follows Selena, who flees an unhappy relationship and heads to a small desert town to reconnect with her estranged aunt… only to find she's dead. As she settles into her aunt's home, she discovers something ancient is waiting there, and it's come to collect a debt.

I've read this one in two sittings and stayed up way past my bedtime- that's how good this was!
I absolutely loved the found family vibes, the quirky small-town folklore, and the way the story mixed tenderness along with some creeping dread. The side characters are fully fleshed out and full of personality. It genuinely felt like spending time with some friends.
Furthermore, Selena's character growth was SO rewarding to see, and the dog companion just made everything better (10/10 would also run away with my dog if I were her).

Overall beautifully written, darkly charming, and surprisingly wholesome. Snake Eater is cosy horror at its best, and one of my favourite T. Kingfisher books yet!!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, but not very often, you read a book that captivates you in unanticipated but wonderful ways. This new novel by T. Kingfisher is such a book. After having finished it, I thought to myself, “wow, this book was nearly perfect!” I just loved it, from that fantastic cover to its touching story about second chances and how transformative the love of a dog can be!! One of my favorite books of the year!

[Cate - Catethereader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Titan for the arc.

T. Kingfisher is a favourite of mine, this is the ninth book written by her that I am reading this year. She’s definitely one of my all time favourites authors. Her books are cozy, beautiful, fun and inspiring. “Snake-Eater” is the same. The blurb says it’s horror, but it’s more like a cozy mystery, with some horror elements.

What I loved most about the book is the community, the characters. They’re fantastic, charming and kind. It made me realise how important it is for us to have good people around us, to learn from them and understand how they can influence our life.

It’s a book about second chances. The main character, Selena, has problems with meeting new people. She’s anxious and she has traumas thanks to her mother and her partner. I really felt for her and I was so happy to see how she changes thanks to the small family she makes in the small village.

I liked the small town desert setting a lot! I think it was one of my favourite parts in the book. I loved how T. Kingfisher described all the houses and the folklore.
It’s a cozy, warm and quiet place. I don’t think I’m made for desert, but it was nice to see this setting in a book.

“Snake-Eater” is a wonderfully creative and strange book by T. Kingfisher. If you’ve read more of her books, you know what to expect from it. It has unique horror elements, but it’s not scary! It’s a book about found family, second chances, packed with strange gods and lovely characters.

[CarlysGrowingTBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snake-Eater


Book Stats:
📖: 267 pages
Genre: contemporary fantasy
Publisher: 47 north
Format: eARC
Series: STANDALONE

General Thoughts:
This book was just so much fun! A lovely contemporary fantasy that has moments of darkness, interesting and quite hilarious banter, as well as a found family aspect that is done so well.

I really loved our main female character. While she is completely flawed, she is also 100% relatable. The animal companion within copper is so fantastic. Copper should have her own book because she is the goodest girl. Being that I live in the same city as the author, I felt a lot of relatability to the setting and to the lore. The roadrunner is our state bird after all!

This is probably one of my top reads by this author. I cannot wait to read more.!!

Disclaimer: I read this book as a eARC from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was weird
But in the best way

The kind of weird that gets under your skin and finds a home in the hollows of your bones, the kind that sends whispers down your spine so you feel unease with every breath.

I adored selena from the very first page, as she learned to trust in those around her and especially when she learned to go off-script and find her own words and become her own person again.
But Grandma Billy man, the way she not-so-subtly bullies selena into staying longer and longer was just so perfect.


ps if you have lost a pet recently, specifically a dog, be prepared to bawl your eyes out (the dog does not die she just loves her owner so freaking much)


​​thanks to netgalley and 47Northfor the arc