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When Life Gives You Corpses
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Expected 23 Mar 27"The most charming cannibalism novel I've ever read!" —Sarah Beth Durst, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"A must-read queer YA fantasy that will delight readers." —C. S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author
In this delightfully cozy and creepy YA romp, a cave monster masquerading as a search-and-recovery guide intends to find and eat a lost wizard—but catches feelings for him instead, perfect for fans of TJ Klune and Andrew Joseph White.
Theory has a monstrous secret. He isn’t an ordinary search-and-recovery guide at Fiendworld, the world’s premier magical sinkhole turned amusement park; he’s a cursed, human-eating mantis. Fortunately, he’s found a workaround: when retrieving the bodies of lost adventurers, he snacks on a finger or two.
Until his latest assignment, when he’s tasked with recovering the missing son of park management—the descendant of the very wizard who cursed Theory in the first place. Worse, when Theory finally tracks him down, the wizard is somehow still alive.
Nim has no interest in being rescued. Determined to reach the bottom of the sinkhole, he refuses to let Theory take him back to the surface. Armed with little more than optimism and a persnickety enchanted backpack, he recruits Theory to help him continue downward—whether Theory likes it or not.
To survive, Theory and Nim must brave man-eating fish, walls of tentacles, and devastating secrets: both their own and ones the park desperately tries to keep hidden. And along the way, they may just discover that they’re stronger together than apart.
"A must-read queer YA fantasy that will delight readers." —C. S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author
In this delightfully cozy and creepy YA romp, a cave monster masquerading as a search-and-recovery guide intends to find and eat a lost wizard—but catches feelings for him instead, perfect for fans of TJ Klune and Andrew Joseph White.
Theory has a monstrous secret. He isn’t an ordinary search-and-recovery guide at Fiendworld, the world’s premier magical sinkhole turned amusement park; he’s a cursed, human-eating mantis. Fortunately, he’s found a workaround: when retrieving the bodies of lost adventurers, he snacks on a finger or two.
Until his latest assignment, when he’s tasked with recovering the missing son of park management—the descendant of the very wizard who cursed Theory in the first place. Worse, when Theory finally tracks him down, the wizard is somehow still alive.
Nim has no interest in being rescued. Determined to reach the bottom of the sinkhole, he refuses to let Theory take him back to the surface. Armed with little more than optimism and a persnickety enchanted backpack, he recruits Theory to help him continue downward—whether Theory likes it or not.
To survive, Theory and Nim must brave man-eating fish, walls of tentacles, and devastating secrets: both their own and ones the park desperately tries to keep hidden. And along the way, they may just discover that they’re stronger together than apart.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 23, 2027
About the author
Lene D. Buttner
1 book56 followersLene lives in London, surrounded by various fluffy and non-fluffy pets. When they’re not writing, they work in Computer Animation, where they spend their time exploding things or simulating toilet paper.
They love everything scifi and fantasy and are yet to run out of book ideas featuring misunderstood, snarky monsters.
They love everything scifi and fantasy and are yet to run out of book ideas featuring misunderstood, snarky monsters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Theory is the cutest human-eating mantis I’ve had the pleasure to read about. Also the only one, but who’s counting.
I can’t say I fully understood this world with the ‘fish’ monsters and the magical sinkhole, but I still had a good time. It was creative and a breath of fresh air. Theory’s personality was my favorite. The way he spent so much time hoping Nim would drop dead so he could eat him. This is the type of slow burn I love to see 😂
However, I sometimes felt the writing was clunky and the dialogue unnatural. It wasn’t just the fact that Nim didn’t use contractions anywhere, but there were some odd phrases like, “Tears tumble past his lashes, not in a slow trickle, but vacating his eyes violently”. What am I reading here?
I also wasn’t surprised by the reveal at the end. I’m usually very clueless but I figured that out in the first few chapters. So yeah, cute characters but the writing was not my favorite. I think I’ll give it 3.5 stars since I really enjoyed the story
✎ᝰ. pre-read: is it weird that the only thing i want to read right now is a romance about a cursed human eating mantis…
💌 Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc!
I can’t say I fully understood this world with the ‘fish’ monsters and the magical sinkhole, but I still had a good time. It was creative and a breath of fresh air. Theory’s personality was my favorite. The way he spent so much time hoping Nim would drop dead so he could eat him. This is the type of slow burn I love to see 😂
However, I sometimes felt the writing was clunky and the dialogue unnatural. It wasn’t just the fact that Nim didn’t use contractions anywhere, but there were some odd phrases like, “Tears tumble past his lashes, not in a slow trickle, but vacating his eyes violently”. What am I reading here?
I also wasn’t surprised by the reveal at the end. I’m usually very clueless but I figured that out in the first few chapters. So yeah, cute characters but the writing was not my favorite. I think I’ll give it 3.5 stars since I really enjoyed the story
✎ᝰ. pre-read: is it weird that the only thing i want to read right now is a romance about a cursed human eating mantis…
💌 Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"When Life Gives You Corpses" by Lene D. Buttner is a quirky queer fantasy following the journey of Theory, a cursed, human-eating mantis, and Nim, an 18-year-old subpar wizard. The story alternates between Theory's first-person POV and Nim's third-person POV. I loved the word-play in the title and the unique premise and dived into the story.
Meet Theory, a cursed, human-eating praying mantis fiend who works as a search-and-recovery guide (not rescue, as he often emphasizes) at Fiendworld, a magical sinkhole turned amusement park. He hides his appearance by using glamour and supplements his meals with a finger or two from the cadavers of lost adventurers he recovers. When he is tasked against his will with rescuing a missing wizard, the son of the park's management and a descendant of the very wizard who cursed Theory, he reluctantly agrees.
To his sorrow, the wizard is still alive and insists on continuing downward with his enchanted backpack to locate his missing friend. Along the way, they encounter many dangers, such as man-eating fish, other praying mantises and fiends, and tentacle-covered walls. With the help of Cordelia (you'll find out who she is in the tale), they uncover a secret about the park and the past that will turn their world upside down.
This is one of the most original books I've read in a while. It is dark, yes, and I could do without the cannibalism. However, it isn't the focus of the story, and it serves a purpose. The book is categorized as YA, but I don't think it is appropriate for sensitive readers due to its dark and somewhat gory content. And Theory doesn't kill people to eat them. He only eats body parts from people who are already dead. Still gross, I agree.
The mystery worked well and left me intrigued. Toward the end, I guessed one of the reveals, but other twists caught me by surprise. There was also humor throughout the story, especially in the dialogue, which provided some much-needed comic relief. I loved the ending and thought it was satisfying. Admittedly, not all questions were answered, but the story stood well on its own without the answers.
Cordelia was one of my favorite secondary characters. I loved the dynamic between her and Theory and the way they communicated, as Theory was the only fiend who could speak. I also enjoyed the interactions between him and Nim, the development of their relationship, and how they both changed throughout the story. Despite his condition, Theory was the only one who understood Nim, supported him, and tried to help him see his own worth. I liked the slow-burn romance between the two and the way their relationship developed, with Theory gradually seeing Nim as less of a burden and more as a friend. And more!
Theory is a stickler for rules and regulations, hates magic, stays away from people, and keeps to himself. He is the grumpy one to Nim's sunshine. Nim is easygoing, has low self-esteem, and isn't much of a wizard. And yet, they match. I loved how Theory was able to see and understand Nim in a way that helped him recognize his own worth.
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When life gives you corpses, you make a meal... The writing, world-building, and magic are unique. I loved how creative and unpredictable the world was and how I never knew what they would encounter next. Each level of the sinkhole was more dangerous than the one above. Most people only visited the upper levels, and few dared to go further down.
I loved this book immensely and highly recommend it to fans of queer enemies-to-friends-to-lovers stories, found family, and adventures. The author has created complex characters, a mysterious plot, and an extraordinary story you wouldn't want to miss.
Triggers: cannibalism, death, parental abuse, violence, body horror, gore.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...
Meet Theory, a cursed, human-eating praying mantis fiend who works as a search-and-recovery guide (not rescue, as he often emphasizes) at Fiendworld, a magical sinkhole turned amusement park. He hides his appearance by using glamour and supplements his meals with a finger or two from the cadavers of lost adventurers he recovers. When he is tasked against his will with rescuing a missing wizard, the son of the park's management and a descendant of the very wizard who cursed Theory, he reluctantly agrees.
To his sorrow, the wizard is still alive and insists on continuing downward with his enchanted backpack to locate his missing friend. Along the way, they encounter many dangers, such as man-eating fish, other praying mantises and fiends, and tentacle-covered walls. With the help of Cordelia (you'll find out who she is in the tale), they uncover a secret about the park and the past that will turn their world upside down.
This is one of the most original books I've read in a while. It is dark, yes, and I could do without the cannibalism. However, it isn't the focus of the story, and it serves a purpose. The book is categorized as YA, but I don't think it is appropriate for sensitive readers due to its dark and somewhat gory content. And Theory doesn't kill people to eat them. He only eats body parts from people who are already dead. Still gross, I agree.
The mystery worked well and left me intrigued. Toward the end, I guessed one of the reveals, but other twists caught me by surprise. There was also humor throughout the story, especially in the dialogue, which provided some much-needed comic relief. I loved the ending and thought it was satisfying. Admittedly, not all questions were answered, but the story stood well on its own without the answers.
Cordelia was one of my favorite secondary characters. I loved the dynamic between her and Theory and the way they communicated, as Theory was the only fiend who could speak. I also enjoyed the interactions between him and Nim, the development of their relationship, and how they both changed throughout the story. Despite his condition, Theory was the only one who understood Nim, supported him, and tried to help him see his own worth. I liked the slow-burn romance between the two and the way their relationship developed, with Theory gradually seeing Nim as less of a burden and more as a friend. And more!
Theory is a stickler for rules and regulations, hates magic, stays away from people, and keeps to himself. He is the grumpy one to Nim's sunshine. Nim is easygoing, has low self-esteem, and isn't much of a wizard. And yet, they match. I loved how Theory was able to see and understand Nim in a way that helped him recognize his own worth.
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When life gives you corpses, you make a meal... The writing, world-building, and magic are unique. I loved how creative and unpredictable the world was and how I never knew what they would encounter next. Each level of the sinkhole was more dangerous than the one above. Most people only visited the upper levels, and few dared to go further down.
I loved this book immensely and highly recommend it to fans of queer enemies-to-friends-to-lovers stories, found family, and adventures. The author has created complex characters, a mysterious plot, and an extraordinary story you wouldn't want to miss.
Triggers: cannibalism, death, parental abuse, violence, body horror, gore.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
a cannibalistic praying mantis, an underground amusement park, & a man who is actively plotting his traveling companions demise so he can have a good meal. honestly, this isn't my usual read, but the premise had me sold.
overall, i enjoyed how quirky this story was. i was not expecting this to be so charming & whimsical?
the worldbuilding is fun yet a tad bit underdeveloped, it's surprisingly funny & Theory is such an enjoyable mc. he's grumpy, morally gray, & he loves his rules. his deadpan humor was just so entertaining. i also loved his relationship with Cordelia.
the premise is unique. what do you mean there's a cursed sinkhole turned amusement park filled with fiends, where people voluntarily dive in search of treasure & adventure? if that doesn't sound like fun, i don't know what does. although i will say, the worldbuilding could have been a tiiiiny touch more descriptive. i struggled actually visualizing the cave & some of the fiends but regardless it was still a fun time.
the comparison to Andrew Joseph White in the synopsis definitely set my expectations for something much darker. if you're like me & also picked this up for that reason, i would tweak your expectations or you might be disappointed. AJW doesn't shy away from dark, visceral horror so i went into this hoping for a lot more than i actually got. i would say this leans more cozy fantasy? with some horror imagery here & there. i was also not expecting the romance to take such a front seat either. i would have loved to see some more horror & the romance to have been more of a subplot but that's a personal preference because i don't typically like romance (shhh don't kill me!)
the pacing struggles to keep things moving in the middle. i also found some of Nim's dialogue a little awkward.
i did enjoy the ending, it's kind of emotional seeing Theory's journey & it makes you feel sympathetic towards him. but, i really wish the final conflict had more depth. the ending just wraps up too nicely for me.
overall, a genuinely entertaining read with plenty of personality. i just wish it had leaned further into its horror elements & given its ending the attention it deserved.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
overall, i enjoyed how quirky this story was. i was not expecting this to be so charming & whimsical?
the worldbuilding is fun yet a tad bit underdeveloped, it's surprisingly funny & Theory is such an enjoyable mc. he's grumpy, morally gray, & he loves his rules. his deadpan humor was just so entertaining. i also loved his relationship with Cordelia.
the premise is unique. what do you mean there's a cursed sinkhole turned amusement park filled with fiends, where people voluntarily dive in search of treasure & adventure? if that doesn't sound like fun, i don't know what does. although i will say, the worldbuilding could have been a tiiiiny touch more descriptive. i struggled actually visualizing the cave & some of the fiends but regardless it was still a fun time.
the comparison to Andrew Joseph White in the synopsis definitely set my expectations for something much darker. if you're like me & also picked this up for that reason, i would tweak your expectations or you might be disappointed. AJW doesn't shy away from dark, visceral horror so i went into this hoping for a lot more than i actually got. i would say this leans more cozy fantasy? with some horror imagery here & there. i was also not expecting the romance to take such a front seat either. i would have loved to see some more horror & the romance to have been more of a subplot but that's a personal preference because i don't typically like romance (shhh don't kill me!)
the pacing struggles to keep things moving in the middle. i also found some of Nim's dialogue a little awkward.
i did enjoy the ending, it's kind of emotional seeing Theory's journey & it makes you feel sympathetic towards him. but, i really wish the final conflict had more depth. the ending just wraps up too nicely for me.
overall, a genuinely entertaining read with plenty of personality. i just wish it had leaned further into its horror elements & given its ending the attention it deserved.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Even fiends have an ethical code of conduct, or at least they try to. It’s not their fault humans are such tasty meals. This humorous premise sets the stage for a wonderfully gross, surprisingly heartfelt fantasy with a touching story of connection. A century ago, a wizard’s curse transformed an entire town into monsters. Among them is Theory, a fiend in disguise trying to navigate a monstrous existence while clinging to a strict moral code. When Theory is forced to recover the body of his employer’s son, he’s upset and disgruntled. Then he meets Nim, who isn’t dead at all. An adorable opposites attract dynamic forms that made me smile throughout the story. I couldn’t help but root for two people who seem so fundamentally different, but could be the best friend they both desperately need.
The world building here is spectacular, evoking an eerie, abandoned atmosphere similar to Jurassic Park with its closed down shops and decades of untouched dust. I was on edge wondering when the next monster was going to come slinking out of the shadows of this subterranean world. Readers will absolutely love the delightfully messy energy of this book, which captures the nostalgic vibe of getting slimed and racing through obstacles on Nickelodeon TV.
Beneath the creatures and comedy, the story delivers two poignant themes: it tackles the arrogant belief that humans are the superior species, while giving examples of kindness from things considered “other”. The lesson being it absolutely matters how we treat who we share our existence with. The story also beautifully explores what it means to learn to love yourself just as you are.
Author Lene D. Buttner’s story completely pulled at my heartstrings; their book delivers a beautiful message about looking past the surface to find true connection. This is a must-read for younger readers who love chaotic creature antics, unexpected humor, and books with a lot of genuine heart. That’s not to say this book is only for younger readers, as I enjoyed this tremendously as someone whose younger years were long ago. I will definitely be on the lookout for the author’s next book!
The world building here is spectacular, evoking an eerie, abandoned atmosphere similar to Jurassic Park with its closed down shops and decades of untouched dust. I was on edge wondering when the next monster was going to come slinking out of the shadows of this subterranean world. Readers will absolutely love the delightfully messy energy of this book, which captures the nostalgic vibe of getting slimed and racing through obstacles on Nickelodeon TV.
Beneath the creatures and comedy, the story delivers two poignant themes: it tackles the arrogant belief that humans are the superior species, while giving examples of kindness from things considered “other”. The lesson being it absolutely matters how we treat who we share our existence with. The story also beautifully explores what it means to learn to love yourself just as you are.
Author Lene D. Buttner’s story completely pulled at my heartstrings; their book delivers a beautiful message about looking past the surface to find true connection. This is a must-read for younger readers who love chaotic creature antics, unexpected humor, and books with a lot of genuine heart. That’s not to say this book is only for younger readers, as I enjoyed this tremendously as someone whose younger years were long ago. I will definitely be on the lookout for the author’s next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am one of the luckiest people on this planet because I already got to read this book - and I CANNOT wait to talk about it with everyone once it will hit bookstores.
I’m a pretty picky reader these days, and it’s hard to make me care about a character and a book from the very first page - but this one did it. And does it over and over again.
We meet Theory, who is everything I wouldn’t normally care to interact with irl - a bug person, a terrible grump, a stickler for alll the rules, and did I mention he eats dead people he’s supposed to recover from the depth of the sinkhole theme park he works at?
And don’t tell him he works for search and rescue, because Theory is most certainly not here to rescue anybody. I mean, when we first meet him, he’s literally trying to sneak away with part of poor Peter-the-meat (my all time favorite … uh … side character?), his intended snack.
Too bad the park director has other ideas and makes him descend into the sinkhole again to recover an obnoxious little wizard who got himself into a tight spot down there (and too bad said wizard is the son of the park owners and now Theory feels kind of obligated.)
Worse: the wizard is alive! Even though Theory simply doesn’t do alive! There will be no rescuing, especially since the wizard clearly doesn’t know how to follow the rules so Theory has to insist he fill out missing paperwork before they can even consider helping him.
I could go on and on just reiterating this amazing and hilarious and yet also heartfelt and heartbreaking story, but I’d still be here tomorrow, and it’s way more fun to read it yourself and meet this amazingly atmospheric and alive setting that’s a character itself - while also populated by the most awesome motley crew of side characters - with a very slowly and totally grudgingly developing romance at its core.
There’s even societal commentary in here, but in a way that is so subtle and well done, you’ll never feel like it’s on the nose or annoying or trying to teach you something.
Theory is one of my all time favorite characters now, and I’m pretty sure he always will be, while Nim is the adorably gentle wizard who brings him out of his hard shell (while also making him care again, something he hasn’t done in a very long time.)
Did I mention there’s also a mystery? And the sweetest most heartbreaking and yet still somehow uplifting and escapist endings?
I have no idea how one book can be all those things and make it work, but this one does.
If you’re only gonna buy one hard copy of a book next year, make it this one. It’s everything (and the fact I’m rambling incoherently about it, tells you exactly that.)
It’s a book that’ll make you escape reality if you want to, or make you face reality in a different way. It’s “cozy cannibalism fantasy.” It’s all the things that shouldn’t work and still they do, and it keeps you hooked until the very last page and beyond.
I can’t wait to see where this book and this author will go, and I can’t wait for their next book!
I’m a pretty picky reader these days, and it’s hard to make me care about a character and a book from the very first page - but this one did it. And does it over and over again.
We meet Theory, who is everything I wouldn’t normally care to interact with irl - a bug person, a terrible grump, a stickler for alll the rules, and did I mention he eats dead people he’s supposed to recover from the depth of the sinkhole theme park he works at?
And don’t tell him he works for search and rescue, because Theory is most certainly not here to rescue anybody. I mean, when we first meet him, he’s literally trying to sneak away with part of poor Peter-the-meat (my all time favorite … uh … side character?), his intended snack.
Too bad the park director has other ideas and makes him descend into the sinkhole again to recover an obnoxious little wizard who got himself into a tight spot down there (and too bad said wizard is the son of the park owners and now Theory feels kind of obligated.)
Worse: the wizard is alive! Even though Theory simply doesn’t do alive! There will be no rescuing, especially since the wizard clearly doesn’t know how to follow the rules so Theory has to insist he fill out missing paperwork before they can even consider helping him.
I could go on and on just reiterating this amazing and hilarious and yet also heartfelt and heartbreaking story, but I’d still be here tomorrow, and it’s way more fun to read it yourself and meet this amazingly atmospheric and alive setting that’s a character itself - while also populated by the most awesome motley crew of side characters - with a very slowly and totally grudgingly developing romance at its core.
There’s even societal commentary in here, but in a way that is so subtle and well done, you’ll never feel like it’s on the nose or annoying or trying to teach you something.
Theory is one of my all time favorite characters now, and I’m pretty sure he always will be, while Nim is the adorably gentle wizard who brings him out of his hard shell (while also making him care again, something he hasn’t done in a very long time.)
Did I mention there’s also a mystery? And the sweetest most heartbreaking and yet still somehow uplifting and escapist endings?
I have no idea how one book can be all those things and make it work, but this one does.
If you’re only gonna buy one hard copy of a book next year, make it this one. It’s everything (and the fact I’m rambling incoherently about it, tells you exactly that.)
It’s a book that’ll make you escape reality if you want to, or make you face reality in a different way. It’s “cozy cannibalism fantasy.” It’s all the things that shouldn’t work and still they do, and it keeps you hooked until the very last page and beyond.
I can’t wait to see where this book and this author will go, and I can’t wait for their next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you St Martin’s Press and Net Galley for this ARC.
I like to read some type of thriller or horror related book for the Halloween season so I picked this one this year. This definitely wasn’t Stephen King or anything close to a ‘scary story’. This was half love story, half mystery with a bit of gory parts mixed in.
It was a fun, quick read and the main character, who’s cursed and in search of answers, finds out more than they bargained for in this wizard and monster mashup.
I like to read some type of thriller or horror related book for the Halloween season so I picked this one this year. This definitely wasn’t Stephen King or anything close to a ‘scary story’. This was half love story, half mystery with a bit of gory parts mixed in.
It was a fun, quick read and the main character, who’s cursed and in search of answers, finds out more than they bargained for in this wizard and monster mashup.
August 15, 2026
oh i’m in love with these weird little freaks.
for fans of found family, mysteries involving amnesia, Made In Abyss, Mystery Flesh Pit, Dungeon Meshi, or any such bizarre and charming fantasy involving character-driven plots and creatures that can eat you.
the writing style didn’t mesh with me and at times i found myself skimming paragraphs of description, but i also feel this way about brandon sanderson, so obviously this is not universal.
beyond that, i am CHARMED by everything going on. every single character — the director, the ex-situationship, the nonbinary coworker, cordelia the writhing flesh wall, and of COURSE our main two leads. at one point there’s only one bed and they’re forced into it because the wizard’s magical backpack won’t give them any other blankets. it’s delightful. it’s a really layered mystery, and it’s somehow both charmingly cozy and a heart racing survival thriller. the blurb itself had me immediately sold, and i’m delighted to say that the book itself manages to juggle and deliver on all the things it promises.
and the setting itself!!! i’m a sucker for stories that are set in evil infested magical pits. the way it had been turned into a tourist trap and the cursed massive mantis shapeshifter had to work a minimum wage job really endeared me in the first few pages. truly a fantasy setting of all time for me. no one is doing it like the pit.
good romance, good mystery, good suspense, good amounts of chewed on and slightly digested corpses.
i received a free arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for honest feedback.
for fans of found family, mysteries involving amnesia, Made In Abyss, Mystery Flesh Pit, Dungeon Meshi, or any such bizarre and charming fantasy involving character-driven plots and creatures that can eat you.
the writing style didn’t mesh with me and at times i found myself skimming paragraphs of description, but i also feel this way about brandon sanderson, so obviously this is not universal.
beyond that, i am CHARMED by everything going on. every single character — the director, the ex-situationship, the nonbinary coworker, cordelia the writhing flesh wall, and of COURSE our main two leads. at one point there’s only one bed and they’re forced into it because the wizard’s magical backpack won’t give them any other blankets. it’s delightful. it’s a really layered mystery, and it’s somehow both charmingly cozy and a heart racing survival thriller. the blurb itself had me immediately sold, and i’m delighted to say that the book itself manages to juggle and deliver on all the things it promises.
and the setting itself!!! i’m a sucker for stories that are set in evil infested magical pits. the way it had been turned into a tourist trap and the cursed massive mantis shapeshifter had to work a minimum wage job really endeared me in the first few pages. truly a fantasy setting of all time for me. no one is doing it like the pit.
good romance, good mystery, good suspense, good amounts of chewed on and slightly digested corpses.
i received a free arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for honest feedback.
August 20, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Super cute love bug story. It was perfect and in my opinion a good enjoyable read I had so much fun, there was some giggles and heart touching moments in there. Thank you so much to the publisher and author for hosting this giveaway on Goodreads that I was lucky enough to win me a copy. 🫶💕 #theory #nim #whenlifegivesyoucorpses #wednesdaybooks #lenedbuttner
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I was able to get an ARC of this book from Edelweiss, so thank you for that!
Theory is an understandably grumpy Fiendworld employee who also happens to be a praying mantis fiend who eats people (occasionally). He is, in fact, on probation for being found in possession of a head. He is sent to find Nim (or Nim's body, it doesn't particularly matter to Theory) after the wizard son of the park's owners goes missing inside the sinkhole-turned-park.
Nim is a cute and slightly (extremely?) incompetent wizard, searching for his friend, who went into the cursed sinkhole and never came out. He is determined to get to the bottom of his friend's disappearance, whether Theory wants to help him or not - and Theory decidedly does not want to help him. At first.
What ensues is a charming adventure of self-discovery as the two explore the magic of the park and its various levels searching for the answers to Nim's questions and then, later, the answers to Theory's past and present as well.
Came for the "cute cannibalism" implication on the cover. Stayed for the grumpy-and-sunshine dynamic, queer love story, journey of self-discovery, found family, and mystery. Genuinely a delightful read all around. If anything, my one and only complaint is that I wish it was longer. I can imagine the best of stories everywhere in this world. Extra bonus for the author's obvious love for commonly unloved creatures - in this case, bugs.
I have a couple of very minor wishes -
Theory is an understandably grumpy Fiendworld employee who also happens to be a praying mantis fiend who eats people (occasionally). He is, in fact, on probation for being found in possession of a head. He is sent to find Nim (or Nim's body, it doesn't particularly matter to Theory) after the wizard son of the park's owners goes missing inside the sinkhole-turned-park.
Nim is a cute and slightly (extremely?) incompetent wizard, searching for his friend, who went into the cursed sinkhole and never came out. He is determined to get to the bottom of his friend's disappearance, whether Theory wants to help him or not - and Theory decidedly does not want to help him. At first.
What ensues is a charming adventure of self-discovery as the two explore the magic of the park and its various levels searching for the answers to Nim's questions and then, later, the answers to Theory's past and present as well.
Came for the "cute cannibalism" implication on the cover. Stayed for the grumpy-and-sunshine dynamic, queer love story, journey of self-discovery, found family, and mystery. Genuinely a delightful read all around. If anything, my one and only complaint is that I wish it was longer. I can imagine the best of stories everywhere in this world. Extra bonus for the author's obvious love for commonly unloved creatures - in this case, bugs.
I have a couple of very minor wishes -
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📝 ARC Review: So I thought this story sounded intriguing and once I began reading it, it definitely kept my interest from start to finish. However, I was very disappointed in the world building/descriptions.
I still can’t visualize the “fish” that were described numerous times in this book. It took a long time for me to understand what the “fiends” were. And I still find it hard to picture the inside of this giant pit that somehow had rides inside of it on lower levels that no one ever went to? And then the obsolete village at the bottom of it all. - I just really wish the descriptions had held more detail so that it was easier to picture where the majority of the story was taking place.
That being said, I really enjoyed the slow build of a relationship between the two MC’s. The tentative blossom of love and understanding between the two. Overall this story was very sad/tragic, but also had moments of tenderness, peril and adventure with a few little plot twists thrown in.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Genre: Queer YA Fantasy
POV: First Person; Dual
Release Date: March 23, 2027
Tropes 👇
- Giant Cursed Mantis
- Cursed ‘Fiend’ Monsters
- Perilous Underground Pit
- Hundred year old ‘Fiend/Mantis’
- Magic & Curses
- 18 y/o Wizard
- MM light romance 🏳️🌈
- Conspiracy Theories
- A helpful Tentacle Monster
- Recovery Mission turned Rescue Mission
CW’s 👇
- Cannibalism
- Death, including children & parents (historical)
- Parental emotional abuse
- Mentions of a past relationship with dubious consent and a power imbalance
- Violence, blood, body horror & gore.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I still can’t visualize the “fish” that were described numerous times in this book. It took a long time for me to understand what the “fiends” were. And I still find it hard to picture the inside of this giant pit that somehow had rides inside of it on lower levels that no one ever went to? And then the obsolete village at the bottom of it all. - I just really wish the descriptions had held more detail so that it was easier to picture where the majority of the story was taking place.
That being said, I really enjoyed the slow build of a relationship between the two MC’s. The tentative blossom of love and understanding between the two. Overall this story was very sad/tragic, but also had moments of tenderness, peril and adventure with a few little plot twists thrown in.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Genre: Queer YA Fantasy
POV: First Person; Dual
Release Date: March 23, 2027
Tropes 👇
- Giant Cursed Mantis
- Cursed ‘Fiend’ Monsters
- Perilous Underground Pit
- Hundred year old ‘Fiend/Mantis’
- Magic & Curses
- 18 y/o Wizard
- MM light romance 🏳️🌈
- Conspiracy Theories
- A helpful Tentacle Monster
- Recovery Mission turned Rescue Mission
CW’s 👇
- Cannibalism
- Death, including children & parents (historical)
- Parental emotional abuse
- Mentions of a past relationship with dubious consent and a power imbalance
- Violence, blood, body horror & gore.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is totally charming.
Yes, it has a gruesome premise...and it does open with our hero snacking on a dead body. But he's a giant preying mantis in disguise as a human man, given a mission to rescue a wizard lost in a demonic sinkhole (which is also kind of a state park attraction for humans?) filled with even more monsters. So, right at the beginning you'd be correct in assuming this is a horror book.
However then, the mantis (in his human disguise) meets the wizard and you realize might actually be a sweet love story (in which the stakes are very, very high.) Then, by the end, like me, you might find yourself totally drawn in by this relationship and very emotionally charged reasons behind all of this -- the sinkhole, the preying mantis glamour, the monsters--all of it. Everything comes together in a way that's logical and heartfelt, but not hokey.
I put books in my queue far in advance, so when I open one it's always a surprise (I'm not sure of the genre or why past-tense me found it interesting.) This surprise was one of my favorites. This one pushed all of my favorite buttons -- weird, thrilling, fantastical, and sweet. I almost hate that it's got the YA label (both the mantis and the wizard are young men) and am hoping it doesn't put off adult readers who will enjoy it too.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Yes, it has a gruesome premise...and it does open with our hero snacking on a dead body. But he's a giant preying mantis in disguise as a human man, given a mission to rescue a wizard lost in a demonic sinkhole (which is also kind of a state park attraction for humans?) filled with even more monsters. So, right at the beginning you'd be correct in assuming this is a horror book.
However then, the mantis (in his human disguise) meets the wizard and you realize might actually be a sweet love story (in which the stakes are very, very high.) Then, by the end, like me, you might find yourself totally drawn in by this relationship and very emotionally charged reasons behind all of this -- the sinkhole, the preying mantis glamour, the monsters--all of it. Everything comes together in a way that's logical and heartfelt, but not hokey.
I put books in my queue far in advance, so when I open one it's always a surprise (I'm not sure of the genre or why past-tense me found it interesting.) This surprise was one of my favorites. This one pushed all of my favorite buttons -- weird, thrilling, fantastical, and sweet. I almost hate that it's got the YA label (both the mantis and the wizard are young men) and am hoping it doesn't put off adult readers who will enjoy it too.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2026
{Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!}
I loved this book from the very first line! It's complex, emotional, exciting, and hilarious. The world is incredibly rich from the beginning, but you never feel like you're slogging through a homework pile of world building, which can happen with a lot of fantasy books. The characters are instantly lovable, even when they're being rude (come on Theory, get this guy out of the hole!), and the atmosphere of Fiendworld and the sinkhole itself are so well described that they become tangible. I can't wait to see what else Buttner writes!!
I loved this book from the very first line! It's complex, emotional, exciting, and hilarious. The world is incredibly rich from the beginning, but you never feel like you're slogging through a homework pile of world building, which can happen with a lot of fantasy books. The characters are instantly lovable, even when they're being rude (come on Theory, get this guy out of the hole!), and the atmosphere of Fiendworld and the sinkhole itself are so well described that they become tangible. I can't wait to see what else Buttner writes!!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
**Sometimes the monster is only half the story.**
## ✶ PRE-READING ✶
A magical sinkhole turned amusement park, a search-and-recovery guide who happens to be a cursed human-eating mantis, and a missing wizard who doesn't actually want to be rescued?
Yes, all right. I'm listening.
*When Life Gives You Corpses* sounds like horror on paper, but what I found underneath the monsters and peril was a much more interesting story about two people discovering that they've each been looking at the world from only one side.
## ✶ POST-READING ✶
**As I thought...** there are some really clever ideas here.
The worldbuilding around Fiendworld is particularly fun. Turning a magical sinkhole into an amusement park is already a wonderfully strange concept, and the deeper Theory and Nim go, the more the story has to reveal about both the place and the people connected to it.
I also enjoyed the pacing. There's always something happening, whether it's a creature trying to eat them, a new section of the sinkhole to explore, or another piece of information changing how we understand what came before.
And despite all the corpses, tentacles and man-eating fish, I wouldn't really call this a horror novel. There are certainly moments of peril, but the heart of the story is much more about **perspective and discovery**.
**It surprised me by...** how much of the story is about realising that neither character has had the complete picture.
Theory and Nim both begin with assumptions about the other person, and about the world they're moving through. As those assumptions are challenged, the story gradually becomes something much more interesting than a straightforward rescue mission.
There is, however, one thing that made this a more difficult read for me.
The book uses dual POV, and Nim **never uses contractions**—not in dialogue, not in narration, nowhere.
I am genuinely in awe of the technical skill involved in maintaining that consistently. It must be like fighting your own muscle memory sixty times a page. But as a reader, I found it difficult to process. Every sentence written that way makes my brain pause just slightly, and over an entire novel that adds up.
I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did, because I enjoyed the story and where it went. But I suspect some readers will find Nim's voice much easier to settle into than I did, while others may have the same difficulty.
For me, it was a fascinating technical choice that didn't quite work with the way I read.
## ✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦
**Book Recommendation:** *A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking* by T. Kingfisher, for another fantasy adventure that looks like it might be something much darker than it ultimately is, with inventive worldbuilding and a great deal of heart underneath the danger.
**TV or Movie Recommendation:** *The Mummy*. There's peril, monsters, ancient secrets and people getting themselves into increasingly ridiculous situations, but the real pleasure is watching the characters discover that their assumptions about each other—and the situation they're in—aren't quite right.
## ✧ VIBE CHECK ✧
**A colour palette:** underground black, wet stone grey, deep blue-green water and the occasional flash of bioluminescence.
**A soundtrack:** dripping water, distant echoes and something moving somewhere just beyond the edge of the light.
**A season:** winter, when the sun disappears early and the outside world feels very far away.
**A mood:** curious, claustrophobic, strange and unexpectedly hopeful.
**A scent:** wet stone, cold water and the faintly earthy smell of somewhere that hasn't seen sunlight in a very long time.
**A texture:** rough cave walls under your fingertips, slick with condensation.
## ★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★
**The Hanged Man.**
The Hanged Man is about suspension, surrender and—most importantly here—**seeing things from a different perspective**.
Theory and Nim begin their journey carrying very different assumptions about themselves, each other and the world around them. As they move deeper into Fiendworld, those assumptions become increasingly difficult to maintain.
The Hanged Man asks us to stop looking at a situation in the way we've always looked at it and turn it around.
Sometimes the truth isn't hidden.
Sometimes we're simply looking at it from the wrong direction.
## ✦ THE TRUE QUESTION ✦
**What happens when you finally see the other side of the story?**
*When Life Gives You Corpses* begins with Theory and Nim believing they understand their own situations. But neither has all the information.
As they come to understand one another—and themselves—the story becomes less about escaping the sinkhole and more about recognising that the people around us may be carrying histories and truths we can't see.
Sometimes understanding someone doesn't mean discovering that you were right about them.
It means discovering that **you were only ever seeing half the picture.**
## Final Thoughts
*When Life Gives You Corpses* publishes on the **23rd of March 2027**. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
## ✶ PRE-READING ✶
A magical sinkhole turned amusement park, a search-and-recovery guide who happens to be a cursed human-eating mantis, and a missing wizard who doesn't actually want to be rescued?
Yes, all right. I'm listening.
*When Life Gives You Corpses* sounds like horror on paper, but what I found underneath the monsters and peril was a much more interesting story about two people discovering that they've each been looking at the world from only one side.
## ✶ POST-READING ✶
**As I thought...** there are some really clever ideas here.
The worldbuilding around Fiendworld is particularly fun. Turning a magical sinkhole into an amusement park is already a wonderfully strange concept, and the deeper Theory and Nim go, the more the story has to reveal about both the place and the people connected to it.
I also enjoyed the pacing. There's always something happening, whether it's a creature trying to eat them, a new section of the sinkhole to explore, or another piece of information changing how we understand what came before.
And despite all the corpses, tentacles and man-eating fish, I wouldn't really call this a horror novel. There are certainly moments of peril, but the heart of the story is much more about **perspective and discovery**.
**It surprised me by...** how much of the story is about realising that neither character has had the complete picture.
Theory and Nim both begin with assumptions about the other person, and about the world they're moving through. As those assumptions are challenged, the story gradually becomes something much more interesting than a straightforward rescue mission.
There is, however, one thing that made this a more difficult read for me.
The book uses dual POV, and Nim **never uses contractions**—not in dialogue, not in narration, nowhere.
I am genuinely in awe of the technical skill involved in maintaining that consistently. It must be like fighting your own muscle memory sixty times a page. But as a reader, I found it difficult to process. Every sentence written that way makes my brain pause just slightly, and over an entire novel that adds up.
I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did, because I enjoyed the story and where it went. But I suspect some readers will find Nim's voice much easier to settle into than I did, while others may have the same difficulty.
For me, it was a fascinating technical choice that didn't quite work with the way I read.
## ✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦
**Book Recommendation:** *A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking* by T. Kingfisher, for another fantasy adventure that looks like it might be something much darker than it ultimately is, with inventive worldbuilding and a great deal of heart underneath the danger.
**TV or Movie Recommendation:** *The Mummy*. There's peril, monsters, ancient secrets and people getting themselves into increasingly ridiculous situations, but the real pleasure is watching the characters discover that their assumptions about each other—and the situation they're in—aren't quite right.
## ✧ VIBE CHECK ✧
**A colour palette:** underground black, wet stone grey, deep blue-green water and the occasional flash of bioluminescence.
**A soundtrack:** dripping water, distant echoes and something moving somewhere just beyond the edge of the light.
**A season:** winter, when the sun disappears early and the outside world feels very far away.
**A mood:** curious, claustrophobic, strange and unexpectedly hopeful.
**A scent:** wet stone, cold water and the faintly earthy smell of somewhere that hasn't seen sunlight in a very long time.
**A texture:** rough cave walls under your fingertips, slick with condensation.
## ★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★
**The Hanged Man.**
The Hanged Man is about suspension, surrender and—most importantly here—**seeing things from a different perspective**.
Theory and Nim begin their journey carrying very different assumptions about themselves, each other and the world around them. As they move deeper into Fiendworld, those assumptions become increasingly difficult to maintain.
The Hanged Man asks us to stop looking at a situation in the way we've always looked at it and turn it around.
Sometimes the truth isn't hidden.
Sometimes we're simply looking at it from the wrong direction.
## ✦ THE TRUE QUESTION ✦
**What happens when you finally see the other side of the story?**
*When Life Gives You Corpses* begins with Theory and Nim believing they understand their own situations. But neither has all the information.
As they come to understand one another—and themselves—the story becomes less about escaping the sinkhole and more about recognising that the people around us may be carrying histories and truths we can't see.
Sometimes understanding someone doesn't mean discovering that you were right about them.
It means discovering that **you were only ever seeing half the picture.**
## Final Thoughts
*When Life Gives You Corpses* publishes on the **23rd of March 2027**. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I feel bad giving it such a low star rating, but I did find this to be a truly mediocre story in the end. Not within the concept or the plot, but the execution (which seems to be echoed across the higher ratings as well). I also round down, so it was a pretty solid 2.5 stars, this is just the closest we get here.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to When Life Gives You Corpses as an ARC.
First, I think there are 2 very major changes that would solve nearly all of my issues with the book: 1. make it a graphic novel. 2. remove the romance.
For the first one (graphic novel), I found the pacing of everything to be incredibly slow and uneven. This was due in part to (once again) two main things. The first of these two is the dialogue. We'd get two or three lines, broken up by a paragraph or two of detail or introspection, then back for another line or two. For me, this made me have to reread every section of dialogue twice: once with the interruption, and once to understand what the heck was just said. The second issue was the changes in POV. Theory's seemed to drag, Nim's seemed more well-paced. Nim's was also told in third person. It took me an extra ten or so seconds to adjust between every POV change. I think a close, limited third person POV for both would've work better.
But how would this have helped for the graphic novel? Well, there would be no interruptions in dialogue, unless the reader inserted them on their own accord. It would also give us the same third person POV. Plus, it would allow the reader to really see the horrors and depths of the sinkhole. Unfortunately, I feel like Buttner didn't make it seem quite as creepy as it could be, and I think a visual medium would've allowed them to really explore the horrors of the depths.
And then, the romance. I'm already skeptical of adding romance to books in general, but I think it detracted from the experience as a whole, and was rather poorly executed.
Plus Nim is 18 and Theory is a couple hundred years old, which I realize is common enough, but Theory is also a fiend and it feels almost icky, for lack of a better word.
My third biggest issue was the ending. The epilogues were almost frustratingly succinct and wrapped everything into too pretty a bow.
I had high hopes for this weird, queer, YA horror story. Unfortunately, it just didn't hit the way I had hoped. I do hope that, in the future, it gets a graphic novel adaptation. I would be first in line for something like that, as I do truly believe it would fix all my perceived issues.
I will say, as my last note, that if you're stoked to read this, to not let my review sway you away from reading. Definitely give it a whirl! I don't think it's a bad book, just something that I had higher hopes for.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to When Life Gives You Corpses as an ARC.
First, I think there are 2 very major changes that would solve nearly all of my issues with the book: 1. make it a graphic novel. 2. remove the romance.
For the first one (graphic novel), I found the pacing of everything to be incredibly slow and uneven. This was due in part to (once again) two main things. The first of these two is the dialogue. We'd get two or three lines, broken up by a paragraph or two of detail or introspection, then back for another line or two. For me, this made me have to reread every section of dialogue twice: once with the interruption, and once to understand what the heck was just said. The second issue was the changes in POV. Theory's seemed to drag, Nim's seemed more well-paced. Nim's was also told in third person. It took me an extra ten or so seconds to adjust between every POV change. I think a close, limited third person POV for both would've work better.
But how would this have helped for the graphic novel? Well, there would be no interruptions in dialogue, unless the reader inserted them on their own accord. It would also give us the same third person POV. Plus, it would allow the reader to really see the horrors and depths of the sinkhole. Unfortunately, I feel like Buttner didn't make it seem quite as creepy as it could be, and I think a visual medium would've allowed them to really explore the horrors of the depths.
And then, the romance. I'm already skeptical of adding romance to books in general, but I think it detracted from the experience as a whole, and was rather poorly executed.
Plus Nim is 18 and Theory is a couple hundred years old, which I realize is common enough, but Theory is also a fiend and it feels almost icky, for lack of a better word.
My third biggest issue was the ending. The epilogues were almost frustratingly succinct and wrapped everything into too pretty a bow.
I had high hopes for this weird, queer, YA horror story. Unfortunately, it just didn't hit the way I had hoped. I do hope that, in the future, it gets a graphic novel adaptation. I would be first in line for something like that, as I do truly believe it would fix all my perceived issues.
I will say, as my last note, that if you're stoked to read this, to not let my review sway you away from reading. Definitely give it a whirl! I don't think it's a bad book, just something that I had higher hopes for.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
a quirky, heartfelt story about a cursed human-eating mantis and the wizard who sneaks into the fiend-filled amusement park he works at and now needs rescuing!
Theory works in search and recovery (not rescue!) at Fiendworld, possibly the world’s most deathly “amusement park” ever. he also happens to be one of the many cursed fiends living in the sinkhole-turned-amusement-park. after Nim, a mediocre wizard and son of Fiendworld management, sneaks into the park to find his lost friend, Theory begrudgingly descends to find what he hopes will be Nim’s body and a much-needed snack. of course, Nim is not dead (yet) and ropes Theory into his rescue mission. their journey to the bottom of the sinkhole reveals more cursed fiends (some friendlier than others), long-kept secrets, and - obviously - a little attraction between Theory and Nim.
Theory is a delightfully irritable and stubborn protagonist! more worried about uncovering his forgotten past and satisfying his human cravings, Theory doesn’t much enjoy the company of other people and especially not wizards. it's so fun to see him try (and ultimately fail) to resist Nim’s charm. i really enjoyed the nuance of Theory’s character and story!
Nim, on the other hand, finds himself rather enjoying new company (yes, even Theory) that isn't his overbearing parents or countless tutors. really, being stuck in a sinkhole is helping Nim avoid his parents’ suffocating plans for him. and with the bonus of maybe making a new friend who also happens to be a giant green mantis. (not that that deters Nim at all, his moral code is hilariously and endearingly tolerant!!!)
Theory and Nim’s romance is a slow burn from animosity (yes, mainly on Theory’s part) to adventuring friends to lovers. it’s all very sweet and built on understanding and empathy and wanting the best for one another! really adorable, especially considering the almost-eating of maybe-boyfriends!!!
the setting and some narrative style choices were the only hiccups for me! i found the physicality of worldbuilding and creatures very confusing. i had no real sense of where or how or what as Theory and Nim explore the sinkhole and come across more fiends. and the writing style for Nim was a little jarring and difficult to read (though you get used to it!).
if you like quirky fantasy with unusual worldbuilding, lovable characters, and sweet queer romance, you’ll enjoy When Life Gives You Corpses.
a great debut from Buttner! i am curious to see what other offbeat stories they may have to share with us.
a quirky, heartfelt story about a cursed human-eating mantis and the wizard who sneaks into the fiend-filled amusement park he works at and now needs rescuing!
Theory works in search and recovery (not rescue!) at Fiendworld, possibly the world’s most deathly “amusement park” ever. he also happens to be one of the many cursed fiends living in the sinkhole-turned-amusement-park. after Nim, a mediocre wizard and son of Fiendworld management, sneaks into the park to find his lost friend, Theory begrudgingly descends to find what he hopes will be Nim’s body and a much-needed snack. of course, Nim is not dead (yet) and ropes Theory into his rescue mission. their journey to the bottom of the sinkhole reveals more cursed fiends (some friendlier than others), long-kept secrets, and - obviously - a little attraction between Theory and Nim.
Theory is a delightfully irritable and stubborn protagonist! more worried about uncovering his forgotten past and satisfying his human cravings, Theory doesn’t much enjoy the company of other people and especially not wizards. it's so fun to see him try (and ultimately fail) to resist Nim’s charm. i really enjoyed the nuance of Theory’s character and story!
Nim, on the other hand, finds himself rather enjoying new company (yes, even Theory) that isn't his overbearing parents or countless tutors. really, being stuck in a sinkhole is helping Nim avoid his parents’ suffocating plans for him. and with the bonus of maybe making a new friend who also happens to be a giant green mantis. (not that that deters Nim at all, his moral code is hilariously and endearingly tolerant!!!)
Theory and Nim’s romance is a slow burn from animosity (yes, mainly on Theory’s part) to adventuring friends to lovers. it’s all very sweet and built on understanding and empathy and wanting the best for one another! really adorable, especially considering the almost-eating of maybe-boyfriends!!!
the setting and some narrative style choices were the only hiccups for me! i found the physicality of worldbuilding and creatures very confusing. i had no real sense of where or how or what as Theory and Nim explore the sinkhole and come across more fiends. and the writing style for Nim was a little jarring and difficult to read (though you get used to it!).
if you like quirky fantasy with unusual worldbuilding, lovable characters, and sweet queer romance, you’ll enjoy When Life Gives You Corpses.
a great debut from Buttner! i am curious to see what other offbeat stories they may have to share with us.
October 12, 2026
Thank you to Lene D. Buttner and St. Martin’s Press (Wednesday Books) for providing me with a complimentary eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
An absolutely amazing debut! Who knew eating humans could be oddly endearing with an undertone of chaotic humor?! There’s magic, curses, wizards, chasm monsters (fiends), and a bit of mayhem.
This book drops you off neck-deep in the thick of things, and it never really lets up. This might be a me problem, but I am very much a cover vibe reader. I hardly ever read blurbs so I can experience the book as it’s written and discover things about the plot for myself, and I will say there are hints about how this world came to be that don’t get confirmed until ~20% in and not elaborated on until somewhere around the 32% mark. Having a lack of clarity for a solid quarter of the book straddles the line of intriguing and offputting. The (incredibly unique) world building and all the sinkhole levels were a bit confusing for me.
The romance between Nim and Theory was sweet, and their acceptance of one another’s flaws was charming. Somehow Buttner managed to make a book with cannibalism and oppression feel wholesome and dare I say… at times whimsical!!?? You really feel for both of the characters and want to root for them despite the extremely odd circumstances. That’s honestly no easy feat and I give the author kudos for that. (Also: I was definitely chuckling at a lot of the chapters’ witty titles.) And the reveals during the last 20% or so of the book had me clutching my pearls.
The reason I’m giving this a 4.25 out of 5 is because the pacing was a bit slow overall and the actual world was confusing. I still have no idea if I fully conceptualized how it looks and functions in my mind, but the story between both of the MMCs is so well developed that I could put my feelings about the intricacies of the world aside and still very much enjoy it.
Be sure to grab a copy of this cutely creepy story when it’s released on March 23, 2027!
An absolutely amazing debut! Who knew eating humans could be oddly endearing with an undertone of chaotic humor?! There’s magic, curses, wizards, chasm monsters (fiends), and a bit of mayhem.
This book drops you off neck-deep in the thick of things, and it never really lets up. This might be a me problem, but I am very much a cover vibe reader. I hardly ever read blurbs so I can experience the book as it’s written and discover things about the plot for myself, and I will say there are hints about how this world came to be that don’t get confirmed until ~20% in and not elaborated on until somewhere around the 32% mark. Having a lack of clarity for a solid quarter of the book straddles the line of intriguing and offputting. The (incredibly unique) world building and all the sinkhole levels were a bit confusing for me.
The romance between Nim and Theory was sweet, and their acceptance of one another’s flaws was charming. Somehow Buttner managed to make a book with cannibalism and oppression feel wholesome and dare I say… at times whimsical!!?? You really feel for both of the characters and want to root for them despite the extremely odd circumstances. That’s honestly no easy feat and I give the author kudos for that. (Also: I was definitely chuckling at a lot of the chapters’ witty titles.) And the reveals during the last 20% or so of the book had me clutching my pearls.
The reason I’m giving this a 4.25 out of 5 is because the pacing was a bit slow overall and the actual world was confusing. I still have no idea if I fully conceptualized how it looks and functions in my mind, but the story between both of the MMCs is so well developed that I could put my feelings about the intricacies of the world aside and still very much enjoy it.
Be sure to grab a copy of this cutely creepy story when it’s released on March 23, 2027!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is one I feel sad not having a hard-copy because that cover looks like it would be even more gorgeous IRL. Those of you reading this on Goodreads can't see but the cover currently has 273 upvotes and 0 downvotes on NetGalley.
I enjoyed this book, it's DIFFERENT, which is what I'm always looking for, and it's an MM grumpy-sunshine romance layered under cannibalistic body-horror fantasy, which is always fun. I also really liked that these people go on Mount Everest type expeditions into Fiendworld where they know there's a strong chance they might die out there, (it really felt like Nim's quest to reach the bottom was no different from an IRL person's quest to reach the top.)
Though I did not understand why it was categorized as YA? Both MCs are 18 or up (Imma just phrase it like that as to not spoiler) both have jobs and independence and ex-lovers and they both just feel like they're in their early-to-mid-20's to be honest. Like anyone between the ages of 18-40...50...60? (I can't even pinpoint a top age limit?) could read this and be like ah a Beetlejuice-coded gross but fun romp. I see adult women enjoying this one the most, not necessarily the Heated Rivalry reader, but someone who enjoys MM but wants the main plot to be about something else besides THE HEAT.
I honestly don't see myself handing this to any kid unless they're dying to read some MM (this one's quite unproblematic and sensitively/respectfully written so its perfect!) or they're looking for an underground fantasy horror-adventure and don't mind characters that code as adults. I will HAPPILY hand this to any adult reader and just not even tell them that it's been categorized as YA.
I enjoyed this book, it's DIFFERENT, which is what I'm always looking for, and it's an MM grumpy-sunshine romance layered under cannibalistic body-horror fantasy, which is always fun. I also really liked that these people go on Mount Everest type expeditions into Fiendworld where they know there's a strong chance they might die out there, (it really felt like Nim's quest to reach the bottom was no different from an IRL person's quest to reach the top.)
Though I did not understand why it was categorized as YA? Both MCs are 18 or up (Imma just phrase it like that as to not spoiler) both have jobs and independence and ex-lovers and they both just feel like they're in their early-to-mid-20's to be honest. Like anyone between the ages of 18-40...50...60? (I can't even pinpoint a top age limit?) could read this and be like ah a Beetlejuice-coded gross but fun romp. I see adult women enjoying this one the most, not necessarily the Heated Rivalry reader, but someone who enjoys MM but wants the main plot to be about something else besides THE HEAT.
I honestly don't see myself handing this to any kid unless they're dying to read some MM (this one's quite unproblematic and sensitively/respectfully written so its perfect!) or they're looking for an underground fantasy horror-adventure and don't mind characters that code as adults. I will HAPPILY hand this to any adult reader and just not even tell them that it's been categorized as YA.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC review thanks to NetGalley
When Life Gives You Corpses was such an interesting read! I really enjoyed the originality of the world, especially the creepy magical cave system filled with fiends. I’ve never read anything quite like that before, and I could really picture the setting as the story unfolded.
I also found myself connecting with Nim as I am just as chatty especially when I'm nervous 😂
I really liked watching the relationship between the main characters build throughout the story. Their connection developed nicely, and that was definitely one of the stronger parts of the book for me.
That being said, the pacing was a little slow for me, and there were definitely parts that felt like they dragged on. While I enjoyed the world and characters, I found myself wishing the story would move along a little faster.
Howevee, that ending! 👀 There was a twist at the end that I genuinely did not see coming, and I loved being caught off guard. It definitely gave the ending an extra little punch!
I was going back and forth while reading with my rating be a 3 or 4 but with that ending I landed on 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall, this was a unique and imaginative fantasy/paranormal read with a really interesting setting and characters I enjoyed getting to know. I just didn’t completely connect with it enough to rate it higher.
If you’re a fan of fantasy, paranormal elements, creepy creatures, and unique magical worlds, I’d definitely recommend checking this one out!
When Life Gives You Corpses was such an interesting read! I really enjoyed the originality of the world, especially the creepy magical cave system filled with fiends. I’ve never read anything quite like that before, and I could really picture the setting as the story unfolded.
I also found myself connecting with Nim as I am just as chatty especially when I'm nervous 😂
I really liked watching the relationship between the main characters build throughout the story. Their connection developed nicely, and that was definitely one of the stronger parts of the book for me.
That being said, the pacing was a little slow for me, and there were definitely parts that felt like they dragged on. While I enjoyed the world and characters, I found myself wishing the story would move along a little faster.
Howevee, that ending! 👀 There was a twist at the end that I genuinely did not see coming, and I loved being caught off guard. It definitely gave the ending an extra little punch!
I was going back and forth while reading with my rating be a 3 or 4 but with that ending I landed on 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall, this was a unique and imaginative fantasy/paranormal read with a really interesting setting and characters I enjoyed getting to know. I just didn’t completely connect with it enough to rate it higher.
If you’re a fan of fantasy, paranormal elements, creepy creatures, and unique magical worlds, I’d definitely recommend checking this one out!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When Life Gives You Corpses by Lene D. Buttner is a suspense-filled, gasp-inducing, heart-shattering, absolutely stellar, story of what it means to be human.
Theory is a park ranger at Fiendworld, a massive sinkhole full of monsters cause by a curse on his village 100 years ago. His job is recovery of the deceased adventurers (aka: those dumb wizards) who don't make it back from excursions into the cursed park. When he is tasked with recovering the remains of the park owners' foolish son, he finds himself on a journey he never expected.
This book was the most unexpected delight of the year! The flow of the story is fast and engaging, the characters are rich, the magic system is incredibly different...and look, I just loved it so much!
This is solid fantasy with some YA queer romance, full of awkwardness and plenty of tropes that make it more endearing than cliched. Tropes like 'enemies to lovers', or 'only one bed', are done in such a fun and funny way, that you find yourself falling in love with Theory and Nim. And Cordelia! I just love Cordelia so much we named a plant after her. You will laugh, scream, cry, and love every second of it, reading this story.
This is not one to be missed. Release date is March 23, 2027 from Wednesday Books!
Thank you so much to @stmartinspress @wednesdaybooks and @lenedbuttner for an early eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Theory is a park ranger at Fiendworld, a massive sinkhole full of monsters cause by a curse on his village 100 years ago. His job is recovery of the deceased adventurers (aka: those dumb wizards) who don't make it back from excursions into the cursed park. When he is tasked with recovering the remains of the park owners' foolish son, he finds himself on a journey he never expected.
This book was the most unexpected delight of the year! The flow of the story is fast and engaging, the characters are rich, the magic system is incredibly different...and look, I just loved it so much!
This is solid fantasy with some YA queer romance, full of awkwardness and plenty of tropes that make it more endearing than cliched. Tropes like 'enemies to lovers', or 'only one bed', are done in such a fun and funny way, that you find yourself falling in love with Theory and Nim. And Cordelia! I just love Cordelia so much we named a plant after her. You will laugh, scream, cry, and love every second of it, reading this story.
This is not one to be missed. Release date is March 23, 2027 from Wednesday Books!
Thank you so much to @stmartinspress @wednesdaybooks and @lenedbuttner for an early eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this book, and honestly, I had absolutely no idea what to expect going into it. I was initially drawn in by how unique and quirky the cover was, but now I’m so glad I decided to take a chance on this story!
Theory is a search and recovery guide for Fiendworld, the famous fiend attraction, with one rather HUGE secret of his own… he’s actually a fiend himself! And not just any fiend, but a gigantic praying mantis who can glamor himself into looking human.
When his boss tasks him with finding a missing magician, Theory finds himself swept into a wild adventure filled with unexpected discoveries, magic, and more than a few surprises.
This book had me hooked within the first few chapters! Between the bizarrely cozy horror vibes, wonderfully witty banter, and such a wonderfully strange premise, there was so much to love. I adored how unique this story was, and it kept me entertained and wanting to know what would happen next.
And that ending?! I was NOT prepared for the emotions it brought out of me. I was honestly on the verge of tears!
If you’re looking for something a little weird, a little spooky, wonderfully magical, and full of heart, I highly recommend picking this one up. This is one I’d happily recommend to both YA and adult readers!
I’m so glad I took a chance on this one! 🖤
Theory is a search and recovery guide for Fiendworld, the famous fiend attraction, with one rather HUGE secret of his own… he’s actually a fiend himself! And not just any fiend, but a gigantic praying mantis who can glamor himself into looking human.
When his boss tasks him with finding a missing magician, Theory finds himself swept into a wild adventure filled with unexpected discoveries, magic, and more than a few surprises.
This book had me hooked within the first few chapters! Between the bizarrely cozy horror vibes, wonderfully witty banter, and such a wonderfully strange premise, there was so much to love. I adored how unique this story was, and it kept me entertained and wanting to know what would happen next.
And that ending?! I was NOT prepared for the emotions it brought out of me. I was honestly on the verge of tears!
If you’re looking for something a little weird, a little spooky, wonderfully magical, and full of heart, I highly recommend picking this one up. This is one I’d happily recommend to both YA and adult readers!
I’m so glad I took a chance on this one! 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was given an ARC by the author to provide an honest review! Mild spoilers in below.
This book right here. This is the one. The one you want to read, right now. I promise. I needed a three-day recovery period from the sheer number of emotions I felt after finishing this book. The thing that made me fall in love first is the VOICE. Theory's character is crafted with so much genuine humor and humanity considering he eats dead people. I immediately supported all of Theory's rights and wrongs and would probably let him munch on one of my less necessary digits if he really wanted to. The pacing is incredibly strong and sweeps you along on his adventure to find Nim, who is the most cinnamon roll to ever cinnamon roll. Their dynamic is so endearing and is truly the glue of the story as their descent into the cavern grows more and more dangerous. The plot twists surprised me at every turn (especially at the end! Oh, my heart!) and left me with a feeling that this story had filled a hole somewhere inside me I didn't know existed! It's perfect for lovers of cozy, heartwarming, horrific books like SOMEONE YOU CAN BUILD A NEST IN or fans of the anime Delicious in Dungeon. So do yourself a favor and read this book!
This book right here. This is the one. The one you want to read, right now. I promise. I needed a three-day recovery period from the sheer number of emotions I felt after finishing this book. The thing that made me fall in love first is the VOICE. Theory's character is crafted with so much genuine humor and humanity considering he eats dead people. I immediately supported all of Theory's rights and wrongs and would probably let him munch on one of my less necessary digits if he really wanted to. The pacing is incredibly strong and sweeps you along on his adventure to find Nim, who is the most cinnamon roll to ever cinnamon roll. Their dynamic is so endearing and is truly the glue of the story as their descent into the cavern grows more and more dangerous. The plot twists surprised me at every turn (especially at the end! Oh, my heart!) and left me with a feeling that this story had filled a hole somewhere inside me I didn't know existed! It's perfect for lovers of cozy, heartwarming, horrific books like SOMEONE YOU CAN BUILD A NEST IN or fans of the anime Delicious in Dungeon. So do yourself a favor and read this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars!
- I really loved this book! It’s such an odd combination of magic, monsters, mystery, and romance, but somehow it all works so well together.
Theory and Nim were such a sweet pair to follow. Both had their own traumas and struggled with trusting others, so watching them slowly learn to care for one another was genuinely heartwarming. Theory is a somewhat reluctant cannibal, Nim is a rather questionable wizard, and somehow their adventure was one of the sweetest things I’ve read lately. There’s danger, mystery, and even some gore, but very little actual violence. I also loved Cordelia, their friendly fiend who helped keep danger at bay. The whole story had this surprisingly innocent, cozy feeling that I really enjoyed.
My only little complaint is that we’re told about all sorts of fiends living in the sinkhole, but we don’t really get to meet or learn much about them. I would’ve loved to explore more of that world! Otherwise, the writing was very good, the plot was well thought out, and the whole thing just made me smile. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need from a book, and this one delivered. I’d happily read more from this author!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. These are my own honest opinions, shared voluntarily.
- I really loved this book! It’s such an odd combination of magic, monsters, mystery, and romance, but somehow it all works so well together.
Theory and Nim were such a sweet pair to follow. Both had their own traumas and struggled with trusting others, so watching them slowly learn to care for one another was genuinely heartwarming. Theory is a somewhat reluctant cannibal, Nim is a rather questionable wizard, and somehow their adventure was one of the sweetest things I’ve read lately. There’s danger, mystery, and even some gore, but very little actual violence. I also loved Cordelia, their friendly fiend who helped keep danger at bay. The whole story had this surprisingly innocent, cozy feeling that I really enjoyed.
My only little complaint is that we’re told about all sorts of fiends living in the sinkhole, but we don’t really get to meet or learn much about them. I would’ve loved to explore more of that world! Otherwise, the writing was very good, the plot was well thought out, and the whole thing just made me smile. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need from a book, and this one delivered. I’d happily read more from this author!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. These are my own honest opinions, shared voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A big joyous creepy crawly fantastical 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ok, this book was such a delight. It starts off with a bang—voice voice voice from page one. I really appreciated the clever and balanced blend of dark humor, mystery, and lovable characters. This read is the perfect combo of creepy and fun, with plenty of twists to keep me turning the pages and just enough absurdity to make the whole experience feel fresh. It’s perfectly seated in the YA space but has great crossover potential for adults as well.
What really stood out to me was how much personality the story has. It never takes itself too seriously, but there is still enough heart and emotional depth to make the characters and their relationships matter. Theory is a standout main character—so compelling. On a craft level, I really appreciated the way the humor played against the darker elements. The blend was intoxicating—it made this story fun and fresh and compulsively readable.
If you like cozy horror, clever mysteries, and books that can make you laugh and gasp with horror in the same breath, add When Life Gives You Corpses to your TBR today!
Ok, this book was such a delight. It starts off with a bang—voice voice voice from page one. I really appreciated the clever and balanced blend of dark humor, mystery, and lovable characters. This read is the perfect combo of creepy and fun, with plenty of twists to keep me turning the pages and just enough absurdity to make the whole experience feel fresh. It’s perfectly seated in the YA space but has great crossover potential for adults as well.
What really stood out to me was how much personality the story has. It never takes itself too seriously, but there is still enough heart and emotional depth to make the characters and their relationships matter. Theory is a standout main character—so compelling. On a craft level, I really appreciated the way the humor played against the darker elements. The blend was intoxicating—it made this story fun and fresh and compulsively readable.
If you like cozy horror, clever mysteries, and books that can make you laugh and gasp with horror in the same breath, add When Life Gives You Corpses to your TBR today!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a surprisingly heartwarming and emotionally charged story, considering it is about fiends who live in a cursed sinkhole and eat corpses.
Somehow, I became emotionally attached to a cannibalistic praying mantis—and honestly, that may be this book’s greatest achievement.
Theory, a terrifying human-eating creature who survives on the occasional finger, is also awkward, sarcastic, and surprisingly soft underneath it all. Then there’s Nim, whose relentless optimism perfectly clashes with Theory’s cynicism. Watching them go from reluctant rescue-mission partners to genuine friends—and eventually something more—was my favorite part.
Fiendworld and the sinkhole were wonderfully creepy, filled with man-eating fish, tentacles, strange fiends, and unsettling secrets. Beneath all the absurdity, the story explores loneliness, grief, identity, and the importance of finding someone who sees you beyond your curse.
Somehow, this book made cannibalism, cave monsters, romance, and an enchanted backpack feel wholesome. Theory and Nim have permanently taken up residence in my brain. Five stars, no questions. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my opinion.
Somehow, I became emotionally attached to a cannibalistic praying mantis—and honestly, that may be this book’s greatest achievement.
Theory, a terrifying human-eating creature who survives on the occasional finger, is also awkward, sarcastic, and surprisingly soft underneath it all. Then there’s Nim, whose relentless optimism perfectly clashes with Theory’s cynicism. Watching them go from reluctant rescue-mission partners to genuine friends—and eventually something more—was my favorite part.
Fiendworld and the sinkhole were wonderfully creepy, filled with man-eating fish, tentacles, strange fiends, and unsettling secrets. Beneath all the absurdity, the story explores loneliness, grief, identity, and the importance of finding someone who sees you beyond your curse.
Somehow, this book made cannibalism, cave monsters, romance, and an enchanted backpack feel wholesome. Theory and Nim have permanently taken up residence in my brain. Five stars, no questions. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my opinion.
October 8, 2026
I didn’t anticipate that one of my newest recommended reads would be a love story involving a cannibalistic mantis who is employed in search and recovery for the owners of a mysterious sinkhole turned tourist attraction, but here I am. Getting to see Theory go from wanting to wish Nim would die so that he could ingest him, to going out of his way to allow Nim experience the joy of creating art again was such a fun journey. Additionally, the way Nim was persistent in accepting Theory and embracing all parts, both physical and emotional, showed that the care the two had for each other was mutual.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a fun and cozy, light romance with a side of mystery, magic, and monsters.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a fun and cozy, light romance with a side of mystery, magic, and monsters.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to read this book pre-publication when the author shared an ARC with me. This is my honest review…
This book is a delight.
Theory is a cavern search and rescue specialist tasked with recovering the bodies of adventurers lost in a gruesome theme park. He’s also, secretly, a cannibal, who tries to be ethical about the whole business. (None of this counts as spoilers, because it’s all in the first few pages.) When Theory is sent to recover the body of a magician who has disappeared down the cavern, Nim, the very much alive magician turns out to already be on his own separate quest. Together, this unlikely duo dive deeper into the cavern and into their feelings as they confront the mystery of the broken world they live in and their own troubled histories.
I never would have imaged I could root so hard for a cannibalistic quasi-monster to find love and acceptance, but here we are. Theory and Nim have my whole heart and if you let them in, I bet they’ll win yours too.
This book is a delight.
Theory is a cavern search and rescue specialist tasked with recovering the bodies of adventurers lost in a gruesome theme park. He’s also, secretly, a cannibal, who tries to be ethical about the whole business. (None of this counts as spoilers, because it’s all in the first few pages.) When Theory is sent to recover the body of a magician who has disappeared down the cavern, Nim, the very much alive magician turns out to already be on his own separate quest. Together, this unlikely duo dive deeper into the cavern and into their feelings as they confront the mystery of the broken world they live in and their own troubled histories.
I never would have imaged I could root so hard for a cannibalistic quasi-monster to find love and acceptance, but here we are. Theory and Nim have my whole heart and if you let them in, I bet they’ll win yours too.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This Young Adult Queer Monster Romance is utterly adorable! I'm glad I chose to read it before putting it out in my Little Free Library. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for sending this delightful ARC.
A hundred years ago, a Wizard put a curse on a village causing it to sink deep below the surface. The resulting sinkhole became the domain of strange and varied Fiends (Monsters) who eat humans and each other. That Wizard's "ancestors" created an Adventure Park using the sinkhole to draw in treasure hunters who braved the Fiends and landscape to many of their peril. Until the Park owners' son goes missing and the top expert Search and Recovery employee is sent to retrieve his body. Thus begins the story.
Oh, and there is a map of the sinkhole - which is entirely inaccurate according to the Park literature! I referred to the map several times to make sure I knew where we were in the sinkhole during the story.
I really want to share more, but doing so would ruin it for others.
A hundred years ago, a Wizard put a curse on a village causing it to sink deep below the surface. The resulting sinkhole became the domain of strange and varied Fiends (Monsters) who eat humans and each other. That Wizard's "ancestors" created an Adventure Park using the sinkhole to draw in treasure hunters who braved the Fiends and landscape to many of their peril. Until the Park owners' son goes missing and the top expert Search and Recovery employee is sent to retrieve his body. Thus begins the story.
Oh, and there is a map of the sinkhole - which is entirely inaccurate according to the Park literature! I referred to the map several times to make sure I knew where we were in the sinkhole during the story.
I really want to share more, but doing so would ruin it for others.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was so fun! I wasn’t sure what to expect from a book blurbed as “charming cannibalism” but it was just perfect. Cozy with some darker elements, try not to be put off by the horror tag.
This book kind of had everything I could want in it; it’s definitely more character driven as our 2 MCs are traversing the park by themselves mostly. There’s a small cast of side characters/creatures who add wonderfully to the story. It’s funny and heart warming and watching Nim and Theory discover each other’s secrets and fall in love was just so cute. Theory is more gritty and world weary while Nim is a little more naive and bumbling and I think they complimented each other quite well. Fantastic dry humor that is just my style. It’s hard to say more about the plot without spoiling it but a central theme of overcoming adversity and finding your true self and true happiness; this book was like a weird and warm hug. But with praying mantises who eat people lol. Will forever recommend!
Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book kind of had everything I could want in it; it’s definitely more character driven as our 2 MCs are traversing the park by themselves mostly. There’s a small cast of side characters/creatures who add wonderfully to the story. It’s funny and heart warming and watching Nim and Theory discover each other’s secrets and fall in love was just so cute. Theory is more gritty and world weary while Nim is a little more naive and bumbling and I think they complimented each other quite well. Fantastic dry humor that is just my style. It’s hard to say more about the plot without spoiling it but a central theme of overcoming adversity and finding your true self and true happiness; this book was like a weird and warm hug. But with praying mantises who eat people lol. Will forever recommend!
Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is an honest review of an ARC
It's hard to sell me on a book blurbed as a cannibal story. It's one of the only horror genres I usually stay away from. However, a human-eating giant praying mantis pretending to be a human while working on a search-and-rescue guide at an amusement park? Sign me up! This book is absolutely weird, but in the best way possible. It's fun to see horror blended with fantasy and romance in a way where all three genres feel fully fleshed out. None of them overpower the other. I absolutely love the queer romance. As a queer person, I enjoyed seeing a romance where it isn't about suffering with sexuality and coming out, for once.
My only real criticism is that the writing can feel a little clunky at times, though I don't subscribe to the idea that a debut novel needs to be perfect. There's room to improve, but it's still a great start for a debut author. I can't wait to see what Lene D. Buttner comes up with after this When Life Gives You Corpses. Their writing is like a breath of fresh air, with creative new ideas and lovable characters.
It's hard to sell me on a book blurbed as a cannibal story. It's one of the only horror genres I usually stay away from. However, a human-eating giant praying mantis pretending to be a human while working on a search-and-rescue guide at an amusement park? Sign me up! This book is absolutely weird, but in the best way possible. It's fun to see horror blended with fantasy and romance in a way where all three genres feel fully fleshed out. None of them overpower the other. I absolutely love the queer romance. As a queer person, I enjoyed seeing a romance where it isn't about suffering with sexuality and coming out, for once.
My only real criticism is that the writing can feel a little clunky at times, though I don't subscribe to the idea that a debut novel needs to be perfect. There's room to improve, but it's still a great start for a debut author. I can't wait to see what Lene D. Buttner comes up with after this When Life Gives You Corpses. Their writing is like a breath of fresh air, with creative new ideas and lovable characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When I saw the title of this book on NetGalley, I HAD to read it. A young person, who works for a national park, is actually a Praying Mantis in disguise. They have to secretly eat people in order to keep the glamour, and yet, they are also one of the most effective and responsible employees. If only it weren’t for that silly time they got caught stealing a severed head.
The absurdity of the story made it a really fun read, and as the adventure ensues, both characters go through a time of difficulty and growth. What started as a funny story develops into a heartwarming connection, and this odd yet somehow cozy fantasy uplifts the reader in a wonderful way.
I really enjoyed this book and it’s a great read for those who love weird stories and unique worlds. My only complaint is that it felt slow in the beginning so it took me a little longer to get into it.
Great for readers who enjoy a little human eating and a lot of adventure.
The absurdity of the story made it a really fun read, and as the adventure ensues, both characters go through a time of difficulty and growth. What started as a funny story develops into a heartwarming connection, and this odd yet somehow cozy fantasy uplifts the reader in a wonderful way.
I really enjoyed this book and it’s a great read for those who love weird stories and unique worlds. My only complaint is that it felt slow in the beginning so it took me a little longer to get into it.
Great for readers who enjoy a little human eating and a lot of adventure.
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