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When Life Gives You Corpses
Not yet published
Expected 23 Mar 27"The most charming cannibalism novel I've ever read!" —Sarah Beth Durst, 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. But not to worry—he has an excellent solution for his particular diet. Whenever he’s asked to retrieve the corpse of a lost adventurer, he simply snacks on a finger or two. No harm done.
That is, until he’s given his latest recover the body of park management’s missing son. Great. Yet another foolish wizard who got lost adventuring, and this time the direct descendant of the very person who cursed Theory in the first place. Worse, when Theory reluctantly sets off on the search, he’s shocked to find the wizard somehow still alive.
Nim—the wizard in question—has no desire to be rescued. He’s on a mission to the bottom of the sinkhole, and refuses to return to the surface before he gets there. He may be a subpar wizard, as his parents constantly remind him, but he’s got a positive attitude, an enchanted backpack, and now a mysterious rescue worker to recruit to his cause! Even though said worker is quite rude and seems to be getting Nim into more danger rather than out of it.
To survive, Theory and Nim must brave man-eating fish, walls of tentacles, and devastating both their own, and ones the park desperately tries to keep hidden. Along the way, they may just discover that they’re stronger together than apart.
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. But not to worry—he has an excellent solution for his particular diet. Whenever he’s asked to retrieve the corpse of a lost adventurer, he simply snacks on a finger or two. No harm done.
That is, until he’s given his latest recover the body of park management’s missing son. Great. Yet another foolish wizard who got lost adventuring, and this time the direct descendant of the very person who cursed Theory in the first place. Worse, when Theory reluctantly sets off on the search, he’s shocked to find the wizard somehow still alive.
Nim—the wizard in question—has no desire to be rescued. He’s on a mission to the bottom of the sinkhole, and refuses to return to the surface before he gets there. He may be a subpar wizard, as his parents constantly remind him, but he’s got a positive attitude, an enchanted backpack, and now a mysterious rescue worker to recruit to his cause! Even though said worker is quite rude and seems to be getting Nim into more danger rather than out of it.
To survive, Theory and Nim must brave man-eating fish, walls of tentacles, and devastating both their own, and ones the park desperately tries to keep hidden. Along the way, they may just discover that they’re stronger together than apart.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 23, 2027
About the author
Lene D. Buttner
1 book47 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 - 22 of 22 reviews
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+
**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 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 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 -
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.
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 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
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 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
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is so good I created an account just to review this. I've received an early copy, and it was the most heartfelt and humorous book I've read last year.
The worldbuilding is so fun and reminiscense of MYSTERY FLESH PIT NATIONAL PARK--but better because there's a hot tentacle not!lady. The book also frames monstrosity in the most human way, in a very Guillermo Del Toro way where you can't help but just feel for and fall in love with Theory and the hot tentacle not!lady. Theory's journey is a delight to follow, and Nim is just so earnest and tender that watching him crack Theory's walls is something that I still think about late at night.
If there's anything that this this book taught me, it's that even in the darkest times, even in the most cannibalistic of moments, we don't have to be alone.
The worldbuilding is so fun and reminiscense of MYSTERY FLESH PIT NATIONAL PARK--but better because there's a hot tentacle not!lady. The book also frames monstrosity in the most human way, in a very Guillermo Del Toro way where you can't help but just feel for and fall in love with Theory and the hot tentacle not!lady. Theory's journey is a delight to follow, and Nim is just so earnest and tender that watching him crack Theory's walls is something that I still think about late at night.
If there's anything that this this book taught me, it's that even in the darkest times, even in the most cannibalistic of moments, we don't have to be alone.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
HOW IS A CANNIBALISM BOOK SO COZY AND LOVELY??? This is the type of brilliant book that makes me angry at the author, because how did they do this so well?? WLGYC is delightfully meaty romp that will literally wrap tentacles around your heart and make you fall in love with Theory and Nim.
It's such a heartwarming tale, and we get to follow the path from fiend, to friend, to something more. Deep in the cavern with the fiends, we’re reminded that it’s more than just our bodies that makes us human - it’s our hearts, and most importantly, what we mean to each other.
To paraphrase Rihanna, we found love in a fiendish place.
It's such a heartwarming tale, and we get to follow the path from fiend, to friend, to something more. Deep in the cavern with the fiends, we’re reminded that it’s more than just our bodies that makes us human - it’s our hearts, and most importantly, what we mean to each other.
To paraphrase Rihanna, we found love in a fiendish place.
August 11, 2026
When Life Gives You Corpses is a cute cozy horror with a delightfully inventive setting, memorable characters, and a very sweet MM romance.
I’m obsessed with the world of the curse, the sinkhole, the fiends, and the theme park. If anything, I wanted to see more! And I loved the POVs of both Theory and Nim. Their relationship grows along side their respective characters, and I really liked the resolution of their story.
When Life Gives You Corpses is just the right amount of heartwarming and horrifying. Fans of cozy horror and spooky MM romance should check it out!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I’m obsessed with the world of the curse, the sinkhole, the fiends, and the theme park. If anything, I wanted to see more! And I loved the POVs of both Theory and Nim. Their relationship grows along side their respective characters, and I really liked the resolution of their story.
When Life Gives You Corpses is just the right amount of heartwarming and horrifying. Fans of cozy horror and spooky MM romance should check it out!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC!
This was the perfect mix of horror, humor, and cozy fantasy. The worldbuilding was incredibly vivid and atmospheric. The plot was intriguing and the situations Theory and Nim found themselves in were so absurd. This story was so fun! I never thought I'd be rooting for a cannibalistic mantis monster but I absolutely adored Theory and his dry sense of humor. Nim was so lovable from the jump and Theory's polar opposite. I felt the whole gambit of emotions while reading and I could not have enjoyed this book more.
This is a stellar debut and I can't wait to pick up anything Lene D. Buttner writes!
This was the perfect mix of horror, humor, and cozy fantasy. The worldbuilding was incredibly vivid and atmospheric. The plot was intriguing and the situations Theory and Nim found themselves in were so absurd. This story was so fun! I never thought I'd be rooting for a cannibalistic mantis monster but I absolutely adored Theory and his dry sense of humor. Nim was so lovable from the jump and Theory's polar opposite. I felt the whole gambit of emotions while reading and I could not have enjoyed this book more.
This is a stellar debut and I can't wait to pick up anything Lene D. Buttner writes!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The buzz about this book is 100% on point.
Theory is a search and recovery (not rescue) agent at Fiendworld, a horrifying cursed pit full of man-eating monsters. When he’s sent to recover the body of management’s son, he finds much more than he ever expected.
This was such an adorable, cozy story about a monster and his job, a wizard, a conspiracy, and a world like no other. The writing was fun and quick, the characters were deep and lovable, and the story was wonderfully unique.
Absolutely 5 stars. I’m already recommending it to everyone I know.
Theory is a search and recovery (not rescue) agent at Fiendworld, a horrifying cursed pit full of man-eating monsters. When he’s sent to recover the body of management’s son, he finds much more than he ever expected.
This was such an adorable, cozy story about a monster and his job, a wizard, a conspiracy, and a world like no other. The writing was fun and quick, the characters were deep and lovable, and the story was wonderfully unique.
Absolutely 5 stars. I’m already recommending it to everyone I know.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I had the honor of getting to read an early copy of this for blurbs and I read it in ONE DAY.
"A whirlwind debut that hits the ground running and doesn't stop―not even for monstrous fish... Readers will devour this book like I did and fall in love with these memorable, heartfelt characters as they explore grief, love, and finding hope even within the deepest, darkest cave." ― C.R. Averett, author of Not Your Typical Love Story
"A whirlwind debut that hits the ground running and doesn't stop―not even for monstrous fish... Readers will devour this book like I did and fall in love with these memorable, heartfelt characters as they explore grief, love, and finding hope even within the deepest, darkest cave." ― C.R. Averett, author of Not Your Typical Love Story
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This was a delightful read! Theory as a character was instantly interesting. He clearly has some history and a lot of opinions on how to do things the right way. The setting was unusual and I loved the interactions between Theory, Nim, their environment, and the fiends they meet along the way. This wasn't my usual genre (horromance?) and I didn't know what I was getting into, but I'm so glad I read this book.
August 7, 2026
I think I need 7-10 business days to process this book. I just finished it and OMG it killed me. Over the course of one chapter I wanted to scream, cry, punch something, and hug each of the wonderful characters.
I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This might be one of the best books I have read this year!
I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This might be one of the best books I have read this year!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This ARC was so good. I enjoyed it. It does have trigger warnings and I would only recommend it if you’re suitable for the trigger warnings. It has cannibalism and insects. I loved the story. I want more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve never wanted to be in a sinkhole as bad as I did while reading this book! The main characters are funny and easy to relate to and their romance is so sweet and silly. There’s some serious subject matter but it’s all handled really well and perfectly balanced with humor and romance.
Want to Read
June 9, 2026Would very much like to read when this book comes out!
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