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Queen of Teeth
Within forty-eight hours, Yaya Betancourt will go from discovering teeth between her thighs to being hunted by one of the most powerful corporations in America.
She assumes the vagina dentata is a side effect of a rare genetic condition caused by AlphaBeta Pharmaceutical, decades ago, when she and several thousand others were still in the womb.
But, when ABP corporate goons upend her life, she realizes her secondary teeth might be evidence of a new experiment for which she’s the most advanced test tube... a situation worsened when Yaya’s condition sprouts horns, tentacles, and a mind of its own.
On the run and transforming, Yaya may be either ABP’s greatest success, or the deadliest failure science has ever created.
She assumes the vagina dentata is a side effect of a rare genetic condition caused by AlphaBeta Pharmaceutical, decades ago, when she and several thousand others were still in the womb.
But, when ABP corporate goons upend her life, she realizes her secondary teeth might be evidence of a new experiment for which she’s the most advanced test tube... a situation worsened when Yaya’s condition sprouts horns, tentacles, and a mind of its own.
On the run and transforming, Yaya may be either ABP’s greatest success, or the deadliest failure science has ever created.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2021
73 people are currently reading
6865 people want to read
About the author
Hailey Piper
106 books1,015 followersHailey Piper is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth, A Game in Yellow, A Light Most Hateful, The Worm and His Kings, No Gods for Drowning, Cranberry Cove, and other books of dark fiction.
She is also the author of over 100 short stories appearing in Weird Tales, Pseudopod, Cosmic Horror Monthly, and various other publications, and of articles appearing in Writer's Digest, Tor Nightfire, CrimeReads, and Library Journal. Find her at www.haileypiper.com.
She is also the author of over 100 short stories appearing in Weird Tales, Pseudopod, Cosmic Horror Monthly, and various other publications, and of articles appearing in Writer's Digest, Tor Nightfire, CrimeReads, and Library Journal. Find her at www.haileypiper.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 405 reviews
September 20, 2021
Review originally published at Cemetery Dance:
https://www.cemeterydance.com/extras/...
You might be surprised to learn that Queen of Teeth is the debut novel from Hailey Piper. Her name is everywhere! How can this be her debut? Well, up until this book’s release, Piper has had a string of successful book releases in the novella page count range: The Possession of Natalie Glasgow, Benny Rose the Cannibal King, The Worm and His Kings, a short story collection, and a Short, Sharp, Shocks from Demain Publishing called An Invitation to Darkness. There is also a variety of short fiction published in dozens of anthologies and magazines. Through this whirlwind of storytelling, Piper has gathered unto herself a massive fanbase. Personally, I show up for anything with her name on it. I’m a sell-out for Piper’s unique brand.
Queen of Teeth is special. Her first novel and what a way to crush a debut!
Setting a new standard for body horror, this book begins with the main character, Yolanda “Yaya” Betancourt, making a startling discovery about her body in the bathroom of a woman she barely knows. She makes a quick exit, her mind buzzing with questions. Ultimately, Yaya settles on her body changes being a new side effect of a medical experiment she has been a part of since birth.
Later, as Yaya’s condition is developing, a powerful scientific entity known as AlphaBeta Pharmaceutical is hunting her down…and she is falling in love.
One of the most important themes of this book is the protection of a woman’s agency; the ability to take control of her own life at all costs. The world tries to override agency all the time, especially when it comes to mental and physical health. Women are groomed from a very early age to be silent about the issues that are troubling us. It’s too awkward or uncomfortable to share sexual health concerns. We fear being labeled negatively by society if we can’t perform or live up to the world’s standards of normalcy. We’re supposed to take a step back and allow others to guide our futures instead of advocating for ourselves and claiming ownership.
This book speaks to all of this and more because Piper also infuses the narrative with an LBGTQ+ point of view.
Horror fans who are willing to go on an exotic journey into strange and wonderful world-building unlike any other will enjoy this blend of romance and horror. Hailey Piper is at the top of her game, literally machete-chopping through new territory, blazing an exciting trail for others to follow. The future of horror looks so invigoratingly queer and progressive. I love being a part of the celebration.
https://www.cemeterydance.com/extras/...
You might be surprised to learn that Queen of Teeth is the debut novel from Hailey Piper. Her name is everywhere! How can this be her debut? Well, up until this book’s release, Piper has had a string of successful book releases in the novella page count range: The Possession of Natalie Glasgow, Benny Rose the Cannibal King, The Worm and His Kings, a short story collection, and a Short, Sharp, Shocks from Demain Publishing called An Invitation to Darkness. There is also a variety of short fiction published in dozens of anthologies and magazines. Through this whirlwind of storytelling, Piper has gathered unto herself a massive fanbase. Personally, I show up for anything with her name on it. I’m a sell-out for Piper’s unique brand.
Queen of Teeth is special. Her first novel and what a way to crush a debut!
Setting a new standard for body horror, this book begins with the main character, Yolanda “Yaya” Betancourt, making a startling discovery about her body in the bathroom of a woman she barely knows. She makes a quick exit, her mind buzzing with questions. Ultimately, Yaya settles on her body changes being a new side effect of a medical experiment she has been a part of since birth.
Later, as Yaya’s condition is developing, a powerful scientific entity known as AlphaBeta Pharmaceutical is hunting her down…and she is falling in love.
One of the most important themes of this book is the protection of a woman’s agency; the ability to take control of her own life at all costs. The world tries to override agency all the time, especially when it comes to mental and physical health. Women are groomed from a very early age to be silent about the issues that are troubling us. It’s too awkward or uncomfortable to share sexual health concerns. We fear being labeled negatively by society if we can’t perform or live up to the world’s standards of normalcy. We’re supposed to take a step back and allow others to guide our futures instead of advocating for ourselves and claiming ownership.
This book speaks to all of this and more because Piper also infuses the narrative with an LBGTQ+ point of view.
Horror fans who are willing to go on an exotic journey into strange and wonderful world-building unlike any other will enjoy this blend of romance and horror. Hailey Piper is at the top of her game, literally machete-chopping through new territory, blazing an exciting trail for others to follow. The future of horror looks so invigoratingly queer and progressive. I love being a part of the celebration.
June 25, 2024
I love Hailey Piper 😭
This was not at all what I was expecting!! It’s dystopian sci-fi weird horror in a world where a corrupt bio-tech organization basically has ownership of these genetically altered people called Chimeras, and it’s about one such woman who discovers teeth and then eventually tentacles in her vagina.
This had some really great transformative body horror and some disturbing scenes (mostly the implications caused by total loss of body autonomy but towards the end it really ramps up), but more than anything I thought this was fun and very imaginative. I esp love all the neon magenta imagery and the characters were great.
Actual rating like 4.5ish⭐️ but rounded up bc I love Hailey sm 🧡
This was not at all what I was expecting!! It’s dystopian sci-fi weird horror in a world where a corrupt bio-tech organization basically has ownership of these genetically altered people called Chimeras, and it’s about one such woman who discovers teeth and then eventually tentacles in her vagina.
This had some really great transformative body horror and some disturbing scenes (mostly the implications caused by total loss of body autonomy but towards the end it really ramps up), but more than anything I thought this was fun and very imaginative. I esp love all the neon magenta imagery and the characters were great.
Actual rating like 4.5ish⭐️ but rounded up bc I love Hailey sm 🧡
June 25, 2023
Queen Of Teeth is such a unique horror story that incorporates both sci-fi and body horror elements.
I really appreciate “weird” fiction, where an author tries to push boundaries and do something completely new, inventive, with their work. The writing is outstanding throughout! Very descriptive.
The only reason I couldn’t personally rate it higher than a 4 is that it left me scratching my head at times - did Doc love Yaya or Magenta more ? Evident she was fond of both. Maybe reading this whilst my brain fog and fatigue were bad wasn’t the best idea 😅
Yaya Benecourt has made a shocking discovery. She has developed a set of teeth between her legs - which medically should not be possible.
Within 48 hours of making this shocking discovery, she ends up being hunted down by AlphaBeta Pharmaceuticals - one of the most powerful corporations in America.
The creature inside of Yaya is growing; sprouting horns, tentacles and has developed a mind of its own. It is called Magenta.
What is happening to her? To them? Are ABP behind this as some sort of medical experiment? What will become of Yaya as Magenta begins to take hold…!
”She should never have come.
White debris breathes through cracks in crumbling walls, and black smoke climbs toward the moon.
The high school lies a broken eggshell, and beyond its lot, she finds the reason she has been called here. A new creation cries forlorn in the night, baptized in the blood of teachers, peers, and family. Once a teenage student weighed by purse and books and expectations, now turned a pale dragon, countless limbs thrashing as boneless ropes, eager to burn the world. There is monstrous beauty in the blood-spotted skin, and beneath, an intense desire to live. A desire unfulfilled.
She should never have come because, deep down, she can never leave, even when the dragon lets her.
Guilt will follow her beyond these soot-coated ruins, through fires and chemicals and once-human screams. Wherever she goes, this night will haunt her for the rest of her life.”
I really appreciate “weird” fiction, where an author tries to push boundaries and do something completely new, inventive, with their work. The writing is outstanding throughout! Very descriptive.
The only reason I couldn’t personally rate it higher than a 4 is that it left me scratching my head at times - did Doc love Yaya or Magenta more ? Evident she was fond of both. Maybe reading this whilst my brain fog and fatigue were bad wasn’t the best idea 😅
Yaya Benecourt has made a shocking discovery. She has developed a set of teeth between her legs - which medically should not be possible.
Within 48 hours of making this shocking discovery, she ends up being hunted down by AlphaBeta Pharmaceuticals - one of the most powerful corporations in America.
The creature inside of Yaya is growing; sprouting horns, tentacles and has developed a mind of its own. It is called Magenta.
What is happening to her? To them? Are ABP behind this as some sort of medical experiment? What will become of Yaya as Magenta begins to take hold…!
”She should never have come.
White debris breathes through cracks in crumbling walls, and black smoke climbs toward the moon.
The high school lies a broken eggshell, and beyond its lot, she finds the reason she has been called here. A new creation cries forlorn in the night, baptized in the blood of teachers, peers, and family. Once a teenage student weighed by purse and books and expectations, now turned a pale dragon, countless limbs thrashing as boneless ropes, eager to burn the world. There is monstrous beauty in the blood-spotted skin, and beneath, an intense desire to live. A desire unfulfilled.
She should never have come because, deep down, she can never leave, even when the dragon lets her.
Guilt will follow her beyond these soot-coated ruins, through fires and chemicals and once-human screams. Wherever she goes, this night will haunt her for the rest of her life.”
April 8, 2023
This was one of the most fun buddy book reads I’ve read. I’ll admit, the blurb didn’t sell it to me, but I’m always in for some horror, so I thought, why not? This book surprised me in many ways, but mostly because it was hilarious.
Per the blurb this is a dystopian book where a pharmaceutical company owns people that were the result of an experiment. Yaya is one of those people and when her body starts changing (que the body horror, we’re talking vagina dentata and tentacles here) she decides to run. Yes, this is a storyline, but it is actually only a small one, the big one is much better, but that’s a surprise.
Like the others that read this book with me I listened to the audiobook and I recommend this to everybody. Jenn Lee does an excellent job narrating the sarcastic Yaya and there are some inner voices that are so funny. Peanut butter will never be the same again, I think I need to buy myself a BIG jar:)
This book shows a disturbing future and actually has some serious messages, it is cleverly written, but at the same time doesn’t take itself too seriously, so join the fun if you can handle some body horror.
Per the blurb this is a dystopian book where a pharmaceutical company owns people that were the result of an experiment. Yaya is one of those people and when her body starts changing (que the body horror, we’re talking vagina dentata and tentacles here) she decides to run. Yes, this is a storyline, but it is actually only a small one, the big one is much better, but that’s a surprise.
Like the others that read this book with me I listened to the audiobook and I recommend this to everybody. Jenn Lee does an excellent job narrating the sarcastic Yaya and there are some inner voices that are so funny. Peanut butter will never be the same again, I think I need to buy myself a BIG jar:)
This book shows a disturbing future and actually has some serious messages, it is cleverly written, but at the same time doesn’t take itself too seriously, so join the fun if you can handle some body horror.
November 3, 2024
tragically this is not the vagina dentata horror novel of my dreams!!
conceptually, this story is outrageous and fantastic. a dystopian future, a woman whose genetic material is partially owned by a pharmaceutical company, who is bound to endure routine medical procedures - until a sentient mutant parasite emerges from between her legs! oh, and her sapphic love interest is one of the company's agents! the two women, plus the tentacled parasite, enter a sort of poly relationship. the monsterfucking is wild.
all of this sounds like a blast, but the execution didn't work for me. the pacing is very uneven, with what seemed to be the climax occurring about two-thirds of the way through the book. and though most of the novella takes place over just a few frenzied days, the story drags. it's poorly written, packed with exposition. even the dramatic godzilla-like ending seemed to mosey on for far too long. and the characters, though they're lively and interesting, have no depth. they're largely passive (aside from the monster, magenta), and the reader never sees their motivations or desires.
the scifi elements are fun, and the transformative body horror results in some truly gnarly grossout moments. there's some important commentary about about healthcare under capitalism, police corruption, and body autonomy, but sadly it doesn't come together in the end.
conceptually, this story is outrageous and fantastic. a dystopian future, a woman whose genetic material is partially owned by a pharmaceutical company, who is bound to endure routine medical procedures - until a sentient mutant parasite emerges from between her legs! oh, and her sapphic love interest is one of the company's agents! the two women, plus the tentacled parasite, enter a sort of poly relationship. the monsterfucking is wild.
all of this sounds like a blast, but the execution didn't work for me. the pacing is very uneven, with what seemed to be the climax occurring about two-thirds of the way through the book. and though most of the novella takes place over just a few frenzied days, the story drags. it's poorly written, packed with exposition. even the dramatic godzilla-like ending seemed to mosey on for far too long. and the characters, though they're lively and interesting, have no depth. they're largely passive (aside from the monster, magenta), and the reader never sees their motivations or desires.
the scifi elements are fun, and the transformative body horror results in some truly gnarly grossout moments. there's some important commentary about about healthcare under capitalism, police corruption, and body autonomy, but sadly it doesn't come together in the end.
May 13, 2023
➥ 3.75 Stars *:･ﾟ✧
This review may contain some spoilers. My first audiobook was excellently narrated by Jenn Lee, to the point where I think it even elevated the story. In terms of the story itself...this was a funky one. I was surprisingly on board with the plotline and I loved the blatant ridiculousness about it. Woman's vagina grows teeth? Great! The vagina has its own voice and calls people she wants to eat "peanut butter"? Fabulous! This is somehow gay at the same time? Perfect, wonderful, amazing.
I thought the exploration of pharmaceuticals and their capitalistic, inhumane motivations was well touched-on. And it's true, they don't care about people. They just want to sell their drugs. The writing was also great, in my opinion.
In terms of the romance, I didn't expect it to be an extremely prevalent aspect, but it kind of was? Sort of? And I liked it so much that I was sad we didn't get more, or that it wasn't explored further. I mean...
I was rocking with Yaya (h), I loved Dosha a.k.a. Doc (h) but let me tell you I was not rocking with this bitch Magenta 😑👎❌. That was my main issue. I did not like this thing where she became a part of what Yaya and Dosha had going on. Kaitlyn and I were discussing this, but the moment where Yaya looked away to let her VAGINA and Dosha have their moment? I think the fuck not.
Anyway, my enjoyment did start to teeter at the end as well, because everything went mega-dramatic, Magenta become Godzilla and Yaya was GONE?? Excuse me, I don't know about you, but I would be very offended if I found out my vagina was having an affair with my girl 🤷♀️. Fuckin cheaters. Magenta was like an annoying younger sibling - don't like her. Again, Kaitlyn did warn me, but I didn't love the disregard for human life at the end. There was this whole critique about how pharmaceuticals viewed people as consumers and objects, rather than people with their "own minds and desires" but when the monster wants to go on a terroristic rampage it's "yeah sure"? No thanks. She was funny sometimes though...
To be fair, this book is tagged as horror and I don't quite know if some elements I criticised are justified? I mean, sure, I dislike mass violence in media because it's brushed off while there's still value placed on the main characters, but, I suppose that if this is a horror I'm supposed to be...horrified 🤷♀️? Which I really never was thanks to the narrator who made it have a more light-hearted feel. Other than that part where Magenta's two eyes turned into FOUR-. On that note! The Sapphic Porn Squad (✊) is crazy for this but I support them 😤💘.
"Love came naturally to her, but she could be inspired to the art of hatred. She had only needed a muse."
━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
This review may contain some spoilers. My first audiobook was excellently narrated by Jenn Lee, to the point where I think it even elevated the story. In terms of the story itself...this was a funky one. I was surprisingly on board with the plotline and I loved the blatant ridiculousness about it. Woman's vagina grows teeth? Great! The vagina has its own voice and calls people she wants to eat "peanut butter"? Fabulous! This is somehow gay at the same time? Perfect, wonderful, amazing.
I thought the exploration of pharmaceuticals and their capitalistic, inhumane motivations was well touched-on. And it's true, they don't care about people. They just want to sell their drugs. The writing was also great, in my opinion.
In terms of the romance, I didn't expect it to be an extremely prevalent aspect, but it kind of was? Sort of? And I liked it so much that I was sad we didn't get more, or that it wasn't explored further. I mean...
Yaya hovered inches away. "You're brilliant. You could figure out every detail about me if I'd only lie on a steel table. Let you cut me over Petri dishes and test tubes. But that's not where you want me to lie down most, is it?"
I was rocking with Yaya (h), I loved Dosha a.k.a. Doc (h) but let me tell you I was not rocking with this bitch Magenta 😑👎❌. That was my main issue. I did not like this thing where she became a part of what Yaya and Dosha had going on. Kaitlyn and I were discussing this, but the moment where Yaya looked away to let her VAGINA and Dosha have their moment? I think the fuck not.
Anyway, my enjoyment did start to teeter at the end as well, because everything went mega-dramatic, Magenta become Godzilla and Yaya was GONE?? Excuse me, I don't know about you, but I would be very offended if I found out my vagina was having an affair with my girl 🤷♀️. Fuckin cheaters. Magenta was like an annoying younger sibling - don't like her. Again, Kaitlyn did warn me, but I didn't love the disregard for human life at the end. There was this whole critique about how pharmaceuticals viewed people as consumers and objects, rather than people with their "own minds and desires" but when the monster wants to go on a terroristic rampage it's "yeah sure"? No thanks. She was funny sometimes though...
"Not every organism was peanut butter, she decided. Sometimes they were jam." *splat*
To be fair, this book is tagged as horror and I don't quite know if some elements I criticised are justified? I mean, sure, I dislike mass violence in media because it's brushed off while there's still value placed on the main characters, but, I suppose that if this is a horror I'm supposed to be...horrified 🤷♀️? Which I really never was thanks to the narrator who made it have a more light-hearted feel. Other than that part where Magenta's two eyes turned into FOUR-. On that note! The Sapphic Porn Squad (✊) is crazy for this but I support them 😤💘.
━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
April 5, 2023
Resident Evil, but told from the mutant’s perspective with love, tentacles, and PEANUT BUTTER.
PLEASE JUST LISTEN TO THIS BOOK!!! I absolutely recommend it! My review won’t do it justice, but I’ll try my best. Here is some of what you can expect, should you choose to brave the beautiful, magenta waters of Queen of Teeth:
*A surprisingly heartwarming story
*A sweet, strange, and extremely queer romance 🏳🌈
*Body horror (but where the "monster" is the MC whom you love and are absolutely rooting for 💕)
*A plethora of hilarious one-liners and running jokes to keep things light and amazing
*Great characters
*Fantastic, descriptive, beautiful writing
*Perfect narration that brings the humour to life in the best way
*A beautiful ending worthy of the highly-coveted Chef’s Kiss (I had to listen to it twice!)
*Loads of delicious, crunchy peanut butter 🤭
This one is hard to review. It’s a lot of things with a lot of depth, and I loved every moment of it. There’s a message here about queerness and government/healthcare – about the roles and experiences imposed on us – and it’s told in an interesting and powerful way. I’ll admit, I’m not one to usually lean into the deeper meaning in books (I’m just here for a good time and a fun story) but this one was impossible to ignore.
The story itself was a wild, fun, funny, and endearing ride. I��ll be honest, this never felt like a horror to me. If I were to categorize it, I’d call it a very queer comedy about self-discovery and romance set against an action-filled body horror backdrop. I think the blurb will scare off a lot of people who would otherwise have enjoyed this book – in fact, it scared me off the first time I read it, but I’m so glad a friend recommended it to me because this is one I wouldn’t want to miss. The best way to experience this story is through audio; the narrator does an amazing job capturing Yaya’s sarcasm and wit which keeps the story light and fun in a way it wouldn’t have been while reading (imo).
The depth of both Yaya and Doc (and even Magenta) was really enthralling. Each of the characters really drew you to them in different ways and gave you a good look at who they were and why, at the forces that shaped them, and the things that haunted them. The romance that develops was strange and a bit disturbing at times, but also endearing and sweet and weirdly beautiful. I don’t want to say too much and spoil anything, but it was just kind of magical.
What I’m left with after reading this book? A new appreciation (and greater love) for peanut butter, and a gyno appointment next week 😂 I kid, but I am wondering what pronouns to use down there… 🤔
PLEASE JUST LISTEN TO THIS BOOK!!! I absolutely recommend it! My review won’t do it justice, but I’ll try my best. Here is some of what you can expect, should you choose to brave the beautiful, magenta waters of Queen of Teeth:
*A surprisingly heartwarming story
*A sweet, strange, and extremely queer romance 🏳🌈
*Body horror (but where the "monster" is the MC whom you love and are absolutely rooting for 💕)
*A plethora of hilarious one-liners and running jokes to keep things light and amazing
*Great characters
*Fantastic, descriptive, beautiful writing
*Perfect narration that brings the humour to life in the best way
*A beautiful ending worthy of the highly-coveted Chef’s Kiss (I had to listen to it twice!)
*Loads of delicious, crunchy peanut butter 🤭
This one is hard to review. It’s a lot of things with a lot of depth, and I loved every moment of it. There’s a message here about queerness and government/healthcare – about the roles and experiences imposed on us – and it’s told in an interesting and powerful way. I’ll admit, I’m not one to usually lean into the deeper meaning in books (I’m just here for a good time and a fun story) but this one was impossible to ignore.
The story itself was a wild, fun, funny, and endearing ride. I��ll be honest, this never felt like a horror to me. If I were to categorize it, I’d call it a very queer comedy about self-discovery and romance set against an action-filled body horror backdrop. I think the blurb will scare off a lot of people who would otherwise have enjoyed this book – in fact, it scared me off the first time I read it, but I’m so glad a friend recommended it to me because this is one I wouldn’t want to miss. The best way to experience this story is through audio; the narrator does an amazing job capturing Yaya’s sarcasm and wit which keeps the story light and fun in a way it wouldn’t have been while reading (imo).
The depth of both Yaya and Doc (and even Magenta) was really enthralling. Each of the characters really drew you to them in different ways and gave you a good look at who they were and why, at the forces that shaped them, and the things that haunted them. The romance that develops was strange and a bit disturbing at times, but also endearing and sweet and weirdly beautiful. I don’t want to say too much and spoil anything, but it was just kind of magical.
What I’m left with after reading this book? A new appreciation (and greater love) for peanut butter, and a gyno appointment next week 😂 I kid, but I am wondering what pronouns to use down there… 🤔
June 29, 2021
*More thoughts when my brain works, but I loved this book, and it's everything I never knew I needed. You need it, too.*
Okay, my brain is ready now.
I love all of Hailey’s work, but there is something incredibly special about QUEEN OF TEETH that makes it not only one of my favorite works by Hailey, but one of my favorite works of horror, period. Where do I begin to unpack the many layers of QUEEN OF TEETH? One bite at a time!
“Love came naturally to her, but she could be inspired to the art of hatred. She had only needed a muse.”
Protagonists Yaya and Doc are both caught in an endless storm created by overlords AlphaBeta Pharmaceutical (ABP), and while it seems their respective positions would place them on opposite ends of the fight the storm creates, it’s those moments where they meet in the middle where we become enchanted with them both -- their flaws are on display for us as readers, and that’s one of the many reasons I loved them so dearly. Human beings are incredibly complex, messy creatures. Piper does not hesitate to show us the turmoil these women go through, and it blends seamlessly into creating strong, vivid characters that you’ll remember for a long time.
Reading this book, you can also just tell how much fun Piper has with the descriptions (teeth and tentacles? Yes please!). I think that genuine love for writing, for creating something uniquely hers, is just another trademark Hailey Piper trait that contributes to making her work so damn good and enjoyable to read.
There’s also so much to discuss here in terms of controlling our own bodies, how queerness is still “othered” by normative society, and how understanding our own identity is sometimes a lifelong process. We’re constantly changing, learning to adapt in a rabid society, and fighting against those who would rather see less of what makes our world so beautifully diverse. Adaptation doesn’t always hand us the kind of metamorphosis we may initially want, but as Magenta shows us, evolution will continue to create something stronger, smarter, and more beautiful than we can ever imagine.
There is something for everyone in this novel, but its resonation with the struggles of queer and marginalized people (the cairn metaphor used throughout is brilliant), and the fight to overcome both depression and suppression, all of those internal and external factors, is really going to make the novel even more special in the place of those particular hearts. I know it did for mine.
I could go on, but really, you just need to read it. Don't miss out on this one!
Okay, my brain is ready now.
I love all of Hailey’s work, but there is something incredibly special about QUEEN OF TEETH that makes it not only one of my favorite works by Hailey, but one of my favorite works of horror, period. Where do I begin to unpack the many layers of QUEEN OF TEETH? One bite at a time!
“Love came naturally to her, but she could be inspired to the art of hatred. She had only needed a muse.”
Protagonists Yaya and Doc are both caught in an endless storm created by overlords AlphaBeta Pharmaceutical (ABP), and while it seems their respective positions would place them on opposite ends of the fight the storm creates, it’s those moments where they meet in the middle where we become enchanted with them both -- their flaws are on display for us as readers, and that’s one of the many reasons I loved them so dearly. Human beings are incredibly complex, messy creatures. Piper does not hesitate to show us the turmoil these women go through, and it blends seamlessly into creating strong, vivid characters that you’ll remember for a long time.
Reading this book, you can also just tell how much fun Piper has with the descriptions (teeth and tentacles? Yes please!). I think that genuine love for writing, for creating something uniquely hers, is just another trademark Hailey Piper trait that contributes to making her work so damn good and enjoyable to read.
There’s also so much to discuss here in terms of controlling our own bodies, how queerness is still “othered” by normative society, and how understanding our own identity is sometimes a lifelong process. We’re constantly changing, learning to adapt in a rabid society, and fighting against those who would rather see less of what makes our world so beautifully diverse. Adaptation doesn’t always hand us the kind of metamorphosis we may initially want, but as Magenta shows us, evolution will continue to create something stronger, smarter, and more beautiful than we can ever imagine.
There is something for everyone in this novel, but its resonation with the struggles of queer and marginalized people (the cairn metaphor used throughout is brilliant), and the fight to overcome both depression and suppression, all of those internal and external factors, is really going to make the novel even more special in the place of those particular hearts. I know it did for mine.
I could go on, but really, you just need to read it. Don't miss out on this one!
December 2, 2021
An amazing read! What starts as a simple case of "vagina dentata" develops into inconceivable dimensions, leading to the ruin of a city and more.
But Queen of Teeth is not only about a striking premise and action galore; Hailey Piper also created a very interesting universe in which she criticizes an evil health system, rotten in many ways, a universe with very fleshed out characters with depth, partly touching human and non-human interactions and in which David Fincher retires after Fight Club 2 is a flop at the box office.
Humor, captivation, pink tentacles - it's all you ever wanted to read.
But Queen of Teeth is not only about a striking premise and action galore; Hailey Piper also created a very interesting universe in which she criticizes an evil health system, rotten in many ways, a universe with very fleshed out characters with depth, partly touching human and non-human interactions and in which David Fincher retires after Fight Club 2 is a flop at the box office.
Humor, captivation, pink tentacles - it's all you ever wanted to read.
October 12, 2021
Prepare yourselves for extreme cheerleading.
Full review published in Rue Morgue #201 (July/August 2021) (excerpts below):
In 2008, the movie Teeth unleashed a new vagina dentata story on the horror film community. Thirteen years later, Hailey Piper’s novel, Queen of Teeth, does the same for the book world. Sure to disgust and delight a variety of readers, Piper balances humor, revulsion, science, and even romance to create what is likely one of the best horror books of 2021.
This novel could have been a quick, brutal body horror story; entertaining, yet lacking dimension. Piper, however, makes Yaya a relatable character and the reader is drawn into her life as they watch her navigate relationships, learn about her new appendages, and take on an evil corporation. There may be teeth and gore, but there is also depth crafted with fantastic imagination.
Here readers will find discourse surrounding bodily autonomy, freedom of expression and love, as well as oppression of an uncaring government. Because it is embedded in the fabric of the story, it is never heavy handed or preachy. As Yaya’s body changes, so does the way she is treated by society at large.
Queen of Teeth promises teeth and tentacles, yet delivers so much more. The complexity of the world Piper crafts is believable and expertly done. Fans of Piper will adore this book and new readers will be quick to pick up her previous titles after this delightful initiation.
Full review published in Rue Morgue #201 (July/August 2021) (excerpts below):
In 2008, the movie Teeth unleashed a new vagina dentata story on the horror film community. Thirteen years later, Hailey Piper’s novel, Queen of Teeth, does the same for the book world. Sure to disgust and delight a variety of readers, Piper balances humor, revulsion, science, and even romance to create what is likely one of the best horror books of 2021.
This novel could have been a quick, brutal body horror story; entertaining, yet lacking dimension. Piper, however, makes Yaya a relatable character and the reader is drawn into her life as they watch her navigate relationships, learn about her new appendages, and take on an evil corporation. There may be teeth and gore, but there is also depth crafted with fantastic imagination.
Here readers will find discourse surrounding bodily autonomy, freedom of expression and love, as well as oppression of an uncaring government. Because it is embedded in the fabric of the story, it is never heavy handed or preachy. As Yaya’s body changes, so does the way she is treated by society at large.
Queen of Teeth promises teeth and tentacles, yet delivers so much more. The complexity of the world Piper crafts is believable and expertly done. Fans of Piper will adore this book and new readers will be quick to pick up her previous titles after this delightful initiation.
April 5, 2023
Read the next words very carefully, I will not write these a lot, maybe ever again after this!
LISTEN TO THIS AUDIOBOOK!
Whatever you do, do not, I repeat, DO NOT read the blurb. Just go on and listen to the audio.
Jenn Lee brings this book to life like you never knew you needed. This book, partly thanks the narration (I think), is funny, little gory, and so different.
Yaya is a perfect example of the best type of sarcastic character and Jenn Lee knows how to voice that.
The sarcasm all throughout this book is *chef’s kiss* 🤌🏼
The “monster”, perfection.
Who would have thought I’d like a book with vagina dentata, tentacles and so many other things? Not me, but it’s great.
QLLC makes me read the weirdest book and I love it!
Also, peanut butter will never be the same again
LISTEN TO THIS AUDIOBOOK!
Whatever you do, do not, I repeat, DO NOT read the blurb. Just go on and listen to the audio.
Jenn Lee brings this book to life like you never knew you needed. This book, partly thanks the narration (I think), is funny, little gory, and so different.
Yaya is a perfect example of the best type of sarcastic character and Jenn Lee knows how to voice that.
The sarcasm all throughout this book is *chef’s kiss* 🤌🏼
The “monster”, perfection.
Who would have thought I’d like a book with vagina dentata, tentacles and so many other things? Not me, but it’s great.
QLLC makes me read the weirdest book and I love it!
Also, peanut butter will never be the same again
June 24, 2023
Entertaining audiobook which I did as a buddy read with the Sapphic Porn Squad. Thanks for the rec. Especially the narrator was great.
I’ll never look at Peanutbutter the same way 🤣
And I’m on to our new buddy read.
I’ll never look at Peanutbutter the same way 🤣
And I’m on to our new buddy read.
February 17, 2023
Thanks to inciminci for recommending this book to me. I've read Piper's works before, and she's an impressive horror writer. Queen of Teeth helps to cement that reputation - it's scifi lesbian body horror in a world controlled almost entirely by Alphabeta Pharmaceuticals, including down to your individual DNA. In this world is Yaya Betancourt, a slightly depressed service worker, who one day discovers that she's growing a second set of teeth in her own yaya.
What happens next is completely engrossing, horrific, and in a very strange way, almost relatable to the female experience. I loved the ending of the book, which reminded me of old creature features where giant monsters attack large buildings and lasers try to zap it into submission.
What happens next is completely engrossing, horrific, and in a very strange way, almost relatable to the female experience. I loved the ending of the book, which reminded me of old creature features where giant monsters attack large buildings and lasers try to zap it into submission.
September 28, 2021
STAR review in the October 2021 issue of Library Journal: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?revie...
My favorite debut novel of the year hands down!
Three Words That Describe This Book: body horror, thought provoking, immersive
Opening provocatively, with Yaya finding teeth in her vagina, Piper takes what could be a gimmick and crafts a brilliant, alternative history, dystopia. Yaya is one of many in her generation born a mutant chimera because of a virus, property of AlphaBeta Pharmaceuticals [ABP], requiring her to submit to monthly “check ups” from the company. Doc is one of their scientists who has been privy to the worst of ABP experiments. As Yaya and Doc fall in love, Piper effortlessly builds a fascinating world, only slightly askew from our own, while heightning the horror as the teeth inside of Yaya begin to grow into an independent, sentient being both inside Yaya and separate from her, a monster that, while well meaning within its world view, has Godzilla-esque aspiration. Visceral, scary, and sensual, tackling issues of gender identity and marginalization head on, this fast paced, Body Horror, creature feature also follows Romance genre rules, resulting in a thought provoking tale that is both utterly terrifying and adorably sweet, even if the end of the world may be imminent.
Verdict: A fun page turner on its surface, but the second readers pause, the real-world issues at play will tightly wrap their tentacles around all. Readers who like old school science fiction dystopias a la Dick, mixed with a healthy dose of cosmic awe like in Kiernan’s Tinfoil Dossier series, with a few dashes of Kaiju mayhem will be in Horror heaven with this mesmerizing, original and breathtaking debut.
My favorite debut novel of the year hands down!
Three Words That Describe This Book: body horror, thought provoking, immersive
Opening provocatively, with Yaya finding teeth in her vagina, Piper takes what could be a gimmick and crafts a brilliant, alternative history, dystopia. Yaya is one of many in her generation born a mutant chimera because of a virus, property of AlphaBeta Pharmaceuticals [ABP], requiring her to submit to monthly “check ups” from the company. Doc is one of their scientists who has been privy to the worst of ABP experiments. As Yaya and Doc fall in love, Piper effortlessly builds a fascinating world, only slightly askew from our own, while heightning the horror as the teeth inside of Yaya begin to grow into an independent, sentient being both inside Yaya and separate from her, a monster that, while well meaning within its world view, has Godzilla-esque aspiration. Visceral, scary, and sensual, tackling issues of gender identity and marginalization head on, this fast paced, Body Horror, creature feature also follows Romance genre rules, resulting in a thought provoking tale that is both utterly terrifying and adorably sweet, even if the end of the world may be imminent.
Verdict: A fun page turner on its surface, but the second readers pause, the real-world issues at play will tightly wrap their tentacles around all. Readers who like old school science fiction dystopias a la Dick, mixed with a healthy dose of cosmic awe like in Kiernan’s Tinfoil Dossier series, with a few dashes of Kaiju mayhem will be in Horror heaven with this mesmerizing, original and breathtaking debut.
August 28, 2021
4.0 Stars
Hailey Piper managed to tie together a romance, vagina tentacles, and a corporate conspiracy all into one story.
I loved the story of Yaya, Doc and Magenta. Can I just say the body horror in this is exquisite?
Hailey Piper managed to tie together a romance, vagina tentacles, and a corporate conspiracy all into one story.
I loved the story of Yaya, Doc and Magenta. Can I just say the body horror in this is exquisite?
Want to read
June 19, 2022I love Hailey's writing, so I have no doubt that this will be perfect for me at another time, but for some reason I'm having a really hard time clicking with it right now! It feels like a "me" issue and not the book's fault, so I'm setting it aside to give it the love it deserves later!
January 16, 2022
Gory and weird, with a solid emotional throughline, and all taking place in what felt a fully-realized sci-fi dystopia. Nice.
August 17, 2021
No one is writing horror like Hailey Piper! Queen of Teeth is another example of Piper’s unique and layered storytelling. We follow Yaya, someone who was affected by a virus and is closely watched throughout her life by a big pharmaceutical company. One morning she wakes to find a little something different about herself. This discovery turns into a manhunt, turns into a…well how do you even explain the tentacles! Theres a sensuality to the horror that I absolutely love. There is also commentary here on body autonomy, but also feelings of not being comfortable in your own body and how that can affect you. And let’s not forget the power that big pharma can have over our lives, (and the, oftentimes, lack of responsibility they take for the destruction of people’s lives.) I thought this was such a wonderfully weird and heartfelt story. I am continuously blown away by Piper’s writing!
December 27, 2021
YES YES YES! Only Hailey Piper can combine vagina tentacles/dentata and ALL the body horror and still have it feeling a little romantic. There are scenes written to disgust you and elate you. There are scenes to make you really think about things. There's some sharp wit and humor dabbled in. There's social commentary, world-building, and an all around incredible pacing that will have you feverishly flipping through all the pages. All of these things are a sure way to make you fall in love with Piper's debut novel. I have been a fan of Piper's novellas and short stories for a while now, and I am so happy she is out here on the novel scene as well. I suspect she has found a lot of new readers with this one, too! I hope we are continually surprised and left speechless with more of her work in the future.
December 11, 2023
ACAPB
(All cops are peanut butter)
(All cops are peanut butter)
Read
October 2, 2021A Joyfully Jay review.
Story: 3⭐️
Since the age of 13, Yolanda “Yaya” Betancourt has known she is not sole owner of her body. Infected by a virus that not only changed her genetic makeup, but gave the virus’ creator co-ownership of her body, she’s been trained to quietly submit to any procedures, scrutiny, and indignity AlphaBeta Pharmaceuticals demands. Now at 31, Yaya has never asked questions about her body or the injections they give her during her monthly check-ins…until she tries to insert a tampon and is blocked by teeth.
When Yaya accidentally misses her monthly appointment and APB agents show up at her apartment “to inspect the continual viability of [their] registered intellectual property,” the discovery of teeth becomes the least of their concerns. With each hour bringing new changes to Yaya’s body (including another consciousness that commands Yaya’s ever-growing vaginal appendages), Yaya expects to lose any control of her body to either the APB or her vagina monster, Magenta. She doesn’t expect to find aid and compassion from the one-night stand she ghosted, Docia “Doc” Hall; she also doesn’t expect Magenta to give her the first taste of true freedom she has ever known. Unfortunately, to the ABP, Yaya is nothing more than a walking test-tube that has proven itself unique among the thousands of other IP they own. Destroying her to collect their samples is not a problem; they’ve done it before and only need a few pieces, after all. Used to surrender, new to fighting back, and up against a corporate monster, Yaya is uncertain she’s strong enough to survive…Magenta is certain she’s too stubborn to die.
I was introduced to the concept of vagina teeth (vagina dentata) when I read several books about creation myths and folklore; in high school, I was delighted to discover the biological reality behind epidermal tissues winding up in vajay-jays. I gleefully watched the movie “Teeth” (marveling at the convoluted discourse proclaiming the movie a gimmick that used men’s fear of castration to…watch dudes be castrated??), and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t watch “Moana” in the hopes of spotting some obsidian teeth-shaped easter eggs. So when I ran across a gloriously pink and purple hued cover with eye-catching imagery called "Queen of Teeth", of course I had to check out the blurb.
"Queen" takes place in an alternate 2020 where, 32 years ago, APB released the INZ9-00 virus, which seems to only infect/affect females and those with higher levels of female “sex” hormones and causes various issues—one of which being a kind of “super-fertility” that increases the frequency of multi-zygote pregnancies. However, instead of birthing multiple babies, one zygote absorbs the other(s), creating one offspring with multiple genetic lines known as a chimera. Despite being the cause of such a catastrophic viral outbreak, APB faced no consequences and successfully argued that since the genetic differences caused by their virus created these genetically unique females, APB should own half their genetic material. Ostensibly, APB monitors the chimeras because, after puberty, they become vulnerable to a condition in which their disparate genetic materials basically go to war, leading to various growths or worse — “bodies splitting at the seams or stuffed with tumors.” In reality, APB treats these people as bodies they can do whatever they want with—and boy do they.
Additionally, in this timeline Nancy Reagan won the 1988 US presidential election and the government and corporations embraced Russia’s militarization-heavy form of civil service, indoctrinating citizens so they view corporate/police tanks, weapons, and their masked, anonymous agents as normal. Dual sovereignty seems to be held between individual states and corporations, rather than with the federal government. This area of the world building and the timeline is a bit shaky, as it mentions a few states’ inability to secede from the “union,” but later discusses them as if they are separate nations (some even having theocracies). Additionally, an oft-mentioned tragedy known as the Kentucky Incident is said to have occurred nine years before the events of the story in 1999, but this places the timeline in 2008 instead of 2020.
As an addition to the pantheon of vagina dentata-inspired tales found around the globe (some having reached urban legend status as recently as the Viet Nam War), "Queen of Teeth" has plenty to offer. As sci-fi/horror, it works pretty well overall. However, the horror is the best element, being very visceral body horror in the way of a Cronenberg film, particularly “Possessor,” as Yaya not only has to deal with dental, tentacular, and horned structures growing from/changing her body, but sharing her body with another consciousness. The genetic science of Hailey Piper’s premise isn’t so far advanced that it requires a dissertation’s worth of scientific backstory, nor so egregiously superficial and/or far-fetched it’ll make science-minded folk immediately bin it and write dissertation length letters to the author. It’s accurate enough (despite some loose terminology use) and straightforward enough to allow a reader to buy in relatively easily and stay with it.
Where the story doesn’t work well for me is how it incorporates its social commentary and Yaya as the nominal MC. Thematically, "Queen" is screaming FREEDOM so loudly even William Wallace à la “Braveheart” would ask it to take it down a notch. Personally, I like my commentary a bit subtler. While I may be attracted to bold, shouty colors in a cover, I don’t want to be shouted at, bludgeoned over the head, and steamrolled by a story’s message. Even when I tried to view "Queen" as more exaggerated/satirical (especially when the tank-penis, aka The Predator, popped up), there is just too much earnest truth to do so. Almost every imaginable abuse against female bodily autonomy is accounted for. Women dehumanized and treated as disposable property; uninformed, smugly self-satisfied white men making decisions for the well-being of such child-like entities; the entitlement and discourtesy of unwanted touch. Piper even gives you the man’s man who has no problem with violence and gore, but is squeamish about vaginas and can’t manage to say “menstruate” because, gross. To be fair, horror is the perfect vehicle for this kind of no-holds barred style; I can appreciate what Piper is doing and imagine lots of readers loving it.
Part of the reason, this louder style of commentary doesn’t work for me in "Queen" is that it compounded and/or helped create my disconnect from Yaya as an MC. This is her story, her evolution, but her love interest, Doc, has the more compelling story arc. To me, Yaya is more or less a vehicle for the message (just like she is a vehicle for Magenta) and doesn’t get much character development. She begins the story as someone who has given up on life; APB owns her so there’s no point building something meaningful when they can collect her for dissection on a whim. To avoid attachment, she only has one-night stands and, until Magenta shows up, feels like the only power she can exercise is wrecking herself, mainly via heavy drinking, a junk food diet, and partying. When she recognizes her choices are from apathy and depression, it’s because of Magenta literally changing her body, acting almost like an anti-depressant. Unfortunately, clearer Yaya doesn’t get much page time, just like her personality traits don’t. She and the text lets you know she’s a smart-ass, but her few line deliveries don’t really sell it. She never comes into her own; she’s swept away by Magenta and the story. Yaya is a torch-bearer for all females, which by necessity reduces her to archetype rather than actualized character.
Doc, on the other hand is fairly complex and has an arc rather than acting as one. After their one-night stand, she feels a genuine connection for Yaya. When they meet again, it’s under stressful circumstances that see them at odds, and Doc remains at odds with herself throughout the story. She is a firm believer in responsibility and doing her job; she chose her profession because she thought she could make a difference. In contrast, part of her steely dedication to professional responsibility is rooted in her more morally dubious desire to be free of choice. She can’t be at fault if she has “no choice” because a responsible professional follows orders. She’s hard and pragmatic, but is the one to show Magenta compassion and acceptance when Yaya could only think of Magenta as an interloping vagina monster. Doc believes in second chances and wants to find redemption from something she sees as her biggest failure, but can turn her back on the same redemption she says she’s been looking for. Doc is the emotional core of the story and for me makes Yaya’s character feel even flatter.
Even with the extra material in the text for Doc, I had to dig deep to connect with the character. Piper’s writing is similar in style to other works where I had trouble engaging with the characters. To be clear, it isn’t a style I dislike—it’s sparse, crisp, gets the point across, and can still be poetic; however, sometimes the narrative needs a bit more connective tissue to add depth or movement to a character and/or event. Without it, there’s too much “empty space,” a broad sketch but not enough for individuation. This too is a personal problem and a YMMV situation, and "Queen of Teeth" is enjoyable and has an interesting take on freedom, forgiveness, autonomy, and connection. I cautiously recommend it for those who don’t mind body horror and/or social commentary blaring at you in all its vulval, magenta glory.
Story: 3⭐️
Since the age of 13, Yolanda “Yaya” Betancourt has known she is not sole owner of her body. Infected by a virus that not only changed her genetic makeup, but gave the virus’ creator co-ownership of her body, she’s been trained to quietly submit to any procedures, scrutiny, and indignity AlphaBeta Pharmaceuticals demands. Now at 31, Yaya has never asked questions about her body or the injections they give her during her monthly check-ins…until she tries to insert a tampon and is blocked by teeth.
When Yaya accidentally misses her monthly appointment and APB agents show up at her apartment “to inspect the continual viability of [their] registered intellectual property,” the discovery of teeth becomes the least of their concerns. With each hour bringing new changes to Yaya’s body (including another consciousness that commands Yaya’s ever-growing vaginal appendages), Yaya expects to lose any control of her body to either the APB or her vagina monster, Magenta. She doesn’t expect to find aid and compassion from the one-night stand she ghosted, Docia “Doc” Hall; she also doesn’t expect Magenta to give her the first taste of true freedom she has ever known. Unfortunately, to the ABP, Yaya is nothing more than a walking test-tube that has proven itself unique among the thousands of other IP they own. Destroying her to collect their samples is not a problem; they’ve done it before and only need a few pieces, after all. Used to surrender, new to fighting back, and up against a corporate monster, Yaya is uncertain she’s strong enough to survive…Magenta is certain she’s too stubborn to die.
I was introduced to the concept of vagina teeth (vagina dentata) when I read several books about creation myths and folklore; in high school, I was delighted to discover the biological reality behind epidermal tissues winding up in vajay-jays. I gleefully watched the movie “Teeth” (marveling at the convoluted discourse proclaiming the movie a gimmick that used men’s fear of castration to…watch dudes be castrated??), and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t watch “Moana” in the hopes of spotting some obsidian teeth-shaped easter eggs. So when I ran across a gloriously pink and purple hued cover with eye-catching imagery called "Queen of Teeth", of course I had to check out the blurb.
"Queen" takes place in an alternate 2020 where, 32 years ago, APB released the INZ9-00 virus, which seems to only infect/affect females and those with higher levels of female “sex” hormones and causes various issues—one of which being a kind of “super-fertility” that increases the frequency of multi-zygote pregnancies. However, instead of birthing multiple babies, one zygote absorbs the other(s), creating one offspring with multiple genetic lines known as a chimera. Despite being the cause of such a catastrophic viral outbreak, APB faced no consequences and successfully argued that since the genetic differences caused by their virus created these genetically unique females, APB should own half their genetic material. Ostensibly, APB monitors the chimeras because, after puberty, they become vulnerable to a condition in which their disparate genetic materials basically go to war, leading to various growths or worse — “bodies splitting at the seams or stuffed with tumors.” In reality, APB treats these people as bodies they can do whatever they want with—and boy do they.
Additionally, in this timeline Nancy Reagan won the 1988 US presidential election and the government and corporations embraced Russia’s militarization-heavy form of civil service, indoctrinating citizens so they view corporate/police tanks, weapons, and their masked, anonymous agents as normal. Dual sovereignty seems to be held between individual states and corporations, rather than with the federal government. This area of the world building and the timeline is a bit shaky, as it mentions a few states’ inability to secede from the “union,” but later discusses them as if they are separate nations (some even having theocracies). Additionally, an oft-mentioned tragedy known as the Kentucky Incident is said to have occurred nine years before the events of the story in 1999, but this places the timeline in 2008 instead of 2020.
As an addition to the pantheon of vagina dentata-inspired tales found around the globe (some having reached urban legend status as recently as the Viet Nam War), "Queen of Teeth" has plenty to offer. As sci-fi/horror, it works pretty well overall. However, the horror is the best element, being very visceral body horror in the way of a Cronenberg film, particularly “Possessor,” as Yaya not only has to deal with dental, tentacular, and horned structures growing from/changing her body, but sharing her body with another consciousness. The genetic science of Hailey Piper’s premise isn’t so far advanced that it requires a dissertation’s worth of scientific backstory, nor so egregiously superficial and/or far-fetched it’ll make science-minded folk immediately bin it and write dissertation length letters to the author. It’s accurate enough (despite some loose terminology use) and straightforward enough to allow a reader to buy in relatively easily and stay with it.
Where the story doesn’t work well for me is how it incorporates its social commentary and Yaya as the nominal MC. Thematically, "Queen" is screaming FREEDOM so loudly even William Wallace à la “Braveheart” would ask it to take it down a notch. Personally, I like my commentary a bit subtler. While I may be attracted to bold, shouty colors in a cover, I don’t want to be shouted at, bludgeoned over the head, and steamrolled by a story’s message. Even when I tried to view "Queen" as more exaggerated/satirical (especially when the tank-penis, aka The Predator, popped up), there is just too much earnest truth to do so. Almost every imaginable abuse against female bodily autonomy is accounted for. Women dehumanized and treated as disposable property; uninformed, smugly self-satisfied white men making decisions for the well-being of such child-like entities; the entitlement and discourtesy of unwanted touch. Piper even gives you the man’s man who has no problem with violence and gore, but is squeamish about vaginas and can’t manage to say “menstruate” because, gross. To be fair, horror is the perfect vehicle for this kind of no-holds barred style; I can appreciate what Piper is doing and imagine lots of readers loving it.
Part of the reason, this louder style of commentary doesn’t work for me in "Queen" is that it compounded and/or helped create my disconnect from Yaya as an MC. This is her story, her evolution, but her love interest, Doc, has the more compelling story arc. To me, Yaya is more or less a vehicle for the message (just like she is a vehicle for Magenta) and doesn’t get much character development. She begins the story as someone who has given up on life; APB owns her so there’s no point building something meaningful when they can collect her for dissection on a whim. To avoid attachment, she only has one-night stands and, until Magenta shows up, feels like the only power she can exercise is wrecking herself, mainly via heavy drinking, a junk food diet, and partying. When she recognizes her choices are from apathy and depression, it’s because of Magenta literally changing her body, acting almost like an anti-depressant. Unfortunately, clearer Yaya doesn’t get much page time, just like her personality traits don’t. She and the text lets you know she’s a smart-ass, but her few line deliveries don’t really sell it. She never comes into her own; she’s swept away by Magenta and the story. Yaya is a torch-bearer for all females, which by necessity reduces her to archetype rather than actualized character.
Doc, on the other hand is fairly complex and has an arc rather than acting as one. After their one-night stand, she feels a genuine connection for Yaya. When they meet again, it’s under stressful circumstances that see them at odds, and Doc remains at odds with herself throughout the story. She is a firm believer in responsibility and doing her job; she chose her profession because she thought she could make a difference. In contrast, part of her steely dedication to professional responsibility is rooted in her more morally dubious desire to be free of choice. She can’t be at fault if she has “no choice” because a responsible professional follows orders. She’s hard and pragmatic, but is the one to show Magenta compassion and acceptance when Yaya could only think of Magenta as an interloping vagina monster. Doc believes in second chances and wants to find redemption from something she sees as her biggest failure, but can turn her back on the same redemption she says she’s been looking for. Doc is the emotional core of the story and for me makes Yaya’s character feel even flatter.
Even with the extra material in the text for Doc, I had to dig deep to connect with the character. Piper’s writing is similar in style to other works where I had trouble engaging with the characters. To be clear, it isn’t a style I dislike—it’s sparse, crisp, gets the point across, and can still be poetic; however, sometimes the narrative needs a bit more connective tissue to add depth or movement to a character and/or event. Without it, there’s too much “empty space,” a broad sketch but not enough for individuation. This too is a personal problem and a YMMV situation, and "Queen of Teeth" is enjoyable and has an interesting take on freedom, forgiveness, autonomy, and connection. I cautiously recommend it for those who don’t mind body horror and/or social commentary blaring at you in all its vulval, magenta glory.
September 19, 2021
I'm a sucker for romance. I especially love it mixed with horror, and not mainstream, because real relationships are complicated, right? And it doesn't get more complicated than the love triangle in QUEEN OF TEETH. Piper lends her distinctive, empathetic voice to compelling characters with depth. The horror of having your body belong to someone else, of only manifesting protection through horrific changes. There's some incredible lines in here, "No one listens to an empty peanut butter jar" was my favorite, but there are others that deeply affected me on an emotional level. Piper writes about depression, and the heavy way it confines us. Identify, and powerlessness, and community, and love, and taking that power back. Plenty of horror, plenty of darkness, and enough teeth to last you. Another flat out win.
December 6, 2021
Hailey Piper's novella, "The Worm and His Kings" was one of my favorites of 2020, so I came in with high hopes for this book. Thankfully I can say that "Queen of Teeth" lived up to and if not exceeded all of my already high expectations.
Anyone who loves weird fiction, body horror and LGBT characters in horror should pick this book up immediately.
Anyone who loves weird fiction, body horror and LGBT characters in horror should pick this book up immediately.
January 3, 2022
Couldn’t have picked a better first read of the year! Science fiction, horror, tentacles, and romance, all wrapped up in some amazing prose from Hailey Piper, who is writing some of the best horror around. Always different, and always brilliant.
Every other book I pick up this year is going to have a tough time knocking this one from the top spot.
April 7, 2023
I don’t even know what to say… besides PEEEEAAANUUUT BUUUTTEEERRRR and that I cried like a baby in the last 5/4 minutes… So yeah, this was a very weird, but also, in a way, interesting, read…
October 8, 2021
Weird fiction at its finest.
I had a lot of fun with this one. I'm a fan of Science Fiction so the blend of my two favorite genres is always a good thing. This Horror Story has some genetic modifications and a lot of vagina tentacles. Might be a good spooky season read for the science fiction fan looking for a horror Story.
I had a lot of fun with this one. I'm a fan of Science Fiction so the blend of my two favorite genres is always a good thing. This Horror Story has some genetic modifications and a lot of vagina tentacles. Might be a good spooky season read for the science fiction fan looking for a horror Story.
September 23, 2025
Man, I wasn't for sure how this was going to go. Really worried it was going to bomb, but it was THE bomb. I listened to this one and the narrator was just fabulous. I don't know if I will ever look at peanut butter the same way. 4.5 stars
Read
September 13, 2025Dnf 26% this is grossing me the F out. And not because of gore. It’s just gross as shit.
July 6, 2024
3.5 stars
What in the fever dream vagina monster did I just read?
Worth it.
What in the fever dream vagina monster did I just read?
Worth it.
October 4, 2023
5/5✨
https://pesadillasrecurrentesbooks.bl...
🐙”Nunca debería haber venido porque en el fondo, nunca podrá marcharse, ni siquiera cuando el endriago se lo permita.”
🧙♂️Hay algo que no termina de funcionar en mi interior. Noto movimientos extraños. Las sensaciones que percibo hacen que en ningún momento sienta comodidad. Mi refugio interior ya no es seguro. Ha sido invadido y me da mucho miedo que lo que se está gestando en mi salga al exterior. Creo que nadie lo va a comprender. A nadie le va a gustar. Me aterroriza mi reacción...
🕯️”La reina dentada" es el segundo título del que podemos disfrutar traducido de Hailey Piper (tras la excelente, "El gusano y sus reyes", ya reseñada en el blog). Ganadora en 2021 del Bram Stoker en la categoría Superior Achievement in a First Novel, no fue su primera obra publicada pero sí su primera escrita y presenta las virtudes y defectos de un debut literario.
Bajo la premisa de una mujer, Yaya Betancourt, que de pronto se da cuenta de que le han crecido dientes en un sitio erróneo, Hailey Piper construye una novela espectacular muy entretenida y dinámica. Según ella y por influencia de Sara Tantlinger ("Ser devorados", cuya reseña también tenéis disponible) estamos ante una novela de horromance; seguramente no se escriba así, pero suena guay.
Presentada en tres actos, muy diferentes entre sí, estamos ante una narración de ritmo frenético en el que la autora transita entre la distopía, la ciencia ficción pulp y la influencia de Lovecraft; todo ello tamizado por su particular visión del queer horror, una visión muy bizarra y alocada donde saca a relucir las reivindicaciones del colectivo sin medias tintas y de cara. Si a todo esto le añadimos unos giros que llevarán la historia a terrenos donde no te imaginas... ¿qué quereis que os diga?
Una de las cosas que me ha gustado es como la autora transita entre la literatura oscura y las luces de neón con colores fluorescentes (a lo mejor destripo algo, pero las referencias a "Species" son más que evidentes). Las segundas lecturas de la novela son muy interesantes dejándote en más de una ocasión con ganas de parar la lectura para reflexionar sobre algunas de las premisas que Hailey nos plantea.
A destacar el nivel de la traducción. Un punto en el que la editorial parece estar mejorando a pasos agigantados. En este caso la presentación un poco más austera (nos tenían mal acostumbrados en este aspecto) de lo habitual pero sí que quiero destacar la portada de Raúl Ruiz muy acorde con las sensaciones que transmite el libro.
En definitiva. Una excelente novela que no hace más que confirmar que estamos ante una de las grandes voces del terror actual. Queda mucho material por llegar a nuestro idioma pero casi todo me parece tan excitante y lo recibiré con el mismo entusiasmo que los que nos ha llegado hasta ahora.
Un gran acierto de esta editorial publicando a esta autora sobre la que ya sabemos que vamos a acierto seguro y que os adelanto volverá a aparecer por este blog en breve.
¿Qué os parece?¿Lo habéis leído?
https://pesadillasrecurrentesbooks.bl...
🐙”Nunca debería haber venido porque en el fondo, nunca podrá marcharse, ni siquiera cuando el endriago se lo permita.”
🧙♂️Hay algo que no termina de funcionar en mi interior. Noto movimientos extraños. Las sensaciones que percibo hacen que en ningún momento sienta comodidad. Mi refugio interior ya no es seguro. Ha sido invadido y me da mucho miedo que lo que se está gestando en mi salga al exterior. Creo que nadie lo va a comprender. A nadie le va a gustar. Me aterroriza mi reacción...
🕯️”La reina dentada" es el segundo título del que podemos disfrutar traducido de Hailey Piper (tras la excelente, "El gusano y sus reyes", ya reseñada en el blog). Ganadora en 2021 del Bram Stoker en la categoría Superior Achievement in a First Novel, no fue su primera obra publicada pero sí su primera escrita y presenta las virtudes y defectos de un debut literario.
Bajo la premisa de una mujer, Yaya Betancourt, que de pronto se da cuenta de que le han crecido dientes en un sitio erróneo, Hailey Piper construye una novela espectacular muy entretenida y dinámica. Según ella y por influencia de Sara Tantlinger ("Ser devorados", cuya reseña también tenéis disponible) estamos ante una novela de horromance; seguramente no se escriba así, pero suena guay.
Presentada en tres actos, muy diferentes entre sí, estamos ante una narración de ritmo frenético en el que la autora transita entre la distopía, la ciencia ficción pulp y la influencia de Lovecraft; todo ello tamizado por su particular visión del queer horror, una visión muy bizarra y alocada donde saca a relucir las reivindicaciones del colectivo sin medias tintas y de cara. Si a todo esto le añadimos unos giros que llevarán la historia a terrenos donde no te imaginas... ¿qué quereis que os diga?
Una de las cosas que me ha gustado es como la autora transita entre la literatura oscura y las luces de neón con colores fluorescentes (a lo mejor destripo algo, pero las referencias a "Species" son más que evidentes). Las segundas lecturas de la novela son muy interesantes dejándote en más de una ocasión con ganas de parar la lectura para reflexionar sobre algunas de las premisas que Hailey nos plantea.
A destacar el nivel de la traducción. Un punto en el que la editorial parece estar mejorando a pasos agigantados. En este caso la presentación un poco más austera (nos tenían mal acostumbrados en este aspecto) de lo habitual pero sí que quiero destacar la portada de Raúl Ruiz muy acorde con las sensaciones que transmite el libro.
En definitiva. Una excelente novela que no hace más que confirmar que estamos ante una de las grandes voces del terror actual. Queda mucho material por llegar a nuestro idioma pero casi todo me parece tan excitante y lo recibiré con el mismo entusiasmo que los que nos ha llegado hasta ahora.
Un gran acierto de esta editorial publicando a esta autora sobre la que ya sabemos que vamos a acierto seguro y que os adelanto volverá a aparecer por este blog en breve.
¿Qué os parece?¿Lo habéis leído?
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