★Wiswell, John. Someone You Can Build a Nest In. DAW. Apr. 2024. 320p. ISBN 9780756418854. $28. FANTASY

DEBUT Shesheshen, an amorphous creature that can create form from leftover sticks, bones, and other ephemera, has been residing in the ruins of a manor. Woken by monster hunters, she is chased off a cliff but rescued by a young woman named Homily, who mistakes her for a human. Shesheshen believes she has found the perfect co-parent for her eggs, which will nest in and devour Homily from the inside. Except Homily’s idea of a relationship is so different than hers, and worse, Homily is searching for the mysterious creature that cursed her family. Now, Shesheshen must figure out how to prove that she never cursed anyone while deciding if she can actually tell Homily the truth about what she is. Wiswell raises the bar on the outcast as protagonist, placing some delightful twists in a story that readers will not figure out until the end. VERDICT Wiswell’s debut is the ultimate monster slayer story, if the monster is just a misunderstood creature searching for love. This romantic fantasy has a great balance of grimness and humor that will appeal to fans of T. Kingfisher’s fantasy titles.