Snake-eater by T. Kingfisher

Kingfisher’s Snake-eater drew me in, so much so that I couldn’t resist a second reading. Snake-eater is not as horror driven as some of her other novels, like The twisted ones,  a Locus Award Nominee for Best Horror Novel 2020, although there are elements of horror with the protagonist, Selena, living in an isolated house and being visited by vengeful gods. Selena is a young woman whose husband has constantly put her down, making jokes in front of their friends about her ability to function, even though she manages a shop, and the other workers like her. When she finally gets the opportunity to leave her unhappy marriage, she travels with her dog Copper to an isolated desert town, Quartz Creek, where she hopes to stay with her Aunt Amelia whom she hasn’t seen for many years. But Amelia has died, and with only 27 dollars to her name, Selena is desperate, and when she is told that she could stay in her aunt’s house, she quickly takes up the offer. She becomes friendly with the local priest and her neighbour Grandma Billy, who kindly help her out. But strange things begin to happen and Selena finds herself having disturbing apparitions and a weird birdlike creature seems to be pursuing her.

Kingfisher moves her story from the normal everyday life of a young woman seeking shelter and being helped by neighbours to one of trying to stop a vengeful god destroying her. Selena is beset with anxiety and has little self-confidence; her husband having leeched it away over the years. Readers will gain a deep insight into the sort of ways that that is done and will be wary if they see it happening in their own lives. Meanwhile, Kingfisher shows a community that is willing to help a stranger in need, building up her self esteem and helping her establish herself in her new home. The suspense builds up, with some mind-blowing revelations, as the reader wonders if Selena will have the courage to resist Snake-eater.

The warmth of the Quartz Creek community, welcoming another misfits in need, made Snake-eater one of Kingfisher’s most memorable reads for me. Highly recommended.

Themes: Deserts, Gods, Women, Coercive control, Fantasy.

Pat Pledger