A clever little novel, and not a bad first (I think?) go! I really loved the plot, and the writing style was very accessible. A fun read!

I found the writing style to be very lacking and not engaging. Which was a disappointment because the summary and the cover made this book look like it was going to be very interesting. Disappointed

Wow! A strong story cunningly delivered. Two remarkable women lead a tale older than moonshine and as current as today's news. The fantastical elements build, emerging from the gritty real problems any reader can relate to, so when Hell breaks loose, we care about what is at stake.

I really wanted to like this book. Theres something about Tanzers ideas that always blow me away, but I'm afraid this was very much like her other book 'Will and Temper', I just couldn't really get into it. The idea was great and the writing was good, but I couldn't get into the characters at all. I wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't. I struggled through it and found myself just reading it to finish. I'm sure others will love this book however.

Did not finish at 32%.
I agreed to give an honest opinion in exchange for a free copy of this book from net galley.

Ellie West fishes by day and bootlegs moonshine at night. Her customers all over the small island. One night she finds alchol bowed under odd conditions and out of desperation sells it to a newcomer to the area.
This sets off a chain of demonic activity that could ruin her island home forever.

I really tried to like this book but I just couldn't get into it. I didn't find the characters particularly sympathetic or engaging and I didn't care what happened to them.
It was slow going and I had to force myself to get as far as I did.
The writing style was nice but that was about all I can say.

3.5 stars. Tanzer's "Creatures of Want and Ruin" is a sequel to a previous work, which I haven't read, but I found it immersive and compelling. Set on Long Island during Prohibition, it encircles Ellie, a fisher and booze runner, and Fin, a socialite summering on the island. These two very different women are drawn together when a charismatic preacher comes to town--along with demons, creeping mushrooms, and revival meetings decrying immigrants to the island. Creepy and populated with a host of interesting characters and relationships, "Creatures of Want and Ruin" should appeal to fans of Kelley Armstrong, Mercedes Lackey, Naomi Novik, and historical fantasy that's firmly grounded in everyday life.

Netgalley review.