This isn't my usual type of read but I had such a fun time with it! I loved how brave the FMC is. It's like a darker version of Beauty and the Beast. I was very intrigued by the world and wanted to know more about how these people came to serve this spider-woman. I really enjoyed the mystery element and the spooky environment was a delightful change of pace for a romance reader like me. I'd love to read more from this author!

This is very different than my typical reads, but I enjoyed it more than I expected! It's definitely the most interesting read I've had in a while. I still don't really know how to describe this one: It's creepy, it's gothic, it's so so weird. It's almost more of an experience than a story.

I think the setting was really interesting and I wished the novella were longer (maybe even full-length) so I could understand more about the world it takes place in! The atmosphere is very well-executed as well. The novella is deeply eerie, from the first page to the last, and Pueyo does an excellent job embuing each moment with an ever-increasing mix of anticipation and dread. I also really enjoyed the writing style. It was This is very different than my typical reads, but I enjoyed it more than I expected! It's definitely the most interesting read I've had in a while. I still don't really know how to describe this one: It's creepy, it's gothic, it's so so weird. It's almost more of an experience than a story.

I think the setting was really interesting and I wished the novella were longer (maybe even full-length) so I could understand more about the world it takes place in! The atmosphere is very well-executed as well. The novel is deeply eerie, from the first page to the last, and Pueyo does an excellent job imbuing each moment with an ever-increasing mix of anticipation and dread. I also really enjoyed the writing style. It was reminiscent of classic Gothic lit while still feeling fresh and unique.

This one is not for the faint of heart (or those scared of spiders). The way Pueyo describes Anatema, especially the way she moves, is viscerally unsettling. But if you're into spooky spider shit, this is bound to be up your alley! I support creepy lesbian spider lady rights, and you should too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC. of classic Gothic lit while still feeling fresh and unique.

This one is not for the faint of heart (or those scared of spiders). The way Pueyo describes Anatema, especially the way she moves, is viscerally unsettling. But if you're into spooky spider shit, this is bound to be up your alley! I support creepy lesbian spider lady rights, and you should too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC.

But Not Too Bold was a beautifully eerie and captivating read. The gothic atmosphere was rich and immersive, pulling me into the strange and mysterious world of Capricious House. The blend of romance, horror, and intrigue was perfectly balanced, making this novella feel both darkly enchanting and deeply emotional.

Dália was such an engaging protagonist, and I loved watching her navigate the unsettling yet fascinating relationship with Anathema. The writing was lush and evocative, making every moment feel tangible and haunting in the best way.

I do wish the story had been longer, but I would 100% be willing to read more from this world!

For such a short novella, this book really packs an emotional punch. Steeped in gothic homage, Burt Not Too Bold surprised me with its warmth and heart. This is a story about the power of being seen and known, and how we fear are and are repulsed by it as much as we desire it. I loved the ending, especially. Definitely one for fans of Gothic sapphic fiction.

A delightfully strange semi-gothic sapphic romance novella that probably isn't for everyone. This is the perfect read for someone looking for interesting characters, an unusual romance, and a dash of the monstrous. And isn't afraid of spiders. I would love to read more about this world that Hache Pueyo has created and hope that she writes more. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sapphic? Check. Gothic? Check. Novella? Check. This story was like the best of everything combined into one book. I love a novella, and this one was fantastic! The writing was great, and I really enjoyed the characters. The monster itself definitely could have been even more heightened, and I think it would have been even better for it, but that's really my only major "complaint". This was a really solid story, and it has a cool cover to boot!

I wasn't really sure what I would be getting into when I picked up But Not Too Bold, I still think I'm forever trying to nail down what a gothic setting is in books. But to me, it was captured really well in this and I was absolutely here for it. However, I don't think this one was working for my mood. I definitely want to try this one again at a later time. I know this one was a novella, but would have absolutely loved a bit more to this story.

A really lovely sapphic Gothic novella! The writing was beautiful, and I found myself getting attached the characters really quickly, which isn't typical for me.

Incredibly strange, queer and a little gross. Creepy in such a good way. I do think Hache Pueyo could have gone just a little harder with the creepy and the monster but I really enjoyed this. I'll have to read more from this author, this was genuinely good and captivating.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

But Not Too Bold follows Dália, a young woman stepping into the role of Keeper of the Keys after her predecessor is literally eaten by the Madam of Capricious House. But Dália was raised for this and isn’t afraid to fulfill her role, even if it puts her at risk of being eaten too!

This book is such a cool mix of gothic horror and romance. It gave me Crimson Peak and Dracula vibes with its eerie, sultry atmosphere. The writing is gripping and walks that fine line between horror and romance—which I was surprised was done so delicately. It’s macabre in the best way, giving just the right amount of darkness without making the romance aspects feel disturbing.

I also really loved Dália. There was something so relatable about her journey and seeing the powerful person she grows into. And the mystery? Way more intriguing than I expected! But what surprised me most was how much emotional depth this little book carries. I did not expect to feel such strong emotions for these characters.

The ending was a bit bittersweet as I wish a few details had been fleshed out more and that the book was just a bit longer, but I still enjoyed my time with this story. If you love more gothic romance horror, modern folklore, or stories with a rich, eerie atmosphere, definitely pick this up!

But Not Too Bold is a captivating read that blends gothic romance, mystery, and a touch of the monstrous in all the best ways. At its heart, this novella offers a darkly atmospheric setting, rich with eerie tension and poetic prose that pulls the reader into its world.

The story unfolds with a slow, immersive build, weaving together shadowy secrets and an intriguing sense of foreboding. For readers who enjoy monster-themed narratives, there are elements here that will surely satisfy—though with a more melancholic, beautifully tragic approach rather than outright horror.

At just the right length, the novella keeps its mystery tight and engaging, offering enough twists to keep the pages turning while maintaining a lingering, gothic charm. Fans of dark, atmospheric storytelling will find much to love in this tale. It’s a perfect choice for those who appreciate a blend of romance, the supernatural, and an elegant sense of unease.

Alright so to be honest I'm not even sure what was happening for most of this one. It has the gothic vibe down which was nice. I feel like given that it was a novella it did a great job building up the creepy element, but as usual romance always feels a bit forced in these. The way this book is filled with spiders, not even counting the giant humanoid spider. Anathema apparently has a habit of eating all of her brides and then making little tributes to them. Dália is called into service as the new keepter of these memories after the death of her predecessor. The story has a bit of a mystery element with Dália trying to uncover the thief. Dália is fascinated by Anathema and apparently the only one who doesn't run at the sight of her which seems to spark the romance between the two of them. However, it's not really a huge focus. I don't know a lot of the time I just felt like I had no idea what was happening in this story.

Pleasantly creepy sapphic monster romance novella starring an ancient spider woman? Yes, please! This is a great one-sitting read if you're looking for something gothic and weird and queer (which I always am).

Thank you to the publisher for inviting me to read this title early!

Woooooow I LOVED this so much! I read this in the span of an hour so it's a perfect bite-sized book while still offering quite a lot! It was so different and unique and I liked that it didn't shy away from the monster of it all--I feel like books that are pushed as "monster romances" are often pretty tame in terms of the monster aspect. This isn't a traditional monster romance either, obviously, but I do think TRUE monster lovers will get a kick out of it.

The writing is incredibly lush and descriptive and I found it really easy to visualize our characters and their surroundings. I enjoyed our characters very much and I also really liked the general spider love. They're cool little guys and I liked reading about them being kept as pets and treated with kindness (aside from you know, the fritters) since they're so misunderstood.

Overall super cool read--will definitely be keeping an eye out for the author's future releases!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

A delightfully weird and creepy novella!

Anatema is an actual monster. She's an eldritch creature who is more arachnid than humanoid, and she has zero qualms about killing (and eating) people. I'm not very good at visualising, but the way she is described is so strange and unsettling, I feel I can still get the general vibe of what her presence. The setting is surreal, with the mashed up architectural choices and the inexplicable presence of tarantulas. I'm a big fan of spiders, and I love how the time was taken to describe each of the (many) tarantulas Dalia comes across.

The main plot is that Dália has to find out who is stealing from Anatema, otherwise she gets eaten. Which sounds like pretty high stakes, except that there was no urgency at all? Dália goes through all the typical steps of investigating a mystery, but she doesn't seem to be in a rush to solve it. After assigning Dália with this task, Anatema doesn't seem to care anymore; she doesn't ask for updates on the investigation, and doesn't even mention the thefts anymore.

There is much more focus placed on the developing relationship between Dália and Anatema. Honestly, I would have preferred if the entire mystery plot was cut out completely, because my favourite moments in this book was any time that Dália and Anatema spend together. Their relationship actually reminds me of Beauty and the Beast. Anatema is the Beast, as she forces Dália to be awkwardly wooed, while Dália is Belle, who is accepting of Anatema's monstrousness, and teaches her about interacting with humans.

I have one big gripe, and it has to do with the development of a relationship between Dália and another character. I will try to keep this as vague as possible, because spoilers, but it came out of nowhere, and consequently went nowhere. Maybe I would have liked it if there had been some build up, or if it was explored more, but as it is, it put a dent in my enjoyment of this book as a whole.

Overall, I came for the weird monster-y/spider stuff, and this book delivers on that front completely. <3

Book Review: Bold But Not Too Bold

◇Author: Hache Pueyo
◇Genre: Gothic Fiction
◇Pages: 128
◇You might enjoy this if you like
-Monster romance
-Shape of water
-Gothic settings

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

What an imaginative and intriguing little story.

This is such a fun novella, but I think it could have benefited from being a full fleshed novel. There are many quirky aspects to this world that I would have loved to explore more. Our setting was gothic and colorful, and I was quickly drawn in.

I felt like the story moved a little too fast, and would liked more development and background on our characters. That being said, I enjoyed the story’s quirky and eerie characters.

Thank you Tor and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! But Not Too Bold is out now!

How bold is too bold? Dalia, a servant at the Capricious House, plays the delicate game of balance when it comes to serving her madam Anathema. Be Bold But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo embodies unconventional love, challenging readers to think about the boundaries we place to protect ourselves and the destined loved ones who help us outgrow these boundaries.
Pueyo opens the doors and welcomes us into the Capricious House, “a neo-Gothic palazzo with Germanic inspiration”. The owner of the house is none other than a cobalt blue tarantula! Unique indeed! Anathema rules her home with an iron fist but takes very good care of her servants, ensuring they have food and lodging at the Capricious House. She loves her beautiful women, so much so that she has a new bride more often than DiCaprio’s girlfriend rotation. Talk about commitment or lacktherof. The poor brides have no clue what they sign up for when dealing with Anathema, each one facing death by the spider munchies. Yep, Anathema eats her brides at the slightest act of rebellion or rule-breaking. Unfortunately, Matilde, one of Anathema’s oldest servants, also faces this demise for stealing from Anathema and is succeeded by her protege Dalia. Dalia has been training for this moment since she was eight years old. Yet, when Dalia finally faces Anathema, she faces an unexpected quest bestowed by Anathema: find the real thief or die. As Dalia embarks on this journey searching for the thief throughout the house and reporting her progress to Anathema, a surprising friendship blossoms between the two, eventually growing into a deeper love.
Pueyo’s characters are complex, raw, and absolutely divine, reminding us that power arises with emotion. Anathema faces insecurities like any human being even though she is not human herself. Dalia takes an unconventional approach in comparison to her servant colleagues by challenging Anathema to open her mind and see things from a different perspective. Through this process Dalia slowly pushes Anathema’s boundaries that only a deeply loved one can accomplish. Pueyo captures the essence of true love through the transformation of Dalia and Anathema’s relationship. It reminds us that projections are real and subconscious thoughts eventually creep up in reality. Miscommunication happens very often. But depending on how deeply two people love each other, there is always a solution. You just need to open your mind and compromise on both sides.
Overall, I would give Bold But Not Too Bold a 4.8 out of 5 rating. Pueyo did a phenomenal job overall depicting themes of unconventional love, negotiations at its finest in relationships, and acceptance of our shadows selves by our partners. Deep down, everyone wants to feel accepted and loved. Pueyo shows us that even the most unconventional of relationships fulfill this need.

This was definitely an interesting little novella. I don't read novellas very often, but I'm glad I got around to reading this one.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow, the writing in this was gorgeous. I need to read more by this author. This would be a perfect read for spooky season. All of the sapphic and gothic vibes. The spider was a lot though!

An interesting and creepy take on the gothic genre, this short novella delivers a mystery, a romance, and some shivery moments thanks to the house's inhabitants.