Sapphic romance monster horror?? Count me in! First of all, this was a riveting read. I read this in one sitting, and I think it's easy to do so, because it's well-written and intriguing. Every character has a depth to their personality, the setting is opulent, and there is a LOT of story development for the length. The writing will absolutely suck you in with its setting- and character-building. You will fall in love with the building itself, and at least a few of Pueyo's diverse individuals. I really love the monstrous designs Pueyo came up with; they're actually unique, and were some of the best, most interesting descriptions in this novella. I would read more about her Archaic Ones any day.

Unfortunately, this was not a perfect match for me. This story promised a Gothic, and it is just way too succinct to give that slow-burn, emotional feeling. I don't think every reader will count that as a negative; the style doesn't seem to be the most popular. As a lover of modern Gothic-style horror (such as The September House, Mexican Gothic, and Our Wives Under the Sea), it did disappoint me, and lowered my score. I think the mystery element that kept the story progressing also prevented it from having the weight of creeping dread that I so love in Gothic literature.

I really enjoyed my time reading this story, but I think this could have gotten a higher rating if I had different expectations. It ended up being less Gothic, less horror, and less sapphic than I anticipated, largely because it is only 99 pages. I do recommend it as a fast, interesting, exciting read. 4/5 stars.

Huge thank you to Tor Publishing Group and to Netgalley for giving me access to this Uncorrected Digital Galley / eARC for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own, and as unbiased as I could make them.

This was actually lowkey an intense read, but I came to really enjoy it. I wasn’t fully sure what I was getting myself into when I started it, but it was a quick and enjoyable read, and I enjoyed the way it wrapped itself up. The mystery and the conclusion were all really quick, so it may not be for everyone, but I’d read it again.

So this one isn’t for the arachnophobia! It’s a novella, you can easily read it in an evening. But if you’re a sensitive soul perhaps it isn’t quite bedtime reading. It’s about as close to horror as I can manage. Excellent writing though, and I couldn’t put it down!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 2/11/2025. For such a short read, Pueyo's But Not Too Bold sure gives a person a lot to chew over. Advertised as The Shape of Water meets Mexican Gothic, I would throw in that it is also 100% Mr Fox. No, not the Dahl one. The original English fairy tale. The catch phrase, after all, is straight from that creepy wonderful story.

But let's replace foxes with spiders (trigger warning: these are not dainty pretty spiders, brace yourself for some gorgeously otherworldly monster descriptions). Also let's add that the Spider Queen of the House, Anatema, definitely leans towards the ladies and keeps trying to find her perfect bride. If they don't measure up, well, she eats them and tries again after memorializing the lost bride as a delicately crafted doll in a perfectly recreated miniature room. Unfortunately, she just ate her Most Important Employee and now has to deal with the pretty young replacement Dália as well as finding out who has been stealing her "memories" from their locked drawers.

So the novella is part mystery, part horror, part sapphic love story which is one heck of a combination and it takes a skilled writer to balance it all. I'm delighted to say that Hache Pueyo nailed it. The fact that I am still thinking about the story days after reading it just shows the grip it exerts. It's lyrical and slightly confusing (in a good way) and quite unsettling. Human, after all, can be just as much a state of mind as a state of biological fact.

This captivating novel will enthrall readers who are drawn to dark, atmospheric, and romantic fantasy, especially those who revel in sapphic love stories, gothic horror, and LGBTQIA+ representation. The story weaves a spellbinding tapestry of love, mystery, and self-discovery, all set against the backdrop of a haunting and eerie world.

With its richly drawn characters, evocative prose, and intricate plot, this book promises to transport readers to a realm where love and darkness intertwine, and where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural blur. As the protagonists navigate the complexities of their relationships and confront the secrets that lie hidden within their world, readers will be captivated by the unfolding drama and the haunting beauty of the story's atmospheric setting.

This is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy, gothic romance, and LGBTQIA+ fiction, as well as anyone who appreciates a well-crafted and thought-provoking story that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.

Hache Pueyo’s But Not Too Bold is sort of a Bluebeard retelling, where “Bluebeard” is in fact a massive, ancient spider-like being called Anatema. The background to the story is mostly sketched in: there are Archaic Ones like Anatema in various places around the world, though each of them is monstrous in a different way, and their works are clearly desired by others for some reason — but other than that the details are thin on the ground. Which is fine, because what matters is the setting of the Capricious House, Anatema’s home, and Dália’s role within it as she takes over from her mentor, the old keeper of the keys, whom Anatema has eaten for stealing something.

There’s a genuinely creepy, claustrophobic feeling about it all, even as Dália sails through it all. In all of it, she’s happy where she is, happy serving Anatema, and that adds a sort of “Beauty and the Beast” feel in some ways, though it’s very much not the same story, as there is no transformation or any hint of one — we’re talking “romance with a monster”, not “redemption and transformation of the monster”.

I was completely riveted, and a little creeped out, all at once. It was a lovely read.

This was fun and creepy little book that is so much more than it seems. The author crafted a mysterious and creepy little world full of impending doom, but managed to make me feel so much for the supposed monster. This book explores what it’s like to feel like you have to hide who you are from everyone you meet, to feel like you are too strange to be a part of the world but to constantly seek connection with it even though it seems futile. Anatema hides away in her attic, letting only a select few into her inner sanctum. Dalia hides in her work, feeling invisible and like she doesn’t really exist. These two women provide each other the greatest gift: they see each other and they don’t turn away.

I loved this book and I will be marking it as my staff pick the moment it arrives at my store.

Hache Pueyo's "But Not Too Bold" is a gothic novella about a young woman who works for a monstrous spider/woman hybrid who ends up eating most of her employees as well as brides they bring for her. I'm not usually the biggest fan of spiders, but the plot of this book sounded too intriguing to resist! I really enjoyed Hache Pueyo's simple and direct, but beautiful writing style. I also sometimes struggle with the pacing of short stories and novellas, but I thought that Pueyo did a wonderful job with this as well. I was also impressed with how much world building Pueyo was able to do in such a short amount of time. This is definitely a great read if you're wanting some weird sapphic horror!

3.5 Stars

What a strange little book. I don’t know what I was expecting, but a gothic tale full of sapphic romance, mystery, betrayal, and, most importantly, tarantulas was not it.

The story begins with the untimely death of the current Keeper of the Keys - accused of thievery and eaten by the lady of the house. Dália has spent most of her life knowing that she would one day take over the position, but wasn’t expecting it to be quite so . . . sudden once the time came.

Anatema is an elder being who lives on the upper floor of the estate. More human than her counterparts, she is still quick to react and will not let a slight (even an unproven one) go unpunished. She desires the company of others, taking beautiful young women as brides and servants, but ultimately devours most who cross her path. It’s hard to find love when you largely resemble a giant spider.

A lot happens in less than 150 pages. It’s a short story, and the mystery of Anatema adds to the allure of the tale. Who is she? Why is she there? I wanted answers. She is deadly, dark, and mysterious.

For the same reasons I enjoyed the novella, I had issues with it. It’s too short. I did not get enough of my questions answered. The romance felt too rushed. I would have loved to see this as a fleshed out full length novel, because I’m ultimately left unsatisfied. I just want more. (But I have the same complaint with most shorter stories, so maybe it is a me problem.)

Ultimately, though, I did enjoy But Not Too Bold. I think Hache Pueyo is a name to watch out for.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and Tordotcom Publishing for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

But Not Too Bold is a haunting and immersive gothic fantasy novella, blending The Shape of Water with Mexican Gothic in a chilling sapphic monster romance. When the old keeper of the keys is found dead, Dália, her protégé, must step into the role, maintaining the locked drawers that hold the monstrous Lady Anatema’s memories. But Anatema, an enormous humanoid spider with a penchant for laudanum and human brides, is a deadly mistress of the Capricious House—one who consumes every lover she takes. As Dália searches for the truth behind her predecessor’s death, she must also navigate the growing tension between her duty and her own safety, knowing full well that Anatema’s hunger is as unpredictable as it is inevitable.

This novella is dripping with eerie atmosphere, its creeping dread settling in from the very first page. Pueyo masterfully weaves horror with dark romance, making Anatema a figure of both grotesque terror and undeniable allure. Even with my own arachnophobia, I was captivated by the intricate world of the Capricious House and the dangerous dance between Dália and her monstrous mistress. There’s a constant tension whenever Dália is near Anatema, a sense that at any moment, the wrong move could be her last.

If there’s one downside, it’s that I desperately wanted more—this is one of those rare novellas that could have been expanded into a full-length novel without losing any of its impact. The ending left me wanting to see what happens next, and I would love to explore more of this dark, unsettling world. Fans of gothic horror and unconventional romances will devour this in one sitting.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I struggle with rating novellas because they are so short that I don't always feel like I have a chance to really figure out the plot. Vibes though? This was amazing vibes wise. The writing was great, it felt creepy and fun and I really enjoyed it.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Short Review:
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this novella. It weaves together gothic horror, sapphic romance, and mystery while deeply engaging with the myths of spiders, particularly through a Latin American lens. The genre lines are blurred between monster romance and gothic romance, but the writing is beautiful.

Thank you Tor | Tordotcom Publishing for the copy!

~~~~
Analysis:
*cracks knuckles* Let's get started.

One of the immediate connections I made is the parallel of the Greek myth of Arachne, a woman punished for her skill in weaving, which resonates in themes of gender, power, and transformation that are also present in this novella.

In terms of gender and power, the two literary items can be seen with similarities. In Greek mythology, Arachne is a mortal woman praised for her weaving skills. If you're curious about this tale, I highly recommend doing your research and reading it. You can find it in Book Six of Metamorphoses. Arachne is so popular regarding her talent that she challenges Athena, (one of the goddesses with the most anger issues) to a weaving contest. Arachne's tapestry portrays the gods' cruel punishments and their abuses towards humans, however she outshines Athena in skill. Because of this, (and Athena's anger issues, let's be honest they all suffer from hubris), Arachne is punished. She is transformed into a spider. Some tales say a total itsy spider, others describe her as a humanoid arachne. (You see where I'm going? Excellent.)

While the Greek tale of Arachne is interpreted as a cautionary tale about female ambition, talent, and defiance, we see echoes of this in "But Not Too Bold". The protagonist willingly immerses herself in a world where spiders rule the halls, cracks, and all spaces, where their presence is divine rather than a punishment. The Capricious House, ruled by the ancient and powerful Madam Anatema (it means Anathema in Latin, hence the joke they all make), does not reject the monstrous/feminine but rather embraces it. This take suggests a subversion of the myth: instead of being cursed, the spider-woman of this novella holds power, autonomy, and sexuality. Aligning with a broader trend in Sapphic literature, "But Not Too Bold" reclaims the narrative of punishing talented & defiant women as sources of agency rather than oppression.

I love sapphic monster romances as much as the next person, but I also love gothic reimagining of the feminine other. It has been a space where queerness lurks in the margins (Carmilla, Rebecca, etc.). "But Not Too Bold" takes these tropes and reshapes them: the relationship between Dália and Lady Anatema is not one of horror but of intrigue. Unlike traditional gothic heroines who seek escape, Dália enters this world head on. She is fully aware of the choices she is making, rejecting the usual narrative of fear in favor of devotion to a powerful WOMAN. *claps*

Overall, I loved this novella. If you enjoy gothic horror x monster romance, this book is for you.

I loved this book! It was damn near perfect. Thank you so much to Tor for sending a copy my way of this beautiful masterpiece. I literally knew when I saw this cover and learned it was a queer read, that I needed it to be mine and boy was I right. I devoured But Not Too Bold. It was weird, it was creepy but it was also beautifully written. I could tell our arachnid, human “master” was going to fall for Daila, she is interesting and doesn’t show fear and just wants to please Anatema. And really just help her, and Anatema hasn’t had that before. I loved the gothic vibe. And the murders and mysteries. I really could just read this book over and over. I also do wish we got a full blown story here. I will totally pick up more by this author.
I’d recommend this book to the weirdos, the monster lovers and the queers.

I don't really know how to review this because I'm still not entirely sure what I read. The imagery was great. Gothic and descriptive and downright creepy. I hate spiders so that was a challenge to get though. But also I have absolutely no idea what this book was about - I had a really hard time picturing what was going on and following the plot. This is a vibes only read. Thank you tordotcom for the review copy! I need to sit on this one for a bit.

I will start by saying I am not a monster romance girl but the writing of this novella made it easy to look past the eight legged elephant in the room lol this was both atmospheric and supremely creepy/icky in the best way. I wish it was a little longer/more fleshed out but I really did enjoy it.

You ever walk into a place so stunning you almost forget to be afraid? Bold But Not Too Bold lures you in with its sumptuous, almost decadent atmosphere—the kind of house that whispers promises of grandeur, of secrets worth uncovering. It’s mesmerizing, intoxicating. But beneath the gilded beauty lies something far more sinister, something that doesn’t just lurk in the shadows—it invites you in, lets you marvel at its elegance before wrapping you in its horrors.

The creeping dread is exquisite, the kind that coils tighter with every page, refusing to let go until it’s good and ready—or until it decides you’re done for. But here’s where it stumbles: the ending. After all that delicious tension, all that mystery, I wanted more. More teeth, more revelation, more something to make the final moments hit as hard as the dread leading up to them. Instead, it left me feeling like I’d been promised a feast and given a single, tantalizing bite.

Still, if you’re craving an eerie, atmospheric read that will keep you on edge, this is one to add to your TBR—just be prepared to leave the last page wanting.

A sapphic monster romance with no smut!
Such an Interesting read
The world is based in our own reality so the parts that have to be explained have their place
A short story but an interesting read hits the points.
Took me a moment to get the visual of our monster but once it clicked it clicked!

There is an audience for this book, but I don't think it's me.

I loved how the author described spider-lady Anatema's movements. It felt so visceral and gross and bizzare in the best way.

But I'm a girly who needs the backstory, the intrigue, and this was very much a "we're staying in the moment" book. And that's understandable considering it's a novella with limited space, but gosh I'd love a prequel or a spin-off about the other Archaic Ones.

The writing was great and well-paced. Added lots of new words to my personal dictionary.

I think my main problem with this is that it just didn't pull me in. Which, again, just means I'm not the right reader. Still a fun read and it didn't take too long.

Thank you NetGalley & Tor for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

When the publisher reached out to me, I was hesitant because monster romance is not really my thing. However, when I saw The Shape of Water in the blurb, it definitely peaked my interest more. Sapphic spider romance with no spice! A little creepy, a little weird, and incredibly atmospheric.

If you’re in the mood for something unique and quick that you can read in a few hours, I recommend!

Amazing and atmospheric, the characters and world are so very real. A great gothic read that manages to be cozy despite the horror that runs throughout it. A near perfect novella