Please join me in welcoming back the fantastic Fabienne Schwizer for a guest review of Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell – coming on the 11th April from Arcadia Books (and out now in the US from DAW Books).
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John Wiswell has been making noises in the short fiction space for a few years now. His Nebula and Locus-winning short fiction has cemented him as a writer to watch out for. Now, his long-awaited debut novel, Someone You Can Build a Nest In, is here. A tender but dark interrogation on what it means to be a person and how to contend with the world and expectations around you.
This is not a story of a damsel in distress, needing rescue from a monster. Someone You Can Build a Nest In is the monster’s story. Shesheshen is introduced to the reader as she eats her way out of her father, newly hatched, and devours her siblings while she’s at it. The reader soon learns that reproduction happens through a deposit of eggs rather than sexual intercourse – turning the other parent into a nest, condemning them to death. Shesheshen isn’t a morally grey character as much as a lawful evil one. She lives according to her strict morals, they just happen to be very different from those our society considers appropriate.
As we move through the story, Shesheshen meets Homily. Instantly smitten, the reader follows Shesheshen as she learns how to deal with emotions and how to navigate the fine line between monster and human. To me, the asexuality (or perhaps demisexuality) particularly stood out. We observe what is, in essence, a love story. But one with little physical intimacy – and I for one appreciated watching characters fall in love rather than headfirst into lust. Wiswell brings across the nuance of that well, creating a truly character-driven story.
That strong focus on characters is Someone You Can Build a Nest In’s best feature. The writing is gorgeous, with many passages that inspire the reader to consider the deeper truths they tell. What didn’t quite work as well is the plot. It is mostly vibes, and perhaps a bit didactic in its approach to characters, world and handling the foreign. I would have loved to see a softer approach, more nuanced in looking at different perspectives. As it stands, there were a few moments where the need to suspend disbelief is strong, where I felt that events were just a bit too convenient rather than perhaps forcing a reckoning.
Still, Someone You Can Build a Nest In is a delightful debut. It is weird in all the best ways, combining poetic writing with unexpected characters. Wiswell has the potential to become one of the genre greats.
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Fabienne can usually be found with her nose in a book or two. Most of her life revolves around words, be that reading, writing, or editing. You can find more of her ramblings over on www.libridraconis.com, where she also reviews YA books and more lighthearted Fantasy and Science Fiction, as @FLSchwizer on Twitter, and @libri_draconis on Instagram. If you’re curious about what she is currently reading, check out www.goodreads.com/libridraconis.
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Someone You Can Build a Nest In is out on the 11th April in the UK, and out now in the US – check out the links below to order* your copy:
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