"Mrs Caliban"
Rachel Ingalls

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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I picked this book up because it was a short novella, and I just wanted something quick to read. Also, I'm someone who does judge a book by it's cover... And the cover for this book is so pretty so me! So I bought it without even reading the blurb.

Though, when I got home, the blurb read to me as if it were a frog man smut book. But nevertheless, it apparently won a reward or something? So I figured there must be someone great about it, and it is rather short, so... YOLO.

This book is about frog man smut. There is frog man x human sex in this book. But it's really just passed over, not gratuitous at all and I think it serves the plot well! And as for the plot, well... I feel as though it's bigger than my understanding of it. Like it might take a few readings for me to properly digest and understand everything that's going on in this relatively short story. It's larger than life, and relatable, especially under a feminist lens. And it's also absurd and grounded and everything and nothing and just...

I really enjoyed the writing stlye of this book in particular. It's incredibly straight forward and to the point, leaving very little room for misunderstandings. The honest nature of the writing lends itself to being easily understood, but the themes are what I find myself grappling with. But that's a me problem for being unable to analyse information appropriately— I still thoroughly enjoyed what I managed to understand.

And the pacing of this book feels expertly executed! Slow when it needs to be, fast and jarring when the time calls. It's something I aspire to, that's how good I think it was.

Overall, the perfect little novella to spend an afternoon with. It was funny, and absurd, and silly, and grounded, and relatable, and comforting, all in one.

Even the frog man sex LOL...