But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo
Published: February 11th, 2025 by Tordotcom
Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Gothic, Romance LGBTQ+
Pages: 128
My Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
“Be Bold, Be Bold, But Not Too Bold, Lest That Your Heart’s Blood Should Run Cold.”
About The Book
When the Keeper of the Keys at the Capricious House dies, eaten by the lady of the house -Anatema, an old one that appears as a large humanoid spider- it is up to Dália to succeed as Keeper and discover the truth behind the crime that lead to her predecessor’s death. Dália has trained her whole life to become Keeper of Keys and she is committed to the duties she must take up.
Anatema is an intimidating figure, not only is she known to devour her staff that displease her but she has also eaten every bride she’s ever taken not long after they arrived. Dália knows that one misstep will lead her to the same fate as the Keeper before her but she does not let that deter her from the expectations of the Capricious House.
Do you know the feeling when a book will be for you? I felt it the moment I read the synopsis for But Not Too Bold and I was so right.
My Thoughts
Everything about this was just my jam. Mysterious spider monster lady? Dark Gothic vibes? Sapphic yearning? I ate it up. I loved how strange and ominous this was and yet somehow I still ended up crying over a spider lady which was not on my 2025 bingo card.
Anatema and Dália enchanted me right away. Anatema seems horrifying at first. She isn’t human and doesn’t try to be and yet just like all of us she longs for connection. Despite the desire to have someone of her own she cannot stand to be seen, to be perceived as she is. Dália has been training to succeed as Keeper of the Keys and as she steps into this role she is ready to accept all that comes along with it. It seems a rather precarious situation at first between the two but they see each other truly and to be seen is to be loved.
Dália does not fear Anatema, even knowing what Anatema has done and is fully capable of doing to her. Instead, she tries to understand her. Dália asks questions that no one else ever has and has seen Anatema’s true face without recoiling in fear. I really loved Dália’s determination and the slow connection built between these two. I’m always a fan of a good novella but I wish this one had been so much longer so I could have stayed in this strange world just a bit more.