Snake-Eater is a very well written trippy standalone fantasy by T. Kingfisher. Released 1st Dec 2025, it's 271 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
Inevitable comparisons will be made between this book and American Gods and similar "demigods in the real world" subgenre. It's understandable, but also incomplete; the author's style is unique unto itself and this story isn't derivative or terribly similar.
The MC is escaping an abusive relationship and uses time away to settle a bereavement as a means of escaping her abuser. Content warnings for domestic abuse/narcissistic behavior (gaslighting), financial and emotional control, animal cruelty/abuse, and graphic physical violence. She flees to her aunt's house, in the middle of the Arizona desert, as a stopgap measure but meets challenge after challenge when she finds her aunt has also recently died and there are lots of weird things about her new home and town which just don't add up to anything explainable by the normal laws of physics.
The author is exceedingly talented and this story is engaging, atmospherically creepy in places, full of found family, community, and a small pantheon of lesser known Native American gods and demigods both beneficent og malign. The story flows well, but it's the denouement and resolution which were especially fine.
Four stars. It would make an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home library, or a great weekend or buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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