Engrossing, dreamy, creepy, and diverse. A great read. ( )

I read a gratis copy as part of my Nebula finalist packet.

Wise's novella is a quick, enjoyable read that delves into southern culture and the deep fear of what really lurks in the swamp. For me, the characters were the stars here. I loved following Caleb as he grew up. I sympathized with him as a bullied youngster, and delighted in his healthy partnership as an adult. His perspective on events is fascinating. As a young child, he can't help but pick up on details as his father, the town sheriff, struggles to investigate missing and murdered young women in the area. As he grows older, he's drawn into events when the creep-next-door's house burns down, the only survivor a mysterious girl near his own age, named Cere.

I was left wondering about how Cere's family changed to such a dark path in recent generations. Really, I think I wanted more nuance from them overall, especially when it came to the tired of the southern-preacher-gone-bad trope.

This novella is still a great read, though, with a fully realized settings and great protagonists. ( )