Direct Descendant
This standalone cozy horror novel novel from the bestselling author of the Peacekeeper novels mixes the creepy with the charming for plenty of snarky, queer fun—for fans of T. Kingfisher, Grady Hendrix, Sangu Mandanna, and Erin Sterling. Set in modern-day Toronto, Direct Descendant includes phenomenal characters, fantastic writing, and a queer romance—the perfect balance of dark and delightful.
Generations ago, the founders of the idyllic town of Lake Argen made a deal with a dark force. In exchange for their service, the town will stay prosperous and successful, and keep outsiders out. And for generations, it’s worked out great. Until a visitor goes missing, and his wealthy family sends a private investigator to find him, and everything abruptly goes sideways.
Now, Cassidy Prewitt, town baker and part-time servant of the dark force (it’s a family business) has to contend with a rising army of darkness, a very frustrated town, and a very cute PI who she might just be falling for…and who might just be falling for her. And if they can survive their own home-grown apocalypse, they might even just find happiness together.
Queer, cozy, and with a touch of eldritch horror mixed in just for fun, this is a charming love story about a small-town baker, a quick-witted PI, and, yes, an ancient evil.
Reviews
"The secrets under Lake Argen are chilling, the hellhounds and eldritch horrors are adorable, and the romance goes from fated to bitter to sweet in an epic climax. Highly recommended."
"Plenty of humor, quirky characters, a sweet romance, and minimal scares make for a cozy, satisfying read."
"Direct Descendant was just a fun experience from start to finish. Huff tells a story of deals with eldritch horrors, sacrifices, death and betrayal and then softens it all up with a veneer of cozy mystery that makes the overall book a much lighter story."
"Direct Descendant was a fun little read, perfect to bump up your summer reading hours. Sitting in the sweet spot of romance and horror, it was adventurous enough to keep me hooked but cozy enough to be a truly relaxing read."
"This book was truly an experience. I found myself getting lost in the small town of Lake Argen. The small town charm was evident on every page, if one ignores the tentacles in the lake and creeping shadows. You know, the usual small town problems"
"I can honestly say this is one of the most unique stories I’ve come across in recent memory. The cover blurb promises cozy horror that’s creepy, charming, snarky, and queer all at once, but just how perfectly this delivers on all of that is delightful... for a story to which horror and romance are so important, the relationship challenges are well-resolved and the climax – often a weak spot in the genre – more than pays off."
"Direct Descendant was everything I hoped for from this author"
"In theory, I shouldn’t have bought this book. Firstly, it’s a cosy Lovecraftian horror romcom novel – that shouldn’t even be possible. Secondly, it’s a romance with an insta-love plot. In practice, it’s a Tanya Huff novel, so I knew that, however improbable it seemed, it was going to be fun. I love her playful humour, her quirky but likeable characters and her ability to make the supernatural seem real and absurd at the same time. As I expected, this was one big smile and left me hoping it would be the first in a series."
"Hilarious, horrifying, and romantic, Direct Descendant is deliciously fun."Stephanie Burgis, author of Wooing the Witch Queen and Good Neighbors
