SNAKE WIFE

The descendent of a goddess reclaims herself after a decade of captivity and exploitation in Burgess-Smith’s fantasy novel.

In the House of Est, the female descendants of the goddess Looklema have reigned supreme for centuries. Known as Wasters, they possess the ability to manipulate others’ bodies—to help heal them, mutilate them, or kill them. They also have the power to affirm a ruler’s right to the throne. The Wasting power passes from mother to daughter, and each generation of Waster Women has resided in the Sacred Wood…until now. Ten years ago, the Waster Liama was lured out of the Sacred Wood with her then-infant daughter Maarja by Kurat, the son of the Estian Chieftain Tuskjas, whom she was forced to marry. Kurat, who has the power to erase and rewrite memories, makes it impossible for Liama to remember certain things about her past—a directive from Tuskjas to make her more pliable. As Chieftainess, Liama, like Kurat, is essentially a tool for Tuskjas to enforce his iron-fisted rule over the House of Est. Liama must do his dirty work and never Waste without his express permission. If she doesn’t comply, Maarja, who’s all but completely disconnected from her heritage and power, will pay the price. But little by little, Liama’s memories are starting to return, and Kurat comes to her with a shocking and high-risk proposal: to form an alliance to kill Tuskjas and rule the House of Est side by side. Burgess-Smith’s debut novel is a masterfully crafted exploration of womanhood, motherhood, legacy, sacrifice, and righteous fury. Through first-person narration, readers gain an intimate understanding of the shrewd and resilient Liama and the well-developed supporting characters. The book’s steady pace and lush prose are captivating, even during scenes of misogynistic brutality. Readers will be enthralled by the author’s complex worldbuilding and the inclusion of some universal truths about motherhood, such as “A mother sees her child’s death in a thousand ways and at a thousand times…For every wonderful moment, every breath of gladness, there is the threat of sorrow.”

An exquisitely written and gut-wrenching masterpiece of a fantasy novel.