Direct Descendant Direct Descendant

Direct Descendant

    • 4.1 • 9 Ratings
    • $15.99

Publisher Description

This cozy horror novel set in modern-day Toronto includes phenomenal characters, fantastic writing, and a queer romance—the perfect balance of dark and delightful

This stand-alone 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


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.

GENRE
Fiction & Literature
RELEASED
2025
April 1
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
336
Pages
PUBLISHER
Astra Publishing House
SELLER
Penguin Random House LLC
SIZE
2.6
MB

Customer Reviews

Prairie_Dog ,

Charming Dark Fantasy with a Touch of Romance

“Direct Descendant” is a standalone novel by Tanya Huff that is set in the small Canadian town of Lake Argen. This quiet and insular place has an economy based mainly on the presence of a very productive silver mine. The founding families of this community established this mine, and also their Agreement with The Dark.

The story is told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Cassie, who is a local resident and direct descendant of the founders, and Melanie, who is a unemployed teacher from Toronto who is being paid to investigate the disappearance of a young man. As things progress, the oddness of the community becomes apparent, and then is explained. Think of a cozy sort of a “Welcome to Nightvale” community.

As things progress we also see the development of a sapphic romance between Cassie and Melanie. However, can this developing relationship stand the exposure of the reality of Lake Argen? Can Melanie accept that her new girlfriend is The Voice of The Dark?

This novel is a darkly humorous fantasy with romantic themes and good world building. It is a refreshing and different setting and I’m sort of sorry it consists of only one novel, although it appears complete in itself.

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