River of Teeth

River of Teeth presents an alternate history where hippos were introduced to the American South as livestock in the 1800s. The story takes place in Louisiana, where feral hippos now dominate the bayous and waterways, creating a dangerous new Wild West on the water. The plot centers on Winslow Houndstooth, a former hippo rancher who assembles a crew of specialists for a government contract. Their mission is to remove aggressive hippos from a section of the Mississippi River, but the operation proves more complex than expected. This novella combines elements of Western adventures and heist stories, featuring a diverse cast of characters who each bring unique skills and complicated histories to the mission. The narrative unfolds against a backdrop of dangerous waters, criminal enterprises, and the ever-present threat of the feral hippos. The story explores themes of revenge, loyalty, and the unintended consequences of human intervention in nature, all while reimagining American history through the lens of this single changed detail.

Readers note this novella delivers on its premise of hippo-riding cowboys in an alternate American South, but many feel the story ends too abruptly. Readers praised: - The diverse cast of characters, including nonbinary and LGBTQ+ representation - Creative alternate history concept - Fast-paced action sequences - Vivid descriptions of the hippos Common criticisms: - Length too short to fully develop characters and plot - Rushed ending - Worldbuilding lacks depth - Violence feels gratuitous to some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (300+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Fun concept but needed more room to breathe" - Goodreads reviewer "The characters deserved more development" - Amazon reviewer "Great representation but wish it was longer" - LibraryThing review The novella's length remains the primary point of contention, with many readers suggesting it would work better as a full novel.

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🦛 The U.S. government seriously considered the "American Hippo Bill" in 1910, which would have allocated $250,000 to import hippos for meat production. 🤠 This is Sarah Gailey's debut novella, which earned them nominations for both the Nebula and Hugo Awards in 2018. 🐊 Hippopotamuses are considered one of Africa's deadliest animals, causing an estimated 500 human deaths per year in their native habitat. 🌿 The Louisiana marshlands described in the book were actually proposed as the real location for the historic hippo-farming project, chosen for their similar climate to hippos' native habitat. 📚 The book spawned a sequel called "Taste of Marrow," completing what's known as the "River of Teeth" duology, both published in 2017.