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2.5 stars, rounded up to three because I am scientifically minded and charitable.

This book doesn't deserve its marks (say I, the most just objective entity there is).

The only thing it made me reflect on and regard deeply is the apparent sexism that permeates the whole novel and serves as the backbone of the plot, if you really examine it. For the longest time I tried to give the work the benefit of the doubt and see if maybe it was just a dispassionate reflection of the age and cultural backdrop of Barcelona and if Spaniard men just happened to be dick-swindling bastards in their majority. But then authors voice shines loud and clear in condemnation of anti-queerness acts in society; yet there is none to be heard in defence of girls.

Everyone objectifies women in this novel non-stop; almost without fault every male is thirsty or reminiscing of the times when they were "begged by girls to put a child in their belly". The very same men then project their depraved tendencies onto women/girls and berate them, sometimes to the point of getting them killed. It's a clusterfuck.

Also, if you read a decent amount of the classics, the plot shouldn't blow your socks off either. It's a couple of well worn Gothic novel tropes thrown at a post-war Barcelona and shaken up for good measure. Better read the classics, really.

The prose was flowery enough for my liking and a half clever quip here and there were redeeming the listening process.

Overall can't recommend and am left baffled.