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UPDATE: One of my favorite reads of 2024 is now available!!


This book was a solid 5 stars, heading for my all-time favorites shelf, until I got to the ending.

This is the kind of rich, layered literary fiction that I feel like I can't do justice in a review. I was completely enamored with it. Maybe saying less in this case is the way to go. While reading this book, I felt like I had travelled to so many different places and times. Susan Barker’s ability to describe and build various environments seemed effortless. And the language was lovely and endlessly readable. I tried not to speed through this, but it was tough. I didn’t want to put it down.

The character of the mysterious woman was complex and intriguing. She was very much a cruel monster, but Barker gradually gives us pieces of information meant to help us understand her better. The restraint with which these details are revealed is masterful. Just when I was starting to maybe feel something resembling sympathy for her, I would be harshly reminded of how vicious she could be. You will meet many different characters on this journey that her actions have affected, and typically a constant influx of new people in a novel can be overwhelming for me. But Barker managed it in a way that kept the story fresh and exciting, and no one overstayed their welcome or left too soon.

The horror in this novel, while scattered, was effective. I’ve never read a story quite like it before. There was creative and haunting imagery that will stay with me, and I loved the way that Barker worked art and immortality into the story. Many parts of it were also deeply tragic and upsetting. (Definitely not a novel to tackle if you are already in a dark place!)

No spoilers, but that final chapter felt like when you're watching the alternate endings on a special edition director's cut DVD, and there's one that makes you say: "Wow, that was really brave and made me feel all sorts of strong emotions, but honestly I'm glad they chose a different one for the theatrical release." I knocked an entire star off my rating for an otherwise very amazing, beautiful and disturbing book. (I understand why the author did it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.)

None of the dialogue has quotation marks, but I didn’t have any trouble following the conversations or identifying who was speaking, or what was dialogue vs. what was interior monologue. It was all very smooth. I know that the lack of quotations is a big pet peeve for some, so I wanted to be sure to mention it. (Keep in mind though, that this is an early review copy so it's possible that those sections could change before publication.)

Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

Biggest TW: Substance abuse, Depression, Mention of Incest, Animal harm/death, Suicide/Suicidal Ideation, Domestic abuse, Mention of Nazis, Mention of SA, Homophobia, Terminal Illness