I was incredibly excited to delve into this book, as I had seen praise for Vassa in the Night but had yet to read anything by the author. Overall, I adored this book. It was thrilling, enigmatic, and very strange - in the best ways possible. I loved the writing style, which at times felt almost like stream of consciousness. So much of this book is built on creating an overwhelming feeling of paranoia, and maybe it’s just because I tend to be a paranoid person, but I thought it really accomplished that! The tension was practically palpable at all times. Some moments were genuinely scary, but I never thought they crossed the line into discomfort. The imagery was so vivid, and the tone heady. If nothing else, it was certainly unique.

The family dynamic presented felt new and refreshing. The Bohnackers were all incredibly manipulative, even bitter towards each other at times. As the story unfolded, it was easy to see why. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, but I don’t think I needed or was supposed to. The toxicity of both the environment and its characters was very purposeful. The protectiveness of Dashiell and Everett towards Ruby belittled her own strength, and definitely portrayed their tendency towards hyper-masculinity.

However, I was extremely put off by some unnecessary and distasteful choices. The Everett/Dashiell/Paige sex scene was really disturbing, and consent was questionable at best. The minor incest was also upsetting. Those two moments just didn’t contribute to the story or the reader’s understanding of the characters, and could have easily been rescinded. There were also a couple of distasteful comments on weight that I didn’t find meaning in. Really, though, those are the novel’s only pitfalls, but they’re important ones to bring up and warn about.

I enjoyed this book immensely. For fans of unique, strange paranormal tales, this is a must-read. I truly don’t think that it’s for everyone, however. Readers should be prepared to dive head-first into an incredibly strange, sometimes overwhelming and disturbing story. One that is, however, ultimately satisfying and a wonderful commentary on the power of sibling love.

There are some people that will really like this book. I liked it but I also didn't connect with it in the way that I was hoping to based on the previous book I read by this author. I will recommend it to some of my students but I won't say it was one of my favorite books. Good writing style interesting promise just not exactly what I was expecting.