i don't know what to say.

i feel paradoxical about this book. i liked it; i hated it. it was a quick read; it took forever to finish. i enjoy the feminist qualities of the text; the ending ruins any and all meaning within. i have nothing of value to say about this novel. it was incredibly frustrating and the writing was very plain. i didn't have a good sense of place nor atmosphere. and i sure as hell didn't care about any of the characters. the most compelling thing about this novel is the recurring image of a bloodied mouse.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly do not know if I liked this book or hated it!?! It was a relatively quick, fast paced read for me and it kept me engaged. There were many triggers dealing with infant loss and infertility that made it emotionally difficult to read at times. I loved the literary parallels and hints of magical realism between the classic, The Secret Garden. The historical connections of using women and their pregnancy for scientific experiments was both fascinating and shocking! The author did an excellent job with her writing and character development. This was a gothic haunting tale that will not soon leave my mind... or dreams!