An abandoned 2 year old baby, a mute girl that grows in a orphanage with only her mother’s cryptic last diary as company, until one day a letter arrives and she finds she truly has a family but to be with her family she goes against her mother’s last written advice on the journal. Still, it’s her chance of a new life. Of course, things aren’t as easy as all that. When are they ever? First there’s only one actual family member, and begrudging at that, second there’s the haunted house, wonderful though it is, and third there’s the family curse, but what does it matter when she can finally find her past, discover her roots and her true power.
As always the writing is poetic, captivating and transportive, it carries you to a time without time where haunting manors exist, vines can kill, roses have no scent, darkness comes at night, there’s fear in the walls, wails in the eve, and ghouls about. 
The plot is simple but there’s intricacy in its details, however the whole story happens in a few days and there’s little room for character arc and growth, and with such a potential in the magic and in the antagonist I really feel it could have been grander, and I guess I hoped it would have, also the end… I wish it had been less dark. 
I read the book in one night, it was easy, entertaining, and a beautiful read but I expected a bit more than that. It’s what the author gains for giving me such high expectations from all her other books I’ve read and loved (all of them except the middle grade ones), and that’s why I’ll keep automatically buying any new YA and adult book she releases.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Mutism
Moderate: Child Neglect, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Blood, Abandonment and Nightmares
Minor: Child abuse

 Overall Thoughts:
⁕ V.E. Schwab's writing style never fails. As always, it's lyrical and elegant but creates an atmosphere unique to this story and world alone.

⁕ I adore Olivia's character! Her emotions are so big and real. She's not the typical morally righteous, brave main character that you see in every middle grade novel. Sure, those things are part of her, but she's also fallible and has needs/motivations outside of doing the right thing just because.

⁕ This isn't a book to read if you want in-depth world-building and plot development. It's not meant to be. It's character- and emotion-driven, meant to make you feel more than anything else.

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