one of the worst attempts at a novel I've ever read. absolutely nothing happened. the main character was simultaneously dull and annoying, probably because she had no discernable goal for being anywhere or doing anything, or if she did choose to do something finally, there was no clear reason for it other than, "hey that statue was kinda weird, I'm going to go look for it" or "I'm going to draw this person because I'm a character that's good at art and that's my only character trait also my mom is gone and I'm an orphan."

like bro how do you have so many cliches in one book and still have no plot?? every mystery felt like a mystery for mystery's sake, and the book kept adding them on without really answering any of the others. and the stupid shadow king guy feels utterly unimportant because he doesn't physically show up for our main character until 60% of the way through. and even then we don't learn what he wants, what his goal is (like ok obviously he wants the main character because CLICHÉ but why???? don't know. don't care either. why bother adding his perspective in if it doesn't tell us anything about him except where he lives and that he's a villainous shadow thing???).

plus the writing style was weak and read like a mediocre Gothic Sarah j maas except from a main character who's a pick me. she's not like other girls, she cut her own hair short so she didn't have to wear a braid. she's not like other girls, she draws pictures has blonde bullies and sees ghosts.

ugh. I kept reading hoping it would get better but literally never felt the urge to pick it back up, I always had to force myself. extremely disappointing.