This book is a page turner and something that is very hard to put down. It fits in the horror genre with a nice mix of fantasy and mystery with it. The only time this mix becomes a let down is at the end as it ends like most YA horror does which is not to my liking personally. This in no way brings down the book in anyway at all. In fact it fits it quiet well and gives it a strong finish. I did listen to the audio version and Julian Rhind-Tutt the narrator was really gave it a haunted feel as he read it. I would like to listen to more horror that Julian narrates.

Even small number of main and supportive characters they are all well developed through the both the main book and the mini book. Olivia remind me of the female main character in 'So Much to Tell You' by John Marsden, especially how we first met her in this book and how Olivia brings up memory of her time in an orphanage and her interactions with the girls there.

The writing style is atmospherics and haunting which I so adore in this genre. It makes you feel like you should not be there but for the disparate need to help Olivia to solve the mysteries that the family has hidden. The book with in the book helps to give the reader a tangible away of putting themselves in the book (I pick up a physical version to see the images as this is not attached to the audio thought the sound effects help to bring it across to a point.) I will say look back at the this mini book inside the bigger book after reading the end does give it a scarier feel.

This is my first time reading V.E Schwab book and I look forward to reading other. I highly recommend reader with the love of horror, fantasy and mystery to give this book a try.