I was really liking the beginning of this book and I did feel totally sucked into the novel. But after the ending, and further reflection, I felt quite underwhelmed. Conceptually, I think there is so much good stuff (but maybe too much?), but the execution wasn't amazing. I felt like the reveal was very out of left field and then wasn't given time to breathe because the rest of the book was just go go go.

In detail,

I think mushrooms causing a haunted house slaps as an idea. You could make it magical realism, you could ground it in real biology, you could make it feel tangible. However, mushrooms that make this one particular bloodline immortal maybe and there's also body hopping and also incest? Like what? I just didn't buy it at all as a magic system. Also I honestly don't think any of the sexual stuff was at all necessary, and even if some was included, I think it was much too much and also very graphic. Also let's maybe not have someone enjoy being raped maybe? I mean obviously it was the house but like no thank you. In terms of the ending, the whole climax was so rushed and chaotic and then suddenly like it's all okay and they lived happily ever after? Why didn't we have some emotional Francis dying moment? Maybe Catalina is too far gone as well and she can't be saved? I liked both characters a lot (I do love a botany boi) but like I wanted some emotional depth beyond it just getting prettily resolved. Also I would honestly have happily read like 100 more pages just about Dr Camarillo like I liked him he seemed cool. And some more explanation on the Marta thing would have been nice.

I just think I was expecting something very different I don't know.