3.5 Stars

Was it me or did this feel like the longest book ever? I know I picked it up during a busy time, but it was a bit tedious to get through, in spite of all that was happening. And a LOT happens in the story, so much so it felt rather disjointed, and it definitely needed to be trimmed some. I get a lot of the world building and background is important for the plot and also the spooky vibes, but it truly weighed down the story rather than make it atmospheric. There was so much information overload, and a lot of it felt inexplicable rather than mysterious. Like I know I was supposed to be scared and sad and creeped out, but I felt almost emotionally detached with what was happening. It was beautifully written in parts, but it was also a tad overwritten. Like Moira Rose on steroids. I was overwhelmed by the descriptions after a point, especially of Julian and Fallon.

Where it shines is the interactions between Julian and Fallon, and even those got a little repetitive after a point. Still, my heart ached for them, especially for Julian and his situation in life. Poor sweet boy. The hollow heathens are very intriguing and I would love more of a look into them. It sounds like I’m only complaining but I actually did love what the author was trying to do, even if I wasn’t all the way in love with the execution. My half distracted brain is also to blame for this I’m sure.