Told in dual timelines, I found myself more drawn into the backstory and history of Red Grove than the present-day mystery of trying to find Luce’s mom. This was likely because the sisterhood and connection between the characters in the past felt more genuine or better told. While there were some interesting dynamics between Gloria, Luce, and Gem, these connections seemed primarily used to catalyze the uncovering of Red Grove’s secrets. They didn’t always seem necessary or important to readers.

It was my understanding that Gloria had powers, and it’s quite clear. She never really wanted to be a parent and probably wouldn’t have been if the attack against her sister didn’t take place. So, everything in her life feels like she’s doing it out of obligation. Gem is someone who could physically take care of herself and was even taking care of Gloria’s child until she was attacked. We get a small section where Gloria talks about her relationship with her sister. But ultimately, it felt like the author gave her a sister as a way to make Luce and Gloria’s mother-daughter relationship seem more troubled. Gloria could’ve still been a young mother struggling with postpartum depression and having trouble raising her kids, not really a fan of going to Red Grove, but ended up there out of lack of resources and seeing it as a community that would help her. We didn’t need Gem as a character. Even if you keep the sister plot, the death in the beginning felt unnecessary for Gloria to “disappear.” This place already had unwanted attention, and she knew it had its secrets and was against Red Grove. She already wanted to talk to a reporter.

I would’ve preferred to find out that more people were going missing or dying, and Red Grove was covering it up. I also wondered if these kids were going to school, working, or driving off campus. What does the day-to-day look like? These little details matter. We read about them performing historic reenactments, yet no one else in the town caught on or became suspicious? Then we get into the paranormal and the strange, while saying it’s not magical at the same time. Then they’re seeing a mummy, and we’re discussing interconnectedness, the story of the dead through the living and nature. The story brings us back to the power and danger of community and groupthink, and the reality that sometimes women hurt women to protect themselves from men.

I honestly think I would’ve loved this book if it was just about how Red Grove came to be in the past. Following the story of the sisters, their journey, beating the brutality of having to fight for survival not only in the elements but against the brothers, would’ve been amazing. What this book gave me, I could’ve done without. The whole ending with Una and her minions was obvious from the beginning. While I couldn’t stand Luce and thought she was naive, this book was partially about her coming of age, as well as Gloria wanting more for herself and her children. It explores sacrifice in parenting and sisterhood, and what it takes to build a community and what it looks like when one falls apart. This isn’t one of my favorite reads, but that doesn’t mean someone else won’t enjoy it.