Whowza - this was a ride.
Not for the queasy or one seeking a light mood. But if you're into beautiful writing that really really showcases the disturbing qualities of humanity and where it might be headed - this is for you.

Key points summarizing this book?
- Completely disturbing
- Gorgeous writing

Quotes:
- "Wealth diffused stress the way umbrellas shed rain, showering it on the people beneath them, whose job it was to support the canopy at all costs, at any cost, for life."
- "....she could patch it and stop the smoke from dragging its nails over her nerve endings."
- "Rain was priceless; someone like Yochanna would never feel its tiny fingers on her face."
- "It was a salty, pickled smell - the smell of tender, unwashed flesh festering under synthetic fibers here the crease of the thigh rubbed against the edge of the pubis and its sebaceous rind of hairs."
"Celine remembered that once, people used to call these "butterfly kisses", though everyone knew butterflies were mythic creatures, like goblins or or elves."

Literary points:
- Multiple timelines joining into one is also usually not my fav. But this book does it very well and I didn't mind at all. The style and themes made me think of Naomi Alderman's latest book, The Future, but this one hit so much harder and executed the multi-story lines so much better.
- Haunting atmosphere was woven into the story perfectly. The atmosphere was never described in one chunk and the subtle details that arose throughout the story were bleak, dark and almost brought shivers of horror down my back.
-Character development - this part was weak for me. I never felt any attachments to the characters and their arcs weren't complex. Much more plot driven.
- Incredible metaphors and personification that bring chills.

It took me ages to get though this because it was too disturbing at times and I genuinely needed a break. I'm usually all for dystopian literature but this really pushed my limits of what I could handle. This is the first dystopian - post apocalyptic book that had be thinking it earns a place in the horror genre (not my genre).

Difficult to rate because I was not expecting to be slapped in the face with the horror but it was also good for what it was...some of the imagery will stick with me and it did make me think about the world. And the writing is beautiful. So based on my own ranking system - that means 5 stars! Despite the gag factor.

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.