This was the second book I’ve read by this author, and while both of his books have been three stars for me, I definitely preferred his first novel, We Used to Live Here, to this one.

My biggest complaint about this story was how confusing and chaotic it became because there was just too much going on. I listened to the audiobook, and while the pacing was good, the experience became pretty overwhelming once things really started taking off. It was intense, but not always in a good way. I had a hard time keeping up with everything that was happening.

There were so many rules, rituals, and rites that had to be followed, and I felt like I needed to take notes just to understand what was going on. Instead of getting lost in a creepy, atmospheric horror story, I was trying to keep track of all the information being thrown at me. By the end, I honestly wasn’t sure what I had just listened to. I struggled to visualize certain scenes, and the more complicated things became, the harder it was to follow along.

Another major frustration was the lack of explanations for the supernatural occurrences. I never really understood why certain things were happening or how everything was supposed to connect. And then, of course, we get another ambiguous ending, which I’m just not a fan of.

I know some readers love open endings that leave plenty of room for interpretation, but I’m not one of them. I like my mysteries explained and everything wrapped up with a pretty little bow by the final chapter. I want answers! Unfortunately, this ending left me with far too many questions and very little resolution. It felt like I had spent the entire book trying to piece together a complicated puzzle, only to discover that several pieces were missing.

The story was also incredibly weird, and while I can absolutely embrace the strange and unusual, I still need it to make sense. I’m perfectly fine with bizarre supernatural elements and unsettling situations, but I want to understand the world the author has created and the reasoning behind what’s happening. That was missing for me here.

I also wasn’t a fan of the two sisters. I found them both pretty insufferable, which made it difficult to care about them or what ultimately happened to them. When I don’t connect with the main characters, it’s harder for me to become emotionally invested in their struggles, even when they’re facing some pretty terrifying situations.

There was also an excessive amount of strong language throughout the book. I don’t mind a few swear words here and there, especially when they help emphasize a moment or a character’s emotions, but this was way too much for my personal taste. It became distracting and really turned me off after a while.

However, I will give this book credit for its atmosphere and the amount of tension the author managed to create. It was genuinely creepy and eerie at times, with a constant sense of dread hanging over the story. There were plenty of unsettling moments, and I thought the author did a great job creating an intense, disturbing atmosphere.

I don’t scare very easily when reading or listening to horror books, but I can definitely see how more sensitive readers might find this one frightening or disturbing. Even though I wasn’t necessarily scared, I did feel uncomfortable and unsettled during certain scenes, which is exactly what I want from a horror novel.

And despite all my frustrations, I have to admit that the story was pretty compelling in the moment. I genuinely wanted to know what was happening and what would come next. The suspense kept me engaged, and I was curious to see how everything would eventually come together. Unfortunately, that curiosity turned into disappointment when I reached the ending and realized I wasn’t going to get the answers I had been waiting for.

The overall vibe reminded me a little of The Evil Dead, but without the cheesy, campy horror elements. This felt much more serious, dark, and intense. It had that same sense of supernatural chaos and things spiraling completely out of control, but with a much more disturbing tone.

I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did, so I’m definitely a little disappointed. However, I still think it was an interesting horror story, and there were aspects of it that I appreciated. I don’t read a ton of horror, but I’ve been wanting to explore the genre more, which is why I decided to give this one a try.

At this point, though, this author is sitting firmly in the mediocre category for me. Two books, two three-star ratings. I can appreciate his creativity, atmospheric writing, and ability to build suspense, but I’m starting to wonder if his storytelling style is really for me. I don’t particularly enjoy being confused for most of a book, only to reach an ending that leaves me even more confused.

I’ll probably continue checking out his future releases because I’m curious to see if one of his stories will finally win me over. Maybe the third time will be the charm! Or maybe he’s just not the right author for my personal reading tastes. We shall find out!

Overall, I’d say that if the premise sounds intriguing to you, it’s still worth checking out. I can absolutely see this working better for other readers, especially those who enjoy strange, unsettling horror stories with complicated supernatural elements and ambiguous endings. It just wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.

And if you do decide to pick it up, I highly recommend the audiobook. Despite my struggles with following the story, I think the audio format really elevated the overall experience. The intensity and atmosphere came through incredibly well, and I think listening made the creepy moments even more effective.

Unfortunately, the atmosphere and suspense just weren’t enough to make up for the confusing plot, unlikable characters, and disappointing ending. This one had a lot of potential, but ultimately, it wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be.