lizwilliams21's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
colourmeread's review against another edition
4.0
This was freaking fantastic. Started off a little weak for me but got stronger and stronger as it went on. Longer review to come once I organize my thoughts.
Thank you to the publisher and Libro FM for my ALC! All opinions my own.
Thank you to the publisher and Libro FM for my ALC! All opinions my own.
theaimlessmage's review against another edition
4.0
Was such a fun read! The story as a whole was very interesting and witty with lots of twists and turns that kept me hooked. The ending felt slightly sudden and more like a quick summary of events compared to all the build up through out the book. But all in all was a great read!!
cassiealexandra's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I don't quite know how to describe my feelings on this one. I was intrigued by Katrina's character from the opening pages, but her delusions and entrance into a fantasy/kitchen-door world inspired by a Korean tale from one of her childhood books was trippy. It took a while for me to understand what was happening and follow her first-person narration. On top of her imaginary world, I had some trouble following the obsessive behaviors involving sigils, the number 11, and mathematical calculations for how many steps will keep her safe. The book felt slow to start for, but there's a moment early on when the action started to pick up and then I was fairly engrossed for the rest of the story. Katrina's obsession and stalking of her co-worker seemed unfounded for a while; I couldn't see her reasons for feeling so connected to Kurt, but the twists and turns and eventual realization that she was more connected than she could have imagined were great. I predicted a few characters' involvement in some of the mysteries of this one, but it still had surprises in store for me. I appreciated the conclusion and hints at a different sort of life for Katrina in the future. Overall, a satisfying and twisty thriller with some phantasmic elements.
awelsh's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
woodenspines's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
femalewysteria's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Violence
nerdygigi's review
3.0
When you read this novel. There are a lot of parts that do not make sense. Or it's exhaustingly over descriptive.
When I was about 25% into the story, it finally struck me that it's supposed to be too much and frustrating in parts. The story is from the point of view of a woman with mental illness. She's churning over and over again her OCD rituals, geometry, patterns, and her "Kitchen Door World." For an outsider looking in, it wouldn't make sense. It would feel like a lot. It would feel frustrating to get a grip on what she's processing...but isn't that the point? However, for some people, that may take away the remaining enjoyment out this book.
For me, this knowledge helped me continue through to the end of the book. I was teetering on the edge of a DNF a lot of the time. The story itself was okay, but I felt like what could have been a great story fell short because of the undeveloped characters and the lack of explanation on what felt like key parts of the storyline.
When I was about 25% into the story, it finally struck me that it's supposed to be too much and frustrating in parts. The story is from the point of view of a woman with mental illness. She's churning over and over again her OCD rituals, geometry, patterns, and her "Kitchen Door World." For an outsider looking in, it wouldn't make sense. It would feel like a lot. It would feel frustrating to get a grip on what she's processing...but isn't that the point? However, for some people, that may take away the remaining enjoyment out this book.
For me, this knowledge helped me continue through to the end of the book. I was teetering on the edge of a DNF a lot of the time. The story itself was okay, but I felt like what could have been a great story fell short because of the undeveloped characters and the lack of explanation on what felt like key parts of the storyline.
justcallmegeekyg's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
materialambition's review against another edition
3.0
difficult listening to someone having constant mental breakdowns and everything seeming like a fever dream then find out what’s really going on in the end