This book felt like three parts to me: the dark, depressing beginning (That felt too much like The Magicians for my taste), the absolutely engaging and fast-paced middle-end, and then back to the dark--but inevitable-- ending. Well, dark-ish. But not as bad as the first 200 pages of the book. I broke my 100 page rule for this book because it came VERY highly suggested by my boss but I just don't think it was for me. The middle part I really did like. Once we got back to the world I knew and we weren't

Spoiler

cooking children alive or making Carolyn eat her best friend Bambi and his mom

then I got more into the book and enjoyed it.

It is a really good book, great for this author's first novel, and if you're looking for a dark, adult fantasy novel that is like The Magicians, a little bit V.E. Shwab, and a dash of His Dark Materials then I recommend this book. If you aren't enjoying it after 100 pages, then just put it down. Sigh. Life is too short for books you don't enjoy!