The cover really makes it seem creepier than it actually is. 

I feel like I can split this book into parts in the way in which I experienced it. Here's how it was: First 30% - a really slow start, between 30% and 60% - an intriguing story with easy-to-root-for characters,  between 60% and 90% - absolutely getting beaten over the head with the message and themes, the last 10% - a well developed ending. 

Anyway. Apart from that, this is actually a pretty good book! The main 4 girls are well developed and distinct from one another. I think that fans of The Raven Cycle series will enjoy this -- the characters have a similar dynamic with each other. The concept of the story is quite interesting in of itself and there were some really twists of phrase used to created a particular image at times. I really enjoyed how characters' feelings were never stripped of complexity -- even if we only saw them experience something for the equivalent of a glance, the multi-layereness of their experiences was always there. Also, the sapphic elements were immaculate. 

The book lacks atmosphere. In a story such as this one, with a magical small town, it's quite crucial to create a really heavy sense of atmosphere, it is what makes these kinds of stories memorable. We never really see much of the town and the magic/horror element doesn't really land quite well because it's not really built up towards from the very beginning, if that makes sense. 

Which leads us to my main gripe with this book: it lacks subtlety, in such a way that it makes me think that the author perhaps underestimated her target audience. Everything is very obvious, all the time and, like I said, at one point it feels like you're getting bludgeoned with the message. It was really quite frustrating. I hope you'll allow me one moment to express it: you DO know that young adults aren't idiots, right? You really don't have to painstakingly spell out what you mean to say. You can have subtle themes in YA novels, things don't have to be overexaggerated to the point of almost cartoonish-ness for teens to pick up on what you're saying. 

Overall, a pretty good book except for the incredibly heavy handed messaging and lack of atmosphere.