I really enjoyed Phillips's Disappearing Earth, so I had high hopes for this novel. Unfortunately, it didn't grab me.

The narrative surrounding the two sisters at the heart of the novel, Sam and Elena, didn't have much meat to it. With the focus almost always on Sam, we didn't really get much detail about what Elena was feeling, particularly her obsession with the bear. I wanted more in-depth discussions/interactions between the sisters. I kept thinking, "But why is she so obsessed with the bear? What's driving this connection?" Even th novel's frankly odd ending didn't clarify things.

Phillips's writing is as gorgeous as ever, but the lackluster storyline and shocking but unfulfilling ending don't match her talents. I'm absolutely going to read her next novel, but this one was a disappointment.