Well, this book is depressing. Beautifully written despite being chock full of ugly acts, addictions, rape, and despair. There are some uplifting moments and I did thoroughly enjoy reading the story but I selected this for one of my library programs I am leading before reading it, and I regret it immensely. Not looking forward to discussing this book with the public. Yikes.

Basically the exact opposite of The Night Circus. No magic, just gritty realism of how life could be if you grew up as an unwanted child in an orphanage ran by monsters on top of it also being the Great Depression.