Thank you to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for the early copy of this book!

The Gold Persimmon is an odd, mysterious, yet beautiful hotel in New York City. Its guests use different check-in counters so they never cross paths, the employees use tunnels so they're never seen- anonymity is of the utmost importance at the Persimmon. Clytemnestra works at one of the check-in counters and holds the hotel in near reverence. Will a run-in with a guest change everything for her?

Jamie lives in New York and is interviewing for a position at a sex hotel, The Red Orchid, when an unexplained and terrifying fog engulfs the city. Trapped inside with staff and a few guests, things take a very dark turn when they all begin to turn on one another.

I won't lie, this is not the type of book I normally read, but the premise pulled me in so I gave it a shot. I loved Merbaum's writing style, and for a lot of Jamie's story, I felt like I was right there next to them, feeling everything they felt. It was intense and harrowing and I wanted to keep reading to find out what the hell was going on and what would happen next. Cly's story, though, wasn't my favorite. I definitely preferred the second half of the book.

I feel like a lot of this went over my head, as well. The ending was left kind of up to interpretation and left me kind of like "well, alright." I wanted more from Jamie and The Red Orchid, but I think folks that are used to reading thrillers, and suspense will enjoy this one a lot.