Very bleak (rightfully so) and I think while I was immersed in the story I do think it confirms for me that there is almost always something that keeps me from fully becoming immersed fiction about real historical figures as opposed to completely fictional characters in a realistic historical setting. The writing was beautiful and definitely has me intrigued to check more of this author's work. Most of all I'm glad to have finally read this book after it having been on my to-read shelf for a decade at this point.