This book starts slowly and you are slowly hooked to this story that is one of the best horror I read in some times.
All the elements of a gothic story are present: the weird family, the isolated and dark mansions, family secrets and a sense of dread that get more intense as you turn pages.
And then it becomes a series of nightmare mixed with moments of normality and tenderness while you try to understand if it's Noemi who is dreaming and experiencing terrible visions in her dream or it's the reality and the horror of the reality.
I can tell it was not easy to put this book down as I was enthralled and turning pages as fast as I could. The last 20% of the book was a whirlwind of emotions, horror scenes and it left breathless and with a lot of adrenaline in circle.
There's also an interesting part about eugenic, race and the dominance of the superior over the inferior. They are well woven into the plot and they play an important part into how things work.
I can't find no fault to this book: the atmosphere is dark and fascinating, the characters are well rounded and interesting. Ms Moreno-Garcia is a very talented storyteller and this book is a perfect example of how well she writes.
This book made me think of The Turn of the Screw and Dracula as it shares some traits in common with both books.
It's not a book for the faint of heart or if you are easily scared. It won't be easy to forget the emotions it made me fell and the great characters.
It was an exciting and excellent read that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to Quercus and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.