Thanks to Atria Books for the gifted ARC!

4,5 stars

"It's an incredible place - the city, The Cloisters. Just don't let it wear you down. Make it sharpen you instead."

The Cloisters is a prime dark academia book and perfect for a Fall read. Taking place in the gothic Met Cloisters in New York City, a group of curators uncovers an ancient tarot deck, hoping they can reveal a missing piece of the ancient history of divination. One of these curators is Ann, a summer intern who goes from curious to obsessed with the people and culture at The Cloisters. Sinister and unsettling, I couldn't put this book down. It's not so much twisty as just very compulsive; I found myself becoming increasingly obsessed with the tarot cards and curators just like Ann. I also loved the narrative on fate versus choice. I did wish there was more of an explanation for some of the tarot readings since I'm not very familiar with them, and wanted more of a certain character in the end -- there was definitely room for some expansion here. But - overall, very good and can't wait to see what Katy Hays comes out with next.