it did take me a while to enjoy this book, mainly because i thought the first half was quite slow. in terms of plot, i feel like the main crux of it didn't really start i reached the 50%ish mark; everything else felt like the characters were just dawdling or completing side quests. 

despite that, i really loved chloe gong's writing. she has a way of depicting shanghai with dazzling poetry, making it seem so vivid. her descriptions of the monster were beautifully grotesque, and there were many moments where i was on the edge of my seat. i'm not as expectant for the second book as i was for the first, but i can't wait to read it all the same.