Ahhh I enjoyed this so much, even though it packed quite a lot into such a short book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect going into this either, but I think it was almost better that way.

My absolute favorite thing about this book has to be the writing. It's written in such a way that it feels like letters addressed to the vampire lord/husband of the main character, Constanta. With it's constant use of 'you' to directly address this husband, the whole story feels extremely intimate, while also putting the reader in the uncomfortable position of this husband (due to his actions and accusations Constanta levels at him throughout the letters). I also love the position from which Constanta is writing these letters (after the events of the letters have taken place), as it creates some fantastic moments for foreshadowing. From the beginning, this foreshadowing plays a large role in the story, and it draws the reader in almost immediately. It also serves as a good tool to keep the reader invested, even in scenes that otherwise might seem domestic or simple.

I also loved a lot of the narrative choices beyond letter style and positioning of the narrator, specifically the choice to leave the husband/vampire lord unnamed. The passage that describes Constanta's reasoning behind this has to be one of my favorite passages, and possibly one of the most powerful ones in the book.

I also just really loved the characters in this one, and how they were developed and grew attachments to each other. While it was impossible to actually love the relationship between the husband and Constanta, because of its toxicity, I did enjoy the complexity of it and how the author navigated the concept of utter love and devotion even in times of pain and suffering, especially when that suffering is brought on thanks to the person they love. On top of this, there were also wonderfully complex relationships between Constanta and her husbands' other brides, Magdalena and Alexi. Every relationship is so different and varied, and it really solidifed this story as a 5 star read for me.

I was absolutely enthralled by this book, even if it was tough to read at points due to the content. Overall, would highly recommend this!