3.5 I listened on audio and the narration was excellent but it did make it difficult to keep all the characters straight. I think the themes are really interesting and I love a long-game, character-driven type of story, so I’ll probably stick with the series. She is a beautiful writer, but I just wish the plot would have been a little less meandering at times.

Update: 4 Rereading this in text rather than audio did improve my experience, mostly by clarifying details I had missed. Looking forward to book two.

Atmospheric, honest, tender. Melancholy, yet hopeful.

This book was not at all what I was expecting. More of a murder mystery that tried to be creepy than a haunting heart-pounding thriller. I wish it was more accurately described as I might have enjoyed it more if I wasn’t waiting for the thrill. Obviously it’s a classic for a reason: well written, atmospheric, foreboding, but it didn’t satisfy as I was hoping.

So effing cute.