I assume I failed to pick up on the relevant metaphors and symbolism in this children's story as I didn't understand it at all. 

Some of the imagery was intriguing, but I'm really not sure what the story was about.

Classic folklore with a modern setting. 

I adore folklore and folktales, especially those from the British Isles, and so I found this story thoroughly enjoyable as it had a true folklore feel, something that is difficult to achieve when using a modern setting.

The story was predictable in the same way all folktales are predictable, which I didn't mind as it just added to the story's appeal for me.

The elements of body horror were really well-written, too.

DNF

After four hours of reading, I still wasn't finding this book entertaining, so I decided to DNF it. 

It's possible that the story picks up, but I wasn't willing to invest the time and risk regretting it. 

There was so little description of the actual environment that it made it impossible for an atmosphere of claustrophobia or isolation to form. 
Gyre is also one of the most irritating characters I've come across recently. Despite lying to get the job, not caring to enquire about it in advance, and being driven by money, she constantly refuses to accept any personal responsibility for the situation she is in whilst constantly lambasting Em over it. 

It's a shame because I was really looking forward to it being an entertaining psychological horror.

The amount of world building in such a short story is seriously impressive! 

I absolutely loved the organic sci-fi/ecopunk elements, but it's the cultural elements, and how embedded and relevant to the story they are, that makes this book so brilliant. 

An interesting enough read, but I found the author to be a little too creative with their interpretations and explanations of scientific phenomena. 

I'd personally recommend other books on plant behaviour before recommending this one.

Unfortunately, this novella fell flat for me. 

Whilst I enjoyed the world-building and felt that some of the themes touched on (family, community, duty, etc) were done well, overall, it just felt like I was reading the (mostly) uneventful dairy of a girl who just happened to be living in a post-climate crisis world. 

This book...I'm so conflicted over whether I liked it or not. 

I thought the story was well-written, interesting, and I liked how it seemlessly merged average life with the supernatural. 

However, I absolutely detested the male protagonist. I loathed his abusive, gaslighting, controlling behaviour and his absolute arrogance. There was literally nothing redeemable about him, and yet I kept feeling like the story wanted me to find him sympathetic? Tragic? Idk what, but I wasn't buying it.

I liked the subtle way a major aspect of the ending (the biggest twist) was alluded to, and I thought it was the right choice for the story. I did, however, feel like a major aspect of the story was just suddenly dropped in a very anticlimactic and unsatisfying way, but perhaps that is explained in the sequel?

One thing I didn't like was how the main female protagonist was this strong, intuitive character one moment and then scripted to be clueless and/or unable to connect obvious dots the next moment. It made her character feel disjointed.

An aspect that I quite liked was the extended family and how willing they were to accept and go with things. That felt really genuine to me. 

Also, Teacake is a great name for a cat!

This was such a wonderfully surreal collection of stories strongly founded in Japanese folklore and culture. 

Many of the tales become darker and darker the more you think on them.

This was such a delightful read! 

I loved the organic feel of the magic involved and the complex family dynamics. 

The characters all felt wonderfully genuine to me, and I became really invested in their stories. 

The spilt narrative between the past and future was well done, and both narrations felt very distinct yet connected. 

I enjoyed both the book and audiobook narrated by Frankie Corzo.

This was such a delightful read! 

I loved the organic feel of the magic involved and the complex family dynamics. 

The characters all felt wonderfully genuine to me, and I became really invested in their stories. 

The spilt narrative between the past and future was well done, and both narrations felt very distinct yet connected. 

I enjoyed both the book and audiobook narrated by Frankie Corzo.