Note: I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing that stood up and really made itself apparent when I started reading this book was the writing style. It hooked me in immediately. Lindsay Merbaum fashioned a story with words designed to make you feel something. I'll be honest, those feelings aren't always great. But in hindsight, I think that was the point. Merbaum constructed the stories in this book in a way that forces you to try to reconcile them, and I'm excited to see anything else that Merbaum writes.

When I was reading the summary for this book, three things became instantly noticeable: queer, feminist, horror. All together. In one, nice package right here in front of me. This really did read like a queer, feminist, horror book. The plot was engaging and fast-paced. The discomfort of all the characters is apparent, but there were a few flaws with this.

I will admit, I did not understand everything about the book. Split into three sections, with two narrators (Clytemnestra - she/her - and Jaime - they/them), there was a certain disconnect that didn't make a lot of sense to me. While the summary makes it seem like Jaime and Cly are in some way connected, it doesn't read like that. Maybe I missed something, but it felt like two incredibly separate narratives that only were related by the fact that they were queer and set in a hotel (though two different hotels). However, both stories are compelling. Both are linked in that our two main characters go through grief, have to reconcile with family and trauma, and learn what, and who, they really are. Different faces are shown to different people as both grapple with the differences in what others can see.

My biggest problem with the book was simply the structure. The plots themselves were intriguing and kept me interested, but I didn't much enjoy the almost lurching feeling of going from Clytemnestra and her lover, Edith, to a completely new narrative found with Jaime. The ending to each of their stories left a lot of questions, and didn't feel resolved. I'm okay with a book that has both of those, but I feel like the ending was the weakest part of the book. That being said, though, I'm not usually a fan of thrillers or horror books, so maybe that was just my reading experience. A reader who enjoys those types of endings may find more out of it than I did.

Overall, I do think anyone interested in the premise will at the bare minimum enjoy the experience of reading it. I don't usually go for a thriller or a horror book, but I was still drawn in and deeply engaged with the characters. I may not have fully understood it, but I did understand my own feelings reading the book. I encourage you all to give it a shot.