"The breath of new life. The steady pulse in my veins. The long-awaited beat of a heart that's been dead too long. My kindred flame."

I finished this book almost a week ago, and I've been constantly thinking about it ever since; if that's not the telltale sign of a personal 5 star read, then I don't know what is. Each time I bring myself to type of my feelings surrounding the gothic, yet contemporary atmosphere, the haunted, tragic characters, and the dark and disturbing plot of [b:Master of Salt & Bones|50702585|Master of Salt & Bones|Keri Lake|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1586539951l/50702585._SX50_.jpg|75731363], I can't quite find the words to do it justice.

Is this book for everyone? Certainly not. There is an assortment of unsettling factors to this book, including (but not limited to):

physical/verbal/sexual abuse of a child, mental health issues due to trauma, the death of a child, corrupt business dealing, consensual non-consent (of a sexual nature and involving physical torture, etc.

. All that to say, this one is part dark age gap romance, part psychological thriller, especially as the final 15% of the book really ramps up to a different pacing than the previous portion of the book. If you enjoy the idea of a modern gothic Phantom of the Opera meets Beauty and the Beast, you've come to the right place.