Craig has created an incredible gothic atmosphere in this novel. The first half of the book gave a sense of desperation and eerie tension reminiscent of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. The overwhelming despair and loneliness of Hazel are so palpable that they instantly drew me in. However, by the second half, the tone of the story shifted, and I found myself wishing that more of the book was written with this vibe. With deeper romantic moments and more of Hazel's interactions with others—even if they led to tragedy. I also wanted more exploration of her time at the castle, especially the ballroom scenes. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of Craig's work.

*Thank you to Erin A. Craig,  ​​Random House Children's | Delacorte Press Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.