3.5. REALLY enjoyed this. The gothic vibes were great and it clearly was lovingly inspired by classics of the genre such as The Fall of the House of Usher, The Turn of the Screw, etc. I spotted smaller references at times as well, such as The Yellow Wallpaper, and I’m sure I missed plenty. I loved the idea of the ghost companions, the obsessive affection and love between the characters, the inherent decay of it all. I really enjoyed the back and forth between the story, and the notes from a doctor after the denouement that hinted at the tragedy. Sometimes that writing device annoys me because I feel like it undercuts the tensions and mystery, but it worked for me here. I also enjoyed how the author had a tight grip on the main character’s issues, where they were coming from, and why she acted a certain way. It made her bad decisions make sense, which is less frustrating than when characters act stupidly for no apparent reason. It sagged a little in the middle, pacing-wise. My only disappointment was in the ending. I felt a little let down by it after such a build up. It was anti-climactic in my opinion, but I mostly forgive it because this is exactly the book I needed and wanted at the time.