Character (3.5/5)
Plot & Pacing (3/5)
Setting & Surroundings (3/5)
Dialogue & Diction (3.5/5)
Craft & Voice (3/5)
Reading Experience (3/5)

Final Rating:
3.2/5

Comments:
This was a very middle-of-the-road book for me, and that's OK. There were elements that really stood out as being good on their own. The rural setting, the almost literary quality of the language and writing, the characters that mostly defied stereotypes in fresh ways, and even the treatment of rot and death as horror elements. Unfortunately, the overall story never really rose to be greater than the sum of its parts. There was a lot of disconnect between the plot and the main character's internal stakes, in my opinion, and long stretches where it felt like the book didn't know what it was trying to be. I mentioned the literary quality of the writing...and that's a good thing, except that it was borderline purple prose, almost every other sentence. It was like there was a solid, straightforward version of the book, and then someone said "Now let's go back through and add fancy words to every other sentence to try and elevate it." And sometimes, that elevation is just not needed, and can be distracting. There's some cool stuff here. Lots of spooky vibes, some good characterization. I just don't feel it came together as masterfully as it could/should have in the end. I do think a lot of horror fans might find this enjoyable. Especially fans of rural settings and teens who defy stereotype.