ohhhh man. this is a book to be savored. I had to spend at least a week and a half on this one because skimming was just simply not an option. The prose ... it's so good. The tone felt almost a combination between gothic and academic while not feeling too pretentious, all while still somehow giving each character their own authentic voice. Amazing. In the beginning, you have no idea what the plot is going to be. It's possible that I was just letting myself be pulled along for the ride, but I never predicted anything that was going to happen, and I very much enjoyed it. Everything in the beginning adds up and builds into a perfect climax, and I think it would be even better on a reread when you know where it's leading. Honestly, the best part of this for me though, is how deeply flawed every one of the women is. Especially considering they're lesbians. I don't often read books where the author is bold enough to give their lesbians flaws, make them morally questionable, make them toxic, and I loved it. This novel just has so much heart put into it. That may be biased, considering I'm a huge fan of VE Schwab and have been before this book, and I've listened to them rant about their love for this book several times, but I can feel the love that went into writing it and the care for this story. In a world where publishing is trying to push books out before they're properly edited, just trying to make a quick buck, this is a giant breath of fresh air. I'm sure I could find a million more things to rant about. It's the best. Please read it.