The plot felt weak and underdeveloped. Scenes rushed by with little build-up, and the dialogue came off stiff and forced. The characters lacked depth, making it hard to care about what was happening. And, honestly, it was hard to follow what was happening. Parts of the story felt jumbled and unclear. It was predictable (even though at parts unclear), and the atmosphere (something that should’ve carried a story like this) just wasn’t there.

This story was absolutely unhinged in a fun, chaotic way. It wasn’t too gross, but honestly, if I hadn’t found it through the Into Shadow series, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. It felt more like a novella than a short story. Pretty long, and some parts dragged. The writing was very descriptive, which helped build the atmosphere, but also made it tiring at times. I had trouble keeping track of all the names, but the world itself was really vivid. To me, it felt like an unhinged and wild mix of The Witcher and Dune. Not exactly my style, but it was well-written with some great twists.

A quietly haunting and atmospheric short story that lingers just enough to unsettle, without demanding too much from the reader. The plot itself feels like it holds back a bit... But there’s a gothic subtlety to it, a sense of mystery and the uncanny that doesn’t rely on jump scares or overt horror, but rather on mood, tone, and suggestion. As part of the Into Shadow series, it stands out significantly. Compared to stories 1 and 2, this entry feels more cohesive and polished. It’s a great read before bed. Not too frightening, not too dense, but rich enough in atmosphere to stir the imagination.

Better than the first story of the series. The writing is more refined but the story is very predictable and has already been said a thousand times before. It's a very common trope. I expected more from it, especially because I am very fond of Persephone references or retellings. Did I hate it? No. Did I love it ? Also no. Would I recommend it to someone? Probably not.

This is a short story that, paradoxically, felt exhaustingly long. I struggled to understand the author's intention, and whatever it may have been, its execution was extremely poor. The language and writing style come across as immature, reminiscent of a teenager’s journal. The poetry interspersed throughout the story feels forced and cringeworthy, evoking the tone of Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, a collection I found similarly off-putting. As an English major, I approach literature and poetry with openness and a critical eye, always aiming to explore themes and intentions through multiple lenses. I value experimental forms and emerging voices, and I try not to dismiss work merely because it challenges conventional norms. However, in this case, the story failed to deliver. It may have had potential I failed to detect, and the execution was sorely lacking.