Don't judge me. This really hit the spot! It was so intensely kinky, and yet there was so much humor and sweetness in the mix. I really loved the MMC in this. Tempted to give it 5 stars, but I thought the sex scenes weren't all created equal and definitely better in the first half of the book than the latter half. Such a good romance/dark romance with interesting characters and dual POV which added a lot for me.

This really suffered from pacing issues and weird plot inconsistencies in the second half of the story. I think the setup and the initial world-building was intriguing and thrilling, and you could see the vision for this story clearly. But I do wish that the editor and Author had spent some time considering how information was presented to the audience and reassessing with a beta group how the inter-personal relationships evolved - not to necessarily make things more predictable or smooth, but to make them more consistent for what was established for a character. I had a bit of weird whiplash going on with a few aspects of this story. Saying that, I actually do want to read the second story, this felt fresh and exciting.

Completely blew me away, Kylie Lee Baker has officially solidified herself as an autobuy author for me with this one. It’s one of those books where you know there’s a million pieces moving under the surface, but you don’t fully see the shape of it until the very end and then it all comes together. The dual timelines (following Lee in the present and Sen in the past) are woven together so seamlessly, and the way their stories echo each other across time is honestly kind of breathtaking. I loved that every detail mattered, even when I didn't realize it yet.

The atmosphere was my favourite aspect. It's so dark, claustrophobic, and deeply unsettling which seems to be Baker's forte when thinking about Bat Eater in comparison. She does descriptive prose and dread so incredibly well. The horror does an incredible job with what’s lurking in the shadows, but also has a focus on grief, history, and the weight of generational trauma. The house itself feels alive, shifting and watching, and the blend of Japanese folklore with this eerie, almost dreamlike storytelling makes everything feel so surreal at the same time. And the characters, especially Lee and Sen, are so painfully human that I couldn't help but get attached. I felt so much pain for them. Their connection, even without romance, carries so much emotionality behind it.

This is horror with a heartbeat. This is the genre Baker absolutely thrives in. It’s so beautifully written, haunting, and genuinely affecting. I needed answers from the very first chapter, and while I was constantly theorizing, it somehow it still managed to surprise me. The author’s note is 100% worth reading after, as well! Just so, so extraordinary.

*Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.