bell hooks hates Madonna so fucking much and I think that's really funny (I don't disagree btw, Madonna is a WEIRDOOOOOOO)

Let me start out by saying this book is extremely well written and the story is good! The story definitely felt like it had some elements of Spirited Away, which I enjoyed. There was a lot to like about this book; Moth's interactions with the guests at Deerhaven, Deerhaven itself was very interesting, and I did grow to like the friendship that blossomed between Moth, Birch, and Crow.

Additionally I also enjoyed the dual timelines element of the book, I so love when we're with an MC in the present racing towards something while filling us in on the events of the past. Love it & eat it up every single time. And there was so much to explore thematically with this book. Complicated familial ties, both between Moth and her parents and Moth and her own daughter, how Deerhaven has had Moth's family visit there for one reason or another for three generations. SALAMANDERS!

But, and it pains me to say this, I did not connect with or like Moth. And it's not that she's an admitted unlikable character. Y'all who know me know I love an unlikable female protagonist. However something prevented me from really investing in Moth and I'm not sure what it is. It might be that I couldn't really fathom Moth's motivations in the present. Her past self absolutely constantly had motivations such as wanting to keep her mother safe, wanting a roof over her head, and of course, how can we forget, wanting to smash The Deer Man.

It could be that's what I didn't like about Moth too. She acted really foolish for a lot of the book over a man with antlers on his head and girl, for what??? What did you end up accomplishing at the end of the day? Tell me. Quickly. Something else I have to mention is the ending felt, I don't know, unplanned? Unfinished? You definitely see hints of what's going to happen at the end but then when we get there, it's not really explained beyond a light explanation. I have questions Jen, please answer me!

Lastly, I picked this up thinking there'd be more horror but this book absolutely leans more into the fantasy & gothic elements than the horror. Which is honestly a real shame because the horror that was sprinkled in was GOOD. Like when we see Mr. Oslin in his Deer Man form for the first time, amazing! The ghosts?! I loved them! I would love to see what this author comes out with next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC; all opinions are my own.

Oddly, the same thing that happened with Black Looks happened with this book as well in which the author reuses an excerpt about little boys being asked what they were do if they were the Hulk and they responded "Smash mommy!" Again, I had to check my phone to make sure I hadn't bumped it and accidentally set myself back a few chapters.

Anyways, a very informative read, I've been wanting to read this one for a really long time so I was so excited when my hold on this at the library finally came in!

I really enjoyed this one, the only thing I'll note is at one point the author reuses an excerpt about Josephine Baker shaking her ass like a rattle (not really a phrase you forget honestly) and I had to double check that I hadn't accidentally bumped my phone in my pocket and gone back several chapters.

Other than that, hey, nobody wants to really hear all my thoughts but I learned a lot as per when reading from bell hooks