Masterful ... It is in the experience of mourning and the marks it leaves on the soul that Giddings’ luxuriously dreamy prose really shines ... Slow and poetic, its almost hypnotic style eschews sentimentality for experience and wonder, reminding us that while the truth might be out there, it rarely takes the form that we expect.
A brilliant, magical tale of grief and growth ... Giddings has created a world that feels both extremely relatable and unknowingly mystical, Ayanna’s meditations on grief, love, and belonging mixing seamlessly with ghosts, alien drugs, and door cults. The writing is an engaging mix of witty and cutting, moving between laugh-out-loud moments and deep, gut-punching scenes without missing a beat. The characters have great depth, and Ayanna’s college experiences, especially, stand out for a touching mix of standard early 20s angst, deep depression, and the feeling of freedom that comes with being an adult for the first time.
Mesmerizing ... Giddings grounds the ethereal narrative with strong character work and wry narration as it builds to a stunning conclusion. Readers will be enthralled and left with much to ponder.
