Ominous ... Offers a sharp vision of how racism gets imbibed by its victims like a sweet poison ... As Skyhorse’s clever satire accelerates into a truly terrifying thriller, the most insidious functions of racism appear illuminated in an eerie new light.
Skyhorse took an artistic leap writing from a woman’s point of view in this novel. A risky choice, but writing is about reaching. Iris is nuanced and compelling, though I do wish he had woven in more everyday details about being a woman that could have added texture to the character. Still, it was satisfying to read about a demographic so often invisible, to see a community brought into focus through a woman with an inner life that is layered, confusing and at times unflattering. Narratives like this are rare, and I was grateful for it.
Skyhorse spends a little too much time with his protagonist’s navel-gazing, but the story gathers velocity as Iris slowly runs out of options and the taut ending takes no prisoners. The horror here is that Iris’ experiences are so recognizable and plausible.
Chilling ... Skyhorse seeds his text with plenty of Spanish-language dialogue, especially with Iris's parents and sister; non-Spanish-speaking readers will easily use context clues. In addition to this lovely linguistic texture, Skyhorse imbues his all-too-lifelike novel with fine details ... Terrifying with its proximity to reality ... In addition to being an engrossing, discomfiting tale, this will make an excellent book club selection and fuel for tough conversations.
Skyhorse’s satirical eye is sharp ... Skyhorse doesn’t quite untangle the mysteries he sets up, but he cultivates an engrossing Kafkaesque atmosphere across the novel. A well-imagined allegory of divisive racial politics.
