... sensational ... Gran’s writing, like the grimoire, is palpably seductive. The search for pleasure and magic is an aphrodisiac, one that pulses on the page. Gran’s plotting is hairpin in its curvature, her descriptions of desire sexy and subtle. Like Lily Albrecht, readers have little choice but to follow the book to its sinister conclusion.
... sexy and captivating ... Lily is a sympathetic yet formidable figure. She’s dedicated but still human, alternating between numbness and mourning, loyalty and long-sublimated desire. Gran is uniquely talented at bringing such complex feelings to life. Her writing is effective, economical and moving, and while Lily’s hunt propels the story forward, it is Gran’s frequently exquisite prose that demands investment from its audience ... Readers will ache for Lily and Abel and envy what they once had. Brief but evocative moments reveal not just Lily’s lack but also her desire, and possibly what’s to come. These scenes are just one small part of what makes Gran’s thoughtful and erotically charged thriller so well worth reading.
Sumptuous descriptions of expensive meals, glamorous hotels, and luxurious homes become repetitive, but Lily’s acid narration and gradual reawakening and a 'be careful what you wish for' finale enhance this quest novel.
Sara Gran, the author of this adventure, is a booklover’s writer who clearly revels in the book-within-a-book concept. She includes enough references to actual dark magic books and authors to accompany her fictionalized book to thrill her clever readers or send them happily off to their laptops for side explorations ... We bibliophiles know that books have the power to transform. They transport us. They change us. They surprise and delight us. Perhaps that’s why it’s easy for the reader to slip into the premise of the story. We already know that books are magic. Gran’s book feels like a much hipper (and sexier) version of The Da Vinci Code.
... mesmerizing ... Gran perfectly captures the eccentric world of antiquarian bookselling while portraying a profound and magical reckoning with loss and the possibility of going on. She has outdone herself.
