The captivating prose pull you immediately into the story, the surroundings are so well described you feel as though you’re seeing it and experiencing it for yourself. Kruse has created a sense of place perfectly.
Willow is the main protagonist, she is a complicated character who has been through an intense and traumatic childhood. Her straight-talking, no-nonsense approach has you warming to her, and I was rooting for her and hoping a good outcome was possible in the situation she finds herself in.
Neglectful parents, abusive step-parents and a damaging childhood lead to her running away as a teenager to save herself from the helpless situation she’s in. As a result, the main person she cares about, her sister Ellie, is left behind. Willow carries a lot of guilt and regret over the way her relationship with her sister evolves.
A coded message that only Ellie would know has Willow travelling half way around the world to get to her. Ellie’s not answering calls, hasn’t been seen in weeks, and it sounds like she’s in trouble. Willow embarks on an unrelenting, desperate journey fraught with danger to find her. We see the depth of her love for her sister and the lengths she’s willing to go to. Nothing is as it seems – there’s subterfuge, corruption, manipulation, and betrayal at play – will Willow be able to work out the truth in time?
I was gripped by Willow’s search for clues as to Ellie’s whereabouts, she questions the locals who know her, visits places she’s been to, and realises she may not know Ellie as well as she thought. The dots aren’t quite joining up and others seem to be disappearing.
I loved that the story’s told from multiple points of view. We get to see what’s happening and experience it from different characters’ perspectives which gives momentum to the narrative, and creates a sense of events flowing in real time. This increases the suspense and intrigue as we see glimpses of the overall picture although it remains a blur, and it raises so many questions!
I enjoyed getting to know the other characters – Goddard comes across as a caring, nice guy looking to help but is there more to him than meets the eye? The mysterious Raven is a violent, deranged character but where does she fit into the mix? Harrison and Ruby are likeable characters who want to help Willow and be there for her to support her in what she’s going through.
The plot is so well crafted – the truth is slowly revealed to the reader. There are so many interconnecting layers to the story, you pull on a thread and it keeps unravelling. I couldn’t stop reading as I needed to know the answers!
Many compelling themes are explored – how the people we love and depend on the most can be the ones to let us down, how we don’t always appreciate what we have until it’s a thing of the past, how one choice/action can spiral into unintended consequences, how knowledge can be wielded as a weapon, and the power of words and how they can’t be taken back once they are out in the world.
Kruse creates a raw, emotional, and at times, a dark and haunting story which engulfs the reader in its twisty clutches. It’s an addictive read that reels you in and culminates in a shocking and unpredictable outcome.
With thanks to @rararesources and @Krusegowerwrite for a place on the tour and the opportunity to read and review this book