There is a lot to unpack here with my feelings so I will try to be fair and concise with my review. While I did enjoy the writing style of the author, by the end of the book I was thoroughly aggravated with these characters and I wanted more answers. As noted in the content warning, this is not a book for young readers. There is a lot of dark and sinister things going on throughout the story and you should be prepared. I can’t go into too much detail without giving some major spoilers so just know that this is not a lighthearted book.

A few things I did enjoy about this story were the varying points of view. Olin and Gil find each other as adults after a high school romance ended badly. We are slowly filled in on their past as the story progresses giving unique perspective to the present situation. Gil’s troubled past and Olin’s unanswered questions about their breakup make for a lot of tension.

Truth be told, I feel like the story could have been a bit shorter. There was a lot of back and forth between Olin and Gil that seemed unnecessary. The chemistry between them was clear from the beginning and it felt like chapter after chapter of Gil telling her to go away and Olin refusing to stay away. By the time the story progresses it’s the end of the book and you are left to wait for the next book to get any real answers.

I did enjoy the author’s writing style and beautifully descriptive setting. The actual body painting scenes were so immersive you felt like a fly on the wall in the room. The artistry of the the process came through and was really interesting to read. The chemistry between Olin and Gil was strong, the tension immense, and the unanswered questions plentiful.

I would recommend this story to readers who enjoy a lot of suspense and love/hate relationships. If you enjoy jumping into a storm of drama and mystery then this is the book for you.