I found this novel off-putting, both in character and content. By the end, I still could not get a solid grip on the two main characters, Loyal and Sasha. The setting of the tale in bayou country was made out to be menacing and evil, which is ok, but it fell more into stereotypes than was needed. There were times when the prose began to be evocative, but then the sentences would lengthen into a confusing end. The whole work felt a little mixed up, perhaps, reflecting the characters' ambivalence about their surroundings and emotional connections, but it did not help the flow of the work. The alternating viewpoints also seemed forced, rather than a natural outpouring of the story line. The writing was engaging at times, creating in me a desire to know the outcome of a plot point, but often added too much side information or backstory before getting there to keep me hooked.

Thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.