ARC Review❣️

4.5 hearts for me!

This was a slow-paced, deeply unsettling read that had me completely invested in figuring out what was really happening. The story takes its time, but for me, that worked because every detail felt important. Mariam’s memory loss, her return to a home she can barely remember, the strange behaviour of the people around her, and the increasingly disturbing things she discovers kept me questioning everything alongside her. What stayed with me most was the idea of trust. We grow up believing there are certain people we can trust blindly especially our parents. But what happens when the very people who are supposed to protect you are the ones who break that trust? That question made Mariam’s situation even more disturbing, because the horror isn’t just about what is happening around her; it is also about realizing that the people closest to you may not be who you believe they are.

The book is intense, detailed, and at times genuinely upsetting, particularly because of the themes of trauma, abuse, manipulation, and violence. I was especially invested in Mariam’s journey as she slowly tries to piece together her past and understand why her life has always seemed so strangely connected to her home. The psychological aspect really worked for me, the uncertainty, the gaslighting, and the constant feeling that something was terribly wrong made me want to keep reading and understand the truth. The horror gradually becomes more palpable, and the cult-like devotion surrounding the house adds another disturbing layer to the story.

This is definitely not a fast-paced thriller, it is a slow burn that requires patience, but I appreciated how much detail went into building the atmosphere and Mariam’s psychological state. I was too invested in uncovering what had happened, and by the end, I felt that 4.5 stars was absolutely deserved.

A disturbing, atmospheric psychological horror that made me question everything and everyone.

I don't think I've read a "haunted house" book quite like it and I love that.

A psychological horror that truly takes you by the hand as you discover the horrors surrounding Mariam as she herself discovers her past and future. I cannot stress enough how much I loved the ending, but I will not spoil a thing. It was just very cathartic.

Mariam as a main character didn't always grab me quite as much, but that also made her point of view very interesting.

The way that Sanchita goes back and forth between visceral and more psychological horror is a combination I really liked. It was descriptive and the buildup perfect.

The house and town were something that really made my brain keep running even after the story ended. Especially with how isolated Mariam was with her parents as it made me so much more curious about the town itself. This whole story can't have been the only creepy thing going on there, but that might just be me.

I recommend this book for people that like haunted houses that step away from the norm, but also cultlike small towns and psychological thrillers around family.

I will definitely keep my eyes on Sanchita Mitra. Hoping for many more books in the future.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Page Street Horror for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

*Changed the rating from 4.5 to 5 stars on NetGalley as it doesn't do half or quarter points (like Fable and Storygraph) and it deserves more than 4.*