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flure's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
11corvus11's review against another edition
5.0
Longer review later, but grabbed the audio version of this on a whim when it came across my feed. I have ocd (the real clinical kind not the omg I'm like so ocd kind.) This book was one of the better representations of certain aspects of ocd that many people don't see or understand. It's a bizarre book with interesting characters and the narrator was perfect.
kirnet's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I adored this book. It's rare that I read a thriller that I don't figure out, but the use of Katrina's delusions and the mirror world were well done and kept me hooked throughout the book. I had no clue where any of it was going.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Minor: Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia
kli321's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
fruitonthemind's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
hayleyrhiannon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kimobim's review against another edition
4.0
I got this as an ARC and I think I’ve found a new author to follow! Dong did an excellent job weaving culture, mental illness and family trauma into what turned into a very interesting story. It took a little bit to get into because the beginning was heavy with background set up including a fantasy world. As one who doesn’t enjoy the fantasy genre I was concerned that it would just get heavier as the book went on, but Dong flawlessly weaved it into the story. I definitely was not ready for what the story became. Song kept it interesting until the very last page. Just when you think you have it figured out…twist!
sweet_mangocake's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
3.25 out of 5 stars.
Well, well, well. This book was a rollercoaster but not in the kind you're thinking of. The me at the start of this book would be surprised at the 3.25 rating, because I was so tempted to DNF it, but things sort of turned around...
This book tries to tackle <i> a lot... </i> and I won't say that it fully fleshes out everything it tackles. My major concern/feedback for this book is just how disconnected it feels. It feels like three different stories have been put together, and one of the three stories is rushed in the very end---in the last 40 pages or so. But Katrina's fresh character/perspective, thrilling writing, and the middle half of the book proved to be an amazing experience.
Katrina and I have a bit in common—I wouldn't say I am as superstitious as her with sigils, the number 11, and etc. but I would definitely say she's just as mentally fragile as me. She's the type of person who needs the day to feel right, in order for her to do things. One bad thing can go wrong and the whole system is ruptrured. I have never read a character that was so interesting as her—and frankly, I don't think I am doing her character justice since there is still so much about her complexity I have to fathom. She was a very creative spin on mystery thriller female protoganists because she would be investigating Kurt one moment and having a breakdown or escaping to her kitchen-door world the next. Though I say she's "mentally fragile," that is not a testament to her strength. As a reader, Dong does a great job portraying a realistic viewpoint of neurodivergency and mental conditions through the amount of times we see Katrina trying her best to get back up. Her depression rooms, seeing mushrooms, etc. all make sense and all feel real. Neurodivergent women can also be noteworthy and enjoyable detectives hunting down stalkers!
Now, I do mean it when I say that I am not able to fathom Katrina's complexity. This is due to my lack of understanding of the kitchen-door world. Dong does mention the workings of the kitchen-door world a couple times, but I did not understand it... even when the book finished. Whether it's the narration occurring too quickly—and we as readers have to keep up with Katrina's racing thoughts and existing familiarity with Mi-hee's story—or it was just my lack of comprehension, I fully admit to not being able to enjoy the kitchen-world story. It is a big part of Katrina's identity and I probably would have had a more enjoyable experience if I had understood. But I will say that the focus of the kitchen-world is not consistent. Part of the reason I wanted to DNF at the beginning was because there was so much information about the kitchen-world story and not much Kurt or Leoni. Then the story switches entirely to focus on the fast-paced mystery, and Dong throws the kitchen-world here and there but doesn't let this part of Katrina's identity full develop into something... tangible? If that's the word. It's simply a personality trait Katrina has to make her unique and I feel like it didn't add much to the plot itself—despite the heavy emphasis around it. Perhaps overcoming the kitchen-world is something that counts, but Maria Dong can do far better than that.
Much of the book also feels filler, which is the main reason I felt like I was reading 3 (or more) different stories. The story firsts starts off as fantasy-ish, with the heavy emphasis on the kitchen-world. Then we have some mental health realism aspect. Then it feels like we may have a potential critique(?) of the corporate world, with Katrina's badge and checking in with her emails plot points. Then we go full on mystery and unveiling secrets from the past. Then we go to some dark themes and an abrupt ending that doesn't fully match with any of those themes. Even though I hate him, Kurt maybe could've gotten more pages? And Leoni... I know Dong wanted that reveal to be a mystery but what happened at the ending feels so disconnected to the Leoni at the start. A good mystery leaves the tiniest clues, to go back. It felt like Dong was reaching for an ending with that so I was slightly disappointed (along with how rushed it felt). I don't know... most of the book felt jagged.
The diversity aspect is something you don't see much in books, and Maria Dong did a good job on that (except 1 part). I loved the queer Indian Sunder, and the Indian coworker Navya (so much Indian representation!!), and I especially loved the endearing Korean parents of Katrina. It was so wholesome to read about their reunion but the one critique I had was how quickly they made up. It didn't add much sense, but Maria Dong needed to get to the point so I kind of get it? But those two (and how they had the vegan eggs for Katrina!!) were really well done as Katrina swings back and forth with her dueling identities.
So yeah. This book would almost put me in a book slump, revive me, and put me back in again. It was kind of a chore to get through, but ultimately, I'm rooting for my girl Katrina Kim. Be your best liar, dreamer, thief self girly.