Went in blind. I don’t know if I would have picked up a ya historical dark fantasy book about reapers and shinigami on my own, but I was hooked right away and basically read it in one sitting. The main character is literally and figuratively a kind of monster, but the book does a great job of getting you to understand where she’s coming from. (Though she did infuriate me sometimes).
I don’t know very much about Japanese folklore, but that part of the book was super interesting - and kind of terrifying. (Like scarier versions of the monsters from Spirited Away.) It gets pretty dark - literally and figuratively.
I also could relate to the themes about being mixed race - being part of two worlds, but feeling like you’re not really being 100% accepted in either. Probably the strongest part of the book for me.
The pacing didn’t always work and something felt off about the ending, but it was still a great read.