The cover and summary don't mention this, but on page one you find out that this is a book in the SCP mythos. SCP is a collaboratively created fictional universe involving a "Foundation" with mind boggling resources that protects an unknowing world from supernatural horrors.

In fact, the first chapter is the relatively well known SCP 055, and the rest of the story is an extension of 055's ideas.

The problem with being part of a shared universe like SCP though is that it's not clear what background reading you need to do to understand what the rules are. The book is mostly self-explanatory but then around 3/4 of the way in a wild new element is introduced that takes the story from low fantasy firmly into high fantasy territory. It definitely sticks the landing though.

There is a big central mystery but we don't get much of our characters (or the reader) being in contention with it so much as them just bumping against it. Also we don't get very much information from inside the characters (in fact, it's not always clear who the POV character is from scene to scene.) I would have appreciated a bit more of that; I think that because the style is ultimately related to creepypasta the goal is to make the reader fill in the feelings with their own fear and doubt.

The message, setup, and especially the ending and lingering questions feel very current, but left me wanting a bit more spelled out-not the mysterious parts, but the mundane parts.

If you're a fan of Control or Primer you may enjoy the sf elements or the horror.