This reminded me a lot of my experience reading Viscera by Gabrielle Squalia. Not in narrative tone/style, but they are both so weird and imaginative. It’s very refreshing!

The story had a steampunk feel but dirtier and darker. Things would start to happen on the page (like replacing hoses inside of a person) that would startle me and change my sense of the setting/world without big explanations. It’s not a story with constant horror, but there are some very gory moments and some disturbing things going on.

Sometimes it gets very surreal and dreamlike, reflecting the state of mind of the narrator. So at times it was hard to follow, but I think in intentional ways. I think it would reward a reread.

The prose harkened back to an 1800s ish voice, and this was one of the few times when I appreciated the style of writing in a book. It’s dense and my brain definitely had a hard time slowing down in order to sink into it, but it added to a fantastic gothic atmosphere.

I love a psychological downward spiral in a book, and that’s how this reads. The fact that a parasitic entity is at the center made it all the better.

The ending confused me at first, but I reread it slower. Then I was like ooohh. That’s beautiful! I would love to read more from Ennes in the future.