This was a fascinating read! I can see why it comes so highly recommended by people whose opinions on books I trust. This is also a genremash book, with a little bit of lot of stuff thrown in, and done very well. We’ve got horror, fantasy (on the dark end), literary fiction, and a bit of a mystery plot as well.
I will not be talking hugely about the plot, because watching it unfold is too fun to spoil, but this starts off about a woman who is a rare book dealer, tasked by a colleague (after the death of a different colleague) to track down an extremely rare book that will net them both a lot a lot of money. The book is called The Book of the Most Precious Substance, and is rumored to contain a powerful spell activated by sex magic. For many reasons, our main character decides to track down this book, and things get involved.
If you are squeamish about sex, do not read this book. You have been warned. Things get weird.
This is one of those books that I will have to re-read eventually I think, to fully digest its meaning and implications, but it’s also one of those books where you don’t have to do that, because it’s got a wild, fun plot for you to follow as well.
Highly recommend!
SUMMERWEEN 2024
