Zylia Moss is an aloof young girl, who spends much time alone. She stumbles upon a mystery, and gets drawn in to learning about the disappearance of her great-aunt. Solving this mystery may just be the key to keeping Zylia herself from fading away into obscurity.

This was a lovely read! I really appreciated Zylia. Being an extreme introvert myself, I grok the feeling of being near invisible, of having low self-esteem, and if the panic that can ensure when such an introvert is not given sufficient warning beforehand to be able to process stressful situations/change. That’s not always possible of course. I truly felt her struggles, both inner and outer, and was drawn deep into this story by a protagonist I could sympathise with so well.

There was, to me, a double meaning to Zylia’s fading away. Not only was it literally, which was at the root of the mystery, but it’s a good analogy of how those with low self-esteem, and a low sense of self-worth can retreat further and further thanks to depression. I guess that’s what I get for reading a non-fiction ethnography of teen suicide at the same time.

I loved the mystery, and it’s touches of fantasy and the paranormal. There was somewhat of an X-Files-ish vibe for me, the same elements that make me love that show. Everything meshes nicely, keeping the mystery vibrant and fresh, while never giving too much away. This was a beautiful coming-of-age tale with deep psychological undertone regarding family dynamics, and personal growth.

***Many thanks to R & R Blog Tours and the author for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.