I very much enjoyed mood of the story, particularly the reference to the mythological Greek princess, Alcestis. And what better setting than a psychiatric hospital to explore the minds of the disturbed? There was a lot of psychological lingo with good insight into childhood trauma, behaviors, and therapy--all of which made the characters more relatable. (Although I have to say some of the actions of the professionals were ethically questionable.) The twist at the end was definitely unexpected. I had to go back to make sure the author had not contradicted himself (He didn't). Overall, it's a smart book, and I'd definitely give the story 5 stars.
The reason for only 4 stars is the writing. Telling Alicia's story through her supposed diary didn't work for me. I don't think anyone writes in a diary like that. I realize she doesn't speak so the author had to come up with a way--but the lengthy narratives, including a lot of dialogue, weren't convincing as diary entries. Also, there were some minor characters (red herrings) whose characters weren't very developed and who I didn't think added much interest to the story.
The reason for only 4 stars is the writing. Telling Alicia's story through her supposed diary didn't work for me. I don't think anyone writes in a diary like that. I realize she doesn't speak so the author had to come up with a way--but the lengthy narratives, including a lot of dialogue, weren't convincing as diary entries. Also, there were some minor characters (red herrings) whose characters weren't very developed and who I didn't think added much interest to the story.