Jodi is in excruciating pain. She'll do anything to reconnect with her baby, Ella. What better time than when the veil between her world and Ella's is thinnest? Where she saw her Ella last, where she took her last breath. It is the Hungry Ghost Moon but, Sarah is with her. Her best friend would never steer her wrong, she knows this is is going to be good for Jodi. Camping out in the Chinese Garden and Ghost Museum might be a little risky but, it's worth it for the chance at some semblance of closure. Until Jodi hears her. Ella, her baby calling to her..."Mama." but, something is off. Ella sounds nervous, fearful. There's something [someone] else far more sinister shuffling through the garden, who's been waiting for centuries.

Bound Feet is a gut punch of a debut from Kelsea Yu. Everything is crafted with an eye for detail and care that left my jaw on the floor. Careful descriptions of the setting and characters result in stunning imagery throughout the entirety of the story, it is so so clear that Yu chose words intently, pointedly. She wants the reader to see what she saw, and the clarity of that vision hasn't left my mind yet. All senses are tormented: disgusting sounds, sights, and smells are expressed with repulsive detail.

Eeriness rolls in subtly but settles, proving to swallow the narrative up quickly, eating it alive. This progression is perfect, slowly leading the reader down the path to doom. The plot takes twists and turns I never would have anticipated but, make more sense than not. Everything falls perfectly into place, moving at a pace that kept me zoned in from start to finish.

So that I won't divulge too much information I'll stop here to say: READ Bound Feet!