mˈiːnwaɪl, pˈætɹɪk mə ɡɹˈæθ, ɹˈaɪɾɪŋ fɚðə nˈuː jˈɔːɹk tˈaɪmz, kəŋklˈuːdᵻd ðætðə nˈɑːvəl wʌz "dˈɛns ænd dˈɪfɪkəlt, ɐ nˈɑːvəl ðæt fɹʌstɹˈeɪts æɾ ˈɛvɹi tˈɜːn" ænd wɪðˈaʊt "ˌɛni klˈɪɹ nˈæɹətˌɪv ɹˌɛzəlˈuːʃən".
Meanwhile, Patrick McGrath, writing for The New York Times, concluded that the novel was "dense and difficult, a novel that frustrates at every turn" and without "any clear narrative resolution".