In Rose’s YA fantasy novel, the lives of a goddess from ancient Greece and a high school senior intertwine in the space between sleep and waking.

The goddess Lethe is Morpheus’ sister as well as the personification of oblivion. She’s always given humans anything they wanted “as long as it helped them think less, feel less, want less.” However, her dominion now stands empty, her realm rarely visited until very recently, when the sleeping soul of a teenage boy crosses over into it and keeps coming back. She wonders if he can stay forever. The boy, Owen Butler, is having a tough time; he’s spending his summer before senior year attending remedial classes while suffering the pain of unrequited love for another boy at school and worrying about an art project. Lately, he has been feeling bone-tired, his mind confused and foggy, and when he falls asleep, he visits a mysterious woman on the banks of a river; near her, he finds no pain or disappointment—only quiet. Rose’s story takes readers on a journey that mixes Greek mythology and fantasy elements, infusing both with themes that relate to memory, trauma, and fear: “Most humans spend their whole lives hiding from their pain, from their fear, from the parts of themselves they don’t want to know.” It’s an intriguing tale made even more interesting by how Owen, as a character, is often blurry and undefined—a deft twist of characterization that matches his narrative development, as every time he visits Lethe, he leaves something of himself behind. However, Owen also has a close-knit family, good friends, and a love for art that helps him find footing back in the waking world; as the story progresses, his growth leads to a satisfying ending. Secondary characters are also well sketched, and Owen’s artwork offers a fun nod to the imagery of tarot cards.

A dreamlike and hazy but sharply memorable tale.