I am a huge fan of books with a magical/supernatural element. I don't believe that this book was as supernatural as it appears to be on the surface. The most obvious supernatural elements would be the bees and the mist. I believe that the bees were actually mean/ harsh words and simply wishing ill will upon another. I think the mist is actually just a wall that someone builds in between himself/herself and others to keep himself/herself from being hurt.
What I did have some trouble understanding were the other supernatural elements in the book. I didn't quite understand Permony's vision of her husband as an animal violating young women. I can't seem to think of an rational explanation for this.
I do believe that we all have both bees and mist. The question is more whether or not we choose to use them. We all have the potential to say hurtful/harsh things. At some point we have all thought hurtful things. We don't all choose to manifest these thoughts. I think the same thing about the mists. I believe that everyone builds walls for self perservation. Yet, some of us are more secretive and defensive than others.
