Everything in this novel is extreme. Be it the frugality of nuns or defiance of the monk. 
 The first half of the book is incredibly slow and gets draggy with too detailed back story and exploits of society. Once the monk, Ambrosio, comes into play, the story picks up its pace and delivers the creepiness hard and fast. 
 He is easy to dislike. The woman he associates with regularly generates some sympathy in the beginning but later on she is almost villainous in her actions. She helps him in his deviant ways of seducing a young girl only that its a path of damnation she is taking him to. 
 Treatment of women is beyond sub par in this book. Lorenzo wants to "possess" Antonia and take her away to country. He keeps repeating it to his friend. Agnes comes upon one bad circumstance after another with every decision made on her behalf, the way she progresses in the story is abysmal. Ambrosio blames Matilda for his own lust. After the first time he bemoans his lack in judgment, blames her for that and continues the act saying "enjoy the fruit of crime"! Women in this book are either manipulative, has an ulterior agenda, jealous or plain superficial. 
 The overarching theme of both the storyline in this book is about sex and the way the characters take their places at the fringes of morality. Each character poses a persona in public but practices a much immoral (?) one in private. The hypocrisy is blatant from the first volume of this book and becomes a recurring theme around all characters. 
 The ending is satisfying to say the least. Writing changes its pace greatly after chapter 8 and resumes the genre of psychological thriller. 
 Its easy to detest the characters and their actions. Its impossible to ignore how even after two centuries, they are still pertinent.