Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

This is a magical YA book with hints of romance/potential romance. When I first started this book I had a difficult time getting into it as it seemed it began in an odd location. But after literally the first (maybe second chapter) the pace seemed to pick up quicker and I had trouble putting it down. This book is a legit fairytale come to life. And I do not believe I have ever read a book like it. It felt as so much happened in such a short time period. I believe only a few days or so? And it was such an adventure! And I am utterly obsessed with the take on magic and what it became. I felt as if there were a few instances where I was lost, especially with the concept of mettle. It didn’t feel it was explained until quite later on, which might have been the intention just wasn’t my preference.

SPOILER: There were a couple of instances in the book that I felt were unnecessary. The first is Nan's death. Nan completely died for no reason considering Maude still ended up getting mettle poisoning. Another instance was how Odette and Maude decided to just stop being friends. I get that it may have been necessary for character growth, but I feel Wilkinson could have waited until Book Two where Maude "recaps" what has happened since the last book and say something like "It's been two months and I have not heard from Odette...safe to say we are not friends". It just seems like Maude went through so much for their friendship/for Odette in general for nothing besides character growth.

END SPOILER

This is definitely a unique, magic-filled book, and I can definitely say I enjoyed it. I can honestly say I was not sure I would expect it as much but I feel the concept of Sicklehurst and Maude's story-telling abilities is just a very interesting way to portray magic. I am under the impression there is a book two, (I could be wrong) but if there is a book two, I am very interested to see where Wilkinson will go with the story.

I do recommend this book if you like fantasy, fairytales, and magic.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

• A fairy tale come to life

• A determined FMC

• Slow beginning

• The reader learns most information via flashbacks throughout the story