This was a fun swashbuckling adventure about gender equality and family dynamics. Of the books in this series (which I’ve now read in its entirety) this was one of my favorites. It had a broader scope and I felt it did more with its messaging. It didn’t try as hard to be funny which worked in its favor. I liked this series. It was fun and lighthearted and a great way to take in a version of history that isn’t as awful as it was in reality.

This short book said so much. There were points where it felt too real…too much like it wasn’t set that far into the future. In that way, it hurt a bit to read. But ultimately it was a sweet story that left me feeling hopeful and full of empathy. I loved the characters and their resilience and the focus on building community. Excellent read.

I’ve now finished the entire series and can say that this was definitely my least favorite. It was harder to get through…the pacing at the beginning felt odd and the 3rd POV character wasn’t introduced until later which I think messed up the magic formula found in the other books by these authors. I was also annoyed by the use of “imaginary” in the title because she wasn’t imaginary…she was imagining. On that note, I did enjoy the “imagination as magic” soft magic system. But overall this lacked something the other books got right.

This gave some clues to the greater mystery I must’ve missed in the show. As always, I enjoyed Maomao and seeing the way her mind works. She’s an amazing female lead character.

I’ve been enjoying this series (anime and manga). The manga adds a little context here and there but they are very similar. I love Maomao. She’s running the place but too humble to think so. I’m not saying she is, but as a neurodivergent reader I connect with her hyperfixation on her special interest, her ability to see patterns where others do not, and bluntness. Jinshi creeps me out a bit…a lot sometimes. But I keep reading for the mystery and intrigue and a female protagonist who saves the day all on her own.

I’ve been enjoying these books by Hand, Ashton, and Meadows. They’re fun, light reads, with decent pacing. I especially enjoy the twists on history when I’m familiar with actual events and figures - makes the authors’ disregard funnier. I agree with other reviewers that this wasn’t quite on the level as My Lady Jane, but I laughed out loud more than once so I consider it a reading win. It’s not perfect, but it’s actually what it should be.

I loved this book! It’s a character-driven fantasy. It ends on quite a cliffhanger, so I can’t wait for the next one in the series (seriously, be prepared to cancel your plans when you get to the last act, you won’t be able to put it down). I enjoyed the characters and thought they felt relatable. It has 3 POVs and I feel the author managed them beautifully. The baddie is complex and I felt for her, so I’m glad she had some “screen time” as a POV character. The cover design is stunning.

Very cozy. I enjoyed the diverse cast and ND representation. The opening lines were amazing and I loved the magic system. It touched on several very real issues without reservation. It felt honest and relatable and heartfelt. Bonus points for weird animal companions.

Fun! I really enjoy India Holton’s books! This was a lighthearted romance/adventure and had great pacing. I loved the characters and found them very relatable (FMC feels like she may be ADHD like me, where MMC has some OCD tendencies) - I felt seen and like I understood them and their chaos/conflict all the more. It felt a little heavy handed on some of the jokes/puns but did I laugh out loud? Yes. Yes I did. Many times throughout listening. Audiobook narrator was great, had excellent timing and carried out the goat’s lines with grace and humor. Overall I had a really fun time listening to this and look forward to Holton’s next book!