Immediately after finishing this book, I went and purchased two more copies to give as gifts to people in my life: one for my friend who’s a professional baker, and one for my 11-year-old nephew.

This book has such unexpected depth, despite its absolutely silly premise and youthful first-person narrator. When I first started it, I initially wasn’t sure about reading an entire book from the perspective of such a young main character (14!) who does sound and act her age. I also couldn’t tell if the book’s tone was for me - it’s irreverent, a little dark, and a bit casual about things like murder, whereas I’m more into lighter, cozy, wholesome sort of books. Still, the entertaining narration from our girl Mona and the engaging opening to the book really pulled me in, and I just couldn’t stop reading. And I’m so glad I kept with it!

Kingfisher is such a skilled storyteller, and this story unfolds into a compelling exploration of how hostility against minority groups becomes stoked and normalized, and how we often use the crowning of heroes to distract from the failures of governments, institutions, and people in power. This is all told through the eyes of our young protagonist and somehow maintains a relatively light and humorous tone throughout the book despite the weighty subject matter — not an easy task! Simultaneously full of cozy baking scenes, kiddish hijinks, and a fun magic system, this book somehow exists both as a distinctly political commentary and a whimsical YA fantasy. And surprisingly, it works!

I am really looking forward to gifting this to my kid nephew who I think will be very tickled by the magical gingerbread men and the silly poop scenes and such, but also be gently introduced to some of the deeper themes being subtly explored here around discrimination, the influence of state propaganda, and looking beyond the individual heroes tasked with saving the world to instead interrogate the systems in place that allowed for such problems to transpire in the first place.

Lastly, someone else said this in their review and I completely agree: In this novel kids are kids, and I love that. I think this type of portrayal of young protagonists is important in a genre that often asks children to take up the mantle of being a hero without ever interrogating how that experience might actually impact a child in real life. The author addresses this nuance well, and in that way there’s a lot of food for thought for adult readers of this book as well.

This was my first T. Kingfisher book but definitely won’t be my last. 4.5/5 stars.

This was a very sweet story, though overall it felt a bit underwhelming for me.

The premise of this book really is intriguing, and the writing style to me reads almost like a storybook fairytale or an old fable. There’s a charm and simplicity to it that makes it a joy to read, and also juxtaposes interestingly with the underlying weight of what this story is really about — people who feel so miserable and beaten down and hopeless, perhaps even depressed, that they would be willing to give up their lives for the chance at something different. This emotional truth is touched on, but just barely, and the author keeps the tone light. And once we actually enter the rainfall market, we’re immersed in this fantastical world of magical beings that is truly delightful to explore and really tickles the imagination. Absolute whimsy, lots of quirky and endearing characters, funny bits of dialogue, plenty of adventure and mini quests.

The problem for me is that the meat of the story, once inside the market, starts to feel quite repetitive or even episodic once Serin begins to evaluate each of the possible “perfect life” options she considers. It kind of reminds me of a slice-of-life video game or a wholesome spin on a “monster of the week” type TV show, or like A Christmas Carol but with a lot more than 3 ghosts. I actually think this would do really well as an animated film or game, because while reading the similar structure over and over starts to drag after a while, as a visual or interactive experience I think the charm of the characters, tone, world building details, and mini quests would really shine.

The ending and overall message isn’t revolutionary, but I think it does satisfy. It’s hopeful, heartwarming, and a helpfully grounding reminder of something I think we all already know but often forget.

I think this book might be better suited to a YA audience, but tbh I think most adults also need to hear this message again every now and then, and You Yeong-Gwang delivers it packaged in such a fun little magical adventure. It’s a pretty short, quick read too. I would recommend it if you’re looking for the lightest and fluffiest of feel-good stories, or for anyone who is feeling a little unsure or dissatisfied about their life path or simply reflecting on what a “success” really means to them.

I think giving this 2 stars would be a little too harsh (I did like it!), but when I think of this in comparison to other books I’ve rated a 3, I feel the need to knock it down a click. So this is where I’ve landed, though I may round up later, who knows! 2.5/5 stars.

"It’s difficult to explain what happens when I pick up a charcoal stick or a paintbrush. I can tell you the world changes. I see things one way when I’m not working, and an entirely different way when I am. Faces become not-faces, structures composed of light and shadow, shapes and angles and texture. The deep luminous glow of an iris where the light hits it from the window becomes exquisitely compelling. I hunger for the shadow that falls diagonally across my subject’s collar, the fine lighter filaments in his hair ablaze like thread-of-gold. My mind and hand become possessed. I paint not because I want to, not because I’m good at it, but because it is what I must do, what I live and breathe, what I was made for."

Romance aside, this story is a lovely little ode to human craft.

This was my first romantasy read, and as someone who tends to become completely absorbed by the romantic subplots in broader fictional series, I was surprised by how uninterested I was in this love story. I don’t mind predictable or indulgent romantic plot lines at all, but the romance between these two characters just wasn’t very compelling or entertaining for me. Rook’s character is pretty endearing though, and his contrast with Isobel’s levelheadedness did produce some charming moments.

Much more interesting to me was the world building and the underlying thematic explorations happening beneath the surface. I didn’t really expect to get anything too deep from a book like this, but its take on the fae and their relationship to humans did offer some surprisingly thoughtful reflections about human craft, mortality, and materialism. In the age of gen-AI threatening human art, this story about the irreplaceable beauty and power of human creativity really resonated.

Relatedly, some of the descriptions of the artist’s mind are just so lovely and intriguing. I really enjoyed being inside Isobel’s stream of consciousness as she paints - the way her thoughts mirror the stroke of her hand, shifting from lengthy inner monologues into brief words and phrases in quick succession just like the hand does as it sketches. Her frustration around not capturing the look in a subject’s eyes just right, and the moment when she finally figures out how to correct it. Rogerson’s writing beautifully brings her process to life. Honestly I found myself feeling moved to pick up a pencil myself and start drawing!

All this being said, I do dock my rating because all these best elements of the book are a bit buried in a somewhat milquetoast plot. The overarching story does deliver in the end, but the pace goes from being pretty fast and interesting at the beginning to being a bit of a drag in the middle before finally picking back up again later in the book. There are parts during the adventuring/journeying phase of this story that I sort of just skimmed.

Lastly, I must mention that this is a YA book, and our lead is indeed a teenage girl with a centuries-old male love interest. Blerrhghghg. I just aged her up in my head.

Though not without its imperfections and problematic aspects, there’s plenty to enjoy about this book. I would recommend it if you’re looking for a light and fluffy one-and-done fantasy set in an enchanting and intriguing world, with low stakes but a few interesting ideas to chew on. 3/5 stars.