I LOVED THIS BOOK. I've been putting off reading this for a while, now. Basically since I realized McGuire had written an entire little series under the penname A. Deborah Baker that is mentioned in two of her other books, Middlegame and Seasonal Fears. It felt like finally getting to know these little cameo'd characters from the series that I love so much. Have I mentioned that McGuire's brain never ceases to amaze me? I haven't met a book she's written that I've disliked.

We follow our two main characters who have never met before, Zib and Avery, on a not-so-average day where they encounter a huge wall they have never seen before. They ultimately decide the only way to steer past this wall is to go up-and-over it. They end up in an enchanting (dangerous??) land full of creatures who are unbelievable and seem absolutely impossible, taking them on a journey they weren't prepared for in the slightest, but which they must pursue nonetheless.

The style of writing and the way McGuire introduces her characters and storylines is highly reminiscent of her Wayward Children series, so I would highly recommend this to those who have read and enjoyed those. Otherwise, the fantastical elements made me nostalgic for stories like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Wizard of Oz. I could easily picture myself enraptured by this story in my youth (though I'm really enthralled by it now, as an adult). For those of you who have read the Alchemical Journeys series so far, pick up this book! I can't wait to devour the next one!