It took me a little while to get invested in this story, but as the ominous undertones ramped up so did my curiosity and excitement. So many questions come to light as Camellia learns more about her world outside of the bubble in which she was raised, and I could not have asked for a better character to wonder at the myriad unknowns alongside. I love her spirit and that she never lets things go. The clash between her thoughts about what beauty is vs the demands of the people she comes to work with really resonated with me, and was a strong aspect of the story alongside the thrill of uncovering the secrets of court and the book's larger plot. The characters and the worldbuilding are both so good, and once things start rolling the pacing makes it hard not to tear through the story. I cannot wait for more from this series!