1.5 stars There are times when I'll read a book that I don't care for, but I think I would've liked when I was younger. I'm not sure if this is one of those books. On one hand, it is an interesting setting for a YA fantasy: Turn of the century England. And there are some very witty moments in this books with regards to the writing. But the story itself lacks depth and direction, and the characters, specifically Gemma, make the worst possible decisions in every circumstance.

I get that they are young women. Young people do dumb things all of the time, especially when authority figures are telling them not to. But Oh My Goodness...these girls just have zero common sense.

There is a super lukewarm romance in this book. Actually, it's not even lukewarm. The dude in question is only in a handful of scenes for fleeting moments here and there. He has zero personality. We know next to nothing about him. Yet Gemma has several fever dreams of him throughout the book and I get the feeling we are supposed to be swoony about him. But there is literally NO relationship to actually speak of.

Mix that in with an unhealthy dose of fat-shaming and self-harm that is never challenged or adequately addressed, and you get a book that is just a mess.

Now, I made the mistake of buying the other two books in the series as well (this and the second were purchased at a library book sale for .50 a piece, the third was a few dollars on book outlet, so it's not like I'm out a bunch of money) so I may give the second one a shot and see if the story improves. I think this was Libba Bray's first published work. I've also read The Diviners, which I thought was just okay, although the writing and storytelling was definitely better than this, so I have hopes. Not high hopes...but hopes.