How do I even rate this book? I'm hovering somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but for the first half of this book I was certain I was going to give it 5. I still think this novel was a love letter to Ravenclaws - it had SO MUCH to be giddy over. There were so many references and allusions that I felt like I was on an Easter Egg hunt. It was rich with the coziest descriptions, observations, and bookish delights. How many times did I squeal and say to my husband, "this book was written just for me!"?? Not to mention the cocktails. So many amazing cocktails!

But the second half of the book didn't work so well for me. The world that Morgenstern built was complicated and amazing -- I will have to reread this in a few years to really feel like I understand it. But because it was so complex, I felt a little lost about who was supposed to be who. And what everyone was doing. And who's the villain again? Where are they going? What's the goal?

So I loved this for all of the amazing details but wasn't wild about the quest. But maybe if I read it again I would actually understand what in the world was going on?

Notice that I haven't even described the plot of this story because I don't think I have the ability to do that. This book is totally worth the effort if you want to get lost in some other world. But if you're looking for an EASY escape, then this probably isn't what you're looking for right now.