Her best novel. I wish she’d write more like this. Characters are ALL loveable—even the ones we’re meant to despise have qualities that help us understand and sympathise. Nina and Valerie steal you from the start, and Hector? —well. We have words for Hector, and Nina says them all. (No spoilers.)

From the first paragraph we’re flung into the midst of this world and this story, and it spins us round in a Georgian-era-style fantasy setting that’s not quite British nor French nor European at all but has similarities. The same gender-oppressive narrative from our own history prevails in these pages, and the hints of other oppressions sneak up also. So we can relate. And we don’t know who to root for at times, but we’re twisted several ways before we land and settle, and even then…

Oh! The magic! It’s there in the pages, but so nonchalant it’s something we accept as normal and marginalised all at once—and that makes you ask what other bits and pieces of humanity on our side of reality we’ve accepted and normalised while still marginalising the ‘magically’ associated humans… very subtle social point there. Very astute.

I read this so fast; this is certainly her most interesting novel. I hope she returns to this world for more stories in future.