The latest addition to a series that has very much enveloped me in a warm and comforting hug.

I love these books. On the surface they are light-hearted and easy to read, full of characters to root for and enjoyable little mysteries and twists. Beneath that lies the rich and complex multiverse that Genevieve Cogman has created for us to enjoy with each book peeling back another layer, revealing more nuance, more depth and more intrigue with every addition to the series.

I’ve described these books as ‘comfort reading’ and, though it wasn’t intended as such, it does them a disservice. Genevieve Cogman has created a series that captures everything I love about middle-grade but for grown-ups, simultaneously skipping all the angst and overdone romance YA can be guilty of but also the violence, sex and swearing that often constitutes the ‘grit’ of adult fantasy. It’s whimsical, fun and sometimes a bit daft but in a totally intentional way... and with a very capable, very intelligent and very loveable female protagonist with a knack for getting herself into trouble and back out of it again.

The Secret Chapter was a great addition to the series as the characters you’ve come to love become embroiled in a heist that comes with some unexpected obstacles and consequences. I don’t say much more than that, but this one did come with some very funny social commentary that I thoroughly enjoyed.

If you haven’t already encountered the series, I highly recommend them for an easy, comforting and rewarding bit of reading.