This grew on me slowly. It's an emotionally mature, slow-burn romance with

a well-crafted love triangle (or two) and a downright Shakespearean villain who orchestrates a dizzyingly dramatic climax.

Think less romance, more romantic drama (although the HEA is still so satisfying). I thought it dragged slightly in the middle, but by the end I'd completely forgotten about that. My biggest critique is that I wish the magic was more central to the plot - I wanted a scene of Hector putting on a show, or possibly more instruction between Hector and Nina.

I cannot stop thinking about Valérie. She was so loathsome and yet still somewhat sympathetic? Or is that just me?