hahahaha I did not pay attention to the book's backmatter and so did not realize that this was a PREQUEL until I got to the AFTERWORD and then I was like WHOA

also now that I know it's a prequel I'm a little bummed tbh

Spoiler

for Clariel I mean, because I liked her so much! so it's a bummer that she ends up being Chlorr of the Mask and fucking things up!

I was also a little bummed when I first started reading this because it was so different from the first 3 books but I got into it and really enjoyed it. I love it when lady characters get to be the grumpy loners!! GRUMPY LONERS FOR LIFE

Spoiler

except when they become semi-immortal necromancers or whatever