So this was pitched as Project Runway meets Mulan but I failed to comprehend that, those influences were only the first 1/3 of the book. She's unmasked as a girl before the halfway mark! The sewing competition is done before the halfway mark!

I really enjoyed (hold your breath) the romance.

It was just good! I don't know what to tell you! The two had a lot of chemistry translate to me as a reader though it does make me question where the line is for YA? Are we cool with a 17 year old hooking up with a 500 year old bird-man?

I thought the world wasn't overly developed but enough information on the politics and geography for me to comprehend why the political marriage is happening and to see that there's clearly some tension between everyone.

I know some people were claiming the book was ableist and I wanted to watch for that so I made sure to listen along to the audiobook to get the updated book (instead of my ARC). While I am absolutely not an ownvoices reviewer, I don't really see any of that. The main character has a brother with a limp and when she impersonates him to enter the competition to become the royal sewer/designer/fashion person, she imitates a limp. At no point did it seem like she was mocking that. At some points she forgets to limp while running from a fire. She doesn't continue to do it around her boyfriend once she and he are adventuring because he knows she is not her brother (i.e. no longer impersonating).

I will definitely be picking up the sequel