I absolutely loved this one! It’s got all the magic and mystery you’d want from a fantasy novel, but what really stuck with me was the friendships the author weaves. They’re not perfect or easy, and that’s exactly what makes them so good. The characters argue, grow apart, come back together, and actually feel like real people trying their best to stay connected while everything around them is falling apart. There’s such a strong emotional core to this book. The friendships are messy and complicated, but full of love and loyalty too, everything about them felt so real despite the magic surrounding them. 

If you grew up loving Harry Potter but want something that digs a little deeper into relationships and growing up, this is a great pick. It’s still got that sense of wonder, but with more emotional weight and character depth (and without a terf author)