The characters are really what bring this story alive, otherwise it would be pretty dull. Very much a “no plot just vibes” kind of book. One of the many things I love about the Greenglass House books is the attention to detail when it comes to the interactions between people. Kate Milford tends to favor large casts of unique characters, so observing the relationships between them is one of the most prominent aspects of the story. There’s one scene where she describes how every character enters the room and where they decide to sit, and it feels like you’re getting just a bit of insight into them and their development. 
You can also sense that the characters have history with each other, which might be frustrating and confusing to some but for me it just added to the aura of mystery this book has. 
On top of that you never really know what’s going on or what peoples intentions are until the very end when it’s like all the little hints and puzzle pieces fall together to make one big picture of a cozy, mysterious and mildly unsettling story. 
I forgot how cozy Milford’s writing is, and I was happy to be back in the town of Nagspeake. All in all, very enjoyable and relaxing.