Interesting take on gaslamp fantasy

Hetty isn't a character you have to like, but she is one you admire. She's used to making hard decisions and not apologizing for them, which on the surface, pushes her into the Strong Black Woman stereotype. When we meet her in this book, she's begun to second guess herself, reflecting on those she had to leave behind as a conductor of the Underground Railroad and why she's shut off her softer emotions with her friends and found family. The magic system was cool, just loose enough for me to not care how it works but tight enough that I bought the usage, attacks, and battles. I enjoyed the use of the "fall in love with my husband" trope, and that the story didn't tie everything up into a 100% happily ever after for Hetty. A solid read!

Kind of an odd story, but in a good way. Definitely has a strong resemblance to Disney's Beauty and the Beast, though I did just hear on her podcast that she didn't have this in mind when writing the book. I feel like she must have watched that movie, and maybe Gremlins, only to fall asleep that night and have the dream that ultimately inspired this book. Easy to read, and the magic system is soft enough that you don't have to question too much. Normally I hate first person narrative, but the fairy tale mood helped me get over that. I'm going to be thinking about this one for a while.

Whimsical ensemble fairy tale

I'm usually a fast reader but this tale slowed me down. I feel like the story was well written, with the occasional word that left me seeking a dictionary... But I wouldn't recommend this to readers who prefer character-driven plots. This is about an entire town, so you never get to really know anyone or care about them, beyond the curiosity of what might happen next due to the fairy fruit. So many names, that I honestly gave up trying to remember who anyone was. I enjoyed the whimsy, I just wish I felt more about the story, and despite the length, many of the core mysteries driving the plot are left unsolved.