It's a really fun book.
3 stars
Pretty good examination of (family) trauma and the possibility of reconciliation (or not). Lots of cozyness. Good characterization throughout, of the children as well—it is a bit caricature-y, but, it's a short book for the count of characters. I am pretty sure the main character is intentionally autism-coded.
I liked the way magic is portrayed, even if it veers into cheesy at times.
Like @hollie@social.coop noted, the narrator, Samara MacLaren, is outstanding.
Some stuff rubs me the wrong way: the use of alcohol as a social lubricant as a matter of course, without any reflection; a child having magical powers, which their caretakers know about, and them nevertheless letting them believe in Santa Claus; a reverence for the "classics" (Austen etc.).
The sex scene is pretty hot, executed with grace and skill—I wonder if the author writes smut under another name.
Pretty good examination of (family) trauma and the possibility of reconciliation (or not). Lots of cozyness. Good characterization throughout, of the children as well—it is a bit caricature-y, but, it's a short book for the count of characters. I am pretty sure the main character is intentionally autism-coded.
I liked the way magic is portrayed, even if it veers into cheesy at times.
Like @hollie@social.coop noted, the narrator, Samara MacLaren, is outstanding.
Some stuff rubs me the wrong way: the use of alcohol as a social lubricant as a matter of course, without any reflection; a child having magical powers, which their caretakers know about, and them nevertheless letting them believe in Santa Claus; a reverence for the "classics" (Austen etc.).
The sex scene is pretty hot, executed with grace and skill—I wonder if the author writes smut under another name.
