Do not be bound by what seems foolish or impossible. In magic, creativity is as important as knowledge.

This was exactly what I expect from a T. Kingfisher book: something equal parts creepy and cozy, with a mix of really nice people doing their best in a world that is pretty dark when you look at it. I really liked the magic system here (although now I'm a bit afraid of that sourdough starter in my kitchen). The plot was fun and engrossing. A lot of the characters here are fun and memorable—my favorites are probably Spindle and Aunt Tabitha.

Funnily enough, the one character I had trouble connecting to was Mona, the MC/narrator of the story. Or rather, it's not that I had trouble connecting to her; it's that I kept thinking she'd be better off far away from all this main character business. I don't mind reluctant protagonists, and the combination of her age, personality and the magnitude of the events she was facing, it made sense that she remained pretty timid throughout the book. But I guess for some reason I expected an MC who grows a bit more assertive and bold for this kind of story? I don't know. It's just me.

Overall, I liked this book less than some other middle grade novels by the same author, such as Castle Hangnail or Minor Mage, but it was still really enjoyable and interesting.