This story was exceptional.

Even if the story is objectively a traditional fairy tale (nothing wrong with that, classics are classics for a reason!), it reads with incredible tones and colors very close to the style of Studio Ghibli movies, especially Howl's Moving Castle. If I were to recommend a book to anyone asking about a Studio Ghibli-like story, this book would be the first on my list (more so than the books the movies are based on, since they already heard the stories!). In fact, I wouldn't be surprised that if Studio Ghibli had still been around today, Spinning Silver would be on their short list.

Since the story itself is a bit of what you'd expect of a fairy tale, with a simple plot, royalty, romance, and magic. The narrative voice did most of the work to put this book on the map, it's written in such a way that even if things that are happening could be perceived as dry or mundane, it vividly unfolds the world, the characters, and the plot without giving you room to breathe. I especially enjoyed the eye on detail of on the world itself, it felt, lived. Likewise, even if the theme itself is rather dark at times, it never really takes you 'there', and that makes the book 'feel good' all the way through.

If I had one complaint, then it would be that the characters themselves could have had better depth. Their thoughts, actions, and motivations, don't feel "real" at times (the humans, the antagonists are pretty good and 'alien' in their motives and structure).

All in all, it was easy to loose track of time when reading this book. It's a smooth read, with easy language, yet paints a world, characters, and actions in an explosive and visual way. I have seldom seen such craft in writing before. Highly recommended!

Can't wait to read Uprooted, see if it has similar tones!