BOOKS | Review: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Name: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde series #2)

Author: Heather Fawcett

Publisher: Orbit

Date published: January 2024

Genre: Fiction, adult, romance, historical, fantasy, fairy tales, mythology, folklore, cosy fantasy

Pages: 352

Rating: 5/5

Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore - she just wrote the world’s first comprehensive encylopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Folk on her adventures... and also from her fellow scholar and former rival, Wendell Bambleby.
Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother, and in search of a door back to his realm. So despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage. Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and danger.
And she also has a new project to focus on: a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by Bambleby’s mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambley’s realm, and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans.
But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors, and of her own heart.

- From Goodreads.

I really enjoyed how this book expanded the world building that was started in the first one. We got to see more of both the mortal world and the faerie realms and there was so much detail in the descriptions and in the history and backstories, it felt very real. I loved the way the faerie realms had to be described differently to the mortal world and sometimes Emily did not even have the words for them, it really gave the sense that it was something otherworldly and almost incomprehensible to humans, too beautiful to witness.

The romance was so sweet and affectionate. I loved how clearly Wendell adored Emily and how Emily tried to be brave when taking steps in their relationship. I think they were both good for each other and helped each other grow. I loved that Emily was quite honest with herself and so her relationship with Wendell was quite open and honest too and they told each other how they were feeling. Reading them together was just very enjoyable as they could be both lighthearted and humorous and also serious and romantic and I think both sides to them were written very well.

I think it was a great sequel to the first book, the author was able to continue writing in both Emily and Wendell's voices well and I will definitely be reading the next book as I am very much looking forward to finding out what happens next on their adventures.

BOOKS | Review: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Name: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde series #1)

Author: Heather Fawcett

Publisher: Orbit

Date published: January 2023

Genre: Fiction, adult, historical, fantasy, romance, fairy tales, folklore, mythology, cosy fantasy

Pages: 315

Rating: 5/5

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world's first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party - or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, and the Fair Folk.
So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily's research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.
But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones - the most elusive of all faeries - lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she'll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all - her own heart. 

- From Goodreads.

This was such a delightful story to read, I really struggled to put it down anytime I had to stop reading. I always wanted to know what would happen next and wanted to see more of the characters.

Emily and Wendell were both so loveable. I loved how they both had their own quirks and were both a little ridiculous at times but in a way where you could not help but be fond of them. Their friendship and developing feelings for each other felt so unique and was slowly built in a perfect way. I really liked the place they ended up at by the end of the book and how, although it felt like a satisfying ending, there was still room for more growth in their relationship in the next book.

It has been quite a while since I have read a book written in journal entries and I really liked how it was done in this one. It did not feel like it restricted us from getting the full story and was used very effectively to add suspense and intrigue and the characters wrote in their own distinct voices which really added to developing their personalities and giving us a good sense of who they were. They also both wrote in quite a humorous way that made it even more entertaining to read.

I loved the way folklore, myth and fairy tales were interwoven throughout the story. It made the world feel very real, with a rich history and it was all clearly well researched, including details and elements of folklore from our world while also creating its own tales and magic.

Overall it was just a perfect story for me, so charming and full of fairytale magic, but also with some darker moments that made it feel intense and compelling. I will definitely be picking up the next book!

BOOKS | Review: The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater

Name: The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater (Victorian Faerie Tales series #1)

Author: Olivia Atwater

Publisher: Olivia Atwater

Date published: November 2023

Genre: Fiction, adult, romance, fantasy, historical, gothic

Pages: 328

Rating: 5/5

Victorian governess Winifred Hall knows a con when she sees one. When her bratty young charge transforms overnight into a perfectly behaved block of wood, she soon realises that the real boy has been abducted by the Fair Folk. Unfortunately, the lord of Witchwood Manor is the only man in England who doesn’t believe in faeries - which leaves Winnie in the unenviable position of rescuing the young lord-to-be all by herself.
Witchwood Manor is bigger than its inhabitants realise, however, and full of otherworldly dangers. As Winnie delves deeper into the other side of the house, she enlists the aid of its dark and dubious faerie butler, Mr Quincy, who hides several awful secrets behind his charming smile. Winnie hopes to make her way to the centre of the Witchwood Knot through wit and cleverness... but when all of her usual tricks fail, who will she dare to trust?

- From Goodreads.

I like that the author did something different to her previous books in this story. All her books feel distinct from each other in terms of plot and characters, while still having the the similar writing style and perfect romantic feelings that I love from her books.

The gothic, dark atmosphere was done perfectly. It definitely took a darker turn from her other books but worked very well for this story. All of the descriptions of the setting and all the details in the house and the way it became a whole sinister world of it's own all added to the spookier feeling of this story.

The characters were so fascinating and a joy to follow. I loved Winnie and how she slowly became more caring and protective of Robert who she had been hired to be a governess for, and how he slowly came to trust her.

I also loved the slow build of the relationship between Winnie and Mr Quincy. How they went from enemies who could not trust each other to falling in love and telling each other things they had not told anyone else was done so perfectly and written so well. I just adored every scene they were in together and he was such an intense, intriguing character.

The plot was thrilling and suspenseful, and I was intrigued the whole time to find out how Winnie would unravel the mystery and help to fix everything. I think it resolved well while also leaving enough suspense for the next book, which I will be very excited to read. I think this book solidified that Olivia Atwater is a new favourite of mine and I will definitely continue to read everything she writes.

BOOKS | Most Anticipated New Books of 2024

Here are ten of the books I am most anticipating that are releasing this year!

1. The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black

Expected publication 5th March 2024

Elhame #5,  The Stolen Heir Duology #2

An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.
Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude ready to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, should Oak attempt to regain the trust of the girl he's always loved, or remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign - even if it means ending Wren, too...
With war looming and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak's guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. He will have some terrible choices to make.

- Goodreads.

I still need to read The Stolen Heir, but I am hoping to read it soon so that as soon as The Prisoner's Throne comes out I can get straight into it and find out what happens next in this series. I really loved The Folk of the Air trilogy so I have been really looking forward to finding out what happens next with the characters, it certainly seems like Holly Black has lots of dramatic reveals and plots twists in store!

2. A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandana

Expected publication 12th September 2024

Sera Swan was once one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her magical Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and a bit grumpily) helps Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guest’s shenanigans, tries to keep the talking fox in check, and longs for the magical future she lost.
When she learns about an old spell book that could hold the secret to restoring her power, she finds herself turning to Luke Larsen, a gorgeous and icy historian who might be the only person who can help her unlock the book’s mysteries. The fact that he also happens to be her one-night stand from years ago is totally irrelevant.
Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and trying not to fall in love is a lot for anyone, but Sera is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone... and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

- Goodreads.

I absolutely adored Sangu Mandana's The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and this sounds like it will be another wonderful cosy fantasy romance with some charming humour and loveable characters, so I am very excited for this one!

3. A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

Published 4th Jauary 2024

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland.
But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more - until an anonymous columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible. 

- Goodreads.

I enjoyed reading both Down Comes the Night and A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft, so I think I should enjoy this next book from her too! This one sounds like it will be another well written romance with some intriguing drama, and I am curious to see how the plot plays out.

4. A Dawn with the Wolf Knight by Elise Kova 

Expected publication 1st August 2024 

Married to Magic #5

To enter the woods as a human is death... But I am no mere human. They call me, "witch."
As one of the last surviving witches, her sole duty was to keep the protective barriers on the forests where the lykin roam - creatures who can shed flesh for fur. But when she has a magical encounter with the rare, primordial spirit of the moon, she’s taken to the magical land of Midscape and claimed by the Wolf King as his bride.
But the king’s blisteringly handsome knight who’s now her sole protector has other ideas...

- Goodreads.

I really liked the first three books in the Married to Magic series, my favourite being the first, A Deal with the Elf King, so I hope I will enjoy this next one, and the fourth one that was released last year that I still need to read, A Duet with the Siren Duke, as much as I did the first one. I think the world of this series is really interesting and I always think the concept of each book is really fun. 

5. The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers 

Expected publication 25th January 2024

Curses are made to be broken.
For centuries, generations of Everlys have seen their brightest and best disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor is a woman named Penelope, who never ages, never grows sick - and never forgives a debt.
Ten years ago, Violet Everly's mother left, determined to break their curse, and never returned. Now Violet must find her mother, or she will be taken in her place.
To do so, she must descend into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. She must also contend with Penelope's quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted - and yet to whom she finds herself undeniably drawn.
Tied to a very literal deadline, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began...

- Goodreads.

This sounds like it will be a wonderful magical adventure, with some fascinating characters, that I think I could really enjoy, and since it is a debut I am curious to see what the author's writing style is like.

6. The Darkness within Us by Tricia Levenseller

Expected publication 25th July 2024

The Shadows Between Us #2

Chrysantha Stathos has won.
By hiding her intelligence and ambition behind the mask of a beautiful air-headed girl, she has gathered important secrets, earned her father’s constant care, and become a wealthy duchess - all by age nineteen. Now, she is only one elderly, dying duke away from having all the freedom, money, and safety she’s ever wanted.
Or so she thought.
Turns out her little sister somehow snatched the true victory away from her: Alessandra is wedding the Shadow King, the most powerful man in the world. Meanwhile, after the death of Chrysantha’s no-good, lecherous husband, a man claiming to be the duke’s estranged grandson turns up to inherit everything that should be hers.
Chrysantha is enraged. There is no way that she’s going to let some man take everything from her. Never mind that he’s extremely handsome and secretive and alluring with mysterious power... No, Chrysantha wants Eryx Demos dead, and in the end, a Stathos girl always gets what she wants.

- Goodreads.

When I originally read the first book, The Shadows Between Us, Alessandra's sister did not sound very likeable, so when this book was announced I was not sure how to feel about it and if I would enjoy a book from her perspective, but I enjoyed the first book a lot and I am curious enough to see what happens in this one and if I could like it, and just generally curious to see what Tricia Levenseller had in mind for what happens next in this world and it would be fun to see if any of the characters from the first book are included at all, even if it is just a mention.

7. Tales of the Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan

Expected publication 1st February 2024

The Celestial Kingdom #2.5

Return to the Immortal Realm, a world of gods, magic, and legendary creatures - and embark upon new adventures of valor, danger, and love.
Tales from the Celestial Kingdom collects nine spellbinding stories - two previously published, seven original, including the epilogue to the duology - set in the enchanting world of Sue Lynn Tan’s stunning debut. Filled with magic and mythology, friendship and love, these stories intertwine through the past, present, and future of the two novels, told from the perspectives of multiple characters, including Chang’e, Shuxiao, Liwei, and Wenzhi.
With beautiful illustrations from Kelly Chong throughout, these wondrous tales make the perfect complement to Sue Lynn Tan’s breathtaking series.

- Goodreads.

The Celestial Kingdom duology was beautifully written and I really enjoyed the reading experience, so I am excited to read more stories from this world, which I think was wonderfully crafted. The first two books felt like an old myth so I think short stories from this world will be the perfect format for more stories from this series.

8. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

Expected publication 11th July 2024

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.
She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city’s elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy - and very handsome - neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.
The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks - the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high.

- Goodreads.

I read and enjoyed Fire & Heist by Sarah Beth Durst some time ago and ever since then I have been wanting to pick up another book by her, and this new book seems like the perfect opportunity to! As mentioned earlier I really loved The Very Society for Irregular Witches, and this sounds like aother cosy fantasy romance with a similar feeling to that book, so I will be looking forward to giving it a try!

9. Lore Olmpus: Volume 6 by Rachel Smythe

Expected publication 7th May 2024

Lore Olympus #6

Chaos reigns in Olympus as Zeus publicly declares Persephone a traitor and issues a warrant for her arrest. But Hades defies his brother’s decree, sheltering Persephone in the Underworld - and as the pair spend more time together, they are able to speak openly about their pasts. The goddess of spring admits the truth behind the bloody secret that led to Zeus’s ire, and the king of the Underworld shares the trauma he suffered at the hands of his power-hungry father, Kronos.
But as Hades and Persephone’s relationship grows stronger, others begin to fall apart. The bond between Hades and Zeus is stretched to its limit, threatening to fracture the peace between their realms. Persephone and Artemis’s friendship hangs by a thread as the goddess of the hunt slowly uncovers the vile truth about her twin, Apollo. A line is being drawn in the heavens, putting everyone’s loyalties into question as all the gods are forced to choose sides.
And as the cracks in the foundation of the pantheon spread, something darker and more earth-shattering might soon be released...

- Goodreads.

I always have such a good time reading each volume of Lore Olympus, it always brings me such joy. Hades and Persephone and their slowly developing relationship is of course the highlight, but the other characters are so well done too, the art style is alway lovely to look at, the humour is delightful, and the plot always keeps me turning pages and wanting to find out more, so I am sure I will be picking up the next volume as soon as I have it.

10. Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek 

Expected publication 29th February 2024

Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood - the Leszy - who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.
Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.
Those who enter the wood do not always return...

- Goodreads.

This book just sounds like it was made for me. It has been compared to so many of my favourite things, Howl's Moving Castle, Beauty and the Beast, authors like Margaret Rogerson, Brigid Kemmerer and V.E. Schwab, it would just be ridiculous if I did not read this.

So those are ten of the books I am most excited about that are releasing this year! In the comments below, let me know if you are also looking forward to any of these, and if there are any not on this list that you are eagerly anticipating!

BOOKS | Review: Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson

Name: Mysteries of Thorn Manor (Sorcery of Thorns series #1.5)

Author: Margaret Rogerson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Date published: January 2023

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, romance

Pages: 186

Rating: 5/5

Elisabeth Scrivener is finally settling into her new life with sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn. Now that their demon companion Silas has returned, so has scrutiny from nosy reporters hungry for gossip about the city’s most powerful sorcerer and the librarian who stole his heart. But something strange is afoot at Thorn Manor: the estate’s wards, which are meant to keep their home safe, are acting up and forcibly trapping the Manor’s occupants inside. Surely it must be a coincidence that this happened just as Nathaniel and Elisabeth started getting closer to one another...?

With no access to the outside world, Elisabeth and Nathaniel have to work together to discover the source of the magic before they’re due to host the city’s Midwinter Ball. Faced with a house filled with unexpected secrets, the couple will have to lean on their connection like never before to set things right before it’s too late...

- From Goodreads.

The characters were still as delightful as ever in this and I loved them just as much as I did when I read Sorcery of Thorns. I really adore Nathaniel and Elisabeth's relationship and how good they are for each other, and I love how unique a character Silas is but how well he fits in with them, like a strange family. It was also wonderful to see Mercy again and to get to see more of her.

I loved that we got to see more of the house and how it came alive with magic. It was so inventive and had such a lot of personality and was a great way for the author to show off her skills with description. It really made the plot a lot of fun.

It was so sweet how part of the plot was so fairy tale influenced, it was perfect for the enchanting atmosphere of the story and was a lovely way to continue Elisabeth and Nathaniel's story and see how their relationship had progressed. They have such a wonderful dynamic together and I could read endless stories about them.

I also loved that the story made time for less light-hearted things, like their complicated but strangely endearing relationship with Silas and how they were all still recovering from what had happened to them in the first book. It was such a short story with a simple plot, but it still had a lot of depth to it.

I would definitely recommend reading this if you enjoyed Sorcery of Thorns, it is a perfect follow up and is such a quick, fun read.

BOOKS | Review: Longshadow by Olivia Atwater

Name: Longshadow (Regency Faerie Tales series #3)

Author: Olivia Atwater

Publisher: Orbit

Date published: August 2022

Genre: Fiction, adult, romance, fantasy, historical

Pages: 288

Rating: 4/5

Proper Regency ladies are not supposed to become magicians - but Miss Abigail Wilder is far from proper. The marriageable young ladies of London are dying mysteriously, and Abigail Wilder intends to discover why. Abigail's father, the Lord Sorcier of England, believes that a dark lord of faerie is involved - but while Abigail is willing to match her magic against Lord Longshadow, neither her father nor high society believe that she is capable of doing so. Thankfully, Abigail is not the only one investigating the terrible events in London. Mercy, a street rat and self-taught magician, insists on joining Abigail to unravel the mystery. But while Mercy's own magic is strange and foreboding, she may well post an even greater danger to Abigail's heart.

- From Goodreads.

Although I still really loved this book, I think I did struggle with it a little more than I did the other two books in this series. It was a little frustrating at the start that Abigail could not understand that Elias wanted to protect her. Of course her desire to help and take part in the investigation was understandable, it just might have been better it she had still been able to see that her father just did not want her involved because he did not want her harmed. Even if she still went against his wishes it would be better than her not being able to understand his feelings at all, which did not really make sense to me, even if it was somewhat resolved later, it did not really seem like a necessary conflict to include and just made the beginning of the book a little more difficult to get through, when for the previous two books I have not had any issue finding them enjoyable and easy to read right from the beginning.

It still had a really great sense of humour and some really funny moments, like with Mr Hayes the little scarecrow, that I really enjoyed. I also thought the plot was really clever and exciting to read, the mystery was well done and had a few surprises I was not expecting.

It was really nice to see characters from the previous books again and to catch up with them, I still just absolutely love the romantic couples from the first two stories so much, Elias and Dora and Euphemia and Juniper just have the perfect affection for each other and it makes me so happy.

Abigail and Hugh's bond was really sweet and they had some really heartfelt and emotional scenes together. It was nice to see Elias, Dora, Abigail and Hugh all as a family, they had some lovely moments together and you could tell how much they loved and cared for each other.

I do not think I fell in love with Abigail as a main character and her romance with Mercy as much as I fell in love with the characters and romances from the previous books, but I did still really like Abigail, she was a good character to follow and I did like that the romance was something a little different in this book, each one in this series certainly stands on its own and does not feel at all repetitive.

Overall this was a lovely book to read and I still really adore the way Olivia Atwater writes so I will definitely be picking up her next book.

BOOKS | Review: The True Queen by Zen Cho

Name: The True Queen (Sorcerer Royal series #2)

Author: Zen Cho

Publisher: Pan Books

Date published: November 2019

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, historical

Pages: 367

Rating: 4/5

When sisters Muna and Sakti wake up on the peaceful beach of the island of Janda Baik, they can't remember anything, except that they are bound as only sisters can be. They have been cursed by an unknown enchanter, and slowly Sakti starts to fade away. The only hope of saving her is to go to distant Britain, where the Sorceress Royal has established an academy to train women in magic.

If Muna is to save her sister, she must learn to navigate high society, and trick the English magicians into believing she is a magical prodigy. As she's drawn into their intrigues, she must uncover the secrets of her past, and journey into a world with more magic than she had ever dreamed.

- From Goodreads.

I liked that in this sequel we got to see old characters as well as new ones and that the story was told from more perspectives because of that. We got to see the characters we already knew in a new light and learnt to love them even more at the same time we were getting to know the new characters, and growing to love them too.

I think it did a good job of building upon the world we already knew, adding details to characters and places we were already familiar with and filling in the gaps in our knowledge. It was especially nice to see more of Henrietta, to learn more about her and see more depth to her character, I thought she was really sweet and lovely. I am glad we got to see quite a bit of Prunell, but it would have been nice to see a little more of Zacharias as he was such an important part of the first book, although we did get a couple of scenes with him, I did still miss his presence in this one.

The romance in this book could have been built up more in the beginning, with a few more little hints at what might happen between the two characters and more moments between them as they only really had time for the romance to grow in the third part of the book, and I think the romance in the first book was developed slightly better, although this one was still very sweet and I did really like how it ended, it was very heart-warming.

There could have been a bit more at the end to wrap up the story more thoroughly and see a little more from each character, but overall I did enjoy the ending. Generally I really liked this duology and how creative and unique and heartfelt it was, and I would definitely like to read more from this author.