Reading this gave me such V. E. Schwab vibes in terms of the plot progression, and the atmosphere was very much like the fairy tale aesthetic of Margaret Rogerson. So if you haven't heard of Margaret Owens yet, or haven't checked out her writing, this is definitely a great book to start your Owens binge.
Love the casual worldbuilding details that are dropped in piece by piece in this first chapter. Didn't feel overboarded with details or description, so the immersion into this story felt natural and all-around welcoming. I was so sad to reach the end of the excerpt -- I was so hooked, and the experience was very much akin to realizing you've eaten the last cookie in the sleeve: devastating (and a little guilty, because I was supposed to have been working on something instead, haha!)
Love the casual worldbuilding details that are dropped in piece by piece in this first chapter. Didn't feel overboarded with details or description, so the immersion into this story felt natural and all-around welcoming. I was so sad to reach the end of the excerpt -- I was so hooked, and the experience was very much akin to realizing you've eaten the last cookie in the sleeve: devastating (and a little guilty, because I was supposed to have been working on something instead, haha!)