I really enjoyed this. The beginning was hard to get into, and I ended up only half listening for the first few chapters and then going back to the beginning and starting over once I was hooked. I love all of the characters, the way they all have sharp broken edges and quirks and weird ways of dealing with life and the world -- and especially the way they all understand that and work to understand and make each other comfortable. The stargazing (meeting) room with its five very different chairs underscores that in a visual way that I find particularly satisfying. Also, almost all of the characters are POC (and one is Jewish), which makes life just that little bit more difficult for them in Paris of 1889. I like how Severin's 7 foster fathers are referred to and exemplify the seven deadly sins. I love the world, with its richness and magic, and the way the Order's plundering artifacts from other countries is discussed. I love how Severin is a thief with morals, the pull between him and the mysterious Laila and the way they both fight it, the way Enrique is clearly bisexual, the way Zofia is clearly autistic and the only place she feels comfortable is when she's with her friends... It's all so very satisfying. The accents of the audiobook narrators also helped make the rich lushness of Paris come to life. And of course the magic is strange and wonderful, with the forged creatures and objects and the mysterious Babel Fragment. I can't wait for more!
EDIT: Just finished reading this for the second time, in ebook format this time because I don't have much time to listen to audio lately what with the kiddo doing school at home and my partner working at home. I reread because I have an e-arc of the second book and was pretty sure I'd forgotten enough details in a year and a half that I'd be lost and/or miss something important. I remembered as I read, but I was sucked into the story again so I read it all the way through and it was so much fun! It's an incredibly fast-paced, adrenaline-filled story, and I love the characters so much. I'm so looking forwad to the sequel!
EDIT: Just finished reading this for the second time, in ebook format this time because I don't have much time to listen to audio lately what with the kiddo doing school at home and my partner working at home. I reread because I have an e-arc of the second book and was pretty sure I'd forgotten enough details in a year and a half that I'd be lost and/or miss something important. I remembered as I read, but I was sucked into the story again so I read it all the way through and it was so much fun! It's an incredibly fast-paced, adrenaline-filled story, and I love the characters so much. I'm so looking forwad to the sequel!