Exactly the kind of fantasy I look for--detailed but not prolix; magical but true to life; characters you steadily love more and more; world building that's compelling and not too complex; young characters who act their age but mature realistically as the story progresses. Plus, I loved learning about Aziza's family history and getting hints of her Lebanese culture, as this demographic is very rarely seen in kids' literature. And having the queer characters' queerness be plot relevant instead of """"not their whole personality"""" which people seem to love to advertise lately. Gay kids can be gay in fantasy stories, worrying about coming out while at the same time worrying about giant hounds and evil hags. It's a perfect mix of the fantasy story and real life family and personal struggles which are given equal weight and I love it.