When January Scaller was young, she found a door to another world. As she grows up in the care of her father's wealthy benefactor, however, she is forced to squeeze herself into the role of sensible, obedient ward...until one day she finds a fantastical book that just might be true.

I had high hopes for this book (because I loved Harrow's <i>The Once and Future Witches</i> so much), and it did not disappoint! There was genuinely nothing I disliked about this story. The premise was sort of <i>The Magician's Nephew</i> meets <i>Inkheart</i> but also entirely its own. I loved the characters, not just January but all of the minor characters as well (and I would <b>love</b> spinoff stories about Jane or Samuel or any of the others!). I adore Harrow's writing style and her little asides and comments on words and letters throughout the story.

Even the ending was perfect, except for the fact that I wanted more!

Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the general vibe):

Happy!