I got this book through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway, and it sat on a shelf for far too long, but once I started it I couldn't stop. I am a fan of Naomi Novik already from her Temeraire series (as dragons and the Napoleonic eraser are both obsessions of mine) but was wary about how good a separate story would be. But despite the fantastical setting, the story is so grounded and the characters real enough that the story seems natural. I particularly loved the way magic was used - usually it bugs me when made up words are used for spells, but in context it really worked. Absolutely loved it, and would definitely recommend.