If you enjoy supernatural stories in historical settings with strong female leads and don't mind a bit of teenage drama, consider reading this book.

This story blended a few of my favorite things: historical fiction, fantasy, and strong female characters. The settings, from India to Victorian England, caught my attention right away. My interest dipped once the mean girls appeared. The characters displayed occasional moments of maturity, but I couldn't help feeling frustrated by their young adult insecurities. The good news is that I was pulled back into the story whenever the magical elements emerged. Thanks to those fun mystical themes, I devoured this book fairly quickly. 

One thing that bothered me was the depiction of animal cruelty towards the end. Also, the book’s conclusion felt very rushed and oddly flowery. I finished the book feeling indifferent and not compelled to pick up the next installment in the series.

I'm in the process of cleaning off my bookshelves. It's clear why 22-years-younger me loved this book. I can still appreciate its allure, but I will pass the book on for another to enjoy now.