Thank you to Netgalley and the published for giving me an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

This one is a lightning fast read! Super fun adventure. Such a fun premise. Fantasy for middle grade is a new genre for Caitlin Sangster, and I'm excited to read everything she writes. Caitlin's quirky voice is a delight.

This middle-grade read is a whirlwind dark adventure featuring storytelling-loving baker girl and her friends. It is a fast-paced book that provides just enough setting to let the reader create it to their specifications. Fantastic dark read.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.

Like The Ghoul of Windydown Vale, which I reviewed a couple of weeks ago, this is another winning middle-grade mystery. Evie is a spunky character, and her mystery-solving sometimes misses the mark, but in the end, she is able to sort it all out, make friends, and pretty much save the kingdom.

There are a couple of big reveals here, and they are carefully telegraphed—visible if you’re looking, but Evie’s discovery of these truths is nonetheless satisfying.

There are some important lessons here, particularly about how important home really is to her, and how you can’t always believe what the stories say about people. She is able to make new friends while keeping her best friend—always a nice thing when one’s circle expands.

I’ve read Sangster’s YA trilogy, and this middle-grade venture shows that she is able to write at multiple levels quite successfully. Her characters are strong, with their own strengths, weaknesses, and clear voices. I would definitely read more of Evie and company’s adventures!

Possible Objectionable Material:
Sneaking around, peril, stealing, blackmail, lying.

Who Might Like This Book:
Those who like mysteries, spunky heroines and faithful friends. And raspberry tarts.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book also reviewed at http://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2022/02/february-8-releases.html

I had a very hard time with this one. The pacing is super fast, and I had difficulties at times following the world building and pacing of the plot. This might be the perfect story for someone else, though, especially if you like fast plots and dark fantasy.

An adventure story about a storyteller baker girl and her unsuspecting friends, who become mixed up in bigger and darker events than any of them could have imagined.

The Fel, magical beings, seem to have joined forces with the Robber Lord and his band; smuggling and stealing mysterious items and people, like coach wheels and young girls. But why?

The queen has the Fel King imprisoned--to protect the lives of the royal family--but the bonds preventing his interference may have weakened or changed.

One small delicious kind of pastry made by a certain baker and his talented daughter--not jewels and gold--is at the center of greed and jealousy. What will dark forces do for a raspberry tart?

This is a very fanciful story of dark magic, danger, and hiding from robbers (and worse?). Be aware that it is not a daylight romp or a quick look into a basement.

As an other-worldly dark adventure, it was entertaining, but confusing at times. I needed more description to tell me what was happening; some touches of realism to give the story traction. Action is great, but a blind flurry that takes me from points A to B, is less interesting than a path I can see (or sense some other way). Rather than "cutting" to another scene, I felt a "whip-cam effect" often enough to feel dizzy. I'm familiar with this type of story and hope the author decides to fill in this tale to give it the full life it deserves.

3/5 Stars (Good frame, needs work!)

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the free preview of this book!

#NetGalley

Notes made to the publishers.

I found the narrative to be too rushed, flinging the reader into the plot without sufficient background information or context. This was both confusing and, ultimately, made it hard to care about the characters involve. I'm sure others will like it, but for my tastes it was just a bit too chaotic with too little payoff.