Wow! Kell Woods is so good at taking old familiar tales and turning them into something completely new and enchanting. This was such a unique and captivating blend of Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, and Woods's own mix of magic. I loved every moment of this book from start to finish. It ensorceled me and will live rent free in my brain for a long time. Having lived in France after college, I have a sweet spot for a story that takes place there and was particularly thrilled to read a book set in Saint Malo. Woods's writing is utterly absorbing, and I found myself transported to the beautiful seaside of Normandy. The plot is practically perfect in every way, and the characters are a delight. Nobody is perfect, everyone is flawed, yet there are good and evil characters to root for and hate. The magic permeates the story and builds as Luce finds her way in the world. Everything about this book was breathtaking.

My one complaint with the audio version of the book is that the narrator makes the MMC sound like an old man...so then the romance felt a bit creepy. I knew in my head that he was not, but the way that she read his voice made him sound like a 60 year old sailor courting a woman young enough to be his daughter...so...not ideal. Do not miss it if you enjoy fantasy stories or retellings of classic tales, but maybe go for the traditional reading experience rather than audio.