To anyone that follows me---READ. THIS. BOOK.

The story blew me away and I can't explain, because to do so is to spoil elements of the book.

Just read it and don't read any book descriptions.
Trust me on this..... ( )

I haven't said so before, I'll say it now: I fucking LOVE Frances Hardinge. I've read four of her books and they haven't just been good, they have been AMAZING. She is so good at worldbuilding and making these weird alternate realities, where the rules don't have to be laid out in great details, because you still understand them.

I read a book a while ago where everyone had tails, except this one girl who was secretely a human, and it disappointed me because the tails didn't seem to be part of that society at all. Like they used them for decorations, but nothing else, and it bothered me because I felt that the human should constantly be feeling like she couldn't communicate properly, since tails probably would be a big part of body language in that culture.

All that is to say that in this book, where the people have to be taught expressions and our heroine, a human, can do them just any human can, so much thought had been put into how that would affect the society. What would happen if you weren't given the opportunity to actually express your emotions? And how much would it suck to be the ONLY person around who couldn't hide your every thought? It's so interesting and well-done.

And Neverfell is another great heroine, as all of Hardinge's heroines are. She manages to be very unpredictable and impulsive (a bit mad, as she says herself) without it being annoying or just convenient for the plot. It's just how she is, and you accept that.

Yup, I loved it. I'm gonna go get my hands of some more of her books ASAP. ( )

DNF

Definitely better than I expected! Fun mystery. ( )

Another fine tale of adventure and conspiracy from Ms. Hardinge. ( )