A very warm read. The (light spoiler)

domestic abuse

plot and hints of otherwordly evil keep it from being quite tame, but the joy is in watching our misfit bunch of heroes' successes unfold rather than any particular tension over whether they will or if it will come at a great cost.

The fairytale magic is described with great visual detail, managing to wring new charm from timeless concepts like wise-women and a goblin market. Our heroine also brings a fresh coat of paint to the classic underestimated-royalty-on-a-quest character by being thirty years old, 'round', and having relatable insecurities. My surprise favourite, however, was the second old wise-woman that joined the party. Over the course of the final act, she shows nuance and power that left my initial estimate of her as an irritating mother-hen looking woefully short-sighted.

I was left wanting a little on the fronts of the demon chicken and

expecting the cloak to come in clutch at the end as a mark of Marra's contribution to their victory

but ending was still pleasantly satisfactory without.