I will continue to recommend this series to teens and adults. Amazingly immersive and atmospheric. You get completely lost in Bray's flapper-era New York. It's one of those books (and series) I wanted to savor but found myself obsessively coming back to. It's impossible not to get attached to the characters that Bray fleshes out so well.

While fiction, this book tackles hard facts about history including racism, the eugenics movement, treatment of the mentally ill, blind patriotism, workers rights movements, treatment of lgbtq people, anarchist bombings, and the religious pushback to the spiritualism movement. Take time to read the authors note. Bray helpfully points out what she found in her research vs what she fictionalized to keep the story moving. Sadly, some of the most horrific parts of the story are rooted in very real practices and ideas.

Totally recommend catching this on audio as January LaVoy brings the whole thing to life. She juggles a huge cast of characters with the seeming ease of a true professional. Just a stunning voice actress.