I received a copy of this ARC from Netgalley and Candlewick Press publishing house in exchange for an honest review.
his was not a final version of the book, and many of the illustrations were not provided; the few that were had been artfully crafted to follow the story. There were also a few grammar issues that I hoped they ironed out prior to publishing the full novel.
I did not fall in love with the story like I had hoped that I would. The main character is humanoid fox named 13 who las long been oppressed by his mistress Miss Carbunkle who owns the orphanage where he lives. His character lacks the conviction to survive and seems to a poorly rewritten version of Oliver Twist. Later, he is dubbed Arthur by his friend and soon adapts the moniker permanently. The name change does not aid in helping him in character growth as he lets the world he resides in command his life and does not want to grasp it by the reins.
I did like how whimsical the world of Wonderling was written and the humanoid characters that reside there. I also like how the author incorporated Steampunk innovations and magical characteristics into the story. I just wish it had helped the characters out instead of being a profound backdrop.