a solid cozy fantasy read. it was reminiscent of YA fantasy which made it a comforting read for me. I really enjoyed Elspeth and the Nightmare’s dynamic. the Nightmare’s dialogue and interactions with Elspeth were definitely one of my favourite aspects of the book. the build up of the romance was delicious! though I didn’t feel much connection to the couple, I definitely relished in their interactions (yearning🙏). the reveals throughout weren’t very surprising but the story was still very intriguing nonetheless. I also do hope to see more of the side characters in the second book!