The Absinthe Underground falls solidly within the cozy fantasy genre. Do not go into this book looking for a strongly plot-driven novel, but that’s not what it’s meant to be. The aesthetic of this book is gorgeous, and that’s where it really shines. Two thieves living inside a clock tower filled with cats in a magical reimagining of late 1800s Paris who stumble into a fairy’s glittering, glamorous absinthe lounge; what’s not to love? The sapphic friends to lovers romance fell a little flat for me but it was simple and sweet and, again, was right in line with the style of cozy fantasy stories. I do wish that the author had spent a bit more time developing the individual characters and their relationships, which felt half-baked to me at times and it could be easy to mix characters up. I also wish that the novel’s main heist storyline had higher stakes and more page space— there was a really fun opportunity here for a lush, sapphic Six of Crows-esque story that was not capitalized on. 

If you’re a fan of the plot style of Legends and Lattes who loved the lavish aesthetic of novels like the Great Gatsby, definitely give The Absinthe Underground a read.