A brilliant, achingly beautiful adventure story, building and improving on the already very enjoyable Over Sea, Under Stone in pretty much every way. This book has the most evocative depictions of magic and of Christmas I have ever read, and it is a treat for any fans of fantasy, family, and childhood wonder.

The book is a bit dated, with some unfortunate elements - The main character's brothers, for example, are given much more character and much more to do than his sisters, an issue carried on from Over Sea, Under Stone - But this does little to detract from an excellent book.