I'll admit, I was kind of afraid to read this. I'm not one for scary stories and it's classified under horror! But I'm so glad I put on my big girl panties and dove in. It's not at all terrifying or horrifying or anything like that. It's AMAZING as all Hardinge's stories are. I never should have doubted.

I'd read somewhere that this was kind of Pinocchio story, and I guess I see where that reviewer was coming from, but I don't really view it like that at all. It's a changeling story, told from the changeling's point of view. And it's wonderful. Ms. Hardinge's imagination never fails to impress, but she might have outdone herself this time. This book is right up there with my all time favorite of hers: [b:A Face Like Glass|12666103|A Face Like Glass|Frances Hardinge|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362222949s/12666103.jpg|17780774]. She didn't invent a whole new world this time, but fit one in and around 1920s England. The 'Besider' world and characters have all the marvelous wonder and weirdness I've come to expect from my favorite author.

The family, their problems and love, and well-off roaring-twenties setting -- all feel quite real. I think telling this from Trista's point of view was just absolute genius and I'm sorry the book is over.

I'm now at the end of all the Hardinge books I have to read and I will commence with being terribly impatient for whatever she writes next.