I just couldn't get through this one. I don't mind middle grade books, but the writing style really made me feel like I was trudging through mud to get through it. I found I couldn't connect to the characters and the world building felt a bit underwhelming. The worst part is it kind of meanders and feels directionless. I know it ends up somewhere interesting, but it was taking too long to get there. In the end I put it down and never picked it up again at around a third of the way through.