I recommend this book for people who like:
- mulit-POV
- soft magic systems that are surreal and beautiful
- stories where so many threads manage to come together in a satisfying way
- a book that'll make you feel something all of a sudden without realising it had been working it's magic on you all along

This book was one of the most masterfully written that I've read in a long time. The setting was so unique and surreal, but still solid and easy to fall into. The characters slowly grew into people who I came to love and care for over the course of the story.

I'm struggling to put any thoughts beyond those into words lol

I couldn't give it five stars simply because this isn't the kind of book that works for me as well as it does for others. I tend to struggle with books that are a bit more removed from the characters' direct experience. The Victorian setting didn't totally do it for me either. Don't get me wrong, it works for the story, but it's not my usual vibe. And lastly, it took me until well after the halfway mark for me to get invested in the story and I suspect I would've given up if I hadn't been reading along with the audiobook.

I'm going to have to check out more of this author's work for sure, because they have a gift for writing.