This book is a very nice lead-in to the series and I can't wait to continue on the journey.
I liked Essie's attitude in this book and the themes of choosing to love.
This doesn't feel super high-stakes fantasy, so if you're expecting that going in it might feel a little slow, but for someone who prefers cozy fantasy (while incorporating battles and subtle intrigue) I felt this novel was written well.
I was reading the book with my brother so my brother randomly gave Laesornysh a Russian accent which may have added to the humour of the book a little. It may be strange, but I'm also now invested in the elven shampoo and conditioner side plot.
Definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series.