A slow-blooming delight
This vivid story rewards patience and an innocent spirit. I felt like it tapped into my youthful consciousness, since I was a lover of fairytales as a child and young adult. The protagonist is someone that you can understand, but also want to be more like — totally unconcerned about responsibilities and curious about the natural world. She is almost like a Anne of Green Gables character, completely lovable not because she is beautiful or desirable, but because she values herself. And out of that independent spirit, she blossoms into something unpredictable and therefore very special. The story begins with several different threads and if you're not paying attention it could be confusing to figure out how they relate. But soon enough they merge together and the pace of the story escalates to a quite thrilling end. Kathleen Gati's narration is charming and very skilled. She is an excellent choice, and expresses wonder, peevishness, and sometimes even a shrillness that is amusing. But just as easily she transitions into a smooth and calming speech.