This is the kind of book where I LOVED it but I can also accept that all the things I loved most about it are things that would irritate some other readers.

I read this so fast and deeply resented anything that drew me away from it. I adored the "behind the scenes" look at publishing and the meta about trends in YA literature and cultural appropriation.

Also, the basic conceit is that it's alternating chapters between Darcy, a teen girl whose paranormal romance novel is getting published, and her actual novel, and you can see how her life has affected the novel. And it's so clever and great! Also I wasn't expecting to be equally engaged in both halves of the book, but I totally was. Like, even though Darcy's novel was less "real" than Darcy's story, I cared equally about both plots. That is some crazy witchcraft right there.

Oh plus the main character is a queer woman of color, so that's cool!

Gosh I think this might be my favorite Scott Westerfeld book, and I've loved all his stuff. GOSH