I hesitated between 2 stars and 3, tbh. I should have loved this. It had everything I tend to love: brave heroines, fairytales, fairies and demons, and bargains, and winter, and magical kingdoms. I loved the themes: about work and family and tradition and the act of giving--gifts and gratitude.

But.

It was just too slow and long. Bloated. Too many POVs. Too many asides. I don't know. It dragged for me, in places it felt like a chore reading it.