more character driven/character study than plot-driven, which isn’t a bad thing in and of itself but not what I was hoping for from a book with this setup. The high focus on mental health was nice, and Kokoro’s anxieties and fears were palpable (and sadly relatable at times). The way she overanalyzed people’s words and actions, and agonized over social interactions, and potential friendships felt raw and realistic. Unfortunately, for a book that takes place in a castle in another world, few whimsical things happen. The children are tasked with finding a key, but they don’t really try until the end, preferring to spend time playing games or staying in their rooms. Realistic, in context, but not that interesting. There were some good parts, and I also appreciated seeing a lot of adult characters being supportive (a depiction, I suspect, that was needed), but overall I felt mostly mildly bored for most of the book. That said, I enjoyed the conclusion, and it did make me cry a little, so points for that.