Raised on stories about their mother and uncle’s monster hunting past, Trudchen Grey is still not inclined to believe her sister’s letters, telling of Odette’s adventures in the circus or even wilder escapades. But when Odette returns to their aunt’s house to whisk her little sister into an even bigger adventure, Tru has to make a choice to believe – or not. Either will have repercussions.

In alternating chapters, the narrator switches from Tru to Odette, who fills in some of the mysteries of the family’s past. Soon, the reader is left trying to figure out which half of the story – either side of the fin de siecle – is the bigger mystery.

You might be able to tell from my rating: I loved this book! I went in not knowing too much about it, but I suppose with expectations of a ‘Hansel and Gretel Witchhunters’ ya adventure – which would have been fine. But this is absolutely not that book. It is so much more!

I’m left not really wanting to spoil it all too much for any would-be readers, rather allowing you to make those discoveries for yourself. Suffice to say, this is a heart-pulling drama, a lovely historical slice, and sure – a l’il bit about monster hunting. It’s also a perfect book about the power of stories, and the bonds of family.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the review copy of the book, and the chance to discover Cat Winters.

Cat Winters’s novels are some of the best, but underappreciated historical fiction I’ve ever read. Od and Tru grew up with stories about their mother and her siblings’ bravery. They grew up believing in the paranormal, that monsters exist and it was their family’s responsibility to protect the world from them. But life has taken many things from both Od and Tru. Their father disappeared when they were young and their mother hasn’t been in their life. Even their beloved Uncle Magnus hasn’t been seen for years. After being sent away, Od shows up at her sister’s window, begging her to come away with her and to accept their family’s legacy. But Tru no longer believes in monsters. Still, her love for his sister Odette will take them far from the safe haven of their aunt’s house and into a dangerous, unknown world. Using dual perspectives and shifting timelines, Cat Winters crafts a tale of two sisters whose lives are full of loss, but also perseverance.

At the heart of this story are two sisters who hold very different views of the world. As the oldest, Odette has always felt that she needed to protect her younger sister. Her stories of monsters and the heroes that slay them have been the only way in which she has been able to help shield her sister from the realities of life. What goes unsaid is that Odette is also in need of these stories. Being older has exposed her to the flaws of the adults in her life and it’s been easier to embrace a story about these people than to accept who they really are. Unlike her sister, Tru no longer holds fast to these myths. Ever since her sister was forced to leave her aunt’s home, Tru has grown up to resent these tall tales and the letters from her sister that speak of harrowing travels. While life with her Aunt Viktoria has been stifling, Tru isn’t sure she’s brave enough to step outside into the great unknown. Though she’s suspended any belief in the paranormal, she’s taken to reading tea leaves in secret because a part of her still wants to believe in her sister’s stories.

Odd & True takes its time separating fact from fiction as the girls embark on a hunt for Leeds Devil which has been terrorizing the people of New Jersey. From the cover and synopsis, I expected an action-packed novel about monster hunting, but instead was treated to a slow-paced narrative about a flawed family, two sisters who survive despite injustices done to them, and the power of a story to weave magic if only one takes a leap of faith and believes.

Cat Winter's Odd & True is a step away from the author's previous works like In the Shadows of Blackbirds, The Cure for Dreaming, and The Uninvited. Odd & True is the story of Odette Grey and Trudchen Grey. Two sisters whose family is anything but normal. In fact, I dare say that they are as discombobulated as they come. Odd is a strange character. I would say that she's a storyteller's dream. She bloviates about stories that she thinks will entertain her younger sister Tru. She lives in an alternate reality where monsters actually do exist, and her mother was a hero who protected the family from said monsters. 

Tru is definitely my favorite and that's because she has the ultimate handicap. She was struck by polio as a young girl, and has had to struggle to get from place to place without assistance. But, when Odd returns home 2 years after being banished by their Aunt, she agrees to go on an adventure of a lifetime with her sister. From Oregon to Chicago. From Chicago to Philadelphia. From Philadelphia to New Jersey where they hunt for the elusive Leed's Devil. Tru also had a curious aspect of tea leaf reading which leads you to wonder if she did have magical abilities after all.

Let's call this Odd & Tru's Tall Tales, shall we? Odd & True's story takes place in actual historical locations. The author uses real events, places, & incidents to weave her story. Odd is the most curious sort. She spent her early years weaving stories for Tru. These stories were filled with fairy tales, legends, fables, myths, ghost stories, magic & monsters. Heck, they even grew up reading Grimm's Fairy Tales. Odd's choices are to be scrutinized, but I won't deny there was a bit of sadness on my part as well. 

Especially when the author finally reveals some really heart breaking twists. Imagine being told that you will go on grand adventures and become a hero in her own right. Just like her Uncle Magnus, and her own Mother. Then life hits you squarely in the face. Would you rather live in a fantasy world, or the real world? Never doubt the love between these sisters. Never doubt that either of them would bend over backwards to help the other. Odd & True is a story that alternatives between the sisters, but also between the present and the past. Recommended.

* I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review*

Odd & True by Cat Winters is an intriguing book about family, monsters and truth. Her whole life Trudchen has been told wonderous tales about monsters from her sister Odette. Od tells Tru all about how they come from a long line of monster hunters, and that their mother is one too.

The story starts off in the year 1909, when Od returns home to get her sister and take her on a journey. Tru, who has been living with their aunt and suffers from difficulties from childhood polio, is reluctant to go with Od at first. Once Od starts filling her head with stories again, it doesn’t take long to convince Tru to come along.

Odd & True alternates chapters between Tru and Od, with Tru’s chapters being set in the present and Od’s chapters set in the past. Tru starts to wonder if the wild tales that she has heard her whole life are true or if Od is simply good at spinning stories. When reading Od’s chapters you get to find out what is real and what isn’t, although it is still sometimes hard to tell.

I love how this book keeps you guessing until the end. Just when you think you have it figured out, you realize you don’t. While this book was not what I thought it would be like, I really enjoyed it. The ending leaves it open for future installments, which would be welcomed in my opinion.

Overall this book is worth a read, especially if you like mysteries, historical settings and the possibilities for monsters.

Odd & True by Cat Winters is available wherever books are sold on September 12th 2017.

Odd & True was a good historical fiction novel. It had an engaging historical setting, plenty of mystery and fantasy to create a great atmosphere, and complex and likable characters. I really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed and think it is a good fall read for people who aren't necessarily fans of horror. Although I think it's far from Cat's most complex work. If you are looking for a YA historical fantasy check this one out.

Winters, Cat Odd and True, 368 pages. Amulet Books, 2017. $18. Language: PG-13 (28 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (unwed pregnancy); Violence: PG-13 (deaths by vicious animal)

Trudchen (True) has been living alone with her Aunt Viktoria since her older sister Odette (Odd) was sent to work in the city and then ran away. Now, on the night if her fifteenth birthday, Odd is back and determined to take True with her to hunt the Leeds Devil, a vicious animal killing people along the East Coast. Odd has raised True on a steady of diet of magical stories, from True’s own miraculous birth to their other’s exploits as a monster hunter. While True has limited use of one legs from a bout of polio, she is eager to embrace her family destiny as a monster hunter and learn all about Odd’s adventures with the circus these last two years. What she doesn’t realize and that many people have been hiding very deep secrets from her her entire life.

Watching the story unfold through a mix of True and Odd’s points of view revealed a bit at a time, like slowly unwrapping a present. As the reader, I had more information than True, which created a nice tension for the reader as True approaches the truth to her family story. The epilogue is a sweet final flourish.

HS - ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

I have read all of Cat Winters books and I have to say this one ranks up there with A Steep and Thorny Way (which was my favorite book of hers to date). I enjoyed this so much more than her previous book, Yesternight.

I really enjoyed this Cat Winters book about two monster hunting sisters. It's an interesting story that is as much about the hardships of growing up, as it is about hunting down a monster. I enjoyed the idea of these monster themed stories driving a lot of the characters' lives.

This was a unique read in an interesting setting. I loved the close relationship between the two main sisters, Od and Tru. Despite all of the chaos (or maybe because of) they support and help each other in a way that is admirable and sweet.

The story ends in an excellent place and I absolutely loved it. I would love to read more about Od and Tru. The story ends up having more of a magical realism tone to it than paranormal or urban fantasy. By the end you are not really sure what is real and what is not.

Overall this was an excellent story about hardships, growing up, monsters, and myths. I would recommend to those who enjoy paranormal stories set in the 1920's (or thereabouts in this time period). I can’t wait to see what Winters comes up with next!

This is not the book I was expecting.
Anyone picking this book up for the same reasons I did is going to be a little disappointed.
The ending is not disappointing however, it’s actually very happy and I loved it!

This book is told from two points of view, one is Od’s – the past and the other is Tru’s – the present. The epilogue is from a third POV however and I can’t tell you whose because spoilers. This isn’t too distracting, but Od’s chapters aren’t all the same year so it’s helpful to pay attention to the dates at the top. I also recommend keeping a few bookmarks or bits of paper nearby so that you can mark things you think may be important later because I didn’t and then couldn’t flick back when I realised things which was a little frustrating. It’s not a complex plot but I did find myself often wishing I could go back and re-read or check something – I didn’t highlight anything on my kindle app because I was feeling lazy/didn’t think I’d need to.

I liked both Tru and Od. I felt sorry for them too and I loved that Tru was ‘disabled’ and adventuring. I found myself wishing that she wasn’t suite so disabled though. This was usually at times of high tension when I wanted her to be able to run away and stay safe! Hers was a happier storyline but I have hope for Od’s!!
I also loved uncle Magnus too, though we mostly see him through the eyes of a child and so some of his mysteries are never explained.
I did NOT however, like the aunt AT ALL! She had the worst parenting skills EVER!
“I want you to avoid something but I’m totally not telling you what it is, JUST DON’T YOU DARE DO IT!!!” Gee, thanks auntie.

These girls were amazing despite everything. Once Od convinced Tru to join her they certainly made far more headway than all the others clomping around being scared and shooting at shadows.

This book contained some hidden secrets and a bit of a twisty ending. I was holding out for one way, then we were going the other, except we weren’t…
I didn’t want the book to be any longer but I’d have liked some more information on some of the characters and situations, especially as this was a standalone novel! I really loved the epilogue! It hardly gave us anything, but it also gave us everything. I can imagine them getting a visit one day, out of the Blue and I’m so excited for them.

I’d really love to explore this world further, have more of an explanation and meet a new generation of hunters.

Mini review:

DNF

I received this E-ARC via the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I had been seeing this book everywhere. I decided to request it. Unfortunately it wasn't for me.

In the beginning I liked it. The story was interesting and it kept me engaged. But then it went downhill. I didn't particularly care about anything afterwards.

As this was a personal thing I still recommend.

Mysterious with a hint of creepiness.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

"Tru, We're lionhearted. Both of us."

This book clearly has all kinds of magic in it. It's about a young girl named Odette who somehow was forced to leave their home and soon forbidden to see her younger sister Trudchen. Following in the footsteps of their mother, aunt, and uncle's footsteps into seeking out and destroying monsters that go bump in the night. It's about facing different kinds of demons and proving the importance of family. That standing beside your family is always best and would conquer all evil. Up until the last page of the book these girls have proven themselves to be brave and marvelous.

We believe in what we believe in, because it's only when we believe to these things come to life.

This book is for people who are lost or have experienced so many wrong turns in life and are seeking or have found light and strength again. They do journey to different places, run around city streets and drink lots and lots of tea.

I have it three stars because I really did expect a lot of action, blood splashing, and etc. with this book but what I got was drama. Despite disappointing m expectations I enjoyed it rather well. From a point of view from one's past and the point of view of the other's present. They collide in the end to form one true message. (You have to read the book if you want to know that message or you can read below, but I warn you it's filled with spoilers.)
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SPOILER ALERT

"Danger still sniffs you out, even when you're hiding--even when you don't know it's coming for you."

I expected lots of magic from this book, and from the very beginning I believed Od's stories about monsters and creatures that take children in the night.

All throughout the story I see Odette as a young girl creating stories out of downcast circumstances in her life and making herself believe those stories are true as a way of coping from her loss and missteps. I find this story as really about Odette and her sister Trudchen as a secondary character. I do feel sorry for her to witness such tragedy at a young age where she realizes her father has another family. Telling her he can't go with her because this is his real family.

I wondered if that made Mama, Tru, and me his phantom family.

All the beauty and goodness of my childhood shattered across the ground, too broken to ever be mended.

A child shouldn't have to see that, but Uncle Magnus thought Od had to. Maybe it wasn't right, but we can never question the ways of the world. That moment might have been part of the strength that Od used to keep going in life and to keep loving the people around her.

"The darkness will be coming for you, but you can't let it win. You musn't let it turn you into either a victim or a villain. You must always be the hero--always!"

In other words, we must always stand up to our demons and never let anything thrown at us get us down. I interpret this entire book as a way of finding one's self again and regaining strength from family.

"Even when you're being attacked, or ridiculed, or thrown out on your own with no one else in the world to help you, you need to rise up from the pain and transform into a victor, no matter how much of a struggle it is, no matter how much it hurts. Always be the victor.

Despite the truth being revealed that they had no blood trace of power within them, they created their own power and killed the beast themselves no matter what people think and no matter how much they refuse to believe them. All that mattered to them was the believed it and they had each other.

*3.75 stars*
Another solid book from an author whose now an "auto read" author for me. Mini review to come September 4, 2017. Link will be updated here once the post is live.

This book was not at all what I expected, but I was actually pretty happy about that. The cover screams "badass girls with pickaxes cutting heads off monsters all night long" so if you're hoping for that, you'll probably be disappointed. But if you like historical fiction, character driven stories, and complex family dynamics, along with slight supernatural elements, you'll be as pleased with this one as I was. I kind of like that the cover and the blurb trick you a bit into thinking you're getting something different, and it's refreshing to read a YA novel that isn't just kids killing each other.

I love that the story is told from the points of view of both sisters, alternating between the past and the present, and then coming together at the end. The story deals with some very dark themes in a sensitive way, and I felt that each element of the story worked and made sense in the broader context of the time period the book was set in. There were certainly parts that were a bit slow, and the story did drag a bit, but overall, if you can get past the slow parts, it's all worth it in the end.

Definitely recommend!

What a delightful little book this turned out to be. I thought going into this one that I was going to get something along the lines of the TV show Supernatural just with two sisters that chase monsters. What I ended up getting was very different than that and in my opinion so much better.

This was a book about sisters who would do anything for each other. About the twists and turns their lives took. About one sister who spun these fantastical tales and about another sister who despite being disabled isn't afraid to forge her own path forward. The sister bond in this book was one of the best I have read to date. Told in dual POVs that jumps back and forth in time (usually, something that I find off-putting but worked incredibly well in this book) this story kept me captivated from page one. It was fantastically well written and paced. It was magical and heartbreaking. The characters were engaging and well developed. I love the folklore the authors weave into the plot as well.

Not much more to say about this one. I loved it, and if you are looking for a beautiful, unique, and magical book with strong females characters, then this one should be added to your list ASAP. Two HUGE thumbs up from yours truly.

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this one quite as much as I did.
But it was actually quite wonderful!

It's about family bonds , myths & legends, the everyday struggles of life, and magic.

The story follows two very close sisters and each chapter alternates between each of their points of view.
The chapters by Tru happen in the present and take us on an adventure across America where we'll face dangers, hunt monsters, and uncover family secrets.
Od's chapters tell us about the past; how the two sisters grew up, the real truth about their family history and what happened to Od when she was sent away from home and her sister.

I was expecting more magic, myths and monsters in this book if I'm honest, but I'm actually not mad about how it turned out.
There was just enough enchantment, folklore and mythical creatures to keep me interested, but the story was mainly about family, the love the two sisters share, overcoming adversity and being brave enough to carry on when life throws you a curve ball.
I really enjoyed learning about the girls' family history and the truth behind Od's tall tales.

I loved both of the sisters fiercely!
They were both so vastly different from each other, but equally strong and brave in their own way.
Tru suffered from Polio as a child and, as a result, one of her legs has withered and is unusable. She gets around with the help of a cane or wheelchair, but doesn't let this stop her from living her life and having adventures! She is delicate, quiet, smart, strong and brave.
Od, on the other hand, is a bit of a wild-child. She loves adventures, stomping around the woods following monster tracks, and looking after her sister. She suffers through quite a lot as she grows up, but her vivid imagination and thirst for magic always stays strong.

It's a fantastical adventure into dark family secrets, impossible stories and the unbreakable bond between sisters.
And could the magic be real after all?!

I've always loved Winter's stories. The pure imagination that goes behind them as she merges both a historical feel and a paranormal element to every tale she weaves. Her latest, True and Odd Tales has to be one of my favorites yet.

Told in both Tru and Od's point of view as it weaves both through the past and present tenses, this story magical unfolds as each girl comes to find out not only about herself and their family secrets but about their past as well and what it means to be a Lowenherz and the legacy that was left for them.

I love that this story isn't just about hunting monsters, in fact it isn't really about that at all. In truth it is a story about growing up and dealing with the situation and circumstances that both Tru and Od have to go through as they get older, grow up and really learn about their family secrets. It's about Tru dealing with being crippled by Polio and Od's adventures, heartache, and having to deal with being the older sister and everything that comes with a family that isn't all that it seems and has secrets not only from the girls, but from each other as well.

This was a fabulous coming of age story rip with intrigue and mystery and just enough of a touch of the maybe paranormal to get fans of both genres interested and curious and eagerly turning the pages.

Odd & True is a mysterious journey. It's a story told in two parts by two voices, a story about family, about journeys, about truths and lies and secrets. About monsters, those fantastical and those hidden in our own past.

Trudchen is a little lonely, a little lost. Left behind by her father, mother, and later her sister, she's had to become practical. After the polio that almost took her leg, she's had a hard life. Struggling to get around, struggling to be seen as anything other than crippled. But now Odette's returned, ready and eager to whisk Tru off on a dangerous mission, to continue keeping people safe from monsters and demons. But it's hard for Tru to trust her sister, now that she's older and finds it hard to still believe in such stories. Od's voice is like a voice from the past, a voice who has seen, has suffered, and now knows what to do. She's the keeper of secrets and truths, the holder of knowledge, and at times it seems odd that there's only so much she'll share with her sister.

This is a curious tale, one I expected to be full of monsters and rescues, demons and creatures that lurk in the shadows, and two sisters continuing a family tradition. In some ways, that's what it is, and in some ways it isn't. It seems to be about people, their memories and their secrets, their lives and their journeys. It's about the things we hide and run from, the things we run towards, and the things we do in order to save others. I imagine fans of the author's previous books, historical tales with a dash of the ghostly and the impossible, will enjoy this, as might fans of historical stories and complicated but well-meaning sister relationships.

I was very excited to see a new book by Cat Winters available on Net Galley as I really enjoyed In the Shadow of Blackbirds that I read during the Big Library Read. Cat again takes us on a historical and supernatural journey with the tale of two sisters who just might be a bit more than they realize. My first thought was that this seemed like a turn of the century Supernatural tale only with sisters instead of brothers, which was ultra appealing!

Of necessity this review may be a bit spoilery, so if you don't want to know more, just know that I enjoyed this tale, and recommend it if you are interested in mystery, sister relationships, past events shaping personalities, and that wonder of supernatural things that might be real, even though you think maybe not, but then maybe, but you're not sure.

Od and Tru are sisters, that for reasons we aren't sure of yet, live with their aunt on her farm. It opens with Tru imploring Od to tell her a favorite tale, which Od obliges. This tale is a special one that Od has crafted with love for her little sister, to give her a life full of magic and mystery, to spare her the hard life truths that she's already experienced, and that are still to come. As the girls get older, Od continues to hold to these myth's of their family, that their mother was a monster hunter, that each family member has different powers, that they are special, and have a duty. Even through leaving home for a few years and coming back one night to get Tru to leave the farm with her, she clings to these ideas, to the point where Tru is beginning to believe that her sister has gone crazy.

A last second leap of faith leads Tru to run away with Od for an adventure, though she's still not entirely sure of her sister's sanity. Tru has seen some signs of her own that give her that push she needs, and away they go on a train to they aren't immediately sure where, following their childhood dream of monster hunting.

The chapters alternate between Tru's current telling of events, and Od's recounting of their lives to that point, so we slowly find out the truths and the disappointments that have made Od into who she is. She's far from crazy, but she is brave, and loving and determined.

This story is very much a study of personality and being shaped by your past, also by what you are told at a young age, and what you are not. Od and Tru were at once too sheltered, but also neglected in important ways by the adults in their lives. Tru, kept in a childlike role from her illness and not allowed to make that move into adulthood, and Od being thrown into adulthood without being prepared and then punished for the mistakes that resulted. Through it all, their love as sisters remained a mainstay for them.

This is a story with so much heart, with an interesting historical backdrop, and that keeps teasing you along, never quite giving you that final answer, is it real, or not? Cat Winters has definitely shot up on my list of authors to keep track of, and I look forward to catching up on her previous books as well.

This is an odd story of two sisters named Od (Odette) and Tru (Trudchen). They grew up collecting stories of monsters and believing they came from a long line of Protectors who fought supernatural beings and saved their communities. They are raised by their aunt and have very little to no contact with their mother, father and uncle. Tru suffered from polio when she was two years old and as a result one leg is shorter than the other. She has to rely on braces, a cane and a wheelchair to get around. This does not stop her from doing things however. Od left home when she was 15 and has been gone for a couple of years, exiled for an unknown reason. On Tru's 15th birthday, Od returns from exile to take Tru on an adventure. They are off to fight monsters and find their mother. They journey from Oregon to Philadelphia.

The story is told through alternating chapters. Tru narrates the present adventure and Od tells the story of the past. I personally enjoyed Od's story a lot more than Tru's. While I did appreciate the fact that Tru is disabled, but still very capable, her story was a bit boring. It was basically the sisters traveling across the country and trying to get to know each other again. Tru seemed really naive to me and a bit gullible. Od however spoke truth and revealed secrets in her telling. Her story was much more compelling and made you question the validity of the current day story. I couldn't wait for each new secret truth to come out in her chapters. By the end one is left wondering what the truth is.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher.

When I asked for this book I had high hopes. I just loved the synopsis and I was dying to read it! This book was absolutely fantastic. It gripped me right from the start and I just wanted to know more about Od and Tru (Isn’t it so clever how the book was named?!) and all their fantastic tales!

The characters in this book were amazing. Trudchen and Odette are sisters and they have a very strong and beautiful bond. I was fascinated with Odette and her way to see the world. True was a very strong and interesting character as well. They are very different from each other and their lives have also been very different, but they love each other and they would do anything, literally anything for each other! I loved it!

The book is divided in different POVs and jumps in time a lot, but it’s very easy to keep pace with it and although it’s slightly slow in the beginning, it gets so fascinating and gripping! Basically, since children, Od always told amazing and fantastic tales about monsters, magical creatures and how their mom hunted them, to Tru. She believed that they were destined to do the same one day. There was a time when both believed it. But things are not the same anymore, especially when Od goes away.

Until one day, she comes back and pushes True into an adventure. It’s believed that there’s a monster prowling around a city and they are supposed to fight it and protect the city from harm.

I loved how they united each other to do that, how their relationship although changed with time, was still as strong as when they were little and how much I got to know about the characters. They were incredibly well described and it made the book really emotional and somewhat heavy and deep.

This book is more about inner demons than real ones. It’s about family, relationships, and loss. It has a lot of mystery in it that it’s done in a totally different way from what I’m used to, and I absolutely loved that! Especially how the Leeds Devil was incorporated for the historical fiction aspect.

The writing was also really different and captivating and I am definitely going to try more books from the author – I’m especially interested in In the Shadow of Blackbirds.

I have so much more to say about this book! But for now, these are the main things. I loved it and although this is not the type of books I normally go for, this is for sure a book that I will not forget easily.

This was simply wonderful and incredibly unique! And that end… it was everything I needed from a book! It just took my breath away! I loved this and I would definitely recommend it if you like historical fiction with supernatural in it.

Clearly I’m in the minority, but I didn’t love this. It’s a well written story that’s highly character driven. It wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought it would have a stronger fantasy element to it and a bit more action. The magic was so slight I wouldn’t even call it paranormal. Most of the book was spent revealing whether Od knows magic is real or is delusional and thinks it’s real.

It alternated between Od and Tru’s POV. Although they were sisters there was a lot Tru didn’t know about her family. Tru’s POV was necessary but very boring. Practicality does not make an exciting character trait in a main character. The problem with Tru was that I didn’t care about her one way or the other. Od’s POV was better. What she experienced in life was difficult. It was the magical element she brought to everything that annoyed me, and yes I know that is the point of the book. It was clear early on about what was really going on with Od.

Most of the side characters weren’t interesting. I liked Uncle Magnus. He was the only side character who really seemed to care about Od and Tru. In the end he disappointed me a little. I flat out didn’t like any of the other characters. They were self absorbed or more concerned with propriety than being descent people.
I liked this book enough that I wouldn’t mind reading another book by Cat Winters. I’ve had some on my TBR list for a while. This story isn’t something that will stick with me for a while. Honestly it’s surprising I even bothered to finish it. To be fair I’ve been in a book funk and have had a hard time getting into almost any book.