Now this is why I still read Middle Grade (8-12 for my fellow Brits)! It has all the elements of magic, mystery and adventure you could ask for, a likeable and unique protagonist and a fleshed out cast of supporting characters. Serafina is brave, thoughtful and resourceful, a brilliant heroine for young girls to read about and look up to, but I should make it clear this is by no means a "girly" book - there's no reason why boys shouldn't love it every bit as much. It's clever, but not in a way that draws attention to itself, the plot is fast-paced and the action scenes are thrilling and despite being aimed at a younger audience than my usual reads it still manages to produce a sense of danger and tension. 
 What I really loved is how every bit of action, description and interaction was so clearly seen through the lens of the main character. She has such a unique perspective on the world (for reasons explained in the book!) and it colours every page and paragraph - I can't praise the writing enough. It's vivid and accessible enough to please its target age range, and I know I'll be passing it on to my 8 year old to read soon. At the same time, it never feels too simplistic or superficial to capture the attention of an older reader. I was drawn in from the first few pages and I'm already looking forward to catching up with the rest of the series.