I'm glad I picked this one up. Due to the frenzy of the NBA season kicking off and the Clippers nabbing such a strong start, it took me considerable more time gobbling this up than my usual. But I truly enjoyed each moment of it. This story has such heart. Scenes are framed with enchanting prose, and characters are woven with a deft hand. I love Laia's reflection about drawing a line in one's mind and not crossing it. She and Elias both come of age in their own respective ways, and it was magic to journey along with them. I adore this first installment and root for Laia as she carves with tooth and nail the winding path to her brother, Darin.