Don't go into this with the expectation that it will be The Princess Bride. Think more along the lines of Monty Python. That being said, this book will not appeal to everyone. It's zany, full of puns and double entendres, aggressively quirky characters and the hero isn't who you think it's going to be. Honestly, the whole hero gig gets upended here. I'm all for a silly read that may or may not (it does) have some underlying social commentary, but it got a little old after a while.
The authors threw everything they possibly could into the stew here, nothing is sacred, no joke left unsaid. I enjoyed the characters, the world building was fun, but the shtick got stale after a while. I wanted to know how it all ends, I wanted to know what type of happily ever after everyone finally got, but I stalled out. I honestly would recommend this book to my reader friends, but with a warning that there actually may be such a thing as too much silliness...

I had no idea this was part of a series, there are a few things that make more sense now that I know.  Or at least, it makes sense why they didn't make sense! Over all, reading this as a stand alone was fine, there were just some references, some relationships that could have improved with some context. That being said, I intend to go back and read the other 7 books in the series, I enjoyed this one so much!
There were some obvious nods to Agatha Christie, the characters in this book even reference her. I thought the setting was so unique, a castle in the middle of nowhere, housing spies that know too much to let loose in the world. There were so many quirky characters, dealing with the trauma of what they experienced in the war, it took me a bit to keep them straight.  But never fear! They started dropping like flies, so it mattered a little less in the end.
I really enjoyed this book, I never got bored and honestly was pleasantly surprised by how little I could predict who-done-it. A great addition to my must read authors and series!

Wow. Where do I start? With the detailed, satisfying world building? With the complex, flawed characters? The magic? The politics? The society? All of it was brilliantly approached in this book. You start with a thief, a girl who knows she's truly, profoundly messed up. What does she want? Why does she do what she does? HOW does she do what she does? The answers to these questions lead us down the path to more questions, lots of action and loads of intrigue.

I really wasn't dissatisfied with anything in this book. Other than I have to wait HOW LONG for the next one?? I found myself invested in the characters, including a talking key.  Especially the smart talking, supportive, mysterious key that pretty much took the lead in my list of what I liked most about this book. With no false steps, this is a fabulous read and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. Brava.

Oh, Louisiana, I'm so happy to meet you. Your unique voice and wisdom beyond your years kept me engrossed in your adventures. My heart ached for you, I was genuinely worried about you, I rooted for you. Thank you, Kate DiCamillo for introducing me to her.
Getting pulled out of bed in the middle of the night and being forced to leave behind nearly everything you love would be difficult for anyone, let alone a child. DiCamillo gives Louisiana strength and grace, which I appreciate so much. Louisiana deals with her life with bravery and determination. She reads people well, a gift from her grandmother who sweet talks her way into getting what she needs. I was fully invested in this story, not wanting to put it down until I knew how it would go. The underlying themes of self reliance, trust in others, dealing with chaos and abandonment were handled so well. The story resonated with me and I fully believe would resonate with children. Fabulous.