Overall this is a really interesting and deep MG read, and I think it deserves more hype than it got!

The revenge-fuelled Shepherdess, who moves between the everyday and the supernatural London worlds, is the perfect weapon.This one is a bit baffling: there are two names used in this book that are the names of real historical characters, but they aren't those characters. It explores themes of social injustice, such as slavery and poverty, with a clear eye, while the character twists and turns will keep the reader hooked.

A stunningly imagined, action-packed fantasy adventure for fans of Nevermoor, Neverwhere and Mortal Engines, from bestselling and award-winning author Patrice Lawrence.Step into a London lit up by the Elemental spirits: the fiery Dragons, the airy Fumis, the watery Chads and the earthbound Magogs. Their differing perspectives, where both are black but only one was a slave, made for some really interesting character dynamics and explained a lot about their different world views. This novel would be a fantastic choice for the upper primary or lower secondary classroom to ensure that books are reflecting the lives of their readers – female and male protagonists of colour, different family structures (Marisee lives with her grandmother, Robert has been taken away from his family), friendship, making difficult choices, etc.

Lawrence is passionate about bringing people of colour back into the history narrative and she has done so with flair and authority in this lively middle grade novel.I didn't think I'd ever relive the first read experience of series like Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising, atmospheric, creepy, wonderful, and this book took me to a place I didn't think was possible as an adult reader. The fantasy worldbuilding of this is wonderful; I love elemental magic and meeting the versions of that in this book as they’re all very distinctive, and I hope we learn more about the groups we didn’t see so much of in this installment which was largely focused on the water element Chads. I really couldn’t put it down” Reya, The Week Junior’s Summer of Reading 2023 “I loved reading about a re-imagining of London with so much invention and energy.