Ibbotson, as always, manages to transport the reader, if not to a fantasy world, at least to a world full of enchantment, where it seems anything could happen. Her portrayal of all the characters, protagonists and antagonists alike, is fantastically unconventional, and throughout the book, her scene setting is truly perfect . . . Ibbotson is evidently a master at knowing just how much description to put into a scene, and this is what makes the book so special. Children's Books Review Guardian