Magic, Maps, and Mischief

Overall Rating: 4/5

As someone who is neurodivergent (or as I term it, neurospicy)... I will admit I was not the biggest fan with how this story began. We begin in a bit of a dangerous and rather harrowing situation, and the main character's over-hyperfixation is... a bit much? Like I understand this sort of behavior as this is something that I do too ... but this is almost borderline too much, and it detracts from the plot alot more than I am sure is intended.

Also, it made me a little uncomfortable, on a personal note, as being overly hyperfixated hasn't done me much good...but I definitely bristled and felt like my brain went more on the defensive side than it normally does when I first meet a character...

Similar character names throughout the novel also somewhat made it a little harder for my brain to grasp... and while it does seem to somewhat lose the plot, it does eventually come back together... albeit with somewhat more predictable elements.

I will say that I did somewhat grow to love Greton more later on.... and grew to relate to some of what he struggles with and what he identifies.... I grew to adore the plot and the way this novel is paced out and written more as the cozier fantasy elements come into play.

Overall, though, this was such a beautiful display of neurodivergence that you normally cannot find in other novels... it gives me a sense of comfort knowing that I can somewhat relate to the character's struggles, of finding their place, their friends and even their family as they navigate through the world. It gives me hope that there will be more characters I can relate to on a deeper level with the struggles that I feel every day.