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This was a thoroughly enjoyable read! I'm not a big reader of YA in general, but I'd definitely recommend this book to young adult readers. It feels like more of a fun ride than a precise historical recreation; many aspects of the world feel pretty close to our own (in particular, women have almost as many opportunities as men but still have to contend with old-fashioned patriarchal attitudes at times, and use words like 'patriarchal' to convey their annoyance), but it was done smoothly enough so as not to be jarring. The world-building is vivid and doesn't feel like modern teenagers cosplaying, but rather like an authentic, coherent fantasy universe I could take pleasure in.

The beginning may feel slow to some, but this shouldn't put you off. Approximately a quarter of the way in, the story abruptly changes course, and what felt like a somewhat conventional start takes a darker, much more surprising turn. From then on the novel flowed quite effortlessly. I particularly enjoyed how closely the natural environment was intertwined with the story, making everything feel so much more alive. There's even an index of trees, which I think is a brilliant idea. Novels regularly attempt to make the setting matter as much as a character in its own right; this one actually succeeds, I think.

Definitely a book I'd recommend, either to high schoolers or to adults looking for an entertaining adventure novel with an endearing wisecracking heroine!