I went into reading this with some trepidation – I was excited about the queer historical fiction side of things, but I tend to steer clear from anything generally labeled as YA. I know, I know, don’t judge a book by its cover, etc. But I was definitely worried that this read wouldn’t live up to my expectation, which was a fun, easy read in between some heavier books.

And oh boy, did I get so much more than I expected.

It’s impossible not to love Monty as a character and as a narrator; I found myself rooting for him early on despite the fact that, if I’d met him in real life, we’d definitely butt heads. Felicity and Percy are excellent, well-rounded companions, and seeing them through Monty’s eyes exposes his more tender side. The wider cast of characters is diverse, and all seemed to have their own motivations and desires; none of them fell flat or felt one-dimensional within the larger story.

The plot is definitely an adventure and keeps the story moving, but I never found that it dragged or went too quickly. Lee’s pacing keeps the characters on track, yet still allows for periods of self-reflection or quiet moments between characters. It never felt like the plot was taking over for the characters, which is an issue I sometimes find with heavily plot-driven stories. The characters are so great that I’m glad Lee allowed them spaces to breathe in between big events.

Another aspect worth praising is Lee’s command of prose. It would be very easy in this situation to rely too much on modern slang, or to mimic writing of the time that would make it more difficult for today’s reader, especially young adults, to stick with it until the end. Lee balances this by using period-accurate slang and a mild formality of speech while still ensuring that the text is accessible. This lets the reader sink into the world without feeling like they are too far removed from it – it was clearly set in another time, but Monty and the others still felt like they could be in flesh and blood today.

I have not rated a book five stars in years. I do not give out this rating lightly, and I certainly have never rated a YA book five stars. But the sheer amount of joy alone I had in reading this book warrant that rating, let alone every other aspect of Lee’s writing that is worthy of five stars. Monty is, without a doubt, one of my new favorite characters, and this is absolutely my new favorite book so far this year – and in a very long while.