This is a solid YA fantasy that does what it promises: adventure, romance, puzzles, and queer rep without being preachy or formulaic. Vedder's debut is legitimately well-written—reviewers keep using words like 'fresh' and 'punchy,' which in the crowded YA space means something.
The gender-swapped Sleeping Beauty angle works because it's not just a gimmick—Fi and Shane are fully realized characters, not just 'what if the prince was a girl?' The sapphic romance is woven naturally into the story, and the found family vibes give it heart beyond the monster-fighting.
It's not going to change your teen's life or make them rethink existence, but it's entertaining, well-paced, and represents a slice of the world (LGBTQ+ teens) that deserves more page time. If your kid likes fantasy adventure with romance and doesn't mind kissing scenes, this is a win.






