Ratings60
Average rating3.6
This felt like bog-standard fantasy with the exception of the protagonist's magic umbilicus. Yes, see, her navel is a gem that turns hot and cold (and more, but...spoilers, I guess.) Did her umbilical artery run through it? Did it grow once her cord fell off? Is the belly button just decorative in this world? Inquiring minds got too distracted by umbilical anatomy to pay too much attention to the plot, which is good, because again, cliche fantasy + Stockholm syndrome.
OK, to add one more comment: I liked having a heroine who was larger, and the body positivity that went with it. Of course, she lost a ton of weight while being kidnapped and was thrilled with her smaller body...Rae Carson is not exactly svelte herself and this all felt like a very unhealthy weight fantasy situation.