***STARRED REVIEW***
"Using spare, evocative prose, Hardinge weaves a nuanced and affecting tale about grief, compassion, and the importance of living life fully. Gravett (A Song of Gladness) enhances the otherworldly tone with black, white, and light blue illustrations that are by turns bold and ethereal."-- "Publishers Weekly"
"The moody story, with all the feel of a real folktale, deftly manages to be both a thrilling sea chase and a touching story of loss and coming of age. Sweetly macabre."-- "Booklist Reviews"
***STARRED REVIEW***
"Gravett's spectacularly misty, atmospheric illustrations, all in shades of indigo, heighten what is most elusive and poignant about Hardinge's story--the sorrow of endings, the significance of last messages, and the inexorability of mortality. Hardinge's own poetic language...brings multiple shimmering layers to both plot and imagery in this melancholic, fantastical tale."-- "Horn Book Magazine"
"[P]owerful...a compelling, engaging pace...Gravett's stylishly intricate illustrations are melancholy and eerie...Contemplative fantasy readers not ready for Hardinge's longer works will appreciate this introduction."-- "The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"