"Milford tucks strange places, odd artifacts, and people with mysterious pasts into a suspenseful tale properly supplied with sinister villains, clever twists, large explosions, and heartbreaking sacrifices...A tale to sweep new and confirmed fans into the author's distinctively imagined blend of history, magic, mythology, chemistry, and nautical lore. " — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"The engrossing adventure, as well as the thoughtful depiction of a blended, multicultural family, are all draws enough on their own, but the glimpse of Milford’s bewitching world-building will leave readers eager to track down her other novels." — Booklist (starred review)
"...Resplendent with time travel, Chinese folklore, nautical explanations, and the history of Nagspeake. This is a sophisticated tale filled with masterful world building, time travel, science, and nautical life." — School Library Journal