If you've ever felt like your corporate job has taken over your life (and your will to live, maybe is also crushing your soul, aided by a dash of barely repressed childhood trauma), the idea of taking off into the woods, never to be found again, might have crossed your mind. But what if you didn't have to do it alone? Could a mysterious cryptid reconnect you to your sense of wonder and adventure, unshackle you from the oppressive grip of capitalism and free you from your self-imposed isolation?
I initially thought this story was all about escaping, but as it unfolds, I realised it's actually also about arriving (somewhere you might belong after all) and reconnecting (with something really important that was feared lost).

The spice level is definitely up there, perhaps unexpectedly so considering the tender romantic beats - a combination I'm always a fan of because it adds extra emotional depth but also, - very important -, fun!

I also really enjoyed the tendrils of a larger story arc starting to creep in. This book can definitely be read on its own and will work without knowledge of the prior books in the series, but they undeniably enhance it and I would recommend reading them to get an even richer reading experience. I just love a bit of world building starting to take shape, having some dots to connect and future possibilities to speculate about, so I'm also excited for whatever might come next in this series.

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to have received an ARC ?