this was certainly original and very odd.

pros:
- the book definitely draws you in and i read it all in one sitting.
- Cadmus was the most interesting and the reveal of his past was intriguing. The assortment of side characters like June and Sally and the others were all distinct and mildly funny.
- the descriptions of Caldera and of Little Cambourne were well done and the writing was vivid and simple, very direct.
- the book felt nicely paced, very compact and never dragging. the reveals come out steadily.
- the air of mystery and archaic magic was pretty well done, though i would've liked even more.

- it was certainly somewhat satisfying for Cadmus to get his revenge.

cons:
- i know it was most probably by design but having Millicent and Maud constantly being homophobic and xenophobic didn't make the book the nicest to read. if it was there to make me dislike them, i certainly did.

It seemed implied that Cadmus had a romantic relationship with his friend Carlo, whose importance to the story I couldn't figure out. I also still have no idea why he and Carlo went to the bank together.
- there was a lot about the plot i didn't understand. i felt like i was getting it around the point of the treasure map and Cadmus's past being introduced and then i started to get lost. i assume that Cadmus and Millicent both killed Maud with the arsenic but i didn't really see why they wanted her cottage. 
- i also have no clue why it says there's a 'show-stealing parrot' because Isolde seems to have very little to do with the story? unless she was meant to be one of the purple gulls in disguise?? no idea.
- since the characters were all pretty unlikeable, i didn't rly root much for them or care when they were murdered.
- i also thought the writing was a bit too direct at times, almost dismissive. I'm not sure the rapes and baby-murder was really necessary to the story exactly but maybe it was.

I think i went into this book expecting something different to what we actually got. I'd hoped for more of the magic and less of the awful characters, but it was still a fast, interesting read. Finally back to reading books again! Hope it lasts...