In 18th century Paris, a half-magic girl and a fashionable wolf save the city, and maybe the world, in a story of friendship, magic, and mouthwatering pastries.

Paris, 1765. When Odette de l’Estoile breaks into her uncle’s library, she meets an elegantly dressed wolf sitting in an armchair and reading a book. They quickly become best friends.

Louis is no ordinary wolf, as you might have guessed. But unlike the rest of his family, he doesn’t take joy in tricking anyone and he doesn’t particularly cherish his ancestors’ exploits involving three pigs or a girl in a red cape.

Odette doesn’t have an easy life with her family, either. Powerful magicians, the de l’Estoiles generally sneer at her, since she’s only half magic, not to mention entirely forbidden from learning any spells.

Still, the two friends find plenty to enjoy in Paris, including theater-going, soirées with some of the greatest minds of the Enlightenment, clandestine spell-casting, and the occasional necessary robbery.

But as time goes on, another strange wolf comes into their lives. The legendary Beast of Gévaudan is responsible for killing nearly a hundred innocent people deep in the French countryside. When an evil magician plans to use the creature to change the world (and not for the better), Odette and Louis find themselves unexpectedly caught up in the plot.

They may, in fact, be the only ones who can stop him.

This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I really enjoyed this magical, enchanting middle-grade fantasy. The story is set in 18th-century France, which immediately made it stand out to me. You do not often come across children’s stories set this far back in history, and I loved being immersed in this time period. It was clear that the author did extensive research and thoughtfully blended historical details into the fictional story, which I really appreciated. I genuinely felt like I learned a lot about this era while reading.

The story follows Odette, a teenager from a magical family living in Paris. While secretly practicing spells on her own, she stumbles into her uncle’s magical library and discovers Louis, a talking wolf who loves reading, dressing in human clothes, and walking on his hind legs. Their friendship quickly becomes one of the highlights of the book, and I loved watching the bond between them grow.

The first half of the story has a slightly different feel than the second half, and personally, I preferred the earlier sections, though I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book. In the beginning, Louis helps Odette complete a mission to retrieve magical pamphlets she accidentally gave to the wrong people. That part of the story was especially entertaining and fun to read. Afterward, we get to spend more time watching Odette and Louis grow closer as friends while experimenting with spells and exploring magic together. Then, a few years later, the story shifts as they work alongside Odette’s family to help save Paris and protect the king.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was the setting and atmosphere. The descriptions were vivid, detailed, and completely immersive. I truly felt transported to Paris in the 1700s. I loved reading about the locations, the clothing, the customs, and the everyday activities woven throughout the story. It was refreshing to step away from a modern setting and experience something so rich with historical charm.

The magical elements also added so much whimsy to the story. There are spells that conjure fresh brioche out of thin air, family members transforming into birds, and all sorts of enchanting magical moments scattered throughout the book. The overall tone felt whimsical, cozy, and imaginative. I do wish there had been even more fantastical elements included, but I still found the magic delightful.

At times, the plot became a little more complex than I expected for middle grade, so I would probably recommend this more for older children, tweens, or younger teens. Some younger readers may struggle with certain parts of the story.

Overall, this was a charming, imaginative, and thoroughly enjoyable read with a creative concept and memorable atmosphere. I had a great time with it and would definitely recommend it!