“A quirky, lightly magical mystery filled with mouthwatering food and sinister adults. . . . McCullough's character work shines: the titular heroes struggle with guilt over their parents' demise even as they consistently support each other; the creative yet dastardly villains are only outshone by the everyday workers who step up to help. . . . Stark, stylized illustrations from Cluskey (The Sackville Street Caper) are perfectly creepy and help set the unconventional tone."

– Shelf Awareness

"[A] bitingly humorous and appealingly weird action-adventure narrative studded with surreal illustrations by Cluskey."

– Publishers Weekly, 4/29/24

“A cross between ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ and ‘Hansel and Gretel,’ this is a whimsical and suspenseful story about two formerly homeschooled orphans. . . . Fans of Lemony Snicket and Western fairy tales will devour this darkly humorous read.”

– School Library Journal, 5/1/24

“ . . . the piquant tale is rich in twists made all the more delicious by Cluskey’s retro-style illustrations and the narrative’s mildly gothic tone.”

– Booklist

"[A] comically arch third-person narrator. . . a pleasingly over-the-top villain surrounded by ridiculously self-serving sycophants . . . edgy, stylish, black-and-white illustrations that have a retro feeling and enhance the drama. A deliciously satisfying romp."

– Kirkus Reviews