It’s an okay game. First of this type I’d played. Any video I found for rules just said play it like the others, which made getting started challenging. In the end we figured it out and enjoyed it.
This game was a lot of fun for myself (who plays numerous games and heavier games) plus it was a great deal of fun for my wife and kids (who generally trend towards lighter games). A bit more going on than a basic polyomino game but not overwhelming.
She loved(s) these books as a kid, and also has a thing for Unicorns. She has played through one of the story paths in the book and will probably play more. Furthermore, she likes it and it was bought on a whim, but will it lead her to want more? Shrug...
This expansions added upgrade cards, a new type of card. These cards persist during turn.
The cards added to this set are defense cards, not upgrades. Defense cards persist during turns also.