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The Secrets of Ormdale #1
Wormwood Abbey
As a Victorian clergyman’s daughter, Edith Worms has seen everything � until a mythical salamander tumbles out of the fireplace into her lap. When a letter arrives from estranged relatives, Edith is swept away to a crumbling gothic Abbey in the wilds of Yorkshire.
Wormwood Abbey isn't just full of curious beasts and ancient family secrets: there’s also a tall, dark, and entirely too handsome neighbour who is strangely reluctant for her to leave.
An unexpected bond with her prickly cousin Gwendolyn gives Edith a reason to stay in this strange world � especially when it turns out that Edith herself may have a role in guarding her family's legacy.
But not all of the mysteries of Ormdale are small enough to fit in her lap...and some of them have teeth.
WORMWOOD ABBEY, Book 1 of The Secrets of Ormdale, is a cosy gothic novel of mystery, dragons, and the perils of friendship, perfect for fans of EMILY WILDE'S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES and Maria Grace.
Preorder today to explore the hidden valley of Ormdale, the first in a new 5 book series!
Wormwood Abbey isn't just full of curious beasts and ancient family secrets: there’s also a tall, dark, and entirely too handsome neighbour who is strangely reluctant for her to leave.
An unexpected bond with her prickly cousin Gwendolyn gives Edith a reason to stay in this strange world � especially when it turns out that Edith herself may have a role in guarding her family's legacy.
But not all of the mysteries of Ormdale are small enough to fit in her lap...and some of them have teeth.
WORMWOOD ABBEY, Book 1 of The Secrets of Ormdale, is a cosy gothic novel of mystery, dragons, and the perils of friendship, perfect for fans of EMILY WILDE'S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES and Maria Grace.
Preorder today to explore the hidden valley of Ormdale, the first in a new 5 book series!
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2023
564 people are currently reading
6703 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 681 reviews
September 8, 2024
*Butterfly man meme* Is this cozy fantasy? (Answer: Yes, and I like it!)
I had randomly seen this book pop up somehow on my ŷ feed and was quickly interested in it because of the cover. Yes, yes, don’t judge a book by the cover and all that, I know, I know. But a pretty cover catches my attention much better than one that’s an eyesore, and that’s just the honest facts.
As soon as I started this book, I was instantly obsessed with the writing style. I just adore it. It was perfect, and I don’t say that lightly. The vocabulary was unmatched and I was honestly looking up most of them as I read because I didn’t know the meaning of many. This would have been a great audiobook, I bet, because of the writing style.
And again, that’s ultimately what sold me on this book: the writing style. If cereal boxes were written like this, catch me adding those to my ŷ reading challenge, because I love it. It has such a charming feel and just so lovely.
This is definitely Historical Fantasy, but I’m not sure what time-period it’s supposed to be. No telegrams or phones, but there is electricity and mentions of Jane Austen, so I’m assuming 1880s to early 1900s? But then there’s mentions of Queen Victoria and her rule, so I’m not sure. It didn’t feel like the 1950s at all, but perhaps that’s just part of the fantasy elements—along with the wyverns, that is. (Edit to add: I signed up for the author's newsletter and she said it was set in 1899, so I feel like I should get a gold star for being close. ;) )
My Kindle edition showed that this book was 201 pages, so color me shocked and appalled when it ended on a (slight) cliffhanger on page 176. The rest was the preview for the next book, which I’m glad to read, but a bit hurt by this book ending so soon! I plan to read the next book when it releases and I hope a physical copy of this book will be available soon to buy! Just saw when snooping on the author’s website that this is the start of a five book series: I’m here for it. :)
🐉 🫖 🍄�
2024 reread (audio book this time):
This book is so incredibly unique--not just because of the cozy historical fantasy storyline, but because of the beautiful writing style and the characters. This being my second time "reading" this book, I was giddy at hints of what would come in the second book and cannot wait to continue the series now. The audiobook completely did this book justice and was absolutely lovely--especially with the harp intro that the author wrote and played. Bumping it up to a five star rating with this reread!
🐉 🫖 🍄�
Samples of the writing style:
“With my square face and small, tidy figure I’m a picture of feminine rectitude. My springy hair is the only thing that hints at wilder proclivities. It is usually tamped down with a hat. I dress myself neatly and well but without ostentation, and I know how to keep my mouth shut when I have any thoughts that might cause shock or dismay.�
“To my relief, there was indeed a carriage with an aged retainer to meet us at Embsay station, which appeared to be not only the end of the line but also of civilisation. From the desolation of the last part of our journey I had half expected to be abandoned at the station and forced to cadge a ride on some agricultural equipage.
I could just imagine us arriving at the ancestral seat, picking bits of hay from our mourning costumes, or perhaps drenched to the skin with rain from our journey over the lowering moor. Perhaps the wind would even wuther at us for good measure. What a way to announce ourselves!
But no, we were respectably met, and the spring day was only a little grey. I detected no wuthering, whatever that might be, precisely.�
“The road climbed steeply for a time and we were fairly jostled. Now the trees thinned and the countryside opened suddenly like a book falling open on its spine.�
“Let me be frank with you: I am generally suspicious of eligible men. My attachment to the single life is profound. I have found that the best course is to start off with new acquaintances by adopting a forbidding expression. It is a simple matter to put off young men in this way. One can always thaw a little later, once the risk has been properly assessed.�
🐉 🫖 🍄�
Main Content-
No magic content at all (Edith refers to something as magic and her cousin fussed at her, saying it’s not magic), but there are dragons and wyvern mentioned (and maybe even seen) aplenty; Mentions of their poisons/venom (*Spoiler* ); There’s a handful of mentions of vampire, pegasus, faeries, but none are seen (nor believed in) in this book.
Edith’s father is a clergyman (reverend) and there’s a decent amount of mentions of her duties as a clergyman’s daughter, going to church, sermons, services, and such; Edith also prays, sings the Doxology (twice), & Scriptures come to mind (she also doesn’t write her novel on Sunday honoring it as the Sabbath and believes that it “does [her] good� to do so); Scriptures are also mentioned & said in a prayer by her father; Talks about God & Christian beliefs; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; At one point when she thinks she’s dying, Edith says a prayer of repentance and then “consigned [her] soul to God�; Set at an Abbey and there’s mentions of the monks who lived there long ago; Mentions of God, prayers, & praying; Mentions of Christianity, Christian lands, & following Christian beliefs and morals; Mentions of saints (including authors of books of the Bible being referred to as a saint) & their days of celebration; Mentions of Jews (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of relics; A few mentions of miracles; A few mentions of the book and an event in “The Pilgrim’s Progress�; A couple mentions of God judging someone when they’ve passed.
There are paintings that depict people worshiping serpents/dragons, monks coming into the land to make it a Christian land, and a saint that is crushing the creature beneath his foot (Edith comments that that was hubris of the Abbot, because it’s Christ who crushes the dragon’s head).
“God knows�, “Thank God� and “For God’s sake� are both used (twice, twice, and once) and the latter border-lines feeling flippant to me, but I don’t think it was meant that way. “Good heavens!� is exclaimed about seven times; Mentions of Greek mythology creatures & lore.
Edith is given brandy (she thought it was water) and it burns her throat horribly; Mentions of drinking & brandy (including her father drinking a glass here and there in the book).
No language stronger than idiot or stupid; A mention of someone’s family being “liberal-minded enough� to accept her choice of a spouse (in terms of a difference of religion); A man says that Edith is sharper than most because she has a different gene pool because of her mother (he takes a stab at the inbreeding that happens in London society); Edith’s cousins� father didn’t think much of his daughters or that they needed much education because they were women.
A young boy is kidnapped/lured into a dangerous place (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of deaths, bodies, & grieving (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of beatings (including bullies at a school); A few mentions of lies & lying.
Mentions of human sacrifices in paintings of historical events (including child sacrifice); Mentions of wyverns hunting and eating other animals (barely-above-not-detailed).
There’s hints of a future romance in later books, but it’s very light and not really touched on in this one; A few mentions of miscarriages; A couple mentions of kisses; A couple mentions of a man not making an attempt on Edith’s virtue; A mention of Greeks of olden days being mostly naked.
I had randomly seen this book pop up somehow on my ŷ feed and was quickly interested in it because of the cover. Yes, yes, don’t judge a book by the cover and all that, I know, I know. But a pretty cover catches my attention much better than one that’s an eyesore, and that’s just the honest facts.
As soon as I started this book, I was instantly obsessed with the writing style. I just adore it. It was perfect, and I don’t say that lightly. The vocabulary was unmatched and I was honestly looking up most of them as I read because I didn’t know the meaning of many. This would have been a great audiobook, I bet, because of the writing style.
And again, that’s ultimately what sold me on this book: the writing style. If cereal boxes were written like this, catch me adding those to my ŷ reading challenge, because I love it. It has such a charming feel and just so lovely.
This is definitely Historical Fantasy, but I’m not sure what time-period it’s supposed to be. No telegrams or phones, but there is electricity and mentions of Jane Austen, so I’m assuming 1880s to early 1900s? But then there’s mentions of Queen Victoria and her rule, so I’m not sure. It didn’t feel like the 1950s at all, but perhaps that’s just part of the fantasy elements—along with the wyverns, that is. (Edit to add: I signed up for the author's newsletter and she said it was set in 1899, so I feel like I should get a gold star for being close. ;) )
My Kindle edition showed that this book was 201 pages, so color me shocked and appalled when it ended on a (slight) cliffhanger on page 176. The rest was the preview for the next book, which I’m glad to read, but a bit hurt by this book ending so soon! I plan to read the next book when it releases and I hope a physical copy of this book will be available soon to buy! Just saw when snooping on the author’s website that this is the start of a five book series: I’m here for it. :)
🐉 🫖 🍄�
2024 reread (audio book this time):
This book is so incredibly unique--not just because of the cozy historical fantasy storyline, but because of the beautiful writing style and the characters. This being my second time "reading" this book, I was giddy at hints of what would come in the second book and cannot wait to continue the series now. The audiobook completely did this book justice and was absolutely lovely--especially with the harp intro that the author wrote and played. Bumping it up to a five star rating with this reread!
🐉 🫖 🍄�
Samples of the writing style:
“With my square face and small, tidy figure I’m a picture of feminine rectitude. My springy hair is the only thing that hints at wilder proclivities. It is usually tamped down with a hat. I dress myself neatly and well but without ostentation, and I know how to keep my mouth shut when I have any thoughts that might cause shock or dismay.�
“To my relief, there was indeed a carriage with an aged retainer to meet us at Embsay station, which appeared to be not only the end of the line but also of civilisation. From the desolation of the last part of our journey I had half expected to be abandoned at the station and forced to cadge a ride on some agricultural equipage.
I could just imagine us arriving at the ancestral seat, picking bits of hay from our mourning costumes, or perhaps drenched to the skin with rain from our journey over the lowering moor. Perhaps the wind would even wuther at us for good measure. What a way to announce ourselves!
But no, we were respectably met, and the spring day was only a little grey. I detected no wuthering, whatever that might be, precisely.�
“The road climbed steeply for a time and we were fairly jostled. Now the trees thinned and the countryside opened suddenly like a book falling open on its spine.�
“Let me be frank with you: I am generally suspicious of eligible men. My attachment to the single life is profound. I have found that the best course is to start off with new acquaintances by adopting a forbidding expression. It is a simple matter to put off young men in this way. One can always thaw a little later, once the risk has been properly assessed.�
🐉 🫖 🍄�
Main Content-
No magic content at all (Edith refers to something as magic and her cousin fussed at her, saying it’s not magic), but there are dragons and wyvern mentioned (and maybe even seen) aplenty; Mentions of their poisons/venom (*Spoiler* ); There’s a handful of mentions of vampire, pegasus, faeries, but none are seen (nor believed in) in this book.
Edith’s father is a clergyman (reverend) and there’s a decent amount of mentions of her duties as a clergyman’s daughter, going to church, sermons, services, and such; Edith also prays, sings the Doxology (twice), & Scriptures come to mind (she also doesn’t write her novel on Sunday honoring it as the Sabbath and believes that it “does [her] good� to do so); Scriptures are also mentioned & said in a prayer by her father; Talks about God & Christian beliefs; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; At one point when she thinks she’s dying, Edith says a prayer of repentance and then “consigned [her] soul to God�; Set at an Abbey and there’s mentions of the monks who lived there long ago; Mentions of God, prayers, & praying; Mentions of Christianity, Christian lands, & following Christian beliefs and morals; Mentions of saints (including authors of books of the Bible being referred to as a saint) & their days of celebration; Mentions of Jews (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of relics; A few mentions of miracles; A few mentions of the book and an event in “The Pilgrim’s Progress�; A couple mentions of God judging someone when they’ve passed.
There are paintings that depict people worshiping serpents/dragons, monks coming into the land to make it a Christian land, and a saint that is crushing the creature beneath his foot (Edith comments that that was hubris of the Abbot, because it’s Christ who crushes the dragon’s head).
“God knows�, “Thank God� and “For God’s sake� are both used (twice, twice, and once) and the latter border-lines feeling flippant to me, but I don’t think it was meant that way. “Good heavens!� is exclaimed about seven times; Mentions of Greek mythology creatures & lore.
Edith is given brandy (she thought it was water) and it burns her throat horribly; Mentions of drinking & brandy (including her father drinking a glass here and there in the book).
No language stronger than idiot or stupid; A mention of someone’s family being “liberal-minded enough� to accept her choice of a spouse (in terms of a difference of religion); A man says that Edith is sharper than most because she has a different gene pool because of her mother (he takes a stab at the inbreeding that happens in London society); Edith’s cousins� father didn’t think much of his daughters or that they needed much education because they were women.
A young boy is kidnapped/lured into a dangerous place (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of deaths, bodies, & grieving (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of beatings (including bullies at a school); A few mentions of lies & lying.
Mentions of human sacrifices in paintings of historical events (including child sacrifice); Mentions of wyverns hunting and eating other animals (barely-above-not-detailed).
There’s hints of a future romance in later books, but it’s very light and not really touched on in this one; A few mentions of miscarriages; A couple mentions of kisses; A couple mentions of a man not making an attempt on Edith’s virtue; A mention of Greeks of olden days being mostly naked.
September 5, 2023
i loved this book
it's a cosy cup of tea on a stormy night, with nuance, flavour, and a delightful aroma. here be: dragons, fraught history and intergenerational abuses, gothic manors and gothic towns, and a christianity that is breathed and lived rather than preached. gentle but unyielding when it needs to be, this book addresses heavy subjects in a way that didn't depress me but made me hopeful. edith is the most delightful dumpling of a heroine--hearty, wholesome, and strengthening.
i've read the first three books in the series already, and i can't wait for the fourth. you guys will have to wait, tho (because i'm just that special)
cosy gothic dragon-core at its best
it's a cosy cup of tea on a stormy night, with nuance, flavour, and a delightful aroma. here be: dragons, fraught history and intergenerational abuses, gothic manors and gothic towns, and a christianity that is breathed and lived rather than preached. gentle but unyielding when it needs to be, this book addresses heavy subjects in a way that didn't depress me but made me hopeful. edith is the most delightful dumpling of a heroine--hearty, wholesome, and strengthening.
i've read the first three books in the series already, and i can't wait for the fourth. you guys will have to wait, tho (because i'm just that special)
cosy gothic dragon-core at its best
June 18, 2024
What a delightful book! I was hoping I would like this book since I like Christina but it is always tricky to read books of friends!! I truly enjoyed every minute of this and all my favorite friends literary friends were alluded to wonderfully well. Bravo! Christina!! Such fun!! I kept thinking I wished I could write that well.
Read
November 27, 2023DNF about halfway through. Rant below. Read at your own risk. :-P
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This is a historical fantasy novel about an aristocratic English family living in an old abbey in Yorkshire. As a Catholic myself, I was curious how the author would explain the dissolution of the monasteries--ie, when the English abbeys were stolen from the Catholic Church and turned into pleasure houses for rich and powerful nobles loyal to Henry VIII. How did the titular Wormwood Abbey pass into this wealthy family's hands?
I think it's safe to say I was not prepared for the explanation, "well, the Abbot BECAME a noble and lived happily ever after on his new estate, so no one got hurt :) :) :)"
Gentle reader, do you understand that people DIED because of Henry's greed? Are you aware that abbots and monks who resisted the crown's attempts at dispossession were VIOLENTLY MURDERED? Did you know that a popular uprising--in Yorkshire of all places!--rose up to protest the pillaging of the monasteries, and that Henry VIII brutally crushed it by executing hundreds of its members? Did you know that monasteries often provided important social services like hospitals, almshouses, and schools--and of course, all that fell by the wayside once the Protestant nobles turned them into their private little theme parks? Did you know monastic libraries were destroyed, priceless books lost forever to history, sacred religious artwork deliberately burned and trashed?
Do you understand, in short, what a sordid and bloody affair the much-vaunted English Reformation really was?
Look, I'll get off my soapbox now, but guys... I'm tired. I'm tired of seeing the history I care about erased and made light of. Even when it's not intentional, it still hurts. And somehow, I doubt this book is going to do an abrupt about-face and explain everything better if I just keep reading to the end.
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This is a historical fantasy novel about an aristocratic English family living in an old abbey in Yorkshire. As a Catholic myself, I was curious how the author would explain the dissolution of the monasteries--ie, when the English abbeys were stolen from the Catholic Church and turned into pleasure houses for rich and powerful nobles loyal to Henry VIII. How did the titular Wormwood Abbey pass into this wealthy family's hands?
I think it's safe to say I was not prepared for the explanation, "well, the Abbot BECAME a noble and lived happily ever after on his new estate, so no one got hurt :) :) :)"
Gentle reader, do you understand that people DIED because of Henry's greed? Are you aware that abbots and monks who resisted the crown's attempts at dispossession were VIOLENTLY MURDERED? Did you know that a popular uprising--in Yorkshire of all places!--rose up to protest the pillaging of the monasteries, and that Henry VIII brutally crushed it by executing hundreds of its members? Did you know that monasteries often provided important social services like hospitals, almshouses, and schools--and of course, all that fell by the wayside once the Protestant nobles turned them into their private little theme parks? Did you know monastic libraries were destroyed, priceless books lost forever to history, sacred religious artwork deliberately burned and trashed?
Do you understand, in short, what a sordid and bloody affair the much-vaunted English Reformation really was?
Look, I'll get off my soapbox now, but guys... I'm tired. I'm tired of seeing the history I care about erased and made light of. Even when it's not intentional, it still hurts. And somehow, I doubt this book is going to do an abrupt about-face and explain everything better if I just keep reading to the end.
Read
March 25, 2025This was delightful! My 12 and 14 year olds have LOVED this series.
January 11, 2025
4 stars!! This was such a fun cozy read. The best way I can describe it is that I was in the manor from Northanger Abbey set on the grounds of Longbourn estate from Pride and Prejudice. But then there were dragons!!
It took a a bit to get into this book but once I was in to it I read it in one evening! The twists and turns were so fun! I really came to love our characters, especially Edith, Gwendolyn, and Drake. Gwendolyn was such a great character, with a rich backstory and complex hopes and fears. Drake was mysterious to say the least, but it's hard not to like a guy that enjoys Jane Austen. I look forward to getting to know him more in the next books! My favorite thing about Edith our main character is that she's a writer. I almost always enjoy characters that write and she was no exception! Especially even the time period it was amazing that her family was so supportive of her passion and I loved that.
This really feels like a book for the classic book girlies that want a lighthearted modern fantasy book set in Jane Austen England. I think almost anyone would enjoy this story, but if you know the book references you might just enjoy it a little more. There were so many literary references including Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, Shakespeare, Treasure Island, and Greek Myths which I loved!!!
Also shout out to all my buddy readers!!!! Lainey, Emma Jo, and Child Of God! This was so fun!!! 😁
I hope y'all enjoyed this book too!
A few of my favorite quotes are as follows:
"My eyes fell on the primroses on my desk. That was what she was like, a green thing struggling to live between inhospitable slabs of stone. Fragile, beautiful, and determined."
"Whatever was troubling her so deeply, over-work or nerves or unrequited love or the deaths of her relations or the fate of an inheritance, my books gave her joy."
"Mother would say that every day is a miracle. That it is we who have grown so dull and stupid that we do not see it, expecting the miracles to go on and on, without recognising them for what they are."
"Only, do remember, when one takes one’s heart out of a box, one must be aware that it may be hurt.�
Content: main character's father is a preacher
It took a a bit to get into this book but once I was in to it I read it in one evening! The twists and turns were so fun! I really came to love our characters, especially Edith, Gwendolyn, and Drake. Gwendolyn was such a great character, with a rich backstory and complex hopes and fears. Drake was mysterious to say the least, but it's hard not to like a guy that enjoys Jane Austen. I look forward to getting to know him more in the next books! My favorite thing about Edith our main character is that she's a writer. I almost always enjoy characters that write and she was no exception! Especially even the time period it was amazing that her family was so supportive of her passion and I loved that.
This really feels like a book for the classic book girlies that want a lighthearted modern fantasy book set in Jane Austen England. I think almost anyone would enjoy this story, but if you know the book references you might just enjoy it a little more. There were so many literary references including Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, Shakespeare, Treasure Island, and Greek Myths which I loved!!!
Also shout out to all my buddy readers!!!! Lainey, Emma Jo, and Child Of God! This was so fun!!! 😁
I hope y'all enjoyed this book too!
A few of my favorite quotes are as follows:
"My eyes fell on the primroses on my desk. That was what she was like, a green thing struggling to live between inhospitable slabs of stone. Fragile, beautiful, and determined."
"Whatever was troubling her so deeply, over-work or nerves or unrequited love or the deaths of her relations or the fate of an inheritance, my books gave her joy."
"Mother would say that every day is a miracle. That it is we who have grown so dull and stupid that we do not see it, expecting the miracles to go on and on, without recognising them for what they are."
"Only, do remember, when one takes one’s heart out of a box, one must be aware that it may be hurt.�
Content: main character's father is a preacher
October 26, 2024
YA Fantasy isn’t my usual genre, but gothic and cozy made me want to read this book. It’s not listed as Christian, but there are many faith references. It was a fun adventure as Emily goes to Wormwood Abbey with her family after inheriting the castle. She learns a lot about herself in going to this ancestral place. I enjoyed the mention of gothic fiction works in the storyline…that was fun. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series. 🐉 💖
June 11, 2025
So delightful! I picked this up wanting a light read in the midst of my My Hero Academia marathon and it was exactly what I was looking for!
I LOVED the atmosphere of the abbey and the descriptions of the landscape were so alive and vivid I could picture it as if I was there with Edith rather then being in my own (at the time) very dusty house, lol. I mention this because landscapes are very rarely fully pictured or alive in my mind, so I take notice when a book has that aspect, as I also struggle to write these descriptions without using a ton of meaningless words and paragraphs the reader’s bored of or goes cross eyed over, lol.
Edith annoyed me a bit at the beginning by being kinda judgmental in some of her words and thoughts, but by the end I warmed up to her and am looking forward to following her along on her adventures. And even when I was on the fence about liking her I SO connected with her on being a writer, books, and wanting others to love her stories as much as she does and being immensely happy when they do.
I loved how the author drew from real historical facts she found about dragons in that time period, that was so cool to learn about! And while I know next to nothing about this, I do want to mention I did read another review that said it wasn’t historically accurate on how the Worms got the abbey, but I can’t comment further on that because I know nothing about Catholic history, so keep that in mind if something like that might bother you. It didn’t bother me, but again I know nothing about it, so take my advice on this with a grain of salt, haha.
Thankfully my library has the rest of the series (yay for saving money, lol!!) so I have the second book on hold and am eagerly looking forward to continuing!
‼️DzԳٱԳ‼️
Violence: dragons bite a man’s arm and another’s leg
Alcohol/Drugs: characters drink alcohol; dragon scales/bites are poisonous to humans
Other: a magical ability; dragons; a dead body
I LOVED the atmosphere of the abbey and the descriptions of the landscape were so alive and vivid I could picture it as if I was there with Edith rather then being in my own (at the time) very dusty house, lol. I mention this because landscapes are very rarely fully pictured or alive in my mind, so I take notice when a book has that aspect, as I also struggle to write these descriptions without using a ton of meaningless words and paragraphs the reader’s bored of or goes cross eyed over, lol.
Edith annoyed me a bit at the beginning by being kinda judgmental in some of her words and thoughts, but by the end I warmed up to her and am looking forward to following her along on her adventures. And even when I was on the fence about liking her I SO connected with her on being a writer, books, and wanting others to love her stories as much as she does and being immensely happy when they do.
I loved how the author drew from real historical facts she found about dragons in that time period, that was so cool to learn about! And while I know next to nothing about this, I do want to mention I did read another review that said it wasn’t historically accurate on how the Worms got the abbey, but I can’t comment further on that because I know nothing about Catholic history, so keep that in mind if something like that might bother you. It didn’t bother me, but again I know nothing about it, so take my advice on this with a grain of salt, haha.
Thankfully my library has the rest of the series (yay for saving money, lol!!) so I have the second book on hold and am eagerly looking forward to continuing!
‼️DzԳٱԳ‼️
Violence: dragons bite a man’s arm and another’s leg
Alcohol/Drugs: characters drink alcohol; dragon scales/bites are poisonous to humans
Other: a magical ability; dragons; a dead body
December 5, 2024
4⭐️
First person
A fun story mixing 1800’s vibes with mythical creatures.
A girl’s father inherits his estranged family estate. When the family goes up to the estate to figure things out, some surprising things occur.
There wasn’t a ton of faith content in it, but what was talked about set us in real world Christianity, except with dragons…so does that make this categorized as ‘magical realism�?
I really liked how real and natural and true-to-life the friendship developed between the two girls.
Language: 2 or 3 abuses of God’s name
First person
A fun story mixing 1800’s vibes with mythical creatures.
A girl’s father inherits his estranged family estate. When the family goes up to the estate to figure things out, some surprising things occur.
There wasn’t a ton of faith content in it, but what was talked about set us in real world Christianity, except with dragons…so does that make this categorized as ‘magical realism�?
I really liked how real and natural and true-to-life the friendship developed between the two girls.
Language: 2 or 3 abuses of God’s name
November 21, 2024
Five *million* stars!!!! 🤩😱🤯🤩
What an amazing little quirky, cozy tale- that isn’t over yet! 😆😆😆
Historical fiction + Yorkshire Dales + Dragons?!?!
Oh, it got me! A new favorite series! I’m gonna have to buy them all�
Thanks for the buddy read, Child of God, Lainey, and Maria! (Sorry I was like suuuuper sloooow compared to you all!)
Now onto book two! 😍😍😍
What an amazing little quirky, cozy tale- that isn’t over yet! 😆😆😆
Historical fiction + Yorkshire Dales + Dragons?!?!
Oh, it got me! A new favorite series! I’m gonna have to buy them all�
Thanks for the buddy read, Child of God, Lainey, and Maria! (Sorry I was like suuuuper sloooow compared to you all!)
Now onto book two! 😍😍😍
May 28, 2025
4 Stars �
Cozy Mystery
“All of Gods creatures are beautiful and useful, though, not all of them are pleasant.�
Faith and Fantasy May 2025 BOTM
What a delightful start to this cozy gothic mystery series. All the characters are charming and likable and the pacing is perfect. We follow FMC Edith Worms as she visits a crumbling abbey. There she’s whisked away by mythical creatures, dragons and a secretive neighbor. It is a short book you can read in one sitting and can thoroughly enjoy all the way to the end. I’m looking forward to continuing with this series.
Cozy Mystery
“All of Gods creatures are beautiful and useful, though, not all of them are pleasant.�
Faith and Fantasy May 2025 BOTM
What a delightful start to this cozy gothic mystery series. All the characters are charming and likable and the pacing is perfect. We follow FMC Edith Worms as she visits a crumbling abbey. There she’s whisked away by mythical creatures, dragons and a secretive neighbor. It is a short book you can read in one sitting and can thoroughly enjoy all the way to the end. I’m looking forward to continuing with this series.
May 5, 2025
My Quick Takes:
-4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Language 🤐 none
- Spice ❤️� none
- content 🤔 death
A lovely start to an intriguing series. Wormwood Abbey is a cozy, Victorian-era novel filled with charming characters, wit, and a side of mystery. I’m very eager to see where the story goes and how the plot develops!
This is the perfect read if you’re a fan of Emma M. Lion, Little Women, and Agatha Christie, with a touch of fantasy!
-4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Language 🤐 none
- Spice ❤️� none
- content 🤔 death
A lovely start to an intriguing series. Wormwood Abbey is a cozy, Victorian-era novel filled with charming characters, wit, and a side of mystery. I’m very eager to see where the story goes and how the plot develops!
This is the perfect read if you’re a fan of Emma M. Lion, Little Women, and Agatha Christie, with a touch of fantasy!
May 22, 2025
I'm ordering the next book right now. It cannot come soon enough.
November 12, 2024
“You simply can’t cry and sing loudly at the same time, and if you try, you’ll only end up by laughing and then half of your problem is solved.�
Super easy to read. Love the writing style. And the Christian jokes were so funny and delightful. If you grew up in the church from a young age you’ll totally relate and enjoy Edith’s perspective! It’s just unapologetically Christian and I love it. We need more books like this! *nods head* yes yes we do�.
Oh yes and ofc shout out to my fellow buddy readers: Emma, Lainey, Maria 🫶🫶
Super easy to read. Love the writing style. And the Christian jokes were so funny and delightful. If you grew up in the church from a young age you’ll totally relate and enjoy Edith’s perspective! It’s just unapologetically Christian and I love it. We need more books like this! *nods head* yes yes we do�.
Oh yes and ofc shout out to my fellow buddy readers: Emma, Lainey, Maria 🫶🫶
May 7, 2024
Loved this! I love the historical setting (1899 Yorkshire); the very end of the Victorian edge is endlessly fascinating to me. I love that Edith is a writer and that the story begins with a normal family in a normal English town but that the mystery and fantasy elements start to grow until the end when Edith gets to start on a whole new path. Edith is so great! She has her own growth as a human being and as a Worms and it’s all so beautifully written. I love Edith’s father, stepmother, and half-brother George. I love that Edith can remember her own mother while still loving her stepmother. It’s so fun to have a warm, loving family in the novel, especially for the lonely girls at Wormwood Abbey. Gwendolyn is a compelling and complex character. And Simon Drake has great potential. 😁 There are allusions here to many great works of literature, so of course I feel that both the author and Edith are kindred spirits. A shared love of Jane Austen tends to do that. 😎
Can’t wait to keep on reading the series! Thank you Christina!
Can’t wait to keep on reading the series! Thank you Christina!
September 28, 2023
This book a delicious dark chocolate confection of slow build, gothic fantasy. There are hints of romance. Hints of danger. A mysterious, crumbling manor house. A family secret that needs to be unraveled. Oh, and DRAGONS. This novel takes its time to unfold each piece delicately, deliberately, yet despite the slow build, I could NOT put it down!
I can't WAIT for this book to release so that everyone can gobble up this lovely book!
*I was given a free book by the author. All opinions are my own.*
I can't WAIT for this book to release so that everyone can gobble up this lovely book!
*I was given a free book by the author. All opinions are my own.*
June 4, 2025
Cozy and quirky, with a dash of intrigue! The MC’s narrative voice was a lot of fun, and while the story was a bit too short to get to know the side characters really well, I liked several of them. And the blossoming friendship between Edith and her cousin was so sweet. 🥹
Definitely continuing this series!
Definitely continuing this series!
August 4, 2024
5+ stars (6/10 hearts). When I first heard of this (through Lindsey from Books For Christian Girls), I was hooked. Cozy, nonmagical fantasy with dragons? Sounds great. But I quickly discovered it was even better than I expected.
Excellent humour? check.
1800s English historical setting?
Mystery without spook or second-hand embarrassment? check.
Strong family circle? check.
Great writing style, similar to 1900s classics? check.
Good message? check.
Living characters? check, check, checkety check check.
All right, my favourite thing was Edith. We’re about the same age� and I’m also a pastor’s daughter� and I also write� and I write mysteries� and I’m homeschooled� and I love history� and I love frogs� okay, that last bit doesn’t have much to do with the story BUT I think Edith would like frogs if she tried it. I don’t think there’s that much difference between a dragon and a frog, when it comes to their feel. Anyways, I loved Edith. I related to her a lot, and she was such a solid MC—sensible, realistic, flawed, honest, strong, but not anti-men (well, by the end at least). Her character arc was so well done. (And I, too, find that “my rambles always turn out best when there is someone to tell me when I’m going the wrong way.�)
But I loved the other characters too! Gwen was such a dear, and Drake was a real gentleman, and Violet + Una + George were fantastic supporting characters, and Mother & Father were just delightful. I love absent-minded studious male characters (they’re such a hoot) but I LOVED that father was quite able to be sensible and present and Fatherly and protective and wise. (The recurring cup of tea was *kiss fist*). And saintly, wise mothers are my favourite every time. Also, Pilot is a darling, and Rivers was the PERFECT villain.
And I loved the plot. It reminded me of Amanda Kastner’s series, actually� that same time of feel, like Victorian England reimagined to include dragons—real, nonmagical, little pet dragons. (And the occasional real, nonmagical, venomous wyvern). Dragons are real creatures, and the author is very specific to say the story is NOT magical and the dragons are totally normal, as they were back in medieval days. The antidote is also nonmagical and just a matter of genetics, which was super cool. I love how the mysteries were slowly revealed� the pacing was epic! And personally, I loved that the suspense was so fully tempered with humour.
I loved the sensible gothic abbey setting (it’s a thing, I promise!) and how Edith handled the history and past of the place but also looked to the future and broke the generational trauma of the place. The whole thread about sacrifice was amazingly done. The spiritual aspect was subtle, but deep. I love how bookish it was and Edith & Drake constantly dragging up classics. I loved the ridiculousness tempered with seriousness—such a great balance, and well displayed in the whole part of Edith thinking she was dying. It was hilarious but had such a deep message.
Honestly, I’m not sure what to say! This story scratched a bookish itch I didn’t even know I had. I am so hooked to this series and absolutely cannot wait to read the next book. I NEED TO MEET MRS. DRAKE. And I also need Edith to confess her writing. 😏
Content: mild language, a mention of a guy not making an attempt on a girl’s honour.
A Favourite Quote: The world has not emptied of mythos. It is we who have grown empty, and dull to its wonders.
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: My eyes fell on the primroses on my desk. That was what she was like, a green thing struggling to live between inhospitable slabs of stone. Fragile, beautiful, and determined.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Do be careful, children,� I warned. “I’m not sure, but I suspect he may bite.�
“Do his bites kill people?� asked Violet, as if this was a perfectly normal question....
“Would he like a mouse, Eddie?� asked George helpfully. “I’ve got a mouse in my pocket.�
“Of course you do. And he may indeed like a mouse. But I’m quite sure I should not like to see him eat one.�
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
Excellent humour? check.
1800s English historical setting?
Mystery without spook or second-hand embarrassment? check.
Strong family circle? check.
Great writing style, similar to 1900s classics? check.
Good message? check.
Living characters? check, check, checkety check check.
All right, my favourite thing was Edith. We’re about the same age� and I’m also a pastor’s daughter� and I also write� and I write mysteries� and I’m homeschooled� and I love history� and I love frogs� okay, that last bit doesn’t have much to do with the story BUT I think Edith would like frogs if she tried it. I don’t think there’s that much difference between a dragon and a frog, when it comes to their feel. Anyways, I loved Edith. I related to her a lot, and she was such a solid MC—sensible, realistic, flawed, honest, strong, but not anti-men (well, by the end at least). Her character arc was so well done. (And I, too, find that “my rambles always turn out best when there is someone to tell me when I’m going the wrong way.�)
But I loved the other characters too! Gwen was such a dear, and Drake was a real gentleman, and Violet + Una + George were fantastic supporting characters, and Mother & Father were just delightful. I love absent-minded studious male characters (they’re such a hoot) but I LOVED that father was quite able to be sensible and present and Fatherly and protective and wise. (The recurring cup of tea was *kiss fist*). And saintly, wise mothers are my favourite every time. Also, Pilot is a darling, and Rivers was the PERFECT villain.
And I loved the plot. It reminded me of Amanda Kastner’s series, actually� that same time of feel, like Victorian England reimagined to include dragons—real, nonmagical, little pet dragons. (And the occasional real, nonmagical, venomous wyvern). Dragons are real creatures, and the author is very specific to say the story is NOT magical and the dragons are totally normal, as they were back in medieval days. The antidote is also nonmagical and just a matter of genetics, which was super cool. I love how the mysteries were slowly revealed� the pacing was epic! And personally, I loved that the suspense was so fully tempered with humour.
I loved the sensible gothic abbey setting (it’s a thing, I promise!) and how Edith handled the history and past of the place but also looked to the future and broke the generational trauma of the place. The whole thread about sacrifice was amazingly done. The spiritual aspect was subtle, but deep. I love how bookish it was and Edith & Drake constantly dragging up classics. I loved the ridiculousness tempered with seriousness—such a great balance, and well displayed in the whole part of Edith thinking she was dying. It was hilarious but had such a deep message.
Honestly, I’m not sure what to say! This story scratched a bookish itch I didn’t even know I had. I am so hooked to this series and absolutely cannot wait to read the next book. I NEED TO MEET MRS. DRAKE. And I also need Edith to confess her writing. 😏
Content: mild language, a mention of a guy not making an attempt on a girl’s honour.
A Favourite Quote: The world has not emptied of mythos. It is we who have grown empty, and dull to its wonders.
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: My eyes fell on the primroses on my desk. That was what she was like, a green thing struggling to live between inhospitable slabs of stone. Fragile, beautiful, and determined.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Do be careful, children,� I warned. “I’m not sure, but I suspect he may bite.�
“Do his bites kill people?� asked Violet, as if this was a perfectly normal question....
“Would he like a mouse, Eddie?� asked George helpfully. “I’ve got a mouse in my pocket.�
“Of course you do. And he may indeed like a mouse. But I’m quite sure I should not like to see him eat one.�
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
August 31, 2024
This book was so cozy! I'm not usually a fan of Gothic literature, but somehow combined with a plucky (JEWISH, y'all should have told me!) heroine, complicated characters who surprised me, and a smol, puppy-like baby creature, and a hefty mystery was the perfect recipe for a Kate book. I highly enjoyed it! It did go darker than I was expecting, but never too dark for me.
I almost gave it five stars, but there were two things that took away from my enjoyment. One, the pacing felt a little bit off, and two, the issue of the Abbey passing into private property from belonging to the Catholic church (as mentioned in this review /review/show...). There were some other positive portrayals of Catholicism that I believe were meant to balance this out, but it's worth mentioning.
I almost gave it five stars, but there were two things that took away from my enjoyment. One, the pacing felt a little bit off, and two, the issue of the Abbey passing into private property from belonging to the Catholic church (as mentioned in this review /review/show...). There were some other positive portrayals of Catholicism that I believe were meant to balance this out, but it's worth mentioning.
September 25, 2023
Someone get me a time machine; I need to travel to the future so I can devour every Secrets of Ormdale book that Christina ever writes IMMEDIATELY.
Anyway, I don't know if I've recently discovered a love of the gothic or if I've always liked it and now I just know that the name belongs to what I like, but in either case, I find myself delighting in it � and, of course, I've been in love with dragons since I was nine or ten. So a cozy gothic WITH dragons in it is absolutely my cup of tea. I knew it would be the moment I heard about the book, and once I had a chance to read it, I was not at all disappointed!
Wormwood Abbey is many things. It is, already mentioned, a gothic tale full of ruins and mysteries and crumbling old houses, of secrets long kept by oath and family tradition, of midnight ventures through dark hallways, of strange inheritances, of hidden dangers and the meeting of the supernatural with the natural. It's a story about dragons, long-hidden and regarded as monsters by some and creatures to be protected by others. In these two respects, it reminded me of , just shorter and with a different sort of humor and a rather nicer family for our protagonist.
It's a story about family; most of the main characters are related to each other. I loved Edith's interactions with her parents; it's quite refreshing to have a (young) adult heroine who still gets along with her parents and still has them as a significant part of her life. (I don't remember if Edith's age is stated, but I interpreted her as being in her early to mid 20s.) I also loved Edith's relationship with George � it's clear they care deeply about each other, despite the age difference � and the way she finds her way into friendship with her cousins.
It's a story, like many other stories, about a young woman figuring out who she is and what she's going to use her life for. And while we're here, let me just say that I love Edith as a character. Outwardly a proper clergy's daughter; secretly a writer of sensational mysteries! As I am also a writer of sensational mysteries, I feel a proper kinship with her, and I wish she were real so we could be friends. (Also, there's a scene at one point where she's like "I am going to approach this the way my detective in my stories would," and then imitating her detective does not go as well as planned, and . . . girl, I feel that.) Besides that, though, she's reasonably sensible and good-hearted, but not without a proper appreciation for drama and adventure, and I just love her a lot, ok? Yes, she does occasionally slip up or procrastinate on telling people things, but there was never a point where I was genuinely frustrated with her.
It's a story about choices: the choices you make and the choices that you think have been taken from you. It's a story about choosing to help others and about being given the choice to help yourself. It's about thinking you have to do things alone and discovering that you don't have to, but you might have to change a little to get the help you truly need. It's a story about accepting change and also about holding onto what really matters.
All in all, it's a wonderful, lovely, delightful story, perfect for reading on a warm October day or a stormy night, and I couldn't recommend it more.
(And if anyone happens to have that time machine . . . let me know. I have no doubt the rest of the books in the series will be just as wonderful, and I can't wait to read them all!)
Anyway, I don't know if I've recently discovered a love of the gothic or if I've always liked it and now I just know that the name belongs to what I like, but in either case, I find myself delighting in it � and, of course, I've been in love with dragons since I was nine or ten. So a cozy gothic WITH dragons in it is absolutely my cup of tea. I knew it would be the moment I heard about the book, and once I had a chance to read it, I was not at all disappointed!
Wormwood Abbey is many things. It is, already mentioned, a gothic tale full of ruins and mysteries and crumbling old houses, of secrets long kept by oath and family tradition, of midnight ventures through dark hallways, of strange inheritances, of hidden dangers and the meeting of the supernatural with the natural. It's a story about dragons, long-hidden and regarded as monsters by some and creatures to be protected by others. In these two respects, it reminded me of , just shorter and with a different sort of humor and a rather nicer family for our protagonist.
It's a story about family; most of the main characters are related to each other. I loved Edith's interactions with her parents; it's quite refreshing to have a (young) adult heroine who still gets along with her parents and still has them as a significant part of her life. (I don't remember if Edith's age is stated, but I interpreted her as being in her early to mid 20s.) I also loved Edith's relationship with George � it's clear they care deeply about each other, despite the age difference � and the way she finds her way into friendship with her cousins.
It's a story, like many other stories, about a young woman figuring out who she is and what she's going to use her life for. And while we're here, let me just say that I love Edith as a character. Outwardly a proper clergy's daughter; secretly a writer of sensational mysteries! As I am also a writer of sensational mysteries, I feel a proper kinship with her, and I wish she were real so we could be friends. (Also, there's a scene at one point where she's like "I am going to approach this the way my detective in my stories would," and then imitating her detective does not go as well as planned, and . . . girl, I feel that.) Besides that, though, she's reasonably sensible and good-hearted, but not without a proper appreciation for drama and adventure, and I just love her a lot, ok? Yes, she does occasionally slip up or procrastinate on telling people things, but there was never a point where I was genuinely frustrated with her.
It's a story about choices: the choices you make and the choices that you think have been taken from you. It's a story about choosing to help others and about being given the choice to help yourself. It's about thinking you have to do things alone and discovering that you don't have to, but you might have to change a little to get the help you truly need. It's a story about accepting change and also about holding onto what really matters.
All in all, it's a wonderful, lovely, delightful story, perfect for reading on a warm October day or a stormy night, and I couldn't recommend it more.
(And if anyone happens to have that time machine . . . let me know. I have no doubt the rest of the books in the series will be just as wonderful, and I can't wait to read them all!)
December 18, 2024
I started this book when I was grumpy and fighting for my life against final projects. Because of that—and because I’m a chronic mood reader—I got half a page in before I decided to pause.
Post-finals, I’m a new woman. As such, I resumed this book last night despite knowing two critical facts: (1) I had to get up for work today, and (2) I’m slowly recovering from a Chest Cold (capitalized to signify its regrettable tenacity) and need all the rest I can get. So I stayed up far past an advisable time to finish this book, which is its own endorsement right there.
I said I’m a new woman, not a wiser woman.
Truly, I enjoyed this so much. I did get irked at all of the secrecy, but then so did our protagonist, which made me feel vindicated and better about the whole thing. She even shook someone by the shoulders when I wanted to do the exact same thing, so the mystique worked because Edith didn’t just accept it and force us to accept it with her.
I liked that, even though everyone and their grandma knew going into this that there’d be dragons, the actual mystery of the abbey and Edith’s role in it were slowly unfurled. (I imagine they’re not finished unfurling, either!) Edith’s growth throughout this story is wonderful, and I loved watching her friendships bloom. Also, while she did have room for growth, she never acted silly enough to give me secondhand embarrassment, which is a major green flag.
Side note: I’d like to humbly ask the Worms family to adopt me temporarily just so I can bask in the warmth of Edith’s parents. I’ve read so many books with dysfunctional or downright abusive parents recently that this healthy dynamic was like a breath of fresh air—fresh, fells-filtered air.
I’m a latecomer, but if you see this review anyway, the bottom line is that you should read this book. It’s cozy, the main characters are earnest and conscientious and fun, there’s the barest burgeoning of a promising romance, and—last but not least!—it features the Berk of gothic abbeys: while most abbeys have mice or mosquitoes, Wormwood Abbey has� dragons.
Post-finals, I’m a new woman. As such, I resumed this book last night despite knowing two critical facts: (1) I had to get up for work today, and (2) I’m slowly recovering from a Chest Cold (capitalized to signify its regrettable tenacity) and need all the rest I can get. So I stayed up far past an advisable time to finish this book, which is its own endorsement right there.
I said I’m a new woman, not a wiser woman.
Truly, I enjoyed this so much. I did get irked at all of the secrecy, but then so did our protagonist, which made me feel vindicated and better about the whole thing. She even shook someone by the shoulders when I wanted to do the exact same thing, so the mystique worked because Edith didn’t just accept it and force us to accept it with her.
I liked that, even though everyone and their grandma knew going into this that there’d be dragons, the actual mystery of the abbey and Edith’s role in it were slowly unfurled. (I imagine they’re not finished unfurling, either!) Edith’s growth throughout this story is wonderful, and I loved watching her friendships bloom. Also, while she did have room for growth, she never acted silly enough to give me secondhand embarrassment, which is a major green flag.
Side note: I’d like to humbly ask the Worms family to adopt me temporarily just so I can bask in the warmth of Edith’s parents. I’ve read so many books with dysfunctional or downright abusive parents recently that this healthy dynamic was like a breath of fresh air—fresh, fells-filtered air.
I’m a latecomer, but if you see this review anyway, the bottom line is that you should read this book. It’s cozy, the main characters are earnest and conscientious and fun, there’s the barest burgeoning of a promising romance, and—last but not least!—it features the Berk of gothic abbeys: while most abbeys have mice or mosquitoes, Wormwood Abbey has� dragons.
July 6, 2024
When I tell you that I expected to hate this book, I'm not exaggerating. If you've followed my reviews for long, you know that fantasy is my least favorite genre and I rarely ever enjoy it. But this book was amazing! It hardly even felt like fantasy because I believe that dragons really did exist. I LOVE that the author included historical references to dragons (such as the Salamander King and Saint George), it reminded me of all the things I learned in . On top of all the historical references to dragons and people, there were a ton of references to classic literature, all the way to Jane Austen. *chefs kiss*
AND THEN, the vocabulary was phenomenal. But it didn't feel stuffy and over the top. I found myself looking up a lot of the words and wishing that I used them in my vocabulary.
I also loved that the main character was not a child 😅 Maybe that's just because I've been reading too much YA these days.
The one thing I didn't like was the sudden switch of how Drake was portrayed. He went from weird and mysterious to great and hilarious after just one scene. I get that the main character was misunderstanding him, but I do wish there was a little more development of his actual character.
AND THEN, the vocabulary was phenomenal. But it didn't feel stuffy and over the top. I found myself looking up a lot of the words and wishing that I used them in my vocabulary.
I also loved that the main character was not a child 😅 Maybe that's just because I've been reading too much YA these days.
The one thing I didn't like was the sudden switch of how Drake was portrayed. He went from weird and mysterious to great and hilarious after just one scene. I get that the main character was misunderstanding him, but I do wish there was a little more development of his actual character.
July 2, 2024
I had no real idea what to expect going in to this! I saw enough reassuring reviews, though, to know that even though I’m not usually a reader of fantasy I would probably enjoy this one. And I did! It somehow feels both fantastical and grounded. It manages to also be warm and cozy in between moments of adventure and peril, and I feel like I am in safe hands with the writing.
It doesn’t hurt that it takes place in the late Victorian age, which is just a really fun time for fiction to be set in. It’s also funny and full of great literary references. It’s a little bit Gothic but with so self-aware a heroine that it feels� not-Gothic. If that makes sense.
I’m looking forward to following the story onward ☺️
It doesn’t hurt that it takes place in the late Victorian age, which is just a really fun time for fiction to be set in. It’s also funny and full of great literary references. It’s a little bit Gothic but with so self-aware a heroine that it feels� not-Gothic. If that makes sense.
I’m looking forward to following the story onward ☺️
October 7, 2023
Dragons!
Whee! Wonderful, magical, so much fun! I assume you've read a synopsis, so I'm just going to say that I loved it. Edith may have made Mr Green come alive for her cousin, but Christina Baehr has made these characters come alive for us and I can't wait to read more.
Whee! Wonderful, magical, so much fun! I assume you've read a synopsis, so I'm just going to say that I loved it. Edith may have made Mr Green come alive for her cousin, but Christina Baehr has made these characters come alive for us and I can't wait to read more.
May 31, 2025
A super fun and short read!
It had adventure, but it was a relaxing and a non stress read, which was really nice and refreshing.
I also loved the characters! They were all interesting and felt like they had their own personalities to add to the story. The story was quirky and fun, with a little added mystery about the place and some of the characters.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to read the next one and see what’s happening at the Abby and with the characters!
Side note, Edith and Simon are gonna be so cute together in later books and I cannot wait to see that romance!!! 😁
It had adventure, but it was a relaxing and a non stress read, which was really nice and refreshing.
I also loved the characters! They were all interesting and felt like they had their own personalities to add to the story. The story was quirky and fun, with a little added mystery about the place and some of the characters.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to read the next one and see what’s happening at the Abby and with the characters!
Side note, Edith and Simon are gonna be so cute together in later books and I cannot wait to see that romance!!! 😁
February 19, 2025
SUCH an enjoyable read! I loved her attention to historical detail, even while tackling something that seems too fantastical to be true. The characters and relationships are lovely! The setting is beautiful. And the story, original. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Just bought the rest.
June 3, 2025
� five stars �
⭒�.� ❝one doesn’t beat about the bush when one is standing on a tower at moonrise watching for a wyvern� �.˚�
If ever there was a book to pair with a cup of tea and cozy up in the corner with, it would be this one. It's a delightful ride from start to finish, full of warmth, wit, and whimsy, and literary references that made my classic-loving heart happy. Not to mention the gothic undertones that worked so, so perfectly in this context. Or the faith content that wasn't pushy or preachy, but rather naturally woven in, never feeling out of place! Or the fabulous characters that graced the pages with their presence. Or all of the folklore aspects, or the underlying mystery, or the gorgeous writing, or ... well, you get the point! There's just so much I loved about this book, and I can't even get close to putting it all into words. So I won't continue trying. Go read it for yourself and see if you can figure out why I love it. 😉
⭒�.� ❝one doesn’t beat about the bush when one is standing on a tower at moonrise watching for a wyvern� �.˚�
If ever there was a book to pair with a cup of tea and cozy up in the corner with, it would be this one. It's a delightful ride from start to finish, full of warmth, wit, and whimsy, and literary references that made my classic-loving heart happy. Not to mention the gothic undertones that worked so, so perfectly in this context. Or the faith content that wasn't pushy or preachy, but rather naturally woven in, never feeling out of place! Or the fabulous characters that graced the pages with their presence. Or all of the folklore aspects, or the underlying mystery, or the gorgeous writing, or ... well, you get the point! There's just so much I loved about this book, and I can't even get close to putting it all into words. So I won't continue trying. Go read it for yourself and see if you can figure out why I love it. 😉
March 22, 2025
“Which meant that firstly, Drake was an absolute beast. And secondly, he knew his Austen. And that was a paradox I could not fathom.�
This book is so intriguing and wonderful! This story is gothic, plus historical fiction, mixed with fantasy which I think is the most amazing combination!!!! I loved the gorgeous setting, the lovely heroine, the mysterious side characters, the wonderful family, the adventure, oh and how could I forget�.dragons!
The secrets slowly being revealed had me hooked, the many literary references were amazing, the banter was wonderful, I enjoyed the growing friendships, and I loved the faith elements woven throughout!
I listened to the audiobook and it was beautifully done. The narrator’s voice is incredible and I found myself wanting to listen at every free moment I had.
As soon as I finished this book, I started book two because I just love Edith, these characters and this fun and enchanting storyline that I can’t get enough of! What an incredible story that I loved reading!
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Content: death, death in the past, some danger
This book is so intriguing and wonderful! This story is gothic, plus historical fiction, mixed with fantasy which I think is the most amazing combination!!!! I loved the gorgeous setting, the lovely heroine, the mysterious side characters, the wonderful family, the adventure, oh and how could I forget�.dragons!
The secrets slowly being revealed had me hooked, the many literary references were amazing, the banter was wonderful, I enjoyed the growing friendships, and I loved the faith elements woven throughout!
I listened to the audiobook and it was beautifully done. The narrator’s voice is incredible and I found myself wanting to listen at every free moment I had.
As soon as I finished this book, I started book two because I just love Edith, these characters and this fun and enchanting storyline that I can’t get enough of! What an incredible story that I loved reading!
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Content: death, death in the past, some danger
Read
March 29, 2024Absolutely delightful. A cozy Edwardian (I believe?) gothic adventure with a cast of winsome (and one truly odious, as befits his name) characters, a crumbling estate, a pet dragon, plenty of classic bookish references, dangers and mysteries aplenty and a tiny hint of possible romance to come. I loved it.
December 4, 2024
An easy five stars. I loved every moment—the spirited narrator, the gentle family dynamics, the Austen allusions, the Victorian countryside � and of course, the dragons.
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