REVIEW: "Hope's Enduring Echo" by Kim Vogel Sawyer

About the Book...

*Title: Hope’s Enduring Echo

*Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer

*Genre: Christian, Historical fiction, Romance

*Series: No, seems to be a standalone novel.

*Recommend for: Ages 14+

My Personal Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

📖Synopsis

Since an accident left her father unable to work, Jennie Ward has taken on the demanding task of inspecting the isolated seven-mile wooden pipeline that supplies water to Cañon City, Colorado. Despite her responsibilities, Jennie harbors dreams of going back to school and longs for something even simpler: a friend. One day, in a moment of impulsive and seemingly hopeless prayer, she asks God for companionship.

Her prayer is answered almost immediately with the arrival of Leo Day, a paleontology student searching for ancient bones buried along the ridges of the wild Arkansas River. Despite her long workdays, Jennie agrees to guide Leo in his quest.

As Jennie navigates her burgeoning friendship with Leo and her unwavering loyalty to her father, she finds herself torn. Leo, who longs for his own father’s approval, could change all Jennie knows. It’s undeniable that God has intertwined their paths, but to what end? With so much at stake, what does He truly intend for the preacher’s son and the linewalker’s daughter to uncover?

💭My Thoughts 

Fun fact, before I started this book, I was torn between it and another book I wanted to read, so I decided to read the first chapter of each book and then choose which one to continue based on how much I liked that first chapter. Well, I read the first chapter of Hope’s Enduring Echo and never even picked up my second option. 

I just so enjoyed this sweet, moving story of hope and faith and family and young love. Some may consider it a bit slow, but I personally was okay with that. It reminded me quite a lot of Janette Oke's books, particularly book #4 of the Love Comes Softly series, Love's Abiding Joy. It was just so wholesome, so touching, and so faith filled. I admit, several different parts did in fact make me want to tear up 🥲

I really, really enjoyed the romance in this book. And that’s saying something, because I’m very picky when it comes to romance stories. I always seem to roll my eyes at the couple’s instant attraction, constant noticing, unrealistic expectations, obsessively wanting to touch and kiss the other, etc, etc, etc. But this book was not like that in the least, and that just made me so happy and grateful to the author. I liked that Leo and Jennie had their interests, thoughts, and concerns outside their relationship with the other. And it was NOT love at first sight! Jennie just wants a friend, and that’s what she found in Leo. Another element in the romance that made me giddy with joy was that they weren’t merely attracted to each other’s physical appearance, but to their character, personality, and faith. So wonderful and beautiful to see. 

It sounds strange, but a little thing that I personally would have preferred to see would be Leo being a little more awkward (at least around Jennie) than he was. He was a bit of a nerd with his paleontology studies, but I think I would have enjoyed him being an awkward nerd. He just seemed to always be completely comfortable and at ease around everybody, and I think it would have been more natural for him to be just a little awkward perhaps. Which brings me to another tiny complaint I had with this book…In my opinion (note that I have an older brother), Leo was a little too perfect. Sure, he had his squabble with his father over the vocation he chose, but that was never really fleshed out. He just seemed to be too perfectly kind, sweet, and lovely, which is great, but I feel that it would have been more realistic if the author had given him a natural flaw or two. But that’s me judging fiction too harshly again 😂

Aside from that (very minor, really) issue, I loved Leo with Jennie. I wasn’t overly endeared to Jennie in the first half of the book, but she definitely grew in character and her faith through the course of the story. And when Leo talked to her about biblical creation and combatting the false religion of evolution being taught in schools everywhere, that made my heart swim. I was absolutely thrilled to see those sorts of conversations and beliefs featured in a newly published book. Thank you, author! 

The whole dynamic of Claude’s mental health was interesting, and I thought the ending was beautiful and realistic. He’s not magically cured right away with everything ending perfectly happy, but there is care and progress and always hope, and I loved seeing that. 

⚠️Content notes

A sweet, simple romance; kisses (one mildly descriptive); a “Heavens only knows”; a recollection of a beloved pet dog dying; many mentions of mental illnesses and an insane asylum; Jennie’s father is depressed, and treats his wife and Jennie harshly at times; recalled accident, injuries, and pain.

❤️ Read for…

~Janette Oke-style sweet, wholesome Christian historical fiction with light romance

~Many beautiful faith conversations and a theme of holding onto hope

~Elements of biblical creation science and paleontology

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Bookishly yours, 

Lottie M.

REVIEW: "The Women of Wyntons" by Donna Mumma

 

About the book…

*Title: The Women of Wynton's

*Author: Donna Mumma

*Genre: Christian, Historical fiction, Mystery

*Series: Book #1 of the "Women of Wynton" series. {Book #2, "First Comes Marriage...Then Comes Murder" releases in September of 2025}

*Recommend for: Ages 15+

My Personal Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

📖Synopsis

Mid-Century Glam Meets Murder Mayhem

Get swept away to the glamor of a 1950’s department store where four women’s loyalties, vanity, friendship, and detective skills are put to the test.

Audrey Penault once led a glamorous life as a model but now works as devoted secretary to Mr. Wynton. To her fellow employees, she is too vain and uppity.

Mary Jo Johnson, a wife and mother, longs to find her worth in the cosmetics department, but it may take a while for the shy housewife to discover her voice.

Vivian Sheffield owns and runs the bridal salon within Wynton’s. She is proud of her accomplishments and won’t let anyone take them away.

Gigi Woodard dislikes her job as waitress in the store’s lunchroom, but she is determined not to let her secret shortcomings cause her to lose the position.

These four women have much to dislike about each other, but they unanimously agree that Mr. Wynton is the best of employers and must be protected at all costs from someone who seems determined to see him gone for good. When other employee deaths occur, can the women band together to solve the murders, or will they discover it is one of their own bent on destroying Wynton’s from within?

💭My Thoughts 

I really, really enjoyed this classy 1950s mystery!

First off, I appreciated seeing the civil rights representation as a background plot thread in the book. I really loved seeing how much Audrey cared about showing fair treatment to everyone, her little acts of kindness to the store's workers throughout the book, and eventually, the other women coming to that stance as well. Those elements were heartwarming, though the bigger reality of that time was sad and tough to read about at times. I liked the comments several characters made about "things needing to change" and "maybe things would get better soon". Something about that latter statement just tugged at my heartstrings.

The 1950s department store setting was so fun- I believe this was actually the very first book I've read that was set in that time period! That setting definitely made for an interesting, unique, and entertaining read. I enjoyed the moments of wit and banter between characters, and found myself smiling more than I expected throughout the story!

Going into this book, I expected the four POVs would be too many to keep straight. However, I was wrong- the author wrote all of them very well and I actually kept up quite well. It was enjoyable, interesting, and added a lot to the story reading the four women’s unique perspectives and how different they were from each other.

There wasn’t too much actual Christian faith content, but still a good message throughout. I loved how Audrey built others up so much, and I just liked her character altogether. She was very relatable and realistic with her flaws and weaknesses, and how she was misunderstood due to her personality. The whole framing plot line, as usual, really stressed me out, but it all turned out fine in the end. (Was that a spoiler or just to be expected with every fiction book?)

I was so happy that there wasn’t a real romance in this book, because I don’t think it needed one at all. Instead, a primary theme is female friendship and working together, which I loved!

Overall, a sweet, enjoyable, very multifaceted read. I especially loved seeing each character’s journey of growth and healing. I wasn’t shocked at who the villain was, and the ending could possibly be considered just a little rushed, but the mystery thread was still interesting and engaging, and altogether I truly enjoyed this story so much, for many different reasons. I would definitely recommend!

⚠️Content notes

The words "Blacks", "Coloreds", and "Negro" used throughout the book; a mention of the Klu Klux Klan & them possibly bombing people in their beds- they died because near hospitals refused to treat them due to their skin shade; a mention of folks getting killed for shady reasons, also due to their skin shade; many mentions & instances of Black people being treated unfairly; mentions of divorces and couples fighting; drinking & drunkenness; foul language & oaths said by a character but not written out; No language stronger than "good golly", "oh my stars above", "the rotten thing", "my heavens", "good gracious" & dumb; a mention of a man's wife complaining that he's around too many women (he works at the store with them); kisses (one semi-descriptive); Dancing, noticing each other, fluttering, nuzzling, some flirting; a couple mentions of vomiting; death & grief; 4 murders (minimally descriptive).

❤️ Read for...

~1950s department store glam

~Workplace drama and ambition

~Unexpected female friendships

~Murder mayhem, secrets and suspense

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Bookishly yours, 

Lottie M.

REVIEW: “Romans: The Glory of the Gospel” by Lydia Brownback {Bible Study}

About the book...

★ Title: Romans: The Glory of the Gospel

★ Author: Lydia Brownback

★ Genre: Nonfiction, Bible Study

★ Series: Part of the Flourish Bible Study series (14 books)

★ Recommend for: Written primarily for women; Personal study or group study

My Personal Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖Synopsis

A 10-Week Study for Women on the Book of Romans  

Why is Romans considered the greatest letter ever written? In this New Testament epistle, the apostle Paul provides the clearest explanation of the gospel and the eternal hope for a humanity marred by sin and death. Through King Jesus, God reveals his righteousness, redeems his people from their sins, and unlocks the floodgates of his mercy.

In this 10-week Bible study for women, Lydia Brownback examines Romans verse by verse to explore how God works through his Son and in the hearts of his people. Written for individuals or groups, each lesson helps women understand important doctrines of the faith, such as justification, propitiation, and redemption, on a practical and accessible level. 

💭My Thoughts

This was a very solid Bible study for the great book of Romans!

I absolutely loved how it was organized, with the lovely reading plans, graphs, lists, timelines, and many more helpful resources it contained for study. I really appreciated the exegetical overview that was both in-depth and easy to grasp. 

Oftentimes I don't pay much attention to the discussion questions or reflections in a nonfiction book. I find that most of them are vague, unhelpful, and just not worth my time to answer. But in this Bible study, most of the discussion questions throughout were very thoughtful, specific, and made me ponder and relate to myself the important truths that were presented in the text that much more. 

Another aspect I admired in this study is how the writer did not "dumb down" the information at all like in so many modern Christian nonfiction books nowadays. As I mentioned before, it is written in a clear, easy-to-digest way. However, it's never over-simplified to the point of being shallow. The writer touches on many vital doctrines of the faith and explores them in depth, making them come alive to the reader perhaps in a new way. 

I used this as a personal Bible study, but it would work excellently for both personal and group studies. All in all, it was a really refreshing, gospel-infused, rich, practical, accessible Bible study for Romans. I enjoyed the format, organization, discussion questions and the entire book so much, and would highly recommend!

⚠️ Content notes

N/A

*I received this book for free from the publisher (Crossway) in exchange for this honest review. 

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Bookishly yours, 

Lottie M.

REVIEW: “Drake Hall” by Christina Baehr

About the book…

*Title: Drake Hall

*Author: Christina Baehr

*Genre: Cozy historical fantasy (with dragons and a touch of romance)

*Series: Book #2 of the 5-book series The Secrets of Ormdale {See review for book #1 here!

*Recommend for: Ages 14 & up

My Personal Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖Synopsis

Edith's ancient home is full of secrets . . . and dragons are the least of them.

As the new dragon keeper in the hidden valley of Ormdale, Edith expects her first dragon mating season to involve venomous bites and amorous wyverns.

She doesn't expect to find herself growing closer to an inconveniently appealing suitor next door, or to stumble upon a dragon poacher lurking in the outbuildings, or to uncover a family scandal in the Abbey.

Fortunately, Edith has a mentor to help her sort things out, the spellbinding Helena Drake of Drake Hall. Or does Helena harbor secrets of her own?

For Edith, the dragons were always going to be the easy part.

💭My Thoughts 

“Gothic men, I thought, did not often make good husbands- at least if literature was to be believed on this point.”

Not too many thoughts on this one, as it is the second in the series, but overall a great sequel! Personally, this one didn’t quite top the fantastic first one, but it was still a very fun, delightful read. Edith discovers many more secrets of Wormwood Abbey and her family throughout this book, and it has a little more romance and adventure than the first, so I’m very curious to read the third one and see how everything happens. As in the first book, I so enjoyed Christina Baehr’s lovely writing style and vocabulary, Edith’s wit and wisdom, the new characters introduced, the sweet family and friendship elements, and maybe more for Edith and Simon one day ;)

Onto book 3! 

⚠️Broad content notes

Noticing; several sentences of wanting to kiss someone; mention of enchantment/spell; mentions of hanging; “God forbid” and the phrase “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t” said; a mention of bigotry; an animal is killed and eaten by another animal on page (not gruesome, but it happens); Talk of prejudice against Jews; someone says that Edith is a magical person, but she disagrees and she’s not.

❤️ Read for...

-Victorian England backdrop

-Gothic atmosphere, mystery & secrets

-Dragons

-Quaint, witty writing in first person POV

-Literary references

-Fun family dynamic

-A sweet romance blooming

-A bit of adventure

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Bookishly yours, 

Lottie M.

A Little Writing Update

Several months ago, I began the process of drafting the Christian historical fiction novel that has been on my mind for years, tentatively entitled Chains of Belief. Here's a little blurb...

In “Chains of Belief,” Lian Chen, the eldest daughter of a devout Buddhist family in 19th-century China, struggles with her quest for truth beyond the rituals of her upbringing. When she encounters an English missionary, she discovers Christianity and secretly embraces her newfound faith, believing it to be her path to true freedom. However, as her conversion leaks to local authorities and the militant Boxers, Lian faces severe persecution. Torn between her love for her family and her commitment to Christ, she must summon the courage to stand firm against oppressive forces, even if it means sacrificing everything. This gripping tale explores the bonds of faith and the price of conviction in a tumultuous world.

After writing nearly every day for many weeks and holding myself to a very strict daily word count goal, I have taken a break. I found that I needed to pause the actual drafting and instead work more on outlining, character development, and polishing my plot. In addition to doing those things, I have been studying with a rigorous novel-writing course in an attempt to refine my craft and resolve the many questions I have about writing before I move forward. 

Now, I've returned to the actual writing process. It's going slower than I had hoped, harder than I had expected, and just as exciting as I knew it would be. I've certainly had (more than) my share of writer's block, and I've run into a lot of setbacks regarding the historical and cultural research and such. But I'm still moving along! I have more of an idea of how to structure my plotline, how to create strong characters, how to make my book what I want it to be. Here's a little of what I know so far...

★Writing a book is hard. 

★It will (hopefully!!) be more of a hard-hitting, gritty, but beautiful story than a lighthearted, fluffy one. 

★The specific setting of my novel will be the Baodi District of Tianjin, China, during the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901).

★The expected length of my novel will be between 175 and 250 pages. 

★I said earlier that the tentative title is Chains of Belief, but I have two others in the running: The Hidden Cross and Unbowed. *Feel free to let me know which of the three you like best!

★There will be no romance in this novel 😉

★I do not make any promises, but I *hope* that the first, rough draft will be complete and ready for editing by August at the latest. (There is a 99.9% chance that that will be changed, however). 

In summary, while progress has been much slower than I had hoped and expected, I haven't lost my vision for this book. Chains of Belief WILL become a reality, if it takes years! (It may).

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Bookishly yours, 

Lottie M. 

REVIEW: “The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip” by Sara Brunsvold

About the book…

*Title: The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip

*Author: Sara Brunsvold

*Genre: Christian, Contemporary, Dual time-period

*Series: No, a standalone novel.

*Recommend for: Ages 15 & up

My Personal Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖Synopsis

A throwaway assignment is about to change two lives forever

Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she's been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who's just entered hospice care.
But there's more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she's not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it's a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that's just what Mrs. Kip will give her--but she's going to have to work for it.

💭My Thoughts 

What a moving story.

It almost sounds wrong to say that I enjoyed this book per se. For personal reasons, it was a little difficult to read at times, and was definitely a sadder story, but at the same time there were so many sweet, powerful, and faith-filled parts.

I loved a lot of aspects of Mrs. Kip’s character. Her spunkiness, her humor, her energy, her passion for the Lord and winning souls, and just the fact that even when nearing the end of her life, she never gave up on life. What kept her going was her belief that as long as God kept her in this world, she had a purpose. And as was demonstrated in this beautiful story, she certainly did. She poured her last days into the young, confused Kansas City Star reporter Aidyn, and it changed both their lives forever.

This book had no romance, for which I’m so glad. Don’t get me wrong, I can enjoy sweet, wholesome, non-physical romances in books, but this one simply did not need it. It was all about the characters’ faith in God, living well, but also dying well. It was truly such an inspiring read.

Now, personally, I hardly ever read contemporary books. They’re just not my cup of tea. This book was mainly set in 2016, but there were flashbacks to the 1950s throughout the book. That being said, I did personally find the contemporary elements a little grating…all the texting, modern language, mentions of current businesses, music, etc. Of course, that would not bother some people in the least, but I just mention it because of my own taste.

As well, there were a couple times that I didn’t care for reading the description of some of the hospice care Mrs. Kip received, and just some little things here and there dropped the rating to a 4 star. But overall? A very touching, impactful read. Beautiful story, great main characters, and so rich in faith content. I’m very glad I decided to pick this one up.

⚠️Broad content notes

Death is a topic often discussed- many mentions of death, death nearing, being in hospice, pain, illness, cancer, etc.; some details come with Mrs. Kip being in hospice, needing help with her day to day life, taking morphine, collapsing; some details of seeing someone die, cleaning them, etc.; baby dies on page (semi-detailed); “Freaking”, “for the love of all”, and “godforsaken” said; grief & doubting God; mentions of drinking, wars, Communists, families being separated.

❤️ Favorite Quotes

“You know something, Henderson? I have never seen the vast smallness of American minds until I’ve attempted to get them to wrap around the concept of hospitality toward outsiders.”

“That may not sound extraordinary to some people, Miss Kelley, but we should never underestimate the life-changing gift of friendship.”

“Authentic love is the greatest joy there is, Miss Kelley, but it requires a thousand little deaths to self.”

“That was the core of the life she had chosen. The sower’s job was to sow, trusting her success would be measured by how few seeds remained in her hand.”

Regarding that magical process of beginning to write something:

“She sat amid the pieces, absorbing the energy they exuded, the sense of anticipation they inspired. She could feel the words waiting just beyond her reach, waiting for her to form them into something clear, bright, and good.”

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Bookishly yours, 

Lottie M.

REVIEW: "The God of the Garden" by Andrew Peterson

About the book…

★ Title: The God of the Garden: Thoughts on Creation, Culture, and the Kingdom

★ Author: Andrew Peterson

★ Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Memoir

★ Series: No, a standalone nonfiction book

★ Recommend for: ages 15/16 & up (deals with some heavier themes like depression, grief, etc.)

My Personal Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖Synopsis

There’s a strong biblical connection between people and trees. They both come from dirt. They’re both told to bear fruit. In fact, arboreal language is so often applied to humans that it’s easy to miss, whether we're talking about family trees, passing along our seed, cutting someone off like a branch, being rooted to a place, or bearing the fruit of the Spirit. It’s hard to deny that trees mean something, theologically speaking.

This book is in many ways a memoir, but it’s also an attempt to wake up the reader to the glory of God shining through his creation.

One of the first commands to Adam and Eve was to “work and keep” the garden. Award-winning author and songwriter Andrew Peterson, being as honest as possible, shares a story of childhood, grief, redemption, and peace, by walking through a forest of memories: “I trust that by telling my story, you’ll encounter yours. Hopefully, like me, you’ll see that the God of the Garden is and has always been present, working and keeping what he loves.”

Sometimes he plants, sometimes he prunes, but in his goodness he intends to reap a harvest of righteousness.

💭My Thoughts 

"There's pain in memory, but there's beauty, too. Going back and digging deep may unearth bones, or it may unearth treasure. Don't be afraid."

I love Andrew Peterson's prose. Meandering, imaginative, equal parts humorous and wistful, this book was a good one. In my opinion, a fantastic read for spring.

I will never again look at a tree the same way. But this book was about so much more than trees. Deeply personal, it was truly like having an intimate conversation with the author. In this book, he delves into themes of childhood, grief, redemption, peace, and a forest of memories. I found myself grinning like a ninny over some of the things he said on one page, and then wiping away tears the next. It was almost brutally honest at parts, but beautifully written, and gave me so much food for thought.

Read this book if you love trees, obviously. But also read it if you want to be awakened to the glory of God shining through His creation. Read it if you want to be refreshed. Read it if you want to be moved. Read it if you want to be inspired.

Overall, a beautiful, intimate, multifaceted, poetic, incredibly honest and touching read. I would highly suggest really taking your time with this book in order to chew on his words and enjoy it the most. There were some parts I liked more than others, but I still overall enjoyed it quite a bit and would recommend it to many people.

“The gospel isn’t just about the fact that we’re all fallen- that part’s easy for me to swallow- it’s about the fact that we’re perfectly loved.”

“The God of the Garden is and has always been present, working and keeping what he loves. Sometimes He plants, sometimes He prunes, but in His goodness He intends to reap a harvest of righteousness.”

*Note: Listen to Andrew Peterson’s gorgeous song “Planting Trees” for the ultimate experience. :)

⚠️Content notes

Suitable for older teen readers. The author mentions a place with a lot of crime and recounts a couple unpleasant happenings when he lived there. Brief passing mentions of racism, murder, abuse, etc. Also deals with the experience of severe depression, grief & being angry at God.

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Lottie M.

REVIEW: "Wormwood Abbey" by Christina Baehr

 

About the book…

*Title: Wormwood Abbey

*Author: Christina Baehr

*Genre: Cozy historical fantasy (with dragons and a touch of romance)

*Series: Book #1 of the 5-book series The Secrets of Ormdale

*Recommend for: Ages 13/14 & up

My Personal Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖Synopsis

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.

💭My Thoughts 

This was just delightful.

First, the writing style was lovely. Lovely. And the characters were spectacular. I absolutely loved Edith and her family. Both the writing style and Edith as a character instantly reminded me of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower, and that is truly a lofty comparison. Edith's thought processes, internal monologue, and wit were just so delightful, and it was perfect that it was in her first-person POV throughout the book. There was also just something about the rest of the Worms family that I enjoyed seeing so much. Each character was excellently developed (my favorite thing to see in books!) and they were all such a joy to spend time with. I greatly look forward to seeing them again as I continue the series. 

Now, the dragons. I do not want to say too much due to spoilers, but I will say that as someone who...isn't the biggest enjoyer of fantasy, some of those elements were a little iffy to me at first. However, the writing style and the characters absolutely won me over, despite this book being in the fantasy genre. I'm coming to realize that I can sometimes handle fantasy, as long as it is not epic fantasy or high fantasy. Wormwood Abbey is cozy fantasy, and I believe that's more my cup of tea 😉

I loved the fact that Edith is a writer. And a secret writer of mystery books at that! A few observations and notes she made were quite funny and relatable to me as a writer, and that aspect of the story was just so much fun. Also, the many literary references! That is an element in books that I always adore...and yet another one that brought to mind The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. Edith is frequently mentioning or referencing characters and situations from classic books such as Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice, and I'm so here for that!

Something else I noticed and enjoyed was the family dynamic in this book. The Worms family is so fun, and I just loved that they were so close and how much they cared about each other, because that's not something that is overly common in books. Often the family of the character (s) in a book is broken, uncaring, or nonexistent. But in this book, while Edith's family is not perfect, they are present and whole and loving and fun. I loved seeing that so much!

To sum up, this book is clean, fun, humorous, cozy but adventurous, delightfully written and full of lovely, memorable characters...and dragons. I feel like those who enjoy the Chronicles of Narnia may also like aspects of this book, and it would probably be a good start for someone who is just beginning to read fantasy. It was a quick read, but I enjoyed it very much and am incredibly excited to continue the series!

Some favorite quotes...

"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."

"As we returned down the staircase, a tall young man moved noiselessly out of the shadows at the end of the hall. I am well-bred enough not to stare at a new acquaintance (even when they have just materialized from a tapestry), but the same could not be said for this gentleman. Under his dark gaze, I began to wonder if I had better go back upstairs and wash my face after all. Perhaps there was a particularly distracting coal smut on my nose."

"That laugh had been the same one I'd heard at the dinner table when Father made his joke about the entail in Pride and Prejudice. Which meant that firstly, Drake was an absolute beast. And secondly, he knew his Austen. And that was a paradox I could not fathom."

"In the end, he spoke first. 'We heard you singing.' 'I was lost', I replied simply. As if it was the most natural thing in the world to sing when one is lost in the woods. He nodded, as if it seemed so to him, too."

My favorite of all 😍

"'Oh. No. I don't like gothic novels.' Then for the first time in my memory he smiled a full, slow smile. 'I much prefer Jane Austen.'"

⚠️Broad content notes

No real magic content; Danger & grief; a child is kidnapped; discovering a dead body; mentions of deaths; mentions of miscarriages; human sacrifices & serpent worship in artwork; A few "God knows", "for God's sake", and "thank God"s; "God help me" said once, but didn't seem flippant; no other language stronger than "idiot" and the phrase "could go hang"; a comment about "not making an attempt on Edith's virtue."

❤️ Read for...

-Victorian England backdrop

-Gothic atmosphere, mystery & secrets

-Dragons

-Quaint, witty writing in first person POV

-Literary references

-Fun family dynamic

-Very light hint of a sweet future romance

-Some elements of historical Christianity

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Bookishly yours, 

Lottie M.