Kathleen Baldwin

This book, set in 1814 Regency England, is full of charm. Napoleon is in Elba, but everyone seems to know that island won’t hold him for long. The backdrop of the story revolves around the political intrigue of Napoleon’s supporters to get him back, and the royalists who want to restore the Bourbons to the the French throne. (Although the book takes place in England, Napoleon’s whereabouts and fate were of critical importance to all of Europe.)

Yet, this book is not really about show more politics at all. What is going on in the wider world merely forms the context for this coming of age story about Georgiana (“Georgie”) Fitzwilliam, 16, who, as the story begins, is being banished to Stranje House by her parents. Her parents believe they are putting her in a punitive boarding school that will ensure that their rebellious and unladylike daughter is remolded into marriageable material. But Headmistress Emma Stranje is not who they think, nor is the school to which they have cruelly consigned their daughter. Rather, Emma runs what might be more accurately described as a “safe house” for girls who don’t fit in - that is, girls who are intrepid, think for themselves, and care for more than ruffles and flounces. Emma is, moreover, helping them to improve, rather than suppress, their talents and unique abilities, and to become scientists, thieves, and spies, while learning how not to “stick out like odd ducks flapping about atop the beau mind’s Plum Pudding.”

At Stranje House, Georgie is asked to continue her experiments to develop invisible ink (the “last straw” for her parents), in order to help two spies who are associates of Emma’s: Lord Sebastian Wyatt, and the man who has raised him as a father would have, Captain Grey. Of course the impulsive Georgie falls for Sebastian, and he for her, but it’s complicated, and all the girls of Stranje House are called upon to employ their special talents to save both Georgie and Sebastian…..

The story ends with a bit of “alternative history” to allow the author to make a point about individual agency, but I don’t think she needed to go that far to make her statement.

Discussion: I thought this book was adorable. Although it has some similarities to the Fair Assassin series, I found it closer to the Ruby Red Trilogy. This book is full of humor, for one thing, and the writing more like Gier’s than that of Robin LaFevers.

Georgie is wonderfully “nerdy,” always thinking about science and math, even at tea time:

"I picked up a small square shortbread biscuit and stared at it, noting the uneven angles, wishing it were a perfect square, but it was, after all, merely a baked good, and baked goods did not ordinarily form perfect squares.”

Yes, there is InstaLove, but I don’t think it is an unusual occurrence for that age range. And yes, Georgie thinks worth is a function of how attractive you are, but she has been raised by extremely superficial parents. (Lest anyone not understand why Georgie’s red hair is such an issue, red hair in England was, and still is to this day, considered to be almost an affront, as it is associated with the Irish, who historically continued to resist British terror tactics to give up their religion, land, and autonomy.)

Evaluation: This book has a delightful premise, and the setup shows promise for some entertaining companion novels. Emma Stranje is a particularly intriguing character, and I hope we see her featured more in future books. The book is full of good messages, such as the overriding importance of inner worth, and the notion that “home” is where you feel accepted for who you are. It's an especially great book for young girls! show less

This book really surprised me!
I spent the first chapter thinking it would be a run-of-the-mill Regency romance, and one in which I wouldn't like the heroine very much. She is full of self-pity and dramatic forebodings about what her future will be, now that her fiance has publicly jilted her because she nags him.

But then things really kicked off when her aunt Honore arrives from London, ready to take Kate back with her and help her get over her broken heart. Her aunt is a piece of work, one show more of those characters who says the most shocking things and gets away with it, but who, you are almost sure, has a good heart. Somewhere.

And her three younger sisters all manage to get invited too.

And her ex-fiance follows the whole gang, because he really does love her and wants her back.

And then they all stop at an inn along the route. And then there's an incident with a gun, and things start to veer a bit away from the tried-and-true Regency tropes I am so accustomed to.

The scenarios sometimes feel absurd, especially if one is used to reading more earnest Regency romances. Ultimately I just assumed that the absurdity was by design and rolled with it, because the humor was so good! The dialogue had me snorting my laughter in various passages.

Take this exchange between Kate and her 10-year-old sister...
Tilly harrumphed the same exact way Aunt Honore does. "You heard me. He's acting like a lovesick donkey."
"Monkey," Kate corrected and tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes.
"I said donkey because I was trying not to say jackass. But if you prefer--"
"No. No, donkey is fine."

Yes, this is a clean romance, but slightly more irreverent than what you might be used to from this genre. ;) I really liked it.

By the end of the book, I was also moved by deeper themes. Children handling the responsibilities of an adult. Doing it all on your own vs. asking for help. Learning to be ok with the fact that love means both good things and hard things will come your way.

Like I said, really pleasantly surprised!

This book is part of a series, but I had not read any of the others, and it easily stands on its own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ink Lion Books for this advance review copy! show less

The fifth Stranje House novel is Sera's story. Seraphina Wyndham was thrown away by her parents because she had visions. She has found a new home for herself at Stranje House among her fellow students, but she has never shared that she can see demons and sometimes angels with anyone there. She has made a place for herself at Stranje House by being quiet, very observant, and having the ability to tell if someone is lying. All of these are useful characteristics for the young spies that Miss show more Stranje is raising.

This story begins with Sera receiving news that her family has emigrated to Massachusetts without leaving word and without leaving any provisions for her. She contemplates suicide. But her trip to the cliff's leads to the discovery of one of Ghost's spies who, before he dies, gives some hints about where Ghost and Napoleon are hiding the kidnapped Prince Regent.

Sera and the others at Stranje House must gather to rescue the Prince before England falls to Napoleon. Sera is convinced that the dying spy misled them and that Ghost and all are much nearer to them than France.

She comes upon Ghost while searching some of the many hidden tunnels and finds, not only an enemy, but a man who has had a childhood much like hers and who is beset by demons which are quieted in Sera's presence. He demands that Sera remove the demons which leads to a plot where Sera distracts Ghost while the rest invade the house where Napoleon and the Prince are being hidden.

Packed with secret tunnels, spies, friendship and romance, SANCTUARY FOR SEERS is an excellent episode in a historical fantasy series. show less

I liked the second book in this series better than the first partially because I really liked Tess as a character. I have always loved characters who were drawn to animals and had the ability to communicate with them--it's been one of my childhood dreams to have that ability. I also liked Gabriel very much as her foil and love interest. They are very much suited to one another. Learning more about Tess's abilities was interesting. One thing I liked was that I didn't feel anyone really did show more anything out of character. Daneska was Daneska to the core. I also like each book being told from a different character's perspective. The story moved along at a good pace and secondary characters were introduced and fleshed out enough to make them intriguing--nice for the next book! Highly entertaining and enjoyable. show less