Wren lives in a grand old house on the island of Anglesey in Wales in 1870. She loves to go out rowing on the Menai Strait in her coracle but above all she longs to soar through the sky, like her mother did before she died in a tragic accident.

Wren’s father thinks she’s running wild and bringing their ancient family name into disrepute so he meets with the sinister ‘Aireys’ about sending Wren away to their school for the re-education of wayward girls, which only spurs her on to build a flying machine so she can escape. And there’s something going on with Wren’s house—cracks are appearing in the walls, and she keeps hearing strange noises as though the house is singing…

Once again, Lucy Hope’s signature blend of madcap inventions and historical fantasy proves a compelling combination. Wren is a plucky and determined protagonist and I adored Aunty Efa in her steampowered wheelchair. I have Welsh ancestry and it was lovely to read a story steeped in Welsh mythology and culture.

‘Wren’ is a quieter story than ‘Fledgling’, to begin with, but the house itself and the mystery at its heart is an inspired spark of imagination, and the finale of the story builds to a stunning crescendo. Absolutely loved this!