What do you think?
Rate this book
Liminal Mysteries #1
Grown Wise
Ursula has plans. So many plans.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, Ursula knows that the land - and the land magic - desperately need help. Her uncle has been diligent about his obligations, but Sussex and the rest of Albion need more than what’s worked for centuries. Ursula doesn’t have all the answers, but that’s not going to stop her trying.
Jim has to build a life.
Going from school to the army changed every plan Jim had ever made for himself. Now, finally, he’s come home to Sussex, but he can only find short-term work. That’s not enough to build a life or look to the future. Family - and friends - only go so far, and there’s only so much they can help.
Ursula and Jim have much in common.
When they meet, Ursula immediately sees that Jim has the knowledge of the land she doesn’t. Jim is baffled that she even takes notice of him, and even more confused by the scope of what she wants to do. And one of her plans is going to involve talking around dozens of powerful people, starting with Ursula’s intimidating uncle. And that’s before Ursula starts exploring a family mystery from sixty years ago.
Grown Wise is a romance in 1947, in the aftermath of World War 2. It’s full of Ursula being a terrifying delight and Jim’s skills with sheep and apples. Immerse yourself in the workings of a secret society, sharing knowledge, and making the world better one plan at a time. The first book in the Liminal Mysteries series, Grown Wise can be read in any order. It does explore some of the events in the Mysterious Fields trilogy and their impact over the years.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, Ursula knows that the land - and the land magic - desperately need help. Her uncle has been diligent about his obligations, but Sussex and the rest of Albion need more than what’s worked for centuries. Ursula doesn’t have all the answers, but that’s not going to stop her trying.
Jim has to build a life.
Going from school to the army changed every plan Jim had ever made for himself. Now, finally, he’s come home to Sussex, but he can only find short-term work. That’s not enough to build a life or look to the future. Family - and friends - only go so far, and there’s only so much they can help.
Ursula and Jim have much in common.
When they meet, Ursula immediately sees that Jim has the knowledge of the land she doesn’t. Jim is baffled that she even takes notice of him, and even more confused by the scope of what she wants to do. And one of her plans is going to involve talking around dozens of powerful people, starting with Ursula’s intimidating uncle. And that’s before Ursula starts exploring a family mystery from sixty years ago.
Grown Wise is a romance in 1947, in the aftermath of World War 2. It’s full of Ursula being a terrifying delight and Jim’s skills with sheep and apples. Immerse yourself in the workings of a secret society, sharing knowledge, and making the world better one plan at a time. The first book in the Liminal Mysteries series, Grown Wise can be read in any order. It does explore some of the events in the Mysterious Fields trilogy and their impact over the years.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2025
5 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Celia Lake
47 books75 followersCelia Lake spends her days as a librarian in the Boston (MA) metro area, and her nights and weekends at home happily writing, reading, and researching.
Born and raised in Massachusetts to British parents, she naturally embraced British spelling, classic mysteries, and the Oxford comma before she learned there were any other options.
Born and raised in Massachusetts to British parents, she naturally embraced British spelling, classic mysteries, and the Oxford comma before she learned there were any other options.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 21, 2025
Delightful. Slow development of relationship, characters with clear ideas of their needs and who work well together, Ursula has all the plans…
July 16, 2025
I love Celia Lake’s books- they’re my ultimate comfort books. This is the latest one and is best read after some others. There are a lot of characters that have appeared in other books and having their background is very helpful. Also, to understand the main mystery in this book, it would be helpful to have read the Mysterious Fields trilogy.
Ursula has been named heir to her Uncle Gavin and is now living with him at Arundel. Along with others in her secret society, she is searching for ways to heal the magic of the land after the bombing of WWII. She’s aware that something is wrong and it’s rooted in secrets from the past.
Jim, still recovering from the trauma of the war and pneumonia, is trying to find his place as a civilian. He’s also aware that his magical connection to the land isn’t what it once was. He’s not even sure that the damage could be healed
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was great seeing pieces of the past come together in this story and I loved having glimpses of many characters from other books. I’ve read so much in this world that it’s become very deep and multi-layered with stories and people and their interconnections. I know this will be a frequent reread for me.
Read
May 2, 2025Really how one experiences this book is about whether one can cope with Ursula, "unbearably [or] bearably smug". Privileged, powerful, not snobbish, but seeing herself - without any apparent shade from the author - as "a largely benevolent figure of power, blessing some and reminding others why ... Kindness mattered more". For me, I think it's competence prn taken too far - I started wishing that she would stumble to show some humanity. It may be an easier read for people outside the British class system. Although I did enjoy the writing, and the by now dense social texture Lake has created, I think it's not a book I'd want to return to.
July 13, 2025
Enjoyed this quite a bit. I like how competent Ursula is and the ways in which she makes things happen -- also really enjoyed the bringing together of so many characters from previous books in solving the mystery.
As always, my reviews represent my experience of reading the book and are not meant to be taken as true critique.
As always, my reviews represent my experience of reading the book and are not meant to be taken as true critique.
May 2, 2025
delightful
Hard to review without spoilers, but well worth the read! I very much liked meeting characters associated with Snap and with the Society of the White Horse.
Hard to review without spoilers, but well worth the read! I very much liked meeting characters associated with Snap and with the Society of the White Horse.
May 4, 2025
One of her best romances. Absolutely loved it!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews