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Wandering Strong: Book One in the Coeur Legacy Series
Farran Armstrong's life is ordinary, or at least it was, until dreams of a past she doesn't recognise begin to haunt her nights. Faces, places, and memories from another life seep into her consciousness, leaving her unsettled and questioning everything she thought she knew about herself. Then a mysterious man with piercing, haunting eyes whispers a name that is entirely unfamiliar, yet somehow resonates deep within her.
At the heart of the mystery is Coeur House, an imposing estate filled with secrets, shadowed corridors, and hidden dangers. Tom, a jester with a troubled past, finds himself entwined in Farran's world, drawn by both loyalty and a sense of destiny. Wynn, a gifted nanny, and her husband, Davy, a steadfast anchor in her life, form a vital support network as they navigate threats that extend beyond the ordinary. Opposing them is Richard, the Master, a man of entitlement and cold calculation, whose lack of empathy makes him a constant, looming danger.
As murder, betrayal, and dark schemes converge, time itself becomes an enemy. Every choice carries weight, and every secret threatens to unravel the fragile connections holding them together. Farran, Tom, Wynn, and Davy must navigate a maze of intrigue, love, and peril, racing against forces determined to control the past, the present, and their very futures.
Wandering Strong is a gripping tale of resilience, courage, and the enduring power of love, where hidden truths, magical forces, and human frailty collide, and only those strong enough to face the shadows can hope to survive.
At the heart of the mystery is Coeur House, an imposing estate filled with secrets, shadowed corridors, and hidden dangers. Tom, a jester with a troubled past, finds himself entwined in Farran's world, drawn by both loyalty and a sense of destiny. Wynn, a gifted nanny, and her husband, Davy, a steadfast anchor in her life, form a vital support network as they navigate threats that extend beyond the ordinary. Opposing them is Richard, the Master, a man of entitlement and cold calculation, whose lack of empathy makes him a constant, looming danger.
As murder, betrayal, and dark schemes converge, time itself becomes an enemy. Every choice carries weight, and every secret threatens to unravel the fragile connections holding them together. Farran, Tom, Wynn, and Davy must navigate a maze of intrigue, love, and peril, racing against forces determined to control the past, the present, and their very futures.
Wandering Strong is a gripping tale of resilience, courage, and the enduring power of love, where hidden truths, magical forces, and human frailty collide, and only those strong enough to face the shadows can hope to survive.
424 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2025
1 person is currently reading
About the author
Hope Bytheway
1 book2 followersHi, I’m Hope Bytheway, an English teacher, writer, and editor who loves weaving together history, emotion, and quiet magic. After more than twenty years helping others find their voice, I now bring that passion to my own fiction.
My debut novel, Wandering Strong, is inspired by forgotten voices, dual timelines, and the threads that connect past and present.
When I’m not writing, I can usually be found playing the saxophone, singing, or surrounded by four cats, one loyal dog, and far too many books (if that’s even possible).
My pen name is a tribute to my mother, given the name Hope after her father died just before her birth, and to my grandmother, whose maiden name was Bytheway, two women whose strength continues to shape the stories I tell.
My debut novel, Wandering Strong, is inspired by forgotten voices, dual timelines, and the threads that connect past and present.
When I’m not writing, I can usually be found playing the saxophone, singing, or surrounded by four cats, one loyal dog, and far too many books (if that’s even possible).
My pen name is a tribute to my mother, given the name Hope after her father died just before her birth, and to my grandmother, whose maiden name was Bytheway, two women whose strength continues to shape the stories I tell.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 31, 2025
I was given an ARC copy of this book through a friend.
I really enjoyed reading this book. We start off meeting Farran, who is setting up an exhibit in Shrewsbury Museum about the Stephen’s family. Richard Stephen’s, the head of the family 500 years ago, is described as someone we can look up to… but is all as it seems? Spread across two timelines, this book follows Farran (2018) and Tom (1592), and we learn more about their worlds and timelines with each chapter.
I love historical fiction, with elements of magic and witchcraft. Bytheway has a lovely way with worlds and I could really get a picture of the setting - particularly Coeur House, as living in Shrewsbury, I know it a little better! It was so nice to see Shrewsbury described in prose though. I did enjoy going back to the 1592 timeline more than the current as I think I felt it was a little more fleshed out than the current timeline where the characters weren’t as detailed. This did change throughout the book though.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It had dark elements but was a nice read, and I found it a great read.
I really enjoyed reading this book. We start off meeting Farran, who is setting up an exhibit in Shrewsbury Museum about the Stephen’s family. Richard Stephen’s, the head of the family 500 years ago, is described as someone we can look up to… but is all as it seems? Spread across two timelines, this book follows Farran (2018) and Tom (1592), and we learn more about their worlds and timelines with each chapter.
I love historical fiction, with elements of magic and witchcraft. Bytheway has a lovely way with worlds and I could really get a picture of the setting - particularly Coeur House, as living in Shrewsbury, I know it a little better! It was so nice to see Shrewsbury described in prose though. I did enjoy going back to the 1592 timeline more than the current as I think I felt it was a little more fleshed out than the current timeline where the characters weren’t as detailed. This did change throughout the book though.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It had dark elements but was a nice read, and I found it a great read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review