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Asa James
"A heartfelt debut, beautifully told."-Jennifer Klepper, USA Today bestselling author of The Last Road Trip
1875 Vermont. Asa James hasn't exactly sucked on the silver spoon. No one chooses to grow up on a rural poor farm, but a mixed-race orphan with Asa's scarred face has little choice.
Determined to be a naturalist and scientific thinker in the vein of Charles Darwin, instead he finds himself thrust alone into the wider world, taking a tutor's position at a mountaintop mansion. There, the widow Caro Rockwell is glossy and sardonic, someone so far outside Asa's experience that she could well be another species. But soon he glimpses the broken woman inside the shell. Amid a series of eerie events, they form a friendship that grows into a sweet and tender sort of love.
His heart has what it wants. But then, from within the many dark recesses of Mansfield Hall, a shameful secret is discovered that will force Asa into making a terrible choice.
1875 Vermont. Asa James hasn't exactly sucked on the silver spoon. No one chooses to grow up on a rural poor farm, but a mixed-race orphan with Asa's scarred face has little choice.
Determined to be a naturalist and scientific thinker in the vein of Charles Darwin, instead he finds himself thrust alone into the wider world, taking a tutor's position at a mountaintop mansion. There, the widow Caro Rockwell is glossy and sardonic, someone so far outside Asa's experience that she could well be another species. But soon he glimpses the broken woman inside the shell. Amid a series of eerie events, they form a friendship that grows into a sweet and tender sort of love.
His heart has what it wants. But then, from within the many dark recesses of Mansfield Hall, a shameful secret is discovered that will force Asa into making a terrible choice.
306 pages, Paperback
First published December 16, 2025
1 person is currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Jodi Lew-Smith
3 books16 followersJodi Lew-Smith lives on a farm in northern Vermont with her patient husband, three wonderfully impatient children, a bevy of pets and farm animals, and 250 exceedingly patient apple trees which, if they could talk, would suggest that she stop writing and start pruning. Luckily they’re pretty quiet.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 19, 2025
An immersive historical fiction by Jodi Lew-Smith set in 1875 Vermont.
Asa grew up as a orphan on the Tolland Town Poor Farm, adopted by Sister Ruth and Reverand Walter. He is a both a mentor and tutor to the younger boys on the farm. Asa dreams of becoming a botanist and naturalist through curating a treatise, much like Charles Darwin. An unfortunate discovery on Tolland Farm, pushes Asa away, leading him to a tutoring position at Mansfield Manor. Asa becomes the tutor of two unruly boys, newphews of Caroline Rockwell, the owner of Mansfield Manor. After eerie happenings in the mansion, Asa and Caroline become closer and a friendship of sorts is formed.
What I loved about this:
- the cover is incredibly detailed
- well written, immersive prose that pulls you in (this was a binge-worthy read)
- excellent character development with Asa and Reverand Edwards
- the depth Asa's relationship with Jason and Paul
- Asa's friendship with Reverand Edwards
- that plot twist.
What I didn't like:
- miscommunication trope
- using Caroline/Caro interchangeably, often within the same sentence
- Caroline's character in general, at times she was arrogant (?due to her station), exchanges felt flat and there felt like minimal character growth throught the novel.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Köehler Books for the opportunity to read this early*
Asa grew up as a orphan on the Tolland Town Poor Farm, adopted by Sister Ruth and Reverand Walter. He is a both a mentor and tutor to the younger boys on the farm. Asa dreams of becoming a botanist and naturalist through curating a treatise, much like Charles Darwin. An unfortunate discovery on Tolland Farm, pushes Asa away, leading him to a tutoring position at Mansfield Manor. Asa becomes the tutor of two unruly boys, newphews of Caroline Rockwell, the owner of Mansfield Manor. After eerie happenings in the mansion, Asa and Caroline become closer and a friendship of sorts is formed.
What I loved about this:
- the cover is incredibly detailed
- well written, immersive prose that pulls you in (this was a binge-worthy read)
- excellent character development with Asa and Reverand Edwards
- the depth Asa's relationship with Jason and Paul
- Asa's friendship with Reverand Edwards
- that plot twist.
What I didn't like:
- miscommunication trope
- using Caroline/Caro interchangeably, often within the same sentence
- Caroline's character in general, at times she was arrogant (?due to her station), exchanges felt flat and there felt like minimal character growth throught the novel.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Köehler Books for the opportunity to read this early*
December 17, 2025
The titular character in Asa James by Jodi Lew-Smith is scarred from an incident as a baby, and grows up on a poor farm. After uncovering a secret, he sets out to make his own way in the world, and as a tutor to two wards in the care of Caro Rockwell, he finds his place. But it seems there are even more secrets to be found, and when Asa gets to the root of them, they completely upend the life he had been building bit by bit.
What didn’t work for me:
•Asa is SO judgemental. He doesn’t have much empathy for people suffering—literally a person who was PHYSICALLY TORTURED in one instance—nor for people who seek out loopholes to find comfort and happiness. It made it hard to enjoy him as a character. He complains of one character being cruel to his mother and not appreciating having a family as if he didn’t throw away his pseudo parents over what he felt to be a betrayal and refuse to communicate with them even when REPEATEDLY told his mother was desperately sad. He doesn’t have a deep reflection on being too harsh until the very last few pages. You would think as someone who is immediately judged for his appearance that he would extend grace more easily to others.
He’s also a massive hypocrite. He won’t do one thing because he doesn’t want to have his position bought for him, but he reluctantly agrees later to do that very thing to have his position bought for him.
•I think I needed more interaction between Asa and Caroline to believe either of them felt love for one another, especially when even Asa wasn’t certain if she wanted him for money or if her feelings were genuine. There’s essentially zero romance in this book, and not even really friendship, so if that’s your main draw to it, you’ll be disappointed. There is a 5% stretch of the book with any type of romance and that’s it. They know each other a total of a year and a month, and they are separated for that long as well. There is hardly ANY interaction between them; I was drawn to this book as something tender and sweet, but alas; it’s more about a man studying bugs and wildlife, so if that’s appealing to you, you’ll have a great time.
Mixed feelings:
•This book is almost a 1:1 copy for a famous classic literature book at the end—I won’t spoil, though.
What I liked:
•Genuinely didn’t know what was going on in the story—not in a bad way; it made me want to read on to figure it out. I couldn’t piece together the balloons, the termites, Mr. Peele, and other things besides.
•The author seems to have done a lot of research about bugs and nature, which helped to lend the book a sense of realness and in turn made Asa more of a real person.
•The twist 2/3 of the way in made me go “what the FUCK” in the best way.
•I LOVE the character of Edward Robinson. I was happy every time he popped up and he was easily the most likeable character.
I would recommend this to people who enjoy reading about flora and fauna and appreciate a little mystery in a historical fiction setting.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What didn’t work for me:
•Asa is SO judgemental. He doesn’t have much empathy for people suffering—literally a person who was PHYSICALLY TORTURED in one instance—nor for people who seek out loopholes to find comfort and happiness. It made it hard to enjoy him as a character. He complains of one character being cruel to his mother and not appreciating having a family as if he didn’t throw away his pseudo parents over what he felt to be a betrayal and refuse to communicate with them even when REPEATEDLY told his mother was desperately sad. He doesn’t have a deep reflection on being too harsh until the very last few pages. You would think as someone who is immediately judged for his appearance that he would extend grace more easily to others.
He’s also a massive hypocrite. He won’t do one thing because he doesn’t want to have his position bought for him, but he reluctantly agrees later to do that very thing to have his position bought for him.
•I think I needed more interaction between Asa and Caroline to believe either of them felt love for one another, especially when even Asa wasn’t certain if she wanted him for money or if her feelings were genuine. There’s essentially zero romance in this book, and not even really friendship, so if that’s your main draw to it, you’ll be disappointed. There is a 5% stretch of the book with any type of romance and that’s it. They know each other a total of a year and a month, and they are separated for that long as well. There is hardly ANY interaction between them; I was drawn to this book as something tender and sweet, but alas; it’s more about a man studying bugs and wildlife, so if that’s appealing to you, you’ll have a great time.
Mixed feelings:
•This book is almost a 1:1 copy for a famous classic literature book at the end—I won’t spoil, though.
What I liked:
•Genuinely didn’t know what was going on in the story—not in a bad way; it made me want to read on to figure it out. I couldn’t piece together the balloons, the termites, Mr. Peele, and other things besides.
•The author seems to have done a lot of research about bugs and nature, which helped to lend the book a sense of realness and in turn made Asa more of a real person.
•The twist 2/3 of the way in made me go “what the FUCK” in the best way.
•I LOVE the character of Edward Robinson. I was happy every time he popped up and he was easily the most likeable character.
I would recommend this to people who enjoy reading about flora and fauna and appreciate a little mystery in a historical fiction setting.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 18, 2025
A farmer boy that wants more that a simple country life, he wants to be a scientist and to explore the world. When he teaches two young boys in a old mansion, Asa will discover love and heartbreak. This is a story of love and redemption, let go you past and accept the new begins that life gives you.
I enjoy very much the friendship betteween Asa and Edward, also the lovely bond with these two boys.
I enjoy very much the friendship betteween Asa and Edward, also the lovely bond with these two boys.
December 22, 2025
Asa James is a beautifully written, poetic novel rendered in the tone of the time of which it talks. It’s cinematic and evocative, like the great English classics that have endured through time.
Supporting and enhancing the text are illustrations of flora and fauna in the part and chapter titles.
As we’d expect, the Prologue begins on a proverbial dark and windy New England night in late autumn 1851. Sister Ruth, who co-runs the local poor farm (which services unwed mothers and orphans), finds a baby in a shack in the woods beneath its dead mother. Rats have gotten at the baby’s face…
Chapter 1 jumps 24 years, and the baby, our titular character, is now grown into a restless young man with dreams of being a naturalist like Darwin. Asa’s stumbling onto a secret is the novel’s inciting incident; the hero’s call to adventure.
Now a stranger in a strange land—economically and socially rather than geographically—Asa navigates
life among the equally secretive wealthy after a literal climb up a steep mountain to the mysterious, nonordinary world represented by a centuries-old granite castle called Mansfield Hall.
Replete with rambunctious boys, their solitary aunt and mistress of Mansfield Hall, an iron-fisted spinster, and the typical flotsam and jetsam of a country estate and its surrounding village (all of whom offer pieces of the puzzle), Asa mentally wends his way through this complex world while engaging with the natural delights of the mountain in pursuit of his dreams.
Over time, as friendships form, increasing information is revealed. Flashbacks serve this purpose as well, as the novel’s myriad sociocultural themes take hold and begin to fuel the perfectly paced narrative.
Halfway through, the story takes a supernatural turn, in the tradition of James, Machen,
Doyle, Stoker, Blackwood, Collins, and Kipling. Not quite magical realism, it nevertheless
acknowledges the Fortean maxim that things beyond our ken are a natural condition of the
planet—even more so on the sprawling estates of the wealthy in England and New England. When the
nested truths of this “haunting” are revealed at the two-thirds mark, Lew-Smith stands stronger with
these beloved Victorian/Edwardian wordsmiths.
The last quarter of the novel turns again, as Asa undertakes a widening of his world and studies that
evokes the nautical tales of Melville, London, Conrad, Golding, and Melville.
I wasn’t surprised to learn from the author’s bio that Asa James is an expression of their literary
and scientific education and farm experience in Vermont.
In the end, Asa James offers dizzy spirals and secret circuits of story defining its arcs and
enhancing its themes.
With winter approaching, it’s a perfect literary companion for a cup of tea by the fire on a calm and snowy night.
Supporting and enhancing the text are illustrations of flora and fauna in the part and chapter titles.
As we’d expect, the Prologue begins on a proverbial dark and windy New England night in late autumn 1851. Sister Ruth, who co-runs the local poor farm (which services unwed mothers and orphans), finds a baby in a shack in the woods beneath its dead mother. Rats have gotten at the baby’s face…
Chapter 1 jumps 24 years, and the baby, our titular character, is now grown into a restless young man with dreams of being a naturalist like Darwin. Asa’s stumbling onto a secret is the novel’s inciting incident; the hero’s call to adventure.
Now a stranger in a strange land—economically and socially rather than geographically—Asa navigates
life among the equally secretive wealthy after a literal climb up a steep mountain to the mysterious, nonordinary world represented by a centuries-old granite castle called Mansfield Hall.
Replete with rambunctious boys, their solitary aunt and mistress of Mansfield Hall, an iron-fisted spinster, and the typical flotsam and jetsam of a country estate and its surrounding village (all of whom offer pieces of the puzzle), Asa mentally wends his way through this complex world while engaging with the natural delights of the mountain in pursuit of his dreams.
Over time, as friendships form, increasing information is revealed. Flashbacks serve this purpose as well, as the novel’s myriad sociocultural themes take hold and begin to fuel the perfectly paced narrative.
Halfway through, the story takes a supernatural turn, in the tradition of James, Machen,
Doyle, Stoker, Blackwood, Collins, and Kipling. Not quite magical realism, it nevertheless
acknowledges the Fortean maxim that things beyond our ken are a natural condition of the
planet—even more so on the sprawling estates of the wealthy in England and New England. When the
nested truths of this “haunting” are revealed at the two-thirds mark, Lew-Smith stands stronger with
these beloved Victorian/Edwardian wordsmiths.
The last quarter of the novel turns again, as Asa undertakes a widening of his world and studies that
evokes the nautical tales of Melville, London, Conrad, Golding, and Melville.
I wasn’t surprised to learn from the author’s bio that Asa James is an expression of their literary
and scientific education and farm experience in Vermont.
In the end, Asa James offers dizzy spirals and secret circuits of story defining its arcs and
enhancing its themes.
With winter approaching, it’s a perfect literary companion for a cup of tea by the fire on a calm and snowy night.
October 3, 2025
A Quietly Powerful Story with Deep Emotional Resonance
Asa James by Jodi Lew-Smith is a beautifully written, character-driven novel that explores identity, grief, healing, and the complicated paths we take toward self-discovery. At its core, it’s a quiet but powerful story about finding one’s place in a world that doesn’t always make sense — and learning to live authentically, even when it’s difficult.
Asa is a richly drawn protagonist whose inner world is just as compelling as the events unfolding around him. The author does an excellent job of portraying his emotional landscape — his uncertainty, his longing, and his quiet strength — with subtlety and grace. The prose is lyrical without being overwrought, and there’s a thoughtful, introspective tone that permeates the entire novel.
The pacing is steady and measured, which may feel slow for some readers, but it works well for the kind of emotional depth the story is trying to reach. This is a book that asks you to sit with its characters, to reflect, and to allow their transformations to unfold naturally.
One of the strengths of the novel is how it handles complex relationships — not just romantic or familial ones, but the relationship a person has with themselves and with the truth. Asa’s journey is deeply personal, and while certain moments felt a touch too restrained or could have benefitted from a bit more dramatic tension, the emotional payoff is worth it.
This is not a flashy book — it’s thoughtful, human, and grounded. It asks quiet but important questions about identity and connection, and it offers no easy answers, which I appreciated.
A strong four-star read. Recommended for readers who enjoy introspective fiction with emotional depth, nuanced characters, and writing that lingers long after the final page.
Asa James by Jodi Lew-Smith is a beautifully written, character-driven novel that explores identity, grief, healing, and the complicated paths we take toward self-discovery. At its core, it’s a quiet but powerful story about finding one’s place in a world that doesn’t always make sense — and learning to live authentically, even when it’s difficult.
Asa is a richly drawn protagonist whose inner world is just as compelling as the events unfolding around him. The author does an excellent job of portraying his emotional landscape — his uncertainty, his longing, and his quiet strength — with subtlety and grace. The prose is lyrical without being overwrought, and there’s a thoughtful, introspective tone that permeates the entire novel.
The pacing is steady and measured, which may feel slow for some readers, but it works well for the kind of emotional depth the story is trying to reach. This is a book that asks you to sit with its characters, to reflect, and to allow their transformations to unfold naturally.
One of the strengths of the novel is how it handles complex relationships — not just romantic or familial ones, but the relationship a person has with themselves and with the truth. Asa’s journey is deeply personal, and while certain moments felt a touch too restrained or could have benefitted from a bit more dramatic tension, the emotional payoff is worth it.
This is not a flashy book — it’s thoughtful, human, and grounded. It asks quiet but important questions about identity and connection, and it offers no easy answers, which I appreciated.
A strong four-star read. Recommended for readers who enjoy introspective fiction with emotional depth, nuanced characters, and writing that lingers long after the final page.
October 5, 2025
Asa James is a delicious reverse gender Jane Eyre set in the post-Civil War/Reconstruction Era of the United States. Asa is a poor orphan growing up on Tolland's Poor Farm in north Vermont. Sister Ruth, who runs the Poor Farm, and Reverand Walter who secures the funding and stands as the figurehead, do their best by the orphans and Asa rises to be a teacher and a mentor to the other younger boys.
But Asa has grander visions for himself and wishes to be a naturalist like the great Charles Darwin. He takes a position as a tutor at Mansfield Hall to two feral nephews of the current owner, Caroline Grissom Rockwall, thinking he will be able to continue his studies in his spare time and write a treatise which will secure his future.
The book takes a look at classism, the cruel One-Drop race laws, the smothering of girls' intellect in the pursuit of a wealthy marriage, the patronage system and currying favor in order to be heard and seen as a serious scholar, and the trauma of soldiers surviving the Civil War.
The book is well written and moves swiftly without getting bogged down in its weighty topics. There are several homages to Jane Eyre throughout with clever wordplay. (A tip of the hat to Grace Poole - my personal favorite)
The only fault lies in the timeline where the chapter titles does not necessarily correspond to the seasons described in the chapters. There were instances of "October" where the chapter talked of early spring, or end of summer heat.
A solid 4 stars and a perfect read for this upcoming fall season where a gothic house, a war-ravaged family on the edge of financial ruin, and the innocence of a young man collide.
I received a copy of the ARC through BookSirens. All opinions are my own.
But Asa has grander visions for himself and wishes to be a naturalist like the great Charles Darwin. He takes a position as a tutor at Mansfield Hall to two feral nephews of the current owner, Caroline Grissom Rockwall, thinking he will be able to continue his studies in his spare time and write a treatise which will secure his future.
The book takes a look at classism, the cruel One-Drop race laws, the smothering of girls' intellect in the pursuit of a wealthy marriage, the patronage system and currying favor in order to be heard and seen as a serious scholar, and the trauma of soldiers surviving the Civil War.
The book is well written and moves swiftly without getting bogged down in its weighty topics. There are several homages to Jane Eyre throughout with clever wordplay. (A tip of the hat to Grace Poole - my personal favorite)
The only fault lies in the timeline where the chapter titles does not necessarily correspond to the seasons described in the chapters. There were instances of "October" where the chapter talked of early spring, or end of summer heat.
A solid 4 stars and a perfect read for this upcoming fall season where a gothic house, a war-ravaged family on the edge of financial ruin, and the innocence of a young man collide.
I received a copy of the ARC through BookSirens. All opinions are my own.
December 19, 2025
Asa James is a historical novel set in 1875 Vermont that follows its mixed race title character from a harsh childhood on a rural poor farm into an unexpected role as tutor at a remote estate. Asa wants to be a naturalist, inspired by thinkers like Charles Darwin, but poverty, racism, and the realities of post Civil War New England have left him with few options. When he gains a position at Mansfield Hall, a mountaintop mansion owned by widow Caro Rockwell, he enters a world of wealth, secrecy, and social codes he has never been invited into before. Caro appears polished and sardonic, but Asa gradually sees the damaged, lonely woman inside that shell, and a cautious friendship grows between them against a backdrop of eerie happenings in the house.
The novel explores class, race, and science through a gothic lens. Asa’s perspective bridges multiple worlds. He is both insider and outsider in the poor farm, in the scientific community he admires from afar, and at Mansfield Hall. His mixed race identity and facial scars shape how others see him and how he sees himself, and the book does not shy away from the prejudice of the time. The relationship with Caro complicates power dynamics, because she holds social and economic authority while also being emotionally fragile and trapped in her own ways. As strange events unfold in the dark corners of the mansion, Asa is forced to choose between personal safety, loyalty, and a growing sense of moral responsibility. Thematically, the novel examines what it costs to seek truth in a world invested in maintaining respectable appearances, and how love can emerge in unlikely places without erasing structural inequality.
The novel explores class, race, and science through a gothic lens. Asa’s perspective bridges multiple worlds. He is both insider and outsider in the poor farm, in the scientific community he admires from afar, and at Mansfield Hall. His mixed race identity and facial scars shape how others see him and how he sees himself, and the book does not shy away from the prejudice of the time. The relationship with Caro complicates power dynamics, because she holds social and economic authority while also being emotionally fragile and trapped in her own ways. As strange events unfold in the dark corners of the mansion, Asa is forced to choose between personal safety, loyalty, and a growing sense of moral responsibility. Thematically, the novel examines what it costs to seek truth in a world invested in maintaining respectable appearances, and how love can emerge in unlikely places without erasing structural inequality.
September 28, 2025
I wavered between three and four stars on this one, but eventually concluded that it was my own inaccurate expectation of the book's premise that was taunting my perception of it. Something about the cover and description led me to believe I was in for a steamy Beauty-and-the-Beast tale. Imagine my surprise at the fact that Asa was still having to talk himself out of his prudishness to the final scene. That said, if an Oliver Twistian tale was what we were going for, things make more sense.
Okay, all of that aside, here are some things I loved about this book:
- Asa's interest in science was told with the inside that shows our author knows what it is to have a passion for something that drives you through chilly mountainous weather and pulls you towards it in your every free moment.
- The twists: I didn't know what to think about the strange insects and appearance of the creature. I found it satisfying that they had a real world explanation. I also liked when Asa surprised me by not taking an opportunity that came to him because… convictions (and wisdom beyond his ears about what the eventual outcome would be).
- Asa's relationship with the boys. That's a great deal of insight written into how these two behave and what motivates them.
- Asa's friendship with Reverend Edwards.
Overall, four stars. Will I read another? Yes, yes, I probably will.
Okay, all of that aside, here are some things I loved about this book:
- Asa's interest in science was told with the inside that shows our author knows what it is to have a passion for something that drives you through chilly mountainous weather and pulls you towards it in your every free moment.
- The twists: I didn't know what to think about the strange insects and appearance of the creature. I found it satisfying that they had a real world explanation. I also liked when Asa surprised me by not taking an opportunity that came to him because… convictions (and wisdom beyond his ears about what the eventual outcome would be).
- Asa's relationship with the boys. That's a great deal of insight written into how these two behave and what motivates them.
- Asa's friendship with Reverend Edwards.
Overall, four stars. Will I read another? Yes, yes, I probably will.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2025
Asa James by Jodi Lew-Smith was my first ever Netgalley ARC and I really lucked out because I absolutely loved this book! It's set in the 1870s, following the titular character as he navigated finding his place in the world. Asa grows up on a poor farm, which provides work and shelter for troubled youth, though his status is more as part of the family, since he was 'adopted' by those running the farm as a baby. He eventually leaves and finds a job as a tutor at a large country house in Vermont, where he quickly builds close ties with the inhabitants. There's a lot about societal status, ethnic identity, pursuing dreams and education outside of background circumstances, and where morality fits in with rigid societal expectations and the desire to be happy. The characters were extremely well drawn and engaging, as was the setting. There were a few inconsistencies here and there in the story (and one quite glaring cliche in the central mystery), which detracted a bit from my enjoyment, but the book also took me by surprise with most of its twists and turns, and I thought Asa's overall journey was very satisfying in both physical and mental terms. Highly recommended if you like compelling and immersive historical dramas with layered characters, interesting themes and emotional depth.
October 16, 2025
Read his full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
There were many orphans as a result of the civil war in the United States. The subject of this story, Asa James, is just such a child.
There was a program where industries such as cheese making and various meat products were taught as well as bookkeeping and farm management.
Asa is a self-taught entomologist and biologist who loves everything about the natural world. He gets up early and works until sundown to collect and catalogue every plant and insect that he comes in contact with. His drawings are life-like and meticulously done. He sneaks out whenever possible and works by candlelight when there is no other light.
This is an enlightening story of self-determination and success in the most austere of life’s circumstances. Read and enjoy the adventure! 5 stars – CE Williams
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own.
There were many orphans as a result of the civil war in the United States. The subject of this story, Asa James, is just such a child.
There was a program where industries such as cheese making and various meat products were taught as well as bookkeeping and farm management.
Asa is a self-taught entomologist and biologist who loves everything about the natural world. He gets up early and works until sundown to collect and catalogue every plant and insect that he comes in contact with. His drawings are life-like and meticulously done. He sneaks out whenever possible and works by candlelight when there is no other light.
This is an enlightening story of self-determination and success in the most austere of life’s circumstances. Read and enjoy the adventure! 5 stars – CE Williams
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own.
December 27, 2025
(Read on NetGalley. Thank you for the ARC, all opinions are mine!)
4.5 Stars
For readers who want:
* Beautiful writing but is easy to read
* Lush and semi-cozy settings - Farm in Vermont, Gothic Manor on top of a mountain, ~Naturey locations~
* Genre-mixing: Coming-of-age, Literature, Romance, Suspense (a little), Adventure
Setup: Asa James grew up an orphan with a passion for nature. One day, he finds he has to leave the "poor farm" where he grows up and ends up in a mysterious manor up in the mountains as a tutor. There, he meets Caro, a widower with a hidden history. Follow along as Asa discovers many different natural habitats, learns about himself, and meets a wonderful crew of characters.
Content warning: Domestic violence
Thoughts: The writing, beautiful cover, and plot gripped me from the start. I absolutely loved the characters, the settings, all of the conflict Asa faced as he went on this journey. The pacing was overall good, although I did lose a bit of steam in Part Four. The love between the characters (of all types), and staying true to oneself were depicted wonderfully.
4.5 Stars
For readers who want:
* Beautiful writing but is easy to read
* Lush and semi-cozy settings - Farm in Vermont, Gothic Manor on top of a mountain, ~Naturey locations~
* Genre-mixing: Coming-of-age, Literature, Romance, Suspense (a little), Adventure
Setup: Asa James grew up an orphan with a passion for nature. One day, he finds he has to leave the "poor farm" where he grows up and ends up in a mysterious manor up in the mountains as a tutor. There, he meets Caro, a widower with a hidden history. Follow along as Asa discovers many different natural habitats, learns about himself, and meets a wonderful crew of characters.
Content warning: Domestic violence
Thoughts: The writing, beautiful cover, and plot gripped me from the start. I absolutely loved the characters, the settings, all of the conflict Asa faced as he went on this journey. The pacing was overall good, although I did lose a bit of steam in Part Four. The love between the characters (of all types), and staying true to oneself were depicted wonderfully.
November 11, 2025
Asa James is a very interesting historical novel which takes place after the days of the civil war it can be described as a switched gender roles of Jane Eyre as there are some similarities. There is mention of the inequality that African Americans experienced during and after the civil war. I will say this book does handle some difficult subjects but once you overcome that it tuns out to be a real eye opener.
Asa James has spent most of his life as an orphan on a farm in Vermont watched over by Sister Ruth who has cared for him since he was a baby. As an adult he mamages to become a mentor to some of the other orphan boys there. However, he has his own dreams outside of the farm he wants to fulfil but that is impossible based on his station in life and of a physcal deformity he's had most of his life.
Although one day his prospects change when he becomes tutor to the nephews of a woman who resides at Mansfield Hall. Will this give him the chance to grow in his career and succeed at his goals?
Asa James has spent most of his life as an orphan on a farm in Vermont watched over by Sister Ruth who has cared for him since he was a baby. As an adult he mamages to become a mentor to some of the other orphan boys there. However, he has his own dreams outside of the farm he wants to fulfil but that is impossible based on his station in life and of a physcal deformity he's had most of his life.
Although one day his prospects change when he becomes tutor to the nephews of a woman who resides at Mansfield Hall. Will this give him the chance to grow in his career and succeed at his goals?
November 3, 2025
Having lived in northern Vermont for a few years, I'm a sucker for any books written about the state. I also LOVE historical fiction, but so many of the books seem to be centered on WWII, told from every imaginable perspective.
This book was not. It was such a unique twist to an interesting time in history, with poor farms and poorhouses being the only safety net for orphans and destitute people. I also appreciated how the author wrote about the "one-drop rule", where someone would be discriminated against with even one drop of black blood. So much of this country's ugly history can be forgotten and we shouldn't let that happen.
I loved how Asa's decisions were all based on a strong moral character, and he rarely wavered from that conviction even if his life would have been easier. I wish Caro had been a more likeable character, or had at least demonstrated growth, but I think her personality was realistic for a woman of her station.
I would definitely read another book by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Köehler Books for the opportunity to read this early!
This book was not. It was such a unique twist to an interesting time in history, with poor farms and poorhouses being the only safety net for orphans and destitute people. I also appreciated how the author wrote about the "one-drop rule", where someone would be discriminated against with even one drop of black blood. So much of this country's ugly history can be forgotten and we shouldn't let that happen.
I loved how Asa's decisions were all based on a strong moral character, and he rarely wavered from that conviction even if his life would have been easier. I wish Caro had been a more likeable character, or had at least demonstrated growth, but I think her personality was realistic for a woman of her station.
I would definitely read another book by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Köehler Books for the opportunity to read this early!
October 2, 2025
A lush, gothic novel set in Vermont. Jodi Lew-Smith's Asa James evokes everything that lovers of gothic tales crave with gorgeous settings and a house full of mystery and secrets. Lew-Smith writes with a contemporary flair as Asa, the book's hero is a facially deformed, mixed race protagonist who meets Cora a woman who defies the expectations of her day and her social circle. Asa is further influenced by other women in his life who are more than caretakers, they have their own agency and secrets as well. Lew-Smith's writing is silken as the story moves with Asa and his awakening in a coming-of-age story that hits every note.
November 29, 2025
Asa James' life hasn't exactly been the best but he made the best of it. He did have many interesting experiences during his life. He ultimately ended up back where it all started in the end with a huge surprise which I won't spoil for other readers.
The author did an amazing job with setting, story line, and character development. There was never a lull or dull moment which kept me engaged and reading on to find out what was going to happen next due to dynamic and interesting characters.
Highly recommend this novel and author plus interested in reading more of her work.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The author did an amazing job with setting, story line, and character development. There was never a lull or dull moment which kept me engaged and reading on to find out what was going to happen next due to dynamic and interesting characters.
Highly recommend this novel and author plus interested in reading more of her work.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 11, 2025
This was a new and interesting twist on a classic novel. It makes me want to return to the classic and read it again.
Imagine if the roles were the same but genders were reversed. Instead of a dark and mysterious man living in a fancy house and an orphaned girl who comes to tutor a child, we get a mysterious and wealthy woman and an orphaned boy who comes to tutor the two boys who are wards to the mistress of the house.
Much like the the Classic version, Asa James gives us glimpses into the society and expectation of a time when women were considered property and you were looked down on for being poor or different.
Imagine if the roles were the same but genders were reversed. Instead of a dark and mysterious man living in a fancy house and an orphaned girl who comes to tutor a child, we get a mysterious and wealthy woman and an orphaned boy who comes to tutor the two boys who are wards to the mistress of the house.
Much like the the Classic version, Asa James gives us glimpses into the society and expectation of a time when women were considered property and you were looked down on for being poor or different.
October 6, 2025
this was a strong Gothic love story and enjoyed the overall feel of this. It uses the romance concept perfectly and enjoyed the overall feel of Asa's world. The plot was everything that I was wanting and enjoyed about the genre. It uses the friends to lovers and was hooked from the first page. Jodi Lew-Smith has a strong writing style and glad I was able to read this book and get to know the characters in this. It uses the historical element perfectly and was engaged from start to finish.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 19, 2025
loved this story
The story grabs you and you simply have to read it to the end. It’s a story of love, family, independence, integrity. Of understanding what it means to find your own truth and to grow up to live that truth. Asa James grows up as an orphan with a huge scar on his face. He loves science and nature and dreams of following in the footsteps of Charles Darwin. In the end, his destiny waits for him.
The story grabs you and you simply have to read it to the end. It’s a story of love, family, independence, integrity. Of understanding what it means to find your own truth and to grow up to live that truth. Asa James grows up as an orphan with a huge scar on his face. He loves science and nature and dreams of following in the footsteps of Charles Darwin. In the end, his destiny waits for him.
December 24, 2025
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I started this book, but I ended up quickly falling in love with the characters! The writing style and the character studies were gorgeous, and the story wrapped up beautifully. I’ll be keeping an eye out for future novels from this author for sure; they write lovely, detailed, and developed characters and settings. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 26, 2025
This book pulled me in with its strong storytelling and steady pacing. I really enjoyed the characters and the way the plot unfolded—enough twists to keep me turning pages without ever feeling overdone. While there were a few slower sections, overall it was a solid and engaging read that I’d definitely recommend. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to preview this book.
November 16, 2025
Thank you netgalley for the early read of this lovely book. I was so pleasantly surprised by this novel. I have a feeling i’ll be thinking fondly of Asa’s story for the foreseeable future. Not without some heartache along the way, Asa found his way home and such a lovely ending to the book. Definitely recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Asa … where do I begin? I loved him from page one and fell even more in love with him at the end! I gave this 4 stars. Would read another book by this author again!
Asa … where do I begin? I loved him from page one and fell even more in love with him at the end! I gave this 4 stars. Would read another book by this author again!
September 28, 2025
Not what I was expecting but a thoroughly interesting and immersive life story of an orphan in 19th century Vermont. A nod to Jane Eyre but gender swapped.
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