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The Gilded Age of Dragons #1
A Menagerie of Dragons: The Gilded Age of Dragons, Volume One
Ormdale, Yorkshire, 1910
Una Worms thinks nothing of soothing a feverish wyvern or putting out a salamander fire, and she is never, ever late for tea.
At only 19, the youngest daughter of England’s famous dragon-keeping family is also the one who keeps life at the Royal Menagerie of British and Foreign Dragons running smoothly.
But when a mysterious villain infiltrates the menagerie—and even worse, Una’s prodigal sister Violet appears unannounced—Una’s tidy schedule is thrown into turmoil, and she will have to confront parts of her past that she would rather forget.
Meanwhile, in London, restless suffragette Penny Fairweather stumbles across a story that could accelerate her journalistic ambitions—if her irritatingly mild-mannered civil servant brother keeps out of her way. But Crispin Fairweather has ambitions of his own. Drawn into a thrilling shadow-realm of espionage, he finds himself wondering just how far he will go to establish himself there—if his sister doesn't kill him first, that is.
Next in the much-loved world of Wormwood Abbey and The Secrets of Ormdale comes a new series, The Gilded Age of Dragons, set in a dazzling era where motor-cars and airships compete with mythical creatures for the heart of a generation.
Una Worms thinks nothing of soothing a feverish wyvern or putting out a salamander fire, and she is never, ever late for tea.
At only 19, the youngest daughter of England’s famous dragon-keeping family is also the one who keeps life at the Royal Menagerie of British and Foreign Dragons running smoothly.
But when a mysterious villain infiltrates the menagerie—and even worse, Una’s prodigal sister Violet appears unannounced—Una’s tidy schedule is thrown into turmoil, and she will have to confront parts of her past that she would rather forget.
Meanwhile, in London, restless suffragette Penny Fairweather stumbles across a story that could accelerate her journalistic ambitions—if her irritatingly mild-mannered civil servant brother keeps out of her way. But Crispin Fairweather has ambitions of his own. Drawn into a thrilling shadow-realm of espionage, he finds himself wondering just how far he will go to establish himself there—if his sister doesn't kill him first, that is.
Next in the much-loved world of Wormwood Abbey and The Secrets of Ormdale comes a new series, The Gilded Age of Dragons, set in a dazzling era where motor-cars and airships compete with mythical creatures for the heart of a generation.
419 pages, Paperback
Published November 30, 2025
38 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
About the author
Christina Baehr
8 books684 followersI live in wild and cosy Tasmania, Australia, and I write intrepid historical heroines who discover the world is more wondrous than they previously imagined.
I'm also a big reader of books both old and new, so here's a quick heads up about my review policy:
1. If you are a living author, as another living author I will not be giving you a critical review, because I know writing books is hard! Reading mean reviews makes everything harder.
2. If you are dead, the gloves are off!
3. Absence of stars may mean ambivalence as to quality, it may also mean I don't feel Aristotle needs my star rating.
4. Five stars may not mean I think the book is perfect. It can mean that I deeply enjoyed the book despite inevitable flaws, or that I consider it an excellently-crafted example in its genre (even if the genre is not my favourite). I may also be more generous with star ratings to living authors who need encouragement. E.M Forster won't mind if I give him 4 stars (see point 2).
6. I may occasionally flag major content I think will be distressing to people who follow my reviews, but I don't do granular content/trigger warnings, because I read books as whole works of art, and don't note the swears etc as I go. My brain is tired enough as it is. So please do look elsewhere if you want to know every single thing that's in the book beforehand.
I'm also a big reader of books both old and new, so here's a quick heads up about my review policy:
1. If you are a living author, as another living author I will not be giving you a critical review, because I know writing books is hard! Reading mean reviews makes everything harder.
2. If you are dead, the gloves are off!
3. Absence of stars may mean ambivalence as to quality, it may also mean I don't feel Aristotle needs my star rating.
4. Five stars may not mean I think the book is perfect. It can mean that I deeply enjoyed the book despite inevitable flaws, or that I consider it an excellently-crafted example in its genre (even if the genre is not my favourite). I may also be more generous with star ratings to living authors who need encouragement. E.M Forster won't mind if I give him 4 stars (see point 2).
6. I may occasionally flag major content I think will be distressing to people who follow my reviews, but I don't do granular content/trigger warnings, because I read books as whole works of art, and don't note the swears etc as I go. My brain is tired enough as it is. So please do look elsewhere if you want to know every single thing that's in the book beforehand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
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November 27, 2025When readers asked for a follow-up to The Secrets of Ormdale, I knew I didn’t want to replicate my cozy gothic series. I wanted to do something new, with a similar balance of comfort and excitement. So here is the beginning of that something new: a multi-POV cozy Edwardian fantasy series focusing on dragon-keeping as a family business (not a dark secret) and siblings growing to love and understand each other as adults.
In my research, I fell deeply in love with the 1910 setting and began to explore some of the most fascinating aspects of Edwardian life—including shiny machines, expanding suffrage, and the beginnings of modern espionage in Britain. (If you think you spot a reference in this book to EM Forster, Edith Nesbit, Elizabeth von Arnim, JM Barrie, or John Buchan…go ahead and give yourself a gold star.)
Whether you are a new visitor to Ormdale or an old friend, I hope you enjoy the beginning of this next chapter in its history!
Fair warning though: this is a series, and you won’t get all of the answers in Volume 1! What you will get is an emotional resolution to the main relationship in the first book (Violet and Una), before we focus on Violet in the next instalment.
In my research, I fell deeply in love with the 1910 setting and began to explore some of the most fascinating aspects of Edwardian life—including shiny machines, expanding suffrage, and the beginnings of modern espionage in Britain. (If you think you spot a reference in this book to EM Forster, Edith Nesbit, Elizabeth von Arnim, JM Barrie, or John Buchan…go ahead and give yourself a gold star.)
Whether you are a new visitor to Ormdale or an old friend, I hope you enjoy the beginning of this next chapter in its history!
Fair warning though: this is a series, and you won’t get all of the answers in Volume 1! What you will get is an emotional resolution to the main relationship in the first book (Violet and Una), before we focus on Violet in the next instalment.
December 16, 2025
I loved this!! But boooo it’s finished! 😭 I wanted it to go on and on. 😂 My anticipation for Book 2 will be even greater because there are so many pieces of the puzzle that I am fully invested in. How will it all come together??
I love the glimpses of the characters we get from Christina’s earlier series and how they’ve developed in 10 years. (Too many to name!) I love the core young adult characters, Una, Violet, Pip, Penny, and Crispin. I love all their storylines equally—lots of surprising twists and turns, some things we know about them and lots more we don’t know. They each have some serious struggles ahead of them, both internal and external. It’s going to be a joy to see how Christina takes them each on their journeys to wholeness. I must say that she nailed the multi-person POV.
The historical setting is delightful. I love the mix of the historical setting and Christina’s dragon-full imagined world. Oolong in particular is the sweetest thing! The humor in this was such a treat too. So Wodehousian with the clever turns of phrase!
I kinda just want to turn back to page 1 and start again…
I love the glimpses of the characters we get from Christina’s earlier series and how they’ve developed in 10 years. (Too many to name!) I love the core young adult characters, Una, Violet, Pip, Penny, and Crispin. I love all their storylines equally—lots of surprising twists and turns, some things we know about them and lots more we don’t know. They each have some serious struggles ahead of them, both internal and external. It’s going to be a joy to see how Christina takes them each on their journeys to wholeness. I must say that she nailed the multi-person POV.
The historical setting is delightful. I love the mix of the historical setting and Christina’s dragon-full imagined world. Oolong in particular is the sweetest thing! The humor in this was such a treat too. So Wodehousian with the clever turns of phrase!
I kinda just want to turn back to page 1 and start again…
December 10, 2025
5+ stars (7/10 hearts). I knew, of course, that I would love anything Christina Baehr wrote. And yet I admit I was terrified this spin-off series to the Ormdale books would just not be good enough. I needn't have worried. It's perfection.
From the multiple POVs (Una, Violet, Pip, Penny, and Crispin are the main ones, but we also see Edith, Janushek, Edith's father, and even a villain's POV) to the casual exploration of prominent worries in 1910s England, this book is delightfully different and yet delightfully similar to Edith's novels. I loved the many nods to beautiful classics (Little Women and Rose in Bloom, to name only two); I loved the happy dragons; I loved the humour; I loved the sisterly relations; I loved the slight but deep spiritual questions... and I loved how the decisions and questions of the past came back to haunt the new generation, which has to learn to deal with those themselves.
It was like an autumn wind, brisk, bracing, and full of beauty.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
From the multiple POVs (Una, Violet, Pip, Penny, and Crispin are the main ones, but we also see Edith, Janushek, Edith's father, and even a villain's POV) to the casual exploration of prominent worries in 1910s England, this book is delightfully different and yet delightfully similar to Edith's novels. I loved the many nods to beautiful classics (Little Women and Rose in Bloom, to name only two); I loved the happy dragons; I loved the humour; I loved the sisterly relations; I loved the slight but deep spiritual questions... and I loved how the decisions and questions of the past came back to haunt the new generation, which has to learn to deal with those themselves.
It was like an autumn wind, brisk, bracing, and full of beauty.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
Read
November 20, 2025I'll read my bestie's new book twice in two months IF I WANT TO
--
Impeccably cosy. Perfect themes. Characters that stab you in the feels. A sister relationship that will steal your heart. Witty banter. Fabulously authentic writing about very real 1910s cultural worries regarding women and immigration. I am looking forward to being totally not normal about Crispin and Una in future books.
--
Impeccably cosy. Perfect themes. Characters that stab you in the feels. A sister relationship that will steal your heart. Witty banter. Fabulously authentic writing about very real 1910s cultural worries regarding women and immigration. I am looking forward to being totally not normal about Crispin and Una in future books.
Currently reading
October 24, 2025Soooo excited! Merry Christmas to me (and all those who have longed to return to this magical world!)
December 8, 2025
Having loved the Secrets of Ormdale series so much, I was very excited to return to that world with this new series. However, the question of a sequel series is always whether it will measure up to the original . . . and I'm happy to say that A Menagerie of Dragons definitely does.
I enjoyed seeing how Ormdale and the world at large has changed since the first series. A Menagerie of Dragons picks up about a decade and a half after Secrets of Ormdale. Ormdale is now out in the open, with tourists and researchers visiting to discover the dragons. The focus characters of the previous stories are now largely settled and living their lives, reaping the rewards of their trials in the last series, while the younger generation takes center stage. Meanwhile, the world at large is changing with new technology, new cultural problems, and new whispers of trouble at home and abroad.
As always, I love the family focus — especially since this story is all about siblings. A Menagerie of Dragons follows sibling sets Una, Violet, and Pip in Ormdale and Penny and Crispin Fairweather in London, and the different dynamics and conflicts among these siblings heavily dominate the narrative, especially on the Ormdale side, where Pip and Violet have returned and are trying to find their places while Una struggles with feelings of betrayal about how so many people leave. Una and Violet's conflict and eventual resolution hit especially well (and gave me the same vibes as some of the later Penderwicks books).
This story also has a heavy focus on identity. Almost all the characters are, in some way, trying to figure out who they are and where they belong, though all in very different ways — Pip wrestling with the question of his parentage and what it means for him, Violet and Una both asking questions about their relationship with each other and with Ormdale, Penny trying to find her place to make a difference, and Crispin being offered a chance at a life more exciting than the one he expected. All of these journeys are handled well (even if, in a few cases, that means I want to give the character in question a good shaking), and I'm excited to see where the characters' arcs go.
Expanding the story to include multiple characters did require that the POV change from the first-person of Secrets of Ormdale to third-person limited. I was a little disappointed by that, especially since character voice was such a big part of what I liked in the first series. Still, the switch makes sense, and it works for the story.
I also liked the heavier focus on historical events. Most of the Secrets of Ormdale books, with the exception of City of Serpents, were fairly self-contained with regard to the affairs of the larger world. In A Menagerie of Dragons, however, we see a lot more of what's going on in the broader world, especially through Penny and Crispin's POVs. Stirrings of war, women's suffrage, early British espionage, and immigration tensions of the historical era are all present, as are the seeds of how dragons might affect all those things. I look forward to seeing how those seeds grow in future books.
I enjoyed seeing how Ormdale and the world at large has changed since the first series. A Menagerie of Dragons picks up about a decade and a half after Secrets of Ormdale. Ormdale is now out in the open, with tourists and researchers visiting to discover the dragons. The focus characters of the previous stories are now largely settled and living their lives, reaping the rewards of their trials in the last series, while the younger generation takes center stage. Meanwhile, the world at large is changing with new technology, new cultural problems, and new whispers of trouble at home and abroad.
As always, I love the family focus — especially since this story is all about siblings. A Menagerie of Dragons follows sibling sets Una, Violet, and Pip in Ormdale and Penny and Crispin Fairweather in London, and the different dynamics and conflicts among these siblings heavily dominate the narrative, especially on the Ormdale side, where Pip and Violet have returned and are trying to find their places while Una struggles with feelings of betrayal about how so many people leave. Una and Violet's conflict and eventual resolution hit especially well (and gave me the same vibes as some of the later Penderwicks books).
This story also has a heavy focus on identity. Almost all the characters are, in some way, trying to figure out who they are and where they belong, though all in very different ways — Pip wrestling with the question of his parentage and what it means for him, Violet and Una both asking questions about their relationship with each other and with Ormdale, Penny trying to find her place to make a difference, and Crispin being offered a chance at a life more exciting than the one he expected. All of these journeys are handled well (even if, in a few cases, that means I want to give the character in question a good shaking), and I'm excited to see where the characters' arcs go.
Expanding the story to include multiple characters did require that the POV change from the first-person of Secrets of Ormdale to third-person limited. I was a little disappointed by that, especially since character voice was such a big part of what I liked in the first series. Still, the switch makes sense, and it works for the story.
I also liked the heavier focus on historical events. Most of the Secrets of Ormdale books, with the exception of City of Serpents, were fairly self-contained with regard to the affairs of the larger world. In A Menagerie of Dragons, however, we see a lot more of what's going on in the broader world, especially through Penny and Crispin's POVs. Stirrings of war, women's suffrage, early British espionage, and immigration tensions of the historical era are all present, as are the seeds of how dragons might affect all those things. I look forward to seeing how those seeds grow in future books.
Read
November 10, 2025*White Christmas voice* SISTERS, SISTERS
and a bunch of the crumbliest men you’ve ever seen
(This is a joke most are very nice)
We return to Ormdale in this new series 10 years later!! I enjoyed reuniting with our lovable cast of characters as well as re-getting to know the kids in their grown up era. A Menagerie of Dragons sets up Una, Violet, Crispin, and Penny to set forth on their individual quests as as inner conflict collides with external machinations with designs upon Ormdale’s dragons and legacy. The cozy vibes we know and love are still here but a lovely excitement fills the pages as the characters step forth on their adventure. I’m excited for book 2!
Thanks to the author for the ARC! 🥰
and a bunch of the crumbliest men you’ve ever seen
(This is a joke most are very nice)
We return to Ormdale in this new series 10 years later!! I enjoyed reuniting with our lovable cast of characters as well as re-getting to know the kids in their grown up era. A Menagerie of Dragons sets up Una, Violet, Crispin, and Penny to set forth on their individual quests as as inner conflict collides with external machinations with designs upon Ormdale’s dragons and legacy. The cozy vibes we know and love are still here but a lovely excitement fills the pages as the characters step forth on their adventure. I’m excited for book 2!
Thanks to the author for the ARC! 🥰
Want to read
December 2, 2025Ooops I accidentally bought this....I haven't even had breakfast yet....send help before I buy the rest of the books please XD my book budget can only take so many hits guys
November 30, 2025
I consumed this like a quetzalcoatl sucking a flock of birds out of the sky. It was a perfect Thanksgiving vacation read and went by much too quickly.
Don't shoot me, but I think I'm going to like this sequel series better than the original SECRETS OF ORMDALE. I relate more to Una as a character than to Edith, for one thing, and I was surprised to find that the era also appeals to me more (very much unexpected: I thought I was more of a Victorian gal!). I think, too, that the plots are becoming more complex and self-assured, and it's great fun to have an expanded cast of characters with settled backstories to give everyone depth. If you loved the characters of ORMDALE, you're going to love watching many of them bloom -- or in some cases get all gnarly and twisted: if you know, you know -- in GILDED AGE. This story follows several POV characters, and I actually loved that. I wasn't bored by any of them; they're all compelling in different ways and all drive the story forward.
This is just the first installment, so it doesn't exactly have a neatly wrapped up and satisfying conclusion, but I would say the main plot of MENAGERIE is Una finding her place at Wormwood Abbey and amongst her family and friends. I really, really enjoyed her character; I related very much to her desire for order and for control, her urge to protect her loved ones and to protect herself from being hurt. She struck me as OCD, and if that was the intention, I appreciated the representation. I could also see myself in her response of anger and resentment, and it was lovely watching her grow over the arc of the story. There's a lot of nods to LITTLE WOMEN, with Violet extremely Jo-esque (down to the exclamations) and Una very much Beth (but clashing with Violet like Amy does with Jo), and Pip representing the worst of Laurie (I hope he gets the kick in the pants Violet says he deserves). The allusions are fun and it's great to see the Alcott inspiration and to keep an eye out for others: I think I spot Buchan in Crispin's storyline?
There's heaps being introduced here - a secret brotherhood out to get the St George relic (why?), a fearful government potentially looking to use the dragons as weapons (yikes), suffragettes suffragetting (calm down, Penny), characters who need answers and knocks over the head (looking at you, Pip), and romances just waiting to emerge (who doesn't love a guy who falls in love with a girl based on a couple sightings and her picture in a newspaper??). I am most stressed about the potential for dragons to be taken by the government, but Christina's stories are geared toward cosiness and hope, so I trust this will somehow not get too grim!
Looking forward happily to the rest of this series. It's a bummer that READING books is so much faster than WRITING them.
(I received a free ARC to review, but my thoughts are very much my own.)
Don't shoot me, but I think I'm going to like this sequel series better than the original SECRETS OF ORMDALE. I relate more to Una as a character than to Edith, for one thing, and I was surprised to find that the era also appeals to me more (very much unexpected: I thought I was more of a Victorian gal!). I think, too, that the plots are becoming more complex and self-assured, and it's great fun to have an expanded cast of characters with settled backstories to give everyone depth. If you loved the characters of ORMDALE, you're going to love watching many of them bloom -- or in some cases get all gnarly and twisted: if you know, you know -- in GILDED AGE. This story follows several POV characters, and I actually loved that. I wasn't bored by any of them; they're all compelling in different ways and all drive the story forward.
This is just the first installment, so it doesn't exactly have a neatly wrapped up and satisfying conclusion, but I would say the main plot of MENAGERIE is Una finding her place at Wormwood Abbey and amongst her family and friends. I really, really enjoyed her character; I related very much to her desire for order and for control, her urge to protect her loved ones and to protect herself from being hurt. She struck me as OCD, and if that was the intention, I appreciated the representation. I could also see myself in her response of anger and resentment, and it was lovely watching her grow over the arc of the story. There's a lot of nods to LITTLE WOMEN, with Violet extremely Jo-esque (down to the exclamations) and Una very much Beth (but clashing with Violet like Amy does with Jo), and Pip representing the worst of Laurie (I hope he gets the kick in the pants Violet says he deserves). The allusions are fun and it's great to see the Alcott inspiration and to keep an eye out for others: I think I spot Buchan in Crispin's storyline?
There's heaps being introduced here - a secret brotherhood out to get the St George relic (why?), a fearful government potentially looking to use the dragons as weapons (yikes), suffragettes suffragetting (calm down, Penny), characters who need answers and knocks over the head (looking at you, Pip), and romances just waiting to emerge (who doesn't love a guy who falls in love with a girl based on a couple sightings and her picture in a newspaper??). I am most stressed about the potential for dragons to be taken by the government, but Christina's stories are geared toward cosiness and hope, so I trust this will somehow not get too grim!
Looking forward happily to the rest of this series. It's a bummer that READING books is so much faster than WRITING them.
(I received a free ARC to review, but my thoughts are very much my own.)
Read
December 1, 2025I love this story so much. If you're looking for what to read next, it should be A Menagerie of Dragons. 💙
November 28, 2025
Spoiler free ARC Review
⭐️5/5 stars!⭐️
Thank you to Christina for sending me this ARC! All thoughts and opinions in this review are entirely my own.
Christina Baehr’s latest novel, A Menagerie of Dragons, ushers in a new era of Ormdale, replete with English suffragettes, secret societies, and, of course, dragons. The story is set 10 years after the events of The Secrets of Ormdale, as we follow several characters from the previous series into adulthood.
📚After the turn of the century, Una Worms is tasked with the maintenance of England’s most mythical display. Refined, punctual, and efficient, Una has no time for deviations from the schedule.
Yet as England’s political and societal climate is thrust into upheaval, Una and the rest of Ormdale’s kin are confronted with the larger scope of the world around them. As each undergoes their own quest for independence, they all seek to answer the same question: What would you do to survive in an ever-changing world?
🐉📚🩵✨📖🐉
🌟Having adored The Secrets of Ormdale, I was overjoyed to find the same degree of comfort and immersion in A Menagerie of Dragons. It felt like a breath of fresh air returning to this mythical land, and I was delighted to uncover a story steeped in intrigue, relationships, and heart.
❣️Not only was it lovely seeing the original cast ten years later, but meeting the younger generation as adults and witnessing their escapades was thrilling. I immediately fell in step with Una, Violet, Pip, Crispin, and Penny, and loved their changing POVs to discover what was next for each character.
Una’s storyline is undoubtedly my favorite. She runs the menagerie authoritatively and gracefully, abandoning all previous notions of being the weak baby of the family. At the start of the book, we learn that Violet had been absent for two years, having left Ormdale without explanation. When she returns, Una is forced to reckon with her anger towards her sister. As the two try to bridge the gap and repair their relationship, they begin to see things from the other’s point of view. This gradual change is so rich, and I loved experiencing their dynamic.
Crispin and Penny, while only briefly introduced in The Secrets of Ormdale (Penny receiving but a short reference), are now grown, estranged siblings, each holding strong beliefs about what the future of England should entail. Their storylines deviate from the mythical immersion of Ormdale and place readers in the heart of England’s political landscape. Getting to know them individually was so intriguing — Crispin, with his quiet demeaner and aptitude for puzzles, and Penny, with her steadfast beliefs and love for discovery. I anticipate their storylines unfolding significantly over the next two books, and I look forward to seeing their entanglement with the Worms family.
Lastly, Pip, son of Lily and former servant of Wormwood Abbey, is on a journey of self discovery in this book. Trying to make a name for himself outside of his ties to Wormwood, Pip grapples with his identity in an emotional tumble. Of all the characters established in Menagerie, I think I’m most intrigued to see how he will evolve.
With complex sibling dynamics, rich storytelling, and a strong emotional undercurrent, this book was yet another of Baehr’s stories I was sad to leave.
Additionally, don’t let the stunning cover and cozy description fool you — this book holds up a mirror to our current reality for all to see. Gender equality, immigration, and personal autonomy are all prominent themes, revealing how shockingly similar 1910 is to 2025.
Overall, I am completely in love with this book, and I can’t wait to see what Baehr has in store for these characters! Every second spent with her writing is an absolute joy, and I implore you to experience it for yourself 🩵
⭐️5/5 stars!⭐️
Thank you to Christina for sending me this ARC! All thoughts and opinions in this review are entirely my own.
Christina Baehr’s latest novel, A Menagerie of Dragons, ushers in a new era of Ormdale, replete with English suffragettes, secret societies, and, of course, dragons. The story is set 10 years after the events of The Secrets of Ormdale, as we follow several characters from the previous series into adulthood.
📚After the turn of the century, Una Worms is tasked with the maintenance of England’s most mythical display. Refined, punctual, and efficient, Una has no time for deviations from the schedule.
Yet as England’s political and societal climate is thrust into upheaval, Una and the rest of Ormdale’s kin are confronted with the larger scope of the world around them. As each undergoes their own quest for independence, they all seek to answer the same question: What would you do to survive in an ever-changing world?
🐉📚🩵✨📖🐉
🌟Having adored The Secrets of Ormdale, I was overjoyed to find the same degree of comfort and immersion in A Menagerie of Dragons. It felt like a breath of fresh air returning to this mythical land, and I was delighted to uncover a story steeped in intrigue, relationships, and heart.
❣️Not only was it lovely seeing the original cast ten years later, but meeting the younger generation as adults and witnessing their escapades was thrilling. I immediately fell in step with Una, Violet, Pip, Crispin, and Penny, and loved their changing POVs to discover what was next for each character.
Una’s storyline is undoubtedly my favorite. She runs the menagerie authoritatively and gracefully, abandoning all previous notions of being the weak baby of the family. At the start of the book, we learn that Violet had been absent for two years, having left Ormdale without explanation. When she returns, Una is forced to reckon with her anger towards her sister. As the two try to bridge the gap and repair their relationship, they begin to see things from the other’s point of view. This gradual change is so rich, and I loved experiencing their dynamic.
Crispin and Penny, while only briefly introduced in The Secrets of Ormdale (Penny receiving but a short reference), are now grown, estranged siblings, each holding strong beliefs about what the future of England should entail. Their storylines deviate from the mythical immersion of Ormdale and place readers in the heart of England’s political landscape. Getting to know them individually was so intriguing — Crispin, with his quiet demeaner and aptitude for puzzles, and Penny, with her steadfast beliefs and love for discovery. I anticipate their storylines unfolding significantly over the next two books, and I look forward to seeing their entanglement with the Worms family.
Lastly, Pip, son of Lily and former servant of Wormwood Abbey, is on a journey of self discovery in this book. Trying to make a name for himself outside of his ties to Wormwood, Pip grapples with his identity in an emotional tumble. Of all the characters established in Menagerie, I think I’m most intrigued to see how he will evolve.
With complex sibling dynamics, rich storytelling, and a strong emotional undercurrent, this book was yet another of Baehr’s stories I was sad to leave.
Additionally, don’t let the stunning cover and cozy description fool you — this book holds up a mirror to our current reality for all to see. Gender equality, immigration, and personal autonomy are all prominent themes, revealing how shockingly similar 1910 is to 2025.
Overall, I am completely in love with this book, and I can’t wait to see what Baehr has in store for these characters! Every second spent with her writing is an absolute joy, and I implore you to experience it for yourself 🩵
Want to read
November 26, 2025A NEW ORMDALE BOOK??? JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS????
*perishes of happiness*
*perishes of happiness*
November 28, 2025
I honestly loved everything about A Menagerie of Dragons!
This book is everything that I hoped it would be. It’s a warm and cozy book that also discusses women’s suffrage and immigration issues. It has action, adventure, family, strong female characters coming into their own, the return of previous characters, and of course it has dragons. It also has villains, betrayal, mystery, government secrets, and
If you read and enjoyed The Secrets of Ormdale, then you’ll like this book as well. However, if you’re new to Christina Baehr’s writing you can easily start with A Menagerie of Dragons without any worry of being lost or confused.
I am so excited to see where this series goes and I can’t wait for the next book!
This book is everything that I hoped it would be. It’s a warm and cozy book that also discusses women’s suffrage and immigration issues. It has action, adventure, family, strong female characters coming into their own, the return of previous characters, and of course it has dragons. It also has villains, betrayal, mystery, government secrets, and
If you read and enjoyed The Secrets of Ormdale, then you’ll like this book as well. However, if you’re new to Christina Baehr’s writing you can easily start with A Menagerie of Dragons without any worry of being lost or confused.
I am so excited to see where this series goes and I can’t wait for the next book!
December 15, 2025
It’s been delightful to be back in Ormdale with beloved characters ten years after The Secrets of Ormdale series ended. This new series follows children who are now all grown up and finding their way in the world. I enjoyed the picturesque setting, the cozy vibes, the mysteries, and of course the dragons. The ending definitely left me eager to read the next installment.
December 1, 2025
Delightful.
Happy publication day to the first book in Christina Baehr's new series! I just finished this last night and am so ready for more. Just like the Wormwood Abbey series, this book is perfect for people (like me) who don't necessarily read much fantasy but are always at home with character-driven fiction that is well-grounded in its historical context. And let's not forget: populated by lovable characters!
This new series is set around 10 years after the events in the original series (although I really do think you could start here and actually not be lost with the plot). The kids from Wormwood Abbey are all grown up and settling (or not) into their roles connected to their now public status as the dragon family. It's a multi-viewpoint narrative that does a great job of keeping several plates spinning in the air, while still feeling easy to follow. Main characters from the previous series are kept just a little bit in the background while you get to know the new set. It works well.
It's a gentle read with lots of nods to Victorian and/or Edwardian literature. Fun for everyone!
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of this greatly anticipated book!
Happy publication day to the first book in Christina Baehr's new series! I just finished this last night and am so ready for more. Just like the Wormwood Abbey series, this book is perfect for people (like me) who don't necessarily read much fantasy but are always at home with character-driven fiction that is well-grounded in its historical context. And let's not forget: populated by lovable characters!
This new series is set around 10 years after the events in the original series (although I really do think you could start here and actually not be lost with the plot). The kids from Wormwood Abbey are all grown up and settling (or not) into their roles connected to their now public status as the dragon family. It's a multi-viewpoint narrative that does a great job of keeping several plates spinning in the air, while still feeling easy to follow. Main characters from the previous series are kept just a little bit in the background while you get to know the new set. It works well.
It's a gentle read with lots of nods to Victorian and/or Edwardian literature. Fun for everyone!
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of this greatly anticipated book!
December 5, 2025
What a cozy, intriguing, heart racing adventure this book took me on!
I absolutely loved visiting Ormdale and these beloved characters 10 years later! I loved seeing all of the kids grown up, and getting to know them better was a treat! I love the sibling relationships in this book, the personalities, seeing where other beloved characters are(I just love Simon and Edith sooo much), and the nod to Little Women made me so soo happy!
I really enjoyed the setting in Edwardian England. What a fun time period to visit! There is the Women’s Suffrage movement, a new threat, family relationships to navigate, some danger, tea time of course, and the menagerie of dragons!!!
I love how the author wrote shorter chapters with multiple point of views and locations. She managed different story lines so well, and they came together so beautifully to create an exciting and addicting story!
What an amazing book! This story flew by so quickly, and I couldn’t put it down! I loved being back in this world again! I love these characters, and I can’t wait for book 2!
Favorites:
🤍The prologue
🤍New and old characters to love
🤍Character growth
🤍The different personalities just jump off the pages!
🤍Family
🤍Dragon keepers
🤍Sisters who are opposites
🤍Exciting and adventurous storylines
🤍Cozy feel
🤍Beautiful writing
🤍Can’t wait to see what comes next!
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.
.
Thank you to the author for the arc copy. A positive review was not required but freely given. All opinions are my own.
Content:The author does have a content warning at the beginning of the book.
I absolutely loved visiting Ormdale and these beloved characters 10 years later! I loved seeing all of the kids grown up, and getting to know them better was a treat! I love the sibling relationships in this book, the personalities, seeing where other beloved characters are(I just love Simon and Edith sooo much), and the nod to Little Women made me so soo happy!
I really enjoyed the setting in Edwardian England. What a fun time period to visit! There is the Women’s Suffrage movement, a new threat, family relationships to navigate, some danger, tea time of course, and the menagerie of dragons!!!
I love how the author wrote shorter chapters with multiple point of views and locations. She managed different story lines so well, and they came together so beautifully to create an exciting and addicting story!
What an amazing book! This story flew by so quickly, and I couldn’t put it down! I loved being back in this world again! I love these characters, and I can’t wait for book 2!
Favorites:
🤍The prologue
🤍New and old characters to love
🤍Character growth
🤍The different personalities just jump off the pages!
🤍Family
🤍Dragon keepers
🤍Sisters who are opposites
🤍Exciting and adventurous storylines
🤍Cozy feel
🤍Beautiful writing
🤍Can’t wait to see what comes next!
.
.
.
Thank you to the author for the arc copy. A positive review was not required but freely given. All opinions are my own.
Content:The author does have a content warning at the beginning of the book.
November 29, 2025
I am hooked! Starting a companion series following a very loved series had its stresses for me, but I’m already invested in the older and the new characters of Ormdale! The setting or more time period is intriguing and I’m already wanting to protect Una and curse some other nameless people!
December 1, 2025
I just finished this wonderful book just in time for release day!!!! Yay! This book was like a cozy, warm hug as we return to Ormdale and get to know Una and Violet. I’m so glad they get their stories!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it! It gets 5 stars all the way and I look forward to the next one with much anticipation. I received a review copy of this book from the author and am writing this review voluntarily.
December 28, 2025
This book has so many themes that are timely for the current state of the world. I wasn't expecting to find such a sharp reminder tucked into a lovely fictional historical setting, but I did. It never fails to surprise me how far the pendulum swings from one side to the other.
If you enjoy history and good stories, you will love Christina's books. She artfully weaves fact and fiction without losing the impact or beauty of either in her story.
If you enjoy history and good stories, you will love Christina's books. She artfully weaves fact and fiction without losing the impact or beauty of either in her story.
November 29, 2025
To say Christina has become a favorite author of mine would be an understatement. Her way of weaving an interesting tale with real-world history always makes for a splendid sort of story. To say I was excited for this spin-off series would be putting it lightly. Firstly, that cover?!!! GORGEOUS. All the blue makes this blue color obsessed gal happy! Pictured on the front looking so perfectly as described would be the main heroine of this tale, Una Worms. Of the 7-8 POV we follow in this story, Una had to be my favorite as she was quite easy to get along with and understand. My second favorite would have to be Crispin. He was such a colorful fellow in his own monotone way. Some of his statements had me laughing out loud. I'll be honest, Penny was my least favorite 🙈 but I liked her more at the end. Pip, oh Pip, what can I say?! Please do the right thing in the sequel.
I have a few of my favorite quotes above. There were many more, but these give a great show at the author's writing style so you too can get a taste! I LOVED hearing from Edith, and Simon's little world catapulted 10 years into the future from the previous series, "The Secrets of Ormdale." Their world looks perfectly pleasant, which made me ever so happy! Enjoyed seeing the sisters Una and Violet sorting things out, always love sisters sticking together through thick and thin.
I have a few of my favorite quotes above. There were many more, but these give a great show at the author's writing style so you too can get a taste! I LOVED hearing from Edith, and Simon's little world catapulted 10 years into the future from the previous series, "The Secrets of Ormdale." Their world looks perfectly pleasant, which made me ever so happy! Enjoyed seeing the sisters Una and Violet sorting things out, always love sisters sticking together through thick and thin.
December 7, 2025
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I loved The Secrets of Ormdale series so much and was so eager for this spinoff series that's set ten years later. It did not disappoint! In fact, it was even better than I was expecting.
I loved seeing beloved characters but also loved meeting the new ones too. And I absolutely adored all the dragons!
I liked that part of this story took place in the countryside and another part in London. I liked seeing the dichotomy of the two places.
I enjoyed seeing the ever-evolving family dynamics and sisterly bond between Una and Violet. Things might've been strained, but you could see that the love was still there, as was the hope that things could get better.
Reading this book felt like coming home again. I loved it so much! It was a fun read that also touched upon serious social issues as well. I’m very much looking forward to the next book! Fans of the first series will love it, but people new to it will enjoy it as well. I highly, highly recommend it!
I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
I loved seeing beloved characters but also loved meeting the new ones too. And I absolutely adored all the dragons!
I liked that part of this story took place in the countryside and another part in London. I liked seeing the dichotomy of the two places.
I enjoyed seeing the ever-evolving family dynamics and sisterly bond between Una and Violet. Things might've been strained, but you could see that the love was still there, as was the hope that things could get better.
Reading this book felt like coming home again. I loved it so much! It was a fun read that also touched upon serious social issues as well. I’m very much looking forward to the next book! Fans of the first series will love it, but people new to it will enjoy it as well. I highly, highly recommend it!
I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
November 26, 2025
I was more than ready to visit Ormdale again after reading the original series at least five times, losing count between digital, physical, and audio versions.
I was afraid I was going to miss Edith’s voice because this book is written from the viewpoints of all of the characters I’d grown to love, but it was a delight to read about her from a different perspective.
It was really astonishing how Christina was able to express and bring us into the minds of so many, with all of the joys, disappointments, fears, ambitions and loves. Yes, I cried a couple of times.
The whereabouts of all of the main characters, dragons ❤️included, after 10 years is gradually revealed, beginning with Una.
Avoiding spoilers, I’ll just say that there is all of the adventure, intrigue, humour, peril, exhilarating moments, and (new) secrets that could be desired; hints of exciting things to look forward to and speculate about (eeeeeek) in the rest of the coming books of this series.
Grateful to have an ARC. My opinions are my own.
I was afraid I was going to miss Edith’s voice because this book is written from the viewpoints of all of the characters I’d grown to love, but it was a delight to read about her from a different perspective.
It was really astonishing how Christina was able to express and bring us into the minds of so many, with all of the joys, disappointments, fears, ambitions and loves. Yes, I cried a couple of times.
The whereabouts of all of the main characters, dragons ❤️included, after 10 years is gradually revealed, beginning with Una.
Avoiding spoilers, I’ll just say that there is all of the adventure, intrigue, humour, peril, exhilarating moments, and (new) secrets that could be desired; hints of exciting things to look forward to and speculate about (eeeeeek) in the rest of the coming books of this series.
Grateful to have an ARC. My opinions are my own.
December 1, 2025
I loved the Secrets of Ormdale, so when I found out there would be another series in the same world, I was so excited! A Menagerie of Dragons follows the grown up versions of Una, Pip, Violet, Crispin, and Penny. It was so cool to see them as adults. I love how Christina ties in other classic literature. In this book, she refers to the Faerie Queene, gave a backstory for how Una chose her name. I love the world building throughout Christina's writing. I felt as if I was really back in the 1910s with all my favorite characters. It feels like Enola Holmes, but a couple decades later😅. Christina does a great job of addressing real world issues that are still relatable today. She handles them in a gentle way that gets her point across without becoming too bleak. I love that Simon and Edith have grown their family since we last saw them. When Una was struggling with forgiveness, I felt anger right along with her. I felt myself in her shoes, and could imagine the pain she must have felt. I also appreciated the elements of mystery without being exclusively a mystery novel. Crispin and Pip are swoon worthy for sure(Although I would probably have fallen for Pip). I can't wait to see what happens next!
Spice🌶️: 0/10
Profanity🤬:0/10
Violence🗡️:2/10
Spice🌶️: 0/10
Profanity🤬:0/10
Violence🗡️:2/10
November 28, 2025
For fans of Ormdale, this book does not disappoint. The author works with her characters from the Ormsdale series, but 10 years later.
I really enjoyed picking up the lives of especially Violet and Una 10 years later. The tensions in their sister relationship were very realistic and handled well.
I found her setting of 1910 England really interesting. So many of the issues of the day feel very familiar in 2025 America.
As usual I love her various references to authors and books and historical figures that pop up throughout. The author is a well read person.
My only disappointment with this book is that it ended. It is of course the first of a new series and I have to wait for the next book to be written. That is kind of hard, but no choice.
Thank you to Christina Baehr for my ARC.
If you have not read any of the Ormdale series, this one can be enjoyed on its own, but will be so much better if you start with Wormwood Abbey and move through the first 5 books in that series.
I really enjoyed picking up the lives of especially Violet and Una 10 years later. The tensions in their sister relationship were very realistic and handled well.
I found her setting of 1910 England really interesting. So many of the issues of the day feel very familiar in 2025 America.
As usual I love her various references to authors and books and historical figures that pop up throughout. The author is a well read person.
My only disappointment with this book is that it ended. It is of course the first of a new series and I have to wait for the next book to be written. That is kind of hard, but no choice.
Thank you to Christina Baehr for my ARC.
If you have not read any of the Ormdale series, this one can be enjoyed on its own, but will be so much better if you start with Wormwood Abbey and move through the first 5 books in that series.
December 5, 2025
To say that I've missed Christina Baehr’s writing would be an understatement. Her writing is so soft, magical and powerful at the same that I can't get enough of it. This book reminded me exactly why I fell in love with her books in the first place. The writing is so alive it's almost breathing. I adored seeing familiar faces return from The secrets of Ormdale series, older and somehow even more wiser and lovable.
I also loved the fact how the author captures even the smallest things and turns them into something that hits straight in the heart. I felt just as much as the characters such as Una, Pip, and everyone else, their hopes, fears, joy and unraveling.
Also seeing real world issues in the book is something I appreciate so much because you rarely see them being acknowledged, especially in books. Because books can reflect our world just as much as we can escape from it and it's so important that it does.
I loved everything about this book 🥹 felt like coming home to something I didn't realize I’d missed so deeply. So excited to see how the series will be progressing in the future
I also loved the fact how the author captures even the smallest things and turns them into something that hits straight in the heart. I felt just as much as the characters such as Una, Pip, and everyone else, their hopes, fears, joy and unraveling.
Also seeing real world issues in the book is something I appreciate so much because you rarely see them being acknowledged, especially in books. Because books can reflect our world just as much as we can escape from it and it's so important that it does.
I loved everything about this book 🥹 felt like coming home to something I didn't realize I’d missed so deeply. So excited to see how the series will be progressing in the future
December 1, 2025
Did I think honestly that this book would be as good as if not better than the original series? No, I did not because let’s face it. The first series was simply amazing. However, I was very pleasantly surprised and so very excited to be wrong. This book is so cozy and delves into the world so perfectly. Christina just knocked this out of the park. I can’t wait to see what happens next! Very well done and well written.
This is a review based on receiving an ARC, however, all thoughts are my own.
This is a review based on receiving an ARC, however, all thoughts are my own.
December 6, 2025
A delightful new series, set in 1910, featuring grown-up children from the Ormwood Abbey series.
With her sister Violet vanished for two years, and Edith expecting her fourth child, the youngest cousin Una has been left in charge of the Ormwood dragon menagerie, now open to the public. Pip, Lily's son, is struggling with who he really is. Meanwhile, in London, Crispen and Penny Fairweather are struggling with who they want to become. And there's a secretive, sinister nativist group with designs on English society.
Suspense, adventure, and dragons -- who could ask for more?
(I received an advance reader copy of this book, enjoyed it thoroughly, and I'm happy to have had the chance to review it.)
With her sister Violet vanished for two years, and Edith expecting her fourth child, the youngest cousin Una has been left in charge of the Ormwood dragon menagerie, now open to the public. Pip, Lily's son, is struggling with who he really is. Meanwhile, in London, Crispen and Penny Fairweather are struggling with who they want to become. And there's a secretive, sinister nativist group with designs on English society.
Suspense, adventure, and dragons -- who could ask for more?
(I received an advance reader copy of this book, enjoyed it thoroughly, and I'm happy to have had the chance to review it.)
December 15, 2025
She did it again! This book was filled with all the right things. While I did miss a couple characters being as active in from thr first series it’s only because I love them so much. I thoroughly loved getting to know the characters that are now older. There was a tension that made me not want to stop reading. There is just the right amount of dragons, mystery, love and humanness that I cannot wait for the second book!
November 30, 2025
I discovered Christina Baehr's Wormwood Abbey in January 2024 and The Secrets of Ormdale series was my favorite series of that year and the one I most recommended.
So on the one hand I was really happy to hear that we would get to read more about the Worms family and their world, but I was also a bit afraid that it might detract from the first series. (I have been burned a few times where the second series in a world started with the dead of a beloved character from the first season.)
I had the same worries about 1910: growing up, I loved to watch Mary Poppins at my grandmother's home and I liked reading some of the novel my mom liked and kept from her childhood that were set around that same period of time, like The Secret Garden and Daddy-Long-Legs, but as an adult, I also know that the Great War is looming on the horizon in 1910.
After reading the eARC of A Menagerie of Dragons (or maybe devouring is a better word) I can say that I'm not worried anymore about loving the original series less. I also think that I might re-read the first five books before reading the first book in The Gilded Age of Dragons series again to pick up all the details I missed this time while wanting to know what happens next.
A Menagerie of Dragons gave me the same good vibes I got while reading Edith's stories. I liked the balance between history and fantasy and between coziness and adventure. I may not relate to all the main characters at the moment, but I like that they each feel uniquely themselves and that I understand where their feelings and actions come from.
Just like with the first season, I think that Christina Baehr's worldbuilding is fantastic. The combination of cultural beliefs and different cultures and religions in general, the new inventions, the literature and historic figures made the time-setting really come to life (and unfortunately, it made me also wonder if we haven't learned anything from our past at all).
With the different point of views and now that Ormdale and it's inhabitants aren't a secret anymore, it seems certain to me that the new series will have a wider scope than the first one and I look really forward to reading more about Una, Violet, Pip and the others!
So on the one hand I was really happy to hear that we would get to read more about the Worms family and their world, but I was also a bit afraid that it might detract from the first series. (I have been burned a few times where the second series in a world started with the dead of a beloved character from the first season.)
I had the same worries about 1910: growing up, I loved to watch Mary Poppins at my grandmother's home and I liked reading some of the novel my mom liked and kept from her childhood that were set around that same period of time, like The Secret Garden and Daddy-Long-Legs, but as an adult, I also know that the Great War is looming on the horizon in 1910.
After reading the eARC of A Menagerie of Dragons (or maybe devouring is a better word) I can say that I'm not worried anymore about loving the original series less. I also think that I might re-read the first five books before reading the first book in The Gilded Age of Dragons series again to pick up all the details I missed this time while wanting to know what happens next.
A Menagerie of Dragons gave me the same good vibes I got while reading Edith's stories. I liked the balance between history and fantasy and between coziness and adventure. I may not relate to all the main characters at the moment, but I like that they each feel uniquely themselves and that I understand where their feelings and actions come from.
Just like with the first season, I think that Christina Baehr's worldbuilding is fantastic. The combination of cultural beliefs and different cultures and religions in general, the new inventions, the literature and historic figures made the time-setting really come to life (and unfortunately, it made me also wonder if we haven't learned anything from our past at all).
With the different point of views and now that Ormdale and it's inhabitants aren't a secret anymore, it seems certain to me that the new series will have a wider scope than the first one and I look really forward to reading more about Una, Violet, Pip and the others!
December 6, 2025
ARC Reviewer
I loved Baehr’s Secrets of Ormdale series and am happy to see that Edith, Simon, Janushek and Lily have cameos in the sequel series’ first book, A Menagerie of Dragons: The Gilded Age of Dragons, Volume One. To me this helped keep me interested as I was looking forward to those character’s snappy commentary and level-headedness. In this series, it is ten years later and Una, Violet and Pip are all grown up, with a bit of mystery surrounding each of them.
It is very obvious that this book was heavily researched and I have to say The Gilded Age of Dragons Volume One is not as light a read as the Secrets of Ormdale series, as it's much heavier on the subjects of suffrage, immigration and espionage. As a matter of fact, the first several chapters are an introduction to Una as a child and set up Penny and Crispin’s story lines. But, stick with it! Even though the book is about 50% set in Ormdale on Una and Violet, and 50% on Penny and Crispin in London, and at first glance it appears the story lines don’t mesh, I can see the underlying cohesiveness.
Una and Violet's stories, together and apart, are quizzical, comical and in the end heartwarming, in the way that siblings can misunderstand and still love each other. And, there is the heart-wrenching mystery of Pip, which eventually leads him astray.
While I don’t believe this is quite at the level of the Secrets of Ormdale, I think it will nicely tie up in the end. I am hopeful the next book in the series is a bit more revealing and doesn't end on such an abrupt cliffhanger.
I loved Baehr’s Secrets of Ormdale series and am happy to see that Edith, Simon, Janushek and Lily have cameos in the sequel series’ first book, A Menagerie of Dragons: The Gilded Age of Dragons, Volume One. To me this helped keep me interested as I was looking forward to those character’s snappy commentary and level-headedness. In this series, it is ten years later and Una, Violet and Pip are all grown up, with a bit of mystery surrounding each of them.
It is very obvious that this book was heavily researched and I have to say The Gilded Age of Dragons Volume One is not as light a read as the Secrets of Ormdale series, as it's much heavier on the subjects of suffrage, immigration and espionage. As a matter of fact, the first several chapters are an introduction to Una as a child and set up Penny and Crispin’s story lines. But, stick with it! Even though the book is about 50% set in Ormdale on Una and Violet, and 50% on Penny and Crispin in London, and at first glance it appears the story lines don’t mesh, I can see the underlying cohesiveness.
Una and Violet's stories, together and apart, are quizzical, comical and in the end heartwarming, in the way that siblings can misunderstand and still love each other. And, there is the heart-wrenching mystery of Pip, which eventually leads him astray.
While I don’t believe this is quite at the level of the Secrets of Ormdale, I think it will nicely tie up in the end. I am hopeful the next book in the series is a bit more revealing and doesn't end on such an abrupt cliffhanger.
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