Hawk & Sparrow

by Ayana Gray

Sparks fly in this Gilded Age novel of mystery, magic, and romance by the author of the New York Times–bestselling Beasts of Prey.

Nineteen-year-old Vesper Evans has always resented Basalton’s high society, and the sorcery that provides them with a luxurious life unimaginable to most. Orphaned as a child and rescued by the editor of The Basalton Globe, Vesper is now an ambitious reporter determined to keep her newspaper afloat.

While covering a lavish society gala, Vesper happens upon a shocking the murdered body of an inventor whose new machine promised to bring the benefits of sorcery to everyone. Several of the powerful magical elite may want the man dead, but the prime suspect is wealthy industrialist Maximilian Kite.

Max soon makes Vesper a tempting Find the culprit and restore his reputation in exchange for a substantial fee. Despite her distaste for Max’s world, Vesper agrees—the money would save the Globe, and the story would be the scoop of a lifetime. There’s only one In order for her to infiltrate society, the two must pose as a courting couple.

Their investigation takes them from the highest echelons of privilege to the seediest backstreets of Basalton. As they unearth the city’s secrets and scandals, Vesper finds herself in grave danger—while falling for one of the most infuriating, arrogant, handsome men she has ever met . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Romantasy, Historical

Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Ayana Gray is a New York Times-bestselling author of speculative fiction. Her works have been translated in eleven languages across five continents. She currently lives in Arkansas.

Reviews

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing and engaging mystery with fantasy elements about power, finding your path, love, and breaking societal norms. Hawk & Sparrow follows Vesper, a reporter in the Gilded Age covering a gala when an inventer of a magical machine is murdered. Vesper makes a deal with Max, a suspect and if she helps clear his name he will give her money. What will happen next?

Thoughts
The pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, but it quickly picked up and I became immersed in this Gilded Age mystery. I loved that this book was a blend of mystery and historical fantasy, it added intrigue to the story. The plot was very interesting and I found myself trying to solve the mystery along with the characters. I had a few theories about who the culprit was, but honestly I was shocked by who it was. There were also some other shocking plot twists that kept me at the edge of my seat. The sorcery magic was very unique and interesting, such as bringing flowers to life, and floating Although I wished the magic was explained in more detail. I enjoyed Gilded Age setting and the descriptions of the clothes and city. The writing was witty, descriptive and flowed well. I appreciated how the author blended important topics in the story without distracting from the plot such as feminism, societal norms, misogyny, and classism. The ending was shocking and exciting. I'm glad most parts of the mystery were resolved, but there was one aspect that was left open.

Characters
I loved Vesper, she was ambitious, smart, brave, hardworking, and determined. Vesper's character development was great, she became more sure of herself throughout the book and opened up to another person. I loved that Vesper didn't give up on the mystery and was determined to find out what happened. I adored Max as well, he was sweet, charming, witty, funny, and brave. Max's character development was excellent, he showed all sides of himself to Vesper. There were several sweet moments between Vesper and Max that warmed my heart. The side characters were intriguing and mysterious such as Ada, Bess, and Richard.

Romance
The romance was great, I loved that it was a subplot but I was also super invested in it. The slow-burn romance was amazing, I'm so glad it took the characters a while to fall for each other. The tension and chemistry was also excellent! I loved the banter between the main characters it made me laugh and smile. I enjoyed that the Max and Vesper understood each other and a great deal in common. The romance was relatable and realistic, which made me enjoy it even more.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a blend of historical fantasy and mystery, great characters and unique magic.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

[Erin Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adventurous romp through a magical Gilded Age society perfectly pairs a brilliantly twisted mystery with the sweetest of romances. I was captivated and wholly smitten!

[Noi (in & out)]

I'm a simple girl, I read the words 'Gilded Age' with mystery and magic, and I'm in.
+ the cover is stunning so that also helps.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Ayana Gray and NetGalley for this incredible read. The first page had me hooked! Vesper is a news reporter, so we experience the world through the way she analyzes things. At the same time, we gradually get a sense of how everything works and looks, which I really loved. I immediately noticed there isn’t much world-building at the beginning, but that actually worked really well for this story and likely would have taken away from it.

The story starts off fast-paced, and the mystery kicks in not long after. I really enjoyed the writing style as it’s more straightforward, but it works so well for the story. Vesper is such a unique character with a compelling backstory, a no-nonsense attitude (but not obnoxious), and a big heart, which completely won me over, she deserves the world! She’s also a strong young woman who fights for what she wants while still showing how much she cares, and that really pays off throughout the story.

And Max… he was just perfect, and perfect for Vesper. He’s also a character with depth, a lot of heart, and he genuinely tries to understand Vesper. I love MMCs who show their softer side early on, and he just got her. The side characters are minimal, but they add to the story and help tie everything together. Tom and Ida were my favorites.

It was such a lovely read, cozy but fast-paced, with a murder mystery and magic. I mean, could it get any better? Easily one of my favorite reads of 2026!

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

I’m not usually a big historical reader, but lately I’ve been slowly getting into it and this book worked really well for me.

The story is set in the late 1800s and mixes mystery, magic, and romance and I really enjoyed how everything came together. The world building was solid and the investigation kept me fully engaged.

This was very bingeable, I read it in one go.

I loved both main characters. Vesper is strong and determined, and Max… I have to say, I really liked him. He’s not just the typical rich, arrogant guy. Yes, he has his moments, but he’s also kind, supportive and actually shows up when it matters.

The fake dating trope was done really well, and I liked how their relationship developed. It wasn’t rushed, they went from reluctant partners, to friends aaand to something more.

Even though the mystery takes the lead, the romance builds nicely in the background.

Also, I appreciated how mature both characters felt, especially considering their age. My only complaint is that... maybe a bit more magic would've been nice.

The ending was satisfying, and overall this was just such an enjoyable read.

⭐ 5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC.

[Jaime Arkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray was a thoroughly enjoyable read that I flew through in no time. The pacing is relentless in the best way- every chapter pulls you forward, and before you know it, you’ve lost an entire afternoon to it.

The storyline itself is fresh and engaging, with enough intrigue to keep you guessing and invested from start to finish. Gray clearly knows how to build a world that feels alive without slowing things down to explain every detail.

As for Vesper and Maximillian, I’ll be honest, some of their interactions felt a little surface-level at times, but I was still completely charmed by their arc. Watching them slowly figure each other out, piece by piece, was genuinely satisfying. Their dynamic has a kind of quiet momentum that sneaks up on you, and by the end I was fully rooting for them.

Also, Max’s relationship with dessert? Deeply relatable. Never change, Max.

A fast, fun, and unexpectedly heartfelt story. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a compelling read with characters that stick with you.

Thank you to the publisher for the chance to read this early!

[Dominika · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a magical version of the Gilded Age, society is sharply divided between the wealthy Hawks and the poor Sparrows, who must rely on cleverness and resourcefulness just to get by. For women, the rules are even stricter. Even if you come from a rich family, your life is rarely your own. Your parents decide whom you’ll marry, and once you do, your husband takes control of your entire fortune. You’re essentially a bird in a golden cage.

Hawk and Sparrow by Aryana Gray is an engaging historical fantasy mystery with subtle magic woven into the background. The story explores the limited choices available to women of that era, especially the tension between privilege and powerlessness. The contrast between the luxurious lives of the Hawks and the harsh reality faced by the Sparrows creates a vivid and compelling setting.

I enjoyed the atmospheric world building and the way magic quietly enhances the intrigue without overpowering the plot. The central question: what a woman might do to break free from societal expectations? It gives the story real depth.

I particularly grew very fond of the main heroine- Vesper Evans. I only wish we had gotten to know her past a little better. The author does interweave short paragraphs about her life every few chapters, but I still felt it wasn’t quite enough. The same goes for Max. Both characters could have gained even more depth and vividness if we had been given a deeper look into their backstories.

Overall, it’s a solid and entertaining read that blends mystery, fantasy, and social commentary in a very enjoyable way. Thank you for the free ARC.

[Sierraaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, i would like to thank NetGalley, Macmillan Publishing Group, and Ayana Gray for the opportunity to read and review this book early

~~~
this book was such a fun murder mystery mixed with fantasy book, and a great romance too!

in Hawk & Sparrow, we follow Vesper Evans, a journalist and reporter for her town’s local newspaper. One evening as she’s trying to conduct some interviews, a murder takes place!! and one of the key suspects, a wealthy young businessman & sorcerer named Maximilian Kite, secretly hires Vesper to find the real murderer and clear his name. but as the two chase clues and dead ends all over town as they pretend to court each other within high society, will they be able to resist their budding attraction and focus on clearing Max’s name?

i think this was a fun and quick read that entertained me from the start. Vesper is a woman in a man’s profession, trying to survive in the male-dominated world of the late 1800s. she first finds Maximilian to be insufferable, but she quickly realizes that despite his copious amounts of wealth, the two are more alike that they may seem. and Max! a true gentleman that i enjoyed right from the start of their partnership, and he definitely had me swooning by the end.

i also liked that the sorcery & magic in this world was subtle. sometimes i forgot this book had any fantasy elements in it, but i enjoyed the novel all the same. i’m glad to have had the chance to read it early, and i definitely recommend this if you want a quick read that just might keep you on your toes.

[Dee]

this sounds exactly like garden of the cursed by katy pool so you know I ran to netgalley. to the NG gods, pls give me this

[LittleMissReadsALot21 · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨ARC BOOK REVIEW✨Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray

SPOILER FREE: The premise of the Hawk & Sparrow* by Ayana Gray sounded right up my alley. A newspaper reporter doing her job in a male dominated field with a murder to solve. The writing started off very strong with all of the action happening within the first 10% of the book. By the end of the book I was left more annoyed than anything. There were one too many plot holes still left to be answered. 

I pre-ordered the book. I mean the book cover is gorgeous. It took me a little longer than I, Medusa*, also by Gray, to figure out the twist. Not by much though. I needed more yearning between Maximillan and Vesper. I needed more backstory about Vesper. I needed more on what made Maximillain tick. 

I just needed more. 

✨✨✨My spoiler filled/longer review can be found on my substack.✨✨✨

https://open.substack.com/pub/littlem...

PUBLISHER’S BOOK DESCRIPTION 
Vesper Evans has always resented Basalton’s high society, and the sorcery that provides them with a luxurious life unimaginable to most. Orphaned as a child and rescued by the editor of The Basalton Globe, Vesper is now an ambitious reporter determined to keep her newspaper afloat.

While covering a lavish society gala, Vesper happens upon a shocking scene: the murdered body of a man she had spoken with just minutes before.Several of the powerful magical elite may want the man dead, but the prime suspect is wealthy industrialist Maximilian Kite.

Max soon makes Vesper a tempting offer: Find the culprit and restore his reputation in exchange for a substantial fee. Despite her distaste for Max’s world, Vesper agrees―the money would save the Globe, and the story would be the scoop of a lifetime. There’s only one catch: In order for her to infiltrate society, the two must pose as a courting couple.

Their investigation takes them from the highest echelons of privilege to the seediest backstreets of Basalton. As they unearth the city’s secrets and scandals, Vesper finds herself in grave danger―while falling for one of the most infuriating, arrogant, handsome men she has ever met…

Release Date: September 1, 2026

Thank you @netgalley for this ARC.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early ARC of Hawk and Sparrow by Ayana Gray.

Vesper is a strong, independent FMC who has endured deep loss and found a sense of belonging at the Basalton Globe. I loved her resilience and cleverness, especially in a world where women aren’t treated as equals. Max, the MMC, was also a highlight—kind, thoughtful, and easy to root for as he and Vesper work together to clear his name and solve a murder.

That said, I wanted more from the fantasy elements. The magic system had an interesting concept but wasn’t explored in enough depth. The pacing also felt uneven at times, with some repetitive sections that slowed the story down.

As this was an ARC, there were a few grammatical issues that will likely be fixed in the final version.

Overall, a compelling premise and a strong main character, even if it didn’t fully deliver in all areas for me.

✨ Tropes:
• Female detective
• Murder mystery
• Found family
• Slow-burn (ish) romance
• Class-based magic system
• Partners to lovers
• Framed for murder

[Amanda Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book! Almost gave off a Pinkerton style vibe with period romance flare. I love the magic system and the drama this story brings. The story comes together in a very dynamic way. It is a very clear who-done-it style novel with lots of theories and possibilities woven in throughout the accidents that happen throughout.

The FMC and MMC have a relationship that you want to see come to fruition with a very slow burn, so if you’re looking for something steamy this isn’t that kind of book. You do however get hooked into their story and invested into what happens to them!
I loved the writing! It was engaging and entertaining! If you like these styles of genres/tropes - I recommend this book for sure ♥️

4.75 ⭐️

[daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐱 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞. 𝐇𝐞’𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞'𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬.”

Hawk & Sparrow was advertised as for fans of Divine Rivals: consider your target audience reached. I’m in the midst of my exam period and I finished this in less than a day - this tells you everything about how good this book was. Combine a murdery mystery with fantasy elements and a romantic story and you’ve found yourself in Hawk & Sparrow. I’m absolutely obsessed with Vesper and Max; on their own and together. The fact that this was set in the Gilded Age only made it better. Add this to your autumn tbr and thank me later!!

🕊️✨💙🖊️

[Kendra Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what happens when murder mystery meets Howl’s Moving Castle. I was absolutely hooked by page one. Ayana Gray wrote a gripping and compelling book with a mix of sorcery and whodunnit. I loved the dynamic between Vesper Evans (FMC) and Maximilian Kite (MMC). Their banter, their slow burn, and their chemistry was just amazing. And that ending??? Chef’s kiss.

[Chalenea Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. This was a cozy mystery wrapped in an easy to picture Gilded Age setting. I really enjoyed the magic and the plot; the romance was adorable and it gave me autumnal Clue vibes. A great change of pace from the heavier stuff I usually read.

[Saf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall felt unsatisfied by this book. The mystery storyline was probably the best part but felt like it dragged on and there wasn’t really much too it throughout the book. I also didn’t like the last twist at the end, it felt very unnecessary and just left more loose end which didn’t align with what I’d expect from this kind of book. The romance aspect was fine, nothing really noteworthy about it. I did feel like there were inconsistencies with the setting and societal expectations of the town. And again, a lot of loose ends not tied up which is kind of annoying.

[Dotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

Ayana Gray’s Hawk & Sparrow is a cute fantasy mystery set against the backdrop of a fictional version of the Gilded Age. Our main character, Vesper, is a reporter for a newspaper, covering the invention of a magical machine, when she stumbles across the inventor’s murdered corpse. Vesper is approached by Maximillian Kite, a handsome young industrialist and sorcerer, to make sure he is not blamed for the murder. Vesper and Max must pretend to court so that they can investigate together.

This story was a lot of fun, with good twists and turns in the murder investigation and a nice build to the mystery. The mystery moves well, with a dramatic scene at our unveiling and a good conflict, and interesting clues throughout. The romance in this story is very fun but definitely a subplot, whereas the murder investigation feels like the main plot line.

The book has a lot of reflections on class and gender, which feel very appropriate for the time period. Max and Vesper are on different ends of the social spectrum and are able to learn from each other, and both have the humility to understand that their own experience is not the only one.

The magic system in this book was interesting but a little thin. Because our main character cannot practice magic herself, there are real limitations to how much we get to know about the magic system and how our character experiences it. I would be curious how deep the magic system is if we got to see it from a different character’s point of view, someone who actually successfully does magic.

The pacing of this book felt a little off, as it felt like our character had lived in the world longer than the audience of this book had experienced. There are casual references to her relationship with the police chief and the head of the newspaper that aren’t really explained, and she has a history that feels grounded but unclear. I looked the book up online to see if I had missed any previous books in the series, and I don’t think I have; I believe this is the first book from this author with this character, but I might be incorrect. Nonetheless, this book felt like there had been context to the character that I had not been given, or was given so casually it felt like an afterthought rather than intentional world building.

Also, there’s a moment that the main character is in grave peril and asks a character not to help her because they might get a bad headache. It was a deeply annoying moment that I wish had been cut from the book, but I’m still annoyed about after finishing the book.

Altogether, this is a fun historically-based fantasy mystery with a sweet romance and good plot. The mystery was engaging, as was the romance, and the characters are engaging. If you like mystery and want a little romance, this would be a fun choice.

This book was marketed as young adult, I think because of the lack of explicit content. The main character is between nineteen and twenty, as is her love interest, and both have jobs and independent homes. This book does not wrestle with the questions of identity, autonomy and belonging that are core components of young adult writing. This book should be marketed as New Adult, not young adult, both because of the subject matter and the ages of the characters. It’s also being marketed as both a fantasy and a romance, but not a mystery, which feels like it misses the contents of the book as a whole.

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s for providing this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love some not-so-subtle generative AI commentary in our Gilded Age fantasy/mystery novels.

Hawk & Sparrow is a YA fantasy murder mystery set in a Gilded Age-esque setting that follows a young reporter on her journey to uncover the truth. As of now, it is a standalone, but I think it has the potential to be expanded in the future. I picked this up because I love a good fantasy mystery, but I was quickly entranced not only by the stories and characters but also by how much commentary is packed into this book. There's a lot of discussion of gender roles, but there's also talk of classism, poverty, and what I interpreted to be a critique of generative AI. It reminded me a lot of Sorcery of Thorns, both in the way the characters interact and the world.

After journalist Vesper Evans stumbles across the body of brilliant inventor Francis Galdwell at a gala meant to display his newest invention, she gets roped into acting as a private investigator for Maximilian Kite, a sorcerer who will likely be the prime suspect for the case. The plot keeps a steady pace in its pursuit of the various case leads, though there are also plenty of scenes exploring high society life and Vesper's work as a journalist. The stakes are fairly high throughout as well, though I will say the ending was a bit anticlimactic for me. I think I felt that way because it seems to be set up for a potential sequel, so the resolution we get is somewhat satisfying but could definitely be expanded upon. In terms of the mystery, I did call the plot twist fairly early on, but I enjoyed piecing the evidence together (half the fun is proving myself right!), and there were some other twists I didn't manage to catch. Overall, I think this works well as a standalone; it has action, intrigue, hints of magic and romance, and a mystery with incredibly steady pacing. I hope the author continues to work in this world in the future.

The character dynamics had me hooked from the beginning. I loved Vesper as our protagonist. Her journalistic abilities came in clutch on so many occasions and I just want to rant about how much I appreciate a character who is actually as clever as everyone says she is. Her observational skills were so fun to see, and I loved how she walked the line between abiding by the rules and breaking them when needed. The other lead, Maximilian, is like Anthony Lockwood from Lockwood & Co. and Nathaniel Thorn from Sorcery of Thorns. He's charming, secretive, and has a bit of a sweet tooth. Vesper and Max's interactions were incredibly entertaining, and I liked the pacing of the development of their relationship as well. The side characters exist mostly to be suspects or aides in the case, so I didn't have many strong opinions about any of them, but I didn't mind that. Vesper and Max carried the character interactions on their own.

Hawk & Sparrow is a YA fantasy murder mystery following a journalist on a mission to prove a sorcerer innocent, perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson's Sorcery of Thorns.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

4.25/5

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

🕵️‍♀️✨ Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray ✨🕵️‍♀️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📅 Expected Publication Date: September 1, 2026
🏢 Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Balzer + Bray

Thank you so much to Ayana Gray, Macmillan, Balzer + Bray, and NetGalley for the ARC of Hawk & Sparrow!

I picked this one up purely because the words “Gilded Age,” mystery, and magic were involved… and I immediately knew I was in for it. That cover also deserves its own round of applause because WOW.

From the very first page, I was hooked.

Hawk & Sparrow follows Vesper, a sharp, determined news reporter navigating a richly atmospheric Gilded Age-inspired world filled with mystery, secrets, and just enough magic to keep you constantly guessing. I loved experiencing the story through her perspective—she notices everything, analyzes everything, and grounds the reader in the investigation in a way that makes the mystery feel immersive and immediate.

The pacing is fast from the start, and honestly never really lets up. This is a very bingeable read—I flew through it in one sitting without even realizing how much time had passed.

Vesper is an incredible main character. She’s strong, focused, driven, and has this no-nonsense energy that never feels harsh or unlikeable. She also has a huge heart, which really shines as the story progresses. She felt like a fully realized character rather than just a vehicle for the plot, and I loved her for it.

And Max? I adored him.

He’s not your typical arrogant rich MMC—he has depth, softness, and a genuine willingness to understand Vesper rather than overpower her. Their dynamic builds slowly and naturally, evolving from reluctant partners to friends and eventually something much deeper. The fake dating element was done so well here, adding just the right amount of tension and charm without ever feeling forced.

Even though the mystery is the main focus, the romance builds beautifully in the background and pays off in such a satisfying way.

The worldbuilding is strong without being overwhelming, and I actually appreciated that it didn’t over-explain everything at the start. It let the story unfold naturally, which worked perfectly for this kind of investigative narrative.

Minor note: I did find myself wishing there was just a touch more magic woven in, but honestly, the balance still worked really well for the story being told.

The side characters are minimal but effective, and I especially enjoyed Tom and Ida—they added just enough warmth and texture to the world without distracting from the main plot.

By the end, I was completely satisfied. The mystery wrapped up in a way that felt earned, and Vesper and Max’s journey felt complete while still leaving me a little nostalgic for more time with them.

✨ What to Expect ✨

🕵️‍♀️ Gilded Age-inspired mystery
✨ Light magical elements
🕵️‍♀️ Fake dating trope
✨ Slow-burn romance
🕵️‍♀️ Strong, driven FMC
✨ Soft, emotionally intelligent MMC
🕵️‍♀️ Investigative journalism angle
✨ Fast-paced, bingeable plot

This was an incredibly engaging, atmospheric, and addictive read that completely pulled me in from page one.

Absolutely loved it.

[Elia · Rating 5 out of 5]

HAWK & SPARROW by Ayana Gray is a Young Adult Fantasy novel with a murder mystery with a setting inspired by the Gilded Age with magic and a deliciously slow burn romance, I requested this eARC because Ayana is one of my favorite Young Adult Fantasy authors. Fellow readers, it was so, so good! The world building was top notch, the magic system original, and the romance filled with banter and longing. Before I gush on, here's the setup:

In Basalton, the wealthy can afford an education in magic, and everyone else wishes they had access to it. As a reporter for the The Basalton Globe, Vesper Evans is eager to interview the inventor of a machine that might be able to give everyone access to magic, without the expensive education. Minutes after interviewing him, he turns up dead. Prime suspect number one is Maximilian Kite, the wealthy sorcerer who had the access and the means. To protect his reputation, and his business, he hires Vesper to help him investigate the murder and identify the real culprit. Desperate for funds to help save the struggling Globe which is her found family, Vesper agrees to help the handsome industrialist. On day one, she discovers that they are to pose as a courting couple in order to gain access into the elite society that is hiding secrets that could unmask the killer. Will they successfully navigate Basalton society and the seedy underbelly of the city to find the answers they need? Read this fantastic novel to find out.

What I loved most:
- Vesper Evans is a relatable, smart, caring, and compelling lead. She's been through so much, and yet her curiosity, spunk, and bravery still shine brightly. One of the best parts of this novel was learning about her and watching her transformational journey unfold
- Max Kite, you heartthrob you. From the moment Vesper met him, I was hooked and intrigued. He has facets, and lots of them. Like Vesper, he's been through a lot, and it's wonderful to read Vesper help him see past his past and his current struggles and envision a life that's better than he ever expected.
- I'm someone who loves historic settings, and this book delivers with its Gilded Age-like setting. The pluses (the way people dress, Max's mansion, for example), and the minuses (the sexism, the desperate poverty, for example) of Basalton are compelling and made for excellent world-building.
- Speaking of world building, I really liked the magic system. It's original, not heavy-handed, and there's a cost to magic. I noted some commentary on AI, and it's potential to perhaps replace artists like writers, and I like how it was done. Not heavy-handed, but it was there.
- I'm a sucker for a fake dating trope, and the romance in this novel delivered. There are so many scenes with banter between Vesper and Max, and the topic he keeps trying to bring up is at last out in the open......it's just so romantic. Swoon-worthy.
- The mystery's twists and turns kept the pace of this novel appropriately quick. Combined with everything else, it made this novel fly by for me.
- A special call-out to the fully-formed and awesome secondary characters in the novel: Ada, Bess, Tom, for example.

What didn't work:
- I couldn't think of anything. It all worked so well for me. Bravo!

HAWK & SPARROW is a well-paced, creative, fun, and well-written read brimming with mystery, romance, and danger, with a strong cast of characters and phenomenal setting. I highly recommend it. Run, don't walk, to purchase this fantastic novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Balzer + Bray for providing me with an eARC of this book for my honest feedback.

[sevarenii · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

This book has a bit of a Howl's Moving Castle vibe with the urban fantasy type setting and an outwardly vain male lead, with an added murder mystery—which definitely has potential. I found the mystery to be interesting, if a bit fast-paced and a tad too convenient.

Let's start with the things I liked: I can appreciate how the book, through Vesper's eyes, frames the female characters' struggles and acknowledges them from a systemic view. Vesper does a fair bit of calling out the privilege of the elite—though sometimes it felt somewhat selective—more on that later.

I think what I struggled most with in this book was suspending my disbelief surrounding how easily Vesper, who is nineteen, manages to solve the mystery. Both Vesper and Max (and Ada) felt too young for the setting. I generally found the two main characters somewhat underwritten, or kind of inconsistent (in Vesper's case). It just didn't really make sense to me that she's established as someone who's deeply wary and suspicious of the wealthy elites, which results in her immediate dislike of Max, but then she's able to trust Ada right after meeting her. Maybe she felt rapport with another woman who understood gender discrimination, but that wouldn't explain Vesper's attitude toward Bess—she's so ready to draw a connection between Bess and murder after one single conversation, like she did with Max, but somehow doesn't with Ada? Why is Ada the only one who gets the benefit of the doubt? I get it; we keep hammering home the idea of systemic injustices, but it really got to a point where Vesper came off as self-righteous with her double standards. Felt a bit like "girl discovers class consciousness" for the first time, but that kind of tracks with her age, whether intentionally or not.

The romance... I did not care for it. Maybe it's that I've misinterpreted the subtext, but Vesper read pretty aroace-spec to me, and I really wasn't a fan of how the romance was written. I think if we'd gotten to see a bit more of Max's thoughts (like, can we get some unrequited pining), maybe it could have worked, but from the setup I never saw how Max was interested in her. And she clearly couldn't stand him. Whatever they were doing was not bantering. And then by the end, Vesper—who, from the beginning, mentions how she's never understood or felt any desire to experience attraction—suddenly "gets it" now, because she's "found the right guy." The previous kiss in the library also gave me the ick.

tldr; mystery was interesting enough, if a little too convenient. but the characters, and especially the romance, did not spark joy

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

I have to be honest, I feel so conflicted about this book!

To start, I loved so many different parts of Hawk & Sparrow. Vesper is a character I fell in love with right away. Max took a bit more time, but I did end up loving him as well. They were so cute together in the end. There were these two romantic scenes near the end of the book that just had me kicking my feet like a schoolgirl. I loved Vesper and Max's relationship so much, and they gave me all the warm, fuzzy romantic feelings. Seriously, I ended up rereading these scenes because I loved them so much.

The mystery was quite fun as well. I did end up guessing who the murderer was and why, but I never thought it was too obvious. The ending in that regard was still very satisfying. Because of that, I didn't mind that the culprit wasn't a surprise to me. Overall, I did really enjoy the plot.

However, I did have a few gripes with some aspects of the book. First, Vesper was unrealistically uninformed about some of her own country's sexist laws limiting women's rights. I don't see how a female reporter who is shown to be very knowledgeable doesn't know about laws that limit women's ability to have their own money or a job. Then, the story started with this really interesting debate between Vesper and Max about the potential benefits and dangers of this piece of new technology that is pretty important to the plot. This debate is dropped a little over halfway through the book without any real resolution. I can understand that sometimes questions posed in a book don't need to be completely answered. When that happens, I do still expect more exploration of the debate/ question than what the book provided.

The biggest issue I had was that there were a couple of pretty major things that happened to Vesper and Max near the end of the book that I would expect to have some effect on these characters and their relationship, but the direct aftermath of it is completely skipped over. Anything that happened after these incidents is not shown on the page and also doesn't really get any explanation in the narrative. This genuinely made me so sad. Again, I loved Vesper and Max's relationship, and seeing how they would have come together or felt after these pretty big plot points would've really elevated this book to me.

There's a lot to love about this book. It's unfortunate that there were just a few things missing for me personally. I would recommend it to readers of YA and New Adult novels.

[Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, and thank you PanMacMillan Export for my very shiny advanced reading copy!
I flew through this book. That's worth saying upfront, because it means something.

Hawk & Sparrow follows Vesper, a young journalist with no money and a lot of nerve, and Maximilian, the heir to a long line of wealthy sorcerers, who could very well be accused of murder. He needs someone to help clear his name. He needs someone to help clear his name. She needs the money to save her newspaper from closing. They make an unlikely team, and Ayana Gray makes it work with a great deal of charm.

The world Gray builds sits somewhere between an industrial revolution and a fantasy novel, with magic reserved for a privileged few, and all the class tensions you'd expect from that kind of setup. Women's rights are limited, the working class is exploited, and wealth protects the people it shouldn't. It's not a subtle backdrop, but it's an effective one, and it gives the story stakes beyond the central mystery.

Vesper and Max are genuinely likeable, which matters more than it sounds. Vesper is sharp, resourceful, and big-hearted in a way that never tips into naivety. Max is charming and more empathetic than his upbringing has any right to have made him. I rooted for both of them, and I rooted for them together. The opposites-attract dynamic is as old as the genre, but Gray handles it with enough freshness that I didn't mind.

The mystery itself kept me turning pages, even when I'd already guessed where it was going. And that's my main frustration: some of the plot twists were visible from some distance, and watching the characters miss them for longer than felt reasonable tested my patience a little. I also wished the magic system had been developed further. It's intriguing enough to make me want more, which is both a compliment and a mild complaint.

I did have to set aside one nagging question: why would Maximilian, with all his resources, hire a young journalist he'd just met rather than, say, a private investigator? The story never quite answers that convincingly. If you can make peace with it, and I largely did, the rest carries you through.

This is YA, clearly and unapologetically. The writing is fresh, occasionally candid in a way that suits the characters, and there's no attempt to be darker or more complex than the story needs to be. Sometimes that's exactly what you want.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for my copy of this book!!

So my introduction to this author was ‘I, Medusa’, and I loved that book so much that Ayana became one of my auto-buy authors. And, I’m a massive fantasy fan, so when I saw this was announced, I knew I needed it more than I needed air.

This murder mystery kinda-cosy kinda-romantic book is unlike any other I’ve read. I don’t know if anyone else would describe it as cosy, but I found it endearing and the setting was just cozy vibes for me. There’s a dash of history in this too which I found really interesting.

I really enjoyed the murder mystery aspect of this book. There were many twists and turns that kept me on my toes throughout the book, and the reveal at the end had me shocked. There’s little hints throughout the book (once you know) but I liked that it wasn’t easy to guess.

The romance was perfectly done. There’s some pining and angst, and I actually loved that it takes them until the later chapters of the book to realise they like each other. It was gradual, but sweet. Like you can tell they care about each other in their actions, and I just love how Max looks out for Vesper. The slow burn is really slow burning!!

My favourite part of the book: the message about women. I highlighted a few bits throughout the book cause I felt like it really spoke to me. The oppression of women, women being seen as objects, women being owned by men, and women being seen as inconvenient, hysterical, and not worthy of higher career roles. Ayana really speaks to women through this novel and I found it empowering. On top of being a woman, Vesper is seen as an ‘oddity’. Again, very relatable to me. I loved that Max always believed in Vesper and saw her as an equal. And I love that Vesper stands up for herself and doesn’t let men take advantage of her. I just adore when women authors destroy the patriarchy 😌

Overall, another brilliant book by Ayana. A cosy murder mystery that you can get lost in. A fun read with an important message. I loved this book and anything this author writes is gold!

Rating: 5/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

[Brooklyn Hibshman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of mysteries, fantasy, and historical fiction, and this book did an excellent job combining all three! Hawk & Sparrow follows Vesper Evans, a young journalist-turned-private investigator, who partners with Maximilian Kite, a sorcerer and socialite, to solve the murder of an entrepreneur.

I appreciated Vesper's character, and thought she was incredibly well-written. I loved seeing her use her skills as a journalist, her relationships with other people, and her intelligence throughout the book. She's clearly a strong part of her community, and I was pleasantly surprised by how willing she was to ask for help. At no point was I being beat over the head by Vesper's opinions, and I appreciated her frank discussions with Maximilian about the Gladwell Machine's capabilities and consequences. I enjoyed Maximilian's character as well, and I thought he did an excellent job of explaining how Gray's magic system functioned. He was also very open and willing to hear Vesper out on issues they disagreed with, and their partnership was incredibly fun. I really admire the way Gray built their relationship and strongly resisted the insta-love trope that's common in fantasy. Although I was sometimes frustrated with Vesper's refusal to accept romantic possibilities, I genuinely enjoyed their relationship, as friends, business partners, and romantic partners.

The side characters in this book are very fleshed out, and I rarely felt like someone was being used to move the plot along. It was easy to grasp who was who, which is very important in any book, but especially in a murder mystery. Everyone had such clear personalities, and I never felt like characters suddenly changed.

The plot of this book was very well-paced, and information reveals seemed very well-timed. Although the mystery itself wasn't overly complex, I believe that gave this book more time to explore other parts of the story. Vesper's process was fun to read about, and I enjoyed Hawk & Sparrow!

Special thanks to Ayana Gray, NetGalley, and MacMillan Publishers for giving me access to an ARC of this book.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost 4 stars, but the final conflict contradicted the FMC’s backstory and soured it for me.

A nice murder mystery urban fantasy book, complete with some romance thrown in. The classic fake-dating-but-it-becomes-real kind of thing. I appreciated that the mystery happened almost at the start of the book, and the book seemed to be the right length to accommodate the story. The twists and turns were good, despite my guessing who was guilty early on (but I couldn’t figure out their motive).

A few things hold the book back. I know this might be shelved into YA, especially with a 19 year old protagonist, but the way she spoke about her knowledge and experience made no sense for her age, even if she lived above a newspaper company for 10 years. There’s also a whole world of sorcery and magic, but it is barely used as more than small parlor tricks for comfort. It seems like a missed opportunity.

There are general messages of anti-classism, anti-gender disparity, and anti-AI in the book (despite it taking place in an alternate 1890’s). That would mostly be fine, but the book really beats you over the head with the first two and constantly repeats those sentiments. Yes, I got it after the first time the FMC was disparaged for her career choice. It was also really strange to use almost a point by point reproduction of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory tragedy as a small barely there event to illustrate for the 100th time that the working class is being beat down. Stranger still that the author of the recently released book Weavingshaw did the exact same thing.

Lastly, one of the things we know about the FMC’s background is that she’s had some consistent and good father figures in her young life, as well as not a single romantic entanglement up to this point. But somehow the at the end of the book, she worries that “The same thing that’s happened every time you’ve let your guard down. He’ll leave. He’ll hurt you.” and runs out into the cold without thinking. This is entirely inconsistent with her background up to this point.

Overall, still worth a read.

[grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this ARC.

This was a fun murder mystery set in the Gilded Age with a touch of sorcery woven in. It follows reporter Vesper and wealthy industrialist and sorcerer Max as they search for the culprit amongst members of high society. This book definitely creates the setting of the Gilded Age with vibes of industrialism and factories, and the limited prospects afforded to women in this age. Despite this Vesper constantly works harder to overcome the challenges and discrimination she faces as a poor female reporter and shows her strong character.

I liked that the magical aspects didn't overwhelm the book and just added more intrigue (as well as another layer of class division). I would have liked to seen it more explained but it fits the perspective of Vesper who isn't a sorcerer.

I liked the murder mystery as there were multiple twists but it was understandable, letting readers solve the mystery alongside Vesper and Max. I did think that the writing was simple: a lot of commentary on topics like gender discrimination were just told outright without much discussion, and Vesper kind of walked readers through her thought process with each new clue discovery- possibly making this more suitable for younger readers. (I really liked the subtle commentary on AI- I think that was well done and more so how I would've wanted the other reflections on class and gender to be like).

I didn't feel a very strong connection to Vesper's and Max's relationship because they were more focused on solving the murder and didn't spend that much time together for the most part. I would like to think that their relationship would develop further after the end of this book. I did like some of Max's witty lines and his gifts for Vesper.

I would recommend this book to readers who want a quick and easy whodunit mystery set in the Gilded Age with only sprinkles of romance and magic.

[Mystie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first. Go buy every Ayana Gray book ever published and pre-order this one. No, no. No questions, just go do that and then come back here. Off you go!

Okay, now that I am sure she will STAY in the writing business, let me tell you about this book you just pre-ordered (because you pre-ordered it, right?!).

Ayana Gray is magic. That is the headline, the story, the everything!

In this book, Hawk & Sparrow, she writes about magic and how it transforms a society, where who has it and who does not plays a critical role in the plot. But the thing is, the way she writes about it is the real magic. She feeds readers just enough page by page to enlighten us about the world and the characters living in it. Just a bit at a time and we learn, we grasp, and by the third chapter I was invested, annoyed, and ready to jump into the book to fight for my girl Vesper.

She is the FMC. As for the MMC, like my girl Vesper, I was not sure I liked Max either.

But Vesper? I cheered for her. My heart broke for her. And right now I miss her. She is a historical fictional character who could be me. Who could be my sister, my cousin, my friend, any person of color who knows what it is like to have to be smarter than everyone assumes if she is to figure a way out. And wow, is she clever. Not just clever, though. Ayana Gray writes the most relatable feelings of triumph and pain through Vesper. With words that haunt nightmares and bury themselves into minds. Then she gives us that grit, that fight, that gets you back up to keep trying again and again. As I said, I loved Vesper!

Max? This author made me fall in love with him. He is one of the more complicated and nuanced male characters I have read in a while. He, too, is much too intelligent for his own good, but he has so many hidden parts to him. It takes a while to see and uncover who he really is. When you do, though, like me, you will be swooning over his eyes and soul.

This isn’t a regular old story about haves and have-nots. This is a tangled mystery with high stakes and the most unbelievable outcomes. Some parts may not be easy to read, but I regret nothing other than reading it so quickly that I now just miss them all.

Hawk & Sparrow is yet another bestseller for Ayana Gray, in my opinion. It explores a range of emotions, deals with hard to digest truths, and gives you an ending that will have you shrieking and bubbling over in love.

Buy her books, guys! Buy all her books! I NEED her to keep writing!

[Kaitlyn Ashley ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a real mixed bag for me! In the first half I had a lot of frustrations, (see below), but by the second half I did not want to put it down until I got to the bottom of the mystery.

We have a fantasy based murder mystery with a romantic subplot. Our MCs are both likeable and good natured, despite their flaws. The mystery itself was a bit predictable just based on the usual layout of similar stories, but I will admit I did not see the twist at the very end. I had a really good time with this because of the compelling nature of the mysteries, and my impatient rooting for the MCs!

The things that really made me struggle at times here...
-the writing is frustrating. It feels rushed or choppy, sometimes inconsistent. One example being Max is gagged, but then speaking? Another time they split up to collect recon at a party, both have 30 second conversations and call it good? She cracks a confession out of the false criminal after barely speaking to him?? Okay, I guess. Whatever it takes to move the plot along, is how it feels.
-the contradictions of what we are being expected to believe of our FMC vs what is shown to us. Vesper is constantly highlighted for being a sleuth of a detective with incredible powers of observation. Yet repeatedly makes the most obvious, sloppy mistakes ever. She seems like more of a caricature than a real character.
-the ending... I will have to go back and recheck this, but is there a hole in the whole plot regarding the murder? (Second character to avoid spoilers) in the very end confesses to both poisoning and using the wine bottle to hit him, yet we had someone else who fully confessed to the murder as well and seems to believe she did it... so how did the first confessor act in all of this? If this was an oversight on my part, I will remove this last one, but it has been bugging my brain.

[Karen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝝜𝝙𝗪𝝟 & 𝗦𝝦𝝙𝝘𝝘𝝝𝗪
by Ayana Gray
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

so thankful for another ARC from @netgalley because as soon as I saw @ayanagrayauthor ’s newest book pop up, I knew I had to read it! I recently read I, Medusa and it was a masterpiece. The way that Ayana writes is so beautiful and tells such a good story that connects with her readers.
——————
Hawk & Sparrow is a YA fantasy set in the late 1800’s (think the Gilded Age) where women (especially in the work force) were looked down upon as lesser and those who were not powerful were seen as weak.
——————
Miss Vesper Evans is a young, talented reporter who has come from a life of grief and trauma but wants to be the best that she can be in order to provide for herself and help her newspaper stay afloat. things take a turn when she’s at a lavish, high-society party writing an expose about a new, life-changing invention and she stumbles upon a murder scene. the victim? a man that she had just spoken with moments before. the main suspect? Maximilian Kite, one of the most wealthy people in her town, who is also one of their most eligible bachelors.

Maximilian proposes a deal to Vesper; she use her skills as a keen-eyed reporter who knows just how to get to the bottom of a good story, to help prove his innocence and find the real murdered. the downside? the only way people wouldn’t start asking HER the questions is to pose as a courting couple.. with Max.
——————
from start to finish, this book was such a fun one to read! there were twists, turns, mystery, and love. since it is YA fiction, there is nothing too spicy in this book, but it made it all the more lovely.

HAWK & SPARROW comes out on September 1st, so you’ve got a little while to wait but I promise, it’s worth it!

{also, there may be a little Medusa reference in the story, hehe}