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Yes, Your Serpentine Excellency
She followed a thief to a gaming house.
A dragon followed her home.
Joanna Marlow has a weakness for charming men, but sadly, her current love interest has sticky fingers along with his handsome face. When he filches a family heirloom for his entry fee to a gambler’s den, she resolves to reclaim it—ideally without having to confront the scoundrel.
Instead, she unleashes chaos. Her brand of magic, the ability to skip through space like a stone across a pond, lands her in a dragon’s conservatory, where the beast takes potent interest in her.
Joanna doesn’t expect the smooth-talking serpent to track her to her neighborhood. She certainly doesn’t anticipate him setting up a fortune-telling hustle in her back yard. Above all, she would never invite calamity to her own doorstep.
Nevertheless, His Serpentine Excellency worms his way into her household and brings trouble on his heels: a gullible heiress, an amoral crime lord, a snooping crown inspector, and one spoiled-rotten prince who thinks all dragons in the city should belong to him.
A dragon followed her home.
Joanna Marlow has a weakness for charming men, but sadly, her current love interest has sticky fingers along with his handsome face. When he filches a family heirloom for his entry fee to a gambler’s den, she resolves to reclaim it—ideally without having to confront the scoundrel.
Instead, she unleashes chaos. Her brand of magic, the ability to skip through space like a stone across a pond, lands her in a dragon’s conservatory, where the beast takes potent interest in her.
Joanna doesn’t expect the smooth-talking serpent to track her to her neighborhood. She certainly doesn’t anticipate him setting up a fortune-telling hustle in her back yard. Above all, she would never invite calamity to her own doorstep.
Nevertheless, His Serpentine Excellency worms his way into her household and brings trouble on his heels: a gullible heiress, an amoral crime lord, a snooping crown inspector, and one spoiled-rotten prince who thinks all dragons in the city should belong to him.
516 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2026
245 people are currently reading
656 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
March 18, 2026
Ah! This was so good, all fluffy and funny and cosy and sweet and adventurous and quirky and . . . just right for me.
Now I don't want to review this.
(Sir David Attenborough Narrator's Voice: "Four million different kinds of animals and plants in the world. Four million different solutions to the problems ofstaying alive reviewing five-star books. All she needed was eat one animal and some plants before she did find a solution.")
Now I don't want to review this.
(Sir David Attenborough Narrator's Voice: "Four million different kinds of animals and plants in the world. Four million different solutions to the problems of
March 13, 2026
5 stars ⭐️ Clean Fiction - Fantasy (with genetic/family magic; historical setting)
Buckle in, friends, because this review is going to be a raving, fangirling one and thus quite long.
The minute I heard about a new Kate Stradling book from her newsletter, I was so excited for it. For those who don’t know me, I had barely enjoyed any fantasy books—until I read “The Legendary Inge”, that is. The utter brilliance of that story made me realize that I could not only greatly like a fantasy book, but able to get sucked into one and completely invested into the plot. Needless to say, I’m slowly savoring my way through Kate Stradling’s backlist of books and was giddy to hear about this new book that had to do with dragons.
I think it’s fair to say that I’m not surprised by plot twists or reveals often. I read too much and that’s a downfall of that habit. However! Kate Stradling is one author that impresses me every single time I pick up one of her books because there’s such brilliance in the story, the setting, the characters, all the details. It makes me want to treat her like a prodigy child (despite her being older than me) and just squeeze her to bits because it feels like I’ve found a hidden gem and want to tell everyone I know with a “ta-da!” Her writing style is just brilliant. The wit and banter between characters is perfect. The setting and plot is so unique—I’m honestly very sad that I’ll probably never find another book like this again. Most books that have crime lords and whatnot get very dark and gritty (which is, of course, understandable, but is not my cup of tea), so the element of having our main character be from an untouchable, neutral family in a city with three crime families added such a unique perspective. Joanna was great in so many ways and I loved how her life became very complicated after meeting a dragon and all his secrets.
I had hoped to treat myself and read this book in one sitting, so I was very mad when my eyes demanded sleep and I had to stop reading for the night. There were a handful of parts that I was all cuddled in bed with my Kindle and then something happens and I automatically jump out of the covers because I’m shocked and thrilled at what I just read. 😂
Things I loved-
- Joanna. She’s a bit cynical but has a soft heart (especially for her cats)
- Our dragon and all his secrets (I could say soooo much more about him. But alas, spoilers.)
- The setting that was kind of early 1900s but with magic
- Joanna’s extended family all living on one street
- Joanna’s brothers (they get their own bullet-point because the sibling dynamic was great)
- The easy to understand magic system (+ the realistic look at the crown using magic users during a war at the cost of those with magic)
- The crime families elements and the lore it added into the world
- The dry wit throughout the book (this really deserves two bullet points)
- The humor and banter throughout the book (told you it deserves two points)
- The mystery that Joanna falls into
- The clever chapter titles (which didn’t give anything away about the chapter unlike most chapter titles)
- The few usages of “I’d’ve” (I would have) that made me smile
- The writing style (there is something about this authors books that play out like a detailed movie in my mind as I read and it makes the book come to life)
- How clean it was from the violence to romance
- Speaking of the romance: the romance. Wow. The flirting was adorable and they were such a healthy relationship. Green flags were lining the street.
- Joanna and the love interest being older (late 20s to early 30s)
- The overall brilliance and unique plot
There is also a religion of this world with archbishops and a temple. I wasn’t expecting that at all and it worked so well for the world. I think you could be reminded of an LDS temple in some ways, but it felt very fantasy-like because of the magic system and how those at the temple interact with those with magic. It was really nice to see good “religious people” and for them not be corrupted because that’s something I see at times in fantasy books. This is probably because the author is LDS, but I haven’t seen this element in a clean fiction book done so well and work so well within a fantasy book’s world.
I have to give another paragraph to Joanna: she was fantastic. She has a high moral ground and also a sassy mouth at times, which you wouldn’t think would work, but completely did. At one point, someone wants her to promise that she’ll do something, but she says she doesn’t have to because it’s the right thing to do and she was going to do it anyway. And in case she sounds like a goody-two-shoes (there’s nothing wrong with that, thankyouverymuch), she also is very mouthy (sassy) and fears very little so she doesn’t hold back her thoughts too much. She is a new favorite character for me, easily.
I don’t think this book would be classified as a YA book because of Joanna’s age (28), but I would have no problem handing it to older YA readers if they enjoy fantasy and are okay with magic content. I would suggest 15/16+, but if a reader has read secular fantasy books published by the mainstream market, then this one should be fine. It’s very clean with some hints to the crime families killing people, but it’s not shown on page. Our main character is a very moral young woman and avoids any bit of that for more than one reason. No language at all and the romance was very healthy with a green flag male lead. I honestly want to stand up and clap for this book. 👏
I would love to write more on what I enjoyed, swooned, and was just plain tickled pink at, but most would be spoilers, so you’ll just have to take my word that I enjoyed this book so much and will not be able to shut up about it for the next foreseeable future.
Main Content-
Spiritual & Magic-
There’s a handful of different types of magic users (called “magicians”)-
- Skips - those who can “skip”/teleport to another place in a blink of an eye; Different versions have limitations (such as shadow-skips who can only skip when in a shadow and thus their enemies will try to keep them in a well-lit room, puddle-skips skip into a puddle and can be deprived of even a cup of water to keep from skipping, and mirror-skips are buried in windowless pits); Joanna is an unbound skip and has no limitations; The crown/royal family has generally used skips in wars as assassins.
- Shifter - someone who can shift into an animal (dog, cat, bird, horse, etc.) when they want and change back again (fully clothed) in a “puff of magic”; Some crime syndicates have been collecting these magic users; It’s implied that some shifters start to prefer their animal form the more they are an animal and could end up staying an animal permanently.
- Pyromancer - one that can light up a room or even set it on fire.
- Seeker - someone who can sense other magicians and magic within a set boundary.
- Standard mages - those that can make curses or spells, poisons or antidotes. Some use this ability for dark magic (which is illegal) and against others. Their curses/spells are written on papers and have a range of abilities (to stun someone, trap another, curse someone, make others tell the truth, etc. All are seen on-page) and can be bought/used by someone who isn’t the creator; Those who “ink” (write) them will be affected by the toll and it will alter their appearance into a “hag-face”.
Needless to say, there’s a lot about magic, magic users, and curses throughout the book as it’s a major plot-point; All of these are important parts of the book and shown on-page frequently.
Joanna comments that any magic can be “as much as a curse as a blessing”; Every kind of magic has a toll on the user (either physical or mental).
*Spoilers* .
Sacred lands like holy grounds or a temple will dispel all magic and thus make the magic wielded powerless when within a boundary line; Because of this, Joanna and her family go to church because an hour a week of “tempered magic” helps in the long run for the toll of using magic.
Some believe that the church is only a symbol of power and disruptive to their natural magic abilities and equate “magic and faith as oil and water, never to mix” (which Joanna disagrees with); The crown sees magicians as resources for their whims and abuses them while the church views the magicians as “souls with independent agency” which is why they have been at odds for decades.
Joanna calls herself “religious” and says she goes to the temple on the weekend; Joanna has a “threshold blessing” from the archbishop for her home which prevents magic from crossing it; When at the temple, Joanna does a “washing rite” in a fountain.
The archbishop says he has “learned to listen when the voice of the Lord commands, even if the instructions seem nonsensical”; The archbishop says that “from a gospel standpoint, everything curative distills to true love”; Those at the temple call each other “brother” and “sister”; A man says he would probably burst into flames if he went to the temple and Joanna says “We’re all children of the same loving God.”, but the man says children can disappoint their parents and receive punishment for it; An archbishop is able to break curses.
Mentions of God (‘H’s are capital when referring to God); Mentions of the archbishop, temples, chapels, going to temple, & holy ground; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; A reference to Adam and Eve; The author shares Alma 26:12 (from the Book of Mormon) in her acknowledgments.
Joanna meets a dragon that is known for augury/fortune telling and meets his clients that come to hear from him; The dragon tells Joanna that he isn’t very good at it and tells them what they want to hear (and thus is not an actual fortune teller); Someone sets up a tent for the fortune telling dragon with crystals and mystical relics; One client lays prostrate before him like “a pagan in abject worship of a sacred idol”.
Besides the main mentions an important dragon, there are also some mentions of magical species (like dragons, unicorns, and phoenixes); Mentions of thralls, curses, & spells; Mentions of luck & being lucky; A few mentions of fate; A mention of “Fate Immemorial”; A mention of a hedge witch.
Someone is called a “devil” and another is called a “demon”; A mention of a devilish curse.
Negative + Language-
No language stronger than “idiot”, “shut up”, “dashed”, and calling someone a “witch”; Mentions of curses (said but not written out, including by Joanna).
Some lying & eavesdropping; Eye rolling.
Being attacked, Nearly stabbed, & Pain (up to a few sentences); Knives are used to threaten others and held at throats.
Many mentions of kidnappings, missing people, slavery/slaves, & an illicit trade ring; Many mentions of thieves, stealing, stolen items, criminals, prisons, & arrests; Mentions of wars, assassins, & assassinations (up to a couple sentences); Mentions of murders, executions, & threats of death/killing (including someone deeming murder necessary due to a corrupt crown that first took over by doing the same thing); Mentions of people being held at knife-point, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding; Mentions of poisons & being poisoned; Mentions of threats; Mentions of swindlers & swindling; Mentions of gambling & gambling houses; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, smoking, & cigars/tobacco; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of deceit; Mentions of eavesdropping; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of putting down animals; A mention of a hanging; A mention of money laundering.
A comment that the crown sees “women as second-rating magic users”.
Sexual/Romance-
1 almost kiss (up to a couple sentences),
1 kiss lasting a sentence,
1 kiss lasting a couple sentences.
Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth, Flutters (up to a few sentences); Some noticing (up to a couple sentences); Flirting, Blushes, & Winks.
Joanna warns two government agents that she has her underthings inventoried so she’ll know if they take anything during a search (both men blush and/or blustered about her comment).
A man gives the illusion of being very comfortable at Joanna’s house to others (by taking off his jacket and shoes, which would imply to others that he is there for a more than friendly visit).
A conversation about animal shifters not having “inclinations” when in their animal form and cannot be bred; Someone comments about a horse shifter not being gelded/castrated.
Joanna comments that the royal family’s family tree is a wreath and how nobles were “usually horse-faced from their circular breeding”.
Mentions of chaperones & an unmarried woman not being alone with a man; Mentions of flirting; A few mentions of true love & True Love’s Kiss; A mention of a couple curling up together (clarified for resting, nothing else).
Buckle in, friends, because this review is going to be a raving, fangirling one and thus quite long.
The minute I heard about a new Kate Stradling book from her newsletter, I was so excited for it. For those who don’t know me, I had barely enjoyed any fantasy books—until I read “The Legendary Inge”, that is. The utter brilliance of that story made me realize that I could not only greatly like a fantasy book, but able to get sucked into one and completely invested into the plot. Needless to say, I’m slowly savoring my way through Kate Stradling’s backlist of books and was giddy to hear about this new book that had to do with dragons.
I think it’s fair to say that I’m not surprised by plot twists or reveals often. I read too much and that’s a downfall of that habit. However! Kate Stradling is one author that impresses me every single time I pick up one of her books because there’s such brilliance in the story, the setting, the characters, all the details. It makes me want to treat her like a prodigy child (despite her being older than me) and just squeeze her to bits because it feels like I’ve found a hidden gem and want to tell everyone I know with a “ta-da!” Her writing style is just brilliant. The wit and banter between characters is perfect. The setting and plot is so unique—I’m honestly very sad that I’ll probably never find another book like this again. Most books that have crime lords and whatnot get very dark and gritty (which is, of course, understandable, but is not my cup of tea), so the element of having our main character be from an untouchable, neutral family in a city with three crime families added such a unique perspective. Joanna was great in so many ways and I loved how her life became very complicated after meeting a dragon and all his secrets.
I had hoped to treat myself and read this book in one sitting, so I was very mad when my eyes demanded sleep and I had to stop reading for the night. There were a handful of parts that I was all cuddled in bed with my Kindle and then something happens and I automatically jump out of the covers because I’m shocked and thrilled at what I just read. 😂
Things I loved-
- Joanna. She’s a bit cynical but has a soft heart (especially for her cats)
- Our dragon and all his secrets (I could say soooo much more about him. But alas, spoilers.)
- The setting that was kind of early 1900s but with magic
- Joanna’s extended family all living on one street
- Joanna’s brothers (they get their own bullet-point because the sibling dynamic was great)
- The easy to understand magic system (+ the realistic look at the crown using magic users during a war at the cost of those with magic)
- The crime families elements and the lore it added into the world
- The dry wit throughout the book (this really deserves two bullet points)
- The humor and banter throughout the book (told you it deserves two points)
- The mystery that Joanna falls into
- The clever chapter titles (which didn’t give anything away about the chapter unlike most chapter titles)
- The few usages of “I’d’ve” (I would have) that made me smile
- The writing style (there is something about this authors books that play out like a detailed movie in my mind as I read and it makes the book come to life)
- How clean it was from the violence to romance
- Speaking of the romance: the romance. Wow. The flirting was adorable and they were such a healthy relationship. Green flags were lining the street.
- Joanna and the love interest being older (late 20s to early 30s)
- The overall brilliance and unique plot
There is also a religion of this world with archbishops and a temple. I wasn’t expecting that at all and it worked so well for the world. I think you could be reminded of an LDS temple in some ways, but it felt very fantasy-like because of the magic system and how those at the temple interact with those with magic. It was really nice to see good “religious people” and for them not be corrupted because that’s something I see at times in fantasy books. This is probably because the author is LDS, but I haven’t seen this element in a clean fiction book done so well and work so well within a fantasy book’s world.
I have to give another paragraph to Joanna: she was fantastic. She has a high moral ground and also a sassy mouth at times, which you wouldn’t think would work, but completely did. At one point, someone wants her to promise that she’ll do something, but she says she doesn’t have to because it’s the right thing to do and she was going to do it anyway. And in case she sounds like a goody-two-shoes (there’s nothing wrong with that, thankyouverymuch), she also is very mouthy (sassy) and fears very little so she doesn’t hold back her thoughts too much. She is a new favorite character for me, easily.
I don’t think this book would be classified as a YA book because of Joanna’s age (28), but I would have no problem handing it to older YA readers if they enjoy fantasy and are okay with magic content. I would suggest 15/16+, but if a reader has read secular fantasy books published by the mainstream market, then this one should be fine. It’s very clean with some hints to the crime families killing people, but it’s not shown on page. Our main character is a very moral young woman and avoids any bit of that for more than one reason. No language at all and the romance was very healthy with a green flag male lead. I honestly want to stand up and clap for this book. 👏
I would love to write more on what I enjoyed, swooned, and was just plain tickled pink at, but most would be spoilers, so you’ll just have to take my word that I enjoyed this book so much and will not be able to shut up about it for the next foreseeable future.
Main Content-
Spiritual & Magic-
There’s a handful of different types of magic users (called “magicians”)-
- Skips - those who can “skip”/teleport to another place in a blink of an eye; Different versions have limitations (such as shadow-skips who can only skip when in a shadow and thus their enemies will try to keep them in a well-lit room, puddle-skips skip into a puddle and can be deprived of even a cup of water to keep from skipping, and mirror-skips are buried in windowless pits); Joanna is an unbound skip and has no limitations; The crown/royal family has generally used skips in wars as assassins.
- Shifter - someone who can shift into an animal (dog, cat, bird, horse, etc.) when they want and change back again (fully clothed) in a “puff of magic”; Some crime syndicates have been collecting these magic users; It’s implied that some shifters start to prefer their animal form the more they are an animal and could end up staying an animal permanently.
- Pyromancer - one that can light up a room or even set it on fire.
- Seeker - someone who can sense other magicians and magic within a set boundary.
- Standard mages - those that can make curses or spells, poisons or antidotes. Some use this ability for dark magic (which is illegal) and against others. Their curses/spells are written on papers and have a range of abilities (to stun someone, trap another, curse someone, make others tell the truth, etc. All are seen on-page) and can be bought/used by someone who isn’t the creator; Those who “ink” (write) them will be affected by the toll and it will alter their appearance into a “hag-face”.
Needless to say, there’s a lot about magic, magic users, and curses throughout the book as it’s a major plot-point; All of these are important parts of the book and shown on-page frequently.
Joanna comments that any magic can be “as much as a curse as a blessing”; Every kind of magic has a toll on the user (either physical or mental).
*Spoilers* .
Sacred lands like holy grounds or a temple will dispel all magic and thus make the magic wielded powerless when within a boundary line; Because of this, Joanna and her family go to church because an hour a week of “tempered magic” helps in the long run for the toll of using magic.
Some believe that the church is only a symbol of power and disruptive to their natural magic abilities and equate “magic and faith as oil and water, never to mix” (which Joanna disagrees with); The crown sees magicians as resources for their whims and abuses them while the church views the magicians as “souls with independent agency” which is why they have been at odds for decades.
Joanna calls herself “religious” and says she goes to the temple on the weekend; Joanna has a “threshold blessing” from the archbishop for her home which prevents magic from crossing it; When at the temple, Joanna does a “washing rite” in a fountain.
The archbishop says he has “learned to listen when the voice of the Lord commands, even if the instructions seem nonsensical”; The archbishop says that “from a gospel standpoint, everything curative distills to true love”; Those at the temple call each other “brother” and “sister”; A man says he would probably burst into flames if he went to the temple and Joanna says “We’re all children of the same loving God.”, but the man says children can disappoint their parents and receive punishment for it; An archbishop is able to break curses.
Mentions of God (‘H’s are capital when referring to God); Mentions of the archbishop, temples, chapels, going to temple, & holy ground; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; A reference to Adam and Eve; The author shares Alma 26:12 (from the Book of Mormon) in her acknowledgments.
Joanna meets a dragon that is known for augury/fortune telling and meets his clients that come to hear from him; The dragon tells Joanna that he isn’t very good at it and tells them what they want to hear (and thus is not an actual fortune teller); Someone sets up a tent for the fortune telling dragon with crystals and mystical relics; One client lays prostrate before him like “a pagan in abject worship of a sacred idol”.
Besides the main mentions an important dragon, there are also some mentions of magical species (like dragons, unicorns, and phoenixes); Mentions of thralls, curses, & spells; Mentions of luck & being lucky; A few mentions of fate; A mention of “Fate Immemorial”; A mention of a hedge witch.
Someone is called a “devil” and another is called a “demon”; A mention of a devilish curse.
Negative + Language-
No language stronger than “idiot”, “shut up”, “dashed”, and calling someone a “witch”; Mentions of curses (said but not written out, including by Joanna).
Some lying & eavesdropping; Eye rolling.
Being attacked, Nearly stabbed, & Pain (up to a few sentences); Knives are used to threaten others and held at throats.
Many mentions of kidnappings, missing people, slavery/slaves, & an illicit trade ring; Many mentions of thieves, stealing, stolen items, criminals, prisons, & arrests; Mentions of wars, assassins, & assassinations (up to a couple sentences); Mentions of murders, executions, & threats of death/killing (including someone deeming murder necessary due to a corrupt crown that first took over by doing the same thing); Mentions of people being held at knife-point, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding; Mentions of poisons & being poisoned; Mentions of threats; Mentions of swindlers & swindling; Mentions of gambling & gambling houses; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, smoking, & cigars/tobacco; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of deceit; Mentions of eavesdropping; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of putting down animals; A mention of a hanging; A mention of money laundering.
A comment that the crown sees “women as second-rating magic users”.
Sexual/Romance-
1 almost kiss (up to a couple sentences),
1 kiss lasting a sentence,
1 kiss lasting a couple sentences.
Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth, Flutters (up to a few sentences); Some noticing (up to a couple sentences); Flirting, Blushes, & Winks.
Joanna warns two government agents that she has her underthings inventoried so she’ll know if they take anything during a search (both men blush and/or blustered about her comment).
A man gives the illusion of being very comfortable at Joanna’s house to others (by taking off his jacket and shoes, which would imply to others that he is there for a more than friendly visit).
A conversation about animal shifters not having “inclinations” when in their animal form and cannot be bred; Someone comments about a horse shifter not being gelded/castrated.
Joanna comments that the royal family’s family tree is a wreath and how nobles were “usually horse-faced from their circular breeding”.
Mentions of chaperones & an unmarried woman not being alone with a man; Mentions of flirting; A few mentions of true love & True Love’s Kiss; A mention of a couple curling up together (clarified for resting, nothing else).
April 24, 2026
I had an absolute blast with this turn-of-the-century-America-coded urban fantasy adventure. Cozier than I expected, I found the world-building and magic systems fresh and fun.
There are crime syndicates, nosy neighbourhoods, animal shifters, and alt-LDS coded Temple-going.
If you like Kate Stradling's books, you will love this. If you haven't read any Kate Stradling, this is a great place to start.
The thing to know about Stradling is that she doesn't seem to really write in the same genre twice (unless we are talking King Thrushbeard retellings, lol). The Heir and the Spare is a thriller in a non-magical fantasy kingdom, which you should definitely read if you love black and white suspense films (like I do). The Legendary Inge is Beowulf-inspired high fantasy with magic swords and a put-upon, sensible older-sister heroine that feels like she dropped out of Georgette Heyer. And then there are the fairytale retellings and that one that is basically The Blue Castle with zombies.
The only thing that didn't quite get resolved as I thought it would in this one was the background theme of controlling family dynamics. There's definitely some good in the two main characters' families, but there are also some problematic dynamics--readers who have worked to escape such systems might find that hits unpleasantly. (These are mostly played for laughs, in keeping with the tone of the book, I suppose, though it is also kind of obvious that these syndicates are not admirable.)
For me, it was a welcome romp with a light romantic subplot which I devoured over a couple of days.
There are crime syndicates, nosy neighbourhoods, animal shifters, and alt-LDS coded Temple-going.
If you like Kate Stradling's books, you will love this. If you haven't read any Kate Stradling, this is a great place to start.
The thing to know about Stradling is that she doesn't seem to really write in the same genre twice (unless we are talking King Thrushbeard retellings, lol). The Heir and the Spare is a thriller in a non-magical fantasy kingdom, which you should definitely read if you love black and white suspense films (like I do). The Legendary Inge is Beowulf-inspired high fantasy with magic swords and a put-upon, sensible older-sister heroine that feels like she dropped out of Georgette Heyer. And then there are the fairytale retellings and that one that is basically The Blue Castle with zombies.
The only thing that didn't quite get resolved as I thought it would in this one was the background theme of controlling family dynamics. There's definitely some good in the two main characters' families, but there are also some problematic dynamics--readers who have worked to escape such systems might find that hits unpleasantly. (These are mostly played for laughs, in keeping with the tone of the book, I suppose, though it is also kind of obvious that these syndicates are not admirable.)
For me, it was a welcome romp with a light romantic subplot which I devoured over a couple of days.
Read
March 20, 2026Thoroughly delightful fantasy comedy-of-manners with a Heyerian flair (but without Heyer's unexamined snobbery), with a fascinating magic system and delightful characters and humor. With pacing that never lets up.
This wonderful tale deserves a better copyeditor. Hope that comes to pass--I do plan to keep an eye out for this author.
This wonderful tale deserves a better copyeditor. Hope that comes to pass--I do plan to keep an eye out for this author.
Read
March 29, 2026i will ALWAYS love a male lead that says "i won't command you, but i will beg"
i read this book ages ago before it came out, and life was too hard and my poor brain too scrambled to write a review until now. so here we go!
Joanna is stuck inside a family that is manipulative, controlling, and borderline abusive (fellow peeps from high control religious environments particularly, it is worth getting through the claustrophobia of Joanne's first circumstances for the delight that this book is, and the claustrophobia is written VERY well--TOO well?) She tries very hard to push back where she can, but even she doesn't seem to appreciate the levels to which she is hemmed in and controlled, especially when it comes to her brothers (all of whom i would love to yeet into the sun at high velocity so they could never force their way into her house again or tell her what to do even ONE more time with the shining conviction that they have the right to do so as males...)
but all of this claustrophobia makes the difference when Joanna meets her dragon, to be insanely stark. the dragon is still manipulative, but it's a different kind of manipulation that Joanna is able to push back against in a way that is healthier all the more because the dragon seems capable of change (in OH so many ways!)
I won't get into too many spoilers, but i will say that Joanna ends up working with/against/for a mafia type family that is nearly as controlling as her own family, but more manipulative with it and with a more righteous end goal. it's FASCINATING to see her pushing up against that kind of control without necessarily recognising that it's just a different version of what she gets from her fam.
the romance here is one of my favourites of Kate's writing, and i think this book is the most mature and well-written of what i've read of hers (and i've read nearly everything she's written). i would have liked to have seen
one last note is that i loved the representation of the lds temple in the book. i'm not lds, but i really loved the way it meshed with the story--AND the way both the dragon and Joanna have differences with how they see it.
this book is SO much worth the read, and altho this review probably hasn't made it sound as if it is, it is HILARIOUS. i'll be re-reading it more than once.
i read this book ages ago before it came out, and life was too hard and my poor brain too scrambled to write a review until now. so here we go!
Joanna is stuck inside a family that is manipulative, controlling, and borderline abusive (fellow peeps from high control religious environments particularly, it is worth getting through the claustrophobia of Joanne's first circumstances for the delight that this book is, and the claustrophobia is written VERY well--TOO well?) She tries very hard to push back where she can, but even she doesn't seem to appreciate the levels to which she is hemmed in and controlled, especially when it comes to her brothers (all of whom i would love to yeet into the sun at high velocity so they could never force their way into her house again or tell her what to do even ONE more time with the shining conviction that they have the right to do so as males...)
but all of this claustrophobia makes the difference when Joanna meets her dragon, to be insanely stark. the dragon is still manipulative, but it's a different kind of manipulation that Joanna is able to push back against in a way that is healthier all the more because the dragon seems capable of change (in OH so many ways!)
I won't get into too many spoilers, but i will say that Joanna ends up working with/against/for a mafia type family that is nearly as controlling as her own family, but more manipulative with it and with a more righteous end goal. it's FASCINATING to see her pushing up against that kind of control without necessarily recognising that it's just a different version of what she gets from her fam.
the romance here is one of my favourites of Kate's writing, and i think this book is the most mature and well-written of what i've read of hers (and i've read nearly everything she's written). i would have liked to have seen
one last note is that i loved the representation of the lds temple in the book. i'm not lds, but i really loved the way it meshed with the story--AND the way both the dragon and Joanna have differences with how they see it.
this book is SO much worth the read, and altho this review probably hasn't made it sound as if it is, it is HILARIOUS. i'll be re-reading it more than once.
April 8, 2026
This was so cute! I loved the shifters and the skips and all the cool multiple layers everything had. Definitely a good one!
February 27, 2026
What a good ending, this book was very unique and super fun. Kate’s books are always so distinct and interesting in their world building and magic. I don’t want to give anything about the plot away but it was delightful and unexpected!
April 22, 2026
ok peeps that was pretty good, albeit a bit long. dragons and curses and magical abilities that have realistic consequences and also cats bc CATS--it's a good time.
April 27, 2026
3.5 Stars ⭐️
This was fun, I enjoyed the world building. Magical crime families is a fun concept and the whole curse thing made for good plot structure.
The romance elements felt a pretty forced to me, the chemistry was just not there in a lot of places.
Not enough happened in this book to make it 500 pages. It definitely could use some an editor willing to slash cut some scenes.
This was fun, I enjoyed the world building. Magical crime families is a fun concept and the whole curse thing made for good plot structure.
The romance elements felt a pretty forced to me, the chemistry was just not there in a lot of places.
Not enough happened in this book to make it 500 pages. It definitely could use some an editor willing to slash cut some scenes.
April 1, 2026
maybe rtc?
April 3, 2026
WOW, that was so much fun. 😂
NOTE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO READ THIS: This is a very clean book, but there is a bit more magic content than there is in most books I read, so be aware of that if it bothers you! <3
!SPOILERS AHEAD!
I love Kate Stradling's writing style. It's always so fun, and her characters are always so vibrant. And all the characters in this book quickly became some of my favorites!
The magic system and worldbuilding were so enjoyable. The whole thing was so fantastical and full of whimsy. The dialogue was snappy and full of wonderful banter and I loved Joanna and Tom. 🥹💛
Also, I was NOT expecting a lot of those plot twists!! 😱
Overall, it was a wonderful book, and I greatly enjoyed it!
NOTE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO READ THIS: This is a very clean book, but there is a bit more magic content than there is in most books I read, so be aware of that if it bothers you! <3
!SPOILERS AHEAD!
I love Kate Stradling's writing style. It's always so fun, and her characters are always so vibrant. And all the characters in this book quickly became some of my favorites!
The magic system and worldbuilding were so enjoyable. The whole thing was so fantastical and full of whimsy. The dialogue was snappy and full of wonderful banter and I loved Joanna and Tom. 🥹💛
Also, I was NOT expecting a lot of those plot twists!! 😱
Overall, it was a wonderful book, and I greatly enjoyed it!
March 31, 2026
I really , really enjoyed this one. It had a little bit of everything! It was a cozy fantasy , with a corrupt government, good family dynamics, romance and, of course, dragons. What else could you want? 😜
March 1, 2026
Amazing!!!
This is so unbelievably clever and hilarious! I absolutely love it! It’s full of magic, curses, shifters, crime syndicates, and temperamental cats! It’s such a fun ride! The world building is so intricate and flawless! The plot twist and turns like you don’t expect it to. The magic systems are unique. The characters are fun and likable. Another amazing book from Kate!
No spice (just kisses)
No explicit language
PG Violence/gore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Absolutely loved it!
This is so unbelievably clever and hilarious! I absolutely love it! It’s full of magic, curses, shifters, crime syndicates, and temperamental cats! It’s such a fun ride! The world building is so intricate and flawless! The plot twist and turns like you don’t expect it to. The magic systems are unique. The characters are fun and likable. Another amazing book from Kate!
No spice (just kisses)
No explicit language
PG Violence/gore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Absolutely loved it!
April 3, 2026
I bought this book without reading it first.
Kate Stradling occupies a shelf populated only by L. M. Montgomery, Connie Willis(1), and JK Rowling (4). I am not one to buy books unless I have read and loved them already but I have already done that with Kate. Twice.
I was not disappointed.
The world is fun, Joanna is smart, Tom would have had me delighted at 22(and I LOVED the absence of red flags and the modeling of appropriate relationship building*), and I laughed out loud several times. It's a work with a lot of depth--perhaps her deepest one yet. In 20 years I'd happily teach it in a pop/YA lit class and spend a few hours drawing connections to what was happening in the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. It's one of the first in a while that didn't almost hit my gory threshold, and it's pretty much what I will think of when someone labels a book "cozy" for the foreseeable future. And religion wasn't the villain, but also wasn't the cure-all. Felt a bit like Jalaluddin in that way.
My tiny complaint is that I got a little turned around in the plot at points(though I did call a twist or two). I got a bit squirmy with the PDA and I think that was the point. But that ending was perfect. When you look back at all of it and then you realize that is what you were supposed to learn all along! Also I found myself wondering if Joanna was Kate. But that was probably instigated by the note at the end.
I'd love a sequel(or two or three).
ETA--she just published her notes and I love it even more. For reasons.
spoilers:
*at one point the newly met couple in question are bantering and you think he might be going for a kiss and then she makes a quite serious comment about not knowing him well enough to know if he wouldn't be abusive and a) he finds that comment a legitimate concern because they really don't know each other, and b) backs off. I have never cheered more for a kiss that never happened. 😆
Kate Stradling occupies a shelf populated only by L. M. Montgomery, Connie Willis(1), and JK Rowling (4). I am not one to buy books unless I have read and loved them already but I have already done that with Kate. Twice.
I was not disappointed.
The world is fun, Joanna is smart, Tom would have had me delighted at 22(and I LOVED the absence of red flags and the modeling of appropriate relationship building*), and I laughed out loud several times. It's a work with a lot of depth--perhaps her deepest one yet. In 20 years I'd happily teach it in a pop/YA lit class and spend a few hours drawing connections to what was happening in the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. It's one of the first in a while that didn't almost hit my gory threshold, and it's pretty much what I will think of when someone labels a book "cozy" for the foreseeable future. And religion wasn't the villain, but also wasn't the cure-all. Felt a bit like Jalaluddin in that way.
My tiny complaint is that I got a little turned around in the plot at points(though I did call a twist or two). I got a bit squirmy with the PDA and I think that was the point. But that ending was perfect. When you look back at all of it and then you realize that is what you were supposed to learn all along! Also I found myself wondering if Joanna was Kate. But that was probably instigated by the note at the end.
I'd love a sequel(or two or three).
ETA--she just published her notes and I love it even more. For reasons.
spoilers:
*at one point the newly met couple in question are bantering and you think he might be going for a kiss and then she makes a quite serious comment about not knowing him well enough to know if he wouldn't be abusive and a) he finds that comment a legitimate concern because they really don't know each other, and b) backs off. I have never cheered more for a kiss that never happened. 😆
March 9, 2026
Binged in one night 😍
I want more books in this world.
It's fascinating! The magic, the society, the family dynamics. Give me all the stories.
I was intrigued on page one but the longer it went on the more I knew I couldn't put it down.
If you're looking for intrigue, reluctant lovers, incentive magic, and a fun read this is your book.
I want more books in this world.
It's fascinating! The magic, the society, the family dynamics. Give me all the stories.
I was intrigued on page one but the longer it went on the more I knew I couldn't put it down.
If you're looking for intrigue, reluctant lovers, incentive magic, and a fun read this is your book.
March 2, 2026
I absolutely loved this book.
The romance is a lot of fun, but the plot and worldbuilding are spectacular. There was a plot twist that I didn’t even see coming. My jaw hit the floor, and I even had skipped to the end to skim a little and was still tricked! 🤣
And hands down Joanna is my favorite FMC ever. I loved how mouthy she was 🤣🤣🤣 she didn’t put up with any nonsense, but all the while still upheld her beliefs and morals. I loved her putting the prince and his crony in their place.
The romance was adorable, and stays squeaky clean.
I loved all of Kate Stradling books, but this one ranks up there as one of my favorites.
Content: clean, some mild violence, no spice, no swearing
The romance is a lot of fun, but the plot and worldbuilding are spectacular. There was a plot twist that I didn’t even see coming. My jaw hit the floor, and I even had skipped to the end to skim a little and was still tricked! 🤣
And hands down Joanna is my favorite FMC ever. I loved how mouthy she was 🤣🤣🤣 she didn’t put up with any nonsense, but all the while still upheld her beliefs and morals. I loved her putting the prince and his crony in their place.
The romance was adorable, and stays squeaky clean.
I loved all of Kate Stradling books, but this one ranks up there as one of my favorites.
Content: clean, some mild violence, no spice, no swearing
March 1, 2026
Yes, an excellency indeed!
I haven’t read a Kate Stradling book that was bad. There are some that are less to my taste & I probably won’t read again, but there are many others (probably about 75% of them) that I’d happily read repeatedly! Which means that if she releases a book, I’ll happily give it a go.
This one is yet another that falls into the category of ‘happily read repeatedly’. It’s delicate - light in touch and yet has intelligence & emotional weight. Despite subject matter including the overthrow of kingdoms and military service, it never feels distressing nor childishly unrealistic. The romance is both intrinsic to the story and woven gently throughout, but also a background element to the (literally) kingdom shaking main plot. There is a strong Victorian feel for the setting, though an obviously fantasy version, & overall the story feels elegant and sophisticated. The characters are beautiful- even the villains and stooges are not caricatures, but realistic enough to be someone you could unhappily expect to meet or interact with in real life. The family interactions were wonderfully frustrating & loving & overstepping, all at once.
If you’ve read any other Kate Stradling story and enjoyed it (except maybe the Altair series- they were a bit different in style), you’ll enjoy this. If you enjoy classic novels from writers like Georgette Heyer or Lucy M Montgomery or Susan Coolidge or Frances Hodgson Burnett, or even just liked the more faithful tv shows that some of these novels have produced, but want an easier modern writing and fantasy elements, then I feel like you will enjoy this too.
Honestly, it just really was a beautiful story, masterfully told.
I haven’t read a Kate Stradling book that was bad. There are some that are less to my taste & I probably won’t read again, but there are many others (probably about 75% of them) that I’d happily read repeatedly! Which means that if she releases a book, I’ll happily give it a go.
This one is yet another that falls into the category of ‘happily read repeatedly’. It’s delicate - light in touch and yet has intelligence & emotional weight. Despite subject matter including the overthrow of kingdoms and military service, it never feels distressing nor childishly unrealistic. The romance is both intrinsic to the story and woven gently throughout, but also a background element to the (literally) kingdom shaking main plot. There is a strong Victorian feel for the setting, though an obviously fantasy version, & overall the story feels elegant and sophisticated. The characters are beautiful- even the villains and stooges are not caricatures, but realistic enough to be someone you could unhappily expect to meet or interact with in real life. The family interactions were wonderfully frustrating & loving & overstepping, all at once.
If you’ve read any other Kate Stradling story and enjoyed it (except maybe the Altair series- they were a bit different in style), you’ll enjoy this. If you enjoy classic novels from writers like Georgette Heyer or Lucy M Montgomery or Susan Coolidge or Frances Hodgson Burnett, or even just liked the more faithful tv shows that some of these novels have produced, but want an easier modern writing and fantasy elements, then I feel like you will enjoy this too.
Honestly, it just really was a beautiful story, masterfully told.
March 1, 2026
Kate Stradling creates delightful fantasy books that you can’t put down, and this one is a fun mixture of a magical world of fantasy, urban rival families, and unforgettable characters.
Joanna Marlow is trying to get a prized family heirloom back from a suitor who steals it from her house, and gets tangled in a missing person’s case, fortune-telling dragon, and rival families feud.
The book had fun twists and I did not want to put it down. It was a delightful escape from homework.
Joanna Marlow is trying to get a prized family heirloom back from a suitor who steals it from her house, and gets tangled in a missing person’s case, fortune-telling dragon, and rival families feud.
The book had fun twists and I did not want to put it down. It was a delightful escape from homework.
April 7, 2026
This was such a fun, witty and unique fantasy read. I didn't know what to expect when I started this book but I wasn't expecting the humor! I cackled my way through this book. 😂 This is my first book by the author and definitely won't be my last. The POV is the FMC Joanna. I loved her and her family's ability - "skipping".
Witty & hilarious ✔️
Nosy family ✔️
High maintenance cats ✔️
Crime syndicates & royals ✔️
Witty & hilarious ✔️
Nosy family ✔️
High maintenance cats ✔️
Crime syndicates & royals ✔️
March 5, 2026
Not as Fun as the Title Suggests
I do not enjoy it when writers choose to inject their religion into stories, particularly in fantasy and romance novels, which I read as a form of escape from everyday life. It was especially conspicuous here, where the author imagines a world where magic exists but is entirely subordinate to and useless in the face of religious figures. I found it hard to like the FMC, who devotes considerable energy to the demands of propriety for propriety’s sake.
I do not enjoy it when writers choose to inject their religion into stories, particularly in fantasy and romance novels, which I read as a form of escape from everyday life. It was especially conspicuous here, where the author imagines a world where magic exists but is entirely subordinate to and useless in the face of religious figures. I found it hard to like the FMC, who devotes considerable energy to the demands of propriety for propriety’s sake.
March 23, 2026
Cameron would have gotten such a kick out of this one. I read it in one sitting and was up past bedtime. The humor was wonderfully dry, the heroine was refreshingly confident, the romance wasn't too limerent, and the cats were adorable. The stakes were relatively high and did involve kidnapping and enslavement of sentient beings, so I wouldn't call it purely cozy, but the excellent food descriptions and charming Victorian-ish setting did balance things out nicely. I dithered between 4 and 5 stars but ultimately went with 4 because of the lack of diversity. And to be honest, I always feel a bit unsettled as a tgnc reader when I get to the end of a book I've enjoyed a lot and then the author spends an extensive part of their acknowledgments thanking Jesus and/or quoting scripture. In this case it was a quote from the Book of Mormon. Maybe I should stop reading acknowledgments! Would ignorance have been 5 star bliss?
March 7, 2026
Awesome fantasy adventure with romance
The worldbuilding is amazing, the characters are loveable, and the story is fantastic. Excellency has humor, cats, dragons, danger, evil, surprises galore, unexpected plot twists, secrets, more evil, and family (who always think they know best). Joanna is a relatable narrator, although she justifiably has some issues. Tom is a constant delight. I read Excellency in KU but immediately bought it to write my review and reread, because this is a book I will definintely read again.
The worldbuilding is amazing, the characters are loveable, and the story is fantastic. Excellency has humor, cats, dragons, danger, evil, surprises galore, unexpected plot twists, secrets, more evil, and family (who always think they know best). Joanna is a relatable narrator, although she justifiably has some issues. Tom is a constant delight. I read Excellency in KU but immediately bought it to write my review and reread, because this is a book I will definintely read again.
April 29, 2026
Well, that was a solid four-star read full of good characters, a nicely escalating plotline, and with a satisfying ending. As with many current books, it could've used another edit pass to catch the mistake I highlighted plus a few others, but really, this one's a nicely done work. I'm not a fan of religions generally, but in this world it is actually functional, so a solid part of the worldbuilding.
I'm glad I gave it a chance.
I'm glad I gave it a chance.
February 28, 2026
Another masterpiece by Kate Stradling
Another immersive and imaginative novel by Kate Stradling. Fascinating world building with a couple of twists to keep you guessing! When this popped up in my “coming soon by authors you love”, I had high expectations. Kate exceeded them. Would highly recommend!
Another immersive and imaginative novel by Kate Stradling. Fascinating world building with a couple of twists to keep you guessing! When this popped up in my “coming soon by authors you love”, I had high expectations. Kate exceeded them. Would highly recommend!
April 15, 2026
Yes, Your Serpentine Excellency—PG
Violence: yes, but all magical
Language: nothing offensive
Sex: nope
I loved this book! It was so funny and then so cute and swoony! I even enjoyed the magic and the groups of magical people. I rate it a PG, but really only for some themes which could upset a kid. Great book! Looking for more from this new-to-me author
Violence: yes, but all magical
Language: nothing offensive
Sex: nope
I loved this book! It was so funny and then so cute and swoony! I even enjoyed the magic and the groups of magical people. I rate it a PG, but really only for some themes which could upset a kid. Great book! Looking for more from this new-to-me author
April 30, 2026
A delightful romp with a charming gas lamp setting and the convergence of many a criminal enterprise. The heroine brought the whole story together with her unique blend of complete competence and utter exasperation with those in power. The romance was cute, but somewhat understated in a way that allowed the rest of the plot to shine. And you know I’m always down for a magic system that’s all actually a metaphor.
The real dragons were the friends we made along the way.
The real dragons were the friends we made along the way.
April 1, 2026
delightful and hard to put down!
This story is delightful. I loved how well the author balances learning something new (what a cool magical world) and something going wrong with humor and whimsy. I hated to leave these characters when the story ended. This book will join the select few on my bookshelf that I will reread time and again.
This story is delightful. I loved how well the author balances learning something new (what a cool magical world) and something going wrong with humor and whimsy. I hated to leave these characters when the story ended. This book will join the select few on my bookshelf that I will reread time and again.
February 28, 2026
Ridiculously wonderful.
The second chapter had Joanna’s cat accepting or rejecting applications of friendship and I was hooked. Love stories should absolutely be wild and ridiculous.
This wholesome but flirty story is going into my favorites pile with all the rest of Kate Stradling’s books.
The second chapter had Joanna’s cat accepting or rejecting applications of friendship and I was hooked. Love stories should absolutely be wild and ridiculous.
This wholesome but flirty story is going into my favorites pile with all the rest of Kate Stradling’s books.
March 2, 2026
Lots of fun to read and not at all formulaic.
Although I've read and enjoyed a lot of Stradling's fantasies before, I would have grabbed this one even if hadn't already been a fan. In fact I didn't even notice who wrote it when I put it on my TBR list. Why? Because this title just makes me laugh. It is delightful, and a great hint towards the sense of humor displayed inside.
Although I've read and enjoyed a lot of Stradling's fantasies before, I would have grabbed this one even if hadn't already been a fan. In fact I didn't even notice who wrote it when I put it on my TBR list. Why? Because this title just makes me laugh. It is delightful, and a great hint towards the sense of humor displayed inside.
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