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Tales of Aylfenhame #2
Miss Ellerby and the Ferryman
Tilby, Lincolnshire, 1812. Miss Isabel Ellerby is a dutiful daughter to her loving parents, and more than happy to go along with the marriage they have planned for her. But the revelation of a long-held secret turns her neatly-arranged life upside down. When an unwise promise to the mysterious Ferryman of Aylfenhame lands her in the midst of an adventure, Isabel is forced to choose: Will she pursue a safe, conventional life as Miss Ellerby of Ferndeane, or will she follow her heart and her destiny to Aylfenhame?
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2015
93 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte E. English
76 books352 followersEnglish both by name and nationality, Charlotte hasn’t permitted emigration to the Netherlands to change her essential Britishness. She writes colourful fantasy novels over copious quantities of tea, and rarely misses an opportunity to apologise for something. Spanning the spectrum from light to dark, her works include the Draykon Series, Modern Magick, The Malykant Mysteries and the Tales of Aylfenhame.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 14, 2017
After the sweetness of Miss Landon and Aubranael I knew I had to read more of this series.
The new MC heroine fell flat for me, but the Ferryman, new cast, and recurring characters made up for any dullness there.
The story tended to be a good pace until about 50-75%. A bit too much exposition and nothing happening.
Similar to book one it felt like everything I had been waiting for had to be crammed into the epilogue.
Still, sweet and light romantic Victorian-style fairy tales are happiness. Looking forward to book three.
The new MC heroine fell flat for me, but the Ferryman, new cast, and recurring characters made up for any dullness there.
The story tended to be a good pace until about 50-75%. A bit too much exposition and nothing happening.
Similar to book one it felt like everything I had been waiting for had to be crammed into the epilogue.
Still, sweet and light romantic Victorian-style fairy tales are happiness. Looking forward to book three.
June 15, 2022
4,25 stars- English Ebook
Tis best not to get yerself entangled wi’ the faerie realm, if ye can help it. Ye’ll not come back the same.’
It’s 1812, and Isabel Ellerby, of Ferndeane, has come of age. Which means: marriage, and soon, and her parents have the perfect husband picked out for her. If the prospect of wedded bliss to a stranger should cause her heart to sink into her boots, what of it? She knows her duty.
But when the Faerie Rade sweeps into town, even the best-laid plans have a way of going awry. Terribly, splendidly awry. For when Isabel’s path crosses with that of the doomed Ferryman of Aylfenhame, duty may just go sailing straight out of the window.
There’s magic afoot, and plenty. The enigmatic Ferryman labours under an ancient curse, and it’s high time somebody broke it. As a hereditary witch — however unsuspected — could Isabel be the one to do it? It’ll take heart, wits and courage — resources she’s got in spades.
Can a properly brought-up young lady throw caution to the winds, and follow her heart?
This is the 2nd book in a delightful series. I love the characters, and you get to see how they've progressed from the 1st book. Unfortunately, there were some disappointments that prevented a higher rating. The Ferryman never seems to come alive as a character, neither does Mr. Thomas, the other man vying for the hand of Miss Ellerby. It is the rest of the cast that keep you reading. The story bogs down in long sections of narrative and there are several typos. I love the goblin king and look forward to reading his story. I'm also highly intrigued by the overarching mystery that's building behind the scenes of each individual story.
Tis best not to get yerself entangled wi’ the faerie realm, if ye can help it. Ye’ll not come back the same.’
It’s 1812, and Isabel Ellerby, of Ferndeane, has come of age. Which means: marriage, and soon, and her parents have the perfect husband picked out for her. If the prospect of wedded bliss to a stranger should cause her heart to sink into her boots, what of it? She knows her duty.
But when the Faerie Rade sweeps into town, even the best-laid plans have a way of going awry. Terribly, splendidly awry. For when Isabel’s path crosses with that of the doomed Ferryman of Aylfenhame, duty may just go sailing straight out of the window.
There’s magic afoot, and plenty. The enigmatic Ferryman labours under an ancient curse, and it’s high time somebody broke it. As a hereditary witch — however unsuspected — could Isabel be the one to do it? It’ll take heart, wits and courage — resources she’s got in spades.
Can a properly brought-up young lady throw caution to the winds, and follow her heart?
This is the 2nd book in a delightful series. I love the characters, and you get to see how they've progressed from the 1st book. Unfortunately, there were some disappointments that prevented a higher rating. The Ferryman never seems to come alive as a character, neither does Mr. Thomas, the other man vying for the hand of Miss Ellerby. It is the rest of the cast that keep you reading. The story bogs down in long sections of narrative and there are several typos. I love the goblin king and look forward to reading his story. I'm also highly intrigued by the overarching mystery that's building behind the scenes of each individual story.
December 26, 2021
Miss Isabel Ellerby is a very dutiful daughter, brought up to follow her parents' wishes. Since her brother is marrying a young lady without a lot of money, it is her duty to marry well into a family with money and more prestige. As she leaves to stay with her aunt and attend society functions where the young man is to be found, a strange-looking cat turns up. She feels sorry for the creature and feeds it - then departs to her aunt. When she arrives at her aunt's house, the cat has turned up there. The cat announces that it is her familiar to train her in the magic of Aelfynhame. She learns from her aunt that she has fairy blood and her appearance is not real, but a disguise. Her aunt arranges for a ferryman to take her to Aelfynhame and visit her friend who has married. She learns the ferryman is under a curse and promises to help him. She is still intending to marry to oblige her parents, in spite of her catterdandy. But she is torn between Aelfynhame and her parents, her duty and her wishes.
July 10, 2022
fabulous installment
Another lovely chapter in the series. Miss Isabel, lovely and kind and a bit naive helps out the mysterious ferryman. This is another blending of a world in which regency England and a magic fae world exist side by side, with interesting consequences. This is not really a stand alone novel, alas, since it relies on characters from the first and there is a bit of a cliff hanger. It’s still good fun and well written
Another lovely chapter in the series. Miss Isabel, lovely and kind and a bit naive helps out the mysterious ferryman. This is another blending of a world in which regency England and a magic fae world exist side by side, with interesting consequences. This is not really a stand alone novel, alas, since it relies on characters from the first and there is a bit of a cliff hanger. It’s still good fun and well written
May 29, 2018
Alas, I found myself skimming this one. Miss Ellerby didn’t endear herself to me as Sophy had done, and her relationship with the Ferryman was certainly no Aubranael. In fact, she barely interacted with him all book long, and their courtship at the very very very end takes place off-screen. We don’t even get any POV sections for him!
A whole lot of blah happens in between: this is not as happening a tale as the first book, nor is the MC as bold. She goes here, does nothing much, goes there, goes thither, returns home, repeat. A lot of the (minimal) action is resolved by her companions. The final resolution comes as a mysterious deus ex machina (and presumable future plot hook). Isabel is the main character but she is not much of a protagonist.
Also, the literal first half of the book was exposition. The (unsatisfying) climax doesn’t start to kick in until after the 91% mark. The relationship between the titular characters is basically an aside in the epilogue. Argh. Presumably there is some “middle book syndrome” here putting things in place for the next book, e.g. the sidetrack to investigate the Tea Party that goes nowhere and means nothing to this plot...but really, that could/should have been cut. The only significance it has to Isabel personally would also be served by her experience from the first book.
Her internal conflict is really the main driver here, but it’s so obvious what direction she will go, and the story eventually snowballs to extra weight in that conclusion. And, personal preference here, I’m never much sympathetic to protagonists’ plights in accepting awesome powers with few to no drawbacks besides not being perfectly normal anymore. For characters who have life and death conflicts forced on them in the process, sure. See: Buffy Summers. Pure-as-snow Isabel Ellerby fretting over being able to make charms and glamours and, gasp, curses? Don’t bring that attitude here.
So now I am 1 for 1 on entertaining vs boring books in this trilogy. I guess I would not be opposed to reading the last one, though c’mon, there is only one Goblin King, and this Grunewald chap is not he. Well, this book popped up as a special offer freebie, so maybe that one will someday, too.
A whole lot of blah happens in between: this is not as happening a tale as the first book, nor is the MC as bold. She goes here, does nothing much, goes there, goes thither, returns home, repeat. A lot of the (minimal) action is resolved by her companions. The final resolution comes as a mysterious deus ex machina (and presumable future plot hook). Isabel is the main character but she is not much of a protagonist.
Also, the literal first half of the book was exposition. The (unsatisfying) climax doesn’t start to kick in until after the 91% mark. The relationship between the titular characters is basically an aside in the epilogue. Argh. Presumably there is some “middle book syndrome” here putting things in place for the next book, e.g. the sidetrack to investigate the Tea Party that goes nowhere and means nothing to this plot...but really, that could/should have been cut. The only significance it has to Isabel personally would also be served by her experience from the first book.
Her internal conflict is really the main driver here, but it’s so obvious what direction she will go, and the story eventually snowballs to extra weight in that conclusion. And, personal preference here, I’m never much sympathetic to protagonists’ plights in accepting awesome powers with few to no drawbacks besides not being perfectly normal anymore. For characters who have life and death conflicts forced on them in the process, sure. See: Buffy Summers. Pure-as-snow Isabel Ellerby fretting over being able to make charms and glamours and, gasp, curses? Don’t bring that attitude here.
So now I am 1 for 1 on entertaining vs boring books in this trilogy. I guess I would not be opposed to reading the last one, though c’mon, there is only one Goblin King, and this Grunewald chap is not he. Well, this book popped up as a special offer freebie, so maybe that one will someday, too.
February 8, 2016
It is the most charming and most delightful read! I swear. It has magic. It has magical creatures galore. It has a flying boat! It has a mysterious Ferryman. It has fine ladies and gentlemen as well as rogues that will naturally cause trouble for our heroine. It is set in Regency England but with an added bonus of the magical realm of Aylfenhame. The main heroine, Miss Ellerby, is a proper English lady – sweet, earnest, obedient, dutiful – but what she doesn't know is that she is also a witch. When she learns the shocking truth about herself, she finds it difficult to reconcile herself to lies and disguises associated with her secret heritage and for the best part of the novel struggles with her two different identities. However, despite her inner struggles, which are severe indeed, there are also lots of adventures in the magical realm, some flying, running, sneaking out at night, facing trouble, and the cutest magical companions and creatures imaginable. I swear I literally felt them jumping off the pages! The fashions are bewitching. I sound quite enraptured, don't I? But the story does have such an effect on you)) Also, the book is interspersed with the most enchanting illustrations. So, if you like sweet regencies and magic then I would definitely recommend to your attention this excellent story.
January 4, 2016
Isabel Ellerby is anxious to appease her parents and make a good marriage, but she doesn’t want to give up on the idea of love. Her brother has recently married a young woman who makes him very happy, despite her poor background; his choice has put more pressure on Isabel to make a good match, but his happiness also serves to show her exactly what she could be missing out on if she settles for a union of convenience.
Full review: http://strangecharmbooks.co.uk/2015/1...
Full review: http://strangecharmbooks.co.uk/2015/1...
Want to read
February 21, 2016The first book was pretty cute.
June 6, 2022
Tales of MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN is bk #2 in the TALES OF AYLFENHAME series by Charlotte English. MEATF is a fairy tale, fantasy adventure with nods regarding integrity, forgiveness and acceptance.
MY RATING GUIDE: I had mixed feelings and settled on 2 (or 3 Stars) as explained below.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= NOPE; NOT FOR ME; 3= I HAD MIXED FEELINGS; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN is the tale of a place a time, long ago, in England where the fabric between human and fairy realm ran parallel and occasionally overlapped.
After weeks of consideration and planning, a day of much anticipation finally approaches. For Mr and Mrs Ellerby, a couple of somewhat respectable means, will send their youngest daughter, Miss Isabel Ellerby, to the city of York to Isabel’s Aunt Eliza home and into her influential and proficient care. While in York, Isabel is meant to attract the attention of a wealthy suitor who will improve the standing and situation of Isabel’s parents back home. But Isabel’s aunt has different plans. She remembers being pressured to make a similar decision in her own youth and desires a better life for Isabel. So Eliza intervenes, sending Isabel along on an adventure which brings Isabel from England into the land of Aylfenhame, the mostly hidden and unknown land of fairies, trolls and the Ayliri. It is in this land that Isabel begins her new adventures.
What I Liked ~
1) MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN reminds me of a fairy tale adventure - one that might be enjoyed by YAs through adults. It contains an adventure in a fantastical land, unusual creatures and eventually a very sweet and delayed HEA.
2) I liked both MCs, Isabel with her quiet strength, integrity, tenacity and The Ferryman with his resilience, acceptance of judgement with grace, humility, sense of humor in times of trial, and hopefulness.
3) TALES OF AYLFENHAME is a (somewhat) Clean read, surprisingly and pleasantly refreshing. See below.
4) I do enjoy the cover art on these books. They are what originally caught my attention.
What I Didn’t Like -
1) If MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN had simply dealt with Isabel’s adventure in the land Aylfenhame with the Ayliri and various creatures she met along her journey, ending with a sweet HEA (as I remembered in book #1), I could have recommended it. But it did not. Instead it ventured briefly into witchcraft > the developing of abilities such as the casting spells and curses, choosing whether or not to deliberately injure others with witchcraft, etc. Definitely Not what I was expecting > especially as this was couched in a otherwise lighthearted and Clean setting. I read a fairly wide range of genres from Steampunk, Fantasy, Space Opera, Sci-Fi, Contemporary Suspense, Action Adventure, Romance, Mystery and Non-fiction but I avoid graphic and dark content especially that which delves into the occult, witchcraft or dark magics. It’s inclusion in MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN was disappointment for me and dropped my rating from a 3.5 or 4 Star rating to a 2 or 3.
2) As an adventure, MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN works well enough but if readers were hoping for a developing romance between the two - it truly only happens as a “Souls Meet With Recognition” fashion. Isabel and “The Ferryman” (she discovers his name only in the end) actually spend very little time together. Apparently their hearts just Know. I’m fine with a slow-burn romance but usually some time is actually spent together developing the relationship.
There are 4 titles currently in the TALES OF AYLFENHAME series. I had previously read #1, The Tales of Miss Landon and Aubranael and #3, Bessie Bell and the Goblin King and remembered enjoying both. The 3 first stories can be read as standalone titles but the main characters overlap slightly, and an overreaching story arc is present in the 3 books. I purchased the first 3 books in a combined set. I have not read book #4, Mr Drake and My Lady Silver.
Although I had reservations, MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN might be enjoyed by readers who enjoy:
1) Light fantasy, adventures and fairy tales
2) Historical Romances
3) Sweet HEAs without sexual content.
4) And are able to gloss over or disregard the occult references present.
*READER CAUTIONS -
*WARNING - MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN briefly includes the topic of witchcraft, developing the art, discussion regarding casting spells for harm, etc. in an otherwise innocent setting. I found this aspect disappointing.
VIOLENCE - None.
PROFANITY - None.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
MY RATING GUIDE: I had mixed feelings and settled on 2 (or 3 Stars) as explained below.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= NOPE; NOT FOR ME; 3= I HAD MIXED FEELINGS; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN is the tale of a place a time, long ago, in England where the fabric between human and fairy realm ran parallel and occasionally overlapped.
After weeks of consideration and planning, a day of much anticipation finally approaches. For Mr and Mrs Ellerby, a couple of somewhat respectable means, will send their youngest daughter, Miss Isabel Ellerby, to the city of York to Isabel’s Aunt Eliza home and into her influential and proficient care. While in York, Isabel is meant to attract the attention of a wealthy suitor who will improve the standing and situation of Isabel’s parents back home. But Isabel’s aunt has different plans. She remembers being pressured to make a similar decision in her own youth and desires a better life for Isabel. So Eliza intervenes, sending Isabel along on an adventure which brings Isabel from England into the land of Aylfenhame, the mostly hidden and unknown land of fairies, trolls and the Ayliri. It is in this land that Isabel begins her new adventures.
What I Liked ~
1) MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN reminds me of a fairy tale adventure - one that might be enjoyed by YAs through adults. It contains an adventure in a fantastical land, unusual creatures and eventually a very sweet and delayed HEA.
2) I liked both MCs, Isabel with her quiet strength, integrity, tenacity and The Ferryman with his resilience, acceptance of judgement with grace, humility, sense of humor in times of trial, and hopefulness.
3) TALES OF AYLFENHAME is a (somewhat) Clean read, surprisingly and pleasantly refreshing. See below.
4) I do enjoy the cover art on these books. They are what originally caught my attention.
What I Didn’t Like -
1) If MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN had simply dealt with Isabel’s adventure in the land Aylfenhame with the Ayliri and various creatures she met along her journey, ending with a sweet HEA (as I remembered in book #1), I could have recommended it. But it did not. Instead it ventured briefly into witchcraft > the developing of abilities such as the casting spells and curses, choosing whether or not to deliberately injure others with witchcraft, etc. Definitely Not what I was expecting > especially as this was couched in a otherwise lighthearted and Clean setting. I read a fairly wide range of genres from Steampunk, Fantasy, Space Opera, Sci-Fi, Contemporary Suspense, Action Adventure, Romance, Mystery and Non-fiction but I avoid graphic and dark content especially that which delves into the occult, witchcraft or dark magics. It’s inclusion in MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN was disappointment for me and dropped my rating from a 3.5 or 4 Star rating to a 2 or 3.
2) As an adventure, MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN works well enough but if readers were hoping for a developing romance between the two - it truly only happens as a “Souls Meet With Recognition” fashion. Isabel and “The Ferryman” (she discovers his name only in the end) actually spend very little time together. Apparently their hearts just Know. I’m fine with a slow-burn romance but usually some time is actually spent together developing the relationship.
There are 4 titles currently in the TALES OF AYLFENHAME series. I had previously read #1, The Tales of Miss Landon and Aubranael and #3, Bessie Bell and the Goblin King and remembered enjoying both. The 3 first stories can be read as standalone titles but the main characters overlap slightly, and an overreaching story arc is present in the 3 books. I purchased the first 3 books in a combined set. I have not read book #4, Mr Drake and My Lady Silver.
Although I had reservations, MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN might be enjoyed by readers who enjoy:
1) Light fantasy, adventures and fairy tales
2) Historical Romances
3) Sweet HEAs without sexual content.
4) And are able to gloss over or disregard the occult references present.
*READER CAUTIONS -
*WARNING - MISS ELLERBY AND THE FERRYMAN briefly includes the topic of witchcraft, developing the art, discussion regarding casting spells for harm, etc. in an otherwise innocent setting. I found this aspect disappointing.
VIOLENCE - None.
PROFANITY - None.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
May 30, 2022
3.5 ⭐
Up until the final chapter, Isabel is a total waste of magic. She dislikes being a witch, and regrets being able to enchant, curse, and craft! She prefers a quiet life of frippery & male-led marriages, and I wanted to puke all over her muslin gowns!! Supposedly, her reluctance is because she has been raised with the insurmountably proper English conventions of the 1800s, and obedience (and fear of the fae) is deeply entrenched within her worldview. While her reactions may have been reasonable in that case, and expected, they were also annoying and boring. Do something interesting, Isabel! You are an effing protagonist.
The story is beautifully written, though, and grew more interesting as it went. I loved the language, and I loved the idea of a cursed ferryman, flying boat, and more time in Alyfenhame. There are so many fantastic characters with fantastic possibilities, but I think these novels would be strengthened by more interesting female protagonists and better fleshed out characterisation overall. Isabel really is as interesting as a wet piece of Wonderbread up until the epilogue, where she finally develops a personality. The Aunt and Sophy are both good characters, but they're supporting characters, and even there - I didn't feel super close to anyone.
The tropes and themes in these stories are some of my absolute favourite to read, and yet somehow the stories themselves stay nearly-average. The faery-filled alternate England, nosy-yet-jovial bridge troll, and goblin king, very nearly push them into wonderful, but despite the many whimsical pieces they don't get quite ☄️🤩 ✨. Maybe they're not mind-blowing, but I'm still happy to read on, and overall they're just super cozy stories.
I received three of these novels for free as a story bundle, and they work well enough for me to finish and enjoy them. Lighthearted summer reads. If COVID or life has stressed you out, or you have grown weary of the seemingly endless grimdark phase that fantasy literature is going through, then these are the perfect antidote. 🧙🏼♀️🧚🏽♀️
Up until the final chapter, Isabel is a total waste of magic. She dislikes being a witch, and regrets being able to enchant, curse, and craft! She prefers a quiet life of frippery & male-led marriages, and I wanted to puke all over her muslin gowns!! Supposedly, her reluctance is because she has been raised with the insurmountably proper English conventions of the 1800s, and obedience (and fear of the fae) is deeply entrenched within her worldview. While her reactions may have been reasonable in that case, and expected, they were also annoying and boring. Do something interesting, Isabel! You are an effing protagonist.
The story is beautifully written, though, and grew more interesting as it went. I loved the language, and I loved the idea of a cursed ferryman, flying boat, and more time in Alyfenhame. There are so many fantastic characters with fantastic possibilities, but I think these novels would be strengthened by more interesting female protagonists and better fleshed out characterisation overall. Isabel really is as interesting as a wet piece of Wonderbread up until the epilogue, where she finally develops a personality. The Aunt and Sophy are both good characters, but they're supporting characters, and even there - I didn't feel super close to anyone.
The tropes and themes in these stories are some of my absolute favourite to read, and yet somehow the stories themselves stay nearly-average. The faery-filled alternate England, nosy-yet-jovial bridge troll, and goblin king, very nearly push them into wonderful, but despite the many whimsical pieces they don't get quite ☄️🤩 ✨. Maybe they're not mind-blowing, but I'm still happy to read on, and overall they're just super cozy stories.
I received three of these novels for free as a story bundle, and they work well enough for me to finish and enjoy them. Lighthearted summer reads. If COVID or life has stressed you out, or you have grown weary of the seemingly endless grimdark phase that fantasy literature is going through, then these are the perfect antidote. 🧙🏼♀️🧚🏽♀️
June 19, 2020
The characters in this book frequently make mention of the fact that Miss Ellerby is the most good-natured and kind-hearted person they'll ever know and I think that is a fundamental flaw in this book; the main character is simply too nice to really be appealing. She really would have benefited from less pleasantness and a bit more backbone. Yes, as a proper regency era young lady she should be a meek, polite, dutiful and obedient miss, but this really does make for rather dull reading. Despite being the second title character the Ferryman makes only a few appearances throughout the book and has little interaction with the other characters.
Despite following a number of avenues to try and solve her self-appointed quest the answer Miss Ellerby seeks is ultimately just handed to her without trial by an unidentified person/being in return for an unspecified future favour. Too easy. In fact in many ways the end of this book feels like the beginning; Miss Ellerby is finally starting to come into her own, the main characters finally have the chance to really get to know one another, the Ferryman is freed from his curse but his full identity/history is not revealed and Miss Ellerby's promise in return for the answer she seeks is bound to cause all manner of trouble in the future, and there the book ends. This wouldn't bother me if the next book in the series continued the story of these characters, but each book focuses on different characters so it seems unlikely many of the questions left unanswered will be revisited in later books.
Despite following a number of avenues to try and solve her self-appointed quest the answer Miss Ellerby seeks is ultimately just handed to her without trial by an unidentified person/being in return for an unspecified future favour. Too easy. In fact in many ways the end of this book feels like the beginning; Miss Ellerby is finally starting to come into her own, the main characters finally have the chance to really get to know one another, the Ferryman is freed from his curse but his full identity/history is not revealed and Miss Ellerby's promise in return for the answer she seeks is bound to cause all manner of trouble in the future, and there the book ends. This wouldn't bother me if the next book in the series continued the story of these characters, but each book focuses on different characters so it seems unlikely many of the questions left unanswered will be revisited in later books.
June 17, 2024
Hmmm. This regency-fantasy mix is a kind of sequel about characters in the same world as Miss Landon and Aubranael. It was a very long series of events taking place within both England and the faery realm. There are some charming additions to the fae world the author created for this series and the book is a clean austen-esque romance, but with none of the wit or domino-choices which entangle the heroine in an escalating series of obstacles. There is no climax but instead a drawn out final scene in which the book's main obstacle is tackled. In an attempt to perhaps end with a cliffhanger (trying to avoid spoilers), the conclusion employs a bit of an unknown-quantity solution which left me scratching my head at the main character's continued ineptitude rather than intrigued at the dilemma she may have stepped into. One of the secondary characters was far more interesting and I can only guess she has been set up for her own upcoming novel. I am interested to find out her backstory and hope to read about it in a future installment. This book also included the set up for the Goblin King who will appear in the third volume. He seems like a more dimensional character and so I have higher hopes for book #3.
April 1, 2022
Another charming read.
I do admit that Miss Ellerby got a bit tedious at times with her … timidity? Her unwillingness to accept new things, which wouldn’t have been terrible, except toward the end, when she finally let herself do what SHE wanted, it felt a bit … rushed. It happened a little too quickly after all that waffling around for the first two-thirds of the book.
Also, her aunt disguising her real face for all that time? And not once did the glamour/illusion ever falter to even her closest friends and family? That’s some pretty strong juju there. Didn’t quite feel … well, as realistic as magic can ever feel, I guess.
But those are really my only critiques and neither of them detracted from my enjoyment of the book. I’m eager to start number three in this series! :)
I do admit that Miss Ellerby got a bit tedious at times with her … timidity? Her unwillingness to accept new things, which wouldn’t have been terrible, except toward the end, when she finally let herself do what SHE wanted, it felt a bit … rushed. It happened a little too quickly after all that waffling around for the first two-thirds of the book.
Also, her aunt disguising her real face for all that time? And not once did the glamour/illusion ever falter to even her closest friends and family? That’s some pretty strong juju there. Didn’t quite feel … well, as realistic as magic can ever feel, I guess.
But those are really my only critiques and neither of them detracted from my enjoyment of the book. I’m eager to start number three in this series! :)
December 5, 2019
I love this world the story is set in - I just wish the story was just as interesting.
Again, I'm not convinced about the chemistry between Isabel and what's his face. Felt a bit forced, to be honest.
Mrs. Grey was quite, quite fun to read, as was Grunewald - they both were infinitely more interesting to read than the protags.
Also, I'm gonna have to say it... Balligumph's monologues are a bit of a chore to read. Just felt a bit unnecessary to me, to be honest.
I'm still not feeling these illustrations - the artist's interpretation of how the characters look like are so ... different to mine that it really messes with my immersion.
Again, I'm not convinced about the chemistry between Isabel and what's his face. Felt a bit forced, to be honest.
Mrs. Grey was quite, quite fun to read, as was Grunewald - they both were infinitely more interesting to read than the protags.
Also, I'm gonna have to say it... Balligumph's monologues are a bit of a chore to read. Just felt a bit unnecessary to me, to be honest.
I'm still not feeling these illustrations - the artist's interpretation of how the characters look like are so ... different to mine that it really messes with my immersion.
March 24, 2018
A wondrous tale!
A wonderful and intriguing story for sure, one that can be read and enjoyed by all. This amazing tale of the fae people and the characters that exist between the world of humans and then was brilliantly written by Charlotte E. English, a masterpiece of wonders and compelling story of thrilling adventure in a world of fantasy and compelling magic. A five star read!
A wonderful and intriguing story for sure, one that can be read and enjoyed by all. This amazing tale of the fae people and the characters that exist between the world of humans and then was brilliantly written by Charlotte E. English, a masterpiece of wonders and compelling story of thrilling adventure in a world of fantasy and compelling magic. A five star read!
May 4, 2018
This was my second venture into pseudo-Georgian Lincolnshire, and its parallel world of Aylfenhame.
I really liked all the different fae characters, they all have such distinctive voices. And how many 'grown-up' books have pictures in these days? Hardly any, but I love the pictures!
Whimsical, imaginative, and light-hearted - an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the over-arching plot unfold in book 3 in the series.
I really liked all the different fae characters, they all have such distinctive voices. And how many 'grown-up' books have pictures in these days? Hardly any, but I love the pictures!
Whimsical, imaginative, and light-hearted - an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the over-arching plot unfold in book 3 in the series.
July 20, 2022
An enjoyable story about the interaction between the Faerie world and the upper class world of England during the Napoleonic era, in particular, a young lady whose parents want to marry her to someone who will raise their status in society. I found the interventions in the story by the guardian of the bridge between the worlds at various key points as irritating but others may find them amusing. Either way, it is a worthwhile read.
May 10, 2021
Cute tale of Isabel's world turning upside down with the knowledge that she is an Aylri Witch. She spends the book seeking the name of the Ferryman to break his curse even though she has only just met and briefly talked with him. There are a few items at the end that are just left hanging to be addressed in the future likely.
April 17, 2021
Excellent fantasy!
This book is a refreshing change in the world of fantasy. It is a world created by the author that allows women to overcome the judgements of society to become independent from convention and in equal partnerships with the men they love. Vice nicely written!
This book is a refreshing change in the world of fantasy. It is a world created by the author that allows women to overcome the judgements of society to become independent from convention and in equal partnerships with the men they love. Vice nicely written!
October 3, 2018
It was a light hearted book. Not deep but I enjoyed it.
February 16, 2019
This story has a good way of placing high regard on identity and connection.
December 26, 2019
I just never connected with any of the characters.
July 12, 2020
This is a beautifully written and enjoyable series.
July 2, 2021
Absolutely love this book. Wonderful setting, great characters, and charming love story. Can't wait to read the third book.
July 25, 2024
I like the concept of fantasy mixed with historical romance and the world building is excellent and most of the characters are very interesting. Although I didn't like Miss Ellerby as much as Sophy and Bessie. She thought and worried far too much about everything even when she had fun she felt guilty. She also seemed to have a lot less adventures. It was still a good read just not as compelling as it could have been.
July 25, 2016
The Aylfenhame series is Charlotte English at her best. It is light-hearted and fun to read but also serious moral fiction. We meet strong young women and the denizens of Aylfenhame they meet along the way, their stories told by the kindest and most elegant bridge troll in all of England. Superb.
June 6, 2016
Another delightful tale from an alternative England, full of magic and respectability - and Miss Ellerby is caught right between the two.
abandoned
November 14, 2017DNF - quit about 20% in because I kept falling asleep. I got this one in a Story Bundle and wanted to give it a chance.
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