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Silent Wings #1
Dawn's Promise
A heart prepared to die that has never lived or loved...
Born with fragile health, Dawn Uxbridge has lived a sheltered existence. Her lonely days are filled by drawing fanciful landscapes and nurturing plants. When tragedy strikes, she finds herself alone and penniless with only one talent—a green thumb.
Jasper, the Earl of Seton, is in need of a gardener to reclaim his derelict estate in the remote west of England. He expected a robust commoner, not a fragile young woman. With the next train a week away, Dawn has one chance to change the earl's mind and earn her place.
But all is not as it seems at the ancestral manor. The estate is full of secrets, ravens cluster on the parapets, and a ghostly young woman cries out at night. This garden conceals a rotten heart, and it plans to squeeze the last beat from Dawn's...
Born with fragile health, Dawn Uxbridge has lived a sheltered existence. Her lonely days are filled by drawing fanciful landscapes and nurturing plants. When tragedy strikes, she finds herself alone and penniless with only one talent—a green thumb.
Jasper, the Earl of Seton, is in need of a gardener to reclaim his derelict estate in the remote west of England. He expected a robust commoner, not a fragile young woman. With the next train a week away, Dawn has one chance to change the earl's mind and earn her place.
But all is not as it seems at the ancestral manor. The estate is full of secrets, ravens cluster on the parapets, and a ghostly young woman cries out at night. This garden conceals a rotten heart, and it plans to squeeze the last beat from Dawn's...
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
March 1, 2019
Dawn's Promise is one of those books that could have been great, but a single plot point just destroys the novel. Right up until the third act the book was quite enjoyable, but how a scene of terrible trauma was handled just made me recoil in horror.
I could not be any less inclined to recommend this book for anyone to read.
I could not be any less inclined to recommend this book for anyone to read.
July 8, 2019
Lovely and poetical!
November 22, 2019
This was a first time listen by the this author and I truly enjoyed every bit of the story.
June 23, 2020
What I liked about this book:
1. The atmosphere was wonderful. It was dark and creepy with a minor mystery shrouding the middle of its plot. I liked how I was reminded of a genuine gothic novel. Even the way architecture was described gave me pleasant chills.
2. I liked that Dawn was super into plants. You don’t get many plant heroines out there.
What I did not like about the book:
1. The beginning of the novel started off very slow. I was hoping that getting through the first third of the book would be rewarding (after the non-stop talk of death) but right when events began to pick up…things got, er…weird. And not the good type of weird (which there are those types, I promise.)
2. Speaking of that not-so-good-weird, I won’t go into it, but that weird got very uncomfortable very fast with Dawn reacting to said weird in a manner that just didn’t sit well with me.
3. Dawn took waaaay too long in realizing what the heck was going on. There can only be so many times where someone can say “Hmn, must have been my imagination” right after something very tangible occurs in plain sight. Is Dawn perhaps a Skyrim NPC?
4. Dawn and, shoot…what was the love interest’s name? …anyway, Dawn and Love Interest shared very little chemistry. I could tell that Dawn liked him (oh boy could I) but I never got the sense from Love Interest. It was like he only “fell in love with her” because he was told to by the author.
5. Dawn gave into the idea that her father left her penniless way too quickly. She didn’t ask for proof or investigate. I understand that she was under duress (and she was ready to give into death for about a third of the book) but she seems inquisitive enough to have at least tried.
Verdict:
I really think that this book could have benefitted from removing the super supernatural from the plot. It could have been a brilliant gothic novel where the atmosphere plays tricks on Dawn to the point where she doesn’t know if it’s just her and her condition playing tricks on her, or if there are really paranormal creatures roaming around. As is, I got bored with the book dancing around the idea of elementals and other worldly beings. Bored and a little freaked out from that “weird” bit. Anyway, I don’t see myself listening or reading anymore from this author. It was just okay.
1. The atmosphere was wonderful. It was dark and creepy with a minor mystery shrouding the middle of its plot. I liked how I was reminded of a genuine gothic novel. Even the way architecture was described gave me pleasant chills.
2. I liked that Dawn was super into plants. You don’t get many plant heroines out there.
What I did not like about the book:
1. The beginning of the novel started off very slow. I was hoping that getting through the first third of the book would be rewarding (after the non-stop talk of death) but right when events began to pick up…things got, er…weird. And not the good type of weird (which there are those types, I promise.)
2. Speaking of that not-so-good-weird, I won’t go into it, but that weird got very uncomfortable very fast with Dawn reacting to said weird in a manner that just didn’t sit well with me.
3. Dawn took waaaay too long in realizing what the heck was going on. There can only be so many times where someone can say “Hmn, must have been my imagination” right after something very tangible occurs in plain sight. Is Dawn perhaps a Skyrim NPC?
4. Dawn and, shoot…what was the love interest’s name? …anyway, Dawn and Love Interest shared very little chemistry. I could tell that Dawn liked him (oh boy could I) but I never got the sense from Love Interest. It was like he only “fell in love with her” because he was told to by the author.
5. Dawn gave into the idea that her father left her penniless way too quickly. She didn’t ask for proof or investigate. I understand that she was under duress (and she was ready to give into death for about a third of the book) but she seems inquisitive enough to have at least tried.
Verdict:
I really think that this book could have benefitted from removing the super supernatural from the plot. It could have been a brilliant gothic novel where the atmosphere plays tricks on Dawn to the point where she doesn’t know if it’s just her and her condition playing tricks on her, or if there are really paranormal creatures roaming around. As is, I got bored with the book dancing around the idea of elementals and other worldly beings. Bored and a little freaked out from that “weird” bit. Anyway, I don’t see myself listening or reading anymore from this author. It was just okay.
August 5, 2018
First 2/3 = 4 stars
The other 1/3 = 0 stars
The first part of Dawn's Promise was haunting and atmospheric in the tradition of classic Gothic novels like Jane Eyre. A young woman with a fatal heart condition is tragically orphaned when both of her parents are killed in a carriage accident. She is also destitute from her father's poor investments and has no alternative except to work for her living. Her poor health will not permit her to take on any job that is physically taxing and no one will hire her for the job she is most qualified for: gardening.
After numerous rejections, she draws up plans for a garden layout and sends them off with a job application letter. She deliberately chooses to omit all mention of her gender, identifying herself only as "D. Uxbridge". To her surprise, she receives a train ticket and a letter in response, accepting her for the position of head gardener to a very old and neglected estate.
Unfortunately, the last 1/3 of the book introduced plot devices that did not fit with the earlier tone or progression of the story. I feel as though it would have been a better book if it had contained less fantasy and more realism.
The other 1/3 = 0 stars
The first part of Dawn's Promise was haunting and atmospheric in the tradition of classic Gothic novels like Jane Eyre. A young woman with a fatal heart condition is tragically orphaned when both of her parents are killed in a carriage accident. She is also destitute from her father's poor investments and has no alternative except to work for her living. Her poor health will not permit her to take on any job that is physically taxing and no one will hire her for the job she is most qualified for: gardening.
After numerous rejections, she draws up plans for a garden layout and sends them off with a job application letter. She deliberately chooses to omit all mention of her gender, identifying herself only as "D. Uxbridge". To her surprise, she receives a train ticket and a letter in response, accepting her for the position of head gardener to a very old and neglected estate.
Unfortunately, the last 1/3 of the book introduced plot devices that did not fit with the earlier tone or progression of the story. I feel as though it would have been a better book if it had contained less fantasy and more realism.
December 20, 2017
Another great story by Ms. Exley. I am going to try not to give away any spoilers. This book was sort of a grown up Secret Garden for me. The whole book is set in a garden, which is a lovely thing to read on a winter's day. I also enjoyed watching Dawn, the lead, navigate her way through the tragedy that life brings her, see how that frees her up for adventure and change (sort of like the Boxcar Children) and watching her transformation. Sorry for all the kids books references, but I am a mom. This is a really fun book to curl up with and I am eagerly awaiting the next one in the series.
December 25, 2017
I am a huge fan of A.W. Exley, and was excited for a new series. Her new series is set in Victorian-era Great Britton, and centers around Dawn. When tragedy strikes, she has no other choice, but to set out on an adventure that she would never otherwise take. Dawn sets out with an affinity for gardening and very little else. Her adventure has all the makings for a great mystery - magic, a jealous ex, unexplained accidents, an estate full of secrets, and a chance at love if she will take it.
August 6, 2022
DNF at 65%
Sorry but this was... just boring. I swear to you, some authors still don't understand that we don't need a description of every physical movement that goes on in the story. A simple "she got out of the carriage" is much better than explaining how she moved, took something, touched the door, pulled, placed one foot on the ground...etc. this could have been 200 pages.
Sorry but this was... just boring. I swear to you, some authors still don't understand that we don't need a description of every physical movement that goes on in the story. A simple "she got out of the carriage" is much better than explaining how she moved, took something, touched the door, pulled, placed one foot on the ground...etc. this could have been 200 pages.
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November 14, 2020
2,5 étoiles
December 1, 2020
Overall: 3 stars. An enjoyable, if very sentimental, historical fantasy with Secret Garden + magical realism vibes.
Going to be a lot of spoilers ahead here because I don’t think I can discuss the book’s downsides without some detail. So watch out.
Pros: I almost didn’t get very far in this book because the tone in the first couple chapters was just a little too schmaltzy for me. I’m glad I carried on because I ended up quite enjoying this book - even though it is melodramatic and sentimental. It reminded me heavily of the Secret Garden - not just because it’s about a magical garden in a creepy old English mansion but also because it has that Victorian/Edwardian flare for sentimentality. Our protagonist, Dawn, feels like she stepped out of a Victorian novel: all pure and innocent but hard-working and plucky and powered by hope and etc. The hero, Jasper, also feels like a sketchily-drawn Mr. Rochester.
The above paragraph makes the book sound very derivative, and it is, but all the same it has enough interesting, cool details with the mysterious garden and magical realism elements at play. A lot of weird stuff is going down in this garden, and Dawn is our plucky action girl going to get to the bottom of it! It’s all played to type, but it’s fun.
Cons: I think the book lost the majority of its charm once it hits the 50% mark and a giant info-dump of explanation appears: it was much more enjoyable when all the mysterious goings-on were in that vague, shadowy “magical realism” vein where neither the reader nor Dawn can truly be sure what’s going on. Once we get the backstory about celestial beings and evil plant witches and gargoyles and etc, the magic is gone and we’re left with something that feels a bit generic.
ALSO. There’s a single very big TSTL moment where Dawn witnesses the evil plant witch Ava (in tree form) raping Jasper (in his gargoyle form) and assumes he’s cheating on her and is then mad at him for a few chapters. What. No. (The assault is not graphic or even described for more than a sentence or two in vague terms, but it does happen, FYI). That is some of the dumbest contrived conflict in a romance I have read in a loooooooong time; maybe ever.
Besides that one incredibly stupid conflict, the book is still enjoyable, if you can get down with its schmaltzy style.
Going to be a lot of spoilers ahead here because I don’t think I can discuss the book’s downsides without some detail. So watch out.
Pros: I almost didn’t get very far in this book because the tone in the first couple chapters was just a little too schmaltzy for me. I’m glad I carried on because I ended up quite enjoying this book - even though it is melodramatic and sentimental. It reminded me heavily of the Secret Garden - not just because it’s about a magical garden in a creepy old English mansion but also because it has that Victorian/Edwardian flare for sentimentality. Our protagonist, Dawn, feels like she stepped out of a Victorian novel: all pure and innocent but hard-working and plucky and powered by hope and etc. The hero, Jasper, also feels like a sketchily-drawn Mr. Rochester.
The above paragraph makes the book sound very derivative, and it is, but all the same it has enough interesting, cool details with the mysterious garden and magical realism elements at play. A lot of weird stuff is going down in this garden, and Dawn is our plucky action girl going to get to the bottom of it! It’s all played to type, but it’s fun.
Cons: I think the book lost the majority of its charm once it hits the 50% mark and a giant info-dump of explanation appears: it was much more enjoyable when all the mysterious goings-on were in that vague, shadowy “magical realism” vein where neither the reader nor Dawn can truly be sure what’s going on. Once we get the backstory about celestial beings and evil plant witches and gargoyles and etc, the magic is gone and we’re left with something that feels a bit generic.
ALSO. There’s a single very big TSTL moment where Dawn witnesses the evil plant witch Ava (in tree form) raping Jasper (in his gargoyle form) and assumes he’s cheating on her and is then mad at him for a few chapters. What. No. (The assault is not graphic or even described for more than a sentence or two in vague terms, but it does happen, FYI). That is some of the dumbest contrived conflict in a romance I have read in a loooooooong time; maybe ever.
Besides that one incredibly stupid conflict, the book is still enjoyable, if you can get down with its schmaltzy style.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2018
Started off so well and with a unique premise of gardening with fantasy in a historical setting, I was pretty sure, I’ll be in for a treat.
Alas, it rapidly fell flat after 40% and without a well defined plot, average writing, slow pace and sort of depthless characters (except maybe Dawn), an insta-romance and vague world building; it became more of a chore to finish off the book.
Overall, it really failed to live upto it’s potential. I won’t be continuing the series as by the end I liked no characters and didn’t feel any urge to stay in that world any longer.
Alas, it rapidly fell flat after 40% and without a well defined plot, average writing, slow pace and sort of depthless characters (except maybe Dawn), an insta-romance and vague world building; it became more of a chore to finish off the book.
Overall, it really failed to live upto it’s potential. I won’t be continuing the series as by the end I liked no characters and didn’t feel any urge to stay in that world any longer.
September 2, 2020
Wow, just wow
Imaginative and lyrical, this a!most fairy tale impressed with its attention to detail without becoming bogged down in boring description or information dumps. Sweet without being cloying, intriguing without being too cryptic, this story hits all the right buttons. Bravo!
Imaginative and lyrical, this a!most fairy tale impressed with its attention to detail without becoming bogged down in boring description or information dumps. Sweet without being cloying, intriguing without being too cryptic, this story hits all the right buttons. Bravo!
April 29, 2021
Excellent read
Vivid imagery, beautiful language, solid plot and character development. The story drew me in even as I was cheering for the heroine, and the twists and turns were delightful.
Vivid imagery, beautiful language, solid plot and character development. The story drew me in even as I was cheering for the heroine, and the twists and turns were delightful.
November 27, 2020
God this was a mess but whatever I guess. Sucks because it had potential until it became a hokey fantasy romance novel.
2/5 stars
2/5 stars
April 18, 2020
Absolutely became apart of this story as I read it... This was the perfect blend of mystery, gardens and magic. Time to jump into book 2 of this series❤️
July 10, 2018
I would like to give this book 3.5 stars but I seem to be unable.
This book is about a woman with a heart condition who finds herself in desperate circumstances and finds a job as a gardener in England, in approximately 1880, when women weren’t hired as gardeners. Putting all that to the side and assuming that the supernatural powers at play left her gender and status out of the picture, the story is intriguing and well thought out. There were some moments that definitely moved too quickly (the romance between the earl and the lady gardener for one thing) and other moments that seemed to be just the right amount of time. Though I can understand why it was done that way in order to make time for all that was included in the book. That rushed part though did hinder my enjoyment of the book as a whole. I prefer to actually feel like the couple have a real and trusting relationship before they jump into bed together. The sex scene was not graphic or embarrassing, one of the few that felt more romantic and well done than what most authors manage (which is usually just trashy in my opinion). Overall well done book and I would like to read the next one. It is almost entirely supernatural and very little a period romance - just in case you wondered.
This book is about a woman with a heart condition who finds herself in desperate circumstances and finds a job as a gardener in England, in approximately 1880, when women weren’t hired as gardeners. Putting all that to the side and assuming that the supernatural powers at play left her gender and status out of the picture, the story is intriguing and well thought out. There were some moments that definitely moved too quickly (the romance between the earl and the lady gardener for one thing) and other moments that seemed to be just the right amount of time. Though I can understand why it was done that way in order to make time for all that was included in the book. That rushed part though did hinder my enjoyment of the book as a whole. I prefer to actually feel like the couple have a real and trusting relationship before they jump into bed together. The sex scene was not graphic or embarrassing, one of the few that felt more romantic and well done than what most authors manage (which is usually just trashy in my opinion). Overall well done book and I would like to read the next one. It is almost entirely supernatural and very little a period romance - just in case you wondered.
June 26, 2020
It was an interesting read with a rich mythology. There was also only one loose-end left at the end that wasn’t directly connected to the main plot, but that might be answered in later books so I guess its more just an enticing mystery to keep you reading. And then there was the “paper weight” thing that I believe has more to do with the wider secondary plot but I’m not sure if other’s would catch that.
I would have rated this book higher but I found I didn’t particularly like the mostly passive route the character’s took and the mood was often very, if not too, sombre and had little humour. But that I believe is a ME thing as I possess a very morbid sense of humour and often times in tense or melancholy situation find myself wanting to laugh or crack a joke. It was an overall good book that wrapped everything up as nicely as it could given the unresolved secondary plot that will no doubt be the centre of the next if not next few books.
I would have rated this book higher but I found I didn’t particularly like the mostly passive route the character’s took and the mood was often very, if not too, sombre and had little humour. But that I believe is a ME thing as I possess a very morbid sense of humour and often times in tense or melancholy situation find myself wanting to laugh or crack a joke. It was an overall good book that wrapped everything up as nicely as it could given the unresolved secondary plot that will no doubt be the centre of the next if not next few books.
August 14, 2018
I thought I liked this book, until I got "the machinations of women." WTF?!? I didn't pick this up in order to read something misogynistic. Actually, I chose it thinking it would be a good comparable title for a novel about which I'm querying agents, since it's historic fantasy/ a gothic novel (like mine, but my gothic novel is feminist and queer).
September 8, 2019
Great start to a new series. I never wanted to put the book down.
When tragedy strikes, she has no other choice, but to set out on an adventure that she would never otherwise take. Dawn sets out with an affinity for gardening and very little else. Her adventure has all the makings for a great mystery.
I can't wait to read Day's Patience (the next book in the series).
When tragedy strikes, she has no other choice, but to set out on an adventure that she would never otherwise take. Dawn sets out with an affinity for gardening and very little else. Her adventure has all the makings for a great mystery.
I can't wait to read Day's Patience (the next book in the series).
July 9, 2021
I loved the first half ….until the gargoyle rape situation. And the fact that the villain needed semen to gain power over the land :/ it triggered many things. I fucking hated it.
Gosh- what the fuck.
Gosh- what the fuck.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2025
Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Silent Wings trilogy. I borrowed this on audiobook from Audible.
Thoughts: This is a well done Victorian paranormal read. I listened to this on audiobook and it is beautifully narrated. This has hefty gothic themes as well as some fantastical ones.
Dawn has had heart issues since she was a child and has lived long past her expected life expectancy. As a very sheltered child who was not expected to live, she has no friends but finds solace in her garden and the love of her parents. When her parents die in an accident, she finds herself penniless and alone. That is until she answers a request for a gardener at an estate in the remote west of England. There, she meets Jasper, the Earl of Seton, and his family and finds out that there is much more to the world than she originally thought.
This is a strangely peaceful read. Dawn is so accepting of her fate and seems to have found her own peace but also has hope that she can do more. She is one of those heroines that is tough but incredibly caring and giving as well. I admired her quiet strength throughout. The Seton family and staff have similar vibes of being kind and caring, even if they do guard dark secrets.
I enjoyed watching Dawn become more and find hope for a better life. I enjoyed watching her gain confidence and find peace. I also enjoyed Dawn's knowledge and caring for plants and the way she constantly looked for more knowledge in this area.
The relationship between Dawn and Jasper was well done but the chemistry wasn't really there for me. The steamy scenes are okay but lack creativity and detail. Jasper was one of the weaker characters in this book, which is a pity.
This was deliciously gothic. Dawn's constant expectation of death being around the corner made her a strangely peaceful but doomed character. The Seton family and the way they struggled against evil also made them feel hopeful but tragic.
I listened to this on audiobook and Sarah did an amazing job matching the tone of the story. Her narration was smooth and lyrical and very beautiful; it just matched the mood of the book perfectly. I would definitely recommend listening to this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this. I was looking for a mysterious paranormal Victorian read and this definitely fit the bill. I really enjoyed the mystery of the Seton estate and enjoyed watching Dawn grow and become more than her illness. The Seton family was well done, and I would love to read more about them. I plan on continuing the trilogy at some point when I am in the mood for a more serious Victorian paranormal gothic read like this.
Thoughts: This is a well done Victorian paranormal read. I listened to this on audiobook and it is beautifully narrated. This has hefty gothic themes as well as some fantastical ones.
Dawn has had heart issues since she was a child and has lived long past her expected life expectancy. As a very sheltered child who was not expected to live, she has no friends but finds solace in her garden and the love of her parents. When her parents die in an accident, she finds herself penniless and alone. That is until she answers a request for a gardener at an estate in the remote west of England. There, she meets Jasper, the Earl of Seton, and his family and finds out that there is much more to the world than she originally thought.
This is a strangely peaceful read. Dawn is so accepting of her fate and seems to have found her own peace but also has hope that she can do more. She is one of those heroines that is tough but incredibly caring and giving as well. I admired her quiet strength throughout. The Seton family and staff have similar vibes of being kind and caring, even if they do guard dark secrets.
I enjoyed watching Dawn become more and find hope for a better life. I enjoyed watching her gain confidence and find peace. I also enjoyed Dawn's knowledge and caring for plants and the way she constantly looked for more knowledge in this area.
The relationship between Dawn and Jasper was well done but the chemistry wasn't really there for me. The steamy scenes are okay but lack creativity and detail. Jasper was one of the weaker characters in this book, which is a pity.
This was deliciously gothic. Dawn's constant expectation of death being around the corner made her a strangely peaceful but doomed character. The Seton family and the way they struggled against evil also made them feel hopeful but tragic.
I listened to this on audiobook and Sarah did an amazing job matching the tone of the story. Her narration was smooth and lyrical and very beautiful; it just matched the mood of the book perfectly. I would definitely recommend listening to this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this. I was looking for a mysterious paranormal Victorian read and this definitely fit the bill. I really enjoyed the mystery of the Seton estate and enjoyed watching Dawn grow and become more than her illness. The Seton family was well done, and I would love to read more about them. I plan on continuing the trilogy at some point when I am in the mood for a more serious Victorian paranormal gothic read like this.
July 5, 2018
Dawn Uxbridge was born with a fragile heart and not expected to make it past her teen years. Now in her twenties, she finds herself alone and penniless after a tragic accident takes the lives of her parents. Armed with her love of landscape and gardening, she accepts a position as the head gardener at a remote manor in historical England.
Lord Jasper, the Earl of Seton, isn’t sure what to think of his new gardener, expecting a man instead of a feeble female. Yet he is drawn to Dawn and gives her one week to show progress on his unruly gardens.
As Dawn spends time on the estate, she suspects the problems with the garden are not earthly in origin, and her new employer may be more than he appears. After just one week, Dawn and Jasper find themselves in a fight of good versus evil, with more at stake than the survival of the garden.
Dawn’s Promise was a delightful surprise to this listener. Combining a sweet historical romance with unique fantasy, the story is reminiscent in feel to the Chronicles of Narnia. It is whimsical yet dark, exploring the fanciful secrets hidden within the landscape. Dawn has lead a sheltered life, understanding very little of the adult world and romance. There was no need to learn these things when she thought she’d be dead by the time she was twenty. Yet now that she’s on Lord Jasper’s estate, she seems to find new vitality and a joy in living. I loved watching Dawn explore the mysterious world around her, both learning to live and also trying to solve the mysteries hidden within the maze of the garden.
The narration started very whispy, weak, and hushed. But as the tempo and location of the story changed, the dreamy wistfulness became more solid and excited. At first, the narration seemed annoying, yet in hindsight, it truly fits the tale. Dawn was weak and sad before moving to Raven’s Blood, but the new location brought her a new energy. Ms. Sarah is an ideal fit for the naive and sheltered Dawn; growing and changing with Dawn, yet always maintaining the gentle and nurturing quality of her character. The male voices, while not overly masculine, fit the setting, especially since we hear the story through Dawn’s perspective.
I truly enjoyed my foray into this unique and interesting world. The story and narration had a whimsical feel. It build methodically, the vines weaving together and pulling the story together. I look forward to listening to the next story in Ms. Exley’s Silent Wings series.
My Ratings:
Story: A-
Narration: A-
Review copy provided by Tantor Audio.
Originally Posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Lord Jasper, the Earl of Seton, isn’t sure what to think of his new gardener, expecting a man instead of a feeble female. Yet he is drawn to Dawn and gives her one week to show progress on his unruly gardens.
As Dawn spends time on the estate, she suspects the problems with the garden are not earthly in origin, and her new employer may be more than he appears. After just one week, Dawn and Jasper find themselves in a fight of good versus evil, with more at stake than the survival of the garden.
Dawn’s Promise was a delightful surprise to this listener. Combining a sweet historical romance with unique fantasy, the story is reminiscent in feel to the Chronicles of Narnia. It is whimsical yet dark, exploring the fanciful secrets hidden within the landscape. Dawn has lead a sheltered life, understanding very little of the adult world and romance. There was no need to learn these things when she thought she’d be dead by the time she was twenty. Yet now that she’s on Lord Jasper’s estate, she seems to find new vitality and a joy in living. I loved watching Dawn explore the mysterious world around her, both learning to live and also trying to solve the mysteries hidden within the maze of the garden.
The narration started very whispy, weak, and hushed. But as the tempo and location of the story changed, the dreamy wistfulness became more solid and excited. At first, the narration seemed annoying, yet in hindsight, it truly fits the tale. Dawn was weak and sad before moving to Raven’s Blood, but the new location brought her a new energy. Ms. Sarah is an ideal fit for the naive and sheltered Dawn; growing and changing with Dawn, yet always maintaining the gentle and nurturing quality of her character. The male voices, while not overly masculine, fit the setting, especially since we hear the story through Dawn’s perspective.
I truly enjoyed my foray into this unique and interesting world. The story and narration had a whimsical feel. It build methodically, the vines weaving together and pulling the story together. I look forward to listening to the next story in Ms. Exley’s Silent Wings series.
My Ratings:
Story: A-
Narration: A-
Review copy provided by Tantor Audio.
Originally Posted at That's What I'm Talking About
January 27, 2018
Readers talk about one-click authors. These are the authors that you want to one-click on Amazon, no matter what their book is about. For me, A.W. Exley is one of those. As you may have noticed from my reviews, she pops up a lot. And with good reason. She is awesome. I love the way she thinks and her passion for each of her books. There are two reasons I love her books; her character development and world building.
This book is hands above fist, my favorite. It is incredible. I read it in two days and completely forgot I had a family. In fact, I was so engrossed in this book, I forgot there was a world outside of this strange garden.
Her descriptions of various garden plants and flowers fascinated me. I can't even imagine the amount of research that went into this. However, she did a terrific job of balancing information sharing with entertainment. I never once felt like it was too much or massive info dumps. I've read a lot of books and the basic idea, a young seemingly helpless girl saves everyone, is familiar, the context of this story was not like anything I've read before. The plot twists were as intricate as the magical vines in the garden. The love story moved me to tears more than once.
This book is hands above fist, my favorite. It is incredible. I read it in two days and completely forgot I had a family. In fact, I was so engrossed in this book, I forgot there was a world outside of this strange garden.
Her descriptions of various garden plants and flowers fascinated me. I can't even imagine the amount of research that went into this. However, she did a terrific job of balancing information sharing with entertainment. I never once felt like it was too much or massive info dumps. I've read a lot of books and the basic idea, a young seemingly helpless girl saves everyone, is familiar, the context of this story was not like anything I've read before. The plot twists were as intricate as the magical vines in the garden. The love story moved me to tears more than once.
April 17, 2018
Dawn’s Promise is set in England in 1880. The novel centres around Dawn, who has been restricted in life by a weak heart but finds solace in her home garden until tragedy strikes and she loses everything. But when one door shuts, another opens - or in this case, when one garden is forbidden, another garden awaits.
Dawn is great as the heroine. She may have a weak heart, and has little social or world experience, but she is not weak willed and is ready to stand up for herself even if it pushes conventions of that time. I enjoyed reading about Dawn’s journey, she considers everything carefully before stepping into any situation and even though she may lack experience in many things, she is not naive and doesn’t act like a child.
This is the first book I have read by Exley and it certainly won’t be the last. Exley knows how to balance dialogue and body well. Her writing style flows gracefully along the pages, without flaws or distractions. The hints about what Dawn and Ravenswing really are, are there from page one which help add aspects of mystery. And Exley has effortlessly blended historical fiction in with dark fantasy to create a thrilling tale of tragedy, love and magic.
I highly recommend Dawn’s Promise to those that enjoy historical fiction and fantasy. I will be purchasing the next book in the series as soon as it is released and in the meantime will explore Exley’s other works.
Dawn is great as the heroine. She may have a weak heart, and has little social or world experience, but she is not weak willed and is ready to stand up for herself even if it pushes conventions of that time. I enjoyed reading about Dawn’s journey, she considers everything carefully before stepping into any situation and even though she may lack experience in many things, she is not naive and doesn’t act like a child.
This is the first book I have read by Exley and it certainly won’t be the last. Exley knows how to balance dialogue and body well. Her writing style flows gracefully along the pages, without flaws or distractions. The hints about what Dawn and Ravenswing really are, are there from page one which help add aspects of mystery. And Exley has effortlessly blended historical fiction in with dark fantasy to create a thrilling tale of tragedy, love and magic.
I highly recommend Dawn’s Promise to those that enjoy historical fiction and fantasy. I will be purchasing the next book in the series as soon as it is released and in the meantime will explore Exley’s other works.
February 23, 2019
I loved the Artifact Hunters books so I decided to try another of her series and this book is a wonderful beginning.
Set in rural Victorian London, Dawn has lived a good, if limited, life with her parents. Because of heart trouble, she wasn'the expected to live past childhood. Now, at the age of 22 she finds herself alone in the world. Not quite destitute, she'said in need of an work but the only proper occupations for a well bred woman are beyond her physical stamina. Finally she answers a newspaper advertisement for a gardener based on her designs rather than gender which finds herself at Ravensblood. She finds out the stories her mother told her of watchers send gatherers aren't fairytale as she enters a world of magic. Will she be able to save the estate, the earlier, and most importantly, herself?
Set in rural Victorian London, Dawn has lived a good, if limited, life with her parents. Because of heart trouble, she wasn'the expected to live past childhood. Now, at the age of 22 she finds herself alone in the world. Not quite destitute, she'said in need of an work but the only proper occupations for a well bred woman are beyond her physical stamina. Finally she answers a newspaper advertisement for a gardener based on her designs rather than gender which finds herself at Ravensblood. She finds out the stories her mother told her of watchers send gatherers aren't fairytale as she enters a world of magic. Will she be able to save the estate, the earlier, and most importantly, herself?
August 11, 2019
A Refreshing Gothic Fantasy
I have always enjoyed A.W. Exley books, but for some reason overlooked this series until recently - and I'm disappointed I hadn't started it sooner (although now I don't have to wait for the next book to come out). this was a fresh storyline that I thoroughly enjoyed. I really liked how the world was I introduced and meeting this new cast of characters. I've always had a thing for secret gardens, so instantly liked Dawn and her determination to fix the overgrown estate. My only real complaint is the pacing. I felt like about halfway through situations were sped up a little abruptly and it took a couple chapters for me to adjust - especially Dawn and Jasper's relationship. But I still really liked the book and look forward to the remaining books.
I have always enjoyed A.W. Exley books, but for some reason overlooked this series until recently - and I'm disappointed I hadn't started it sooner (although now I don't have to wait for the next book to come out). this was a fresh storyline that I thoroughly enjoyed. I really liked how the world was I introduced and meeting this new cast of characters. I've always had a thing for secret gardens, so instantly liked Dawn and her determination to fix the overgrown estate. My only real complaint is the pacing. I felt like about halfway through situations were sped up a little abruptly and it took a couple chapters for me to adjust - especially Dawn and Jasper's relationship. But I still really liked the book and look forward to the remaining books.
January 24, 2018
This was a great start to a new series by AW Exley, and it went in a totally different direction than I expected! I loved the amount of gardening detail, which really contributed so strongly to both the atmosphere and the main character. Speaking of which, I loved Dawn, who is so different than some of her other characters, but special just the same as she grows and learns more about herself and her inner strength. The author doesn't rush the exposition and the world she builds is a very unique mix; a little gothic, a little fantasy, some mythology with some lovely historical detail. My only issue was that I felt that the ending was both a tad rushed and somewhat abrupt, but I'm hooked and definitely looking forward to the next book!!
July 29, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and historical fantasy is probably one of my favourite genre's, when done right. This book certainly does the genre justice.
Dawn is an extremely relatable character who just draws you in completely, and you can't help but admire her for her strength. Despite the hints of more to the series it doesn't end on a cliffhanger that leaves you dying for the second book, and I have mixed feelings about that. I love that I can read this book over and over and find new little tidbits to expand my understanding of the world, and I don't feel pressured to move on, but on the other hand, I'm not feeling excited for the rest of the series, and that's really the only complaint I have about it.
I'd give it another half star if I could.
Dawn is an extremely relatable character who just draws you in completely, and you can't help but admire her for her strength. Despite the hints of more to the series it doesn't end on a cliffhanger that leaves you dying for the second book, and I have mixed feelings about that. I love that I can read this book over and over and find new little tidbits to expand my understanding of the world, and I don't feel pressured to move on, but on the other hand, I'm not feeling excited for the rest of the series, and that's really the only complaint I have about it.
I'd give it another half star if I could.
August 28, 2022
3 out of 10, DNF at 78%
I tried, I really tried. At first, the main character was just a bit too quirky for me, but I could handle it. She had been very sheltered, so it worked. But throughout the story, it just doesn't get any better. Then at around three fourths of the story, she starts questioning if it's even possible for a woman to rape a when, after she's seen it happen with her own two eyes. But might he not have been a willing participant, even though he was being forcibly held down ?! So yeah, that's where I gave up, because how can anyone be so incredibly dense and how could the author believe this to be a good plot device.
Happy this was available for free, would not have wanted to waste a single cent on this.
I tried, I really tried. At first, the main character was just a bit too quirky for me, but I could handle it. She had been very sheltered, so it worked. But throughout the story, it just doesn't get any better. Then at around three fourths of the story, she starts questioning if it's even possible for a woman to rape a when, after she's seen it happen with her own two eyes. But might he not have been a willing participant, even though he was being forcibly held down ?! So yeah, that's where I gave up, because how can anyone be so incredibly dense and how could the author believe this to be a good plot device.
Happy this was available for free, would not have wanted to waste a single cent on this.
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