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House of Werth #2
Wyrde and Wicked
‘When it comes to the Wyrde, there is no such thing as harmless. Every single one of us is a walking disaster.’
Winter has come to Werth Towers, and brought a deal of trouble with it.
Not that any of it is the fault of Miss Gussie Werth. To be a one-woman catastrophe might be seen as a misfortune, but really, there can be no hope of a cure.
What with murderous Books on the rampage, Lady Maundevyle brewing plans for Christmas, and a couple of dragons on the loose, a quiet life is not likely to be had.
Still, in times of crisis, there is always Lord Felix. The disreputable old revenant might have a few odd ideas; but you’re at Werth Towers, now. The merely unusual comes as a matter of course.
Welcome to the strangest family in Regency England. Find out just what Gussie did next...
Winter has come to Werth Towers, and brought a deal of trouble with it.
Not that any of it is the fault of Miss Gussie Werth. To be a one-woman catastrophe might be seen as a misfortune, but really, there can be no hope of a cure.
What with murderous Books on the rampage, Lady Maundevyle brewing plans for Christmas, and a couple of dragons on the loose, a quiet life is not likely to be had.
Still, in times of crisis, there is always Lord Felix. The disreputable old revenant might have a few odd ideas; but you’re at Werth Towers, now. The merely unusual comes as a matter of course.
Welcome to the strangest family in Regency England. Find out just what Gussie did next...
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2020
134 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte E. English
77 books353 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 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 21, 2020
Wyrde and Wicked is the second installment of an unusual and oddly engaging story. Do you want a dragon with a gourmet palate? Check. The disembodied head of a dead relative who delights in the macabre? Yup. Scheming, violent Books which do everything they can to escape and raise havoc? Also here. Intrepid heroine and a reluctant hero? Bingo!
This story centers around a family who receive unusual magical abilities on their third birthday. The Werths are not the only families so afflicted, but are one of the foremost. They have in their possession two cursed Books with violent tendencies. The story revolves around safeguarding the Books, trying to learn more about them, exploring the horrifying possibility that there may be more of them and debating if and how to destroy them.
Gussie (the intrepid heroine) and Theo (the reluctant hero) have become two of my favorite characters. Nothing is impossible to Gussie who drags her family along in her quest to learn more about the Books. Theo will tell anyone who’ll listen that he doesn’t care and wants to be left alone, yet bestirs himself when needed to secure a vicious curse-book. The story is good, but to me it’s the dialog and interaction between the characters and the unusual supporting cast that makes this book so entertaining. You could read this one first, but it will make more sense if you read the first book of the series, Wyrde and Wayward, before reading this one. I recommend them both!
This story centers around a family who receive unusual magical abilities on their third birthday. The Werths are not the only families so afflicted, but are one of the foremost. They have in their possession two cursed Books with violent tendencies. The story revolves around safeguarding the Books, trying to learn more about them, exploring the horrifying possibility that there may be more of them and debating if and how to destroy them.
Gussie (the intrepid heroine) and Theo (the reluctant hero) have become two of my favorite characters. Nothing is impossible to Gussie who drags her family along in her quest to learn more about the Books. Theo will tell anyone who’ll listen that he doesn’t care and wants to be left alone, yet bestirs himself when needed to secure a vicious curse-book. The story is good, but to me it’s the dialog and interaction between the characters and the unusual supporting cast that makes this book so entertaining. You could read this one first, but it will make more sense if you read the first book of the series, Wyrde and Wayward, before reading this one. I recommend them both!
September 17, 2022
Great followup/sequel following the misadventures of the Wyrde families. Gussie, Theo, Llrd and Lady Wyrde, Uncles Felix and Sylvester and the whole gang are back including the dragon, the now street runner, and the books running amok. The action is nonstop in the first part of the book and then lulls for a bit but picks back up. Gussie continues to forge boldly ahead with her wild schemes and drags her family along. The book is boldly weird, irreverent, humorous, engaging, dark, and filled with all the monsters you can dream off.
October 28, 2021
3.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️Another great story. I kinda enjoyed this one more than the first. Still love the crazy characters especially cousin Theo and aunt Honoria. Very entertaining plot made infinitely better by the narrator. I’m looking forward to reading the 3rd book.
Content: Moderate violence, Mild language, Gore, Romance might be brewing??
Content: Moderate violence, Mild language, Gore, Romance might be brewing??
April 8, 2021
Second book in the Werth Family series some more gothic whackiness with the same whacky characters as the first book. If you liked the first one you will like this one.
May 21, 2021
Just as good as the first book.
June 7, 2020
I love this series! It is the perfect combination of two things I already love: anything paranormal, and Pride & Prejudice.
Book 2 lost absolutely no momentum from book 1 and included all the components I adored in the first book.
The world-building in this series is very clever and creative and definitely a bit different from any other stories I've read in this genre. I absolutely love that Gussie is unrepentently independent and does not care one whit whom she discomposes with her behaviour and actions. She does what she likes and lives her life on her own terms, as bizarre as those terms may be! She is simply wonderful!!
The stories this author comes up with for her characters is exciting, and unique and very engaging. I really enjoyed going on this new journey with the Werths and experiencing all their newest catastrophes.
This is definitely a new favourite series for me in the paranormal genre and I will be watching for more books from this author to continue with it. This series will definitely be a "must read" for me.
Book 2 lost absolutely no momentum from book 1 and included all the components I adored in the first book.
The world-building in this series is very clever and creative and definitely a bit different from any other stories I've read in this genre. I absolutely love that Gussie is unrepentently independent and does not care one whit whom she discomposes with her behaviour and actions. She does what she likes and lives her life on her own terms, as bizarre as those terms may be! She is simply wonderful!!
The stories this author comes up with for her characters is exciting, and unique and very engaging. I really enjoyed going on this new journey with the Werths and experiencing all their newest catastrophes.
This is definitely a new favourite series for me in the paranormal genre and I will be watching for more books from this author to continue with it. This series will definitely be a "must read" for me.
June 6, 2020
Not Sure...
...how I feel about Gussie. Her flippant attitude and desire for humor and entertainment at any cost is not an endearing trait. She wasn't like this at the beginning of the first novel. She's almost annoying. Why is she so unfeeling and cavalier? Is there a backstory? I like the other characters though and it would be nice to have some actual romance to go along with all the wyrdeness. That's what I'm waiting for and that is why I will keep reading....for now.
...how I feel about Gussie. Her flippant attitude and desire for humor and entertainment at any cost is not an endearing trait. She wasn't like this at the beginning of the first novel. She's almost annoying. Why is she so unfeeling and cavalier? Is there a backstory? I like the other characters though and it would be nice to have some actual romance to go along with all the wyrdeness. That's what I'm waiting for and that is why I will keep reading....for now.
May 29, 2021
This is a strange one for me... I love the world. I love the characters and I laughed out loud several times. The mystery wasn't obvious and actually a decent surprise, but I admit I was never that into the mystery in the first place. The real attraction here is the characters and the world building. I would gladly read a book just following their daily lives.
So yes, I loved this book and am looking forward to reading more!
So yes, I loved this book and am looking forward to reading more!
October 10, 2020
4.5 stars
This book was as delightfully macabre as the first. That's my favourite thing about this series, the characters do and say some horrendous things with such straight faces. Here is one of my favourite examples:
(And when Lady Werth mentioned the name Felix, she is of course speaking about their long dead relative that refuses to return peacefully to the grave...)
This is but one example of the horror-filled and yet humorous events that happen on almost every page. I absolutely love the "Wyrded", they have the most wonderful sense of humour.
The only reason I'm rating this one half a star less than the first book, is that I feel less things actually happened than in the first book, it was mostly just the varying family members travelling between different places and conversing with corpses. However I am certainly not lowering the rating for the reason I noticed a lot of other reviewers are doing so; and that is they are complaining that Gussie hasn't grown or developed as a character, to that I say, does she have to? She isn't a teenager anymore, she's even on the edge of the young adult category as her age is 26. I would say she is rather set in her ways by now, and nothing life changing has happened to her to alter her behaviour. All her life previously has been spent cooped up in Werth Towers, she hadn't even been to London! It isn't surprising to me that now she somewhat has some freedom, she is making as much use of it it as she can. I say she should go for it!
I hope there is a third book on the way!
This book was as delightfully macabre as the first. That's my favourite thing about this series, the characters do and say some horrendous things with such straight faces. Here is one of my favourite examples:
"Ah, we are on fire," said Gussie as she stepped down, the acrid smell of smoke near overwhelming her the moment her head emerged from the coach. "Excellent. It is a positive age since we last had a good burning."
"I wonder who is being burned?" said Lord Werth mildly, handing his wife down from the coach.
"Who?" Gussie repeated, briefly nonplussed. "I had imagined only a what, but I'm sure you have it right, uncle."
Lord Werth drew in a great breath of smoky air, and to Gussie's fascination, smiled. "I hope it is not Silvester," he commented, and withdrew into the house.
Lady Werth closed her eyes in momentary despair."Someone is shortly to be burned," she said ominously. "And if his name is not Felix, I shall eat my gloves."
(And when Lady Werth mentioned the name Felix, she is of course speaking about their long dead relative that refuses to return peacefully to the grave...)
This is but one example of the horror-filled and yet humorous events that happen on almost every page. I absolutely love the "Wyrded", they have the most wonderful sense of humour.
The only reason I'm rating this one half a star less than the first book, is that I feel less things actually happened than in the first book, it was mostly just the varying family members travelling between different places and conversing with corpses. However I am certainly not lowering the rating for the reason I noticed a lot of other reviewers are doing so; and that is they are complaining that Gussie hasn't grown or developed as a character, to that I say, does she have to? She isn't a teenager anymore, she's even on the edge of the young adult category as her age is 26. I would say she is rather set in her ways by now, and nothing life changing has happened to her to alter her behaviour. All her life previously has been spent cooped up in Werth Towers, she hadn't even been to London! It isn't surprising to me that now she somewhat has some freedom, she is making as much use of it it as she can. I say she should go for it!
I hope there is a third book on the way!
August 17, 2024
Wyrde and Wicked, Book #2 in the House of Werth series, continues the story of Gussie and her “wyrded” family. Each of the family gets a “wyrde” or type of magic on their 3rd birthday. Some are shape shifting monsters, some have magical abilities.
It had been awhile since I read book 1, so I was a little lost from time to time, but this Regency-esque humorous and macabre fantasy is still delightful. I loved the funny dialogue and just generally bizarre situations.
I’d describe it as Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer meets the Addams family minus the romance - lots of fun!
In this story Gussie and Theo are trying to deal with a couple of homicidal books they’ve been saddled with. Great Aunt Honoria the bodiless revenant, Mister Ballantine, the Bow Street Runner, and long dead zombie uncle Felix are helpful as well.
February 6, 2021
The House of Werth Series is proving to be loads of twisted fun! The cast of wyrded characters met in the first book return to conjure up some more spirited fun. This time they are determined to put an end to the violent curse-book and the book of Werth who have teamed up with malicious intent. If you think an inatimate object such as a book can't be dangerous, think again. These are no ordinary books. They're more wyrded than the Werths and that's saying something!
I love how the author captures the perfect voice and tone throughout these books. The characters are fascinating in all their peculiarities. The supernatural is taken for granted in the same way as it is in the Addams Family. Truly fun, fantastical story!
I love how the author captures the perfect voice and tone throughout these books. The characters are fascinating in all their peculiarities. The supernatural is taken for granted in the same way as it is in the Addams Family. Truly fun, fantastical story!
December 13, 2025
Oh how the mighty have fallen! This was painful to read.
LONG RANT INCOMING!
What the hell happened to Augusta? It started in the disastrous final chapters of the first book and here is dialed up to eleven. She's suddenly turned into a manic pixie girl on steroids. In the first book, she was witty and sharp-tongued but overall a decent person, she did care about propriety and was nice to servants. In this book, she's Lydia Bennett's brain combined with Caroline Bingley's malice (her behaviour with the viscountess was especially infuriating and should probably have caused a huge scandal, not to mention her childish tantrums in the final chapters). In Book 1, her and Theo engaged in occasional sibling rivalry (they are cousins after all) but were generally amiable (Theo outright says that he likes her more than other members of the family), but here she's derisive to the point of hostility and even jokes about wishing bodily harm on him for no particular reason. She cares for no one and is extremely proud of it. And it gets worse. In the final chapters she comes up with some truly bullshit ideas, then immediately contradicts herself and feels so very smug about it (both "only Felix's fire will work" and "even a candle will be enough" come from her and she's 100% sure about it both times). Not sure if at this point the author was writing her like this deliberately or just didn't care about consistency (and I don't know what's worse). I don't recall hating a female character so much since Emily Wilde, and by the middle of the story I was seriously rooting for the murderous Book to shred her to pieces. And "Gussie" is still a horrible shortening of her name!
Most everyone else is also out of character: Henry is suddenly bantering (and then disappears from the narrative altogether), Miss Frostell is only ever pandering to Augusta's foolishness (she was a horrible governess if Augusta turned out like this), Aunt Werth is pathetically weak, Sylvester is suddenly coherent, Clarissa is much less crazed (until she randomly reverts back) and disapproves of her mother's schemes, Henry doesn't bear any grudges against his mother after what she did to him, and Theo is suddenly an inquisitive scholar and not exactly as indestructible as we've repeatedly been told.
But the saddest thing is that this book stopped being funny. Dialogues that in the first book were charming or hilariously exaggerated, here are repetitive and clunky (it's the same argument about the Books, over and over and over again, involving multiple characters) and add nothing but artificial suspense and page count (the author in general overdid on the writing style here). When we finally learn about the creation of the Books, it's not even from studying them, but from external sources (which they should have consulted in the first place - the Werths are a noble family, their history will be recorded meticulously) - and what we learn is as unnecessarily convoluted as the unwillingness to burn the damn Books until the very end (for a singular reason that otherwise the plot won't happen). And then comes more tedious yapping from Augusta - and the problem is resolved by someone else!
One of the scenes I found particularly awful. The way Felix interacts with my Book is creepy and unsettling. Granted, the Book is murderous, but it's clearly alive and is kept in the cellar at all times and gets hit with an axe repeatedly. And then some undead creep comes in and starts stroking its pages "affectionately" and addressing it in a "silky voice" and then threatening it and yelling commands at it at the same time. It's practically a torture scene. Dafuq?
There's also my personal pet peeve - just leave the language alone! When Felix mentioned that the Books were talking "the archaic form of English" that Theo didn't understand, I imagined it was actual Old English and rejoiced. But a couple of paragraphs later Felix quotes what the Book was saying, and it's Ye Olde English! And it's not Felix interpreting it as such, it's written like that in the Book! Why wouldn't Theo understand a random "thou shalt"? Then later Ballantine is retelling a 15th century curse - why is it in Ye Olde spelling if he's saying it, not writing? The words chosen would be pronounced the way they are now (they are from Early Modern English, after all), so even if he's quoting verbatim, he's not conveying the weird spelling. Why not just give Theo some records to read?
There are also a couple of editing problems. Unfortunately, like many other authors of many other series, Ms English didn't bother to reread her previous work to keep things consistent (as was seen in the end of Book 1 as well). The place with the altar changes from a grove to a glade, Aunt Werth intended to ice at least one book (if not both) but it's never mentioned here, a couple of paragraphs are simply incomprehensible (Ranulf and a Bible, Theo embedding the axe in the cellar door etc), and all the meticulous research of the period the author did for the first book went out of the window. And in addition to being generally convoluted, some plotlines just stop abruptly (the whole Maundevyle affair and Henry in particular). In contrast, everything that happens after the climax is so tedious that I kept wondering why the hell this book was still going.
Theo is still delightful and Ballantine is much better characterised, so they keep the rating from being 0 stars.
~~~~~~~
Wyrde and Wayward ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wyrde and Wicked ⭐
Wyrde and Wild ⭐⭐⭐
Wyrde and Wondrous ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wyrde and Widdershins ⭐⭐
January 15, 2021
I did not think that it was possible to like the second book of the House of Werth more than the first one, but I did, somehow! In the first book Gussie seemed charmingly out of sync with her family... in this one that idea is fully put to rest. She is definitely as grim and dark as the rest of them, gruesomely entertained by the blackest thoughts. (I found her incredibly endearing.) Like all of Ms. English's books, this one had a fair bit of droll humor, this one liberally splashed with the macabre. I really look forward to reading more of these.
August 16, 2020
More delightful Wyrdeness
I love the Werth family and their relationship to the wyrde. I am looking forward to the 3rd book. I do have one quibble. Everyone else grows and develops through the book with the exception of Gussie. She plows through life. Even Theo grew as a character and I quite like him. Gussie needs a little growth, too, and a bit of comeuppance to learn she cannot always get her way and sometimes that might be a good thing.
I love the Werth family and their relationship to the wyrde. I am looking forward to the 3rd book. I do have one quibble. Everyone else grows and develops through the book with the exception of Gussie. She plows through life. Even Theo grew as a character and I quite like him. Gussie needs a little growth, too, and a bit of comeuppance to learn she cannot always get her way and sometimes that might be a good thing.
February 20, 2020
I read it in one sitting, which is to say that Charlotte has once again kept me up far too late, or early, as the case may be. It is wickedly wyrde. Highly recommended. But don't start with this one, read Wyrde and Wayward first or you will be thoroughly lost. You may be lost anyway, but such is the nature of the House of Werth.
February 28, 2020
Excellent !
I cannot recommend these books highly enough. I find the stories well written, the plots interesting and with just enough humor. Every book written by this author immediately goes into my library and I have not found one yet that disappoints. My only complaint is that there are not enough(or I need to read slower), again I highly recommend !
I cannot recommend these books highly enough. I find the stories well written, the plots interesting and with just enough humor. Every book written by this author immediately goes into my library and I have not found one yet that disappoints. My only complaint is that there are not enough(or I need to read slower), again I highly recommend !
March 11, 2020
Another light, enjoyable romp with the Wyrded Werth family. Still on the trail of the living books of horror, Gussie continues to charmingly bull her way through every obstacle, whether it be misogynistic Bow Runners, dragons, overbearing upper class mermaids, killing books, or her vampire cousin, all accompanied by her proper Miss. Frostell to ensure the utmost propriety.
June 13, 2020
Another delightful book of the adventures of Gussie Werth
And her friends and fami!y. A madcap adventure chasing evil books. I enjoyed the witty repartee and all the crazy characters. Gussie is quite irrepressible. I look forward to more of her adventures with her merry band of wyrded
And her friends and fami!y. A madcap adventure chasing evil books. I enjoyed the witty repartee and all the crazy characters. Gussie is quite irrepressible. I look forward to more of her adventures with her merry band of wyrded
September 12, 2021
I looooove Gussie's high-spiritedness and also really enjoyed reading Theo's point of view.
This was such a fun instalment and can't wait to see what high jinx Gussie (and the family) gets into next.
This was such a fun instalment and can't wait to see what high jinx Gussie (and the family) gets into next.
October 5, 2021
Good story
This series is Addams Family meets Pride and Prejudice. The dangling storylines from the first book get resolved. Lady Maundevyle gets her wish but it doesn't turn out quite the way she hoped. Although there are some fun scenes with Lord Maundevyle, be remains sadly two dimensional. Hopefully, he will make more if an appearance in the next book.
This series is Addams Family meets Pride and Prejudice. The dangling storylines from the first book get resolved. Lady Maundevyle gets her wish but it doesn't turn out quite the way she hoped. Although there are some fun scenes with Lord Maundevyle, be remains sadly two dimensional. Hopefully, he will make more if an appearance in the next book.
November 4, 2021
Clean mystery
If you like witty, dry humor you will enjoy the character Gussie and the whole story of the Werth family.
There is mystery and challenges that twist and turn as well as an ongoing plot from book one. I strongly recommend reading book one to get a deeper understanding of the cast of characters in book two.
I look forward to reading book three!
If you like witty, dry humor you will enjoy the character Gussie and the whole story of the Werth family.
There is mystery and challenges that twist and turn as well as an ongoing plot from book one. I strongly recommend reading book one to get a deeper understanding of the cast of characters in book two.
I look forward to reading book three!
November 27, 2021
So Creative!
The creativity and dry humor in these books continue to be astounding. The literary style truly transports the reader to a different era and all the incumbent biases with their restrictions on the fairer sex. It’s a total joy to watch the lively wit of the heroine prove time and again that it’s definitely not a man’s world.
The creativity and dry humor in these books continue to be astounding. The literary style truly transports the reader to a different era and all the incumbent biases with their restrictions on the fairer sex. It’s a total joy to watch the lively wit of the heroine prove time and again that it’s definitely not a man’s world.
October 14, 2023
I really cannot say enough positive things about this witty, engaging, and fun series. I love the no nonsense heroine and her quirky and interesting family members. It’s consistent with other paranormal Victorian. (?) novels and reminded me of some of the works of Gail Carringer however, with that said, it’s not repetitive and certainly holds its own. Highly recommend!
October 18, 2023
Miss Gussie Werth's family consider her to be a one-woman catastrophe, a misfortune, with no hope of a cure. Not that she wants one. She's more interested in an adventure or a solid mystery. Something to keep the boredom away.
Why I started this book: Ready to continue the adventure.
Why I finished it: Quick read with a murderous book. Right up my alley.
Why I started this book: Ready to continue the adventure.
Why I finished it: Quick read with a murderous book. Right up my alley.
March 1, 2020
Engaging
Another interesting episode in Gussie’s life. The books continue to be dangerous and in need of being subdued. The cast all returns. I do wish there was relationship growth. Some change is necessary for continued interest.
Another interesting episode in Gussie’s life. The books continue to be dangerous and in need of being subdued. The cast all returns. I do wish there was relationship growth. Some change is necessary for continued interest.
March 27, 2020
A thoroughly enjoyable read
I love this series and the author's sense of humour. This book is full of suspense, sarcasm, witty dialogue, and interesting and quirky characters all set in historical England backdrop. Highly recommend this book. Can't wait for the next one.
I love this series and the author's sense of humour. This book is full of suspense, sarcasm, witty dialogue, and interesting and quirky characters all set in historical England backdrop. Highly recommend this book. Can't wait for the next one.
May 10, 2020
An excellent second instalment in the series
Gussie is once again vastly entertaining and charming. The book does not disappointed in its hilarious and mischievous description of the young lady's adventures. I look forward to next in the series.
Gussie is once again vastly entertaining and charming. The book does not disappointed in its hilarious and mischievous description of the young lady's adventures. I look forward to next in the series.
December 12, 2020
nope. I think the Regency setting makes it even worse : if you have read Jane Austen, it is very difficult to enjoy such bad writing. The idea still has potential, it is still unfulfilled, and I have made up my mind about the heroin : she's a sociopath. Not even an entertaining one.
February 11, 2021
Good follow up to book 1, narrator stayed the same. There was something strange with the recording. Occasionally sounds like the narrator is in a closet or reading into the book then stood for a while then off. There are opportunities for book 3 i could see from this book or it could end here.
February 23, 2022
Generally a fairly fun read—some of the characters start to sound a bit the same, with the whole gleeful delight at mayhem and destruction. I sort of just want some of the characters to actually like each other.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews