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Fledgling
A dark, gothic adventure set in the Bavarian forest, with angels and owls and magic and a boy who isn’t all that he seems to be…
A cherub is blown into Cassie Engel’s bedroom during a thunderstorm, triggering a series of terrifying events. Cassie must discover if its arrival was an accident or part of something more sinister.
With a self-obsessed opera singer for a mother, a strange taxidermist father, and a best friend who isn’t quite what he seems, Cassie is forced to unearth the secrets of her family’s past. As the dark forces gather around them, can Cassie protect all that she holds dear?
The fantastic debut novel from Lucy Hope, with cover illustration by Anna Shepeta.
A cherub is blown into Cassie Engel’s bedroom during a thunderstorm, triggering a series of terrifying events. Cassie must discover if its arrival was an accident or part of something more sinister.
With a self-obsessed opera singer for a mother, a strange taxidermist father, and a best friend who isn’t quite what he seems, Cassie is forced to unearth the secrets of her family’s past. As the dark forces gather around them, can Cassie protect all that she holds dear?
The fantastic debut novel from Lucy Hope, with cover illustration by Anna Shepeta.
288 pages, Paperback
First published November 4, 2021
8 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Hope
2 books7 followersLucy Hope grew up in North Wales, though now she lives in the Cotswolds. After jobs ranging from managing telecoms products to working in schools, she did a master’s degree in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa university. Fledgling is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
November 4, 2021
In the year 1900, Cassie Engel lives in an unusual house perched precariously on top of a tall rock on the edge of the Bratvian Forest overlooking to town of Edenburg. She lives with her cold and aloof opera-singing mother, her enthusiastic but not particularly skilful taxidermist father, and her grandma who is gravely ill.
One night, during a violent storm, a cherub flies into Cassie’s room. But this is only the beginning of a series of mysterious happenings that will transform her life irrevocably.
The cherub herself is more birdlike than babylike and is an intriguingly ambiguous character—both vulnerable and powerful. Cassie feels a strongly protective urge towards her, but when Cassie is attacked by the sturmfalken—predatory birds—the cherub defends her, and Cassie begins to suspect that the little angel has come to her for a particular reason.
The sturmfalken are gathering in the forest, Cassie’s parents are acting strangely, and something is happening to her best friend, Raphael. As the storm clouds gather, Cassie, Raphael and the cherub must solve the mystery of Raphael’s birth and protect themselves from the threat that is looming from the sky.
I loved Cassie’s weird house, full of innovative inventions like the ‘zip’—a steam-powered platform that acts a lift, and a mechanical roof that opens like the petals of a flower. The Bavarian setting gives the book a dark, Grimm’s Fairy Tale feel, while the sinister characters, dreamlike prose and uncanny owls imbue it with hint of Twin Peaks-style surrealism.
‘Fledgling’ is a startlingly original and eerily atmospheric tale, perfect for fans of Frances Hardinge. I was thoroughly captivated, and utterly blindsided by the ending. Highly recommended.
One night, during a violent storm, a cherub flies into Cassie’s room. But this is only the beginning of a series of mysterious happenings that will transform her life irrevocably.
The cherub herself is more birdlike than babylike and is an intriguingly ambiguous character—both vulnerable and powerful. Cassie feels a strongly protective urge towards her, but when Cassie is attacked by the sturmfalken—predatory birds—the cherub defends her, and Cassie begins to suspect that the little angel has come to her for a particular reason.
The sturmfalken are gathering in the forest, Cassie’s parents are acting strangely, and something is happening to her best friend, Raphael. As the storm clouds gather, Cassie, Raphael and the cherub must solve the mystery of Raphael’s birth and protect themselves from the threat that is looming from the sky.
I loved Cassie’s weird house, full of innovative inventions like the ‘zip’—a steam-powered platform that acts a lift, and a mechanical roof that opens like the petals of a flower. The Bavarian setting gives the book a dark, Grimm’s Fairy Tale feel, while the sinister characters, dreamlike prose and uncanny owls imbue it with hint of Twin Peaks-style surrealism.
‘Fledgling’ is a startlingly original and eerily atmospheric tale, perfect for fans of Frances Hardinge. I was thoroughly captivated, and utterly blindsided by the ending. Highly recommended.
October 31, 2021
Tinted dark like a fairytale on the cusp of winter, Fledgling follows Cassie in her eccentric house when a mystery involving a cherub, her family, and her best friend literally gets blown in the window one night. The tone and setting are shades of Skellig and Greenglass House, with just a hint of Sarah Driver's Huntress trilogy. I could see readers who enjoyed those books enjoying this one, too, for its own unique blend of the fantastic, mythological, and mysterious. Looking forward to seeing what this author does next!
December 26, 2021
Story interesting, setting intriguing. But I don't want to talk about that now. What I want to talk about is this:
"That is all, and may God protect you."
"God protect us?" I whisper.
Raphael's face is inscrutable. "I think we need more that God on our side," he mutters.
This is a quote from the book. Now I don't want to rant on behalf of christianity, I've read many books with atheistic tentencies, it's pretty much a status quo these days in which is perfectly politically correct to mock and humiliate God and christian faith.
But here is where I draw the line. Angels and Cherubs are exclusively religious creatures who by definition "serve the will of God, performing divine duties in earthly realm".
So even if you're an atheist and don't care about millions of people to whom these creatures are incredibly important, when you take the holiest of God's creatures to make your silly little piece of fiction about them, at least have a decency to acknowledge the idea of God and faith that inspired you in the first place, by, shall we say, at least finishing the quote at "may God protect you" and say nothing more?
"If God is with us, who can be against us?" Rim 8:31
"That is all, and may God protect you."
"God protect us?" I whisper.
Raphael's face is inscrutable. "I think we need more that God on our side," he mutters.
This is a quote from the book. Now I don't want to rant on behalf of christianity, I've read many books with atheistic tentencies, it's pretty much a status quo these days in which is perfectly politically correct to mock and humiliate God and christian faith.
But here is where I draw the line. Angels and Cherubs are exclusively religious creatures who by definition "serve the will of God, performing divine duties in earthly realm".
So even if you're an atheist and don't care about millions of people to whom these creatures are incredibly important, when you take the holiest of God's creatures to make your silly little piece of fiction about them, at least have a decency to acknowledge the idea of God and faith that inspired you in the first place, by, shall we say, at least finishing the quote at "may God protect you" and say nothing more?
"If God is with us, who can be against us?" Rim 8:31
September 23, 2021
Fledgling is a real treat for those who love a gothic story full of thrills and atmospheric settings. Taking place at the turn of the century in 1900, everything about Cassie's life is remote; from the rock-edge house in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps to her aloof and emotionally distant parents and a gravely ill grandmother. When a strange cherub-like creature appears after a storm, a series of strange events are set into motion and a shocking family secret is brought to light.
With owls and angels, menacing storm birds, an eerie forest setting and a family mystery to uncover, there's plenty of tension around each corner in Lucy Hope's debut narrative. Taxidermy animals and strange inventions furnish the inside of Cassie's home, while outside in the forest there are storms and strange birds and all the noises of the forest. There's a sense of darkness gathering throughout the story and a brilliantly gothic cast of characters and setting. The story feels surreal in places, while never losing the thread of hope pulled long by Cassie and the cherub and finished with a warming message about love and family.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us an early copy for review. This book is featured on our Autumn 2021 Ones to Watch selection: https://www.booksfortopics.com/post/o...
With owls and angels, menacing storm birds, an eerie forest setting and a family mystery to uncover, there's plenty of tension around each corner in Lucy Hope's debut narrative. Taxidermy animals and strange inventions furnish the inside of Cassie's home, while outside in the forest there are storms and strange birds and all the noises of the forest. There's a sense of darkness gathering throughout the story and a brilliantly gothic cast of characters and setting. The story feels surreal in places, while never losing the thread of hope pulled long by Cassie and the cherub and finished with a warming message about love and family.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us an early copy for review. This book is featured on our Autumn 2021 Ones to Watch selection: https://www.booksfortopics.com/post/o...
November 3, 2021
I received an e-arc of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publishers, in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was a cute read with a great premise and setting.
I hadn't read a book dealing with angels in quite a while and never in a middle grade novel so the originality was something I really appreciated.
The atmosphere here reminded me of a mix of something akin to Coraline and Spiderwick Chronicles for some reason.
I can't quite pinpoint why exactly the writing style didn't gel with me 100%. I felt perhaps there was some disconnect between the darkness/creepy aspect of the plot and the slightly oversimplified style of writing.
I would have pegged this story to be in the 9-12+ age range category, but I could be wrong here and perhaps it's targeted to a slightly younger demographic.
I did think the ending was a little weak, unfortunately, just in the way everything wrapped up and the twist with the main character's mother. This could however just be down to personal taste so I would still be more than happy to recommend this. Especially for the colder time of year.
I thought this was a cute read with a great premise and setting.
I hadn't read a book dealing with angels in quite a while and never in a middle grade novel so the originality was something I really appreciated.
The atmosphere here reminded me of a mix of something akin to Coraline and Spiderwick Chronicles for some reason.
I can't quite pinpoint why exactly the writing style didn't gel with me 100%. I felt perhaps there was some disconnect between the darkness/creepy aspect of the plot and the slightly oversimplified style of writing.
I would have pegged this story to be in the 9-12+ age range category, but I could be wrong here and perhaps it's targeted to a slightly younger demographic.
I did think the ending was a little weak, unfortunately, just in the way everything wrapped up and the twist with the main character's mother. This could however just be down to personal taste so I would still be more than happy to recommend this. Especially for the colder time of year.
October 20, 2021
This atmospheric tale takes place in a rickety old house on a tall rock in the Bavarian forest. It follows the protagonist, Cassie, and her good friend Raphael, who are thrust into adventure when a cherub flies through Cassie's window, bringing a surge of chaos in her wake.
I love the mixture of gothic tension and creepy vibes (stuffed owls that move when nobody is looking, evil storm birds, a house that shakes in the wind and is filled with generations-old secrets), and how this eeriness is perfectly offset by the wholesome loyalty and friendship of the characters.
I also appreciate how sensitively the story touches on different types of loss, from how Cassie cares for her ailing grandmother, to how her parents' emotional detachment brings about its own form of grief, to how she learns to let go of her loved ones when it's time.
Told in simple, striking prose that will draw in readers from middle grade upwards, this story is magical, touching, inventive and strange in all the best ways. I recommend this to lovers of middle grade fantasy and those who loved Skellig growing up.
I love the mixture of gothic tension and creepy vibes (stuffed owls that move when nobody is looking, evil storm birds, a house that shakes in the wind and is filled with generations-old secrets), and how this eeriness is perfectly offset by the wholesome loyalty and friendship of the characters.
I also appreciate how sensitively the story touches on different types of loss, from how Cassie cares for her ailing grandmother, to how her parents' emotional detachment brings about its own form of grief, to how she learns to let go of her loved ones when it's time.
Told in simple, striking prose that will draw in readers from middle grade upwards, this story is magical, touching, inventive and strange in all the best ways. I recommend this to lovers of middle grade fantasy and those who loved Skellig growing up.
January 18, 2022
Thank you to Jonathan Ball Publishers for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In Edenburg, Bavaria, 1900, we are introduced to a house on a rock, it started off as a simple house built by Cassie's great great grandfather overlooking the Bratvian Forest. He then starts to build more and more levels to house his collection of stuffed owls and book collection and then some more levels later on, which now housed five generations of the Engel family. Everything seemed somewhat normal in Cassie's life (if you don't count the rooms filled with owls and her peculiar family), until a huge storm starts brewing and blows a cherub through her window, which starts the events of eery things occurring and changes Cassie's life forever.
I loved that the author included the German language throughout the book.
I loved the plot - it was creepy yet magical at the same time. And while you may start to figure out the plot along the way, there are still many plot twists to go with it.
My favourite part of the book was when all the mysteries started to unravel!
The writing paints a vivid picture and I could clearly imagine the peculiar house on the rock and it's mechanical twists. And true to its Gothic genre, you will find all things supernatural, some mystery, and an eery setting to go with it.
This book has so much depth - it focuses on friendship, loneliness, loss, and most importantly love.
This is a middle grade book but it's one of those books that everyone can enjoy. It's the perfect Autumn/Winter book that will give you chills!
In Edenburg, Bavaria, 1900, we are introduced to a house on a rock, it started off as a simple house built by Cassie's great great grandfather overlooking the Bratvian Forest. He then starts to build more and more levels to house his collection of stuffed owls and book collection and then some more levels later on, which now housed five generations of the Engel family. Everything seemed somewhat normal in Cassie's life (if you don't count the rooms filled with owls and her peculiar family), until a huge storm starts brewing and blows a cherub through her window, which starts the events of eery things occurring and changes Cassie's life forever.
I loved that the author included the German language throughout the book.
I loved the plot - it was creepy yet magical at the same time. And while you may start to figure out the plot along the way, there are still many plot twists to go with it.
My favourite part of the book was when all the mysteries started to unravel!
The writing paints a vivid picture and I could clearly imagine the peculiar house on the rock and it's mechanical twists. And true to its Gothic genre, you will find all things supernatural, some mystery, and an eery setting to go with it.
This book has so much depth - it focuses on friendship, loneliness, loss, and most importantly love.
This is a middle grade book but it's one of those books that everyone can enjoy. It's the perfect Autumn/Winter book that will give you chills!
October 31, 2022
This book starts out as a middle-grade fantasy adventure, but then gets increasingly dark and intense, which made me feel uncertain about its suitability for many of the middle-grade readers I know. It made for a really good adult adventure read though!
The mythology created here around angels, cherubs and Sturmfalken is fascinating and I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get a whole load more detail on these aspects, as they didn’t feel quite fully explained or fleshed out by the end, but instead used as symbols related to death and loss of a loved one.
And Cassie, the main character, has A LOT of loss to deal with in this story, with her grandmother dying, her parents remote and her best friend going through problems of his own. I really loved how the story delved into ideas about acceptance around these huge issues, but felt the emotion was a little bit lacking at times – I would have been an emotional wreck from facing half of what Cassie does!
Still, this is a lovely and gripping story, one that I just couldn’t stop reading. Not only did I devour it whole, but I was haunted afterwards by the magic and mystery of the family house, the family members and the worldbuilding. I wanted to know so much more!
The mythology created here around angels, cherubs and Sturmfalken is fascinating and I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get a whole load more detail on these aspects, as they didn’t feel quite fully explained or fleshed out by the end, but instead used as symbols related to death and loss of a loved one.
And Cassie, the main character, has A LOT of loss to deal with in this story, with her grandmother dying, her parents remote and her best friend going through problems of his own. I really loved how the story delved into ideas about acceptance around these huge issues, but felt the emotion was a little bit lacking at times – I would have been an emotional wreck from facing half of what Cassie does!
Still, this is a lovely and gripping story, one that I just couldn’t stop reading. Not only did I devour it whole, but I was haunted afterwards by the magic and mystery of the family house, the family members and the worldbuilding. I wanted to know so much more!
October 30, 2021
Lucy Hope’s debut novel is an atmospheric gothic adventure set in Bavaria in 1900 where Cassie Engel’s lives in a rather idiosyncratic house originally built by her great-great-grandfather on top of a rock that overlooks the small town of Edenburg and the forest. Cassie doesn’t have the easiest home life with a distant and self-obsessed mother who is an opera singer and an alcoholic taxidermist father who has never recovered from the war. Her grandma is seriously ill and reliant on a morphine pump to ease her pain and even the family maid is elderly, meaning most of the running of the house falls to sensible Cassie, including caring for a collection of stuffed owls.
Life gets ever more complicated for Cassie when during a treacherous thunderstorm a cherub is blown through her bedroom window. The story is written from the first-person perspective of Cassie which works well as it gives the reader a real understanding of Cassie’s frustration at her mother, bemusement at her father and worries about what the cherub’s arrival might mean. Her gentle best-friend, Raphael, joins her to scour the library for more information about the cherub but even he is acting oddly. When Cassie is attacked in the forest by a menacing vulture-like creature with foul breath called a Sturmfalken, she believes it is the growling cherub that she has to thank for protecting her. When Cassie and Raphael meet an old woman in the forest with a bizarre story about Raphael’s birth and he reveals to Cassie what has been worrying him, it leads to an emotional second half.
To be honest I felt like the story took a few too many detours without offering much in the way of clarification or pointers in the right direction and leaving it right until the denouement to tie everything together in a rather disquieting manner. I certainly wouldn’t give this book to my middle grade age niece and I am in two minds about whether to give it to my sensitive 13 year-old niece. Either way, the storyline has the potential to confuse and I didn’t feel there was much in the way of logical progression from one scene to the next. Admittedly the story does come together but in has the feel of a dark and unsettling fairy tale that may well leave middle grade readers with some serious questions. Both my nieces like fantasy novels but Fledgling definitely has a heavier feel than I can imagine either of them being comfortable with as well as several characters who are belatedly revealed as not all they first appear.
Far and away the best thing for me about this novel was the vividly imagined house on top of a tall rock with a helter-skelter road blasted into the rock face and complete with owlery and a zip wire to move between floors. The descriptions of the features added by different generations of the family were well-drawn and engagingly told and I think I could have read a book about Cassie’s unique home alone!
Life gets ever more complicated for Cassie when during a treacherous thunderstorm a cherub is blown through her bedroom window. The story is written from the first-person perspective of Cassie which works well as it gives the reader a real understanding of Cassie’s frustration at her mother, bemusement at her father and worries about what the cherub’s arrival might mean. Her gentle best-friend, Raphael, joins her to scour the library for more information about the cherub but even he is acting oddly. When Cassie is attacked in the forest by a menacing vulture-like creature with foul breath called a Sturmfalken, she believes it is the growling cherub that she has to thank for protecting her. When Cassie and Raphael meet an old woman in the forest with a bizarre story about Raphael’s birth and he reveals to Cassie what has been worrying him, it leads to an emotional second half.
To be honest I felt like the story took a few too many detours without offering much in the way of clarification or pointers in the right direction and leaving it right until the denouement to tie everything together in a rather disquieting manner. I certainly wouldn’t give this book to my middle grade age niece and I am in two minds about whether to give it to my sensitive 13 year-old niece. Either way, the storyline has the potential to confuse and I didn’t feel there was much in the way of logical progression from one scene to the next. Admittedly the story does come together but in has the feel of a dark and unsettling fairy tale that may well leave middle grade readers with some serious questions. Both my nieces like fantasy novels but Fledgling definitely has a heavier feel than I can imagine either of them being comfortable with as well as several characters who are belatedly revealed as not all they first appear.
Far and away the best thing for me about this novel was the vividly imagined house on top of a tall rock with a helter-skelter road blasted into the rock face and complete with owlery and a zip wire to move between floors. The descriptions of the features added by different generations of the family were well-drawn and engagingly told and I think I could have read a book about Cassie’s unique home alone!
December 12, 2021
This was a really intriguing premise for a book but I don't think it met its full potential. The language and style is very simple, more so than I'd expect even in a middle grade book, and I felt its length wasn't used in the most efficient way, with not enough time spent on fleshing out characters. It was hard to connect or empathise with many of the characters for this reason.
I feel an opportunity was missed here to cover deeper situations which can and do occur in the lives of the target demographic, for example the loss of a grandparent. It's clear throughout the book that Cassie's grandmother is dying and we see her caring for her, but the emotion of such a situation is lacking.
I did enjoy the climax of the story, which held a surprise or two for the reader, but overall felt that the general creepiness created by the author was somewhat wasted.
I feel an opportunity was missed here to cover deeper situations which can and do occur in the lives of the target demographic, for example the loss of a grandparent. It's clear throughout the book that Cassie's grandmother is dying and we see her caring for her, but the emotion of such a situation is lacking.
I did enjoy the climax of the story, which held a surprise or two for the reader, but overall felt that the general creepiness created by the author was somewhat wasted.
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December 6, 2021Cassie Engel lives in an unusual house perched precariously on top of a tall rock on the edge of the Bratvian Forest overlooking to town of Edenburg, with her self-obsessed opera-singing mother, and highly enthusiastic but far less skilled taxidermist father, and her grandma, who is very ill.
On a dark stormy night a cherub flies into Cassie’s room triggering the start of a number of mysterious events that will change her life completely! The cherub is more like a baby bird, but strangely vulnerable and powerful simultaneously. Cassie is desperate to protect her and after a violent attack by predatory birds (stumfalken,) believes the cherub has come to her specifically.
Whilst the sturmfalken gather in the forest, strange and dark things happen, Cassie's parents begin to act strangely, something is happening to her best friend Raphael and they must solve the mystery of Raphael’s birth to protect themselves from the looming overhead threat.
There is a lot to love about this story, the world-building is perfect, which a dark Grimm like aspect with a twist of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang invention. Whilst intended for middle-grade there is a lot to engage in this book and I think it would appeal to young adults and adults alike...and like many others I totally agree if you are a fan of Frances Hardinge, then this is definitely the book for you.
On a dark stormy night a cherub flies into Cassie’s room triggering the start of a number of mysterious events that will change her life completely! The cherub is more like a baby bird, but strangely vulnerable and powerful simultaneously. Cassie is desperate to protect her and after a violent attack by predatory birds (stumfalken,) believes the cherub has come to her specifically.
Whilst the sturmfalken gather in the forest, strange and dark things happen, Cassie's parents begin to act strangely, something is happening to her best friend Raphael and they must solve the mystery of Raphael’s birth to protect themselves from the looming overhead threat.
There is a lot to love about this story, the world-building is perfect, which a dark Grimm like aspect with a twist of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang invention. Whilst intended for middle-grade there is a lot to engage in this book and I think it would appeal to young adults and adults alike...and like many others I totally agree if you are a fan of Frances Hardinge, then this is definitely the book for you.
October 25, 2021
I don’t read all that much fantasy or kind of fairytale novels but this was a refreshing take on the genre.
It’s the turn of the century and one night in the midst of a storm something is blown through the window of Cassie’s bedroom.
Instantly she feels a connection and rapport to this little being and tries her hardest to take care of it.
Though around this same time her best friend Raphael starts acting strange.
Little does she know he is slowly transforming into something very special.
With her lovingly negligent family Cassie seems to be dealing with all of this situation on her own.
But evil beings called the Sturmfalke are on the wing as Raphael slowly turns into a very special being.
Cassie is scared but to save her family and Raphael she has to be brave and stand firm.
Brilliant written with great characters and a huge dose of myth and legend make this a compelling read.
It’s the turn of the century and one night in the midst of a storm something is blown through the window of Cassie’s bedroom.
Instantly she feels a connection and rapport to this little being and tries her hardest to take care of it.
Though around this same time her best friend Raphael starts acting strange.
Little does she know he is slowly transforming into something very special.
With her lovingly negligent family Cassie seems to be dealing with all of this situation on her own.
But evil beings called the Sturmfalke are on the wing as Raphael slowly turns into a very special being.
Cassie is scared but to save her family and Raphael she has to be brave and stand firm.
Brilliant written with great characters and a huge dose of myth and legend make this a compelling read.
October 11, 2021
A most distinctive debut, clearly indebted to Skellig but definitely providing a fantasy drama with some nicely chilling scenes that will last in the memory.
Four my full four and a half star write-up, please refer to:- http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/F...
Four my full four and a half star write-up, please refer to:- http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/F...
March 5, 2022
I really enjoyed this middle grade fantasy book so much and I found it hard to put down. Cassie is one of the best leading characters as she is so strong and loyal. The settings are described so well and it’s both exciting and mystical
November 9, 2021
I knew I was off to a good start with this book when I read that the grandfather built an annex onto his house, just for books! This was definitely my kind of house, with so many interesting rooms, a roof that opens up and a steam-powered lift built in the middle. The house was a big part of the book too, playing a real part in the adventure.
I really felt for poor Cassie. Living with a horribly selfish mother who only cares for herself, a very absent, distant father and a grandmother on her deathbed. At least she has a wonderful friend in Raphael, you can tell he really cares about her and tries to protect her.
There are so many mysteries running through. How did Cassie's parents become like this? What's Raphael's story. And of course, why is the cherub there? The book was fast paced and really gripping, it kept surprising me.
My only problem with the book is I still don't understand why Cassie's mother was so horrible. It is kind of rationalised but I didn't really feel that explained it properly.
I really felt for poor Cassie. Living with a horribly selfish mother who only cares for herself, a very absent, distant father and a grandmother on her deathbed. At least she has a wonderful friend in Raphael, you can tell he really cares about her and tries to protect her.
There are so many mysteries running through. How did Cassie's parents become like this? What's Raphael's story. And of course, why is the cherub there? The book was fast paced and really gripping, it kept surprising me.
My only problem with the book is I still don't understand why Cassie's mother was so horrible. It is kind of rationalised but I didn't really feel that explained it properly.
November 18, 2021
Strange read... but totally different!
October 29, 2021
A unique and distinctive dark gothic fantasy story set in the Bavarian Forest in 1900.
This is a story predominantly of family and friendship, of magic and superstition.
Cassie Engel lives in a peculiar house in the top of a mountain. We learn lots of incentive details about the house. Cassie, whilst the child, seems the responsible one: she looks after the maintenance of the house whilst also running around after her mother, who is a famous singer, and tending to her sick grandmother, whom she is very close to.
Cassie’s best friend is Raphael, who lives on the outskirts of the nearby village of Edenburg, friendship her mother doesn’t approve of.
The book starts with a cherub flying into Cassie’s bedroom. Cassie & Raphael feel compelled to look after and protect the cherub. This leads them to researching what it means. Little do they know that they will end up discovering things about themselves and their families that will change their lives together.
I do feel like some of the themes & relationships could have been explored more. However, it has scope to be developed into a series where more can be explored.
An extremely enjoyable read.
This is a story predominantly of family and friendship, of magic and superstition.
Cassie Engel lives in a peculiar house in the top of a mountain. We learn lots of incentive details about the house. Cassie, whilst the child, seems the responsible one: she looks after the maintenance of the house whilst also running around after her mother, who is a famous singer, and tending to her sick grandmother, whom she is very close to.
Cassie’s best friend is Raphael, who lives on the outskirts of the nearby village of Edenburg, friendship her mother doesn’t approve of.
The book starts with a cherub flying into Cassie’s bedroom. Cassie & Raphael feel compelled to look after and protect the cherub. This leads them to researching what it means. Little do they know that they will end up discovering things about themselves and their families that will change their lives together.
I do feel like some of the themes & relationships could have been explored more. However, it has scope to be developed into a series where more can be explored.
An extremely enjoyable read.
November 9, 2021
This is a peculiar and endearing story with a shadowy mystery underpinning the narrative. The story opens with a fantastical description of the family home 'perched' upon a tall rock and added to by different generations of the Engel family. We follow the story of Cassie who, when a mysterious creature is blown into her room, works with her friend Raphael to identify it and work out what to do. Cassie's parents are seemingly caught up in their own lives and interests and Cassie feels separated and unsure.
For a debut, this book has many merits and I, personally, really enjoyed the style of writing and the plotting. There're several mysteries that need uncovering and some emotional dramas to work through; the edge of darkness brings in some interesting depth and the reader cannot help but question both story and characters.
I think this is a great story for readers (9-12 years) who are looking for something a little different.
For a debut, this book has many merits and I, personally, really enjoyed the style of writing and the plotting. There're several mysteries that need uncovering and some emotional dramas to work through; the edge of darkness brings in some interesting depth and the reader cannot help but question both story and characters.
I think this is a great story for readers (9-12 years) who are looking for something a little different.
September 16, 2021
This magical story of humans becoming angels to rise to the sky can also be seen as a metaphor for death and loss. The writing is simple and enchanting. And this big mechanical house perched on a rock is the perfect setting for a dream - or a nightmare. Not to mention the vulture-like monsters and the alcoholic parents.
Recommend for 11+.
Between gothic, steampunk and magical realism.
Recommend for 11+.
Between gothic, steampunk and magical realism.
October 14, 2021
A gothic tale set in 1900 in Bavaria. Cassie Engel lives in a towering house on top of a tall rock that looks down upon the small town of Edenburg. Extra storeys have been added to give space to various collections including one of stuffed owls.
Her mother is an opera singer, but she’s not well and stays in her room most of the time, and her father is a taxidermist. Cassie only has one friend, Raphael, who lives down in the town. One night there is a bad storm, and Cassie hears tapping on the window. She tries to open the window just a bit to see what is making the sound, but the wind catches the window and it is thrown open wide, wide enough for something to come flying in and land on the bed. It’s a creature but Cassie can’t work out what it is. It looks like a baby bird of prey, but she and Raphael soon discover it’s a cherub. Why is she here? Why is Raphael acting so oddly? Cassie must research her family history and secret past to look for answers.
This is a wonderful debut story by Lucy Hope, with echoes of Skellig and angels. It’s very atmospheric with vivid descriptions of the house with a roof that opens, the library with its smell of ancient tobacco and a zip wire that works between floors.
Thank you to Nosy Crow for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
Her mother is an opera singer, but she’s not well and stays in her room most of the time, and her father is a taxidermist. Cassie only has one friend, Raphael, who lives down in the town. One night there is a bad storm, and Cassie hears tapping on the window. She tries to open the window just a bit to see what is making the sound, but the wind catches the window and it is thrown open wide, wide enough for something to come flying in and land on the bed. It’s a creature but Cassie can’t work out what it is. It looks like a baby bird of prey, but she and Raphael soon discover it’s a cherub. Why is she here? Why is Raphael acting so oddly? Cassie must research her family history and secret past to look for answers.
This is a wonderful debut story by Lucy Hope, with echoes of Skellig and angels. It’s very atmospheric with vivid descriptions of the house with a roof that opens, the library with its smell of ancient tobacco and a zip wire that works between floors.
Thank you to Nosy Crow for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
November 5, 2021
To say I had no idea what I was getting into or what this book was going to be like would be a complete understatement. I must admit this was such a pleasant surprise and I have never read anything in any way similar to this story before.
A very original story and has quite an eerie feeling to it straight from the start.
A cherub is blown into Cassie Engel’s bedroom during a thunderstorm, triggering a series of terrifying events. Cassie must discover if its arrival was an accident or part of something more sinister. With a self-obsessed opera singer for a mother, a strange taxidermist father, and a best friend who isn’t quite what he seems, Cassie is forced to unearth the secrets of her family’s past. As the dark forces gather around them, can Cassie protect all that she holds dear?
I was so sure that I knew where this story was going and that I had figured it all out but the ending gave me quite a surprise and the book has stayed with me for days after finishing. Highly addictive and a must read!
A very original story and has quite an eerie feeling to it straight from the start.
A cherub is blown into Cassie Engel’s bedroom during a thunderstorm, triggering a series of terrifying events. Cassie must discover if its arrival was an accident or part of something more sinister. With a self-obsessed opera singer for a mother, a strange taxidermist father, and a best friend who isn’t quite what he seems, Cassie is forced to unearth the secrets of her family’s past. As the dark forces gather around them, can Cassie protect all that she holds dear?
I was so sure that I knew where this story was going and that I had figured it all out but the ending gave me quite a surprise and the book has stayed with me for days after finishing. Highly addictive and a must read!
November 13, 2021
This book is SO good! I absolutely love the steampunk vibes. And I think it's so original to have a story about angels without it being about religion. The characters were really lovable and the scene were described so well that I feel like I could draw the house now! Absolutely amazing!
November 2, 2021
Set in a Bavarian forest during 1900, this story is full of beautiful, lyrical writing that is really powerful and evocative. I found myself pulled in from the first lines desperate to read on and find out where the story would take me.
After a cherub flies through Cassie’s window, it brings a surge of chaos with it, and triggering a series of unsettling events. Cassie is scared but she needs to find her inner strength and bravery if she wants to keep her friend and family safe against evil. Their lives will be changed forever in this creepy and intriguing tale.
This is a thrilling and atmospheric gothic adventure, that gives me a classic fairy tale vibes. There’s a fantastic cast, with angels, owls, Cassie, her family, including an opera singing mother, a taxidermist father and best friend, Raphael, whose friendship is sure to be engaging and relatable for readers. Perfect for readers who love stories with themes of family and friendship, and of magic, myths and superstition.
After a cherub flies through Cassie’s window, it brings a surge of chaos with it, and triggering a series of unsettling events. Cassie is scared but she needs to find her inner strength and bravery if she wants to keep her friend and family safe against evil. Their lives will be changed forever in this creepy and intriguing tale.
This is a thrilling and atmospheric gothic adventure, that gives me a classic fairy tale vibes. There’s a fantastic cast, with angels, owls, Cassie, her family, including an opera singing mother, a taxidermist father and best friend, Raphael, whose friendship is sure to be engaging and relatable for readers. Perfect for readers who love stories with themes of family and friendship, and of magic, myths and superstition.
November 2, 2021
Firstly, the cover really drew me in. Makes me feel like it would be a pleasant story about a bird and perhaps set in winter. Described as dark, gothic and 'German', with owls and magic, I immediately thought this would be up my street!
The start of the book is charming and I loved the relationship between the two friends. I am absolutely fine with taxidermy, but I can understand peoples' reservations around the subject. This shouldn't deter from the cute, alive owl they come across.
I found the mother's behaviour to be trying and frustrating at times as a reader, but perhaps that puts me in the shoes of the main character.
However, I am also super intrigued about Raphael who seems to have an eccentric way of thinking.
I think generally the writing style is easy to follow and would be an enjoyable book for a young person. This definitely gives me Autumn / Winter vibes.
The start of the book is charming and I loved the relationship between the two friends. I am absolutely fine with taxidermy, but I can understand peoples' reservations around the subject. This shouldn't deter from the cute, alive owl they come across.
I found the mother's behaviour to be trying and frustrating at times as a reader, but perhaps that puts me in the shoes of the main character.
However, I am also super intrigued about Raphael who seems to have an eccentric way of thinking.
I think generally the writing style is easy to follow and would be an enjoyable book for a young person. This definitely gives me Autumn / Winter vibes.
October 16, 2021
Fledgling is set in the year 1900 in the Bavaria forest, and jumps straight into the action with Cassie finding a cherub who has blow into her bedroom window during a storm.
Hope does an amazing job of creating a gothic atmospheric setting with an unusual house built perching on a rock and the Bavaria forest. The sense of mystery is thick throughout the book, along with underlying tension and darkness.
Hope has created several interesting and quirky characters all with a layer of mystery and secrecy around them. With Cassie as our main character who has a distant and extravagant opera-singing mother and a taxidermist father.
The ending was quick to close but did take me by surprise with a quick turn I didn’t see coming, but also left us with a sense of mystery for what the future would hold for the characters.
The cover for this book is even more stunning in person and really got me interested in reading the story.
Thanks to Readers First for an advanced copy before the publication date in exchange for an honest review.
Hope does an amazing job of creating a gothic atmospheric setting with an unusual house built perching on a rock and the Bavaria forest. The sense of mystery is thick throughout the book, along with underlying tension and darkness.
Hope has created several interesting and quirky characters all with a layer of mystery and secrecy around them. With Cassie as our main character who has a distant and extravagant opera-singing mother and a taxidermist father.
The ending was quick to close but did take me by surprise with a quick turn I didn’t see coming, but also left us with a sense of mystery for what the future would hold for the characters.
The cover for this book is even more stunning in person and really got me interested in reading the story.
Thanks to Readers First for an advanced copy before the publication date in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2021
A dark and gothic adventure set deep in the Bavarian Forest, with owls and magic and a boy who isn't all that he seems to be. This first sentence of the book blurb along with the beautiful cover drew me in and I couldn't wait to get started on this debut from Lucy Hope.
It didn't disappoint. We meet Cassie in the year 1900 who lives on the edge of the Bavarian forest. It is during a storm that a cherub flies into Cassie's room and this begins the mysteries that shape and transform her life. This book is wonderfully written and something I would have thoroughly enjoyed as a young reader, although in saying that, I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult too. There's a sense of unease and darkness throughout the story but the thread of hope brought by Cassie and the cherub was marvellous and the writing superb. It is up to Cassie to unravel the mysteries and I enjoyed being brought along for the ride. The setting for the story brings in a whole host of gothic elements and I would highly recommend this book to readers aged 10 and upwards.
It didn't disappoint. We meet Cassie in the year 1900 who lives on the edge of the Bavarian forest. It is during a storm that a cherub flies into Cassie's room and this begins the mysteries that shape and transform her life. This book is wonderfully written and something I would have thoroughly enjoyed as a young reader, although in saying that, I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult too. There's a sense of unease and darkness throughout the story but the thread of hope brought by Cassie and the cherub was marvellous and the writing superb. It is up to Cassie to unravel the mysteries and I enjoyed being brought along for the ride. The setting for the story brings in a whole host of gothic elements and I would highly recommend this book to readers aged 10 and upwards.
November 1, 2021
An enjoyably dark tale of angels, family and friendship. I thought this was an imaginative debut with a collection of well developed characters. Cassie herself is a wonderfully resilient character, desperately trying to keep her family and home together and help her dearest friend, Raphael. In a way one of the best characters was the house itself with all it's curious mechanical features, owlery and dark secrets. I did feel that younger readers would find the storm falcons quite scary, they certainly added a feeling of menace that was incredibly effective. There were also a few elements that I thought could have been pulled together or explored better, but overall this was a great debut novel.
My thanks to #NetGalley and Nosy Crow for the ARC in return for an honest review.
My thanks to #NetGalley and Nosy Crow for the ARC in return for an honest review.
October 23, 2021
I received from Netgalley for an honest review.
This book is perfect for this time of year, mysterious, dark and gothic. It has you in the edge of your seats and is so creepy!
The story is set on house that is perched on top of a tall mountain in Edenburg in the Bavarian Forest in the year 1900. Cassie, our main character, lives with her taxidermist father and opera singer mum, but they are a cold and distant family. One night there is a terrible storm and a feathered creature flies into Cassie’s window, immediately she has to tell her best friend Raphael. The story follows from there as we unveil family secrets, creepy owls and birds and see why this creature has arrived.
I don’t think I ever really guessed what was going to happen next, the story had you on the edge of your seats and the gothic dark atmosphere is perfect for this time of year. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, creeped out in many parts and would love to see a development on when the story ends up being left at. Would highly recommend if you are looking for a gothic book with twists and turns and an unexpected ending. The story has a chilling vibe and I’m not sure I can look at birds in the same way. It also incorporates German language effectively to tell the story too.
A great feathery tail that offers so much more in ways of depth and analysis too.
This book is perfect for this time of year, mysterious, dark and gothic. It has you in the edge of your seats and is so creepy!
The story is set on house that is perched on top of a tall mountain in Edenburg in the Bavarian Forest in the year 1900. Cassie, our main character, lives with her taxidermist father and opera singer mum, but they are a cold and distant family. One night there is a terrible storm and a feathered creature flies into Cassie’s window, immediately she has to tell her best friend Raphael. The story follows from there as we unveil family secrets, creepy owls and birds and see why this creature has arrived.
I don’t think I ever really guessed what was going to happen next, the story had you on the edge of your seats and the gothic dark atmosphere is perfect for this time of year. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, creeped out in many parts and would love to see a development on when the story ends up being left at. Would highly recommend if you are looking for a gothic book with twists and turns and an unexpected ending. The story has a chilling vibe and I’m not sure I can look at birds in the same way. It also incorporates German language effectively to tell the story too.
A great feathery tail that offers so much more in ways of depth and analysis too.
November 5, 2021
I really enjoyed 'Fledgling' it was a creepy unsettling book with a bizarre house full of secrets, a dysfunctional family, mythical beings and fierce battles.
Cassie lives in Bavaria in a bizarre house high above the village. Her mother is a reclusive opera singer and her father a taxidermist with mixed results are always too busy to give her much attention. She spends much of her time roaming around the house alone, caring for her very ill gandmother or in the forest with her friend. When Cassie finds an unusual creature that needs her help a chain of events is begun which sees her battling for her life, family and best friend.
This was a really enjoyable middle grade book. Cassie is a great character, fearless in her bravery, empathy and love for those she holds dear. I really enjoyed the unexpected twist at the end that I really did not see coming and I'll never look at taxidermy owls in the same way again.
Cassie lives in Bavaria in a bizarre house high above the village. Her mother is a reclusive opera singer and her father a taxidermist with mixed results are always too busy to give her much attention. She spends much of her time roaming around the house alone, caring for her very ill gandmother or in the forest with her friend. When Cassie finds an unusual creature that needs her help a chain of events is begun which sees her battling for her life, family and best friend.
This was a really enjoyable middle grade book. Cassie is a great character, fearless in her bravery, empathy and love for those she holds dear. I really enjoyed the unexpected twist at the end that I really did not see coming and I'll never look at taxidermy owls in the same way again.
October 25, 2021
My first impressions of Fledgling
I just read the first look at Fledgling on Readers First and I’m really intrigued.
Cassie is a young girl reluctantly clearing up the messes her dramatic mother leaves in her wake, dreaming of the day she might leave, when one day in a rainstorm something shoots through her window.
A bundle of feathers shivers on her bed. Cassie has grown up with her grandfather’s collection of taxidermy owls, and goes over to try to identify the bird.
But on opening its four wings, staring right back at her is a baby. A cherub, by the looks of it.
She frantically taps out a morse code message to her friend from the village, Raphael, who rushes over to find Cassie, and the cherub. They set about trying to find out where this creature might have come from and what exactly it could be.
I was hooked on the preview of this novel and I’m really excited to read more. I love historical fiction, especially when there’s a magical or mythological twist to it, so Fledgling seems right up my street!
I just read the first look at Fledgling on Readers First and I’m really intrigued.
Cassie is a young girl reluctantly clearing up the messes her dramatic mother leaves in her wake, dreaming of the day she might leave, when one day in a rainstorm something shoots through her window.
A bundle of feathers shivers on her bed. Cassie has grown up with her grandfather’s collection of taxidermy owls, and goes over to try to identify the bird.
But on opening its four wings, staring right back at her is a baby. A cherub, by the looks of it.
She frantically taps out a morse code message to her friend from the village, Raphael, who rushes over to find Cassie, and the cherub. They set about trying to find out where this creature might have come from and what exactly it could be.
I was hooked on the preview of this novel and I’m really excited to read more. I love historical fiction, especially when there’s a magical or mythological twist to it, so Fledgling seems right up my street!
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