I loved this book so much. It tells the story of Cassie Engel, who lives in a strange house perched on top of a rock in the middle of a forest in 1900s Bavaria. From the moment a mysterious winged creature is blown into Cassie's bedroom, we are swept into this mysterious and magical world, following Cassie and her best friend Raphael in their quest to find out who or what she is, and why she has come. Cassie's family has its troubles and she has to uncover some dark secrets in order to try and save those she loves, although it is ultimately a story about love, friendship and hope. The wonderfully gothic and atmospheric setting is the perfect backdrop for this thrilling tale, full of unexpected twists and turns and bursting with some deliciously eccentric characters and laugh out loud moments. The perfect read for any 9+ reader to curl up with on a dark and stormy winter night.

Deep in the Bavarian Forest stands a fortress-like house, perched on a rocky cliff and full of fabulous inventions: steam-powered lifts with foot brakes, mechanical morphine pumps, winches, pulleys, and a collection of stuffed owls who may or may not have other-worldly powers. Cassie Engel races through the house, kicking stubborn pipes, oiling cogs, untangling wires, repairing boilers, and caring for her shell-shocked, amateur taxidermist father, her demanding, coloratura soprano mother (preparing for the opera, Der Vampyr), and her ailing grandmother (attended by sinister nurses, Frau Crunch and Frau Grind—specialty, ‘relocation of joints’). In quick succession, a strange, winged, half-bird, half-baby is blown in through Cassie’s bedroom window, and a dark, hawk-like creature attacks Cassie in the forest. Her world spirals out of control. In this mysterious, lyrical debut, Lucy Hope spins a tale that transports the reader to a world that is part folktale, part gothic period drama (Edenburg, Bavaria, 1900), and entirely surreal. The weird discoveries that send Cassie and her friend, Rafael, running to the dusty castle library to research, elucidate long-held secrets of the Engel family—dark secrets that are finally closing in on Cassie’s family. Will she be able to save them in time? I could hardly put Fledgling down. Intriguing at the beginning, it rockets to a climactic series of events that kept me turning the pages faster and faster and led to a cathartic, surprise finale. The quirky house full of mechanical and taxidermied wonders is in fact a symbol of the Engel family itself and their attempts to preserve and protect themselves from the often-brutal outside world. Their unfolding tale, with all its suspenseful twists and turns, is really a story of the complexities of family love. A must-read debut from a brilliant new author.

Wow I liked reading this book so much and I am definitely planning on reading more books written by this author! My favourite genre of book is usually psychological thrillers therefore this book was a welcomed break from this theme. The cover of the book was eye-catching and the title also got my attention straight away as I was wondering what 'Fledgling' meant. Moreover sometimes when I read fantasy books I get confused with all the new terminology that is included, however I did not find I had this issue with this book which was fantastic. The book kept talking about secrets within the family and this kept me wanting to read more so I can find out what the secrets were all about. I have already recommended this book to family and friends and hopefully they will enjoy this book as much as I have and I look forward to discussing the storyline with them.

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.

Much darker than I expected from the cover but brilliantly so. It is a gothic adventure whose main character Cassie lives in an eccentric house in the Bavarian Forest. The atmospheric setting along with cherubs, stuffed owls and sinister beings make this possibly the scariest MG book I have read. With the help of her best friend Raphael and an assorted cast of quirky characters she takes on the dark forces that threaten to overwhelm them. There are twists and turns and family secrets but also a large helping of bravery and loyalty.