The Fledgling explorers a mythical world once thought to have been preserved in religious and cultural texts as stories and romanticized by Renaissance masters. Cassie has her hands full, trying to manage her family and take on a monumental task as protector while preserving her ancestors' vision and legacy. A rich story with foreshadowing and symbolism. Even when you put it down, your mind will ponder over what will happen next. For fans of Fantastic Beasts, The Fledgling will captivate the reader with the story's rich account of mythical creatures and the detailed history of the Engel family and their stewardship in the Black Forest, a spellbinding land all on its own. The setting taking place in the Black Forest is spot on for a world building post-war. And fans of The Da Vinci Code will be enthralled by the mystery that Cassie finds herself in the midst.

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.

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.

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.

The sad thing about this book is that it is very clearly supposed to be one in a series; unfortunately, Butler died after writing this book. That makes it hard to read because you immediately become attached to Shori, much like the people in the book become attached to her. This book is AMAZING. It introduces the Ina and by doing so, Butler created a new branch of vampire lore--vampires who are not evil, do not kill to feed, who live with families of several humans they feed on and who they love. I swallowed this book whole, I could not get enough of it. It is my favorite Butler. I read Parable of the Sower and I HATED the main character, but I loved the book and how it was written. The fact that I hated the character made it hard to read the sequel, because I could not stand reading about such a cold, impersonable person. In Fledgling, Butler creates a character who had a hard edge but was intensely lovable and that made the book that much more engaging. What a beautiful book.