What a charming yet slightly gothic story. I was immediately thrown into the story with its dark moody atmosphere. It is gothic down to the strange house with steam punk machinery, dark Bavarian forests with eerie abandoned castles. Cassie is a strong independent girl with absent minded parents- her mother is a cold and distant Opera Singer who is cold and distant who only cares about her fading career and fighting with her often absent taxidermist father. One dark and stormy night, a cherub flies though Cassie’s window and upends her world. Her eyes are now open to the celestial world of Angels and Cherubs as well as the huge birdlike Sturmfalken that prey on them. With the help of her friend Raphael, she embarks on an adventure that leads to a world of discoveries and revelations about Angels and some underlying family secrets. With a host of interesting characters and some surprises, I found myself really enjoying this. It is young (I think it is middle grade) but i found the lore interesting and it had some dark elements to it. Would definitely recommend.

I usually want to roll my eyes at the mention of a young adult book, but I have to say, this was a good read. I read it in about two days I was so engrossed in it, I couldn't help but want to read on as the chapters were short and fast paced, and so you fly along with the story at the same speed as the characters. I have to say I didn't see the end coming so that was a pleasant surprise from a genre that doesn't usually hold many. The writing style was great, it wasn't overly flowery or trying to be more grown up than it needs to be, it explained settings and characters in as much detail as was needed to set the scene vividly with no surplus details leaving you feeling like the pace has slowed. At its heart it is still a book for young adults, but I feel an older reader would also be able to see the value of the book, and appreciate that it is well crafted. It said at the end about the author Lucy Hope that she had studied a degree in writing for young people and I think it has served her well as she has produced a very good book.

Fledgling is beautifully written. I was immediately drawn into the world of Cassie and Raphael. The style is gothic and the descriptions are so atmospheric I felt like I was walking round the house with them all. Cassie lives in a quirky house and has an eccentric, slightly reclusive mother who hides away in her music room. Her father is equally eccentric and enjoys taxidermy. One day Cassie finds a cherub in the forest and this starts an unlikely series of events which brings Cassie to learn family and village secrets. This book is so quirky and fun, it will have you reading with your heart in your mouth at times and laughing out loud at others. The story is full of family, friendship, empathy and magical elements. The story is aimed at middle school children and I think this is right. It would make a brilliant class text to discuss! It is also good as an easy read for adults who like the fantasy genre.

One stormy night, a cherub is blown into Cassie Engel's bedroom. From that moment on, Cassie's life as she knew it, changes. Set within the Bavarian forest, in the year 1900, Cassie lives with her beloved Grandmother, her kooky father, and her 'cold' mother, in their quirky home, high on a crag. When the cherub is blown into her bedroom, Cassie calls upon her best friend Raphael, to help solve the mystery of the celestial beings arrival. The two friends soon realise why there is a gathering of foul looking birds that keep trying to attack them; why Cassie's late grandfather insisted she takes good care of the owl collection, and what the village eccentric has been saying all these years, is actually true. This wonderful, gothic story is the perfect bedtime read, and one that can be enjoyed by all ages. I for one, would love to read a follow on story.

I absolutely adored this book. The cover is very eye catching and the synopsis does a great job of making the book sound captivating. I was hooked from the very first few pages and didn’t want to put it down. Although it’s aimed at younger readers I was thoroughly gripped and invested and it in no way impaired my enjoyment of reading this tale. It’s definitely one of the best books I’ve read in a while. I’ve seen it advertised that the publisher recommends this for readers aged 9-12. Personally I’d suggest that younger readers may find it a little confusing or confronting, my 10yr old niece is an advanced reader but some themes in this book may be a little too “old” for her. The story is set in the 1900’s Bavarian Forest and at the heart of the story is friendship, love, hope and truth. Cassie Engel as the main character is just so relatable and the way we follow her makes her feel like someone we know