Rarely do I read or listen to a book and then feel compelled to immediately buy the rest of the series. But that’s exactly what happened after I read Wormwood Abbey, the first book in the Secrets of Ormwood series by Christina Baehr. Wormwood Abbey transports readers to a delightful world that takes Victorian era mystery and adds dragons! My daughter and I both blew through the first three books of the series between Christmas and New Years, and I can’t wait to share them with you!
Technically, these aren’t “children’s books.” But they are clean, engaging reads that hold a lot of interest for those who love both classics and fantasy.
The Story
Edith Worms is a Victorian clergyman’s daughter and secret mystery novelist. She finds herself plunged into a whole new world when her father inherits an estate from his estranged relatives. Edith and her family are outsiders, and the austere manners of her cousins and their distantly related neighbor Mr. Drake lend an air of mystery to the Abbey. Edith discovers a strange fireproof salamander and adopts him as a pet. But the lawyer the family hires to help them break the entail on the estate shows too keen an interest in both her new pet and the strange tapestries on the wall. Edith determines to put on her detective novelist hat and discover what mysteries her cousins have been keeping from them.
What I loved
- Victorian Era plus dragons–Need I say more? I’d seen another reviewer describe this series as Jane Austen plus dragons. While not entirely accurate time-period wise, does describe the feel. I’d say it’s Austen+Brontes+Sayers with dragons, which feature more and more as the series progresses.
- Fun but serious–I love how the author wove serious themes into this delightful concept. One theme explored in the first book is anti-semitism, as Edith’s mother was Jewish.
- Writing style–While I don’t generally prefer first person, when it’s well done and character’s unique voice shines through, it really sings! Edith is one of those characters whose delightful narration makes reading a pleasure.
- Audiobook–The audiobooks for this series are absolutely perfect!
Parents should know
This story contains some peril, and there are characters who perish off page, though nothing gory is ever described. Also, later books in the series deal with some more adult topics. These include a child born to an unwed mother (implied that she was taken advantage of) and human trafficking. However, the Victorian period keeps them appropriate for even younger teen readers. If you have concerns, I recommend you try the series for yourself first before handing it to your kids. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!
Overall, I’d highly recommend The Secrets of Ormdale series to readers age 13 and up, particularly readers who love Austen or the Brontes and enjoy a dose of fantasy.
