Cozy Gothic Fantasy| Secrets of Ormdale Series Review
Family secrets are the least of Edith's concerns, not when there may be dragons lurking in the shadows of her ancestral home, Wormwood Abbey.
Quick Summary
Genre: Gaslamp Fantasy, Cozy Mystery, Gothic
Recommended Age: 18+ (safe for teens but written for adults with adult main characters).
Possibly Concerning Content* (details below)
🤬 Profanity: None
❤️ Romance: None
🛡️Violence: Past character deaths (off page) current character death (not described)
‼️ Heads up: See notes below
Who is this for?
The Tropes: Gothic mystery, fantasy elements rooted in real world (historical) settings.
The Vibe: Northanger Abbey with dragons
For Fans of: An Enchantment of Faeries
FAQ's Possibly Concerning Content Guide*
Click on 'possible spoilers' for details.
🤬 Q: Is there profanity in the Secrets of Ormdale series?
A: No, there is no profanity.
❤️ Q: Is there a romance in the Secrets of Ormdale series?
A: No, there is no romance in the first book, but hints that there may be romance later in the series.
🛡️Q: What kind of violence is there in the Secrets of Ormdale series?
A: There are character deaths, but no gore.
Possible Spoilers
In Book 1: Wormwood Abbey her uncle and cousins are killed off page before the book begins by 'wolves.' She is told they were 'much defaced.' A character's body is found in a cave, but not described as it is too dark too see.
‼️ Q: Are there any heavy themes, or possibly triggering subjects in the Secrets of Ormdale series?
A: There are mentions of beatings (off page) and evidence of an ancient cult sacrificing characters to dragons are uncovered.
Possible Spoilers
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Book 1: Wormwood Abbey
Review:
“Mother would say that everyday is a miracle. That it is we who have grown so dull and stupid that we do not see it, expecting the miracles to go on and on without recognizing them for what they are.”
Wormwood Abbey is a cozy gothic fantasy set in a crumbling ancestral home with a secret. Edith’s father inherits the property after his brother and his brother’s son perish in the caves on the property (this happens off page before the book begins though we are told that the bodies were ‘much defaced.’ Edith, her step-mother, father and brother arrive and Edith is immediately sure that the family is hiding something.
Edith writes detectives mysteries under a pseudonym so thinks herself capable of solving the mystery. She’s immediately suspicious of Drake, the handsome but standoffish neighbor who seems in on whatever her oldest cousin Gwen is keeping from the family. Edith’s father invites a man to the abbey to help settle the estate but Edith discovers him lurking in the shadows at night, as if searching for something. Add in a salamander Edith discovers in her fireplace, miraculously not burning, and you have the makings of a enthralling mystery.
I felt a bit like Catherine Morland reading this one. I became immediately entranced by the gothic abbey setting and the mysteries and shadows lurking just around every corner. I enjoyed Edith’s personality, her humor, and her observations about the people and creatures around her. I really loved how Christina Baehr entrenched the mythical creatures into a historical setting with such care that you feel as if you should find an abbey yourself to uncover the mythical creatures that may be hiding within.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked Edith and Gwen in equal measures. I liked Drake and Edith’s growing fondness for him that I really hope turns into a romance in later books. I enjoyed the mystery and was surprised by some twists and turns, even though I knew there were dragons on the property and though I was not a fan of the cult she uncovered I’m hoping they stay in the past or show up as villains later instead of being portrayed in a good light. This was a short read, made faster by how well written it was and how throughly engaging the story is. I am eager to read the rest of this series.
Official Blurb (dropdown)
"As a Victorian clergyman’s daughter, Edith Worms has seen everything — until a mythical salamander tumbles out of the fireplace into her lap.
When a letter arrives from estranged relatives, Edith is swept away to a crumbling gothic Abbey in the wilds of Yorkshire. Wormwood Abbey isn't just full of curious beasts and ancient family secrets: there’s also a tall, dark, and entirely too handsome neighbor who is strangely reluctant for her to leave.
An unexpected bond with her prickly cousin Gwendolyn gives Edith a reason to stay in this strange world — especially when it turns out that Edith herself may have a role in guarding her family's legacy.
But not all of the mysteries of Ormdale are small enough to fit in her lap...and some of them have teeth." - From Amazon
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📍*Possibly Concerning Content Disclaimer: I try my best to include all relevant content notes, or possibly concerning content, but I may not catch everything and/or you may feel things are concerning that I do not. Please research individually if you’re sensitive to specific topics/subjects! 📍
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