Audio: Thornbound by Stephanie Burgis

The Harwood Spellbook, Volume 2

By: Stephanie Burgis

Narrated by: Emma Newman

Series: Harwood Spellbook Series, Book 2

Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins

Release date: 06-25-19 Tantor Audio

Historical fantasy

I do like these because they are short, and short can be so good at times. They also work while being short.

This is a historical fantasy where there is magic, fae and elves. Angland is ruled by women, and they marry mages, and it is the men who has to care for their reputations. It is an intriguing world, I do want to learn more about elves and fae.

Cassandra has magic and was allowed to study, and I can't believe it but I kind of agree with the women politicians. If she is allowed, and more is allowed, then men can become politicians too, and then men can rule Angland, just as they do the rest of the world. I do see their point in not wanting more women to study. But at the same time women have the right to be mages too, and the same goes for men who do not want to be mages.

So in this one she is trying to start her school for female mages. But the politicians are not happy, the mages are not happy, Cassandra has no magic anymore, her husband is away all the time, and it is bluebell season...that is not good.

It is an amusing book set in an interesting world.

Narrator

I liked her voice, it felt so very English and the time. She had nice young and old voices.

Cassandra Harwood scandalized her nation when she became the first woman magician in Angland. Now, she's ready to teach a whole new generation of bright young women at her radical new school, the Thornfell College of Magic…

Until a sinister fey altar is discovered in the school library, the ruling Boudiccate sends a delegation to shut down Thornfell, and Cassandra’s own husband is torn away from her.

As malevolent vines slither in from the forest and ruthless politicians scheme against her, Cassandra must fight the greatest battle of her life to save her love, her school, and the future of the young women of Angland.

Snowspelled - Stephanie Burgis

Paperback, 166 pages

Published September 4th 2017 by Five Fathoms Press

Series: The Harwood Spellbook #1

Alternative history fantasy novella

Own

My Thoughts

This is a novella so the end came really fast and was wrapped up in a tidy bow just like that. But eh, it works, how she came to the answer no clue.

Alternative history were there is magic and elves in England. The elves stays in their land and there is a truce, but Cassandra does come across one and it has ramifications.

Only men have magic, but Cassandra did have magic too, but not anymore, srsly, why not? What happened. Why are we not told?

Houseparty a la Austen with a mystery to solve.

It was light, delightful and fun. I will totes read more

Blurb

In nineteenth-century Angland, magic is reserved for gentlemen while ladies attend to the more practical business of politics. But Cassandra Harwood has never followed the rules...

Four months ago, Cassandra Harwood was the first woman magician in Angland, and she was betrothed to the brilliant, intense love of her life.

Now Cassandra is trapped in a snowbound house party deep in the elven dales, surrounded by bickering gentleman magicians, manipulative lady politicians, her own interfering family members, and, worst of all, her infuriatingly stubborn ex-fiancé, who refuses to understand that she’s given him up for his own good.

But the greatest danger of all lies outside the manor in the falling snow, where a powerful and malevolent elf-lord lurks...and Cassandra lost all of her own magic four months ago.

To save herself, Cassandra will have to discover exactly what inner powers she still possesses – and risk everything to win a new kind of happiness.