Book & Audio Review: Fledgling by Molly Harper

Fledgling
Author: Molly Harper
Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
Series: Sorcery and Society Book 2
Publication: NYLA (July 23, 2019); Audible Studios (July 23, 2019)
Length: 256 p.; 7 hours and 42 minutes

Description: Days away from completing her first year at Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies, Changeling-born Sarah Smith might just get away with posing as an upper-class Guardian girl named Cassandra Reed.

But strange visions of a Lightbourne destroyed by Miss Morton’s revenant army keep Sarah from enjoying her achievement. Plus, the Mother Book, Sarah’s one secret advantage and the ultimate entrée in Guardian society, suddenly stops revealing itself to her…putting her in a precarious position with the Guild. On top of all that, her former lady’s maid left Miss Castwell’s, and the new hire is, well, taking some getting used to.

If it weren’t for her two best friends, Alicia McCray and Ivy Cowel, who will do anything to protect her secret, Sarah doesn’t know if she’ll make it another year. When the three girls take summer holiday with Alicia’s family (chaperoned by an exacting and very disapproving Mrs. McCray), a relaxing vacation in Scotland is the last thing they’ll find.

Mrs. Winter is thrilled that Sarah is spending time with the influential McCray family, but Sarah can’t help but feel that her real purpose is to find other Changeling children like her, and free them to realize their own magic. Can she find genuine satisfaction in her accomplishments when she knows there are others like her out there who need her help? Will the three girls uncover the deeply-held secrets they’re looking for in the mysterious mountains of Scotland? Will the Mother Book finally start talking to her again? And will Sarah come to understand the importance of her connection with Ivy and Alicia, and the true nature of her own power…before it’s too late?

My Thoughts: This second book in the series continues with Sarah Smith/Cassandra Reed's adventures as she continues her education at a school for magic and tries to find her role in life. She wants to find and help other changelings like herself. She has heard that there might be an enclave in the Scottish mountains where some changelings can be found.

When she is invited to spend the summer with her friend Alicia in Scotland, they all think it would be a great time to search for changelings. However, Mrs. McCray isn't very welcoming to the girl her son Gavin has taken a fancy to. She wants to keep Gavin all to herself. 

The girls do manage to elude their very persistent chaperon and discover where the changelings are being held, but that doesn't mean they have a plan to rescue them or any idea what to do with them once they have freed them.

Also, Mr. Crenshaw is still determined to wrest the Mother Book from Sarah's hands and place it with a more worthy candidate. So the girls aren't surprised to discover that Mr. Crenshaw is behind this school for changelings. He has plans for them. But someone has their own plans for Mr. Crenshaw and an old enemy makes a reappearance.

This was an engaging story filled with magical devices and magical spells. It is also a coming of age story and a great story of friendship.

Favorite Quote:

"Remember, ladies do not perspire. We glow with the dew of our exertions."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.