Whenever I hear an announcement for a new Cindy Anstey book, I get excited. She usually has the perfect blend of mystery, intrigue, and YA regency romance. Unfortunately, The Hummingbird Dagger missed the mark for me.

Plot-wise, this book was kind of all over the place. The first half seemed to drag on, alternating between Beth being in danger and the characters trying to conduct a surreptitious search to figure out her identity. Overall, it felt repetitive. The ending was my favorite part, everything came together nicely and the action flowed smoothly. But it all happened rather quickly. I would have preferred the reveals to have been spread out a bit more to increase the tension in the rest of the book.

I also found it hard to connect with the characters. I liked Beth, Caroline, and James but never really felt like I knew them. They just didn’t jump off the page like Anstey’s characters usually do. Plus the dialogue wasn’t quite as witty or funny.

I think The Hummingbird Dagger had an intriguing premise but ultimately didn’t quite live up to it. I’m definitely still going to pick up Anstey’s books in the future though!

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Set in 1833, this book is the story of "Beth" and her lost memories. Taken in by strangers after an accident, she goes about trying to remember who she is and why she has such terrible nightmares about a bloodthirsty hummingbird.

Despite having a beginning with a carriage accident with mysterious and questionable men, a girl with a head injury, and amnesia, I found this book a bit hard to get into. After the first action there is a lull and the book seemed slow. However, once the action picked up again the book was phenomenal! There were so many surprises and cases of mistaken identity. I didn't want to stop! Mixed in is a bit of chaste romance as well. Overall, a sweet book that maintains the mystery right up to the end.

After seeing the cover and synopsis on NetGalley, I couldn't request the book fast enough. Despite the interesting beginning, the rest of the book fell flat. The storyline itself was slow paced and uneventful. Furthermore, I found myself mostly unattached to any of the characters. The constant abrupt changes in scene/time was never denoted and proved confusing and eventually frustrating. (Even if this was due to early review status, it should not have been presented this way.)

Sadly, this isn't one I'd recommend to my historical mystery friends. If this hadn't been a review copy, I probably would have DNFed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Swoon Reads for my advanced review copy.

This was such a fun, mystery read! From the first chapter, we are thrown into an intense situation that quickly escalates into more of a murder-mystery-game vibe, even though this is much more unique than that.

My favorite parts of this book were the plot and world building. I love these types of books set in a historical society full of puzzles and quests to find the truth. There were a few drier moments, but as soon as the plot begins to thicken, I was hooked!

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. This is a great book for readers looking for a darker, historical standalone. There are nightmares, amnesia, death, and danger around every corner.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for a chance to read and review this book, The Hummingbird Dagger by Cindy Anstey in exchange for a review! My thoughts are my own, as always.



I give this book 2.5 stars



Synopsis:
From the author of Suitors and Sabotage comes a suspenseful and enthralling new Regency novel, perfect for readers who like their Jane Austen classics with a side of mystery and murder.

1833. A near-fatal carriage accident has deposited an unconscious young woman on the doorstep of Hardwick Manor and into the care of young Lord James Ellerby. But when she finally awakens, it is with no memory of who she is or where she came from.

Beth, as she calls herself, has no identity; the only clue to her circumstances is a recurring nightmare of a hummingbird, blood dripping from its steel beak.

With the help of James and his sister, Caroline, Beth tries to solve the mystery of her own identity and the appalling events that brought her to their door. But nothing could prepare her for the escalating dangers that threaten her and the Ellerby clan. From the hazardous cliffs of Dorset to the hostile streets of London, Beth will fight to reclaim her past, hunted by a secretive foe with murderous intentions.

Fans of Cindy Anstey’s previous novels won’t want to miss The Hummingbird Dagger, a dark and twisty new offering that blends romance, danger, and mystery.



This book sounds like a book I’d love! I’ve read Love, Spies, and Lies by the same author and I really enjoyed it! This book, however, fell flat for me, and since my last few reads have all been less than three stars, there’s a real possibility that it’s me, not the books. Simply put, I found the plot somewhat unbelievable, the characters more caricature than character, the ‘night terrors’ simply overblown, and the love story stodgy. I’m disappointed, because, as a mood reader, I would have chosen to read this book later, rather than suffer through before the deadline. Please pick it up and tell me that it’s just me– I’ll feel better.

The Hummingbird Dagger is a regency YA mystery. I liked the plot but the characters were a little flat. The cover art is beautiful. I would read this author again. Thanks Swoon Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this title.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of the blog tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours.

It’s been a while since I’ve read historical fiction and The Hummingbird Dagger is one definitely made me wonder why I don’t read this genre more often! There’s just something about the 18th century time period that fascinates me.

I loved the mystery aspect in this one so much! The dilemma got me really thinking most times since I always try to solve them on my own. Plus, with the historical genre added, it somehow gave the book a more eerie vibe to it. This, of course, did wonders for my reading experience. I was a bit spooked to read this during the night but I literally could not put the book down at times.

Also, I can understand how others would dislike the pacing of this one as it is a bit slow most of the time. However, I liked the lethargic pace in this one (which is largely unusual for me) since it allowed for a more immersive reading experience.

The only thing is… I found it hard to give my rating an extra star for this since I think that all the characters fell flat. They don’t seem all that real for me and that kind of distracted me for the most part.

Overall, The Hummingbird Dagger is still a great book that kept me on my toes and a mystery worth reading!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The characters are charming, the cover is lovely. It is refreshing to read something set in the early 1800s for a change. There was some jumping around which was a little confusing. There was a good amount of mystery. Overall it was a pleasurable read.

**Come visit me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **

I have no problem saying that The Hummingbird Dagger is my favorite of Cindy's books! There was the perfect balance of the rules of society and proper etiquette and manners of the time, a sweet slow developing romance, and a wicked murder mystery. Cindy's previous YA Regency books were the perfect reads for fans of Downton Abbey, dealing with everyday life and situations that could have occurred in a large manor during the 1800s England, and I enjoyed them...But none of them had the suspense and creepy factor that The Hummingbird Dagger had, and I think I just love me some good suspense filled mystery. And this one was perfect, with twists and slowly given clues to keep me guessing.

If you were hoping for a romance, then you will not be disappointed. While the mystery was maybe suppose to be the most important part of the story, the romance was just as well done and adorable. We have the serious, overwhelmed yet kind-hearted James who tries his best to make the right choices after inheriting his father's title and hardships. And then there was "Beth", the girl who just wants to know who she is and find out what happened to her to begin with. When the two come together to solve the mystery of her past, it was so cute to watch them develop feelings along the way- and not to be spoilery, but the ending was exactly what I was hoping for.

The characters were just as important as the plot I think for keeping me engaged with the story. We have the two main narrators, Beth and James, and then my second favorites were James' siblings- charming quirky Caroline and whimsical, dramatic, and completely irresponsible Walter. I will admit that any scene with Walter I knew would be entertaining. There were tons of other side characters that helped give the story dimension as well as realism and all came together to create a great story dynamic that was easy to get lost in.

Overall I really enjoyed The Hummingbird Dagger and I hope that Cindy wants to write some more historical suspense/mystery romances in the future because I would love to read another! I recommend this to anyone who loves swoony romances, strong characters and an interesting mystery.

I reviewed a complementary copy of this title.

It’s a shame that the dullest book I’ve ever read has one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen.

“The Hummingbird and the Dagger” begins with an overturned carriage and an unconscious woman who wakes to find that she is without her memories. Going by the alias “Beth” she works with the family who found her to uncover the truth behind her identity, but as they begin their search their closest allies are murdered and Beth realizes that her nightmares might hold the key to uncovering the monsters behind it all.

This book is so boring to say that I skimmed the last 100 pages would be an understatement as it took all I had to make it even that far.

I have never cared less about a group of characters and a murder mystery plot in my entire life. The entire set up was so extreme yet underwhelming at the same time and I can’t even put into words how disappointed I am after finishing it.

The characters are very bland with the only stand out being Beth which is a bit of a stretch as she’s pretty much a wallflower through the entire arc who only became interesting when she was asleep and bits of her memories came out but still it wasn’t enough to hold my attention for the final reveal which again was a giant let down as it felt more random than something that made sense for the characters especially after going to the lengths they did to get what they want.

This just wasn’t for me but I hope someone somewhere can find enjoyment out of it because that cover is too pretty to be a total waste.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

This is a pretty serviceable who- dun -it with a charming cast of characters that really outshine the two leads. James is a perfect male lead, one who is fascinated by his co-lead, the mysterious Beth. He's capable of taking matters into his own hands, but defers to Beth or his sister Caroline in regards to Beth's well being. Beth on the other hand, spends most of the first part of the book recovering from wounds accrued while being thrown from a carriage, including suffering from amnesia.

The book basically revolves around who Beth is and why she was in a carriage that seemed to not be her own. Why does she have a trunk with her that's not hers? Why was she just left on the side of the road? Why does she have rope burns on her wrists? These questions get answered, with a creepy flair that I appreciate, but there does seem to be a lack of urgency in the characters. Could it be that all the characters take so well to Beth? It feels more of a pacing issue, like the author was setting up the mystery, but it was alittle too disjointed for the first part of the book. The second moved along a little faster, but the story beats lined up much better. It also feels like the whole mystery was just to get Beth and James together, so some of the creepiness got put to the side in favor of getting the two on page together as much as possible.

This is more of a light period piece mystery with a side of romance. I thought it would go more into a suspense/ horror route, especially with the symbology of the dagger and Beth's horrific PTSD induced nightmares. It doesn't go that far, but does have some good creepy moments to go along with the fun period style dialog. Recommended for YA mystery fans who also happen to like historical fiction.

Years ago, when I was a mere whippersnapper 😉 , I was really into the Regency era and read voraciously, both fiction and nonfiction. While the Regency Period historically lasted only from 1811 to 1820, the accepted definition of Regency Period literature is broader, generally from just after the French Revolution to about 1830 or so, just before the Victorian era. As time went on, I drifted away from the period and, as often happens with readers, my tastes changed and my interest moved on to other times.

Then, not long ago, I began to read a bit again in the period and Cindy Anstey was one of the authors who pulled me back in. This time, the setting is just a little beyond the Regency era but it’s close enough to not matter and I continue to regain my appreciation of the time, thanks at least in part to The Hummingbird Dagger. Ms. Anstey has created a nice blend of mystery, dark happenings and romance with a dash of mayhem, making this a fun book to read, although I do think the plotting left something to be desired.

What should be (based on the particulars) a crafty and intriguing mystery dragged somewhat and it took too long to begin unraveling things and, while I liked the characters, I didn’t think their behavior rang true to the period. Still, I wanted to know what had happened to Beth (did real people of the time use nicknames such as “Beth”?) and how the Ellerbys and Beth would figure things out. As the clues began to add up and a murder occurred, I became more invested in Beth’s past and what might still be endangering her and those around her.

The characters need more chemistry and the plot could use less—MUCH less—talking and more action but, all in all, this was a pleasant read and I’ll check out more of Ms. Anstey’s books.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, April 2019.

Rants, Raves, and Thoughts
Okay. I'll be honest, I was incredibly torn about writing this review. I don't really want to focus on negative books, and honestly, if this book hadn't been an ARC, I probably wouldn't have finished it. So I am going to get all my negativity out first, then talk about some of the things I liked. 

I think my enjoyment of the book truly suffered because of the format of the ebook. There are so many leaps around from character to character, time changes (it'll be night and immediately breakfast?) that made the writing seem incredibly choppy and confusing, especially as the person the book follows shifts. That being said, I did pull out a hardback copy at B&N on Monday (even though this book was released on Tuesday?) and took a look - there are markings in between to show the break in shifts. I am incredibly glad I figured this out before the climax of the book, as it is incredibly difficult to read in the ebook ARC I have. None of that is the author's fault, but it does make me wonder if it can be seen as good writing if I have to reread several passages to get the time/character/whatever shift. 

My second issue with the book came from the characters. None of them are interesting to me. We are told that there is a romantic relationship between James and "Beth," but it felt incredibly forced. In fact, I think the romances that aren't confirmed - does Walter also have a crush on Beth? Is there something going on between Caroline and Brant? were more fascinating to me as we aren't specifically told anything, but rather are left to wonder. Another instance is when a character, a maid, dies early on in the first half of the book. The death shakes up Beth, but honestly - if she didn't have the same name as a Downton Abbey character I love, I don't know if I would have remembered her. There is no build up of their relationship to warrant the sadness we are supposed to feel. No, overall the only character I had any interest in was Walter, and even that was fleeting at best (he is brutally underutilized and under developed, which is saying a LOT considering his role in the book.) 

I don't read a ton of historical fiction, and I do expect inaccuracies. However, this book took me out of the time period too much. The book takes place in 1833, which is just outside the Regency era but not quite in the Victorian era. And yet at one point, the physician uses a word from the late 1800s?

Miss Caroline or Lord Ellerby certainly would. There would be a brouhaha - a loud...terrible brouhaha. 

And men and women just wonder in and out of each other's bedrooms or just hang out without a chaperone? It's too much for me. 

The first night, her screams brought Lord Ellerby bursting through the door [of her bedroom]. He glanced around the room as if he expected monsters to be hiding in the shadows. 

He literally went into her bedroom. At one point Walter is just chilling in her bedroom "keeping her company" while she stays in the servant's quarters - so not while she's in a sitting room. She's in bed. This...would cause scandal. Which sometimes they seem to care about? At the most random times?

The mystery is decent, and would have been a pleasant read had the characters had more shape or details. There are some moments I do thoroughly enjoy -- a man comes claiming Beth is his sister and won't take no for an answer, for example. But the action scenes are short and over burden with conversation and TALKING about what happened. I did figure out most of it fairly early on, but that is common for me. I can see how readers will enjoy the climax of the story, and I did tear up a few times towards the end. 

Final Moments 
If I am being honest, I was blinded by my love of this cover. It is gorgeous, and for some reason spoke to me of a woman who ...would fight Jack the Ripper. It wasn't the book I ended up reading, and part of that is very much my fault. 

If you like your mystery books light on action but heavy on conversation, give it a try! Maybe a bigger fan of Regency era historical fiction books will enjoy this, and maybe I am being a bit too persnickety with my feelings. If you've read the book, I would love your thoughts!

This book took me on a roller coaster.

The emotions and the intrigue was high in this book. While maintaining a "Stalking Jack the Ripper" air, it stood alone and stood tall.

"The Hummingbird Dagger" calls to mind the early versions of horror and romance. A mixture of medical issues and betrayal, Cindy Anstey created a world that, once it had hooked you, did not let you go.

While I should have gone to sleep, I didn't. I fell asleep at like five in the morning. I started reading this book at like midnight. So, the book consumed me.

It wasn't necessarily a fast read. It actually dragged on sometimes, but they were necessary drags. They were needed. The drags slowed the story down enough to really appreciate it.

The chemistry between James and Beth, as she calls herself for the majority of the book, was scorching. But it was very subtle. It wasn't a raging inferno. It was white-hot embers.

The ease with which Beth felt in the Ellerby family was a sight to see. The manner in which Catherine, James's sister, accepted her and tried to include her in the family was gratifying. The protectiveness that her presence instilled in Walter, James's brother, was absolutely character growth.

The imagery and the details that Anstey included put me into the world.

In short, the book was immersive and supremely interesting.

However, the book wasn't perfect.

No book is. There are ones that come close but none that actually hit it.

This one, came really close, but didn't quite make it.

"The Hummingbird Dagger" read more, unfortunately, like a period drama with some unbelievable dialogue and wayward details than a historical romance fictional book Not that's bad. It just didn't appeal to me.

Other than that minor detail that my brain didn't let me forget, it was such a good read.

A young woman is found unconscious as the scene of an accident and Lord James Ellerby takes her under his care. Unsure of who she is they find that she has amnesia and with some time her memory can come back. Night after night Beth is plagued with nightmares including a hummingbird dagger dripping with blood cause her sleepless nights. As things start to reveal themselves and memories start to uncover it might've just been better if she didn't remember what she forgotten.

I'm normally not drawn to historical books but the cover was stunning and the description was intriguing enough for me to want to see what was in store for this book. I love a good mystery and thought it was interesting seeing what Beth was going through and seeing as memories that were slowly but surely revealing themselves. Then there was a couple of things that I really can't talk about but trust me there was plenty going on to keep the readers wanting more. I loved getting to know the characters. This book was written well and I really enjoyed myself. Highly recommend!

I have been “reading” this book for about three weeks now. I have dropped and picked this book up quite a few times. I think it’s about time to call it quits and DNF. I read up to about 48% of the book and NOTHING was happening. It was just a ton of dialogue.

I did like the idea of the book and love a good Regency novel, but the execution wasn’t very good for me.

Fans of Jane Austen, who enjoy a bit of a spooky mystery, will love diving into this one.

James' reckless younger brother takes a wild ride with his horse and buggy, causing an accident. Luckily, no one seems injured except for a young woman traveling without a chaperone on the carriage to London. As Lord of the nearby manor, the young James rushes to help her and allows her to stay at the manor while she receives medical attention. But she appears to have lost her memory as well. The only thing which repeatedly come to her are horrid nightmares with darkness, captivity, blood and a hummingbird dagger. As no one claims to know her or be searching for her, James and his siblings take it on themselves to help discover who she is. The truth, however, is not what they expected nor easy to find.

The author does a fantastic job at opening up a rich Victorian world with characters who are easy to root for and like. The dialogue, scenes and concerns fit the time period wonderfully and invite the reader to get lost in the historic setting. James, his siblings, and Beth are all kind, despite some quirks, and it's enjoyable to get to know them. When the plot thickens, it's impossible not to hope they make it through and defeat the 'bad' buy.

The first chapter grabs right away and bring along a slightly tense breeze in the background. The feeling that something isn't quite right seeps in gently and increases as the tale continues along. While the first chapters keep the tension high, it reels back as the book continues, taking on a more the more familiar pacing of a novel from that period as conversation outweighs action. It was a little slow for my taste at times, but then, I tend to enjoy more action and adventure in my reads. The twists and turns were also a bit confusing at times, but none of this made me stop reading. Especially the ending chapters pick up the pace again, and finish with a satisfying end.

Romance is present and as sweet as James and Beth themselves. It's a slow burn, and that's fine with me, especially considering it's a young adult. This is one, however, that adults will also feel at home in and are sure to enjoy the mystery

I've previously read Cindy's other books and thought they were entertaining. The Hummingbird Dagger also caught my attention. Memory loss, murder and mystery sound like the perfect combination.

The Hummingbird Dagger starts off pretty intense. An accident at night, an injured woman and some circumstances that don't seem proper. I love reading books that are set in the fast, because it's always fun to read about how things were done and how things we don't even think of these days are frowned upon.

James, Caroline and Beth are great characters. I loved how much James and Caroline felt the need to help Beth. They knew nothing about her, but were determined to find out her story! It was interesting to see their relationships grow as the story continued and they slowly discovered different facts. Their brother Walter seemed like the one who did everything wrong, but I really enjoyed him!

I loved trying to figure out what actually happened to Beth, but at times it took too long. I think this mystery could've been solved a lot faster. The little pieces of dreams and memories made The Hummingbird Dagger interesting and a few reveals kept me going, but I think it dragged a bit at times. I think this made the tension/suspense wilt a bit in comparison to what it should've been.

I received an ARC of this book and at times the formatting made reading more difficult. There was no clear space between switching POVs and because of no spacing between time frame, I was quite confused at times. I felt that this took me out of the story and made it harder to keep my attention on the story. This doesn't change what I thought of the story, but it did make my reading experience less enjoyable. I hope this is changed in the final copy!

I think this is the darkest Cindy Anstey book I have read and I loved the aspect of Beth not remembering who she is. That added a lot to the mystery and suspense throughout the story. The Hummingbird Dagger is an interesting story and I couldn't figure out who was behind everything until it was revealed. I love when mysteries aren't easy to solve!

The Hummingbird Dagger
Rating 3 stars

This book was cute. Originally, I was hoping for a more intense serious story line/plot. The synopsis was intriguing and I thought the novel would be riveting and suspenseful. That was not the case instead this novel was more of a romance with a decent amount of intrigue and mystery. I won’t say I was disappointed. I enjoyed the slow budding romance between the characters and I found the mystery surrounding Beth to be fascinating. But I also found that the book was slow at times. I found myself becoming bored and having to force myself to continue. I also found that at times there were location jumps that threw me off. For example, there is scene where several characters are in the manor speaking and than out of no where Beth and Lord Ellerby are out riding their horses through the country side. There were several scenes that abruptly ended and others began. I found this to be entirely confusing and off-putting.
With all that being said, I did enjoy the book and found the ending to be satisfying. While the book was not what I had originally expected it to be I enjoyed the characters and the plot.

This book was unfortunately a slog for me. I was very excited to read it based on the cover and description, but it didn’t live up to my hopes. It wasn’t terrible, nor would I say it was good - just somewhere in the middle.

It starts off with a lot of action but throughout the majority of the book not a lot happens. I also found it hard to connect with any of the characters. I’d say this book is more plot-driven than character-driven, but it’s poorly executed. It does pick up towards the end, but it’s not enough to save the book and make up for 250 pages of nothingness.

From a formatting standpoint, it was confusing that each chapter can contain multiple viewpoints without any break. At least in the ARC, there was not any line breaks, asterisks, design, or any other separation between point of views so it always took me a sentence or two to realize there had been a switch, which isn’t ideal.