I really wanted to love this book. I have always been a huge fan of Regency era literature and historical mysteries, so this should have been right up my alley. Yet, while the story was interesting, the execution made it difficult for me to enjoy reading The Hummingbird Dagger as much as I’d hoped.
My biggest problem with the writing was the head-hopping. The author wrote in a third-person, omniscient style, which is fine when it’s done well. Unfortunately, because she switched perspectives so often without even a page break in between, I ended up feeling very disconnected to the characters and their stories. In the beginning, I tried to make excuses for why the author head-hopped so much – maybe it was because I was reading an ARC that hadn’t been completely formatted or maybe I didn’t notice a marker for the change in perspective. But, no, the head-hopping continued (and at times got worse, changing from paragraph to paragraph) throughout the entire novel.
One can hope that formatting in the published version of the book solves this problem, but I’m not so sure that it will. If you really love Regency era mystery with a dash of romance, give it a go. It was, after all, an interesting plot, even if it was difficult to get swept up in.
Thanks to Swoon Reads and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own!

A Regency Romance with Mystery and Murder

With horror, Lord James Ellerby watches his younger brother, Walter, careen his curricle into an on coming coach. Walter and his friend Henry are unhurt, but the coach has nearly overturned and one of the passengers, a young woman, has bee thrown out. The other occupants of the coach and the coachman are unhurt. James assumes the coach is the regular coach from London. While the coachmen are righting the coach, James, over their protests, has the young woman carried to his home, nearby Hardwick Manor.

When she regains consciousness, the young woman can’t remember who she is. The amnesia is persistent. Although she calls herself Beth, she has no idea if that is her real name. The Ellerby family decide to take care of her until her memory returns, or her family arrives to claim her.

With the young woman ensconced in Hardwick Manor, strange things begin to happen: an attempted break-in, the death of a young servant girl, and mysterious visitors in the village. It all appears to be related to the young woman for whom James feels increasingly protective.

If you enjoy Regency novels, you will enjoy the accurate background in the novel. I also liked the characters particularly Walter because he was so much the teenage boy trying to be older and more sophisticated than he is and failing clumsily in his attempts to help. James and Beth are quite typical lovers. James is gallant and Beth, plucky.

The plot is rather slow. There’s lots of mystery, but mostly people sit around talking about what the strange incidents mean. The action doesn’t heat up until very near the end. Even though it’s slow, it’s an enjoyable read if you’re a Regency enthusiast.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

I've only read one other book by this author, but enjoyed it, so had an idea what to expect with this one. This was very much like the other in the time period and types of character interaction. The mystery and suspense hold you all the way through. While it was kind of slow for me, and it wasn't a quick and easy read, the need to know exactly what had happened to put Beth in the position she was in kept me going to the end. I had my guesses, but even those weren't quite on spot, and I do like when an author is able to hold off the final details until the actual reveal in the story so that you don't guess it all up front.

Starting with a dark and tense scene, The Hummingbird Dagger churns through the muddy waters of a mystery centered around a young lady clearly embroiled in something sinister. Welford Mills’ charming and idyllic neighborhood is about to become more exciting and dangerous.

Lord James Ellerby couldn't quite know what to make of the young woman who was caught in an accident caused by his younger brother. He brought her back to his home and extended every courtesy a gentlemen should extend to a lady in need.

However, what was simply a search for the identity of young woman with no memories evolved into a series of deaths, attempted murders, and a race to solve the puzzle once and for all.

What I liked about this book is the direct supporting characters. They enhanced the narrative and the interactions among them instead of just being around just for the sake of being there.

In fact, Walter, Caroline, and Dr. Brant were the ones who did a lot to move the story forward. They were the ones who were more active. They were essential in building and solving the mystery.

The Hummingbird Dagger is quite fun but light in action. It doesn’t quite build up the necessary tension and slows a bit down in the end.

There is a softness when it comes to Cindy Antsey’s historical novels. It is not the backstabbing tenseness of a bodice ripper or the barb-filled politeness of some of the Regency novels I’ve read and are used to.

They are something different. It takes a while to get into their groove but it calms me somewhat while still letting me enjoy the twists and turns.

The Hummingbird Dagger by Cindy Anstey was a historical novel that includes a romance and a mystery in England. The novel starts with coach crashing with one of the Ellerby siblings newest currical. James (oldest and a new Lord) takes charge and has the young occupant of the carriage to the house to be taken care of. It is clear to James and his sister Caroline and their youngest brother Walter that the new visitor is really someone in their class, but she has no memory of anything! And no one has come asking for her or even asked after her. That is when it is clear, there is more going on, than just an unexpected injured guest. The nightmares, the questions and the uncertainty helps move the mystery along nicely.

Altogether, I found the book interesting. I liked the mystery with all the unknown elements. I found the family interesting and enjoyed the growing romance between Beth and James. Walter and his friend Henry were comic relief with their “help”. The twists and turns were interesting and made the story move along. The Hummingbird Dagger is listed as a young adult/clean romance novel on the Amazon site. The novel is compared to a Jane Austen type. Cindy Anstey is a new author for me. I did like the book and would be tempted to read the author again. The Hummingbird Dagger was a good read.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

2.5 stars

After two books by this author I think I've come to the conclusion that the writing style just isn't for me. For some reason, I just don't click with the characters and I find myself zoning out when trying to read.
Perhaps some of my problem is that with the cover (which is amazing btw) and the synopsis, I really thought this would be a more intense read. The synopsis says "Beth slowly begins to unravel the mystery behind her identity and the sinister circumstances that brought her to their door. But the dangerous secrets they discover in doing so could have deadly ramifications reaching the highest tiers of London society," which brings to mind more danger and thrilling situations. Mostly, the feel of it is more mystery than thriller, and even then I thought it just needed a bit more.... something to hit the mystery mark for me. BUT, for a younger audience (the intended target), it might be the right amount.

I will admit, the mystery is what kept me reading. While I wasn't in love with this book, I still felt the need to know how it would end. What happened? Why? How? Which I think the book did answer nicely.

Unfortunately, there isn't a strong romance to really back it up either. While there is a blossoming romance in the background, there isn't much build up. True, we do read about their feelings growing from nothing to much more, but I never understood why.
In that regard though, the female friendship is fantastic. They are there for each other and not once do they talk about romance, which is quite refreshing.

Will I recommend this? Yes. This is one I'd recommend to people looking for a clean read and possibly younger readers with a high reading level. I don't think I'll read more by this author, but I do see the audience for these books is there.

I love books in this niche genre of YA regency murder-mystery and Cindy Anstey is one of the authors who is known for her books in this category. That being said though, I find her books to be....ok. When I found The Hummingbird Dagger, I loved the cover and the synopsis sounded fantastic. I started reading and things started off with a carriage accident leaving a young woman injured. Lord James Ellerby and his younger brother Walter take home the young woman to find, when she wakes up, that she cannot remember her name, but she suffers from horrifying nightmares of a hummingbird-shaped dagger dripping with blood. (spoiler - I would have nightmares too if someone was coming after me with one of those!)

So this all sounds exciting but really there is a lot of mystery to be had in this book. It could have been really good and I wanted it to be! But why wasn't it more exciting? Why wasn't there more action? Get up and move, people! Just because we're prim and proper lords and ladies? A bit of a buzzkill.

Lord Ellerby and his family are drawn into a tale of mystery and intrigue when young Walter Ellerby causes an accident of two carriages near their estate. Soon after the accident Walter's brother, Lord Ellerby, comes upon the accident to help the victims. The only person who appears injured is a young woman who is lying unconscious in the creek. She is attended to by other passengers of her coach, but Lord Ellberby takes her to his home and fetches a doctor.

The unusual thing is that the people of the London Coach don't know who she is nor do they want to accompany her to Lord Ellerby's home. When the young woman awakens she has no memory. The only thing she has is a recurring nightmare that she doesn't understand. It involves a dagger shaped as a Hummingbird.

Who is she and where did she come from. Is she a commoner or is she from the Aristocracy? How will they find out more about her if she doesn't remember anything?

Then terrible things start to happen, why? What is the secret of this woman and why does someone want to harm her. In the mean time Lord Ellerby is falling in love. His only question is, Why?

The writing is superb. The story is compelling. The mystery is well conceived and wrapped in a way that it take times to unravel. The historical setting is well researched and thus the writing properly reflects 1830's England.

If you love Regency Romance and mystery you will love this novel.

Sometimes you just need a nice historical romance to curl up with and forget about all the bad things in life.

England! 1833! William IV is king! Pelerines, low waistlines and giant sleeves are all the rage! There’s imperialism! Debates to abolish slavery throughout the Empire! Everybody had tuberculosis! 20-year-old Lord James Ellerby is still reeling from the accident that killed his father a year prior, and struggling with all the responsibilities that come with being a lord. His younger sister Caroline is smart and supportive, but his younger brother Walter, uh…well, he’s a 14-year-old boy. Namely: he’s annoying and sulky and likes to ride in his curricle in a reckless fashion.

Well, one day, while being a handsome young unmarried English lord, James witnesses his dumb younger brother cause a carriage accident. Gasp! A young lady in a filthy dress is injured! James, naturally, has her brought back to his house. When the young lady wakes up, she can’t remember who she is or where she came from. All she remembers is a name: Beth. She’s not sure if it’s her name, but it’s the first name she thinks of so it sticks. Beth and the Ellerbys have a hell of a time trying to find out who she is: even though the dress she arrived in was filthy and she herself was covered in dirt and various wounds, it’s pretty clear that Beth is educated. Caroline is certain that Beth is a gentleman’s daughter, so she takes Beth on as a companion. There are few clues as to Beth’s true identity: she has no documentation on her, no letters, and no one has come asking after her. The only clue they have is Beth’s recurring nightmares of a hummingbird dagger, covered in blood. Still, James is drawn to her, and Beth is drawn to him. Because romance.

Then Daisy, a maid in the Ellerby’s house, is found murdered. Two men attempt to kidnap Caroline and Beth while they’re out riding. James and Beth exchange longing glances with one another. Who is Beth? Who are these people who are after her? Why are they after her? Which waistcoat will Walter wear while searching for clues? Read The Hummingbird Dagger and find out!

Seriously, The Hummingbird Dagger has everything: mystery! Intrigue! Amnesia! 1830s Dresses with sleeves so puffy, they would’ve given Anne of Green Gables a heart attack! Every now and again I need a read that is just 100% pure escapism, and The Hummingbird Dagger was just that. I loved it because it was exactly what I thought it would be - a lovely historical romance/mystery. Since this is set in mid-19th century England, the romance is mostly holy shit their hands almost touched and oh my God he went to her room if anyone sees him her reputation will be ruined aaaaaaggghhh! You know, that type of drama. And I love it. This was the exact Spring read I needed in my life. It’s a pretty quick read, and if you’re in the mood for some 19th century romance with some mystery, then go for it. The story starts out a bit slow, but it picks up as it goes along and there’s plenty of excitement towards the end. I’m always in the mood for stuff set in the 1830s. Mainly because of the fashion. I mean, seriously, look at those sleeves!

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Historical setting. Memory lost. A romance, sort-of. Different from what I usually read in may ways, it was still about good and bad and who did it and why.

When his brother causes a carriage accident near his estate, James Ellerby, does what any good person would do: he takes the only injured passenger, a young lady, to his home to recuperate. But as the lady begins to awaken so does the realization that she cannot remember who she is or the circumstances the put her on the carriage to wherever it was going.

Beth (the only name that came to mind when asked) is terrified of what happened to her before she wound up on the Ellerby estate. The replaying of the same nightmare over and over again - a dagger in the shape of a hummingbird, dripping blood - each time she closes her eyes for sleep doesn't help either, but it's the only clue she has in figuring out who she is.

With the help of James and his brother and sister, Walter & Caroline respectively, Beth will begin to unravel the secrets her mind is keeping from her. As bad things begin to happen around them, they better work quickly, because it's clear that someone is bent on silencing Beth for good.

I think that Cindy Anstey really hits the right balance with the mystery / thriller this time around. Her previous books touched upon this same formula, but for my tastes was a little too light on the thrills and chills. Here, however, Cindy Anstey is on the right path and I hope her next book(s) continue on in this manner.

Even though the intrigue pulled me into the story, it started out a bit slow as all the pieces and players are built up. I ended up setting the book aside for a little bit and coming back to it later, but once I did, the mystery itself kept me guessing and the twists and turns were plausible yet unpredictable as well. There were a few times where a momentum would be going strong and then a perspective or scene would change and slow things back down again, but overall I think this is my favorite story of Cindy Anstey's to date. I liked the slightly darker tone than of her previous books.

Of course it wouldn't be a Cindy Anstey book if there wasn't some romance thrown in with the regency. I felt like the connection between James and Beth is definitely relegated to a second-tier story thread. I did like that the mystery was given precedence because well...I think that's pretty easy to figure out. It did mean that the depth of the growing relationship between James and Beth wasn't explored too much, but I was ok with that. It was subtle and sweet, yet undeniable.

I really think it you have never read Cindy Anstey before The Hummingbird Dagger is a great place to start, just know it's a change in tone and far more focused on the mystery / thriller aspect of the story than her previous titles. For me this was very nearly perfect. If not for the moments where the pacing slowed too much, this could have easily gotten five star from me.

Cindy Antsey is definitely improving in her craft, but she still hasn't quite hit the mark yet. In this one I lost interest about three chapters in, wasn't invested in the characters, and knew who the bad guy was (and his motive) in the same line that he was introduced. I also got confused keeping all of the henchmen straight. The nightmares were super repetitive and vague enough that they added nothing to the story--one or two dream sequences would have been plenty.

That said, this book fits the regency mystery niche nicely and fits all of the boxes there. To be true to its genre it's supposed to be light and not delve too deeply into everyone's head. I just wish this one had been a little more deliberately whimsical (I wanted more of Walter and Henry's antics) because right now it isn't quite lighthearted enough for the surface-level presentation of the characters and the plot to work. This one's fine for huge fans of regency or historical mystery, but is not a particularly well-written addition to the canon.

I’ve enjoyed all of the Cindy’s previous books and considering the murder aspect of this one, I was all in. Sadly, I’m wondering if 3 stars is too high of a rating.

I liked Beth and James well enough. It’s an interesting set up and I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow as they leaned on each other. Caroline was a lovely friend and I liked how supportive and accepting she was. The characters were easy to root for, yet also a little flat.

Plot wise it was a struggle. It was quite boring and felt longer than it should have been. This was the slowest of slow build ups and the reveals don’t really start until near the very end. A big issue was the formatting of the e-arc. There wasn’t any sort of page break or show of POV switch...and there were several jumps in each chapter.

Overall, I liked the idea, but this story felt really drawn out. And even though there were loads of things happening, it lacked the tension a plot like this should have.

**Huge thanks to Swoon Reads for providing the arc free of charge**

1.5 STARS

TW: graphic injury, gore, loss of a loved one, death, violence

So often, the worst part of writing a lower-rated review is that I wanted to be excited, and then the book fell short. Without beating too much around the bush, that's exactly what I felt happened with The Hummingbird Dagger. You would think the promise of danger, mysterious weapons, and unsettling amnesia would be exciting, you really would, but the most apt word I can find for this book is flat.

I had a sinking feeling it would turn out this way within the first chapter, when the prose struck me as incredibly dull and flavorless. Of course, because it was the first chapter, I was willing to give it a chance, because hey! Sometimes first chapters suck, and the rest picks up the slack. I don't mind waiting a bit to see if it improves.

The trouble was that it didn't improve, and the only reason I didn't DNF was because I wanted to know the answer to the whodunnit, plus the why, even though those were flimsy threads to hold onto, ones I already had a strong suspicion about well before the halfway mark of the book.

If the characters had been more lively, I could have forgiven the crawl of the pacing, but it was exhausting trying to care about them. Not a single one really showed much life to me, and instead, I felt more like I was watching an elaborate little mystery put on by a bunch of stiff-backed dolls. The character depth that might have saved the book was just far too shallow, and without very much agency and action until the last tenth or so of the novel. Topped off with a romance that had absolutely zero chemistry, and I couldn't stand it (Beth and Caroline made a far more interesting pair than Beth and what's his face the young lord, whose name I find it hard to be bothered to remember, and even then, interesting is stretching it).

At least I liked the setting, though, even if I did feel like it was under-utilized. Fancy estate, recently come into the hands of an inexperienced young man? A house far too big for just four people? A small little village where nothing exciting happens (unless you're the village gossip and everything is exciting)? Artificial ruins built by rich people for funsies? Aesthetically, the setting was super pleasing, and I definitely wanted more of that. It had possibilities!

But ultimately, it came down to the plot and characters to carry the story, and they didn't. Everything was so flat and slow, and the ultimate answers didn't feel particularly twisty enough save for a single element. I should be on the edge of my seat in a mystery, trying to figure out who's responsible, why they did it, how, who's going to survive, and all these other things. This time, though, I mostly asked myself when it was going to be over. 

Admittedly, I can't recommend The Hummingbird Dagger very strongly. It disappointed me far too much to do that in good conscience. Still, though, if you want to give it a try anyways, it comes out April 16th, leaving you just a little more time to submit a pre-order, if that's what you decide you want to do. And there is a possibility the finished copy will be improved from the ARC I was provided, so bear that in mind. It's up to you.

[This review will be published on The Words Gremlin around 10 am EST on 4/11/19.]

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve heard mixed reviews about Cindy Anstey’s books for quite a while. So when I stumbled across this one I decided to give it a shot!

As we start to become introduce to the characters the plot line is a bit slow. But it is a good pace to get to the world, and how society works. I definitely didn’t know much about how society worked in those days for the upper class. Despite this I was intrigued by the twists and turns of the plot. It definitely got interesting as time progressed.

One of my favorite things would probably have to be the swoon-worthy romance between two of the MCs.

The only thing that got confusing was the number of characters there was. This book has a large cast of characters, particularly Villains which seemed to go by more then one name at times.

However if you’re a fan of regency era YA or Cindy Anstey definitely give this a shot!

I was really excited to see what Cindy Anstey would do with a slightly darker novel...and I was certainly NOT disappointed! It has all the charm of her previous novels with the right dash of suspense and mystery to keep you hooked.

It is very reminiscent of Victorian era murder mysteries. It's a lot of dialogue at times but I enjoyed the banter between the characters and found it to be engaging. The story really starts with a bang and then you slowly rebuild everything to the climax. I liked that it wasn't predictable and it had some layers to it because it made the reading experience richer.

The characters were great and fairly well developed; I would have liked a little more from the characters but they worked well for the story. While this story perhaps lacked the playfulness of Anstey's other works given its murder-suspense plotline, it didn't lack the charm she brings to her characters.

And I loved the little bits of romance along the way. It was exactly what I wanted and expected for the genre.

The Hummingbird Dagger, by author Cindy Anstey, is a young adult mystery standalone that takes place in 1833 England. Historians call it the Regency Era. The story follows members of the Ellerby household (Lord James, Caroline, and younger brother Walter), after they find an unconscious young woman after a carriage accident, and decide that they will take her in and help discover her who she is, and why she doesn't have any memories before the crash.

The crash survivor calls herself Beth. She has no memories, except a reoccurring nightmare of a hummingbird dagger and lots of blood. She has no luggage, and nobody knows why she was on this particular carriage at this particular moment in time. Friends that I trust have put this story in the same category as one of Jane Austen's stories with plenty of mystery, and a bit of romance splashed in to make things appealing to readers of both genre's.

For the Ellerby's, the past year hasn't been exactly smooth after they lost their beloved father. Lord James is just short of turning 21 and will soon become a full member of the House of Lords which is currently debating legislation that will have long lasting implications on the county, and especially privateers who work for the crown. So, when Beth comes along and upsets the apple cart, it also changes how they go about living.

Caroline takes a keen interest in helping Beth, while Walter is a spit fire with plenty of go power that never seems to ween itself out. Walter, I would say, is the most eager character in this entire book. He is the youngest, and therefore doesn't believe he gets the respect he yearns for. But, when he, and his best friend decide to play Sherlock and Holmes, interesting things happen. Meanwhile, James is drawn to the young woman and will put himself and his family on the line in order to protect Beth and discover her secrets.

The best parts of the story were the beginning, and the final chapters of the book when we learn who Beth really is, and why there are so many villains out to get her. Unfortunately, I do have one particular negative that really undermined my liking this story even more. My ARC was formatted in a way that didn't have any breaks between change of settings, or change of characters, or any idea of the passage of time between one particular scene to the next. I hope the finished copy isn’t formatted this way because it confused me so much!

It is fair to say that there are a whole lot of characters that are introduced over the course of this book. Which is why I encourage reviewers not to be afraid to put pen to paper and take copious notes or saving particular lines or sentences while you are reading on your Kindle or whatever else you use to read. Taking notes is also good when it takes you a few days to write your review, and you don't want to come across as an idiot for mistakenly mentioning a wrong character's name, or plot lines, or why you liked, or didn't like the story.

In the Hummingbird Dagger, you can find kidnapping, memory loss, and my favorite, romance. The story starts when Lord James Ellerby witnesses a fatal carriage ride and save an injured girl. He brings her to his manor to heal. The girl starts to recover but does not know who she is. As she tries to find out she is in the middle of events that occur and brings danger.
The book started off exciting and I was super pumped to continue the story and finish it but the beginning was exciting, the middle was too normal not enough umph and thankfully picked up again towards the end. What I did like was it was a murder mystery in the style of Austen and Bronte and I LOVE those authors. Would rate a 3.5

I’ve ready two of Cindy Anstey’s books before, and I’m absolutely ADDICTED. I love her writing style and her choice of time period. This novel had much more mystery and brutal-ness to it than her other novels. I also flew through reading this, it took me like two or three days. When books have mysteries in them I tend to fly through like no tomorrow to try and figure everything out.

My only critique regarding the plot was that there were way too many names and characters involved in the plot. Especially the bad guys. It was so hard following who was who and how they were all connected; I know it was part of the author trying to confuse you but the setting jumped back and forth between characters as everything unraveled and my head was spinning. And I really didn’t follow the motive behind the antagonists in this book, it was not easy to follow. My arc was also formatted in a way there were no breaks between change of setting, change of character, passage of time. I hope the finished copy isn’t formatted this way because it confused me so much!

Other than the confusion, I really loved this novel. In addition to an intriguing storyline, you’ve got main and side characters voices and personalities that leap off the page. James’s brother (Walter) and sister (Caroline) were equally as enjoyable as Beth & James. They brought the story to life and also showed accurate representation of sibling relationships.

The romance in this story, of course, was swoon worthy (I mean it’s not published by Swoon Reads for nothing). It’s a slow SLOW burn but I sdkfsjdfldf it was so cute, as per usual with Cindy Anstey.

If you’re a fan of period dramas like Pride & Prejudice, etc, you will LOVE this book. It also has a dark twist and mystery to it alongside quirky characters and romance. I highly recommend it!

For those familiar with books by Jane Austen (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, etc), this book has been likened to hers.

The setting is 1833 as Lord James Ellerby rescues a young woman who is involved in a carriage accident. He rushes her to his manor and summons a physician who finds that the woman has treatable injuries, but has been left with amnesia. She is then housed with the help until Lord Ellerby and his siblings find that her actions and vocabulary indicate that she probably has come from higher upbringing. It is then decided that she will be a companion to Caroline, Lord Ellerby’s sister.

Since the woman has no memory of where she is from or her name, she calls herself Beth. Caroline hastily provides the last name when she is called upon to introduce her to the family’s friends.

Beth becomes even more confused when a man soon shows up claiming to be her brother. However, the Ellerby’s sense Beth’s concerns and do everything they can to stall the brother and not send Beth away with him. Eventually, it works.

Lord James Ellerby, who has only recently earned that title due to his father’s death, and his sister Caroline find it easy to befriend Beth and quickly attempt to help her discover her identity. But they are met with unusual happenings at every turn.

My Thoughts

What Concerned Me: I couldn’t help but feel that the characters could have been developed and even described better. I also felt a bit lost at times toward the end as the mystery unfolded.

What I Liked Most: I truly enjoyed the dialect and setting. It was a fun read that I think many will enjoy it. There is romance involved, but if you like mysteries, I would say this book has more mystery than romance.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Swoon Reads for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.