Fledgling continues the story of Cassandra Reed, aka Sarah Smith, from Changeling, the first novel in the series. It follows Cassandra and her friends during their second year in Miss Castwell’s and a holiday with her friends. However, Cassandra is having issues with gaining more knowledge from the Mother Book.

So I’m honestly writing this review nearly 3 months after finishing it, once again, my motivation to blog has been shocking. I apologise in advance for this! However, I do remember loving this book as much as the first in the series. I’m so glad I requested these books on Netgalley!

I love the story line and the world! I love the somewhat Hogwarts feel Miss Castwell’s gives, but also it feels completely different. I loved the beginning, experiencing Cassandra’s magical strength again and seeing how she’s improved with her magic as well. I didn’t think I would ever experience reading about an evil unicorn, yet here I am having experienced it and the storyline as to why the evil unicorn was attracted to the girls at school was probably one of the highlights of the book, just because of how witty it was. After somewhat picking the villain in the first book, the villain in this book, I most definitely did not pick, and I don’t think I bought into it as much as I did in the previous book. I felt the ending with this villain was a bit too rushed for my liking, and I would have liked it to be fleshed out a bit more. That is probably my only low lights of this book, which means I’m still pretty impressed by this series!

I continue to love the friendship between Cassandra, Ivy and Alicia. I love all the support and kindness that this girls are all about. I love that they don’t care where each other come from before Miss Castwell’s, and continue to be there for each other through thick and thin. I also was a major fan of the slow burns of the relationships, as I felt this was a lot more realistic compared to some magical and YA books.

I cannot wait for the next in the series to see how Cassandra, Alicia and Ivy go about their magical schooling and lives!

Thank you very much to NYLA for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is another fun adventure filled with magic and mystery. My rating 4.25.

Sarah was born a Snipe expected to remain in the serving class like her parents. But she possesses magical skills that only the Guardian class members are supposed to have. Her parents’ employer, society influencer, Mrs. McCray, took Sarah on and transferred her into a Guardian girl, presenting her to society as a niece, Cassandra Reed. (Book One Changling.)

Sarah/Cassandra has almost completed her first year at the elite Guardian school, Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies. This term she strengthens her friendship with Ivy and Alicia. She has also made other friendships with a ‘room’ study group while she waits for the Mother Book to talk to her again.

Sarah discovers someone else who may have a surprising connection to the Mother Book. That reminds her that she needs to intensify her efforts to locate other Changling Children who have powers like her. Sarah discovers a location for a training school of Changling Children and she, Ivy and Alicia make plans to visit the place during the summer holidays.

They will have to be creative to escape Alicia’s strict mother and to stay away from other threats. Their adventures are filled with magic and tension.

This is a good sequel to the first book. I enjoyed Sarah’s quick thinking in times of danger. She tries to protect her friends, not realizing how much she needs their help. The strong loving friendship of the young women is engaging. I am interested to see what will happen in the next book. I recommend reading the books in order and enjoying the adventures.

Source: 2019 NetGalley.

This was a delightful and whimsical read that read like a wonderful and refreshing mix of the Libba Bray trilogy and Harry Potter. I did not read the first book in this series, and while I could tell that I was missing some of the backstory, it didn't impede my reading enjoyment of this story.
The novel begins immediately with some instant action, tossing the reader directly into the magical worldbuilding when the main character shows abilities that should be beyond her when she defends herself and her classmates against a magical beast that looks like a unicorn. While it deceives the others, she is quick to determine that all is not as it seems, which is our first clue that there is something more going on with this Changeling girl.
In a lushly described setting that feels like something out of a classic British novel but filled with witty repertoire and honest yet biting descriptions, I enjoyed every page of this book and only wish I'd read the first novel before beginning this one. I will definitely be adding both of them to my library in the near future.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reading copy. A positive review was not required.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

The best thing about this book is the friendship between the three girls. I hadn't read the first in the series, but I love Molly Harper's writing style and was able to read the second with no problem.

I think the titles of the books in this series do the content a mild disservice mostly because these are generic in a way and have many similarly-named books floating around (MANY!). All of this has nothing to do with the reading experience because this installment was a five-star read as well. I actually requested this book a long time ago, as soon as it was available but was archived before I had a response. Then I received an email from the publishers indicating that they approved it and reopened access to it for a limited time if I was still interested, which I was. After this exciting occurrence, I was looking forward to the book. The following review was not affected by this occurrence and is completely only based on my own reading experience.

After saving the day and maybe their entire world, the three girls, led by Sarah/Cassandra are settling into their school work. The Mother book which bonded with Sarah in the previous installment is not forthcoming and almost looks like its sulking because Sarah is not really doing anything to find other changelings. Cassandra, however, has a checklist from her auntie: she has to build a social circle and learn to live in the society that she is now part of. We spend a part of the tale at the school and the other in Scotland where the girls go to look for a hidden location. There is a lot that happens in this story but more than the actual events that form the foundation of the story it is the narrative, the conversations and the overall imagery that caught my heart. I loved the flow of the story and felt so good in general even when I was reading about harrowing events because I knew they would be dealt with appropriately. The subtle humour that floats around every scene was a treat and I will keep my eyes peeled for what happens in the next book because, at the end of this one, there was no going back to the way things were! There is more than a single romance this time, as the girls are growing old enough to be 'courted'.

The worldbuilding is reasonably simple, with the foundation in probably victorian England but has that little extra which makes the entire story sound believable despite having magic in it. I would have liked it even more if the second half of the adventure took up more time and unraveled a little more gracefully but that does not take away from how much fun I had reading this book. Most people who experiment with genres would know that feeling when they find a couple of books that have a good story as well as provide a very satisfying way to spend time. If you are such a person, I highly recommend giving this series a shot!

Thank you Netgalley for sending me this arc. I will be reviewing this book in the near future with an honest rating and review.

I tried to read it my best, again and again but I just couldn't connect with the story ir the characters.

I thought Fledgling was a wonderful follow up to Changeling. It was fun, fast-paced, and engaging, with characters that I adore. This series has a similar vibe to C.J. Archer’s books, drawing together a story that is fantastical and a little steampunk. I loved that this book didn’t just focus on the school, but expanded to include other locations as well. The scope of the story grew with the characters and and did progress the story enough to keep it interesting. I do wish the balance between wrapping up a particular storyline and leaving enough unresolved for another book was a little more equal. I got near the end of this book and felt a little like it was just the middle chapter of a whole. However, I still enjoyed it immensely and am looking forward to devouring the next book!

I really enjoyed this book! Not only was the plot clever and intriguing, but I felt that the characters were ones you could empathise with and fully comprehend their emotional depth! I will absolutely be buying a physical copy and recommending this to everyone!

Like its predecessor, Fledgeling is a charming little historical fantasy novel! It's short and sweet, but Sarah still undergoes a lot of character growth, and I liked that the characters of Ivy and Alicia were expanded upon. Fledgeling packs a powerful punch with its messages about friendship, prejudice, and the universal feeling of not being in control. Fantasy fans of all ages will want to check out the burgeoning Sorcery and Society series.

I recieved a free copy via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the friendship between the three girls it's so genuine. Sarah is a bit of a matyr and that does bug me a little, but it gives Ivy and Alicia a chance to prove their friendship.

Gavin, I would have liked a little more depth to his character, hopefully in the next book. I think he could be an amazing character and give Sarah the strength she will most likely need in the next book.

Mrs Winter keeps surprising me! She is a great character and I do hope she appears more in the next book. I would her to realise there that magic no matter where from is a good thing. I think she is really capable of this without it feeling jarring. I love how she is taking to Sarah, as Sarah and not just Cassandra.

The Mother book- Oh how? I hope this issure can be resolved in some way, no idea how, but that's Molly Harper's job.

I did guess the big reveal happen in some form, but I didn't get it dead on. I do wish it was explained in a little more detail.

Overall it was a great read.

4 out of 5 stars

The second instalment in this series sees Sarah/Cassandra beginning her journey to find other children like her.  We are still discovering more about the world that Sarah lives in, and the characters are evolving and growing. The humour that made me fall in love with the first book is very much a part of this world. Alicia is still my favourite character with her acerbic one-liners.  Mrs Winters is also given more depth in this book. She is not the cold woman we initially meet in Changeling. She is a woman of great depth who is an expert at navigating the many pitfalls that society throws her way. 

Ms Harper is a skilled writer, but this series is her first foray into the historical setting. While set in an alternate reality, the rules are the same, women are chaperoned, arranged marriages are the norm, the clothing is the same. Ms Harper has done her research, and it shows. Many books I've read that uses a historical setting, especially in fantasy make the characters too modern, this isn't the case here, the story fits the period.  Ms Harper has crafted strong female characters who fit in the period they inhabit, this is no mean feat. 

This book also suffers from copy editing issues that were prevalent in the first book. Dropped sentences, repeating words. This time I read the arc, so I hope they will be rectified but given the issues were found in the published version of the first book, I expect they will still be there, 

I received an arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I liked the first book of the series, but this one was a deception, and I couldn't even finished it and stopped at 75 %.
The beginning was rather good, even if I was surprised that the very first episode, which was quite inventive and theoretically frightful, wasn't used at all to make some psychological impact upon the characters. The main character just shrugged it off like a walk in the park.

Reading on I was also surprised by the developments - or rather the absence of any. The reading was comfortable and rather fun, but not much of a story, much more like reading bonus of the heroine's everyday life. I don't mind this kind of narrative, but I was wondering all the same.

At one point of the story the heroine celebrate her birthday, and I was shocked to remember she was only fifteen yo, even used to be fourteen! Even in a fantasy world, where young girls are supposed to be mature and even possibility married at this age, the heroine's voice never seemed one of a young girl (think, let say, like a girl Lydia Bennett's age ^-^) but much older. Very much so.
In fact, I quickly understand my main problem with the book: the author's work is very good for many points, but she chose not to exploit the dramatic possibilities, amusing herself delightfully with the world she created, giving her heroine the thoughts, personality and humor of a thirtish urban fantasy feminine character.

After a quick read for half the book, I surprised myself reading slower and slower, finally deciding to stop, as I wasn't able to read more than a page or two before switching to another read.
A shame...

From the very start, Fledgling is a playful romp of a story, with copious amounts of magic and humor. The characters were brought to life in an amazing way. I haven’t actually read the first book, Changeling, but the author puts in enough back-story here and there so I wasn’t lost or confused.
That’s really all I have to say about it. It was a fun, quick read, that would be perfect for in-between hours at school or at work.
NOTE: I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fledgling is the second book in Molly Harper's Sorcery and Society series. Full disclosure, I didn't realize this before I requested a copy from NetGalley. Given that, I would say the world was pretty easy to pick up on. I'm sure there are probably some parts of it I may have missed by not reading the first book, but she does a good job of describing how the world works. Enough that I didn't feel lost. I knew how things worked and what was going on. I think this book would be really good for Harry Potter fans. I almost felt like I was at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic from the HP series. Fledgling was a fun adventurous story and it does give you some ideas into what Sarah will be going through in future books. The one thing I wasn't crazy about was that these books are heavily plot based. I really needed more character development. I want to know more about them and why I'm supposed to love them. Keep in mind I'm someone who love Character driven books. It's also a younger YA book. That didn't really bother me, I'll read Middle Grade if it's a good story. So if you are someone who isn't crazy about reading books with younger MC's, it may not be for you. The main character is 14 and turns 15 in the book, but acts even a little younger I'd say. Overall though, it was a quick, fun read. If given the chance, I'd probably move on to the next book to see what happens.

DNF

Unfortunately, this book was not what I was expecting. I was expecting an action=packed adventure filled with magic spells and incredible friendship. Whilst I did get the magic spells and the friendship, I just found the story to be slow and a bit boring.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the writing. It's comfortable and the story definitely has fun elements, but since the book isn't what I was expecting, I wasn't motivated to continue reading.

This is the second in a series, and I did not have to read the first to be able to follow along. This series in definitely YA, almost middle grade, and is certainly Harry Potter-esque in the magical school of young adults. There is both foretelling and flashbacks (which are confusing upon first read) and some pacing problems (the end came out of nowhere) but some fun characters, world building and capers. Recommend for the younger reader interested in fantasy.

Fun little novel set in an alternative England where deep social divides between the magically enabled ruling class and the magic-less underclass are threatened by the discovery that magic is not in fact restricted to specific bloodlines and instead beginning to appear in individuals with no magical lineage. This is the second novel in a series and while there are obviously some elements from the first story that readers will miss out on, it's a perfectly acceptable entry point into the series.

Fledgling is the story of a girl who discovers she has magic. It is very similar to Harry Potter in that way. I entered this series on this book which is the second and I kind of wish I had read the first one. I had a little bit of difficulty keeping things straight because of it. Also as much as I liked the concept, I really felt like it wasn't that easy of a read for me personally. I don't know if it was that I was drawing so many comparisons to Harry Potter or what though. She even goes to a magic school to learn more since she doesn't come from a magic background.

If you are interested in books that give you a fantasy element, and like a series, I do recommend this one. I would just go back and read the first one before starting this one.

I received this book in exchange for review.

#Fledgling #NetGalley

I’m on the fence with this instalment from Molly Harper, if you’ve read her other series you’ll appreciate her sense of humour, her intriguing and complex characters and the easy that she can tell a romance story without making the female character seem weak.

Her <b>Sorcery and Society</b> deviates slightly from her previously books. Focusing on Sarah Smith and her awakening into magic. It’s all very Harry Potter esk which makes it hard to not compare. In comparison it does not compare. And in someways comparing it to Harry Potter you do disservice to it.

If you go into it reading if for what it is a very intriguing story about a young girl who’s found magic and now has this great challenge to keep her secret while saving the world. I’m sure you’d be as entertained as I was.

<b>**Thanks to the author and netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.** </b>