Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

4.5/5

I really loved this book!! The old-timey, Gothic feel in a modern world was a fun setting to be in. I loved that the main character was genderqueer and that we got to explore some of his journey and experiences in his life and how the public perceives him. I loved all of the family dynamics within the Manor House. The girl he was hired to care for was truly an incredible character. The dad was precious in how much he didn’t necessarily understand gender expression but was determined to be accepting. As the story went on and things got deeper and slightly darker, I enjoyed how the plot played out.

Now I would not exactly classify this book as a mystery. This mystery aspect of this book was extremely soft. And the “solving” of the mystery was even softer. I think this book covers so many genres, but it would be a mistake for mystery to be considered the main genre!

What a fun and cheeky nod to the classical favorites of Brontë and Austen! This story follows Bron, (He is gender non-binary but uses “he” pronouns for himself so I will do the same) a lover of classics with the tendency to get lost in his own fantasies - particularly if they involve family secrets and manor fires of questionable origin (to be fair, I’d be a little suspicious too if I lived in a manor where people sneak around and unexplained fires occur). I absolutely adore Bron and his dramatics - he’s over the top and every bit an Austen character in the most endearing and joyful ways! And his brooding love interest Darcy (because of course his name is Darcy) is every bit of the mysterious but intriguing character you expect him to be.

If you love a good contemporary take on Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice with plenty of tongue in cheek nods to those very classics then I would definitely recommend this read!

I consumed the audiobook version of the novel and the narrator did a wonderful job - I couldn’t imagine Bron being voiced by anyone else!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
𝗖.𝗔. 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲
⭐⭐⭐

•Queer & gender-fluid rep
•Nod to the classics
•Dark academia vibes
•Coming-of-age
•Romance

Having grown up an orphan, raised in a strict boarding school, gender-fluid Brontë Ellis yearns for the ability to express his true self. So when he's offered a position as a tutor at Greenwood Manor, he leaves the rigidity of St. Mary's and doesn't look back. Is this finally his chance to be who he was always meant to be?

This was.... interesting. Ambitious. I see what the author was aiming for here, I'm just not sure it fully worked for me, despite the lovely writing. The most glaring issue I had was the anachronism: 19th century dialogue set in contemporary times. That said, I know this stylistically peculiar work will be just the right book for many readers.☺️

🎧 The narration was well done. This was my first time listening to trans narrator Cloud Quinn, but I thought he did a great job, especially for a beginner. I look forward to seeing how he evolves with more projects under his belt.

Thank you @dreamscape_media

A queer coming of age debut story featuring a gender fluid MC, perfect for fans of Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen.

This was a heartfelt modern reimagining of classic English gothic romances that sees orphan Bron, a young, lonely youth taking up a position as a tutor in a remote English manor house where they meet a love interest who projects tons of Fitzwilliam Darcy vibes.

Great on audio narrated by Cloud Quinn, I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait to read what this author writes next!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

⚠️CW: transphobia/queerphobia

I have read all kinds of books with characters all over the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, but this is the first one that I've read (to my knowledge) with what seems to be a gender fluid protagonist. I love that the author chose to include that representation. That said, I did feel that the author was heavy-handed with the stereotypical issues that come along with that. Like yes, some people are awful because they have difficulties accepting what they cannot understand, but there are other everyday thoughts/feelings/emotions that people do not typically think about as well. A good example of this was the part where Brom is choosing a suit, and decides to accessorize in order to feel more like themself. I feel like that touched VERY VERY slightly on the fashion difficulties/body dysmorphia that is common for trans/non-binary/gender fluid individuals. I'd love to read a book that put more focus on these smaller individual challenges rather than JUST acceptance.

I listened to this on audio, and the narrator was pretty good. He sounds young, which fit the character well.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. I do wish, as someone else said, that it was a bit more clear as to what genre it is supposed to be. I agree that it kept me from really connecting with the characters on an emotional level.

*****Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and C. A. Castle for providing me with an audiobook version of this book in exchange for my honest review!*****

(DNF at 35%)

Perhaps if I had read Jane Eyre, I would have appreciated this queer, gender-fluid retelling more. I found the prose rather clunky, the dialogue confusing, and the plot meandering. I enjoyed Ada, the young girl our protagonist tutors. I enjoyed the Cambridge setting. I enjoyed the performance of the narrator. But I could not grasp the dynamic and relationships between the characters. It felt very, "this happened, then this, then this..." Maybe I gave up too soon, and the conflict was yet to come. But by 35%, I should have felt drawn in and invested. Sadly this one was not for me.

I LOVE that Bron is 100% authentic in who they are, even if that changes from day to day. This was a hopeful read and I am happy that it had a happy-ish ending! This was my 1st book by C.A. Castle but will not be my last one! I am adding their books to my TBR!

#TheManorHouseGoverness
#NetGalley

I was really excited to read- or listen to in this case- a book with genderfluid representation and a character who adored the Regency era. However, I just could not quite get past the writing style in combination with the modern setting, and therefore could not finish the book, especially because I happen to be bad at audiobooks because of how much longer they take me to read, and this book was just a slog to get through

Overall a great Jane Eyre retelling.
I loved Bron and the queerness that was brought to the characters and plot.
Something with the dialogue felt out of place like it’s a modern story but the dialogue felt very old.
And after about 30% I started losing some interest.
It felt long but I did like how it all tied together and the end was great.

So I think if you are a fan of Jane Eyre you should read it.

The narrator of the audiobook was very enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced listening copy

3.25/5. Releases 11/7/2023 (audiobook).

*I read an audio ARC.

Vibes: Jane Austen meets Charlotte Bronte, fuck gender norms, and a modern approach to the Gothic.

After leaving his boarding school, orphaned Bronte (“Bron”) Ellis takes up a position as a governess at Greenwood Manor, caring for Ada Edwards. The family welcomes him with open arms, save chilly oldest son Darcy. Following a mysterious fire, Bron takes a cue from his beloved Gothic heroines and begins searching for the truth–with his ever-growing attraction to Darcy never far from mind.

This book is a really ambitious, really interesting homage, mixing both Austen and Bronte with an approach I appreciated as an admirer of both writers. And I think Literary Types will absolutely get into this (or, like, hate it if you’re a purist… but if you’re a purist, what are you doing here). The writing style wasn’t quite for me, but I do respect this book, and would recommend it to the target audience any day.

Quick Takes:

–Want to get this out of the way: Bron is gender nonconforming and uses he/him pronouns. I believe the implication is that he’s non-binary, but the novel doesn’t get overly specific. I found this interesting and refreshing. While it’s a totally, absolutely queer book, you get the impression that in some ways Bron is still figuring shit out, and it’s valid, and he’s in no hurry to figure it out. It’s a part of him; it’s not torturing him internally; some people are assholes about it.

The Edwards family are not assholes about it, and are in fact super welcoming and warm. I loved that. Darcy is gay, upfront about it, and unashamed.

–Obviously… He is Darcy. Obviously, Bron is Bronte. We know there’s a merge here. And I would call it a true merge. There’s a Gothic sensibility and vibe throughout the story, but it’s not quite as intense as what you’d find in a true Gothic novel, and it’s cut throughout by a sparkly Austenian wit and the flirty, quippy vibes between Darcy and Bron (which are strong once Darcy gets over himself). To me, this blend never felt clunky or weird. It won’t work for everyone, but it’s definitely a big swing.

–Netgalley has this under Romance (the publisher probably categorized it as such). It’s not a romance. That doesn’t mean there isn’t an HEA; but it does mean that Darcy and Bron’s romance is a subplot, not the main plot. It’s a strong subplot, it’s good and I liked it. But if you’re a romance reader, this may not satisfy your craving for a love story.

–It is a bit slow, which does fit the tone of the inspirations (especially Bronte). And it’s not unjustified. The story unfolds over time, the prose lovely and the details creating a distinct and interesting world.

I appreciate the novel approach to this, well, novel. And it’s a take I think will work for many readers, and provoke some into exploring the classics. It’s not speedy, but it’s quality.

Thanks to Dreamscape and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

e-ARC given by NetGalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review.


This is about a boy named Braun, who is obviously a he but a transgender child, because he used to be a woman. He works as a governess in this manner and ends up liking one of the boys there, but then a fire starts, and there’s a whole mystery on who you think it is. I really like the whole Jane aspect because jane eyere was one of my favorite stories and this is basically that except for queer stories. It’s nice to see more LGBTQ stories out there, because there aren’t many. And I love listening to it while I painted.

I enjoyed this audio, I enjoyed Bron, and how comfortable he is in his skin given situations around him. I loved how he is a governess, which is a job that’s mostly given to women, and the romance between Darcy and him. The secrets revealed in this family was a wild ride.

Stifled by the rigid rules at an all-boys boarding school, orphan Bron found refuge in books and movies. Now an adult, he takes a job tutoring at opulent Greenwood Manor, where the warm Edwards family embraces Bron's unconventional gender identity. Yet eldest son Darcy remains aloof. When a fire disrupts life at the manor, Bron uncovers secrets reminiscent of his beloved books. Amid this turmoil, Bron's growing feelings for Darcy further tangle his search for answers.

This contemporary Gothic romance is more Gothic than romance. The characters are wonderful, the mystery intriguing, and writing style engrossing. I couldn't put it down. The narration was well done.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.