📖 𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄: The Secrets of Thorndale Manor
✍️ 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: Syrie James
📚 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒: Book 2 in The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke and Fire
🏢 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑: Dragonblade Publishing
📅 𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: June 28th, 2025
🗂️ 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: Gothic Romance, Historical Mystery
Thank you to @syriejames @dragonbladepublishing and @austenprose
for the gifted copy!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫, is a lush, Brontë-esque Gothic mystery that perfectly blends eerie suspense with clever romantic tension. Set in a Victorian girls’ school hidden inside a once-grand estate, this story is soaked in atmosphere—think murder, repressed emotions, and whispered rumors that refuse to stay buried.

🕯️ Family secrets. A murder. A broody hero.
Welcome back to the moody, mysterious world of The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke and Fire in this gothic romance that had me hooked from the first page.
At Thorndale Manor, nothing stays buried for long…
Athena, headmistress of a girls’ school housed in a crumbling estate with a dark past, is determined to uncover the truth when a maid is found dead. But as she digs deeper, she uncovers far more than she expected—including secrets tied to the manor’s original murder and the brooding former heir, Ian Vernon.

⚰️ Gothic mystery vibes

📚 Strong independent FMC

💀 Enemies to lovers

🔥 Slow-burn, closed-door romance

🏰 Secret-filled village & haunting manor

💔 A twist that thrilled me

#TheSecretsOfThorndaleManor #SyrieJames #GothicRomance #HistoricalMystery #DarkAcademia #FeministFiction #BookstagramRecs #EnemiesToLovers #MoodyReads #MurderMystery #BroodyBookBoyfriend #SpookyButMakeItRomantic #TheAudaciousSisterhoodOfSmokeAndFire

where do i start?

the book as a cosy mystery — it was cosy, okay? the beginning was rough, lots of exposition at once, and i couldn’t get into the story, i wasn’t compelled to keep going. It did pick up around the middle, though. personally, i clocked out one suspect and happened to be right, which didn’t blow me away when the big reveal happened.

the book as a romance — absolutely not, unfortunately. Athena and Ian barely had any moments together. enemies where? it was one misconception that lasted until their second meeting, and then they both felt hots each other for some reason? the next scene they were already kissing. sorry, but i wasn’t sold on it at all. to be completely honest, Ian didn’t even seem like a co-lead character, he had less page-time than some of the secondary characters. no bodice ripping whatsoever, which in these circumstances was a good thing. kissing happened out of nowhere, so i’d probably go into shock if something more was to happen on page between them

2.75 on a bad day, 3.25 on a good day

but i will not be thinking about the book ever again

the idea of combining my favorite thing ever which is historical romance with crime seemed interesting and i looked forward to reading it, but like i said earlier first couple of chapters where difficult to get through for how bulky and info-dumpy they were, and then there was barely any romance occurring in between.
90/10 crime to romance ratio (and i am being generous here on the romance side) did not meet my expectations.

i only forced myself to finish it because my arc was going to expire in a few days. if this book was purchased by me or gifted to me, it would probably collect dust as i’d pick up other books instead

writing style was great, the mystery itself was cozy and made sense and detective work was nice, but i feel deceived on the romance part, hence the rating.

thank you netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor is the second book in this series, and I very much enjoyed the continuing story of the Taylor sisters. The book has a great gothic vibe to it, something that drew me to it in the first place, set on an estate with abundant mysteries and secrets from the past, and also comes with former brooding owner who naturally takes center stage in Athena's life. The current mystery connects with the older one in an intriguing manner, and the twists and turns were quite interesting.

Athena and Selena have opened up a school for girls, but naturally things are difficult from the beginning due to the rumours surrounding the estate from it past history as well as the currently murder being investigated. The focus on this book is Athena and I quite enjoyed getting to know her better. Athena is a determined and relentless woman who decides to take matters into her own hands when the current investigation starts affecting enrollment at her school. And while she could be a bit reckless at times and perhaps a bit too bold, I liked her character. However, being bold and asking too many questions also landed her in a heap of trouble. But, the situations were believable, not contrived just to push along the story, something that I liked.

The secondary characters, including Selena, were quite diverse and many had secrets of their own of which only some have come to light in this book so I am looking forward to the next book to see what is revealed. This doesn't affect this story in any way however, just makes you understand the depth to a village and how much a little one can hide. The closed door romance between Athena and Ian was delightful and didn't impact the overall story at all. Sometimes the romance can overpower the mystery, but I thought the author did a great job balancing the two, keeping the tension of the mystery going even with the little personal touches and day-to-day goings on. I did figure out the culprit very early on in the story, but still enjoyed the way the author tried to confuse the reader through the twists and turns. The plot moved rather quickly and the overall setting was quite atmospheric with hints of ghosts and other happenings all leading to a very satisfying conclusion.

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor was a delight to read and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The plot moved rather quickly and I enjoyed the way the author incorporated the gothic tones into the story which added to the tension and the atmosphere. You don't have to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one, but it does add to the sister dynamic if you do. I am definitely looking forward to Selena's story in the next book.

When sisters Athena and Selena find their school for girls in trouble due to the shadows of a murder, Athena comes to believe that unraveling the mystery of a new murder could be the pivotal key to unlocking the hidden truths of the manor's past and securing their school’s future.

This captivating gothic Victorian mystery unfolds with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The plot is full of suspense and intrigue, while the setting is richly atmospheric.

Content warnings: mentions of affairs, mentions of physical and sexual abuse, unwed pregnancy, and violence.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Do you enjoy mystery romances? I really love picking up a good mystery every now and then and was excited for the opportunity to read The Secrets of Thorndale Manor. I read the first book in this standalone series, The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall, and loved it so much I knew I couldn’t miss reading this one. Similar to how the first book hooked me right away, the first chapter of this story had me needing to know all the answers right from the start and it made it hard to put this book down. I love how I wanted to keep reading- turning those pages- to find out how this book was going to turn out.
Athena and her sister have been governesses for so long, but after acquiring Thorndale Manor, they are working to make their dreams of a girls school a reality. Thorndale Manor, however, is tarnished by the former owner’s tragic tale and Athena soon becomes invested in finding and disclosing the truth of what really happened no matter the cost.
Read this for:
*Victorian era
*single POV (which lends really well to the mystery aspects)
*broody hero with a heart of gold
*intelligent heroine
*amateur sleuthing
*murder mystery
*gothic romance vibes
*slow burn romance
If you enjoy a really well-written mystery with some romance and a story-line that will keep you both guessing and reading, I highly recommend this book. I can’t wait for the next in the series now.
I received a complimentary copy as part of the Austenprose tour from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the first book by this author that I have read. It is the second book in the series, but it is easy to read as a standalone. It was a story full of many twists and turns that kept you turning the page. You never knew when the next surprise would come, and they came thick and fast. The story was well thought out and written, and the characters were enjoyable to read. There was mystery, ghosts, romance, danger and some good sleuthing. It had a lot of filler, which is a good thing for some, but I prefer the story to move along a bit faster. Still, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

A mysterious whodunit, swoon worthy romance, & a plucky heroine determined to find the truth! I loved The Secrets of Thorndale Manor. This amazing gothic mystery/romance reminiscent of Jane Eyre kept me guessing. It’s the fantastic second book in the Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire & definitely as thrilling as the first.

After years of being governesses, Athena Taylor & her sister Selena are finally able to follow their dream of opening a girls’ school. But, when a maid is found murdered, rumors of a murder nine years prior resurface. Needing to preserve the reputation of her school, Athena determines to solve the maid’s murder & try to clear the name of Thorndale Manor’s previous owner’s daughter, put to death for the murder of her fiancé & said to be haunting the manor.

I adored Athena! Her intelligence, & dogged determination are so admirable, but do lead her into trouble as she becomes the target of a killer. I also adored the brooding Ian Vernon who’s sister was accused of murder nine years ago. He was the heir of Thorndale Manor until his father gambled away his inheritance. Resentful of Athena now owning the manor, they get off to a rocky start. But, as they get to know each other the animosity between them starts to melt away to something more. I loved the sizzling attraction between them.

The mystery definitely kept me guessing with several shocking twists. Athena believes the two murders are connected & puts herself in danger investigating. As the clues are unraveled, several suspects emerge with motives for murder. While I had my suspicions, I didn’t fully figure it out until the very end.

The setting was amazing! I loved the gothic atmosphere with ghosts, hidden rooms, & deep secrets. I also enjoyed the secondary characters. Mrs. Hillman, their sweet older neighbor with a penchant for gothic novels warmed my heart. I also liked Athena’s & Selena’s precocious, intelligent students. I also enjoyed getting to know Selena & can’t wait for her story.

Highly recommend to gothic mystery/romance fans! I received an advanced copy from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are completely my own & voluntarily provided.

Which author you would recommend everyone? I have read and continue to enjoy novels by author Syrie James and I would recommend her to anyone.

Athena Taylor and her sister Selena have realized their dream of opening a school for young ladies at Thorndale Manor. The manor has a checkered past with a recent occupant having been put to death for murdering a neighbor. When one of their maids is discovered dead, Athena discovers that she was also linked with the past murder. She decides to investigate the maids murder as well as the past murder. What will she discover?

My thoughts on this novel:
• This novel picked up right after the first novel in the series, The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall. I greatly enjoyed this novel. You can read The Secrets of Thorndale Manor as a standalone novel, but it is even more fun to read the series in order.

• I love historical mystery and I thought this was a really interesting mystery and suspense novel. It had a gothic feel to the entire story as well, which I loved. I don’t want to delve into the details and ruin it for others, but I enjoyed the twists and turns.

• I also felt hints of Jane Eyre throughout the novel and there is a lovely author’s note in the end which discusses this as well. I especially loved that Athena and Selena are working together to run a school for girls and are having a hard time getting students. This seemed familiar as it was a dream of Charlotte Bronte as well to start a school and her and her sisters were also unable to get enough students to do so.

• I loved the Victorian England setting. I also liked getting to know the servants in the manor as well as the neighbors in the small village.

• Ian Vernon is an architect. His family had previously owned Thorndale Manor, but he had to sell it due to the estate being so far in debt. He is not happy about Athena investigating the old murder as his sister was convicted of it. But as he gets to know Athena, sparks fly. I loved this romance.

• The back of the book has a picture of the beautiful cover of the next book in the series, Danger at Darkmoor Park which will focus on Selena. I can’t wait to read it!

Overall, The Secrets of Thorndale Manor by Syrie James is an intriguing Victorian Gothic historical mystery and suspense novel. It has great characters and a great story with many twists and turns. I highly recommend it!

Book Source: Thank-you to @syriejames @dragonbladepublishing @austenprose for a review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour.

I seem to be in my historical mystery, with some romance weaved in, era. The Secrets of Thorndale Manor is part of the Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire series. These are interconnected books so they can be read as stand-alones.

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor has a fabulous gothic vibe to it. Set in the late 1800s, on a sprawling estate in a large manor with the story of a notorious murderess and that of her ghost that now haunts the manor attached to it.

Our main characters, sisters Athena and Selena, have opened up a school for girls, thanks to the backing of their sister and her husband. But, enrollment is low, and they fear they'll never make a success of their school without higher enrollment. But the scandal surrounding their home has made parents hesitant to enroll their children. Then their maid is found drowned in the river and Athena starts to learn the story around the young woman accused of murder and feels strongly that she was wrongly accused and that the death of their maid is somehow related. But investigating is putting Athena and others in grave danger.

The mystery in this story was excellent. I did have an inkling into a couple of the plot twists, but that did not make the story any less thrilling. And there were a few plot points that left me in shock. By the end, this story had my heart pounding, and I just couldn't put it down until I had finished it.

And then there was the romance. I prefer my romance subtle. That's my preference, and I'd never criticize anyway who likes it any other way. But there is something quite steamy in the stolen looks, the characters' day dreams, and the stolen kisses. Athena was sure she'd never marry, not wanting to lose her freedom. She just hadn't found the right person.

I also loved the found family aspect of this story. The relationship Athena and Selena forge with the matron of a neighboring manor is so sweet, and the story ends on such an uplifting note with that relationship.

Overall, this was such a delightful story with an intriguing mystery and sweet romance.

Family secrets and a murder are at the heart of this romance that has a gothic feel. This is the second book of The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke and Fire series and I enjoyed it. Athena, the FMC, is head mistress of the Darkmoor Bridge School for Girls which she runs with her sister Selena in Thorndale Manor, an estate with a dark past. The school is meant to educate girls in the same subject as boys and prepare them to be strong and independent but finding students whose parents are willing to overlook the rumors and dark past of Thorndale Manor is a struggle. After a maid is discovered dead Athena is determined to figure out what happened to her to try to save the school. The more she learns, the more she thinks it is related to the original murder. Ian Vernon, the former owner of Thorndale Manor, does not want Athena to ask questions about the past as it is too painful for him. He is drawn to Athena and wants to keep her safe even as she stirs up the past. Athena is relentless and as she gets closer to the truth the danger increases? What secrets are being kept and will Athena figure them out before it is too late?

The community and characters in the village are interesting and full of secrets. One of my favorite parts is Mrs. Hillman and the family she creates. Athena is an enjoyable character. She is determined, thoughtful, resourceful, and wants to figure out the mystery to save her school. Ian is a broody MMC which is perfect for this gothic mystery. The closed door romance for these enemies to lovers is a slow build to them figuring out what they want. The mystery kept me guessing and reading to figure it out and I did not see the twist coming. The book is part of a series but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy gothic mysteries and romances.

Another amazing story from @syriejames! The Secrets of Thorndale Manor is as captivating as the first book in The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke and Fire series, They Mysteries of Pendowar Hall. I loved reading about Athena and Ian's love story and the mystery surrounding Thorndale Manor. The twist at the end definitely took me by surprise 😮 I'm going to impatiently wait for the next novel, Danger At Darkmoor Park. I can't wait to see what mystery Selena gets wrapped up in.

Anthea has done what she had dreamed about for years. Governessing had been hard but she and sister Selena had stuck it out and now opened their school for girls. The Manor was spacious and ideal for the purpose but what they did not take into account was its history. The previous owners sister was charged with the murder of her husband and was hanged for it. When just weeks into her ownership, a young housemaid was found drowned in a nearby river, the gossip and insinuations started that the house was doomed and the success of the school and getting more pupils was low.

Despite warnings to the contrary Anthea was determined to get to both mysteries. Why and who would want to murder an inconsequential house maid unless she had valuable information that she could use as blackmail, and who hated Caroline Vernon so much that she got implicated in the murder of her husband.

Anthea finds herself in a dangerous position of not knowing whom she can trust, because all of them have plenty of secrets to hide.

The ending was surprising and unexpected. Always a nice surprise. This Victorian setting gothic themed read was a good one.

After reading The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall earlier this year and absolutely loving it, I’ve been eagerly waiting for this one. It was just as wonderful as I had anticipated!

With its Gothic romance, suspense, and murder mystery elements, it’s an engaging and layered read. The plot is gripping, with well-developed characters and unexpected twists that kept me guessing and unable to put it down.

This was such a well-written, richly atmospheric mystery and romance. I loved it, and can’t wait for book three— Danger at Darkmoor Park.

I received a complementary copy, but a positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Family secrets and a murder are at the heart of this romance that has a gothic feel. This is the second book of The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke and Fire series and I enjoyed it. Athena, the FMC, is head mistress of the Darkmoor Bridge School for Girls which she runs with her sister Selena in Thorndale Manor, an estate with a dark past. The school is meant to educate girls in the same subject as boys and prepare them to be strong and independent but finding students whose parents are willing to overlook the rumors and dark past of Thorndale Manor is a struggle. After a maid is discovered dead Athena is determined to figure out what happened to her to try to save the school. The more she learns, the more she thinks it is related to the original murder. Ian Vernon, the former owner of Thorndale Manor, does not want Athena to ask questions about the past as it is too painful for him. He is drawn to Athena and wants to keep her safe even as she stirs up the past. Athena is relentless and as she gets closer to the truth the danger increases? What secrets are being kept and will Athena figure them out before it is too late?

The community and characters in the village are interesting and full of secrets. One of my favorite parts is Mrs. Hillman and the family she creates. Athena is an enjoyable character. She is determined, thoughtful, resourceful, and wants to figure out the mystery to save her school. Ian is a broody MMC which is perfect for this gothic mystery. The closed door romance for these enemies to lovers is a slow build to them figuring out what they want. The mystery kept me guessing and reading to figure it out and I did not see the twist coming. The book is part of a series but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy gothic mysteries and romances.

This is a new-to-me author, and I had no idea what I to expect when I first looked at this book, and then began to read.

Mysterious, surprising twists and turns make this an interesting and page-turning read.
I had not read the first book in the series, and even though they are said to be stand-alone novels, I do think some things in this book would have made more sense had I read the other first.
That being said… I still enjoyed reading this book!
The characters seemed rather unusual for their day and time.
Two sisters attempting to start a school for young ladies.
In a manor said to be haunted.
And, of course, there were various mysterious happenings.
The maid drowned. Or so it was said. But some things just did not add up.
Athena cannot leave well enough alone. She thinks it might tie in with the mysterious murder, allegedly done by Caroline Vernon, 9 years prior. And she intends to prove the latter innocent.
But so many people tell her to leave it alone.
Then, Athena finds herself in danger.
I was kept guessing until the very end.
If you enjoy historical mysteries, I suggest you give this one a try!

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

When Athena Taylor opens the Darkmoor Bridge School for Girls at Thorndale Manor, she hopes for a fresh start, but a maid’s mysterious death and whispers of a past murder pull her into a dangerous investigation. Despite warnings from Ian Vernon, Thorndale’s brooding former heir, Athena is determined to uncover the truth. As secrets surface and danger looms, she must navigate a treacherous path between justice and a growing attraction that could cost her everything.
This book held my attention from the start, with plenty of intrigue and a fast pace. This book had me considering all the characters in the book and their possible guilt as Athena works through the murder mystery. The romance between Athena and Ian was enjoyable, where her determination is balanced by his support of her. Their romance is well balanced and cleverly integrated into the story. While I hadn’t read the first book in the series, I now look forward to going back and reading more from this author. I look forward to Book 3 in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fantastic mystery! Book two about two sisters who run a girl's school. So enticing that you won't put it down. The mystery will keep you on your toes challenging you to discover if your assumptions were true or false. Exceptional characters! So very creative with a fanominal imagination and depth. A series that you really don't want to miss out on especially if you are a mystery reader.

This Victorian mystery is full of secrets that our heroine can't resist trying to solve. As the headmistress of her, and her sister's new school for girls, she really shouldn't stir up the locals.
We get lots of very interesting characters. There seems to be a killer, or are they accidents ? If there is a killer, who could it be?
These are the mysteries you will need to solve. I didn't guess. Will you???
Good fun.

I rveally liked the first book in this series about Diana. This book I struggled with to connect with the characters. Diana (first book) just seemed so much smarter than everyone in this book.
Thank you to Dragonblade for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

This is the second book of The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke and Fire and immediately begins with a mysterious death. Athena and Selena Taylor are barely able to keep their girls school open, and the unfortunate death of their maid leads them to seek the truth. If they don’t, the future of the school is in peril of closing.

I enjoyed that there were several mysteries and certainly multiple twists to the story. Did I figure out who was the murderer? Yes, but it was almost to the end of the story, and I was interested the entire time in seeing how everything would be concluded. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series and what mystery awaits Selena and hopefully Athena too.

Things to enjoy:
Victorian period
secrets
Pride and Prejudice elements
a ghost
the students
Mrs. Hillman

I received this complimentary copy from the publisher and Austenprose. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.