I really liked the characters in this book—their personalities felt vivid and real, and the chemistry between Athena and Ian was absolutely magnetic. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, completely hooked on the story and desperate to see what would happen next.
When Athena Taylor opens the Darkmoor Bridge School for Girls at the mysterious Thorndale Manor, she’s hoping for a fresh start. But a maid’s suspicious death and whispers of an old murder quickly pull her into a chilling mystery. Ian Vernon, the estate’s brooding former heir, warns her to leave the past alone, but Athena’s determination only deepens—along with her unexpected connection to Ian.
The suspense, secrets, and romantic tension kept me on the edge of my seat all the way to the end. A gripping and atmospheric read.

If you want to read a heart-stopping, thrilling mystery story, this is the one! This author does a delicious job of hiding the villains, giving the reader many different suspects, each with their own reasons. Athena is like a dog with a bone, refusing to let go of what she deems important . Finding the real culprit for the murder was her bone and she refused to let go! Ian is a troubled man, losing his sister and his home. The twists and turns of this story will leave your head spinning and one such moment with blow your mind! I adore this author and will continue to read her novels. I love her style of writing, especially no crass language , reminiscent of the Brontë sisters and Jane Austen. I love a good , well written mystery with well developed characters and a well plotted story and this one fits the bill, TO A TEE!

I received this story for free and these are my own views.

The author says in the Afterword that she was trying to bring in a few elements from Charlotte Bronte. The story wasn’t quite as gothic as maybe she hoped it was. I liked the idea of two sisters trying to establish a girls’ school in a mansion. But there were two murders to solve, one from nine years ago and one that happened in the opening chapter. Our intrepid heroines investigate these murders while risking their own lives.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Once again, Syrie James has delivered a suspenseful and compelling historical mystery. This new series is such a delight. I adore the characters, the pacing is just right, and the mystery is super satisfying. I’m already eager for the next installment!

Thank you to the publisher and Austenprose for an opportunity to read this ahead of publication!

A mystery romance, part of the series, but that can also be read as a standalone.
The story was not straight forward, but it was hard to sympathize with the characters. Thus, the romance felt a bit flat. There were ups and downs in the romance and a lot of mis-steps in the mystery. It seemed to have stormed and rained a lot in the book, but maybe it is also part of the genre as well as the season described.
There was a lot of repetitions of the findings and thoughts, that felt too much. It also seemed that everyone in the village was a suspect and just checked off, as “everybody was at the party”. It felt a bit tedious. Also, the final chapter was realized as a series of speeches which dragged on a bit.

A fast and cozy read, with a HEA.

Thanks to netgally for the arc. Opinions ae my own.

Book 2 in The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire by Syrie James captured my imagination so completely with its authentic Victorian setting, intriguing mystery, and compelling romance that I nearly missed the gorgeous sunny day outside. It can be read solo, but I loved it so much that I started Book 1, The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall, right after and am loving it too. Brava, Ms. James!

A nice mystery romance, the second installment in this series makes for an entertaining reading that will keep you wanting to know more.

A part of the mystery was easily solvable for me and the culprit of the second mystery was also not that unexpected.

The characters are relatable and lovable, as in the first book of the series that I liked a bit better than this one.

Let's see what the author has in store for Selena in the next book, I guess!

I have received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.

Wow, this book was a wild ride! I enjoyed The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall, the previous book in the series, so I snapped this sequel as soon as it appeared on NetGalley, and I was not disappointed! I read it in a day because I just couldn’t put it down.

I loved both of the main characters and the interesting cast of side characters. I figured out the murder mystery, but James did a good job giving many people a motive. Even though some events were over-the-top improbable and the romance felt a bit less developed than in the previous book, I still definitely enjoyed this well-written book.

I give this book 4.5 stars rounded up to 5! This closed-door romance and historical mystery will thrill fans of Northanger Abbey, Jane Eyre, or Mimi Matthews’ Belle of Belgrave Square.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the free eARC! I post this review with my honest opinions. This review is cross-posted to Goodreads, and will be posted to Instagram and Amazon within one week of the book’s publication.

Content warnings: violence including peril, injury, and description of a dead body; descriptive kissing and mention that a woman wants to be “in bed” with a man; mentions of a ghost but there isn’t really a supernatural element in the book