Murder, magic, mayhem. Unputdownable! With thanks to Ruth for her review.
Marketed as YA (young adult), this book delivers all three from the very beginning!
As a parent of a preteen, I’d be comfortable with the book’s YA positioning for a 12+year-old, although individual maturity levels will always vary. There are a few kissing scenes towards the end, but these don’t detract from the main storyline and instead provide a welcome conclusion.
Set in a gilded age, the story combines rich world-building, historical influences and magical interludes. Society is divided by class, gender and whether people possess magic, creating a fascinating backdrop for the mystery.
Our main character, Vesper, is a newspaper reporter tasked with navigating high society to help clear the name of the eccentric Mr Maximilian Kite, who has been accused of murder.
My thoughts: Full of twists and turns, this is the kind of mystery that keeps you guessing. Just when you think you’ve worked out who the murderer is, another clue or unexpected revelation changes everything.
Vesper has worked with the local detective before, but this case puts their relationship to the test, adding another layer to the investigation.
If you’re a fan of Enola Holmes, this is definitely one to add to your reading list!
About the Book
The sumptuous YA rivals-to-lovers, forced-proximity YA romantic fantasy from the New York Times-bestselling author Ayana Gray. Hawk & Sparrow is perfect for fans of Divine Rivals.
A young reporter gets embroiled in a murder investigation and must fake a relationship with a wealthy sorcerer to save her livelihood, and find the truth.
In the industrious city of Basalton at the height of the gilded age, highborn families use enchantments to flaunt power and status, while the lower classes dabble in cheap counterfeit enchantments.
Seventeen-year-old orphan Vesper doesn’t trust magic, or the sorcerers who wield it. Instead, she commits herself to her job as a writer for the Basalton Herald. But when her newspaper finds itself under threat and she happens to witness a murder first-hand, everything changes.
Maximilian Kite is not only the heir to one of Basalton’s wealthiest families, he’s also a sorcerer, and one with a bold proposal for Vesper. If she can use her investigative skill to prove his innocence he’ll pay her more money than she’s ever seen in her life.
Max is everything Vesper despises – but his offer is too good to pass up. And to infiltrate the upper class, Vesper must pretend they are courting. What ever could go wrong?
About The Author
Ayana Gray is a New York Times-bestselling author for her debut novel, Beasts of Prey. Her works have been translated in eleven languages across five continents; received critical recognition at the state and national level; and have been featured on Good Morning America, Tamron Hall, People Magazine, and Oprah Daily among others. In her spare time, Ayana guest lectures at writing workshops across the country. She currently lives and writes in Arkansas.
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