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Regency Dragons #2
Claws and Contrivances: A Regency Fantasy Rom-Com
A madcap Regency-era romantic comedy involving a most determined heroine, a baffled scholarly hero, and a surprising number of dragons.
Rose Tregarth may have been invited into her uncle’s remote home in the heart of Wales as an act of kindness to a poor relation, but it doesn’t take her long to realise that her newly-met family members are in need of all the help they can get. Between mysteriously appearing little dragons and a threatening new neighbour, Rose is soon up to her ears in plots and schemes to save the people and beasts she’s come to love…with the help of a sweet, baffled dragon scholar and a fake betrothal.
“Warm, magical and riotously funny, this book is an absolute treat.” – Sangu Mandanna, bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Rose Tregarth may have been invited into her uncle’s remote home in the heart of Wales as an act of kindness to a poor relation, but it doesn’t take her long to realise that her newly-met family members are in need of all the help they can get. Between mysteriously appearing little dragons and a threatening new neighbour, Rose is soon up to her ears in plots and schemes to save the people and beasts she’s come to love…with the help of a sweet, baffled dragon scholar and a fake betrothal.
“Warm, magical and riotously funny, this book is an absolute treat.” – Sangu Mandanna, bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
358 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2023
31 people are currently reading
585 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Burgis
80 books1,377 followersI grew up in America, but now I live in Wales with my husband, fellow writer Patrick Samphire, our two sons, and our sweet (and extremely vocal) tabby cat, Pebbles. I write fantasy rom-coms for adults (most recently Claws and Contrivances and Good Neighbors) and fun MG fantasy adventure novels, too (most recently The Raven Crown duology). My next series will be the adult romantasy trilogy The Queens of Villainy, published by Tor Bramble, starting in 2025 with Wooing the Witch Queen.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
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July 10, 2023So, my personal tagline for this book is: Cold Comfort Farm Meets Northanger Abbey...in Wales and with dragons! ;)
And huzzah! It's out in the world today in ebook and paperback. Scoop it up now! (A hardcover edition will also be coming in the next few weeks.)
I'm so excited to share these characters with all of you!
And if you get the chance to copy/paste your honest Goodreads review over to Amazon, I'll be incredibly grateful. Reviews make SUCH a difference in terms of visibility for a book and series!
And huzzah! It's out in the world today in ebook and paperback. Scoop it up now! (A hardcover edition will also be coming in the next few weeks.)
I'm so excited to share these characters with all of you!
And if you get the chance to copy/paste your honest Goodreads review over to Amazon, I'll be incredibly grateful. Reviews make SUCH a difference in terms of visibility for a book and series!
September 24, 2023
This was sooooooooooo gooooood!
The best kind of romp. We get gothic villains, flighty relatives, adorable dragons, and an absent-minded-professor-type hero who is solid gold underneath.
There's so much to love in this book. I will be reading this one again and again.
Also, it made me think I need to re-read the first book. This is so much better than the first book.
Can I read more about the dragons? They seem so cute!
The best kind of romp. We get gothic villains, flighty relatives, adorable dragons, and an absent-minded-professor-type hero who is solid gold underneath.
There's so much to love in this book. I will be reading this one again and again.
Also, it made me think I need to re-read the first book. This is so much better than the first book.
Can I read more about the dragons? They seem so cute!
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July 10, 2023I loved it. You need this smart, whimsical, absolutely delightful story in your life now. You don't have to have read Regency Dragons Book 1 (Scales & Sensibility) to enjoy it, but why would you not?? 😄 Intelligent heroines, delightful (non-traditional) heroes, some side character LGBTQ+ romance lines, and miniature dragons!!
In C&C, our heroine is trying to figure out where a miniature dragon came from, which ends up being a deeper and more dangerous mystery than she at first suspects. Meanwhile, our hero just wants to do his research (gotta love an academic), but he gets gets roped into a FAKE BETROTHAL and SHENANIGANS that he starts to join in on voluntarily?? Also, our heroine excels at managing situations and people, and our hero, who is not a door mat, is like, "It's okay, I don't mind if she manages me, she's very good at it." *swoon*
Y'all need this story in your lives. Go out, read it, and be happy.
In C&C, our heroine is trying to figure out where a miniature dragon came from, which ends up being a deeper and more dangerous mystery than she at first suspects. Meanwhile, our hero just wants to do his research (gotta love an academic), but he gets gets roped into a FAKE BETROTHAL and SHENANIGANS that he starts to join in on voluntarily?? Also, our heroine excels at managing situations and people, and our hero, who is not a door mat, is like, "It's okay, I don't mind if she manages me, she's very good at it." *swoon*
Y'all need this story in your lives. Go out, read it, and be happy.
July 28, 2023
I think Claws and Contrivances has to be one of the most romantic books I've ever read in my life.
Another magical Regency dragons book, this one following the fate of a different sister... who has fallen among a loving, supportive Pure!Chaos cinnamon bun of a family, but doesn't realise how much they value her.
This theme is carried through with the romantic thread, as she and a terribly distracted scholar set about rescuing a horde of tormented, magically surprising dragons from the horrible neighbour next door.
I love a romance that shines through the voice of a narrator who has failed to notice she is having a romance, though the reader is Very, Very Certain based on her observations. Also I have a deep attachment to the trope of "this is the only person in the world that makes it worth my while to look up from my books" which is used here to utterly swoony effect.
This book is like a big hug that somehow includes teatime and tiny dragons.
Another magical Regency dragons book, this one following the fate of a different sister... who has fallen among a loving, supportive Pure!Chaos cinnamon bun of a family, but doesn't realise how much they value her.
This theme is carried through with the romantic thread, as she and a terribly distracted scholar set about rescuing a horde of tormented, magically surprising dragons from the horrible neighbour next door.
I love a romance that shines through the voice of a narrator who has failed to notice she is having a romance, though the reader is Very, Very Certain based on her observations. Also I have a deep attachment to the trope of "this is the only person in the world that makes it worth my while to look up from my books" which is used here to utterly swoony effect.
This book is like a big hug that somehow includes teatime and tiny dragons.
August 16, 2023
i really, really like these series and these people and ofcourse the amazing, lovely dragons. truly delightful and fun and looking forward to harry's adventure.
February 23, 2024
"You said you weren't in talking about people, only dragons!" Rose said in a desperate whisper. "Remember?"
"No, I said I prefer to converse only about topics that I find interesting."
This was very much a needed read at the time I picked this up. It was just completely bonkers and convoluted and I seem to be living for that lately (see my recent read of Something Fabulous). This sealed my fate with Stephanie Burgis and send me on a frantic read through her Snowspelled series (which was both great and disappointing) and I'm sure I will be reading more from her in the future.
We already met Mr Aubrey in Scales and Sensibility and I wasn't honestly sure how he'll fare as love interest, but it turns out Stephanie Burgis has a way of writing scholarly and absentminded heroes (if you liked Mr Aubrey as Love interest, do read Spellswept, you are going to love Jonathan Hardwood, even though he's not quite as absentminded). He's nerdy and very distractable which leads to hilarious situations in the beginning, but slowly you get to see him changing, paying attention to Rose - even if she herself doesn't quite see it! I really loved how gentle and not forceful he was, yet stating clearly what he wanted - and yet she manages to misinterpret his words! That was a bit frustrating, but Rose's obtuseness where Mr Aubrey is concerned aside, she was an amazing protagonist. Struggling with figuring out what it was that she wanted from life and trying to take care of everyone. The romance between them was quite sweet and I loved it and the loving completely bonkers family dynamics around them were priceless. It might be a bit too much for some readers, but I love funny and ridiculous books, so it was pretty perfect for me!
Important note though... this isn't a Northanger Abbey retelling... It's advertised as such and it does have some themes in common, but the characters and story lines are completely different, which was a little disappointing. Scales and Sensibility was very loose and creative retelling, but still retelling - because the characters were really similar to their inspirations and the elements were in place. Here, not so much... it's fine, just don't expect Northanger - although there are some gothic ruins and imaginations involved...
This is a book that requires a bit specific taste and won't be for everyone, I really enjoyed it though and would recommend! Also dragons!
4,5⭐ + there is a bonus epilogue if you subscribe to Burgis's newsletter.
P.S. There is a sapphic romance on the side and that honestly made me want this book to be just about Georgie and her lady love! You can't include butch character and not expect me to become distracted!
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September 29, 2023Back when I finished draft 1 of Claws & Contrivances, I sent it out to trusted critique partners with some specific questions. One of them was: "Do you think I need to add an epilogue?"
The answer that came back was a resounding NO. The book absolutely didn't need one...
...but it might be fun to read one anyway! ;) So now you can. Just sign up to my newsletter to get your free e-copy of this Optional Epilogue, set three years after the events of C&C. It went out in today's newsletter, but DO NOT FRET if you're too late for that - when you subscribe, the final confirmation email for your subscription will include a download link for the ebook.
Enjoy!
The answer that came back was a resounding NO. The book absolutely didn't need one...
...but it might be fun to read one anyway! ;) So now you can. Just sign up to my newsletter to get your free e-copy of this Optional Epilogue, set three years after the events of C&C. It went out in today's newsletter, but DO NOT FRET if you're too late for that - when you subscribe, the final confirmation email for your subscription will include a download link for the ebook.
Enjoy!
dnf
May 5, 2024DNF @ 10%. I want to come back to this when I’m in a more paranormal romance mood. I haven’t been into those lately, so I was having trouble staying interested.
July 3, 2023
A feel-good regency romcom with miniature dragons and a ramshackle manor house.
I adored Audrey, grumpy and absent-minded dragon scholar, in Scales & Sensibility, so I was thrilled to see him get his own book in Claws & Contrivances. You don't need to read book 1 to understand book 2, since the plots and romances of each one are quite separate, but they're both so delightful that you should anyway!
Claws & Contrivances is just as much fun as book 1 but with even more dragons. Absolutely my cup of tea!
I adored Audrey, grumpy and absent-minded dragon scholar, in Scales & Sensibility, so I was thrilled to see him get his own book in Claws & Contrivances. You don't need to read book 1 to understand book 2, since the plots and romances of each one are quite separate, but they're both so delightful that you should anyway!
Claws & Contrivances is just as much fun as book 1 but with even more dragons. Absolutely my cup of tea!
July 25, 2023
In this lovely cozy fantasy by Stephanie Burgis, we get a passionate, compassionate heroine, a bookish hero who just wants to do his research, amusing family dynamics, a dastardly antagonist, and the sweetest, little dragons.
(And though your enjoyment will only be enhanced by having encountered Rose Tregarth's elder sister Elinor and the bookish here in book one, it's not critical that you read installment one. But you really should because it, too evokes the same warm, happy feelings this one did.)
It’s months after the Tregarth parents’ deaths, and middle sister Rose has found refuge with the Parrys in their crumbling home, Gogodd Abbey. One day, a dragon appears, and Rose immediately decides that the little, frightened being needs care and love. When she decides she also wants to know where the dragon came from, she meets a) bookish hero Cornelius Aubrey (from book one), and b) the shady neighbour, Sir Gareth.
Very quickly, Rose gets Aubrey to help her, but this is the Regency era, and the only way to ensure they can be together unchaperoned is if he is betrothed to her (though it's a sham betrothal, from which Rose will release him once they determine where the dragons will end up, after yet another of the beautiful little creatures shows up).
While initially reluctant to participate in Rose's investigating, Aubrey soon is happy to let Rose take the lead and tell him what to do. There is silliness, secrets, disappearing and reappearing dragons, and a lovely romance building between Rose and Aubrey, as well as one of the Parry girls and a neighbour.
Everything almost spins out of Rose's control (she is a whiz at managing multiple people), but everything and everyone comes together to save the dragons and reputations. It's sweet, silly, warm and just made me grin, and made me want to revisit book one then this one all over again. I am also eager to find out what happened to the youngest Tregarth sister.
Thank you to Five Fathoms Press and to the author for this ARC in exchange for my review.
(And though your enjoyment will only be enhanced by having encountered Rose Tregarth's elder sister Elinor and the bookish here in book one, it's not critical that you read installment one. But you really should because it, too evokes the same warm, happy feelings this one did.)
It’s months after the Tregarth parents’ deaths, and middle sister Rose has found refuge with the Parrys in their crumbling home, Gogodd Abbey. One day, a dragon appears, and Rose immediately decides that the little, frightened being needs care and love. When she decides she also wants to know where the dragon came from, she meets a) bookish hero Cornelius Aubrey (from book one), and b) the shady neighbour, Sir Gareth.
Very quickly, Rose gets Aubrey to help her, but this is the Regency era, and the only way to ensure they can be together unchaperoned is if he is betrothed to her (though it's a sham betrothal, from which Rose will release him once they determine where the dragons will end up, after yet another of the beautiful little creatures shows up).
While initially reluctant to participate in Rose's investigating, Aubrey soon is happy to let Rose take the lead and tell him what to do. There is silliness, secrets, disappearing and reappearing dragons, and a lovely romance building between Rose and Aubrey, as well as one of the Parry girls and a neighbour.
Everything almost spins out of Rose's control (she is a whiz at managing multiple people), but everything and everyone comes together to save the dragons and reputations. It's sweet, silly, warm and just made me grin, and made me want to revisit book one then this one all over again. I am also eager to find out what happened to the youngest Tregarth sister.
Thank you to Five Fathoms Press and to the author for this ARC in exchange for my review.
September 9, 2023
Claws and Contrivances is the sophomore title in Ms. Burgis’s Regency Dragons series. Set in the Welch countryside, the stories take place in the Regency era with the added twist of the existence of cat-sized dragons which are kept by wealthy socialites as fashion accessories and pets. This time around, the story is shared by the middle Tregarth sister, Rose. Unlike her older sister Elinor (book 1), Rose was taken in by loving relatives after the sudden death of their parents. When dragons suddenly appear in their home at Gogodd Abbey, Rose takes charge in a secret effort to protect her eccentric aunt and uncle from rumors or worse.
Claws and Contrivances is a joy to read. The story is light and funny, and I smiled often while reading it. Filled with silly situations, hilarious banter, and a couple of well-timed coincidences, the story puts a spotlight on Rose’s kind heart and generous nature. She likes to take charge and help those around her, even when they don’t necessarily require it.
Unlike the first book, the home is filled with love, which makes the story easier on my heart. I enjoyed meeting all of Rose’s sister cousins, even the one who causes a few problems for Rose and the dragons. Nothing comes from a place of pettiness or cruelty (other than the villain!) I adore that the author creates a HEA for not just the primary couple, but the side characters as well.
The romance between Rose and dragon expert Cornelius Aubrey is sweet. He surprises Rose and himself when he declares that she is just as interesting to him as the dragons are. He’s a bit introverted and absorbed in his work, but Rose just breaks through those walls, and he can’t help but be dazzled.
Claws and Contrivances is a delightful romance with just the right amount of silly humor. The romance is sweet, and the bad guy is evil, just the way I like it.
My Rating: A-
Claws and Contrivances is a joy to read. The story is light and funny, and I smiled often while reading it. Filled with silly situations, hilarious banter, and a couple of well-timed coincidences, the story puts a spotlight on Rose’s kind heart and generous nature. She likes to take charge and help those around her, even when they don’t necessarily require it.
Unlike the first book, the home is filled with love, which makes the story easier on my heart. I enjoyed meeting all of Rose’s sister cousins, even the one who causes a few problems for Rose and the dragons. Nothing comes from a place of pettiness or cruelty (other than the villain!) I adore that the author creates a HEA for not just the primary couple, but the side characters as well.
The romance between Rose and dragon expert Cornelius Aubrey is sweet. He surprises Rose and himself when he declares that she is just as interesting to him as the dragons are. He’s a bit introverted and absorbed in his work, but Rose just breaks through those walls, and he can’t help but be dazzled.
Claws and Contrivances is a delightful romance with just the right amount of silly humor. The romance is sweet, and the bad guy is evil, just the way I like it.
My Rating: A-
August 15, 2023
A delightful follow up to Scales and Sensibility! I enjoyed this so much that I stayed up far too late in order to finish it all in one sitting! Can't wait (but I will, happily) for the next book in the series whenever it comes out!
November 24, 2023
DNF @ 15%/ 5 chapters
Rating this 2.5-3 stars because it isn't bad and perhaps if I was in a different mood I'd like it more, but I'm mostly bored and not connecting with the characters. While I enjoyed the last book, I did end it with less than stellar thoughts, but excited to start this one. Now, my excitement has waned and I mostly remember being frustrated with the characters.
I'm already feeling that frustration here, but mostly because of the historical trappings and the lack of magic.
BUT, these are cozy fantasy books that are really quite lovely. Quirky characters and budding magic from the dragons. Don't let my review be what keeps you from reading this, because I do think it is worth trying if you're looking for slow burn historical romance mixed with cat-sized dragons.
Rating this 2.5-3 stars because it isn't bad and perhaps if I was in a different mood I'd like it more, but I'm mostly bored and not connecting with the characters. While I enjoyed the last book, I did end it with less than stellar thoughts, but excited to start this one. Now, my excitement has waned and I mostly remember being frustrated with the characters.
I'm already feeling that frustration here, but mostly because of the historical trappings and the lack of magic.
BUT, these are cozy fantasy books that are really quite lovely. Quirky characters and budding magic from the dragons. Don't let my review be what keeps you from reading this, because I do think it is worth trying if you're looking for slow burn historical romance mixed with cat-sized dragons.
July 10, 2023
The moment I finished the first book in this series I went looking when the second book was gonna be released. The first book was exactly the breath of fresh and positive air I needed after reading a few too many depressing novels and I wanted more. I wanted more dragons. I wanted more romance. I wanted more misunderstandings and regency drama. Luckily the second book was gonna be released soon and even better via the author I could get an arc!
I was insanely happy when I discovered that Mr. Aubrey was gonna be the love interest in this book. I had already fallen in love with him in the first book and I was quite happy that someone else was finally gonna notice that him being focussed on only those things that interest him is endearing and promises only the best for the girl he's gonna find interesting. And after meeting Rose it didn't surprise me that she was the right girl for him.
They are the kind of match I really want to see in books. They're completing each other. At first glance they seem to be opposites, but then you notice that they actually have the right talents and personalities to fit together perfectly. Rose is an act first and think later kind of girl with a huge heart. If she could take care of every living being in the world, she would. Aubrey thinks first and acts later, but it are especially his observational skills helping Rose to solve her issues.
The true stars of the story however were the dragons. I already really loved the dragon in the first book, but I might love these little dragons, especially since they're still so young and sound insanely cute, even more. I also loved how we discovered that dragons can have many different gifts, some a little more useful than others. The author came up with quite a dark plot for them, but luckily the ending of the book is really satisfying.
I WANT MORE REGENCY DRAGONS BOOKS!
I was insanely happy when I discovered that Mr. Aubrey was gonna be the love interest in this book. I had already fallen in love with him in the first book and I was quite happy that someone else was finally gonna notice that him being focussed on only those things that interest him is endearing and promises only the best for the girl he's gonna find interesting. And after meeting Rose it didn't surprise me that she was the right girl for him.
They are the kind of match I really want to see in books. They're completing each other. At first glance they seem to be opposites, but then you notice that they actually have the right talents and personalities to fit together perfectly. Rose is an act first and think later kind of girl with a huge heart. If she could take care of every living being in the world, she would. Aubrey thinks first and acts later, but it are especially his observational skills helping Rose to solve her issues.
The true stars of the story however were the dragons. I already really loved the dragon in the first book, but I might love these little dragons, especially since they're still so young and sound insanely cute, even more. I also loved how we discovered that dragons can have many different gifts, some a little more useful than others. The author came up with quite a dark plot for them, but luckily the ending of the book is really satisfying.
I WANT MORE REGENCY DRAGONS BOOKS!
July 10, 2023
I think I like Claws and Contrivances by Stephanie Burgis even more than I did the first. We get to meet at least one well loved character again, otherwise it's an all new cast.
I really love how this is a series, but the books are self contained enough to also work well as stand alones!
So why did I tear through this in one single sitting, forgetting the real world even exists?
A lovely young heroine who starts to come out of her shell, instead of just trying to just blend in and not be a bother, after losing her family and home.
Found family which I wish I could just move in with right away! Even if there is an actual distant relation, this family is well known for embracing strays of any kind, be it human or animal, and help them back to their feet. I love these strong bonds and people who are simply willing to help, no matter what.
Strong female characters who know their place in this regency world is dictated by men, but who nevertheless make the most of every right they do have. I especially adored the older women who seem to be in the background, but are what keeps the family and community running.
Divers cast, with a character with anxiety and an LGBT couple in the side characters.
There's a bit more focus on the actual romance in book two, but it's still the very cute regency romance, with no hot loins or modern drama. Definitely more of an Elizabeth Bennet sort of courting. It's still just a part of the book though, not the main story, which is saving dragons!
And then, we get even more amazing dragons! Who doesn't want more of these fabulous creatures...
I need more of these cosy, feel good stories with strong leads like this!
I really love how this is a series, but the books are self contained enough to also work well as stand alones!
So why did I tear through this in one single sitting, forgetting the real world even exists?
A lovely young heroine who starts to come out of her shell, instead of just trying to just blend in and not be a bother, after losing her family and home.
Found family which I wish I could just move in with right away! Even if there is an actual distant relation, this family is well known for embracing strays of any kind, be it human or animal, and help them back to their feet. I love these strong bonds and people who are simply willing to help, no matter what.
Strong female characters who know their place in this regency world is dictated by men, but who nevertheless make the most of every right they do have. I especially adored the older women who seem to be in the background, but are what keeps the family and community running.
Divers cast, with a character with anxiety and an LGBT couple in the side characters.
There's a bit more focus on the actual romance in book two, but it's still the very cute regency romance, with no hot loins or modern drama. Definitely more of an Elizabeth Bennet sort of courting. It's still just a part of the book though, not the main story, which is saving dragons!
And then, we get even more amazing dragons! Who doesn't want more of these fabulous creatures...
I need more of these cosy, feel good stories with strong leads like this!
June 21, 2023
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Stephanie Burgis for providing me with a copy for review
After being completely and utterly charmed by Scales and Sensibility , I didn’t think the Regency Dragons series could possibly get any better—I was wrong. Claws and Contrivances is a pure and utter delight, brimming with everything readers could want—a wonderful heroine, dragons, a romance, and a magical ending.
From the very beginning of the novel, I immediately adored and related to protagonist Rose Tregarth, younger sister of Scales and Sensibility’s Elinor. Rose, like her elder sister, was foisted upon family relations, the Parrys, after the untimely deaths of her parents. However, unlike the relatives that poor Elinor was forced to suffer, Rose’s aunt, uncle, and cousins are supportive, eccentric, and incredibly loveable. Not having to watch Rose, like Elinor, be abused by her relatives made Claws and Contrivances an even more fun read. Plus, there is a character for every reader to love in this family. The antics of Rose’s cousins, mostly Serena, who has endless enthusiasm for all things gothic, had me laughing aloud. Other readers will surely love Georgiana “Georgie” Parry, who has short hair, a wicked smile, and is more at home in pants than a gown. Beth is the most shy and anxious of the bunch, and quite frankly, a big mood.
Rounding out the rest of the family is Rose’s aunt, an ink-covered Gothic novelist perpetually preoccupied with her next plotline, but fiercely devoted to her family, and Rose’s uncle, a scholar of the study of dragons who is honest to a fault. Out of gratitude for the Parry family taking her into their home, Gogodd Abbey, clever and kind-hearted Rose vows to always protect her relatives, even at the expense of her own well being. She spends a lot of time worrying about how long she can continue to be an imposition on the Parry family and longs to one day find a purpose for herself that will fulfill her, but more importantly, won’t inconvenience anyone else in the slightest.
But Rose’s plans for the future go awry when a clearly mistreated dragon appears out of thin air in Gogodd Abbey, with a traumatized friend not far behind. Immediately suspicious of the timing of the dragons’ appearances, Rose hatches a plan to confront her new “ghoul” of a neighbor, Sir Gareth, who has taken up residence in the crumbling house next door. But circumstances spiral out of control and to Rose’s dismay, she ends up unchaperoned in the carriage of her uncle’s esteemed fellow dragon scholar, who is much younger and handsomer than Rose was previously led to believe. To her mortification, this very gentleman will be staying with the Parrys for the foreseeable future in order to assist her uncle with his research. Readers of Scales and Sensibility will recognize the dragon-obsessed Mr. Aubrey at once, but will quickly realize that dragons are no longer the only thing motivating this eligible and (very endearingly), socially awkward bachelor.
But readers both familiar with the series and those brand new to it will delight in unraveling the mysteries surrounding the sudden appearances of the dragons and the disreputable neighbor next door—not to mention Sir Gareth’s mysterious and beautiful ward, Miss Thomas. Though the motives of Miss Thomas and her deepening friendship with Georgie remain unclear, the biggest question is whether the betrothal of convenience between Mr. Aubrey and Rose is quite so false after all.
I truly enjoyed all of the different plot lines of the story and this enchanting novel effortlessly pulled me right out of a dreaded reading slump. As in the previous novel in the series, the characters and the dragons of Claws and Contrivancesare absolutely impossible not to love. I was invested in not just the secrets swirling in the book, but also in Rose’s personal journey to find her own self worth, in spite of her diminished social standing. I also love how author Stephanie Burgis always manages to make the main romance feel like an added bonus to the heroine’s arc and not like its only defining destination. It’s so refreshing to see romance portrayed as two full people coming together, rather than two halves trying to make a whole. And if the whole fake dating trope weren’t enough to tickle the fancy of readers, there’s also an LGBTQ+ romance among the side characters.
Claws and Contrivances will surely captivate fans of regency England, strong heroines, quirky characters, and sweet love stories. This unique blend of alternate history, fantasy, and romance makes for such a cozy and fun read. I can easily see myself rereading these books again and again. Undoubtedly, I will be looking forward to and reading any and all future installments in the series.
*All quotes taken from an ARC and could be subject to change at time of publication.
After being completely and utterly charmed by Scales and Sensibility , I didn’t think the Regency Dragons series could possibly get any better—I was wrong. Claws and Contrivances is a pure and utter delight, brimming with everything readers could want—a wonderful heroine, dragons, a romance, and a magical ending.
From the very beginning of the novel, I immediately adored and related to protagonist Rose Tregarth, younger sister of Scales and Sensibility’s Elinor. Rose, like her elder sister, was foisted upon family relations, the Parrys, after the untimely deaths of her parents. However, unlike the relatives that poor Elinor was forced to suffer, Rose’s aunt, uncle, and cousins are supportive, eccentric, and incredibly loveable. Not having to watch Rose, like Elinor, be abused by her relatives made Claws and Contrivances an even more fun read. Plus, there is a character for every reader to love in this family. The antics of Rose’s cousins, mostly Serena, who has endless enthusiasm for all things gothic, had me laughing aloud. Other readers will surely love Georgiana “Georgie” Parry, who has short hair, a wicked smile, and is more at home in pants than a gown. Beth is the most shy and anxious of the bunch, and quite frankly, a big mood.
Rounding out the rest of the family is Rose’s aunt, an ink-covered Gothic novelist perpetually preoccupied with her next plotline, but fiercely devoted to her family, and Rose’s uncle, a scholar of the study of dragons who is honest to a fault. Out of gratitude for the Parry family taking her into their home, Gogodd Abbey, clever and kind-hearted Rose vows to always protect her relatives, even at the expense of her own well being. She spends a lot of time worrying about how long she can continue to be an imposition on the Parry family and longs to one day find a purpose for herself that will fulfill her, but more importantly, won’t inconvenience anyone else in the slightest.
“Rose didn’t know how to solve that problem or even how to remove the pressure of her presence upon it. She only knew one thing for certain how it felt to be lost and surrounded on all sides by strangers, no matter how kind or well-meaning they might be. She would not leave this small creature to feel that fear for long, even if solving its problem required the tiniest bit of recklessness on her part.”*
But Rose’s plans for the future go awry when a clearly mistreated dragon appears out of thin air in Gogodd Abbey, with a traumatized friend not far behind. Immediately suspicious of the timing of the dragons’ appearances, Rose hatches a plan to confront her new “ghoul” of a neighbor, Sir Gareth, who has taken up residence in the crumbling house next door. But circumstances spiral out of control and to Rose’s dismay, she ends up unchaperoned in the carriage of her uncle’s esteemed fellow dragon scholar, who is much younger and handsomer than Rose was previously led to believe. To her mortification, this very gentleman will be staying with the Parrys for the foreseeable future in order to assist her uncle with his research. Readers of Scales and Sensibility will recognize the dragon-obsessed Mr. Aubrey at once, but will quickly realize that dragons are no longer the only thing motivating this eligible and (very endearingly), socially awkward bachelor.
But readers both familiar with the series and those brand new to it will delight in unraveling the mysteries surrounding the sudden appearances of the dragons and the disreputable neighbor next door—not to mention Sir Gareth’s mysterious and beautiful ward, Miss Thomas. Though the motives of Miss Thomas and her deepening friendship with Georgie remain unclear, the biggest question is whether the betrothal of convenience between Mr. Aubrey and Rose is quite so false after all.
“'Yes, indeed. Dragons.’ Then he paused, blinking down at her. ‘Do you know, I don’t believe anyone in my entire life has ever before had to ask me to turn my thoughts to dragons? In my experience, people are far more likely to beg me to speak of any other subject.'”
I truly enjoyed all of the different plot lines of the story and this enchanting novel effortlessly pulled me right out of a dreaded reading slump. As in the previous novel in the series, the characters and the dragons of Claws and Contrivancesare absolutely impossible not to love. I was invested in not just the secrets swirling in the book, but also in Rose’s personal journey to find her own self worth, in spite of her diminished social standing. I also love how author Stephanie Burgis always manages to make the main romance feel like an added bonus to the heroine’s arc and not like its only defining destination. It’s so refreshing to see romance portrayed as two full people coming together, rather than two halves trying to make a whole. And if the whole fake dating trope weren’t enough to tickle the fancy of readers, there’s also an LGBTQ+ romance among the side characters.
Claws and Contrivances will surely captivate fans of regency England, strong heroines, quirky characters, and sweet love stories. This unique blend of alternate history, fantasy, and romance makes for such a cozy and fun read. I can easily see myself rereading these books again and again. Undoubtedly, I will be looking forward to and reading any and all future installments in the series.
*All quotes taken from an ARC and could be subject to change at time of publication.
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February 23, 2024
The bonus epilogue to Claws and Contrivances that you can get if you subscribe to the author's newsletter. What can I say apart from: it's worth it!
We actually get a bonus scene from Amina and Georgie here so that was a pleasant surprise! We also get to see the protagonists from Scales and Sensibility and just hear about everyone's HEA. It's really short and a must-read if you enjoyed the series so far, if you didn't read the two novels then this isn't the best place to start since it spoils both of the previous books, Claws and Contrivances especially...
We actually get a bonus scene from Amina and Georgie here so that was a pleasant surprise! We also get to see the protagonists from Scales and Sensibility and just hear about everyone's HEA. It's really short and a must-read if you enjoyed the series so far, if you didn't read the two novels then this isn't the best place to start since it spoils both of the previous books, Claws and Contrivances especially...
February 10, 2024
I greatly enjoyed this second installment in Burgis' Regency Dragons series. In fact, I liked it better than book one! The themes and tropes in this book (fake dating, rescue of animals and people in peril, strong and loving family relationships) all worked very well for me, and I enjoyed it all immensely. Even the little bit of miscommunication present in this book was done in a believable way and was not present merely to make the heroine's life harder.
Additionally, Emma Newman's narration was perfect. I loved the voices she used for the characters (but especially Serena) and the little chirrup noises she made for the dragon sounds were just adorable.
I've enjoyed this series a lot, and I'm very excited to see what Burgis does to close out the trilogy.
Additionally, Emma Newman's narration was perfect. I loved the voices she used for the characters (but especially Serena) and the little chirrup noises she made for the dragon sounds were just adorable.
I've enjoyed this series a lot, and I'm very excited to see what Burgis does to close out the trilogy.
September 3, 2023
BOOK REVIEW 📚 of Claws and Contrivances by Stephanie Burgis
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Miss Rose Tregarth had never in her life been accused of lacking in confidence or a fiery sense of purpose.
Miss Rose Tregarth has been living in ramshackle Gogood Abbey for the last seven months, amongst her eccentric yet loveable cousins and author Aunt and scholar Uncle. Arriving after the death of her parents and separation from her two sisters,she will always be grateful for the warmth bestowed on her by her Welsh family’s simple but affectionate home life. But, stubborn and goal driven, Rose is determined to make something grand of her life, despite her early challenges. When Rose discovers a tiny, hungry dragon in the buttery, she finally has a purpose: protect the creature and locate its owners.
Following the opportune arrival of handsome academic dragon scholar, Cornelius Aubrey, one of Uncles colleagues, Rose notices signs of mistreatment on the dragon. Suspecting her suspiciously cruel neighbour, Sir Gareth, she enlists Aubrey’s help to solve the mystery of what, exactly, is going on in Penryddn Manor.
Book Two in the Regency Dragons series, Claws and Contrivances continues the Tregarth sister storyline beautifully.
Rose is such a likeable character and incredibly relatable to a fellow listmaker, goal setter and who loves a touch of romantic whimsy. The cast of cousins adds that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you read about the Bennett sisters: supportive, witty and endlessly loving.
I was so enthused seeing Aubrey reappear in this book, being one of my favourite characters in Book One and his dynamic with Rose was just amazing. It was Grumpy v sunshine (or stubborn meets more stubborn), but also so enthralling, seeing Rose break through his gruff exterior. Rose had me in stitches with her dramatic falling/fainting spectacles and I blissed out over her protective mothering of her dragons.
So cosy, so heartwarming, so dragon-y, I can’t wait for Book 3 and more.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Miss Rose Tregarth had never in her life been accused of lacking in confidence or a fiery sense of purpose.
Miss Rose Tregarth has been living in ramshackle Gogood Abbey for the last seven months, amongst her eccentric yet loveable cousins and author Aunt and scholar Uncle. Arriving after the death of her parents and separation from her two sisters,she will always be grateful for the warmth bestowed on her by her Welsh family’s simple but affectionate home life. But, stubborn and goal driven, Rose is determined to make something grand of her life, despite her early challenges. When Rose discovers a tiny, hungry dragon in the buttery, she finally has a purpose: protect the creature and locate its owners.
Following the opportune arrival of handsome academic dragon scholar, Cornelius Aubrey, one of Uncles colleagues, Rose notices signs of mistreatment on the dragon. Suspecting her suspiciously cruel neighbour, Sir Gareth, she enlists Aubrey’s help to solve the mystery of what, exactly, is going on in Penryddn Manor.
Book Two in the Regency Dragons series, Claws and Contrivances continues the Tregarth sister storyline beautifully.
Rose is such a likeable character and incredibly relatable to a fellow listmaker, goal setter and who loves a touch of romantic whimsy. The cast of cousins adds that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you read about the Bennett sisters: supportive, witty and endlessly loving.
I was so enthused seeing Aubrey reappear in this book, being one of my favourite characters in Book One and his dynamic with Rose was just amazing. It was Grumpy v sunshine (or stubborn meets more stubborn), but also so enthralling, seeing Rose break through his gruff exterior. Rose had me in stitches with her dramatic falling/fainting spectacles and I blissed out over her protective mothering of her dragons.
So cosy, so heartwarming, so dragon-y, I can’t wait for Book 3 and more.
September 9, 2023
I absolutely loved this story! Stephanie Burgis has quickly become one of my favourite authors, as she writes wonderful stories and seems to have an inexhaustible variety of new and clever plots in her mind, which I am delighted she shares with her readers!
This series about the Regency dragons is charming, sweet and lovely. I very much enjoyed the first book in the series, but I loved this book even more. One of the things I particularly love about this author's writing is how adept she is at writing characters who seem on the surface to be misfits. Rose is a fabulous character and I loved her immediately. Her kindness, earnestness and absolute determination to do the right thing in every circumstance - ramifications be damned! - makes her a terribly sympathetic and likable character. She led this story wonderfully!
All the other characters here are also a delight. They are quirky and odd and unorthodox and I loved each and every one of them.
The plots Burgis writes seem sweet and gentle, but they always have drama and suspense and the opportunity for thrilling breathless excitement that drives the reader to the conclusion with racing page turns (or, in my case taps as I had this as an eBook).
I also adore the sense of humour the author infused into her books. The quirkiness of the characters leads to some extremely funny scenes (in this book like the moment where Rose explains everything to everyone and chaos and fun ensues!) that frequently make me laugh out loud.
I loved this book and can't wait for the third book to meet the final Tregarth sister, Harry, and see what adventures Stephanie Burgis has in store for her! If you enjoy gentle romantic but suspense-filled stories that feel Pride-and-Prejudice-ish and have a little magic in them, I highly recommend ALL Stephanie Burgis' books. She has lots of varied plots and wonderful unique characters in all of them.
This series about the Regency dragons is charming, sweet and lovely. I very much enjoyed the first book in the series, but I loved this book even more. One of the things I particularly love about this author's writing is how adept she is at writing characters who seem on the surface to be misfits. Rose is a fabulous character and I loved her immediately. Her kindness, earnestness and absolute determination to do the right thing in every circumstance - ramifications be damned! - makes her a terribly sympathetic and likable character. She led this story wonderfully!
All the other characters here are also a delight. They are quirky and odd and unorthodox and I loved each and every one of them.
The plots Burgis writes seem sweet and gentle, but they always have drama and suspense and the opportunity for thrilling breathless excitement that drives the reader to the conclusion with racing page turns (or, in my case taps as I had this as an eBook).
I also adore the sense of humour the author infused into her books. The quirkiness of the characters leads to some extremely funny scenes (in this book like the moment where Rose explains everything to everyone and chaos and fun ensues!) that frequently make me laugh out loud.
I loved this book and can't wait for the third book to meet the final Tregarth sister, Harry, and see what adventures Stephanie Burgis has in store for her! If you enjoy gentle romantic but suspense-filled stories that feel Pride-and-Prejudice-ish and have a little magic in them, I highly recommend ALL Stephanie Burgis' books. She has lots of varied plots and wonderful unique characters in all of them.
July 24, 2025
A charmingly floofy follow up to the first book in this series, we pink up with one new Tregiarth sister and one old acquaintance in the form of Mr Aubrey the dragon scholar who quite firmly does not believe in magic. Add in mysteriously appearing dragons, tumbledown lodgings rural Wales, a tall/dark/brooding gentleman fitting of any gothic romance, and another carriage accident between our two MCs to bring them all together in a most fanciful (and dare I say, improper) way.
Stephanie Burgis is the writer for this sort of thing. Cute, clean, ever so slightly knowing when it comes to the breathless romance, and, well, dragons. She has a way of making up silly situations and OTT characters that gets you invested in their crazy world. I would say I didn't think the character of Mr Aubrey was as well explored as it could have been, perhaps because we knew him from Scales and Sensibility. I loved the plot, but again couldn't help but feel it wasn't quite the same depth as the previous book. It does however have zero dragons having *ahem* accidents, which is something my mental imagery creation center will forever be grateful for.
Wickedly readable as ever; if you need more Regency Dragons, then this is your book.
Stephanie Burgis is the writer for this sort of thing. Cute, clean, ever so slightly knowing when it comes to the breathless romance, and, well, dragons. She has a way of making up silly situations and OTT characters that gets you invested in their crazy world. I would say I didn't think the character of Mr Aubrey was as well explored as it could have been, perhaps because we knew him from Scales and Sensibility. I loved the plot, but again couldn't help but feel it wasn't quite the same depth as the previous book. It does however have zero dragons having *ahem* accidents, which is something my mental imagery creation center will forever be grateful for.
Wickedly readable as ever; if you need more Regency Dragons, then this is your book.
August 3, 2024
3.5⭐️ rounded up
I love this dragon-filled, re-imagined regency world that Stephanie Burgis has created. This is a lighthearted and fun romp with an adventurous, dreamy, delightful heroine and a bookish, nerdy, dragon academic. I really enjoyed the nods to gothic fiction tropes and villains, plus there’s the classic comedy I’ve come to expect from this author. I just think there was maybe just a bit of a spark missing from the romance between the FMC and MMC, making it hard to buy into the romance aspect of this book, but it other than that, it’s a cute escapist read with almost no steam.
I love this dragon-filled, re-imagined regency world that Stephanie Burgis has created. This is a lighthearted and fun romp with an adventurous, dreamy, delightful heroine and a bookish, nerdy, dragon academic. I really enjoyed the nods to gothic fiction tropes and villains, plus there’s the classic comedy I’ve come to expect from this author. I just think there was maybe just a bit of a spark missing from the romance between the FMC and MMC, making it hard to buy into the romance aspect of this book, but it other than that, it’s a cute escapist read with almost no steam.
July 25, 2023
So good. Loved the adorable romance () and the dragons.
February 20, 2024
4.5 stars
TW: animal abuse, abusive uncle (not main character's - the "villain")
TW: animal abuse, abusive uncle (not main character's - the "villain")
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2023
Adorable and such fun regency-with-magic.
Read
July 14, 2023Perfect summer reading: light, sweet, and a lot of fun.
August 19, 2023
Delightful, as all Stephanie's books are. 5 stars.
July 6, 2023
This review was originally posted at the Before We Go Blog
A strong woman who knows what she wants? Check.
A nerdy academic love interest? Check.
A fake engagement? Check.
Romantic misunderstandings to hilarious effect? Check.
More dragons and magic? Check.
Scales and Sensibility, the first book in Burgis' Regency Dragons series, became a surprise favorite of mine after it became a SPFBO finalist last year. I had never been interested in reading a regency rom-com before (seriously - this is why you should at least check out the SPFBO finalists every year to expand your reading horizons), but what I found was a funny, relaxing, enjoyable, and bingeable book about a woman from a down-on-their-luck family looking for a good marriage with economic prospects who accidentally stumbles into a madcap plot involving a magical dragon, mistaken identities, and love.
Claws and Contrivances follows the second of the Tregarth sisters first introduced in Scales and Sensibility, Rose, as she goes on her own adventure to overcome the financial ruin of her family. This setup allows Burgis to introduce a whole cast of new characters to meet and either fall in love with (or absolutely despise) with many direct connections and Easter Eggs that explicitly tie the book back to Scales and Sensibility.
None of these connections is more apparent than Rose's love interest, Aubrey, who was a minor side character in Scales and Sensibility. I absolutely fell in love with Aubrey because he is a romantic love interest you don't often get to see in fiction. He is bookish, intelligent, and shy but not in that "oh he likes books but is actually really hot and brooding" kind of way. He is an academic in the socially awkward, emotionally dumb kind of way. Aubrey was unique and endearing, and you cannot help but root for Aubrey and Rose to get their happily ever after. The romance between Aubrey and Rose is a much stronger core romance than Elinor's in Scales and Sensibility, and it is complete with a fake engagement, familial and financial misunderstandings, a bookish man just doing his best to navigate it all.
While Scales and Sensibility was an utterly fun romp and smashing good time, Claws and Contrivances is a much more relaxed, and therefore even more fun novel to sink your teeth into. Unlike Elinor's circumstances, Rose lives among distant family who are actually likeable and want what is best for her. Her uncle is a bit of a bulldog who stumbles a lot, but is at his core a loving human being who just wants what is best for his family. Her aunt is a gothic romance novelist (which leads to a scene where the main characters do a dramatic reading of her newest novel, one of the absolute best scenes in all of Claws and Contrivances), who is a kind of feminist trendsetter, blazing forward in her own path. And Rose's cousins are all endearingly weird in their own ways (including the goth obsessed Serena, the queer coded George - who I definitely want a spinoff about with her own lesbian love story!). I really settled into the rhythm of Claws and Contrivances much faster than Scales and Sensibility because Rose doesn't have to push back against the people who are supposed to love her; they embrace her with open arms. Each of the family members gets their small moment to shine, crafting a cast of characters that you will be sad to leave behind as the book reaches its final pages.
Instead, the conflict comes from an external force, Sir Gareth. I won't spoil the dastardly plots Gareth gets up to in the book, but I relished his evil ways and how Burgis incorporated deeper and more complex social issues into this book, using the fantasy of her books to directly comment on problems plaguing our world, both in the Regency period and in the present. Plot-wise, this also allows for some awesome scenes where Rose and her entire family came together to try and thwart Sir Gareth. This might make Claws and Contrivances a bit more of a standard and straightforward plot than Scales and Sensibility, but Burgis spins in enough twists and turns, as well as genuinely gleeful and funny moments, that everything feels fresh and magical.
Speaking of magic, one of my only criticisms of Scales and Sensibility is that the book lacked just a bit more magic. That book was less of a fantasy romance and a romance with just a garnish of magic. If you felt the same way, I am happy to tell you that Claws and Contrivances, without losing the spirit of its predecessor, has more dragons and more magic. Burgis gives us a bit more background on how the dragons operate in this world (because the face-changing powers from Scales and Sensibility are a bit more complex than that!) and we have dragon-scholar Aubrey in a much more central role to pontificate about the nature of dragons....and once again be proven wrong by someone with much more hands-on, real world experiences.
After falling head over heels with the love and magic of Scales and Sensibility, I didn't think that Burgis could ever top it. Well, Claws and Contrivances is better in nearly every way and I highly recommend it to all readers of Regency romance, fantasy romance, and maybe to people who haven't checked out a book like this before. Claws and Contrivances it is like the best PBS Masterpiece drama, and it has my highest recommendation.
Concluding Thoughts: Witty, magical, and romantic, Claws and Contrivances takes everything wonderful about Scales and Sensibility and improves upon it in every way. A strong protagonist, and bookish and shy love interest, a fake engagement, a wonderful cast of characters, and an evil noble all make a book that will grab you from page one and never let you go. Sometimes we forget that books can challenge us, but that reading should be fun, and reading Claws and Contrivances is an absolute blast. Highly recommended.
A strong woman who knows what she wants? Check.
A nerdy academic love interest? Check.
A fake engagement? Check.
Romantic misunderstandings to hilarious effect? Check.
More dragons and magic? Check.
Scales and Sensibility, the first book in Burgis' Regency Dragons series, became a surprise favorite of mine after it became a SPFBO finalist last year. I had never been interested in reading a regency rom-com before (seriously - this is why you should at least check out the SPFBO finalists every year to expand your reading horizons), but what I found was a funny, relaxing, enjoyable, and bingeable book about a woman from a down-on-their-luck family looking for a good marriage with economic prospects who accidentally stumbles into a madcap plot involving a magical dragon, mistaken identities, and love.
Claws and Contrivances follows the second of the Tregarth sisters first introduced in Scales and Sensibility, Rose, as she goes on her own adventure to overcome the financial ruin of her family. This setup allows Burgis to introduce a whole cast of new characters to meet and either fall in love with (or absolutely despise) with many direct connections and Easter Eggs that explicitly tie the book back to Scales and Sensibility.
None of these connections is more apparent than Rose's love interest, Aubrey, who was a minor side character in Scales and Sensibility. I absolutely fell in love with Aubrey because he is a romantic love interest you don't often get to see in fiction. He is bookish, intelligent, and shy but not in that "oh he likes books but is actually really hot and brooding" kind of way. He is an academic in the socially awkward, emotionally dumb kind of way. Aubrey was unique and endearing, and you cannot help but root for Aubrey and Rose to get their happily ever after. The romance between Aubrey and Rose is a much stronger core romance than Elinor's in Scales and Sensibility, and it is complete with a fake engagement, familial and financial misunderstandings, a bookish man just doing his best to navigate it all.
While Scales and Sensibility was an utterly fun romp and smashing good time, Claws and Contrivances is a much more relaxed, and therefore even more fun novel to sink your teeth into. Unlike Elinor's circumstances, Rose lives among distant family who are actually likeable and want what is best for her. Her uncle is a bit of a bulldog who stumbles a lot, but is at his core a loving human being who just wants what is best for his family. Her aunt is a gothic romance novelist (which leads to a scene where the main characters do a dramatic reading of her newest novel, one of the absolute best scenes in all of Claws and Contrivances), who is a kind of feminist trendsetter, blazing forward in her own path. And Rose's cousins are all endearingly weird in their own ways (including the goth obsessed Serena, the queer coded George - who I definitely want a spinoff about with her own lesbian love story!). I really settled into the rhythm of Claws and Contrivances much faster than Scales and Sensibility because Rose doesn't have to push back against the people who are supposed to love her; they embrace her with open arms. Each of the family members gets their small moment to shine, crafting a cast of characters that you will be sad to leave behind as the book reaches its final pages.
Instead, the conflict comes from an external force, Sir Gareth. I won't spoil the dastardly plots Gareth gets up to in the book, but I relished his evil ways and how Burgis incorporated deeper and more complex social issues into this book, using the fantasy of her books to directly comment on problems plaguing our world, both in the Regency period and in the present. Plot-wise, this also allows for some awesome scenes where Rose and her entire family came together to try and thwart Sir Gareth. This might make Claws and Contrivances a bit more of a standard and straightforward plot than Scales and Sensibility, but Burgis spins in enough twists and turns, as well as genuinely gleeful and funny moments, that everything feels fresh and magical.
Speaking of magic, one of my only criticisms of Scales and Sensibility is that the book lacked just a bit more magic. That book was less of a fantasy romance and a romance with just a garnish of magic. If you felt the same way, I am happy to tell you that Claws and Contrivances, without losing the spirit of its predecessor, has more dragons and more magic. Burgis gives us a bit more background on how the dragons operate in this world (because the face-changing powers from Scales and Sensibility are a bit more complex than that!) and we have dragon-scholar Aubrey in a much more central role to pontificate about the nature of dragons....and once again be proven wrong by someone with much more hands-on, real world experiences.
After falling head over heels with the love and magic of Scales and Sensibility, I didn't think that Burgis could ever top it. Well, Claws and Contrivances is better in nearly every way and I highly recommend it to all readers of Regency romance, fantasy romance, and maybe to people who haven't checked out a book like this before. Claws and Contrivances it is like the best PBS Masterpiece drama, and it has my highest recommendation.
Concluding Thoughts: Witty, magical, and romantic, Claws and Contrivances takes everything wonderful about Scales and Sensibility and improves upon it in every way. A strong protagonist, and bookish and shy love interest, a fake engagement, a wonderful cast of characters, and an evil noble all make a book that will grab you from page one and never let you go. Sometimes we forget that books can challenge us, but that reading should be fun, and reading Claws and Contrivances is an absolute blast. Highly recommended.
July 6, 2023
4 & 1/2 STARS
Two years ago I was introduced, with Scales and Sensibility, to Stephanie Burgis’ new alternative version of the Regency Era, one where dragons are a fact of life and the ultimate fashion accessory for ladies of the ton. I was charmed by the adventures of spirited Elinor Tregarth and Sir Jessamyn, the dragon she came to adopt, so when Ms. Burgis contacted me with the ARC for the second book in this series I was delighted to go back to her imagined world.
Claws and Contrivances follows the adventures of another Miss Tregarth, Rose: the three sisters, orphaned after the death of both parents in a carriage accident, were sent to three different groups of relatives and while Elinor had the misfortune to be taken in by the insufferable Heathergills, Rose had better luck with the Parrys, a somewhat impoverished but loving family made of delightfully eccentric individuals: cousin Serena would love to live in a gothic setting, and looks for ghosts and ghouls behind every corner, while Georgiana aka Georgie is quite the tomboy, preferring riding breeches to flowing dresses; Beth, on the other hand, is the more reserved of the three, while Aunt Parry is a dedicated, distracted, ink-smudged novelist and Uncle Parry a noted dragon scholar.
While the family is waiting for Uncle Parry’s guest, a fellow dragon scholar, Rose stumbles on a dragon in one of the less-frequented rooms of Gogood Abbey: the poor creature is terrified and shows clear signs of previous abuse, but Rose’s gentle ways soon gain her the dragon’s trust - which seems to lead to the appearance of a second, equally traumatized creature… Determined to find the dragons’ owner, Rose tries to contact the Parrys’ new neighbor, Sir Gareth, but the arrival of the expected guest - the scholarly Mr. Aubrey we already met in the previous book - brings about a change of plans and the start of a delightful comedy of errors that soon takes on some romantic overtones mixed with a slowly unfurling mystery.
I don’t want to share more of the plot because to spoil it would be a great disservice: it’s enough to say that here you will find all the elements that have made Ms. Burgis’ stories such a joy to read, with plucky heroines, dastardly villains and gallant gentlemen - and of course the dragons, which feature quite abundantly in this story ;-) I was delighted to see the return of distractedly bookish Mr. Aubrey here: he might be oblivious to the usual social graces while his nose is buried in a book (and how could a bookworm like myself blame him?) but when he’s called to higher purposes he shows a remarkable strength of character, which becomes quite necessary considering that the shady Sir Gareth is the kind of villain we all love to hate.
Rose is an outstanding heroine, her selflessness and courage work well within the conventions of the era, but she also shows a capacity to transcend those conventions when she feels the need to protect those she loves - either her adopted family or the dragons she has taken responsibility for. And speaking of Rose, I have to commend once again Ms. Burgis’ skills in creating romantic scenes that not only develop in an organic way inside the story’s framework, but also feel extremely appealing even to an old, grumpily un-romantic reader like yours truly - to the point that I find myself rooting for the protagonists to reach the necessary happily-ever-after…
If you’re looking for an enjoyable, quick read where the comedy of manners successfully meets a magic background (and dragons, let’s not forget the dragons…) you need not look further than this series and its charming, engaging characters. And since there are three Tregarth sisters, I do look forward to the dragon-linked adventures of the third one, Harriet: I have no idea where Ms. Burgis will take the story next, but I know that it will be just as engaging and lively as the previous ones.
Originally posted at SPACE and SORCERY BLOG
Two years ago I was introduced, with Scales and Sensibility, to Stephanie Burgis’ new alternative version of the Regency Era, one where dragons are a fact of life and the ultimate fashion accessory for ladies of the ton. I was charmed by the adventures of spirited Elinor Tregarth and Sir Jessamyn, the dragon she came to adopt, so when Ms. Burgis contacted me with the ARC for the second book in this series I was delighted to go back to her imagined world.
Claws and Contrivances follows the adventures of another Miss Tregarth, Rose: the three sisters, orphaned after the death of both parents in a carriage accident, were sent to three different groups of relatives and while Elinor had the misfortune to be taken in by the insufferable Heathergills, Rose had better luck with the Parrys, a somewhat impoverished but loving family made of delightfully eccentric individuals: cousin Serena would love to live in a gothic setting, and looks for ghosts and ghouls behind every corner, while Georgiana aka Georgie is quite the tomboy, preferring riding breeches to flowing dresses; Beth, on the other hand, is the more reserved of the three, while Aunt Parry is a dedicated, distracted, ink-smudged novelist and Uncle Parry a noted dragon scholar.
While the family is waiting for Uncle Parry’s guest, a fellow dragon scholar, Rose stumbles on a dragon in one of the less-frequented rooms of Gogood Abbey: the poor creature is terrified and shows clear signs of previous abuse, but Rose’s gentle ways soon gain her the dragon’s trust - which seems to lead to the appearance of a second, equally traumatized creature… Determined to find the dragons’ owner, Rose tries to contact the Parrys’ new neighbor, Sir Gareth, but the arrival of the expected guest - the scholarly Mr. Aubrey we already met in the previous book - brings about a change of plans and the start of a delightful comedy of errors that soon takes on some romantic overtones mixed with a slowly unfurling mystery.
I don’t want to share more of the plot because to spoil it would be a great disservice: it’s enough to say that here you will find all the elements that have made Ms. Burgis’ stories such a joy to read, with plucky heroines, dastardly villains and gallant gentlemen - and of course the dragons, which feature quite abundantly in this story ;-) I was delighted to see the return of distractedly bookish Mr. Aubrey here: he might be oblivious to the usual social graces while his nose is buried in a book (and how could a bookworm like myself blame him?) but when he’s called to higher purposes he shows a remarkable strength of character, which becomes quite necessary considering that the shady Sir Gareth is the kind of villain we all love to hate.
Rose is an outstanding heroine, her selflessness and courage work well within the conventions of the era, but she also shows a capacity to transcend those conventions when she feels the need to protect those she loves - either her adopted family or the dragons she has taken responsibility for. And speaking of Rose, I have to commend once again Ms. Burgis’ skills in creating romantic scenes that not only develop in an organic way inside the story’s framework, but also feel extremely appealing even to an old, grumpily un-romantic reader like yours truly - to the point that I find myself rooting for the protagonists to reach the necessary happily-ever-after…
If you’re looking for an enjoyable, quick read where the comedy of manners successfully meets a magic background (and dragons, let’s not forget the dragons…) you need not look further than this series and its charming, engaging characters. And since there are three Tregarth sisters, I do look forward to the dragon-linked adventures of the third one, Harriet: I have no idea where Ms. Burgis will take the story next, but I know that it will be just as engaging and lively as the previous ones.
Originally posted at SPACE and SORCERY BLOG
April 28, 2024
I enjoyed the first in this series, featuring the sister of this one's heroine, and this book is equally fun. It does stretch plausibility to the utmost in order that certain revelations can come at dramatic moments; the hero doesn't realise for 75% of the book that the heroine is the person he has a letter for (from her sister, updating her on the events of Book 1), because he gets her surname wrong and she never quite finishes correcting him in the course of their hectic conversations in the middle of various crises, and even when he does figure it out, he doesn't actually give her the letter until the 92% mark, because he doesn't want to distract her from her plans to foil the villain. There are always reasons for these unlikely delays and miscommunications - it's not just "so the plot can happen" - but it did strain my suspension of disbelief almost to the breaking point. It makes for a fun plot, though, and I forgive it.
Apart from one "into" that should be "in to" (yes, it matters), I spotted no mechanical errors apart from the fact that, by my count, there should be 26 fewer commas than there are - mostly between adjectives, because hardly anyone knows the coordinate comma rule. This doesn't quite count as "well edited" by my standards, but it's close. The Regency setting, as in the first book, feels more authentic than most Regency romances (despite the presence of small dragons with magic powers); it's not just 21st-century people shoved into crinolines. But, again as with the first book, the form the hero's admiration takes for the heroine - listening to her seriously and respecting her abilities - is modern, while also feeling like it fits into the time period. By the way, that's also a much healthier standard of interaction between hero and heroine than you'll find in the average Regency romance (or, probably, the average romance of any period, including contemporary; I mostly restrict my romance reads to Regency, fantasy, or, as in this case, both, so I can't say this for sure, but that's the impression I've gained).
The plot is a delight, lurching from one crisis to another, mostly caused by the characters being who they are: the heroine is principled and devoted to looking after others ahead of herself, the hero principled and absent-minded, the heroine's cousins include an airhead dramatic fan of Gothic romance and a bluff and confident and basically out lesbian (inasmuch as you could be an out lesbian in the early 19th century), and the villain is an avaricious and manipulative rake. The dragons are cute, the resolution is satisfying, and I look forward to the third book.
I'm confident that there will be a third book, because there's a third sister, the earnest but dreamy mathematician Harry. I thought when I finished the first book that she would be paired with the hero of this book, the earnest but dreamy dragon expert Mr Aubrey, but I now see that the author is smarter than I am; that would have been too much dreaminess all in one place. The hero of the first book has a handsome brother, who I initially thought would end up with the heroine of this book, so... we shall see.
Apart from one "into" that should be "in to" (yes, it matters), I spotted no mechanical errors apart from the fact that, by my count, there should be 26 fewer commas than there are - mostly between adjectives, because hardly anyone knows the coordinate comma rule. This doesn't quite count as "well edited" by my standards, but it's close. The Regency setting, as in the first book, feels more authentic than most Regency romances (despite the presence of small dragons with magic powers); it's not just 21st-century people shoved into crinolines. But, again as with the first book, the form the hero's admiration takes for the heroine - listening to her seriously and respecting her abilities - is modern, while also feeling like it fits into the time period. By the way, that's also a much healthier standard of interaction between hero and heroine than you'll find in the average Regency romance (or, probably, the average romance of any period, including contemporary; I mostly restrict my romance reads to Regency, fantasy, or, as in this case, both, so I can't say this for sure, but that's the impression I've gained).
The plot is a delight, lurching from one crisis to another, mostly caused by the characters being who they are: the heroine is principled and devoted to looking after others ahead of herself, the hero principled and absent-minded, the heroine's cousins include an airhead dramatic fan of Gothic romance and a bluff and confident and basically out lesbian (inasmuch as you could be an out lesbian in the early 19th century), and the villain is an avaricious and manipulative rake. The dragons are cute, the resolution is satisfying, and I look forward to the third book.
I'm confident that there will be a third book, because there's a third sister, the earnest but dreamy mathematician Harry. I thought when I finished the first book that she would be paired with the hero of this book, the earnest but dreamy dragon expert Mr Aubrey, but I now see that the author is smarter than I am; that would have been too much dreaminess all in one place. The hero of the first book has a handsome brother, who I initially thought would end up with the heroine of this book, so... we shall see.
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