Witches. Ghosts. An ancient secret. Enter a world of myth and magic through this contemporary fantasy reimagining of Jane Austen’s beloved classic, Sense and Sensibility.
The small New England town of Tarryville, Maine is steeped in history, having been settled by the Dartwood and Farris families who fled Salem during the witch trials. The Dartwood sisters, Eden, Mariah, and Melissa, unexpectedly return home after their parents are found murdered. Upon their arrival, the girls are plagued by dreams in which dark spectral beings haunt them. When the hellish creatures seem to be more than just nightmares, another mystery begins to unravel as they discover that the circumstances around the murder of their parents may be far more menacing than they appear. Frantic for answers, they must untangle the mystery of their parents’ murders and reconstruct the pieces of an ancient secret. With the help of the young assistant curator of their family museum, Baden Correia, and an estranged friend from their past, Evan Farris, the orphaned Dartwood sisters must uncover the truth before the darkness haunting their family descends upon them as well.
Author of Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy, Mystery, and Retellings, from fairy tales to classics, N. A. Triptow graduated from The University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts in English Teaching with minors in History Teaching, Theatre, and British Studies. She also graduated from Purdue University with a Master of Science in Integrated Communication and Advertising. She has taught high school English, Film Studies, and Theatre and currently works in higher education in learning centers. In her free time, you can find her reading, watching and analyzing movies and television shows, attending the theatre, going on walks or hikes, and playing board or video games with family and friends. She lives in Utah.
I love retellings, and it’s always a treat to read a re-imagining of one of Jane Austen’s beloved stories, this one based on Sense and Sensibility. The setup for The Secret of Dartwood Manor is one of the most imaginative I’ve seen for a Regency retelling, and the story maintained the perfect balance of being true to the original while creating something truly unique.
This story is a fantasy set in our contemporary time, creating a perfect blend of retelling, mystery, fantasy, and romance. While I rarely venture into the contemporary genre, this story’s premise was unique enough to capture my interest, and my attention was quickly engaged from the first page.
The mystery immediately draws you into the story. Nothing is as it seems; there are several twists and turns and many secrets to uncover. I constantly changed my theories throughout and was satisfied with the resolution when I reached the novel’s conclusion. Not only was the plot was engaging, but I grew to really care for the characters. Each of the three sisters had distinct personalities, as did Baden and Evan, and I enjoyed watching them work together to uncover the truth. Through they were all wonderful, Baden was my favorite; he was such a sweetheart.
In addition to uncovering the mystery, I loved learning more about the magic in this world and the family secrets of the three sisters’. Though I enjoyed the fantasy and mystery, I especially loved the adorable romance, which was my favorite aspect. I also liked how the subject of grief was handled.
I really enjoyed the unique and interesting mythology the author created, which was seamlessly woven throughout the story. Despite being a contemporary setting, the writing and setting maintained an old fashion feel, which honored the story’s Austen roots. I especially loved the passages describing the setting, which were truly beautiful.
I’m so excited to continue reading the series to not only see what happens next, but to experience another creative Austen retelling. N.A. Triptow’s debut was very impressive and I’m so excited to see what she writes next.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my full review for this as well as other books on my bloghere
A world of magic, witches, ghosts and myth. A contemporary retelling of Jane Austin's Sense and Sensibility with wonderful characters, an intriguing magic system based on myths we all know and intriguing mystery!
As a debut novel, I was very impressed with the world building in this paranormal/fantasy/magical retelling of Jane Austen's beloved Sense and Sensibility. We have our three Dartwood sisters, Eden, Mariah and Melissa, who experience the loss of their parents and have to navigate their way through many changes happening in their lives as well as some mysterious and weird happenings with their family estate and their family friends. Nothing is making sense. They band together and work through their grief while reaching out and relying on people from their past to help them.
I liked how the author created a foundation on Jane Austen's book with some similarities but made the story her own. The three sisters definitely portrayed similar personalities to the Dashwood sisters. They have their struggles and misunderstandings that they have to work through, which adds to the suspense of the book. But once they set aside their struggles and sometimes headstrong ways and work together they can achieve so much more.
This book has some paranormal aspects to it, witches and ghosts, and is in the fantasy genre. As I read further into the book, I liked the setting up that the author did for further books in the trilogy. I can't wait to see what comes next.
Content: There is no sexual content in the book. A few kisses but nothing further. I don't remember any swearing. Some violence and there are some dark moments that are associated with the villains of the story, the magical aspects and the death of the Dartwood parents and a couple other characters. Overall though, I would say that it is a clean fantasy/magical read.
I received a copy from Booksprout. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Witchcraft? Ghosts? Murder? Yes please! Do you enjoy retellings or reimaginings like I do? Ok. Truth be told, I haven’t read Sense & Sensibility. But I do have a general idea of what happens (Thanks to Cliff Notes) 😂 I will read the actual book at some point though.
This one had just the right amount of witchy magic I was looking for! I love me a good prologue and this one started off with the Salem witch trials. 🖤
I did find this one slow in some areas, and there were times I forgot who was talking or who was who. But overall, I enjoyed the character development and world building the author did.
I was lucky enough to get a copy ahead of publishing, and I've been looking forward to this debut novel release ever since. It's the perfect example of the exact type of story that I frequently hear readers say they are looking for. It's a sweet blend of mystery, fantasy, and drama, with the promise of a longer series to follow. The story is a modern-day retelling of Sense and Sensibility that doesn't get hung up on its own gimmick, or too bogged down in modern day elements, with helps it to preserve some of that Austen feel. Just like there's a lovely blend of classic and contemporary literature here, there's also a unique blend of contemporary and classic fantasy tropes and vibes. This makes it a great recommendation for my friends who are always looking for fantasy, sweet romance, or mystery, as it manages to be all of that. I'm in particularly hoping to use it to open up certain friends to more fantasy, as this feels like an accessible bridge to genre fiction. It's also quite a fast read, with a satisfying conclusion.
I absolutely loved this book! I got hooked from the start and was so absorbed. The murder mystery was very intriguing and the magic system was super cool with connections to all sorts of different mythologies. The story is full of witches, ghosts, and romance. The book gave me Lunar Chronicles vibes in that the author took Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility and created a retelling full of new twists and turns that brought a lot of depth to the characters while also staying true to the foundational aspects of the original story. The dialogue was fantastic and the characters were so lovable. Hands down Baden is my absolute favorite! I also really appreciated how the author dealt with grief in this book since the main characters lose their parents. It felt real and honest but also not too heavy. If you are looking for a fun new fantasy this is the book for you! I am very excited for book 2!!
**I received a free ARC eBook in exchange for an honest review**
I really enjoyed reading The Secret of Dartwood Manor! The story begins as a mystery, dives into romance, and uses mythology and magic to capture an incredible story. I couldn't put it down!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Amazing new author. So good. Can't wait to see what happens!
Ok so I loved the characters in this book especially Baden and Evan. This is the first book in a long time where I could not guess the story line or outcome. It is so creative and I love the magic elements and that they are different from other books I have read. Can't wait for the rest of the series to come out. So glad I found this.
If you like Jane Austen, magic, and murder mysteries then this is the book for you. This YA Contemporary Fantasy combines all three of these aspects to make one delightfully intriguing story full of secrets, the supernatural, and hidden pasts.
I love that this was inspired by Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, and you can really see the influence of this throughout the story. I don't read that much contemporary fantasy but the author managed to hook me in with this gripping murder mystery; the story follows the three Dartwood sisters and their quest to discover the truth about their parents' murder. Along the way, they find all is not what it seems and the murderers may be closer than they think. I really loved that the story blended the magic fantasy elements with the modern world - one of my favourite quotes sums it up quite nicely:
“Are you telling me that all this time I’ve been spending binging Netflix, doing homework, and keeping the lights on in this place, you’ve all been busy seeing ghosts and avoiding near-death experiences?”
The blending of these two genres worked so well and brought a lightness to an otherwise intense storyline. I also loved that whilst the setting was contemporary, the main base was a mythology museum and the very old museum-like manors. This linked the modern setting to a more historical aspect of magic and I really enjoyed the detailed depictions of the manors as it really added to the eerie feel of the murder mystery.
There was a great cast of characters, we have the three sisters, Eden, Mariah, and Melissa each of whom had their own distinct personalities and I loved the dynamic between the three. Triptow really made each unique and I loved her she linked this into the story, as well as clearly showing off how she was influenced by Jane Austen. I found the sister's banter and arguments really added a fun lighter air to the story which balanced out the grief and strain that was maintained throughout.
Alongside the three sisters, we had some other excellent characters, I especially loved getting to know and understand the dynamics the girls had with Evan and Baden. There were several other characters that had me intrigued as soon as I met them and I enjoyed guessing at what role each of these characters was playing.
The story itself was full of old secrets being discovered and lots of hard truths for the sisters to learn. Their discoveries and hardships were paced wonderfully and intertwined with serval excellent subplots to keep us constantly invested in the story.
Overall, it was a captivating murder mystery-type story with magic woven into the plot bringing along with it added dangers and intrigue. The setting was the perfect mix of modern and old, and each character played an important role in the storyline as well as bringing some other more lighthearted moments to the story. A fun story with no dull moments as the sisters slowly begin to realise they are embroiled in a mystery that runs much deeper than a simple murder.
Thank you to MTMC tours and to the author Nicole Triptow for having me on the tour.
This book was a fantastic read! Retellings can be tricky as they can be too word for word of the original or they can go in the exact opposite and be nothing like its origin. This novel managed to find a good balance of being original while keeping the inspiration of the original Sense and Sensibility that’s well-known by any Jane Austen reader. The novel even opens with a quote about Dartwood Manor from Jane Austen’s book.
This story is set in the small town of Tarryville, Maine in New England. The northeast setting fits the story as the supernatural aspects fit right in to the setting. The name of the town sounded familiar to me, so I looked it up and found a similarly named town in Connecticut, although none in Maine. It does not make a difference to me if a fictional or real location is used in any story, but curiosity does get to me in case I ever want to visit. Our supernatural beings, witches and ghosts were well-done to fit the different time periods and the setting. The murder mystery gave an entertaining twist to the more romance-centered Jane Austen tale and I loved the extra dimensions.
Our three sisters, Eden, Mariah, and Melissa Dartwood were all delightful characters and they each played well off the others to create a great sibling dynamic. Our other main characters, Baden Correia, the curator of the Dartwood family museum, and Evan Farris, the Dartwood sisters’ estranged friend were well-written. Together this cast of characters set forth to unlock the mystery of the Dartwood parents’ murders. By exploring their deaths, the sisters also discover more about their family history and its secrets.
Even though the length is over 300 pages, it actually is a fast read. The flow is great as the events move at a good pace while ensuring that each event/character gets the details they need. It is light-hearted as much as it can be while balancing the heavier feelings of grief, and of course, the murders. Mythology plays a part in the writing, which always makes a novel favorable to me. It’s integrated well into the magic system used in this story. The writing itself relates itself to reality while maintaining the fantasy aspects to the point where it feels like this could have been a true tale at times.
Overall, this novel was a great read as it mixes romance, mystery, and fantasy seamlessly. As a reader, you don’t feel too bogged down in one genre or another which makes it a good read if you’re curious about another genre, but don’t want a full-blown novel of that genre yet. This novel is set to be book one of The Witchling Trilogy, so now I have to eagerly wait and anticipate the releases of books two and three. A great fantasy read with a romantic aspect! I would gladly read the rest of the series and re-read this one anytime!
**I give a special thank you to Booksprout, the author, and the publisher for the ARC to read and review. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**
This book has everything from witches to a mystery to sweet friends to lovers' romance. While this might seem like too much at first glance it is all so well blended together that it jsut makes the book so much fun to read and incredibly fast-paced.
The three Dartwood sisters were wonderful main characters and I liked how they were all very distinctive characters from each other as well as the fact that they were all flawed. In fact, every character in this book is flawed and I really loved that about this book, everyone was complex and that just made it so much more interesting. It's like that line in LOKI that I keep hearing on Tik Tok, no one bad is ever truly bad and no one good is ever truly good. Something that I hope is explored further in the sequel, which I desperately hope is coming after the ending! Evan and Baden, while love interests, were also their own characters and held their place in the action of the plot too, again something which I really liked! And of course, the villains in this book, no spoilers here, were wonderfully created and it made my mythology and history nerd heart happy, in fact, this whole book did!
As I have already said, the plot is fast-paced and engaging throughout as it progresses from a mystery to a mystery with witches at the same time as some budding romance. It was all very well written and I liked how it was all slowly revealed over the course of the book, and how the book was split into four parts as the plot progressed. I also liked how the characters and their flaws, as well as their strengths, played into the development of the plot and of course, the ending was very dramatic and I loved it. The final confrontation was so well created and I loved how it was all complex and then we had the cliffhanger ending setting up a sequel has me so intrigued! Plus, the mythological aspect was incredibly well created and made sense something that is incredibly important in a book about magic.
I'm sure you can guess that I have enjoyed the writing style of this book and look forward to seeing what happens next in the series for the Dartwood girls and Baden and Evan. N.A Triptow has created a wonderful world that this book is set in as well as it was so full of magic and history and mythology. I loved it!
I received this book for free from Author, MTMC Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. You can also find this review at The Reader and the Chef.
If you love classic retellings, particularly books inpired by Jane Austen’s masterpieces, then you will LOVE The Secret of Dartwood Manor. It has a bit of everything: magic, mystery, family dynamics and sibling love (including found family!), plus GHOSTS and danger haunting the halls of Dartwood Manor.
“The stillness of the manor was like a quiet pond just waiting for a fish to upset its equilibrium.”
Oh yeah, can totally can add “exploring beautiful old houses” to the list as well.
More than just a mystery, this story focuses on the Dartwood Sisters and their friend (almost family) Baden, trying to come to terms with the sudden death/murder of their parents. They navigate grief in different ways while also now facing the possibility that something evil is lurking around them. Their neighbors & family friends for centuries, are colder and crueler than ever. And now suddenly ghosts and terrifying dreams hint that the danger and the secret behind their parents death might put their own lives at stake.
This book is a haunting reimagining of Sense and Sensibility & I was bewitched by it. I loved how author N.A. Triptow incorporated magic into this story and the pages bloomed into life inside my head. I could picture myself walking around the museum and browsing the old tomes, learning about the powers that witches could wield, while also fearing a bit for the Dartwood sisters as they faced the dangers of the Shadow casters.
Oh, but this story is full of secrets and has a great cast of characters (with alternating POVs!). The problem is, it’s quite hard to know who to trust and The Secret of Dartwood Manor is just the beginning. So looking forward to the sequel!
This book blends mystery and fantasy with magic and a bit of romance thrown in. It is a really good retelling of Sense and Sensibility. Perfect book to be reading in October. Super creative ( I always wonder where writers come up with these stories). This book is book is hard to put down especially when they odd things start happening and the sisters begin uncovering magical, unexplainable occurrences.
This novel is set in the fictional small town of Tarryville, Maine. Our three sisters Eden, Mariah, and Melissa along with Baden Correia, the curator of the Dartwood family museum, and Evan Farris, the sister's estranged friend/the estranged son of the Farris neighbors are the absolute main characters of the book along with a few side characters. The novel begins with each of the sisters learning about the death and murder of their parents in their family home. They each go back home to attend the funeral and the reading of the will. The Farris's offer for the sisters to stay with them since their parent's house is currently a crime scene and they each have equally disturbing dreams that first night. Once the will is read, it becomes apparent that something is seriously wrong and it is up to them to uncover their parent's secret along with their own to save themselves. The realization of what happened to their parents and what will happen to the three of them if they do not figure out how to stop the witches is the premise of the story here. I am interested to read Books 2 and 3.
I received an advance review copy book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Right from the start of The Secret of Dartwood Manor, N.A. Triptow sends the reader right into action and I love a book that draws me in right from the prologue!
The main story opens with the sisters each at their respective schools (boarding school, college, and the oldest working towards her Masters) when something dark happens and their parents are murdered right inside the foyer of their home. The girls come home and everything surrounding their parents murder unravels them. They find themselves digging up secrets and unlocking suppressed memories, and they find themselves up against dark witches who are powerful and old- and will do anything to kill the Dartwood sisters.
I live for dark and magical mysteries, and The Secret of Dartwood Manor gave me everything I could’ve asked for in this! I love taking my time with mysteries, pulling clues and details, theorizing “whodunit”, and figuring out the goals of the characters (who’s good, who’s against the happy ending). And goodness, Triptow knew how to keep me guessing! I would have an idea and then I’d second guess my theory and the plot twists were just beautifully executed.
Plus this book is a dark academia delight! Old manors, museums, Salem witches, ancient witches, dark magic, history buffs, and spooky vibes- I cannot wait for the rest of this trilogy inspired by Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.
As a fantasy reader, I was extremely pleased to have been given the opportunity to dive in to the magical world of the Dartwood Family. N. A. Triptow’s debut book completely captured my attention from Page 1. It provided a brilliant story that did not lack on world-building or character complexity. On the contrary, an excellent story which intertwined elements of mystery, fantasy and fiction was perfectly woven in front of my eyes. I was similarly impressed with the way in which Eden, Melissa, and Mariah, the Dartwood sisters, allowed us to experience the insurmountable grief that comes with the loss of a loved one. Grief is an extremely complex feeling that was remarkably portrayed. Further, I thoroughly enjoyed the invisible string that N. A. Triptow provided for readers to follow. On several occasions, I was excited to go back to previous chapters to re-read a section because of a “breadcrumb” (which was at times, a single word, or comment) that added up to the overall mystery of Dartwood Manor. I’m looking forward for the next book in the series!
I am not a big reader, but I do enjoy fantasy young adult novels because they are easy to read and emotionally relate to. My biggest frustration with those novels, though is they are often written about teenagers instead of adults. That high school vibe takes away from some of the relatable nature of the books. This is totally different, though. The characters' ages spanned from 18 to 28, and while there are some moments of romance, the characters each have identities outside of their relationships with siblings or a significant other. You can feel that the author has created thorough backgrounds for each of the characters, and no one is just there to fill space. This makes the book setting feel so real. I am looking forward to finding out what happens next!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Secret of Dartwood Manor by N.A. Triptow is a retelling of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen 🤍 now I will admit that I’ve never read a Jane Austen book but I think this book has made me consider reading the original book 😮
This book felt like a Agatha Christie murder-mystery mixed in with a more modern fantasy! And it really worked well! 😍 I loved that it was set in the modern day but still in old manor houses! The early days of witchcraft were also referenced, making the book feel completely thought out ⭐️
The plot flowed very quickly and characters were developed just enough to keep the story flowing whilst connecting with characters 🥰 the sisters contrasted each other really well which felt authentic and dynamic! There were really lovely relationships between the characters as well as shocking betrayals! 😱
The book ended in a way that sets up really nicely for book two and I will definitely be reading the second instalment! 💜 Thank you Nicole for sending me a copy to read and review! I thoroughly enjoyed it! 4/5 stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For a debut novel, this was pretty good! It’s loosely based off of Sense and Sensibility but instead of just modernizing the story, witchcraft was added into it. I actually liked it and found it interesting. However, if you aren’t into supernatural stuff, don’t read this.
The characters are all emotional and I would get frustrated with them but that’s the point. Their parents have been murdered and they keep facing roadblocks trying to find out what the heck is going on. They don’t always act rationally because they are grieving though I definitely questioned some of their actions.
This is a clean read which is nice! No sex scenes, no graphic violence and no swearing!! So if you are into clean supernatural reads, give this a try. I am going to read the next one.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Secret of Dartwood Manor." This debut mystery novel, from author N. A. Triptow, was filled with unexpected twists and turns throughout this uniquely written retelling of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility." This book's embrace of a magical contemporary setting in old New England is well-designed in every detail to capture the reader's interest. It's intertwined with a spirit of intrigue that leaves you wanting to enter this book's pages and never leave. The poignant feelings of the memorable characters, who capture the reader's attention to the very end, are a welcomed experience. I was left longing to read the next novel in this absorbing trilogy.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Secret of Dartwood Manor." This debut mystery novel, from author N. A. Triptow, was filled with unexpected twists and turns throughout this uniquely written retelling of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility." This book's embrace of a magical contemporary setting in old New England is well-designed in every detail to capture the reader's interest. It's intertwined with a spirit of intrigue that leaves you wanting to enter this book's pages and never leave. The poignant feelings of the memorable characters, who capture the reader's attention to the very end, are a welcomed experience. I was left longing to read the next novel in this absorbing trilogy.
As a debut novel, it wasn't bad. The story was engaging. I am giving it 3.5 stars because the author used a couple of words way too often, such as "shout." It seemed that every other page someone shouted, and another word could have been used.
I had a couple of moments of confusion as well in regards to some scenes. There was one scene where Evan was experiencing a newly released memory, but it wasn't clear that it was a memory until after it was done. Little things like that.
I did enjoy the premise of the story, though! It was creative and obvious that the author had given it a lot of thought.
This is not the story I thought it would be. I really found myself sucked in from the start. I love the history part of the story and then the mystery that also followed. I appreciated the many different storylines throughout. Not one was more important than the other. I do wish there was a little more development between the love interests, but I am hopeful those will come out in the continuing story. The only thing that made it 4 instead of 5 stars was the climax. The build was so good, but then all of a sudden it was over. It just felt rushed to me. I am however still looking forward to book 2!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Secret of Dartwood Manor is a spell binding tale of 3 sisters. As they search for answers into their parents murder they learn things are not always what they seem. I was hooked after chapter 1. It kept me guessing throughout the book, who was telling the truth? Who's lying? Who's being spelled? Who is being controlled? It has a little bit of everything; mystery, suspense, romance, magic. It's a fantastic read and I can't wait for the next 2 books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Eden, Mariah, and Melissa, unexpectedly return home after their parents are found murdered. Upon their arrival, the girls are plagued by dreams in which dark spectral beings haunt them. The concept of the book is very interesting and well put together. About 50 pages in it seemed very charmed like. I highly recommend picking this up for a immersive read. It read kinda too slow for me is my only complaint.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was very lucky to be able to read this before it was published, and I absolutely love it! N. A. Triptow provides a fresh, magical, and modern take on Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, without compromising or copying the original story. Mystery, ghosts, magic, romance, betrayal — what more could you ask for? With a diverse cast of characters and intriguing lore, you will fall in love with The Secret of Dartwood Manor. I cannot wait for the next installment in The Witchling Trilogy!
This was a frustrating book in that it was a good story with decent writing, but every so often there’d be a misspelling, or a homophone error, or just the completely wrong word used. They were jarring and really pulled me out of the story.
Surprising to find errors like that in a book that was otherwise pretty well-written. They were more frequent later in the book, so maybe the editing wasn’t finished or something?
Another great author and I was very surprised on how the plot was so well written that I could not put the book down. I cannot wait for another book by the author. This was a pleasantly written story. This was a new author for me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A superb Sense and Sensibility reimagining, wonderfully written with a Jane Austin style in a modern setting. Engrossing and intelligent storyline of magic, murder, romance and a centuries old conspiracy. I was hooked from the start. Highly recommended and I am looking forward to more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am friends with the author and when I saw that she had written this book I had to read it to support her!
This book is so good! It reminded me of the fantasy books I loved as a child! The characters were alive to me and the magic was very visual in my mind!
Highly recommend and can’t wait for the second book!