Hello friends! Some of y'all may remember that back in October, I absolutely raved over Christina Baehr's Wormwood Abbey, a cozy gothic fantasy about family and dragons and tradition and change. Well, the sequel to Wormwood Abbey, Drake Hall, just released this week (the week of Dragon Appreciation Day, very appropriately), and I am here to tell you that it is every bit as delightful as the original — and in some ways, it's even better.

 

Reasons Why Drake Hall Is an Absolute Delight

1. It's grounded in family (for better and for worse). This was one of the things I loved best about the first book, and it continues here. Since Wormwood Abbey, Edith, her immediate family, and her cousins have all grown closer, and it's beautiful to see the bonds that have formed (and continue to grow) between them, whether that's Edith encouraging Gwendolyn as she steps outside of what was expected of her and towards her dreams of the future, Gwendolyn helping Edith navigate life as a keeper of dragons, or just George, Violet, and Una having their own adventures in the background. That said, this book also hits on the ways that family shapes you — and, particularly, how family can cause pain and hurt, whether that's intentional or not. We see this in multiple characters, particularly Gwendolyn, Una, and Simon. However, Baehr keeps the promise that there can be change and healing firmly in view, so this never becomes overly disheartening.
2. There are so many lovely dragons! Wormwood Abbey gave us a glimpse of a few notable dragons — but now that Edith, her parents, and her brother have been initiated into the secrets of the abbey, we see far more of these magnificent creatures. These include both the familiar — Francis and the wyvern both are frequently present on the page — to new types of dragon like the river dragon on the cover. We also see dragons from many different lands: European, Asian, and more — plus, more dragon lore! Y'all know I love lore.
3. It's simultaneously the perfect summer book and the perfect winter read. I have, to this day, only read one series that is quite as infused with the essence of summer as Drake Hall is. (That series, by the way, is the summer-vacation half of the Penderwicks books.) Baehr's description brings the lush warmth of this glorious season to life alongside the feeling of possibility that summer brings. Those qualities, plus the highly enjoyable voice, make it the perfect book for enjoying on a summer afternoon . . . or on a winter night, when the narrative will make you forget the snow outside and feel as if some of that summery-ness has found its way to you.
4. We get to know Simon Drake much better. We knew from Wormwood Abbey that he is, of course, an Excellent Gentleman well-versed in the secrets of the abbey and the dragons it guards. In Drake Hall, as one might expect, we see more of him than almost any character aside from Edith — it's not quite his book as much as hers, but it certainly comes close. As one might expect, that means we get to understand him — and the forces that shaped him into who he is — far better than we did when we started the book. And while I can't give spoilers, I will say that getting to know him more is a very pleasant experience . . .
5. The tension between tradition and change is handled very well. Aside from the family elements, the other big theme in the Secrets of Ormdale books seems to be the tension between tradition and change. Wormwood Abbey, Drake Hall, and Ormdale are very rural, traditional places, and some of those traditions are good . . . but sometimes, clinging to tradition because it's traditional or it's how things have always been can cause more hurt than harm, and we see that quite clearly in these pages. Baehr acknowledges both sides of this conflict, recognizing the good in each, and as with the family themes, she never lets the reader lose sight of the hope that things can be better than they are.
   

Are you excited for Drake Hall? What's another grounded-in-family fantasy that you love? And if you haven't read Wormwood Abbey and you're curious, you're in luck — the ebook is on sale for $0.99 through January 20, so make sure you pick that up!
Thanks for reading!