I LOVED this book from cover to cover (or is it all just one cover 🤔….I don’t know but I enjoyed it regardless! 🤣). I’ll admit that at first I wasn’t so sure of what was happening and then I took a break, only to come back and finish it within 48 hours which is huge for me as reading hasn’t been so easy this last while. It caught me when I least expected it and had me hooked until the very end despite some minor misgivings. I enjoyed falling into a world full of magic and it truly felt like I as the reader was in Cassandras shoes which was mesmerising at times.

I enjoyed following Cassandras journey and the whole thing about having powers in a world where your type are not meant to reminded me heavily of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard which I also love.

I found Cassandras choices made sense in a situation that had been taken out of her control and I liked that I didn’t know at all where the story was heading. It was a calming and cosy read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Despite falling head over heels I’m only giving changeling 4 stars out of 5 because I feel like a fair bit was left unanswered and the enemy of the novel came out of nowhere + I didn’t find that part made a whole lot of sense. I think the characters surrounding Cassandra who were aware could have done more in terms of trying to figure out why she had magic, it seems like an opportunity missed but that could very well be put to bed in the next novel which I immediately purchased on my kindle!

I would highly recommend Changeling as a book to get immersed in, I wish I could go back to before I read it and start all over again tbh

charming historical fantasy for YA.. It is entertaining and it is refreshing that the romance is basically a side story to the book, which is appreciated, however silly it still is. The characters are likable and the development is there and there is a villain as well, but... there is 0 originality. It's a mishmash of various YA tropes that entertains but will not really make you want to invest.

Hopefully the second book will be more fullfilling, but as long as time passes easily, it will be a good read.

An interesting and charming easy-read.
It might not be strikingly original, but Molly Harper's writing is engaging enough that I didn't mind.
Changeling is an enjoyable coming of age fantasy story, which I will certainly return to when the second book comes out.

I read this book and immediately made all of my friends read it so I could talk about it with them - I enjoyed the characterization a lot, and will be looking for Harper's work in the future!

DNF at around 20%

I thought this would be a cute read, but I found it was not for me. I think I might have fallen out of love with the school setting trope.

While the 'hidden chosen one in a magical school' is a trope that has been oft abused since the incredible success of Harry Potter, Molly Harper adds in the suspense of unwanted discovery and the humor of floundering through the strange societal structures and manners of the Upper Crust. Sarah is an imposter - a changeling - masquerading as a magic-wielding Guardian despite her mugglish Snipe origins. If any of the scions of the wealthy families that she hobnobs with in and outside of class discover who she actually is, chaos would ensue as the absolutes of the Guardian-ruling status quo of their world would be called into question. She just wants to survive to protect her family and learn how to control her unexpected powers.

Despite a desperate need for an editor, I enjoyed this simple story. All the fun YA tropes were there: an arch nemesis, devoted best friends, dystopian ruling class, and situational hijinks. Her word usage was fun, pacing consistent, and I had no trouble visualizing the world that Sarah found herself embroiled in.

Recommended for fans of Gail Carriger's Finishing School series, Mercedes Lackey's Shadow Grail series, or Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen.

*I received a free eARC from the publisher through NetGalley.*

Unfortunately I no longer wish to review this book as the first few chapters did not reel me in. Thank you for the opportunity.

This book was not for me. I did not particularly like it and ended up DNFing it thus won't be able to provide a detailed review.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me and I did not finish because I didn’t enjoy the writing style, it was tiring.

Unable to read this proof copy as book was archived before downloading and this was impossible. Neutral rating to show this.

A very fun, magical book. I love the magic and historical elements. The world is bit confusing at times and left me with questions about why and hw, but overall it was fun and worth grabbing the sequel.

I did not finish this book. Tbh, i tried 4 times reading it but can't find my way finishing it.
Maybe it's not my cup of tea.....

Cassandra is *not* who she seems to be. Rather than a young lady of a Guardian family, born to her magic, Cassandra is really a Snipe - one who was born to a serving-class family with no magic - and her name is really Sarah Smith. However, one day Sarah knocks over the favorite vase of the matriarch of her Guardian family, and somehow manages to levitate it. From then on, nothing for any of them will every be the same.

I truly enjoyed this book, and definitely had some laugh-out-loud moments. There is heart, and snark, and magic galore - along with plenty of petticoats, handsome young men, and sometime danger. I *rarely* ever compare authors or books, but for this one I'll make an exception - if you're a fan of Gail Carriger's parasolverse, then you will enjoy this. It's a great read, and a fun way to pass some time.

I quite liked the story and the characters, but I really struggled with the setting and the direct comparisons that can be made with other books.

Thanks to the publishers for sharing this. I requested it because I'm a fan of Molly Harper. It's very different from other books (since it's a YA book, and not a romance) but I enjoyed it. My full review appears on Weekend Notes.

3.5 stars. I’m rounding up as I will read book two.
It's a commonly said these days that there are no original ideas left to write about. While this may be true to a certain extent there is usually a new way to spin a similar story or make it your own. Molly Harper has 'borrowed' from so many of the most popular YA/Teen fantasy story lines that it's almost funny. Yet, the way she puts these ideas together, and her compulsive writing style, had me flipping pages quickly and deciding that I was okay with her borrowed ideas.

Borrowed Elements
Let's start with Harry Potter. The following are direct correlations in Changeling:
- orphan who didn’t know she could do magic = Harry Potter (but female this time)
- little blue bird (familiar) = Hedwing the owl
- Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies = Hogwarts
- Houses = Houses... there's five instead of four, but whose counting...
- Snipes = Muggles
From Buffy the Vampire Slayer and/or Charmed:
- magical tomes that can only be read by certain people
- magical spells that may give you 'too much' power
- demons and vampires; and not all are evil
Cinderella:
- ‘Auntie’ = stepmother
- slave who cleans = Cinderella herself

Now, you might be thinking: 'oh boy Mel, how can this be good?' Honestly I didn't think it could be at first. But our leading girl, her friends and even the possible love interest(s?) are all solid characters unto themselves.

Characters
These are not just characters dropped into a cliche setting. Instead I felt connected and had empathy for each of the students we meet. I even began to like the Auntie/stepmother at points. Creating anti-hero characters is not easy and yet Harper has made it seem effortless in Changeling.
Additionally both our main boys are strong, unique and realistic. And neither sparkles! It helps that there is no insta-love and (so far) no love triangle, square or other shape. By creating genuine relationships between characters Harper has done what so many other teen authors continue to fail to do. This alone puts her a step above the average teen genre writer.

Political Intrigue
We all know noble families must be entrenched in corruption (lol). Harper takes the conspiracy, greed and backstabbing to a whole new level in Changeling. Not only does everyone keep their friends close, and their enemies even closer; but they all have dirt on one another that could ruin them. Add a stepmother with a steely glare and a bunch of ridiculous laws in place to keep Snipes ‘in-line’ and you've got a complex society to try and navigate. And our gal goes from scrubbing the floors to walking across them in glass slippers. So to say she has trouble navigating this new political landscape would be an understatement. There are so many opportunities that Harper has clearly opened up for future books in the nobles and rich families narrative that I would want to read more of this series even if it didn't have good characters. And did I mention amongst all of this is magic?

Overall
It's an odd thing to realize that a book is really a bunch of other stories you know well dropped into one and yet feel like you are reading a new story. I really didn't expect, from the opening 50 pages, to like Changeling so much. I expected to get frustrated and bored quickly. Instead Harper has set-up a world that is both familiar and original in it's own way. If you want to revisit your youth, get some Harry Potter magical school vibes or just visit a cute little fantasy world where the teens are not immediately in love with each other (how refreshing!), then Changeling may be for you. But watch out as you may be hooked and find yourself frustrated that book two hasn't even been announced (never mind have a name or a cover)! Someone needs to let Molly Harper know that she now needs to keep feeding the readers she has entrapped in her cute story web.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

This was a very entertaining page-turner with a light and humorous tone. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes stories with magic schools set in a Regency/Victorian England.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Cassandra Reed is holding a secret. It's one that, if discovered, will have unforeseen repercussions in the magical community. But all she has to do is survive her time at Miss Castwell's Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies and she'll be all set. But when a revered magical book chooses Cassandra as it's next translator, the position brings prestige yet also undue attention to Cassandra's life.

Cassandra, real name Sarah Smith, comes from a servant family of snipes (i.e. guttersnipes - those without magical ability), but when she inexplicably displays magical talent her Guardian family (those with magic who govern the snipes) takes her in and passes her off as a distant cousin in order to avoid scrutiny on themselves. If Cassandra hopes to avoid the potential uprising that would occur should her status in life ever make itself known, she'll have to keep her head down and focus on her studies and unlocking the secrets of the book.

I've been a long-time fan of Molly Harper's various books / series in whichever genre she has decided to write. I like the departure in that Changeling is decidedly YA which as far as I'm aware Molly Harper hasn't delved into before (I apologize if I am mistaken in this).

Changeling was a perfect example of a read that, regardless of being YA, could appeal to anyone / everyone. There were multiple times throughout that I had to stop and actually remind myself that Cassandra (Sarah) is only 14. The school setting does help to reinforce this as well.

Honestly, I really enjoyed Changeling. It's a fish-out-of-water story where Cassandra suddenly finds herself living a life she never even dreamed of living. A life that, before, was so closed off to her it never even entered her mind as a possibility. After being, understandably, thrown by these developments, I loved how Cassandra sort of forges her own path in amongst people who are so set in their ways and their hierarchy that they forget the way the world used to work before they were controlling everything. Cassandra is fierce and she's loyal. She's got a quick wit and doesn't shy away from speaking her mind, in most occasions anyway.

Along with Cassandra we have her two new friends Ivy and Alicia. Both outcasts within the varying cliques within the school they, along with Cassie, form a close-knit group. Unfortunately in the background is the fact that she's harboring this secret which you know is only a matter of time before it comes out in some way. I loved the way that this is all handled. I can't wait to see how these three continue along in the next book.

I really enjoyed the history that Molly Harper presents especially when it comes to the prominent families, or Houses, of the Guardians. They have a long and sordid history, and if readers are clear about anything, it's that where there's light magic, there's typically also dark magic.

With that in mind, I leave you with the thought that I can't wait to see what adventures await Cassie and her friends and to see her grow into her magic and learn more about this fascinating world.

Throughly enjoyed this book! A YA book about magic (and those born non-magic). During the Victorian era where those born from magic ruled. It’s an easy read, which YA has a tendency to be. I recommend this book!

Sarah Smith is from one of the lowest classes in England’s society. She comes from a non-magical family. Her family serves under one of the most prosperous magical families. One day, she discovers that she too has the gift of magic. She is sent to a magical school and assumes a new identity as Cassandra Reed. Sarah must learn how to control her powers, form friendships, and save her school from immense danger.

Changeling is set in an alternate Victorian era. In the era, the world of magical families rules the country and forces those of non-magic to live in servitude. The narrator of this story is Sarah Smith, who takes on a new identity to hide the fact that she was once a servant. I really adored Sarah. She is smart, plucky, and sassy. She struggles to form friends and make the right choices. Sarah constantly worries about her real identity and wonders how she will be treated by her friends once the truth is revealed. I also like that Sarah tries her best in the school and that she wants to make her parents proud. Thus, I loved her character because she seemed like a normal teenager that tries to fit into her new school.

Overall, this was a fun, enchanting ride! The story was very fast-paced and was filled with mystery, magic, and humor! I loved Changeling so much that I did not want it to end and am quickly anticipating the sequel! If you love the Harry Potter series, then you will definitely enjoy this one! The world-building was splendid and inventive! The characters were all likable. The only thing I did not like about Changeling was that it had an underdeveloped romance. The love interest only appeared a few times in the novel, and had no character growth in him. Still, if you love fantasies, this is a book that you should not miss! Changeling is a novel that will be guaranteed to thrill you as soon as you read the first page! I highly recommend this for fans of Seraphina, Lady of Magick, and The Dark Days Club!