I loved this book! I'm really enjoying the more lighthearted reads. However, I think this is a more complex lighthearted reads compared to the last couple reads of mine. I'm upset though that it's taken me this long to finally get around to reading this backlisted ARC of mine.

I did find it to be a bit slow at the beginning, and that's why I couldn't give it a 5. The last 60% of the book was paced really well and I loved the plot of Cassandra/Sarah. At first I was unsure about Sarah leaving what she knows as her life to become a witch at Castwell's with the help of Mrs. Winter. I was so unsure about the intentions of Mrs. Winter, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised her intentions were good as she knew how much she could lose by helping Sarah succeed as a witch. I did like the building of the two populations of the snipes and the guardians within the world. I actually loved the ending! I truly need the second book in this trilogy! I need to learn more about the Mother book and I want to see how Cassandra and Gavin potentially progress!

I loved the magic of the witches within this book. To me, it's the classic magic of witches that is actually my favourite type of magic to read about.

I loved Sarah's character and her development from snipe to learning about her magical powers. I wasn't sure if she could leave her life behind to live in the same house she worked in without being able to be in contact with her family. However, she continued to impress me with her choices and her desire to connect to her magic. I totally understood where her parents were coming from for hiding Sarah's magical powers to keep her safe. However, don't get me started on her sister, Mary. Oh my gosh. I was so mad at her constantly. I don't normally mind a bit of unrequited love, but Mary's desire to always be around Owen to try to impress him and her thoughts that she would ever end up with him just annoyed me. Mary's jealousy of Sarah was just so unhealthy and I wanted Mary to listen to her sister and understand what Sarah was doing was not to become apart of the Winter family to get close to Owen, in spite of Mary, but actually due to her magical abilities. But Mary is the only character I truly hated throughout the book (even a plot twist with a character who I thought was a good character but ended up being the bad character in the book! - which I didn't see coming at all honestly).

I loved the progression of the relationships of Sarah/Cassandra's. From with Mrs. Winter, Owen, Gavin, and Ivy and Alicia. However, out of these relationships, I think my personal favourite was with Ivy and Alicia at Castwell's, and also with Owen as well. Cassandra sticking up for Ivy and Alicia and becoming true friends with them, instead of dealing with Callista's mess of a personality and sticking up for herself also in the process was a highlight of the book for me. Cassandra realising that status is not everything within school and the guardian world and choosing true friends was just a wonderful thing to read. Now with Owen, I just wanted that relationship to end up being somewhat to be like a sarcastic brother-sister sibling relationship, and wow Molly Harper didn't disappoint me at all. I loved their natural progression of Owen being concerned for his family with them taking Sarah on board, but progressing to accept Cassandra and help her succeed within the world, even if at times he didn't want to help her out at social events in the beginning.

Thank you very much to NYLA for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I found this novel to be quite a fun, easy read. Molly Harper has a witty way of writing that I enjoyed reading. The friendships that Cassandra formed with fellow classmates was delightful to watch develop and I loved their bond. I thought the world was very intriguing and am looking forward to what is next in store for Cassandra and her friends. It did take me a while to read this even though it was an easy book because I had hard time really getting into it until close to the end. Also found quite a few repeated phrases and whatnot throughout the story so I am rating it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This book was provided for my by Netgalley for an honest review.
I have read quite a few of the author's previous books and enjoyed them, to jump at the chance to read this one. That being said, this book has issues.
While I like the premise overall, this book could do with some heavy editing. Now, I know I am reading an advanced copy, and a lot of this could have been resolved in later editions, but the plot holes took me out of the story. The era that this book was to be set in, with it's rules and society norms, wasn't followed. Or if it was, it was only when convenient to the story.
That brings me to the conclusion to the book. It felt rushed, silly, and convenient. I found it very predictable.
Overall, I could see the potential for a good book, but it just didn't quite make it.

I was drawn to the title, as I have an interest in changelings in fairytales! The story doesn't disappoint. Lots of magic, and some cliques, Harry Potter muggles (non-magics), secrets, stuff kids and YA's will love!
I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

It has been a while since I read a book targeted at children. This book is labelled under teens but I think a little below would not harm anyone. It has a very Harry Potter feel around it but has a pretty different underlying magic principle. Sarah is a 'snipe' working in an alternative 1800 era England, she is bound to a magical 'Guardian' family and her own family consists of parents and a sister(non-magic folk). Very quickly we are introduced to an imbalance in the society at large and her role in it. This suddenly changes, with the discovery of something latent in Sarah and she is now to be somebody different and learn a whole lot of new things. It was very well written and just the kind of light-hearted read I needed. It was not 'light' in terms of content exactly, it has underhanded plots, societal peer pressures, snide backbiting and a whole lot of sassy comments and people we may not totally like but cannot completely despise either. The interchanges between all the people involved (I will introduce no one further because their characters develop in pace with the story giving us time to formulate our own opinions) were pretty funny, while continuing to be intelligent. I laughed out loud quite a few times and overall I was reminded of the feeling that I used to have as a child when I read all those hostel stories by Enid Blyton (Just the emotions, I do not intend to draw any parallels in the story itself).

This is the story of an underdog who is given an opening. This opening could shake up their whole system, but if it will, is the question that will probably be answered in the next book that I eagerly look forward to. It is not often that I read books meant for such young audiences, but books like this that remind me that I should keep an eye out for more such books.

Molly Harper is an automatic for me. I have loved everything she's written, and I have read almost all of her works.

When it comes to books for a younger audience, I'm often a bit pickier. So often they fail to resonate with me. This was not the case with "Changeling".

While it wasn't the irreverent and steamy works I'm used to by this author, it was still full of snark and sarcasm, strong female leads, and a world building that felt real. Plus, it's the kind of book I can share with my daughter, also a fine connoisseur of snark.

In true Molly Harper style I couldn't put it down, and anxiously await the next installment. ,

Sarah Smith is a young teen living with her family who are servants to a magically gifted family. In her world, non-magical citizens, “Snipes”, live to serve the magical guardians that are appointed to them via the Ministry of magic aka “Guardian of Law”. To them, it is considered dangerous for the world to be operated by snipes and guardians are more fit to rule due to their magical abilities. Thus, snipes live for one purpose only – to serve their protectors. Imagine Harry Potter only if the magical community took over.

Sarah isn’t the healthiest in her family and thus was initially considered a liability to their work. Over time, Sarah began to cease taking them and out of the blue her powers resurfaced, by accident, in front of her guardians. The Winters, her guardians, come up with an idea to change her name to “Cassandra Reed” and send her off to the “Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies” boarding school for her to learn more about her abilities and manners.

This book is like a combination of several stories, including Harry Potter. I’m not knocking it for it, but it seemed quite similar. The main differences are the students have familiars in the form of shapeshifting servants, the houses within the school only contain descendants from the original families, and there was a possible romance thrown in. And, of course, the characters have the witty conversations and lovable personalities only Molly Harper can write.

I can’t wait to see where this world leads to and watch Cassandra’s journey continue…

The characters were delightful! Loved the plot! Funny humor! Thank you netgalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was a rather delightful book. Sara was so sassy, had humour and at the same time she was vulnerable.

What a wonderful, unique take on magic. I loved the world building and the steady pace of the plot. The characters were very well developed and the world felt realistic. I particularly liked that Sarah was not an instant prodigy, for all of her unexpected talent. Definitely an author I would read again.

"Changeling" eBook was published in 2018 and was written by Molly Harper (https://www.mollyharper.com/). Ms. Harper has published more than thirty novels. This is the first in her "Sorcery and Society" series. 

I categorize this novel as ‘G’. The story is set in an alternate history of sorts where magic is possible. The primary character is 14-year-old Cassandra Reed, aka Sarah Smith.

In this timeline, those with magic have risen up and taken over the world. Those without magic, the Snipes, are 'taken care of' by those with magic. Those with magic grow richer and more powerful, while the Snipes simply become servants and tradesman. 

Smith is a Snipe and has grown up living in the Warren. She and her family serve the magical and powerful Winters family. Once Smith accidentally demonstrates a magical ability of her own, things change. Snipes are not ever supposed to have the ability to use magic. Smith, has the ability and it is powerful. The Winters change her looks and enroll her as a distant cousin in Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies. 

The Winters foster the coverup as it would be just as devastating to them as to Smith and her family for the truth to get out. Smith struggles at the school having to deal with snobby girls. She finally finds a couple of friends there who are each an outcast in their own way. Her jealous sister threatens their subterfuge and everyone is threatened by a witch that wants to raise the dead and use that army to take over the world. 

I enjoyed the 7+ hours I spent reading this 271-page young adult fantasy. The characters were interesting and the plot, while not new, was well implemented. I did think that the end to the story came more quickly that it could have. The final confrontation might have been strung out a little more. Certainly, a firm footing is laid for follow-on novels in the series. The cover art is OK, but a scene from the story would have been better in my opinion. I give this novel a 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/. 

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Loved it! Super quick read, Sarah was awesome, and I'm rooting for her. You just want her to win so bad, and its within her grasp. Sarah is snipe girl, who isn't suppose to have powers but she does! Now her employer is afraid of the backlash if people find out that she is a snipe with powers or that she was powers, and was being treated as a snipe....A little confusing ehh her employer changes her name and life. Mrs. Winter has now has a niece named Cassandra who will attend the school for girls with magical abilities.. Great read!!

Excellent book! I couldn’t put it down! When is part two coming?? Reminds me of how I felt after reading the first Harry Potter.

the kind of story that stays with you once you have finished the tale, which is just marvelous. I loved the journey that this story took me on with its winding ways between past and present, real and mayhap imagined. It was quite the ride and I absolutely enjoyed reading it.

3.5 Stars - I really enjoy this author, and this was a perfectly solid YA young teen discovers she has magic kind of story. I was also way into the steampunk aspects of the world. But I think that I enjoy this author's work more in a paranormal romance type setting with adult characters. That said, I'd be interested to read more if there was a sequel

Steampunk, meets Harry Potter, meets Charmed. A society, with magic, a killer plot and despite the predictability of the premise, an engaging story-line.

Imagine, Grindlewald succeeded, and Magicians rose to power, only to ‘enslave’ – to a point – non-magic folk, into servitude for the high and mighty of the Magical World. Okay, you’ve imagined the premise for this novel.

Enter Sara.

Sara, is an aforementioned servant, who suddenly has magical powers. Her employers, terrified they would wear the blame for her powers – that she is not meant to have – embrace her as a ‘family member’, here entering Cassandra Reed, who is sent to a magical school.

While the world building was not the best – only noticebale as an avid supporter of world building being an essential aspect of a good novel – the character development, and the development of fatal flaws sufficed in this novel. I look forward to future growth within any future novels featuring Sara aka. Cassandra.

Beginning this one, I felt a little like I was jumping on a train and I didn't know where it was going. Sure I had a vague idea of what the scenery would look like (from reading the synopsis), but the destination... Nope, not a clue. I've never read any books by Molly Harper and none of the blogs I follow have reviewed “The Changeling” either. So it was a bit of blind leap requesting it from NetGalley. (Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
But let me tell you, I was not disappointed! I loved this book! It was such a beautiful and captivating story. And now I can't wait for book #2!
The story began with Cassie as a young girl, only 14, and this gave her a rounded and detailed character and allowed for a great deal of growth. The other characters were dynamic as well. Like Mrs. Winter. I wasn't sure whether to trust her or be wary of her and for some reason I enjoyed this tottering feeling. Ivy and Sara were adorable and funny and surprisingly, Owen grew on me. I discovered that I quite liked him by the end of the novel, he wasn’t as stuck up as he at first seemed. Lastly, I will mention Gavin. What a sweetheart. I loved the way they wrote letters to each other. It’s the perfect slow build romance for a series. I can’t wait to see how their relationship will pan out.
Harper has a lovely voice that fit nicely with the story. It had a colorful touch, but wasn’t cluttered with unnecessary flourishes. Although the plot marched along at a brisk pace, I didn’t feel overwhelmed or out of breath. To me, it moved just enough to keep me engaged. One thing that was not overly developed, was the ending. It felt rather quick and the tension build up wasn’t grand enough to impact me. It was more like, “Okay, that just happened. It was nice… I guess…” It didn’t leave a lasting impression.
Finally, this was clean read! (*Yay*)
I recommend it to those who love YA fantasy.
P.S. I love the cover! It's simple and detailed at the same time. :)

I am an unabashed Molly Harper fangirl, and I love young adult books set in a historical fantasy setting similar to Regency/Victorian England (I once made a website about them). In other words, I am the perfect audience for CHANGELING, the first in Harper's new YA series, Sorcery and Society.

CHANGELING is a delight. While it didn't have the laugh-out-loud humor I've come to associate with Harper's adult paranormal romances, I enjoyed the sly, sarcastic tone that Cassandra frequently had. Also in contrast to Harper's adult stories, there is little to no romance present here, though there is a sweet budding relationship between Cassandra and a certain gentleman. Cassandra's friends are great entertainment, and the scenes with them together were definitely some of my favorite in the book. The whole book was refreshing with regards to the strong and multi-dimensional women characters. Cassandra learning to not let herself be pushed around, both through the strength of her new friendships and the role model of the politically inclined Mrs. Winters, was a nice thread that I would like to see more of in YA fiction marketed to young girls.

I do have a few minor quibbles. The world building was not the greatest. A bit of Cassandra telling herself things in her head and a bit of her being lectured to by Mrs. Winters. Otherwise, we don't really get a ton of info on the magic system (I'm not even sure what the male magic users were called - maybe witches? I honestly can't remember if it was mentioned). There's a typical villain moment at the end where the bad guy feels the need to pontificate about their plans before they enact the final piece of the puzzle, and I felt that it was a bit too suddenly obvious who the villain was before it was revealed to Cassandra. But these are minor issues that don't really distract too much from the book as a whole.

While I felt CHANGELING wraps up a specific storyline, I feel there is more room for Cassandra to grow and learn about her powers and the new world she finds herself in. I was happy to read that Harper has planned for this series to be a trilogy and I look forward to reading about Cassandra's further adventures!

I am really excited about this series--just from the first book!

Yes, there are a few things that need to be squared away between the editor and the publisher (there are a few times throughout the story that thoughts don't add up. For example, our main character walks into her room with a book in her arms only to realize a few beats later that it was stolen from the locked cabinet she hadn't put it in yet.) but the story itself reminds me (oh no, don't say it!) a bit of Harry Potter (No! Must everything be compared to something like it that you also enjoyed?---Yes, because it is my current frame of reference, back off Christina-brain)

Changling falls into a similar genre and thought. A young protagonist learns that they are not as wimpy as they originally thought they were but instead a magical maven. The go to a fancy school to learn how to control and develop their skills but are hindered by a bully who is awful. Drop in a dash of quirky friendships to ease the snarky characters. But then temper with the secret attack of a most heinous villain.

The books are similar. But each is still good.

Changeling's main character is a girl. And that makes it a different kind of fun.

This is a book series that I will be following. I am already watching Harper's blog for when she mentions the second part's arrival.

I received a complementary copy in exchange for my unbiased review

When it comes to the popularity of Harry Potter, it's easy to understand that there will always be fans looking for something similar. But the popularity of the series did not come from the outline of the story; rather, Harry Potter was so liked because of the incredible worldbuilding and characterizations. So when I read books such as Changeling, I know that the author has to create very nuanced worldbuilding or the book is going to fall flat. In this case, that just didn't happen for me.

While Harry Potter was an urban fantasy, Changeling fits into the alternate universe category. In this instance, those with magic have taken over a Dickensian-like England, imposing their will and subjugating non magic users. It's an interesting premise and honestly makes a lot more sense than those with magic going into hiding. But I am not quite sure it really works in The Changeling since we really did not see much magic to ascertain if it was stronger than mob revolution.

Story: Sarah Smith is a guttersnipe - one of the teeming population who serve an English aristocracy built around magic users. She cleans and does maid duties for the lady of the house while her older sister pines for the self important son and heir. When an accident reveals that Sarah has forbidden magic that was not discovered at birth (which would have meant her death by the aristocracy), the lady of the house decides it is safer to give her a new identity, pass her off as a relative, and develop her talent for the use of the family. Redubbed Cassandra, she will enter a prestigious magic academy and learn to use her skills. But all the while, she must fear being discovered: it would mean the death of her family if so.

The writing was adequate though there were several anachronistic phrases that bothered. If anything, I would have preferred the writing to feel more Dickensian rather than generic YA au/urban fantasy. But at least Sarah wasn't the typical 'too stupid to live' heroine that needs to be constantly saved. Even then, there were some eye rolling scenes of her taking utterly stupid chances with discovery that made no sense considering the consequences.

I can't say that I liked or disliked any of the side characters. I felt that the son of her patron could have been more interesting if given more time (he's not a love interest) and that the love interest needed to be less bland. As well, we have the typical situation where our heroine makes friends with the outcasts and gives comeuppance to the prototypical 'high school cheerleader' popular girl. Yawn.

So while Changeling is not a terrible book, I had a hard time really liking it. There's nothing new here - it felt like a melange of so many popular books right now. Pour into a blender and serve. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.