I have realised that this type of book is not for me. Nothing against the author at all. I just have realised that I am not the correct audience for this. However someone who likes this kind of book would love this!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to the advanced copy of this book to read.

When her parents lost everything and promptly died Elinor Tregarth and her two sisters had to rely on the kindness of their relatives. But no one household could be expected to take on three penniless orphans so they were separated across the length and breath of England. Elinor ended up at Hathergill Hall to be a dogsbody to her cousin Penelope. Penelope under normal circumstances is hard to deal with, leading up to her debut she's a nightmare. She is making everyone, in particular Elinor, suffer. But Elinor never knew there'd be a breaking point but the tantrum Penelope throws when she hears her mother's friend Mrs. De Lacey isn't coming would destroy anyone's resolve. It's the fashionable thing for all young ladies to have a dragon, to be nothing more than an accessory, an inanimate object on one's shoulder. So of course Penelope's father got her the best dragon money can buy. Though poor Sir Jessamyn Carnavoran Artos has a nervous disposition and Penelope's treatment of him breaks Elinor. She snaps at her cousin and flees Hathergill Hall with Sir Jessamyn, her meager belongings, and her four shillings and sixpence she has diligently saved. Only to be promptly run over by a carriage, losing all her savings to dirty ditchwater. The carriage belongs to one Mr. Cornelius Aubrey, who is a scholar and dragon expert, so he instantly is more interested in Sir Jessamyn than Elinor, his companion is Mr. Benedict Hawkins, who hopes to be Penelope's future fiance, as his father lost all his money in the same scheme that wiped out Elinor's parents. For the first time in Elinor's life she thinks, if only she could be the type of girl to attract someone like Benedict Hawkins, or if she'd admit it to herself, Benedict Hawkins. The four travelers spend the night in a local inn. Before she falls asleep Elinor wishes she could be rich and beautiful, like Mrs. De Lacey, she could win the heart of Benedict and be able to care for Sir Jessamyn as he deserves. And that's when something magical happens. But everyone knows dragons can't do magic! Yet the next day Elinor is glamoured to look like Mrs. De Lacey and she has to put on the performance of a lifetime to save herself, her sisters, and her heart. If only fairy tales could come true.

I have always strongly identified with Elinor from Sense and Sensibility, so to have a similarly named capable young woman as the heroine of Scales and Sensibility, I couldn't be happier than Sir Jessamyn with a plate full of pheasant. Everything about this book just brought me joy. My love of dragons, happily ever afters, the Regency, house parties, revenge, true love, wait, I'm going a bit William Goldman there... This book at first sounded a little absurd, not that I don't like absurdity, but a world with dragons and no magic? I thought maybe it wouldn't work. But Stephanie Burgis does such a credible job grounding her fantastical tales. Everything makes sense with her worldbuilding. With her Harwood Spellbook "British" society being run by women was historically linked to Boudica. Here the way dragons were discovered was more along the lines of Mary Anning and her hunt for a living fossil. In the last two years I have become more than a little Mary Anning obsessed, I've even read The Essex Serpent twice as well as watching the miniseries to follow Cora Seabourne's desperate attempts to follow in Mary Anning's footsteps. Therefore a world in which a living fossil, a dragon, without magic, without anything other than just being a reptile that is named a dragon makes such sense. Of course there turns out to be more to Sir Jessamyn than meets the eye, but the point is, I loved this realistic grounding. What's more the whole financial scandal that lost Elinor and Beneidct's families their fortunes, The Great Brazilian Bubble, was common with banks and investments during the time period and had a real world counterpart, the South Sea Bubble, which, while earlier, was used to great effect in Andrea Penrose's Regency novel, Sweet Revenge and therefore makes me link the Regency more with the scandal than perhaps it ought. As fairy tales always have their grounding in reality, being written to teach a lesson that would otherwise go unheeded, so does fantasy. And really good fantasy builds it story on a bedrock of truth, and that's what this book is and does, now I need to go find me a dragon, because I now know they're out there.

I very much appreciate being gifted this copy of Scales and Sensibility
by Stephanie Burgis, and the opportunity to read & review it. Thanks to the publisher.

I could have sworn I had already written this review. Thank you for letting me read this book though. I liked the story although I must admit that I wished the Dragons had actually a role to play in this story instead of just being Accessoires.

Scales and Sensibility (Regency Dragons Book 1), by Stephanie Burgis (Five Fathoms Press)
About 15 years ago, Jane Austen mashups were the hot new thing. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith came out in 2009, followed by a glut of similar parodies and even a film or two. The fad didn’t last, especially as the stories got more derivative and less creative. Stephanie Burgis’s Scales and Sensibility opens with an homage to Austen: “It is a truth universally acknowledged…” Other than an occasional textual reference to Austen’s prose, it has nothing in common with the earlier, vapid parodies. Instead, it takes off in its own whimsical and engaging direction. The protagonist is named Elinor, like the heroine of Austen’s Sense and Sensibility and she is indeed sensible, but there the resemblance ends. She is an orphaned cousin, not the eldest daughter, and her counterpart is not her romantic, good-hearted sister but her wealthy, narcissistic cousin, Penelope. When witnessing Penelope’s abuse of her fashionable miniature dragon becomes intolerable, Elinor kidnaps the tiny creature and runs away. Little does she know the dragon’s secret or guess the adventures the two will embark upon.

This novel rests comfortably in the intersection between Young Adult fantasy, Regency romance, and romantic comedy. It’s an engaging, quick read with enough schemes and mistaken identities to satisfy the reader.

I was interested in this book because it was a fantasy retelling of Sense and Sensibility. However, I had a hard time reading this novel. The story and characters just did not grab me. Still, I recommend this for anyone interested in Jane Austen!

Elinor Tregarth is a sensible and forward thinking woman who moves in with her aunt and uncle after the passing of her parents. After witnessing her cousin Penelope's mistreatment of her pet dragon, as well as Elinor and others, she ends up kidnapping the dragon and fleeing her family's estate. But with her uncle pursuing them, Elinor makes a wish that she could be like Mrs. De Lacey, a strong woman in London society that stands up to the injustices of society and bullies. Unbeknownst to Elinor, dragons have magical properties and she finds herself magicked into appearing like Mrs. De Lacey. Elinor must protect her true identity while battling magic mishaps, blackmail, and growing feelings for Benedict Hawkins, a gentleman attempting to court her cousin.

An enjoyable and light Regency romantic comedy. The mystery and suspense over Elinor keeping her secret safe and whether she would be able to reveal her true feelings kept me reading. The characters are unique and have their own diverse personalities.

Scales and Sensibility is the first book in the Regency Dragons series by Stephanie Burgis. Sensible, practical Elinor Tregarth really did plan to be the model poor relation when she moved into her aunt and uncle's house. She certainly never meant to kidnap her awful cousin Penelope's pet dragon. She never expected to fall in love with the shameless - but surprisingly sweet - fortune hunter who came to court Penelope, either. And she never dreamed that she would have to enter into an outrageous magical charade to save her younger sisters' futures. However, even the most brilliant scholars of 1817 England still haven't ferreted out all the lurking secrets of rediscovered dragonkind, and even the most sensible of heroines can still make a reckless wish or two when she's pushed. Now Elinor will have to find out just how rash and resourceful she can be when she sets aside all common sense. Maybe, just maybe, she'll even be impractical enough to win her own true love and a happily ever after, with the unpredictable and dangerous "help" of the magical creature who has adopted her.

Scales and Sensibility is a delightful read and my only disappointment is that I let it sit in my TBR pile for as long as I did. I loved the characters, and was thoroughly invested in Elinor's adventures from the beginning. Discovering the personalities and secrets of the characters along with her was a engaging journey, although I admit that there were a few times that I would have loved to have known what was going on in the minds of other characters on occasion. There were many times that I suspected certain twists and was glad to see them play out, but there were just as many points of the story that had me very concerned as to how it was all going to work out. I thought the dash of magic was just right, and drew me further into the world of the story, and eager to ferret out even more information. The secondary characters, story, and world building were well paced and balanced. The story came to a satisfying conclusion, but left me wanting more. The perfect blend of each for a series starter- and I will eagerly continue with this series.

Scales and Sensibility is a charming start to a new series, and I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here.

What a great read! I really was a bit fearful about how the author intended to shoehorn the presence of dragons into regency England but it was really well done! Though the plot was a well-worn one (penniless girl dependant on her odious relatives falls into the arms of a handsome gentleman) I really like both main characters and this elevated my enjoyment of the story. Both the male and female leads showed excellent backbone and there were enough sweet, intimate moments to keep the romantic in me happy. Will be looking out for the next book!

I was much eager to read this book, but each time I began to read it, something went off, I never was able to grab the story.
Sorry, it was not a book for me.

Scales and Sensibility is a wonderful adventure filled with the delightfulness of Jane Austen and the excitement of dragons and magic. I loved the juxtaposition of the well-known regency tropes with the strange and wonderful twist that magic brings to the mix.

When Elinor gets fed up with the way her cousin Penelope treats her dragon-- the fashionable new accessory among the ladies of society-- she steals it and runs away, only to meet two traveling men who take an interest in her and her dragon. Desperate, she wishes that everyone could see her the way they see one of the high society ladies-- and she wakes up the next morning looking like that lady. When her uncle catches up to her, she accompanies him back to his estate, pretending to be the family friend who can really make Penelope's debut stand out.
Scales and Sensibility is a hilarious story that blends fantasy with regency, and makes it almost mundane, in a way that allows for the absurdities of the situations Elinor finds herself in to really pop. I absolutely loved this book, and cannot wait to read more by Stephanie Burgis.

A smashing good read! Join Elinor on a magical adventure filled with dragons and intrigue. A perfect austenesque adventure!

What a story!! Scales and Sensibility pay homage to author Jane Austen but I am telling you, this is in no way a retelling of sorts. No, there are no Dashwoods nor Colonel Brandon here. But the characters are quite as fascinating and lovely as the ones you can read in an Austen novel.

Meet Elinor Tregarth, the very gentle yet fierce cousin to the evil Penelope Hathergill, who unintentionally kidnapped a dragon and found solace in a room with a fortune hunter (and a snobby scholar) after falling into a ditch.

The dragons weren’t considered magical in this Regency rom-com, in fact, they were just used as accessories for debutantes in the society. But boy oh boy, were they wrong about them. Sir Jessamyn The Dragon wasn’t just some kind of accessory standing on a lady’s shoulder. Sir Jessamyn happened to be one of the fire-breathing mythical creatures, whose fire came from within and could grant your heart’s utmost desire. They could even change your appearance and curse you at the same time!

I liked how this story was imbued with comedy, romance, adventure, and fantasy while still maintaining that mystery until the end. Elinor was an interesting character. At first, she was timid and afraid to let her voice be heard, then she turned into one powerful, respected entity that even her enemies bow down to her and follow her lead. I loved that she’s also smart and loving and compassionate not only to her dragon but also to the person who saw the real her behind all the illusions. There was also The Armitages, who blew my mind with their uncanny relationship, the intimidating yet callous Halls, and of course, sweet naive Benedict Harper who had his own hidden agenda.

Stephanie Burgis has a unique writing prowess that enthralls her readers. The characters were exquisitely given peculiar qualities and the Regency theme made the whole story so fun & delightful to read. I’m glad there’s another book following this story because I can’t get enough of Elinor’s family! Another must-read recommendation for all you dragon lovers out there

Have you ever found yourself reading Sense and Sensibility and wishing that there were more fantasy elements woven into the story? Well, good news! Following recent trends, Scales and Sensibility, written by Stephanie Burgins, incorporates dragons into this classic Jane Austen story.

Elinor Tregarth really did try. She wanted to be a helpful cousin to Penelope, especially as her family was kind enough to take her in. She was even willing to put up with Penelope's wild outbursts. However, she drew the line at watching Penelope mistreat her pets.

Though even then, she didn't mean to just walk away with the poor little dragon. Bu the was just so scared. Now, Elinor faces a surprise courtship, several trials, and the weight of her sister's well-being on her shoulders.

"It was a truth universally acknowledged that any young lady without a dragon was doomed to social failure."

Right, so I knew right away that I had to read Scales and Sensibility ASAP. Why? Because I adore both Jane Austen and dragons, and miraculously this novel somehow brings the two together. I never thought I would see the day when that happened!

As you can imagine, Scales and Sensibility is a bit of a romantic and comedy mixture. Much like its predecessor, there's a lot of Victorian chaos and drama, which leads to, you guessed it, more drama! And that's before taking the cute little dragons into account.

I'll admit that I adore the idea of Victorian-era people trying to turn little dragons into fashion accessories. Given that's how many people treat small animals, it holds. Just with these guys, there happens to be a bit of a stinkier mess when they get scared. Again, that sounds about right.

Scales and Sensibility is such a fun read; I sat down and read through it all in one sitting. I have no regrets on that matter; I can promise you this much! And you better believe that I'm going to be watching out for the sequel (Claws and Contrivances).

This is a Regency romance with dragons. In fact, the only magic in the world seems to be the fact that dragons exist. It was very good, right until I figured it out and then it was still good until the end. The only downside to me is that the dragon is treated more as a MacGuffin than as a character. I hope the next tomes in the series will have more dragon action and agency.

I received a copy from NetGalley for preview and this is my unsolicited review.

I was intrigued by the description of a Regency set historical involving dragons, with some romance and comedy. Hits so many things I would love.

This is about Elinor. She and her two sisters were separated because of the recent death of her parents, causing them to become destitute orphans. Because no single family wanted to take in all three girls, they were sent to separate households. Elinor ended up with living with her aunt, her husband, and their daughter Penelope. Unfortunately, instead of being cared for in her time of mourning, she is treated as an unpaid servant to a selfish young woman on the verge of her debut. Penelope is a spoiled little monster of a woman, indulged by her ass of a father, and allowed her way by her downtrodden mother. Elinor, being homeless otherwise, learned to stay silent to survive as best she could in the household. She puts up with her cousins insults, abuses, and general bitchiness, while helping her get ready for her debut, despite Elinor not even being offered the chance herself.

It also happens to be that the existence of dragons is confirmed at time, and they have become fashionable for high society. So fashionable members of the Ton, especially young ladies, apparently have small dragons as an accessory, sitting on their shoulders like trained parrots. Of course Penelope must have one, and the prettiest one to be found. Sir Jessamyn is a young dragon who seems to be rather nervous, not surprising considering his rather high strung and tempestuous mistress, Penelope. Apparently, when he gets anxious, or stressed, he releases himself, and as he is supposed to be sitting on her shoulder.... well, it leads to a rather unfashionable, slimy mess. Which just makes Penelope more upset, abusive, and irate... Surely you can see the cycle this can lead to.

Regardless, after months of dealing with Penelope, without any kindness or support from anyone in the household, and seeing Penelope's abuse spread to the poor dragon, Elinor had enough and leaves, and takes Sir Jessamyn with her, despite the fact that she has a sum total of less than 5 shillings, and no place to go. As she is walking away, she is nearly run down by a coach and four, and forced into a ditch of muddy water. The passenger, Benedict Hawkins, comes to her rescue and offers her a dinner and a night at a local inn so she can rest and clean up, on behalf of his friend, Mr. Aubrey, a dragon scholar who is rather immersed in his studies and not very aware of anything around him.

It turns out that Hawkins is in the region to woo the debutante Penelope, as she is known to be quite the heiress, and he has recently inherited an impoverished estate, as well as the care of his younger siblings and a niece. Elinor befriends him, and stays the night at the inn, but is overwhelmed by her life and concerns, as well as being fearful of being accused of stealing her cousin's dragon. So she wishes....

... and as everyone knows... dragons are magical, right?

This was a fun story indeed, with magical wishes, a bit of a Cinderella story with the downtrodden, abused female, and the wicked relatives, a Regency love story, etc. The dialogue is fun, and there were dragons! I felt that this was a very enjoyable read, with some very fun to read characters and storyline, and would be great for a young adult audience as well. Definitely not an epic tale worthy of the ages, but a good bit of clean fun. Now I am wondering about Mr. Aubrey and if there will be continuation of his story with one of Elinor's sisters?

3 out of 5 stars for me.

A quick paced, Jane Austen-y romp but with dragons! The story had plenty of unexpected twists that kept me on my toes, was filled with characters both charming and despicable, and was honestly one of the fastest reading experiences of the past year or so. Lovely!

I like sci-fi/fantasy books as well as regency romance novels. I got 2 for 1 in this novel. Definitely a fun combination and I signed up for the author's newsletter to receive notifications of future books in the series.