Thank you to Netgalley and author Stephanie Burgis for an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved loved loved every page of this book from beginning to end! I'm a fantasy lover at heart but also a huge fan of regency era novels, so when I saw that this book had both.....SOLD!

The story follows Elinor Tregarth, a poor young lady forced to live with her uncaring, spoiled cousin Penelope after the financial ruin and untimely death of her parents. Separated from her two younger sisters, Elinor does her best to be the doting and attentive cousin Penelope demands her to be, but after her continued mistreatment and bearing witness to the unkind treatment Penelope has towards her pet dragon (YES I said dragon! Because this is the era of rediscovered dragonkind where every fashionable lady simply must have one as their latest shoulder riding accessory), Elinor at last reaches a breaking point and flees the only home she has left to set out on her own, her cousin's stolen dragon as her only companion.

But a chance encounter with a marriage seeking gentleman leads her right back to where she started and Elinor must find out how truly resourceful she can be to keep her secrets hidden. With a little luck and a little magic from her fairytale friend she might find that some wishes really do come true.

Full of laughs, love and magic, Scales and Sensibility was a truly delightful read from start to finish and I so look forward to what the rest of the series will bring.

Expected publish date October 4, 2021!

I love me some Regency/Victorian romance. I love me some Jane Austen, including Jane Austen fan fiction. I love me some fantasy/magical fiction. So when I randomly saw a tweet from Stephanie Burgis asking for advance readers for her upcoming novel, “Scales and Sensibility,” and including an image of the gorgeous cover showing a pert lady in period dress with a small dragon on her shoulder, I had a very good feeling about this book!

And I’m here to tell you, the novel exceeded my expectations. Lots of humor, very well-drawn characters, a plot that has interesting twists and turns and yet does not rely on characters making illogical choices or not clearing up simple misunderstandings. The central attraction/romance does arise very swiftly but the author handles it well. This was a book that I rushed back to whenever I had a minute in my day, and I was sad there was no more when I finished it.

Two minor plot points, both early on, did bother me a bit, enough to briefly jar me out of the book’s spell. (Small spoilers follow, but both are from very early in the book, and don’t give away as many details as even the book’s promo blurb does).

The first occurs when the heroine decides to run away, and she packs “all” her clean clothes into a valise. Now I realize that she doesn’t own much, and I’m no historical clothing expert, but wouldn’t the dresses of the period, not to mention the undergarments, have been both heavy and bulky? It made me wonder how large this valise would have to be, and whether Elinor would have been able to carry it while walking over a long distance (all the while also carrying a dragon on her shoulder!)

The second little niggly plot point was when a carriage, drawn by four snorting horses, sweeps up behind Elinor and one of the horses’ shoulders hits Elinor, knocking her into the ditch. My issue with this is I can’t believe Elinor would not have heard a carriage behind her, being pulled at some speed by four big horses. She should have had plenty of time to get out of the way. I could have accepted that she slipped into the ditch while actively trying to avoid the carriage, but the passage reads as if Elinor is oblivious to the existence of the carriage until the horse strikes against her.

Other than these little nit-picks, I found the book completely charming and delightful. Stephanie Burgis is a new author to me, but I look forward to reading her other works. And I am beyond happy that she plans more in this series. I found her treatment of dragon-owning in the context of the society of Regency England both thought-provoking and highly amusing.

The book started badly for me. The first chapter centred around dragon poo, The 2nd dripped with manure and the 3rd threatened to feature dragon poo again. I know this is light entertainment, but I felt a little insulted to be given the same humour treatment as a 3 years old. I almost closed the book, rather dumbfounded, but seeing the glowing reviews I pushed a little further. I don’t usually read romance so that wasn’t what really interested me - but I love fantasy and I love regency novels which is why I picked up the book despite the cover. The Sense and Sensibility-like title made me curious.
The book does get much better, playing with the mistaken identity/blackmail/escalating stakes kind of plot. Truthfully it reminded me a lot of the Jeeves books my grandmother loves. And that was fun and did redeem the start for me. This is very light reading, perfect for summer but I do think the first few chapters are a disservice to the novel.

Elinor Tregarth is a practical young woman. After the deaths of her parents — and the discovery that their modest savings had been lost to con artists — Elinor and her sisters went their separate ways, each going to live with a different set of relatives. Elinor was determined to make the best of her situation … even if that meant being silent and putting up with her temperamental cousin Penelope and her bullying uncle. But when Penelope’s abusive behavior threatens the life of a young dragon, Elinor has enough. With no plan other than to get as far away as quickly as possible, she escapes, dragon in one hand, suitcase in the other. But when she is literally knocked into a ditch by a passing carriage, she makes the acquaintance of Benedict Hawkins, an impoverished land-owner whose own family fortune was lost to the same con artists. One misunderstanding leads to another and, the next thing Elinor knows, she has made a wish … and her dragon has granted it … because dragons really are magic ….

Stephanie Burgis is one of my favorite authors. Her Harwood Spellbook series is great escapist fare; perfect for a rainy afternoon or after a day of relentless bad news. As such, I was excited when I found an advance copy of Scales and Sensibility on netgalley. I snatched it up and read it immediately.

This book is so much fun! It’s a frothy confection of dragons, magic, high fashion, and unrequited love. Plus vexing relatives, thieves, lies, snooping servants, and blackmail. Elinor is a wonderful protagonist. A loyal sister and loving daughter, she misses her family terribly. She shows her true nature to the reader immediately when she comes to the defense of a helpless dragon, thereby incurring the wrath of her cousin and risking her precarious position in a household that doesn’t really want her. She cannot abide cruelty and injustice.

Benedict Hawkins is a good match for her. He actually has a brain in his handsome head, and is determined to fulfill his responsibilities as a land-owner; he has brothers, nieces, and tenant farmers and villagers who all risk eviction and poverty if he can’t raise the funds to save his ancestral estate. While he hopes to marry someone he likes and can make happy, he’s willing to wed someone even as awful as Penelope to fulfill his duty.

Then there’s the dragon, Sir Jessamyn. A beautiful creature the size of a cat, his wings were clipped to turn him into a fashion accessory. Since the discovery of dragons in South America only about a decade earlier, they have become the feature of high society. Everyone assumes they are dumb animals, remnants of a species that once flourished around the world and inspired fairy tales. But they are most definitely not magic, because magic isn’t real …. Except, as Elinor discovers, it is. And it is a gift that dragons share only rarely, and only with humans who treat them with love and affection.

Scales and Sensibility is the first in a brand new series; at least two more books will follow, each centered around one of Elinor’s sisters. I can’t wait to read them.

Highly recommended to fans of Burgis’ other books, as well as fans of the Stariel series by AJ Lancaster, Burning Bright by Melissa McShane, A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher, and the Manners and Monsters series by Tilly Wallace.

Scales and Sensibility was a delight to read!
When I saw that Ms Burgis was publishing a regency romance with dragons, I immediately knew that I needed to read the book. Jane Austen is one of my favourite authors, and fantasy books are 90% of my reading material, so it seemed a perfect match.


Elinor Tregarth is a bright and resourceful protagonist that is easy to root for. Even though a series of tragedies have befallen her, she tries to do the best she can in every situation. After she no longer can endure the bullying in Hathergill Hall, she takes her cousin’s dragon Sir Jessamyn (how cute is that name?) and runs away. I loved seeing her transformation into an assertive and confident woman.


Sir Jessamyn was adorable, his behaviour reminded me of a mischievous cat that is always trying to get more food. The idea of making dragons an accessory for wealthy ladies was creative and well thought through. I’m curious how the behaviour towards dragons will develop in the future.
The hero and fortune-hunter Benedict Hawkins was a perfect match for Elinor. Both are caring individuals that put their family in the first place.
The dragon academic Aubrey was my favourite character as I love chaotic, asocial characters who prefer reading over social gatherings. I really hope we get to see him as a romantic lead in future books!


The magic in the book was simple, but it worked in the book’s favour as the focus in on the relationships between characters.


I would have preferred to have more romantic moments with Elinor and Benedict, hopefully they make an appearance in the future books as side characters.

I would recommend this book to people who like:

Fantasy books with romance as one of the main plots
Jane Austen retellings
Otome isekai novels
The dragons as pets trope
My rating: 8/10

I would like to thank Ms Burgis and NetGalley for the free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

So. Damn. FUN. Oh my goodness.

Puppy-like, macaw-sized dragons inserted into the world of Jane Austen. What more could you want? A lighthearted romance, the story rests upon the novelty of the dragons (both to readers and to English society) and a comedy of manners surrounding a young woman’s coming-out in society. It’s just as fun as it sounds.

I will say, at times I found our heroine, Elinor, a touch slow on the uptake; that said, I was overall sympathetic to her, and rooting for her success. All the drama did wrap up a bit too neatly and conveniently, straining credulity, but then, this isn’t a story that invites you to take it too seriously. And I know, without a doubt, that I will be picking up the next in the series just as soon as it makes itself available. The other two Tregarth sisters sound utterly delightful, and like very different sorts of heroines from Elinor, so perhaps I shall like their stories even more; I certainly hope they come with even more revelations and new discoveries about dragonkind.

In this homage to Jane Austen, Elinor Tregarth has been living with her mother's family as the poor relation and is treated as such after losing her parents. Elinor and her sisters have been distributed out to their relatives in different places. Elinor got shackled with a most mentally disconnected aunt, a rather unpleasant uncle and his family. She is at the beck and call of the odious, Penelope, whose fashion accessory happens to be a small, young dragon whom her feckless cousin mistreats. Elinor flees with the dragon after a series of upheavals running into, literally, Benedict Hawkins and his dragon scholar friend, Cornelius Aubrey. Benedict is planning to court the very beautiful Penelope because he needs her considerable wealth.

After Elinor unwittingly makes a wish on the magical dragon, she assumes the guise of Mrs. Delacy; a very well know woman of means who rules the upper crust and commands great respect. Penelope is being introduced to the marriage market and having the lofty trend maker Mrs. Delacy at her country home for a party is a major boost to her societal level. Penelope is due to begin her season in London shortly so this first affair is a sort of introduction to the local society.

The subterfuge goes on for quite a large portion of the book while Elinor tries to keep up the pretense and wrangle her cousin, Penelope’s, obnoxious father who could ruin everything and all the assorted players in the charade. Elinor has some very strong feelings for Benedict; however, she believes he is destined to marry Penelope in order to help protect his family whose fortune had been lost. Benedict eventually begins to suspect that all is not as it seems with Mrs. DeLacy.

This comedy of errors and Masques, which were popular during the period, is an interesting take on an alternative universe 1817 Regency England. As the author states, this story is not a retelling so do not expect the narrative to follow along with Jane Austen’s original book. This rom-com will interest those who enjoy period pieces and fantasy combined. This book is first in the Regency Dragons series; the subsequent ones look to follow Elinor’s other two sisters.

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

Scales and Sensibility has gripped me right from this very line.
I was first drawn to this book for its title that reminded me of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Although we can find some Austen’s inspiration, this regency novel has an entire personality of its own!
Elinor Tregarth, our main character, has lost her parents and got separated from her sisters, Rose and Harriet. She was sheltered by her aunt’s family at Hathergill Hall. But as a poor relative, she was frequently mistreated by her uncle John and her cousin Penelope, who were used to always getting what they wanted. At the beginning of the story, cousin Penelope is preparing her social début and has got a little dragon, as the most fashionable accessory for young ladies. Spoiled and unconsidered, she frightens her pet constantly and Elinor has to clean up the mess left in their wake, several times a day.
Even with her cheer sense of practicality, Elinor is eventually pushed to her limits and leaves the estate with Sir Jessamyn, the dragon, swearing to protect him. This is when her true adventures begin!

I loved the writing style, the banter and the slow burn (even with some hints of insta love). Elinor’s sense of justice, honesty, practicality and resourcefulness made me root for her happy ending. This was a fun, smart and entertaining reading that made me fall in love with romantic historical fantasy.
This is the first book by Stephanie Burgis that I’ve read and she already became a favorite. I’ll be picking up more and more of her books!

The feel of a regency romance with a fun fantasy twist. I enjoyed this book immensely. The very first sentence grabbed my attention and I was hooked all the way to final paragraph. I finished this book in several sessions but in less than twenty four hours because I kept reading "just one more chapter". Several times I was sure I knew how the story was going to progress and then it suddenly veered sideways. An impressive feat by the author to stay true to the regency romance form while still surprising the reader. I will both recommend this book to customers and will also read more by this author.

This book made me warm and fuzzy inside :) I've been diving into some Jane Austen retellings lately and (shocking) none of them have been any good. That is, until I found Scales and Sensibility.

Scales and Sensibility is easy to digest, easy to read, and easy to love. The dialogue is great, Benedict and Elinor make me swoon, and the MAGIC- the magic is such a cool element. The book was close enough to Sense and Sensibility that I felt transported to Jane Austen's world, but far enough away that I couldn't exactly pin down what would happen, which is RARE for retellings!

Ultimately, this book is so cute and fun to read- the perfect standalone to recalibrate if you've been reading too many dark or overly large books. Pick it up, you won't regret it!!

Really fun romcom also known as "every single person tries to blackmail Elinor except for the love interest and the FANTASTIC Mr Aubrey" (who I rly hope ends up with Harriet).

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4223812658?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Scales and Sensibility by Stephanie Burgis was a fun fantasy/romance/Austen mashup. I want a 🐉 dragon!

A light-hearted alternate-regency romp! I loved the combination of the historical romance setting plus a bit of magic. Don't expect anything steamy. Scales and Sensibility is a sweet story about finding confidence in oneself, treating people (and animals) around you well, and of course dragons.

** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

There are so many elements of this book that I enjoyed. The mix of historical romance with fantastical elements. The chance for a young woman to Get a form of revenge on her horrible relatives.
Loved the dragon and his abilities.
However, the protagonists only meet for one day before magic interferes. His focus on this person he knew for less than 24 hours was a little over the top.

It is an easy read and I can see that some people will adore it.

This was a charming read, lots of fun. The main characters were likeable, and the addition of dragons to the historical fiction setting wasn't as jarring as I feared it might be. I'll happily read more from this author.

An adorable alternate universe Regency Romance with just the right touch of magic in the form of everyone's big bad brought down to shoulder accessory scale and, well, not bad. This was the perfect long weekend read, enough strife to keep me engaged and turning the pages, but not so much that I had to simply put it down and be done. I'll be recommending it to my friends!

Scales and Sensibility, by Stephanie Burgis, presents a fun twist to the Regency romance and fantasy romance genres. First in a Jane Austen-inspired series, this mashup was both sweet and lighthearted.

Elinor has been living with her aunt, uncle, and cousin for the last six months. A year earlier, her parents were killed in an accident, and she and her two sisters were left destitute. No relative was willing to take the three together, so each sister was sent to a different corner of Britain. Life with her relatives in their country estate is rather awful, but the last straw comes shortly before cousin Penelope's debut. Tired of being treated like a doormat and infuriated with how poorly Penelope treats her little dragon, Elinor takes the dragon and makes her grand exit. Unfortunately, she is soon bumped into a muddy ditch by oncoming carriage. She loses all the little money she has left in the world in the bottom of said ditch and would have been totally screwed if Benedict, one of the occupants of the carriage, hadn't come to her rescue.

As it turns out, Benedict was headed to her relatives home in hopes of wooing Penelope into marriage. Benedict too is destitute, his father having fallen for the same scam as Elinor's. The book's blurb bills him as a kind fortune hunter, but I think that title is a little misleading. Benedict has found himself responsible for his siblings, his little niece, and all of the estate's tenants. Marrying for money is the only way he can think to save them. He's honest with Elinor pretty much from the beginning.

Benedict, Elinor, and Benedict's friend Aubrey, a genius dragon scholar, check into the local inn for the night. After a bath and sharing supper with the two men, Elinor and her dragon retire to bed. Eleanor, unable to sleep, finds herself wishing aloud that she could be someone different. When she wakes in the morning, she discovers that something strange has happened overnight: she has taken on the appearance one of London's greatest trend setters, one Mrs De Lacey.

In this guise, she returns to her relatives' estate, and that's when the tour de force really takes off. Eleanor has her work cut out for her trying to maintain the appearance of Mrs. de Lacey, while at the same time, she's expected to help Penelope prepare for her debut and help Benedict win her spoiled cousin's hand. To complicate matters, more guests arrive, their intentions questionable. During all of this, she also realizes she's in love with Benedict.

The love she has for him and the regard he shows for the missing Elinor was the one part I had trouble with. They've only known each other for half a day at best before Elinor assumes the appearance of another woman. Sure, Benedict suspects something is off with Mrs. de Lacey, but he really doesn't spend enough time together with Elinor in either guise for me to understand how any love could possibly have blossomed. Because the book is told in the third person but entirely from Elinor's point of view, I don't have the advantage of a dual perspective to get a better sense of why Benedict is feeling what he feels. I liked the story, I like the main characters, and I adored little dragon. However, because the love was of the insta-love variety and the subsequent week was spent with Elinor wearing another woman's appearance, it was hard for me to buy in to their relationship.

Overall though, it was a cute story and I enjoyed reading it. I will definitely pick up the future novels in the series as well. Kind of hoping that Aubrey is meant for one of Elinor's sisters!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

This is such a sweet and funny book. I wish there were more Historical Romance books with a paranormal/magical element. They are just so much fun. I will say the romance was a bit lacking in this story, but Sir Jessamyn makes up for it. The only other thing I would have changed is the fact that it is only written from Elinor’s perspective. I prefer it when you have the chance to see both characters' perspectives. I feel like you can connect with them better. If you’re looking for a good book that is light on romance, this is perfect!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Stephanie Burgis does it again, authoring another whimsical and comforting historical romantic fantasy. <i>Scales and Sensibility</i> delivers on everything you'd expect from a Fantasy-of-Manners romp through Regency-era England - gentlemen and ladies, country estates and balls, delightfully quirky characters, and a touch of magic. What a soothing and wholesome read!

Elinor Tregarth lives a miserable existence on the country estate of Lord and Lady Hathergill. Destitute after her parent's deaths, her aunt and uncle begrudgingly allow her to live with them if she attends their spoiled daughter Penelope, who is preparing for her debut. This season all the fashionable young ladies have their own pet dragon adorning their shoulders. But Elinor can no longer tolerate Penelope's ill treatment, not just to herself, but also her poor dragon Sir Jessamyn who shivers in fear whenever Penelope enters the room. Elinor runs away with Sir Jessamyn only to be pursued by her uncle for theft. Panicking over her fate, Elinor wishes she could be as strong and fearless as Mrs. De Lacey, a formidable woman in London society who would never hesitate to stand up to bullies like her Uncle and cousin. Little does she know that dragons are not merely accessories, but a powerful source of magic. With one breath of fire, Elinor is veiled in an illusion that fools just about everyone into thinking she is Mrs. De Lacey. She returns to her uncle's estate, along with two gentlemen destined for her cousin's debut - the dashing Benedict Hawkins and the quirky dragon scholar Mr. Aubrey - and the stage is set for a delightful Regency-era romantic comedy complete with society scheming, blackmail, stunning character and plot reveals, and a wholesome HEA.

The plot is driven by Elinor's attempts to hide her illusion while servants and house guests begin to guess her secret and use it against her. Blackmail abounds, striking Elinor from all angles; she is forced into a balancing act of lies and scheming to ensure her secret stays in tact to protect those she loves. Conflict also arises from the strong feelings Elinor develops for Benedict Hawkins. She begrudgingly supports his attempts to woo her awful cousin Penelope for the dowry that will save his family and estate, even as she falls more and more in love with him. While all of this transpires, Elinor is also dealing with the revelation that dragons are magical creatures! Will she ever be able to reverse the effects of Sir Jessamyn's magic?

These elements all weave together to form a truly compelling and satisfying Fantasy-of-Manners plot that will have you quickly paging through the last third of the book! The relationship between Elinor and Benedict is heart-warming and sweet, and although not the focus of the story, is adeptly formed to contribute just the right amount of romance to the plot.

My favorite part of the book was the cast of delightfully plucky characters. Burgis' characterization is magnificent; she creates an ensemble cast where each character uniquely distinct. From Sir Jessamyn's gross little burps and diarrhea, to Mr. Aubrey's eccentric, scholarly obsession with dragons, to Lady Hathergill's brutally hilarious honesty after Elinor makes her second wish, the cast of characters are the shining star of this book. The antagonists are equally well-written, and you will love to hate Penelope, Lord Hathergill, and the suspicious Mr. and Miss Armitage.

Highest of recommendations for this lovely and satisfying read!