Listen, this book had me with the topic of a lady scientist in a time period when it was unthinkable. I usually enjoy that theme (my favorite one is Veronica Speedwell and it reminded me of it at times! Which is definitely a huge plus). I enjoyed it up to the point of the romance- I don't feel like the portrayal of polyamory as a situation of one person cheating and the second one agreeing to being in a 3-person relationship is fair.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction/fantasy audio book. I thought Carrie Vaughn did an excellent job with the characters and their relationships. I enjoyed the world building, and the writing style was very fluid. I think this was a unique idea which is nice to come across when reading. The narration was also well done, and it added depth to the already deep book. I can't wait to read more from this author. I recommend this to the fantasy and historical fiction readers.

Thank you Net Galley ARC, Brilliance Publishing, and Carrie Vaughn

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for this ARC Audio Copy!

This book was fun and a breath of fresh air. If you love Emily Wilde's series then you will love this surprising romance with a neurodivergent FMC and two men who love each other while they take her under their wings and realize just how brilliant she really is in a society where women are not allowed to do anything but marry and look pretty.

I just can't get into this. I like ornithology and I appreciate Vaughan's passion for it but she's managed to make an interesting subject dry. This also may as well have been straight hist fic - if you removed the low grade magic it would change nothing. And I guess I'm just becoming increasingly fed up of the way the author deals with the subject of sexism. It's always far more about complaining about the patriarchy than the female MC being determined and pulling herself up. Follow that with a reverse harem situation and this was not for me.

What an absolute surprise and delight of a book. I needed something light and fun and this ticked those boxes and then some. Easy and unexpected 5 star read.

The Naturalist Society features two storylines coming together. The first featuring Beth aspiring to become a recognized naturalist and Arcanist despite being a woman in the 19th century. The second featuring the loving couple Bran, the naturalist, and Anton, the explorer.

"To name a thing is to know a thing."

This novel is the epitome of cozy fantasy for me. I get to witness loving, supportive relationships and learn about something new, all with a dash of magic. Vaughn writes very pleasant prose with realistic dialogue, and detailed environmental descriptions that transport you to another world (even when that world is quite similar to our own).

"To some, Arcane Taxonomy was merely a profession, a set of tools. But it was so much more, the ineffable quality that made the natural world beautiful. It was . . . divinity. Arcanism occupied a space between knowledge and wonder."

Vaughn is able to create an interesting soft magic system that lends a sense of mystery and wonder to the story. Not only do we learn more about this system from our main characters, we also get a glimpse into Arcane Taxonomy via literature within the world of the story. We get to see how subtly different the world is to our own.

For the ultimate reading experience I would suggest immersion reading. That is, reading the e-book while listening to the audio narration for this book. So you can enjoy the pleasant timbre of Caitlin Davies, who has distinct voices for the whole main cast, while easily looking up pictures of all the birds mentioned throughout.

"Be brave, she thought. Be a hawk, be a swan. Falco peregrinus. Cygnus columbianus. Nature, grant me courage."

I would recommend The Naturalist Society to people who enjoy character driven historical fiction with an interesting magic system. It's well suited to people who enjoy cozy fantasy.

CW include, but are not limited to: misogyny, racism, homophobia/queerphobia, forced confinement, (non-graphic) death on page, animal murder

Representation featured: mixed race character, gay and bi/pan characters, polyamory, strong female lead

Historical fiction with a touch of magic, queer explorers running around doing their own thing. It reminded me a little of a watered-down Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (not watered down in a bad way, that book is a CHALLENGE). It also reminded me a little of a show called Sanctuary starring Amanda Tapping, from the good old SyFy Channel days. In this case the beasts are birds, but still a similar vibe with the love triangle.

The narrator of this book was 10/10 but the plot had me a bit lost at times.

Birds, New York City, late 1800's, and magic!

This story follows 3 people and their interest in the Arcane Taxonomy, which is where certain individuals can utilize abilities animals and plants. While this book did an incredible job laying out the world I found it hard to stay interested because it burned a bit too slow for me.

The pacing was weird and sometimes didn't make sense but I know a second book is coming and I'm sure a lot will be cleared up.

Overall a great listen, I would maybe read along next time to get a bit more of it as I don't know too much about ornithology.

What did I just read/listen to?! I am utterly confused by this book. I pushed through and finished the audiobook because I did enjoy the narrator, and I kept thinking I would eventually figure it out… I did not. I think this may be too complicated for *me* to listen to the audiobook, and would be better suited to reading a physical book. It also may be that I lack the appreciation for ornithology to really appreciate this story.

Loss, love, and ornithology. It is a love story to the study of birds, but also the embodiment of nature into a Wiccan-like magic, and also a poly-amorous love story. And don’t forgot a commentary on the limitations of the female gender, people of color, and fluid sexuality in polite society of the 1800s (and beyond of course, but that’s not addressed here).

2.5⭐️ rounded up. I really wanted to love this book but I still don’t really know what happened and what I am supposed to take away.

The Naturalist Society by Carrie Vaughn is such a good read! Omg I had the time of my life reading it! Soooo soooo good! I have no words.

Beth has a great love of birds and studying their existence when she meets a man, Harry, so delighted with her interested that he takes interest in her. Sadly, just a few years later she loses her husband, and her avenue for publishing her work into her studies.

This ruse is soon discovered by friends of her late husband, Bran and Anton. While initially shocked, and somewhat shamed at how they failed to consider women and their knowledge/skill, they support Beth's interest and research.

However this is in 1880 so of course we have the requisite asylum scene because woman aren't allowed to think or live independently. Thankfully that situation is short lived and Beth escapes to her freedom.

Spoilery below...

Now what I didn't expect was the relationship that developed among Bran, Anton and Beth. Frankly it feels seamless in the story, even though it likely wouldn't have been in society then or really event now.

I enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure it'll be one I think about long after.

I adored this novel from Carrie Vaughn. Not quite as supernatural as some of her other books, the magic was written with a lighter touch, but it was nonetheless a wonderfully magical story.
Beth Stanley's is widowed in the summer of 1880. She is devastated, not just by the loss of her husband, but the access to the world of the Naturalist Society that he provided her. With his death, she can no longer use his name to publish under, as well as have an ear to share her ideas with.
While she is well provided for after his passing, she is still lonely and vulnerable, and still yearns to make a name for herself... even if she has to do it under a new false name.
While trying to determine how to do, she meets some friends of her husband, arctic explorers, Brandon and Anton, who have secrets and struggles of their own.
There was a lot I enjoyed about this book... Beth herself was wonderful. She really came into her own after her husband's passing... no longer able to hide in his shadow, she was forced to become her own woman in a way she never planned. Reading how she controlled her power and viewed the world, both human and nature, was interesting. Her developing relationship with Brandon and Anton was very sweet (and a little scandalous!)
I would have liked to read more about her journey west and how she managed that. That in itself was a whole adventure I feel like I missed out on!

This was fun: well written, well paced, and well researched. I liked how passionate the protagonist was about her field of study, and it was clear the author has put a lot of thought and research into it - I also liked how it tied to the magic system. The feminist angle was interesting, and one I enjoyed, especially because the author didn't pull back from the full horrors of what a smart, opinionated woman might have endured during the time period of the novel. There was a little hiccup near the beginning of the romantic arc which prevented me from being fully on board with the romantic subplot, I have to admit, but since this is not a romance novel, it didn't impact my overall enjoyment of the story. This was a good read.

Absolutely adored this one! It’s got all my favourite tropes and the character progression was so well done. I’m so glad there’s going to be more books in this series and I can’t wait to see where the next one goes.