Fun, clever, historical fantasy. Odd magical gifts are accepted -- somewhat -- and in some noble English families, expected. These gifts are known as the Wyrde.
And yeah, some of them just don't make sense, and are weird -- Wyrde.
The House of Werth has a tradition of a child's Wyrde showing up on the third birthday, to the exact minute. The story starts with the family rushing to assemble and witness a three-year-old girl's Wyrde appearing. Despite the mother's insistence she's going to be a mermaid .... the little girl ends up a gorgon, complete with little snakes replacing her golden curls. And the family just sighs and shrugs and gets on with life.
Except for Augusta, known as Gussie, whom we find out quickly does not have a Wyrde. She's ordinary, no gift, no magic. Except for her curiosity and her sharp wit, and her commonsense response to truly trying and rude things happening to her. Like being kidnapped multiple times within just a few days. And a magic book with a temper that tries to bite people and wrap kraken-like tentacles around them, and her cousin's hankering for fresh blood and a great-aunt who haunts the mansion as just a bloody head.
That's life as normal in the House of Werth.
Definitely gonna look for more books in this series. I like Gussie. One tough chick who doesn't let societal restrictions and her relatives' inability to tell her the truth about herself get in her way.
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