A mysterious and heartwarming tale set in the mountains of Anglesey and inspired by Welsh folklore. Wren is a fantastic character - feisty but vulnerable so you can’t help pulling for her. She is determined to follow in her mother’s footsteps and discover the freedom of flight but there are dark family secrets and twists along the way.

I loved Fledgling and this is another cracker. Not quite as dark but just as atmospheric and with an equally quirky building! Also lovely that there is some extra detail about the science and history of flight in a glossary at the end.

Wren is a glorious celebration of dark Welsh folklore, clever engineering and the power of a girl with a dream – all wonderfully woven together in a story of a house that seems to be alive, mysterious family history, the thrill of flight and a desire to be free.

Wren is wild. Inspired by her mother who pushed the limits too far, Wren wants nothing more than to take to the skies in a home-made flying machine. With the help of her friend, Medwyn, she longs to harness the strength of the wind and escape her suffocating life.

Wren’s father does not approve and tries to tame her. Is it a fear that she’ll turn out like her mother? Or an even greater fear that Wren will discover the ancient family secret he’s so desperate to keep hidden?

As the story develops, Wren begins to see her life from a new point of view. With a wonderful twist in the tale, more is revealed and readers discover the truth right along with Wren. Written in first person, present tense, readers will swiftly get lost in this captivating story. I was torn between devouring the story and wanting to make it last so I could savour it. I loved Lucy Hope’s 2021 novel Fledgling, but Wren is on another level. All the elements combine perfectly to create a story that will inspire children to be true to themselves and follow their dreams.

I loved this story. It had a mix of historical mystery and adventure which is exactly the sort of book I love. I loved Wren and her spirit. I loved what the book had to say about doing what’s right and being yourself. Perfect for KS2 readers.

4 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming
Wren lives in an ancient castle on the island of Anglesey in North Wales. She shares her home with her Pa, brother Tudur, and Aunt Efa (her mother’s sister). Wren is much like her mother, a daredevil who lost her life during an adventure. The same incident put Aunt Efa in a wheelchair (a steam-powered model).
When Pa decides to send Wren to Airey’s school for spirited girls, she knows she has to find a way to stop it. Her plans inadvertently expose a long-buried secret. Now, it’s up to Wren to do what is right, even if it costs her everything. Can a twelve-year-old girl handle the responsibility on her young shoulders?
My Observations:
The story comes in the first person POV of Wren, giving us insights into her thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc. The start feels a little tentative but picks up pace after the first quarter.
The atmospheric setting adds to the intrigue. The characters are pretty much two-dimensional, with some growth in the last quarter. It works well in the story (also because this is middle-grade fiction).
I enjoyed scenes where Wren puts her foot down and gets really reckless. Yeah, not something we would encourage in kids, but this is fiction. There’s got to be some adventure and action for Wren to grow.
The book doesn’t ignore the importance of personal safety. There are two scenes (kind of related) that stress the need to be careful even when being a daredevil (and how not doing it right can have adverse results).
The steam-powered wheelchair and the Phoenix seamlessly blend with the historical setting. The combination of mechanics and myth works well in this one. Needless to say, I couldn’t stop chuckling when Aunt Efa zoomed about in her wheelchair and elaborate hairstyles.
The gothic part wasn’t that impactful though the climax is very well done and detailed. I just wish the paranormal part was a little more impactful. I’m sure kids wouldn’t be scared. ;)
The epilogue adds a lovely finishing touch to the story. The author’s note provides more information about the flying ships and her family's connection to them.
To Summarize, Wren is a heartwarming story about a young girl who loves freedom and believes in doing the right thing. It’s a quick read too.
Thank you, NetGalley and Nosy Crow, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Wren lives in a grand old house on the island of Anglesey in Wales in 1870. She loves to go out rowing on the Menai Strait in her coracle but above all she longs to soar through the sky, like her mother did before she died in a tragic accident. Wren’s father thinks she’s running wild and bringing their ancient family name into disrepute so he meets with the sinister ‘Aireys’ about sending Wren away to their school for the re-education of wayward girls, which only spurs her on to build a flying machine so she can escape. And there’s something going on with Wren’s house—cracks are appearing in the walls, and she keeps hearing strange noises as though the house is singing…

Once again, Lucy Hope’s signature blend of madcap inventions and historical fantasy proves a compelling combination. Wren is a plucky and determined protagonist and I adored Aunty Efa in her steampowered wheelchair. I have Welsh ancestry and it was lovely to read a story steeped in Welsh mythology and culture. ‘Wren’ is a quieter story than ‘Fledgling’, to begin with, but the house itself and the mystery at its heart is an inspired spark of imagination, and the finale of the story builds to a stunning crescendo. Absolutely loved this!

I loved gothic tales as a child and reading them as a middle grader really helped me grow into the genre, and this is the perfect story to do just that for kids. I read it really quickly, it is well written with a creepy story but not too scary, with a good level of mystery and well developed characters.

Wren lives with her father, aunt, and brother in an old house in Wales. Mourning the recent loss of his wife, Wren's father seemingly cannot cope with the spirited girl and he tries to rein in her inquisitive nature by contacting 'The Airey's' who run a school for 'wayward/spirited' girls - but everyone knows the Airey's reputation and how the girls never come back out of the school behaving the same way they entered.
Adding to her woes. there is something wrong with Wren's house - it keeps making noises and mysterious cracks appear in its walls and what is the secret that her father hiding?
Wren attempts to recreate the flying ship that sadly caused her mother's death and her aunt's paralysis - but its the outcome of her first launch that Wren actually sees what is going on with her house.

A fantastic story with a brilliant twist 60% of the way through. Hope keeps the reader on their toes all of the way through the book - a recommended read!