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Christina Baehr
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Wormwood Abbey (The Secrets of Ormdale Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Christina Baehr (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,906 ratings

As a Victorian clergyman’s daughter, Edith Worms has seen everything — until a mythical salamander tumbles out of the fireplace into her lap.

When a letter arrives from estranged relatives, Edith is swept away to a crumbling gothic Abbey in the wilds of Yorkshire. Wormwood Abbey isn't just full of curious beasts and ancient family secrets: there’s also a tall, dark, and entirely too handsome neighbour who is strangely reluctant for her to leave.

An unexpected bond with her prickly cousin Gwendolyn gives Edith a reason to stay in this strange world — especially when it turns out that Edith herself may have a role in guarding her family's legacy.

But not all of the mysteries of Ormdale are small enough to fit in her lap...and some of them have teeth.

WORMWOOD ABBEY, Book 1 of The Secrets of Ormdale, is a cosy gothic novel of mystery, dragons, and the perils of friendship, perfect for fans of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries.

Start exploring the hidden valley of Ormdale in 1899 with WORMWOOD ABBEY, the first in a new 5 book series.

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  1. Book 1 of 5
    The Secrets of Ormdale
  2. Print length
    208 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    October 6, 2023
  6. File size
    835 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A cosy cup of tea on a stormy night.. Edith is the most delightful dumpling of a heroine—hearty, wholesome, and strengthening." - W.R. Gingell, author of the CITY BETWEEN series
"Dragons, intrigue, family secrets... it's definitely a gothic novel, but a friendly and warm-hearted one" - Melissa McShane, author of THE EXTRAORDINARIES series
"I devoured it more or less in a single sitting" - Jacquelyn Benson, author of THE LONDON CHARISMATICS
"An absolute delight. I just finished reading the latest draft, and it made me so happy - this book is a warm, cosy, gentle delight full of tea, dragons, and chuckles." - Suzannah Rowntree, author of MISS SHARP'S MONSTERS and MISS DARK'S APPARITIONS
"A delicious dark chocolate confection of slow build, gothic fantasy. There are hints of romance. Hints of danger. A mysterious, crumbling manor house. A family secret that needs to be unraveled. Oh, and DRAGONS." - Tara Grayce, author of the ELVEN ALLIANCE series

About the Author

Christina Baehr writes cozy gothic fantasy with intrepid Victorian heroines and only the most historical dragons. She has an immoderate number of children and lives on a hilltop in Tasmania also inhabited by venomous snakes. Christina is also a harpist, singer, and composer, and drinks a lot of tea.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CGRNDWSZ
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 6, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 835 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 5 ‏ : ‎ The Secrets of Ormdale
  • Best Sellers Rank: #51,298 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 1,906 ratings

About the author

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Christina Baehr

Christina Baehr

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Christina Baehr writes cosy gothic fantasy with intrepid Victorian heroines and only the most historical dragons.

She has an immoderate number of children and lives on a hilltop in Tasmania also inhabited by venomous snakes.

Christina is also a harpist, singer, and composer, and drinks a lot of tea.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,906 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a well-paced historical fantasy with a unique plot, describing it as a fun Edwardian fantasy and a cozy gothic mystery with dragons. The writing style receives positive feedback for its exquisite vocabulary and classic feel, while customers appreciate the character development, particularly the delightful heroine, and the strong Christian themes that are respectfully woven into the narrative. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with some finding it enjoyable while others note it starts a little slower.

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Story qualityEnjoymentCharacter developmentGothic contentWriting styleCozynessChristianityPacing
84 customers mention "Story quality"84 positive0 negative

Customers find the story intriguing and well-paced, describing it as a delightful mystery that unfolds in a historical fantasy setting.

"This was a delightful story, my only complaint is that it’s too short! I can’t wait to continue reading this series!..." Read more

"...This is a wonderful cosy gothic, with mystery, dragons, new friends, and some danger for our intrepid young lady writer...." Read more

"I loved this book for the intriguing and exciting plot. The book has no swearing or spice but plenty of heart...." Read more

"...and tune out the world with to escape to a place full of mystery and intrigue...." Read more

64 customers mention "Enjoyment"64 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very enjoyable, describing it as unexpectedly delightful and a fun Edwardian fantasy.

"Wormwood Abbey was a fun read!..." Read more

"...I heartily recommend this book. It is a quick and enjoyable read!!" Read more

"I found this book very enjoyable. I knew the premise at the beginning, so much of it wasn't a surprise, yet it still kept my attention...." Read more

"Whimsical, humorous, and utterly Victorian—to say that "Wormwood Abbey" is my bookish cup of tea, would be a vast understatement!..." Read more

56 customers mention "Character development"56 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, finding them delightful and fun, with one customer noting how the main character's voice is excellent without breaking character.

"I love this series. The story is intriguing, the characters are well developed, and the genuine piety of Edith and her family is very refreshing...." Read more

"...I enjoyed her independent thinking and boldness, while she also remained likable...." Read more

"...This would have been a great audiobook, I bet, because of the writing style...." Read more

"Easy read that had depth to make the story captivating. The characters are engaging and the story has the right amount of mystery and intrigue" Read more

32 customers mention "Gothic content"32 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the cozy gothic elements of the book, appreciating its beautiful setting and charming atmosphere.

"Whimsical, humorous, and utterly Victorian—to say that "Wormwood Abbey" is my bookish cup of tea, would be a vast understatement!..." Read more

"...I enjoyed her independent thinking and boldness, while she also remained likable...." Read more

"...It has such a charming feel and just so lovely...." Read more

"...It is a fantasy and has a lot of charm. My daughter and I both enjoyed this one and plan to go on in the series." Read more

25 customers mention "Writing style"25 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as richly descriptive with exquisite vocabulary that draws readers in.

"Incredibly enjoyable and well-written, especially for a first novel...." Read more

"...The book is humorous and well written." Read more

"...As soon as I started this book, I was instantly obsessed with the writing style. I just adore it. It was perfect, and I don’t say that lightly...." Read more

"...It was a very enjoyable and well written read. Very innocent, too. I gifted a copy to my young niece it was such a foam and interesting read." Read more

23 customers mention "Cozyness"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book cozy and delightful, with one noting it feels like an older read.

"Delightful!..." Read more

"*Butterfly man meme* Is this cozy fantasy? (Answer: Yes, and I like it!)..." Read more

"This book was everything I never knew I needed! Cozy, gothic, full of mystery, sweet romance, adventure, strong heroines and dragons!..." Read more

"WORMWOOD ABBEY is an absolute delight! This book is a warm, cosy, gentle delight full of tea, dragons, and chuckles...." Read more

16 customers mention "Christianity"16 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's Christian themes, with one noting how faith elements are gently woven into the narrative without being preachy, while another mentions how it acknowledges the influence of Christianity on society.

"...Edith herself was original and interesting. I enjoyed her independent thinking and boldness, while she also remained likable...." Read more

"...are also mentioned & said in a prayer by her father; Talks about God & Christian beliefs; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; At one point when..." Read more

"...delightful 🥰 I love that she is driven, but also tender hearted, opinionated, but not too proud to admit she’s wrong...." Read more

"...some similarity to something from literature, there’s a delightfully self-aware commentary from the narrator herself...." Read more

18 customers mention "Pacing"12 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it an enjoyable fast read and well-paced, while others note that it started a little slower and felt a bit off.

"Easy read that had depth to make the story captivating. The characters are engaging and the story has the right amount of mystery and intrigue" Read more

"...Story was entertaining, but very slow for such a short book...." Read more

"...I heartily recommend this book. It is a quick and enjoyable read!!" Read more

"...The writer has a good grasp on the time period in which the book takes place...." Read more

Cozy Victorian gothic vibes + dragons! 🐉🤩👏🏽
5 out of 5 stars
Cozy Victorian gothic vibes + dragons! 🐉🤩👏🏽
This book was everything I never knew I needed! Cozy, gothic, full of mystery, sweet romance, adventure, strong heroines and dragons! 🐉 Need I even say more?! I had the absolute pleasure of reading this book and the subsequent books in this series as they were being published. I loved them so much that I bought them for my teenage daughters (and, no surprise, they also fell in love with Ormdale)! This book is well-written, full of well-developed characters and takes place in an absolutely beautiful setting. I laughed, I gasped, I shed a few sweet tears. So wonderful and redeeming! Age recommendation: Teens and adults. Zero language, zero sexual content. Some mild peril, death and violence (heads up-the books get a bit more intense in thematic elements as they go on, but all still PG-13).
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cozy Victorian gothic vibes + dragons! 🐉🤩👏🏽
    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This book was everything I never knew I needed! Cozy, gothic, full of mystery, sweet romance, adventure, strong heroines and dragons! 🐉 Need I even say more?!

    I had the absolute pleasure of reading this book and the subsequent books in this series as they were being published. I loved them so much that I bought them for my teenage daughters (and, no surprise, they also fell in love with Ormdale)!

    This book is well-written, full of well-developed characters and takes place in an absolutely beautiful setting. I laughed, I gasped, I shed a few sweet tears. So wonderful and redeeming!

    Age recommendation: Teens and adults. Zero language, zero sexual content. Some mild peril, death and violence (heads up-the books get a bit more intense in thematic elements as they go on, but all still PG-13).
    Customer image
    Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Cozy Victorian gothic vibes + dragons! 🐉🤩👏🏽

    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2025
    This book was everything I never knew I needed! Cozy, gothic, full of mystery, sweet romance, adventure, strong heroines and dragons! 🐉 Need I even say more?!

    I had the absolute pleasure of reading this book and the subsequent books in this series as they were being published. I loved them so much that I bought them for my teenage daughters (and, no surprise, they also fell in love with Ormdale)!

    This book is well-written, full of well-developed characters and takes place in an absolutely beautiful setting. I laughed, I gasped, I shed a few sweet tears. So wonderful and redeeming!

    Age recommendation: Teens and adults. Zero language, zero sexual content. Some mild peril, death and violence (heads up-the books get a bit more intense in thematic elements as they go on, but all still PG-13).
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  • Lindsey Z. from Books for Christian Girls
    4.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyed this cozy fantasy book!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    *Butterfly man meme* Is this cozy fantasy? (Answer: Yes, and I like it!)

    I had randomly seen this book pop up somehow on my Goodreads feed and was quickly interested in it because of the cover. Yes, yes, don’t judge a book by the cover and all that, I know, I know. But a pretty cover catches my attention much better than one that’s an eyesore, and that’s just the honest facts.

    As soon as I started this book, I was instantly obsessed with the writing style. I just adore it. It was perfect, and I don’t say that lightly. The vocabulary was unmatched and I was honestly looking up most of them as I read because I didn’t know the meaning of many. This would have been a great audiobook, I bet, because of the writing style.

    And again, that’s ultimately what sold me on this book: the writing style. If cereal boxes were written like this, catch me adding those to my Goodreads reading challenge, because I love it. It has such a charming feel and just so lovely.

    This is definitely Historical Fantasy, but I’m not sure what time-period it’s supposed to be. No telegrams or phones, but there is electricity and mentions of Jane Austen, so I’m assuming 1880s to early 1900s? But then there’s mentions of Queen Victoria and her rule, so I’m not sure. It didn’t feel like the 1950s at all, but perhaps that’s just part of the fantasy elements—along with the wyverns, that is. (Edit to add: I signed up for the author's newsletter and she said it was set in 1899, so I feel like I should get a gold star for being close. ;) )

    My Kindle edition showed that this book was 201 pages, so color me shocked and appalled when it ended on a (slight) cliffhanger on page 176. The rest was the preview for the next book, which I’m glad to read, but a bit hurt by this book ending so soon! I plan to read the next book when it releases and I hope a physical copy of this book will be available soon to buy! Just saw when snooping on the author’s website that this is the start of a five book series: I’m here for it. :)

    Samples of the writing style:
    “With my square face and small, tidy figure I’m a picture of feminine rectitude. My springy hair is the only thing that hints at wilder proclivities. It is usually tamped down with a hat. I dress myself neatly and well but without ostentation, and I know how to keep my mouth shut when I have any thoughts that might cause shock or dismay.”

    “To my relief, there was indeed a carriage with an aged retainer to meet us at Embsay station, which appeared to be not only the end of the line but also of civilisation. From the desolation of the last part of our journey I had half expected to be abandoned at the station and forced to cadge a ride on some agricultural equipage.
    I could just imagine us arriving at the ancestral seat, picking bits of hay from our mourning costumes, or perhaps drenched to the skin with rain from our journey over the lowering moor. Perhaps the wind would even wuther at us for good measure. What a way to announce ourselves!
    But no, we were respectably met, and the spring day was only a little grey. I detected no wuthering, whatever that might be, precisely.”

    “The road climbed steeply for a time and we were fairly jostled. Now the trees thinned and the countryside opened suddenly like a book falling open on its spine.”

    “Let me be frank with you: I am generally suspicious of eligible men. My attachment to the single life is profound. I have found that the best course is to start off with new acquaintances by adopting a forbidding expression. It is a simple matter to put off young men in this way. One can always thaw a little later, once the risk has been properly assessed.”

    Main Content-
    No magic content at all (Edith refers to something as magic and her cousin fussed at her, saying it’s not magic), but there are dragons and wyvern mentioned (and maybe even seen) aplenty; Mentions of their poisons/venom (*Spoiler* [Edith is immune to their poison and can heal others who have been bitten by wyverns by spitting on the wound *End of Spoiler*])); There’s a handful of mentions of vampire, pegasus, faeries, but none are seen (nor believed in) in this book.

    Edith’s father is a clergyman (reverend) and there’s a decent amount of mentions of her duties as a clergyman’s daughter, going to church, sermons, services, and such; Edith also prays, sings the Doxology (twice), & Scriptures come to mind (she also doesn’t write her novel on Sunday honoring it as the Sabbath and believes that it “does [her] good” to do so); Scriptures are also mentioned & said in a prayer by her father; Talks about God & Christian beliefs; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; At one point when she thinks she’s dying, Edith says a prayer of repentance and then “consigned [her] soul to God”; Set at an Abbey and there’s mentions of the monks who lived there long ago; Mentions of God, prayers, & praying; Mentions of Christianity, Christian lands, & following Christian beliefs and morals; Mentions of saints (including authors of books of the Bible being referred to as a saint) & their days of celebration; Mentions of Jews (*Spoiler* [Edith’s mother was a Jew that converted over to Christianity to marry Edith’s father and her family cut her off after doing that *End of Spoiler* ]); Mentions of relics; A few mentions of miracles; A few mentions of the book and an event in “The Pilgrim’s Progress”; A couple mentions of God judging someone when they’ve passed.

    There are paintings that depict people worshiping serpents/dragons, monks coming into the land to make it a Christian land, and a saint that is crushing the creature beneath his foot (Edith comments that that was hubris of the Abbot, because it’s Christ who crushes the dragon’s head).

    “God knows”, “Thank God” and “For God’s sake” are both used (twice, twice, and once) and the latter border-lines feeling flippant to me, but I don’t think it was meant that way. “Good heavens!” is exclaimed about seven times; Mentions of Greek mythology creatures & lore.

    Edith is given brandy (she thought it was water) and it burns her throat horribly; Mentions of drinking & brandy (including her father drinking a glass here and there in the book).

    No language stronger than idiot or stupid; A mention of someone’s family being “liberal-minded enough” to accept her choice of a spouse (in terms of a difference of religion); A man says that Edith is sharper than most because she has a different gene pool because of her mother (he takes a stab at the inbreeding that happens in London society); Edith’s cousins’ father didn’t think much of his daughters or that they needed much education because they were women.

    A young boy is kidnapped/lured into a dangerous place (*Spoiler* [but is fine; the man who tricked him ended up dying in the dangerous place *End of Spoiler*]); Mentions of deaths, bodies, & grieving (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of beatings (including bullies at a school); A few mentions of lies & lying.

    Mentions of human sacrifices in paintings of historical events (including child sacrifice); Mentions of wyverns hunting and eating other animals (barely-above-not-detailed).

    There’s hints of a future romance in later books, but it’s very light and not really touched on in this one; A few mentions of miscarriages; A couple mentions of kisses; A couple mentions of a man not making an attempt on Edith’s virtue; A mention of Greeks of olden days being mostly naked.
    18 people found this helpful
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  • MommaB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Easy and captivating
    Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Easy read that had depth to make the story captivating. The characters are engaging and the story has the right amount of mystery and intrigue
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  • ADF
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Impressively Delightful Debut Novel
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Incredibly enjoyable and well-written, especially for a first novel. The narrator and main character (Edith) is a mystery novelist as well as a clergyman’s daughter and is very well-educated and conscious of literary conventions—so in addition to plentiful references to English history, whenever the book Wormwood Abbey itself is gothic, or bears some similarity to something from literature, there’s a delightfully self-aware commentary from the narrator herself. The book falls into the "cozy" fantasy sub-genre which has cropped up in recent years—"cozy gothic" in this case—which is a trend I highly approve of. The world needs more of this. Thank you, please.

    I did feel it was a little unclear what the main conflict in this story was going to be, and in fact there wasn’t just one main conflict. It’s more or less about Edith uncovering the mysteries of her ancestral home and discovering that there are actual dragons that live in that valley, and her own dragon-related abilities, though there’s also a villainous character with a dastardly plot to steal from the estate. Besides that, this is also largely a friendship story, as Edith gradually gets her cousin Gwendolyn, who at first seems so very distant, to open up to her, and they become friends.

    What it isn’t (yet) is a romance; there’s a young man, whom Edith initially misjudges and finds herself disliking, but by the end of the first novel she has overcome her initial bad impression and has come to consider him a friend. This is all, however, laying the groundwork for a romance which will apparently take place (or begin, at least) in the second book, which I highly look forward to reading.

    I did not initially realize, when reading this book, that it's the first of a planned series of five books; this feels like an awfully long commitment compared to if it were just a trilogy. However, it is a testament to the author’s skill that I feel that I might like the first book enough to read the subsequent four.
    15 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected
    Reviewed in Canada on December 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I thought this story would be a children's story. It is and isn't, it's a fun read for any age.
    Am looking forward to reading more by Christina Baehr.
    Report
  • T. M. Neilson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book !
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 17, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I really loved this book, I found it by chance when doing a search on gothic cozy mystery after watching Miss Austen. I finished it today and immediately bought book two for my kindle. It is written in a style that makes you think it was written in an earlier time period.
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  • mfab
    4.0 out of 5 stars Dragons and Jane Austen
    Reviewed in Spain on January 5, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Can you image dragons in a Jane Austen type of setting? It's kind of the premise of this book!
    Although I'm not the biggest fan of dragons I still enjoyed this book, it's very well written and its premise is very original.
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  • Giltedgedpages
    5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful
    Reviewed in Australia on April 8, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    It is rare to find a book well written, clever and delightful in this day and age.
    Christina's style actually reminds me of Edith Nesbit, with its little references to history or literature and witty side comments.
    This is destined to be a beloved classic series and I will certainly be recommending it to all I meet.
    I will not summarise the story here as you can read the blurb yourself, only to say, the characters have a lovely development as the story unfolds and the story will keep you coming back, when you should be doing something else.
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  • Donna
    4.0 out of 5 stars A very enjoyable book from start to finish
    Reviewed in Canada on September 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book and hope to read the rest of the series.
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