I listened to this book courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley.

I found the story to be very engaging. You start at Weatherly Orphanage, experience a great escape made by Tom and Sarah who travel by balloon to evade a determined detective. They are aided by kindhearted people and a tired professor as they make their way to London.

The author, C.R. Stewart, keeps it lively. The narrative is very descriptive and each time you think you can pause for a breath, a new challenge is presented to our heroes. The story moves at a good pace and will likely keep all readers engaged as it tells Tom's story.

Initially, I questioned WHEN does this story take place. The description of the orphanage had me thinking it was in the early 1800s but once we reach Oxford, Tom uses the internet to do some searching. It turns out, it takes place in our current time.

Also, I'm both happy and sad that this will be the first book in a series of 7. I like the story and will be happy to learn more about Tom and Sarah's adventures, but there were plotlines that appeared rather slowly and are likely to be drawn out until the very end.

Overall, an enjoyable story and one that should be a huge hit with its target audience and their parents.

After almost a month, I can finally say I have finished this book. I listened to it thanks to Netgalley and narrator Ian Russel had a really nice voice; he did almost all the characters really well and changed his voice for each. However, I really didn’t like it when he did the voice of Sarah, it was quite irritating. Now the story. I did not enjoy it. In my opinion only the first five chapters and the last two were useful to the story, the other ones were just about Tom and Sarah running away and running away some more. It was just so repetitive. Everybody seemed to be against the children being free and the timeline was really slow, the whole story takes place over like three/four days but it seems much more. Moreover, I didn’t like the characters of Tom and Sarah. Maybe it’s due to the voice but Sarah was not really useful and seemed sometimes a bit silly. Tom was getting on my nerve by the middle of the story, always telling Sarah what to do, not thinking a lot about the consequences of his actions… I liked the professor though and was pleasantly surprised by the ending of the book. You can kind of guess it but not all the details. I know this is a middle grade fiction and I found the beginning of the book quite promising which is why I kept going and listen to it all but I wouldn’t really recommend this book, even to children due to the fact that the only female character present in this book was not even strongly pictured. She could have helped Tom more instead of being the one being helped. I don’t think I will read/listen to the second book.
2.5/5

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy of this audiobook!

I loved this book. The atmosphere was everything I wanted it to be. I loved the plot and storyline in the book. I loved the characters in this story. It gave me all the feels I was looking for when I started reading this. I highly recommend this author. I loved the writing. I will be looking for other works in the future from this author.

A sweet, fun, and exciting middle-grade fiction book! Easy to stay engaged with and keeps you on your toes. Definitely some mystery hidden throughout the story but it really becomes the main plot maybe 1/3 or 1/2 way through. The characters are relatable and encouraging. I hope the sequel is as engaging as this is!
I was able to listen to this as an audiobook thanks to NetGalley, a few technical issues towards the end chapters. Perhaps some inconsistencies in the accents but still wonderful and engaging.

What an exciting adventure! I give Britfield and the Lost Crown a 4.5 stars.

The book centers around two orphans named Tom and Sarah. They begin their adventure at Weatherley; a terrible orphanage where the owners exploit the children for work labor and deprive them of food and comfort. The nasty and mean cast of characters you meet in the beginning of the book is tempered with the charming and clever personalities of the children stuck at the awful orphanage.

The children band together to help rescue Sarah from isolation in the attic and break Tom and Sarah out of Weatherley for good! From there, adventure ensues; involving a famous detective hard on their heels, a sweet and helpful professor, a hot air balloon, and surprising twists and turns. Will Tom and Sarah figure out the secret behind Tom's past and escape to London? Or will they be captured and returned to miserable Weatherley?

Britfield and the Lost Crown was such a wonderful and well-paced adventure story. The main characters were quite charming and very resourceful. The auxiliary characters were also well-written and supported...even if they were sometimes a little unbelievable. However, this was the sort of book where you need to be able to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the ride. For a middle-grade book, I was a little surprised how often murder was talked about and attempted, however this could just be my own naivete and desire to shield children from such ugliness.

One of the elements that I, as a history buff, really enjoyed were the many nods to the history of England. I thought the author did a clever job making the story educational while continuing the break-neck pace of the chase. Also, he set the scenes well enough that you could visualize what the children were seeing with the same level of ah that they were feeling.

As far as listening to the audiobook went, I really enjoyed the narrator when he was speaking the dialogue of the story. When he was narrating the plot of the story, his inflection took on sort of a true-crime vibe, which was a little distracting at first, however I was able to get into it after a while. Also, one other complaint about the editing of the audiobook was that the dialogue, when the narrator was speaking as some of the angrier adults in the book, was extremely loud, whereas the narration of the plot and setting was rather quiet. This just meant that I was constantly turning the volume down and up, down and up. I would have liked to see the audiobook edited a little better so that the volume changes weren't so abrupt.

Ultimately, a fantastic middle-grade book that I would have greatly enjoyed as a child. I look forward to the second in the series!

This is a great book full of adventure. Tom and Sara decide to escape from the orphanage, and from that point they are met with adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the narrator was excellent.

I received an ARC of the audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Britfield and the Lost Crown was a story built on convenience. Tom and Sarah were runaway orphans that seemed to have an endless supply of good luck and favorable outcomes. They relied on the kindness of strangers and people's willingness to help two children they've never seen or heard of before. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it is extremely unlikely they would have made it as far as they did. Another thing: the synopsis gives away waaaay too much about the book, so it doesn't leave a lot for readers to discover on their own as the story unfolds. Very little imagination required.

As they were leaving the orphanage (where they were malnourished, overworked, and mistreated) everything just clicked into place for them. Sure, they had to struggle and overcome obstacles, but it did seem incredibly easy for them to evade numerous adults and the authorities. I was overly suspicious of everyone they met, but each encounter proved beneficial for the children regardless of their circumstances. They just seemed like "good kids" and people wanted to help. They were even willing to to help Tom and Sarah evade the authorities, which doesn't seem like something people would do.

They just kept running into good Samaritans and stumbling across things that would help them on their journey. For example, they're running through a field and find themselves next to a hot air balloon (not a spoiler; it's on the cover and in the synopsis). What twelve-year old knows how to fly a hot air balloon on instinct? Yes, they fiddle with knobs and levers until the balloon does what they want it to, but they were more likely to crash and explode than fly across the country. Also, they were in the balloon for like 15 hours, yet neither of them had to pee? They were constantly drinking water they found in the balloon, but potty breaks (or more specifically, the lack thereof) weren't mentioned. It caused the story to lose some of it's credibility, even with how easy their escape had been thus far. (Honestly, they should have died or been captured countless times, but managed to barely evade death and everyone else for the entire book.)

Additionally, I wasn't all that invested in Tom or Sarah as characters. They weren't relatable, and we also don't really learn very much about them over the course of the book. Sarah frequently mentions that she "wasn't always in an orphanage," but rarely reveals details about her life before Weatherly. Tom doesn't know what his life looked like before, because he can't remember anything except for the half-formed memories that pop up in his dreams. The detective, professor, archbishop - - they were all a means to an end and didn't really add anything to the story (other than helping hands).

There's a reveal towards the end that I didn't see coming, but I also thought it's inclusion was taking things a bit too far. The person's behavior up until that point had been atrocious and unforgivable, so I didn't buy their sudden transformation/revelation. To their credit, Tom and Sarah didn't believe them either. As for Tom's big secret, it didn't take very long for me to figure out his history and what it meant (it's also IN THE SYNOPSIS). The clues were not subtle, although it took everyone else a VERY long time to put the pieces together. A Harvard professor and a renowned detective couldn't see what was going on? Really?

I also went into this book thinking it was a standalone (something I apparently missed from the synopsis), so I was miffed when the book ended on a cliffhanger. The other children at the orphanage don't know what happened to Tom and Sarah, but we do get to see how their lives and living situations have changed by the end of the book. Unfortunately, Tom and Sarah STILL don't have all of the answers, and their story was left unfinished. I feel like everything else was wrapped up, so they should have gotten a conclusion as well. Dragging this story out feels unnecessary, and like the author is trying to squeeze SIX MORE BOOKS out of nothing. It would have taken one or two more chapters to resolve everything, so making them work even more for the same goal they've been trying to achieve since the beginning, seems unfair and overly ambitious. Britfield and the Lost Crown isn't a series I will be continuing in the future.

Audiobook review: The narrator was amazing! Ian Russell had very distinct voices for each of the characters, and I really loved how they were portrayed (especially his accent and cadence for Sarah). At first, I thought it was the same person who narrated The Night Circus, but it's not. (However, if you liked how that book was narrated, you'll probably like this narrator as well!) I look forward to listening to more books read by him in the future. (★★★☆☆)

C.R. Stewart has created a twist on the Dickensian tale of Oliver Twist. The male protagonist, Tom, has a younger female sidekick over which he feels a protective instinct. Suffering through the daily cruelty and persecution knits the orphans together. Prior attempts at running away have been met with swift and decisive punishment. The caretakers of the orphanage are desparate to protect their lucrative business of hoodwinking the government and embezzling the funds that were supposed to clothe and feed the children. Thankfully, a kind cook occasionaly smuggled in fresh fruit, offering a welcome change from the watered down gruel on the menu. The prospect of reading a book stolen from the caretaker's home offered small comfort (the herculean feat of procuring said book was a challenge spread out among the orphans).

After sneaking onto the roof one night and subsequently caught, Tom narrowly escaped only to learn that Sarah had not been so lucky and was locked into the attic for punishment. After the caretaker tried to blackmail Tom into spying on fellow orphans, he decided he'd had enough and actively sought the means to escape Weatherly forever. With the help of the entire orphanage, Tom made his daring escape. Then ensues a chase like no other by varied and sometimes unusual means. They are doggedly pursued by not only henchmen of the orphanage, but also by a detective who has been outsmarted only once in his prestigous career.

Tom and Sarah are spurred on by the hope of finally being free to live their own life. Readers will go from hope to dismay as time and time again they are thwarted by ever-increasing enemies. Thankfully, they find a few kind strangers who help them--often risking their own lives. Never quite sure who to trust, Tom and Sarah find that the world is much more sinister than they imagined. Parts of the story conclude nicely while some elements I assume will be tied up in future installments. I highly recommend the book as a modern take on Oliver Twist and eagerly anticipate its sequel.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of the audiobook, Britfield & The Lost Crown from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

What an adventure! From a daring escape from a horrible orphanage in Yorkshire to Oxford on to London and finally Canterbury this is one story you won't be able to put down. You'll have to know what happens next if Tom and Sarah stay safe. Unexpected help and the kindness of strangers sees them through.

This is a brilliant fast paced action packed read. I loved every moment of it. I cant wait for book two

This was such an exciting adventure from beginning to end. Tom and Sarah are such fun characters, and they take readers on a wild ride while they flee across the country, trying to escape the villains who are pursuing them. The first few chapters may seem predictable, but if you push through a compelling adventure awaits. Highly recommended for fans of middle grade adventure and/or historical fiction!

And since this was an audiobook, I feel compelled to say that the narrator did a fantastic job!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A fun adventure book for middle grades. Mixed in, are lots of history of England both in terms of locations and the monarchy. One thing that might be added is an afterward to discuss what was fact and what was fiction. Otherwise a nice read qith some conclusions, but much left open for book 2.

'Britfield and The Lost Crown' was the first audiobook targeted at children that I've listened to. I must admit, it took me a while to get used to the narration and the sheer emotiveness of the narrator, but when I finally did I started to really enjoy the experience.

The story was absolutely fantastic and full of all of the good stuff: friendship, loyalty, mystery, and adventure. The charismatic and courageous main duo, Tom and Sarah were great as main characters. Big applause for the narrator, who did and excellent job and whose delivery kept me on the edge of my seat.

The audiobook would be perfect for young readers (especially middle-grade), which doesn't mean that a much older reader, like myself, for example, wouldn't enjoy it. What a great adventure that was!

It took me an incredibly long time to get into this book. Just to give an idea, I listened to the first 35% in the span of three weeks, and the rest of the book in two days.
Tom and Sarah are quite charming characters and I really enjoyed myself once the pace ramped up a bit.
I don't read a ton of middle-grade books, but I'll need to do that more often because this book reminded me of their charm and their incredibly fantastic stories.
Tom and Sarah are so pure and smart despite their circumstances and it's fun to follow them through their escape as they are always ready to amaze you with their wits and, let's be honest, their luck.
If you power through the first third of the book, you'll be rewarded with an intricate and charming escape throughout Great Britain!
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an audiobook to review. All opinions are my own.
#BritfieldandtheLostCrown #NetGalley

This adventurous mystery is a great read. It's a story with strong friendships and family. I would recommend the audio book. The narrator does a great job making the story come alive.

Mighty Adventure All Over England

Audiobook Review:
This was a delightfully fun audiobook. Our intrepid hero and his friends have been living in a wretched orphanage for some time. While the story takes place in the present, the orphanage is Dickensian in its horrors. The children are just numbers who have to labor all day making furniture for the greedy orphanage owners. They are fed only enough to keep them alive and are punished for the smallest of infractions, often with solitary confinement in one of the many attic rooms. The children dream of escape, and one night two of them do, even though the odds are against them. Then the grand adventure begins. The book then becomes a chase drama, and the fun really starts when the children manage to commandeer a hot air balloon. It takes them all over different parts of England before the gas runs out. But still the adventure continues. I think my favorite point was when they were at Oxford, and the author slips in a Pride and Prejudice reference! As a P&P fan myself, I loved that. The scenes at the orphanage before the great escape showed the wonderful solidarity of the children and the care they had for each other. Most of this book is just a story of escape and the big adventures the two principal characters have after it. Sometimes the children use their wits to get out of a bad situation while, at other times, a solution just seems to appear. This book touches on several themes, including friendship, ingenuity, and standing up for yourself, amongst others. I like the narrator in places, though I didn't think he did the little girls’ voices very well. This is such a fun adventure story that this book would be a delight if played in the car during a family trip, as both the adults and the kids would appreciate the story.

Britfield and the Lost Crown is a fun filled, delightfully daft story that is such a pleasure to read. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Sarah and Tom and am looking forward to seeing their continued adventures.

I had a few laugh out loud moments, and I am not sure how many of them were deliberate, but this just adds to the charm of the book. I won't nit pick but the fact that an Oxford student describes himself as a sophomore made me giggle a lot more than it should.

The pacing is well done, with our leads jumping about all over the place. It is wonderful to see how they get out of various predicaments and how adults just seem to want to be helpful throughout (unless they are the bad guys of course). The final reveal is well done and I loved it.

I look forward to further instalments of the book, it's cute, fun and engaging. Recommended

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me a copy of the audiobook in exchange for a fair and unbiased review

An exciting story following the adventures of two orphans, Tom and Sarah, who escape from Weatherly Orphanage to try and find a happier life. They are ruthlessly pursued by a detective and narrowly escape capture on many occasions. A good mixture of thriller, mystery and adventure story with excellent narration.

An exciting enough adventure story, revolving around Tom - determined to escape from his cruel orphanage when he learns his parents are alive.

We found the narration on the audiobook rather slow for the pace of the story, so we ramped it up to x1.5 speed - this made a huge difference to the pace of the narrative, and we began to enjoy it much more then!

This is a great adventure story and the narrator of the audiobook is excellent. Tom and Sara are living in an orphanage and they decide to escape and from that moment you meet adventure the mystery.
Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity.

This was a cute story about two children escaping from their orphanage trying to find the truth about where Tom’s real family is. I think this book would be cute for a younger audience, pre teen. I would have loved listening to this as a child. I definitely am not the target audience for this one but would definitely recommend this book for parents to give to their children to read..