I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed reading it the plot was interesting and the characters made me want to know more about them. I highly recommend.

This was an enjoyable but predictable read, I found it hard to connect with the characters though unfortunately didn’t meet the expectations I had but still enjoyed it

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for free copy for an honest opinion

A very enjoyable read, I liked the astrology theme and found it a quick read.
I enjoyed the characters and thought the writing flowed well.

This book just didn’t work for me. There was something about the style of prose that just didn’t connect with me personally. I would, however, probably still recommend this book to others, as I did find the plot very interesting.

I didn't know this was the second book in a series but it didn't spoil my read are all. I enjoyed the novel, I thought the premise was very interesting. I loved the magical realism. It explored early medieval thinking and belief convincingly. The world was largely inexplicable to most at this time and belief in magic/ astrology/witchcraft as well as conventional religion helped people achieve a sense of control over events impacting on their lives. I warmed to the two main characters. Will definitely be looking up the first book and waiting for others.

4.5 stars

I enjoyed this book and its a relavtively quick read. One of my hobbies is astrology and it's unusual to find a story based around that craft. Our hero is the apprentice of a great astrologer, spending time doing natal and horary charts. Our heroine is a serving girl who runs away from her employer having seen her mistress murdered. I enjoyed the characterisations and the descriptions of medieval life. The rigours of that life are very well plotted and I must admit I was worried our hero wouldn't get his HEA. The author tells us the big three for most of protaganists, Asecendant, Sun and Moon, so it would be fairly easy to create a rough chart for ourselves. Susanna is a new author to me so I will look out for more of her work.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A wonderful concept for a historical fiction. Amazing cover and great plot. Very hard to put down. Was swept up in the book very early on and just wanted to read and read and read

A different take on my idea of medieval crime and astrology tales, had great potential and such a beautiful cover!

The writing style was mediocre in my opinion and I think it was more of a fantasy than a historical fiction? And definitely more romance than anything else!

Both the main characters are easily loved and enjoyable, and very realistic as well.
The astrology theme could have been more realistic but I don't mind that very much, I did enjoy this read but I think it had potential to be a much better book in general.

The story itself was super intriguing but again, the synopsis was more interesting for me than what the book ended up being.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for my eARC.

2.5 stars, rounded up.

I appreciated this unique take on medieval crime fiction. I don't really know anything about astrology, so I can't speak to the 'validity' of the details used in Hunting the Wren to move the story along. However, the idea of using astrology to predict the actions of criminals was certainly interesting, even if it was highly unbelievable. I'm sure many people get something out of practising astrology - it wouldn't be so prevalent in our common lexicon if they didn't - but having minute details of a person's daily life be predictable by a good astrologer seems an incredibly large plothole to overcome.

I could probably overcome these logical hurdles if the writing had been better. Unfortunately, the characters, setting, and action all felt superficial; the story moved along without enough details or emotions to make me care what would happen next.

Overall, this was an average read made more interesting with the addition of astrology as a crime solving technique. Perhaps with less reliance on astrology and more complex characters this could have been a more captivating read.

I was drawn to this book as I found the idea of historical fiction set in medieval times coupled with a MC who is an astrologer to be intriguing. For me, this was a 2.5 star read. The plot itself I found predictable and there was an excess of dialogue - lots of telling the story. I didn’t connect with the characters for this reason I think.

I genuinely enjoyed Hunting the Wren. I'd never read a book where the main character was an astrologer and my favorite part was that he got his knowledge by using math and the actual movement of the stars to make his predictions instead of some mythical sort of magic. Both main characters were likable and interesting and I was rooting for them to get together.

What I didn't love was the insertion of there thought at seemingly random intervals. The rest of the cast of characters seemed very one dimensional. I think making the book a little longer would help. I hope this becomes a series because I think a lot can be done with this story.

Overall I still enjoyed the book and will probably purchase it when its in stores.

After Master Geoffrey, Finest Astrologer, his mentor dies, Bennet becomes Master Celest, and his life continues

with charts, maps, and mathematical ..calculations. He takes in Christa Wren as his servant but life is far from quiet

and peaceful in Marlborough. They are drawn into a spiral of violence, blackmail, and murder..

Overseen by the late Geoffrey, their adventures are fast-paced and tense. ,

This story is a treasure to read giving us a glimpse into mediaeval life with more than a hint of romance.

I loved this book.

Hunting the Wren is a medieval crime story with the starry heavens as its backdrop. Bennet becomes the town Astrologer after his Master dies and becomes embroiled in murder, scandal, and mystery with only his Master's book of prognostications and a feisty servant Crista to help him. When a series of crimes shocks their small town, it is up to Bennet and his celestial wisdom to set things right.

As an Astrologer myself, I really enjoyed this story. The author stated in this book that the abilities of the Astrologers may have been a bit exaggerated but I will say that prediction based Astrology was more sophisticated in medieval times than present day Astrology which is less prediction based.

The story had great pacing and the use of Astrology was a unique crime busting tool that should be incorporated into medieval fiction more often. The mystery may not have been complex and the ending was predictable however it was a quick read that kept me interested because of its cosmic storyline.

Marlborough Town, nestled in the Wiltshire Downs, is home to the finest astrologer west of London. Geoffrey Celest.

Bennet, Master Celest's apprentice, modelling himself on his master, has resigned himself to living an eccentric, celibate and aesthetic life. But when his master dies suddenly, the young man is thrown utterly on his own resources. Almost by accident, he takes on an untried and rather mischievous young woman, Christa Wren, as his servant. Reluctantly drawn into a world of murder, blackmail and feuding, the two of them are pulled closer; more intimate than master and servant should ever be.

In a tale packed with folklore and Medieval tradition, Bennet and Christa, battle with the evil forces in the town which threaten to tear them apart guided only by the deceased astrologer's advice and warnings laid down secretly in a little black book.

Will the pair be protected by the benign influence of the planets or will those who seek to destroy them prevail? Adorable cover but a hard to read book for me I’m afraid. Giving this one 2 star

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Loved the cover - this is what drew me in initially and it really fits with the book premise

I enjoyed this - historical fiction is my thing and this was well worth the read

I enjoyed the novel, and found the central premise and magical realism very interesting. It explored mediaeval thinking and belief convincingly. The world was largely inexplicable to most at this time and belief in magic/ astrology/witchcraft as well as conventional religion helped people achieve a sense of control over events impacting on their lives. I warmed to the two main characters overall.

As Bennet is completing his training as a master astrologer, his esteemed mentor dies leaving him a book spelling out predictions about what's going to happen next in his life. Christa Wren comes into his life through a client who is murdered. She has no place to go and the establishment needs someone to help out with household duties. The two soon become a pair of sorts and end up in all sorts of intrigue related to the murder and to other occurrences in the town.

This turned out to be a pleasant enough read although there are parts that were a bit hard to fathom. I just don't feel astrology at that time would have been so developed as to have such specific predictions. I guess you have to suspend disbelief and go with the fiction to accept it within this world. And thus this lands into the world of fantasy in my mind with a basis in historical fiction. There is a romance in the book and I guess that is kind of the point of this tale. Initially, Bennet had no intentions of marrying but the entrance of Christa into his world has the potential to change his mind on this point. The other point seems to be their ability to solve mysteries regarding murder and other crimes.

There is a mistake of sorts that Bennet makes along the way and I do like that this keeps him fallible and makes a more realistic human with an important role in the town.

Overall this had its charms and I give this 2.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for freely sharing an advanced reader copy. I voluntarily wrote this review.

When Geoffrey Celest, the finest astrologer west of London dies, he passes on the entire business to his faithful apprentice Bennet.

Bennet relishes the responsibility of the job, the work and diplomacy it entails and is prepared to follow in his master's footsteps. He did not expect the issue of celibacy to be hard, neither did he expect to get involved very quickly in a spin of murder, blackmail and general mayhem.

Though dealing in astrology and the stars, and making of charts the story was a light and easy to read book. You did not have to understand the ramifications of the stars to enjoy the book which was a mix of historical fiction, some romance, a few bad guys and a murder thrown into the mix.

The cover was intriguing too.

The start of the book is actually quite promising. The premise is interesting though the writing is sub par. Felt like a school essay kind of writing.

The book gives an interesting take on astrology but what would you do if you inherited a book that has your entire future spelled out for you. If you were given an instructions to only read one page per day, would you follow through or would you read everything at one go and try to change your future?

It also was interesting enough to make me want to understand the symbolic meaning of a wren in the astrology world, and for the first time, I learnt that astrology also differs according to cultures, just like how the wren is symbolic to the Celtic astrology.

If the author had tighten up the loose ends when it comes to the quality of writing, I believe this could be a promising book. 3 stars for this one. Special thanks to NetGalley for this advanced reader’s copy. #netgalley #huntingthewren

A light, historical mystery/romance that skips along and involves a number of different characters in a small medieval village. I was attracted by the book cover and the mention of an astrologer. I like that the author has written about a place that she knows well and has included historical traditions of the area. The astrology interpretations of planets within signs and houses are correct - she does give a disclaimer at the end of the book that no astrologer could be quite so precise with their predictions as Master Geoffrey was, but as a vehicle for the story, I felt it worked well. I can't fault anything about the story or the writing, but it was a little light for my personal taste and so didn't quite engage me emotionally. But for those who like a light read with a bit of mystery and romance, this should hit the spot. This is my voluntary review of a free copy of the book. Many thanks to the author and Netgalley.