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Scales and Sensibility: A Regency Fantasy Rom-Com (Regency Dragons Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 460 ratings

"Austenesque."The New York Times

Sensible, practical Elinor Tregarth really did plan to be the model poor relation when she moved into Hathergill Hall. She certainly never
meant to kidnap her awful cousin Penelope's pet dragon. She never expected to fall in love with the shameless - but surprisingly sweet - fortune hunter who came to court Penelope. And she never dreamed that she would have to enter into an outrageous magical charade to save her younger sisters' futures.



However, even the most brilliant scholars of 1817 England still haven't ferreted out all the lurking secrets of rediscovered dragonkind...and even the most sensible of heroines can still make a reckless wish or two when she's pushed. Now Elinor will have to find out just how rash and resourceful she can be when she sets aside all common sense. Maybe, just maybe, she'll even be impractical enough to win her own true love and a happily ever after...with the unpredictable and dangerous "help" of the magical creature who has adopted her.

A frothy Regency rom-com full of pet dragons and magical misadventures, Scales and Sensibility is a full-length novel and the first in a new series of standalone romantic comedies.

"An absolutely delightful Regency romp. If you like your tea taken with a dragon on your shoulder, this story is for you!" - Intisar Khanani, Author of The Sunbolt Chronicles and Thorn

"Howl's Moving Castle meets Mansfield Park in this gloriously fun Regency romantic comedy-of-calamities. I want more!" - Tansy Rayner Roberts, Author of the Teacup Magic and Castle Charming series

"I inhaled this delightful confection in a single sitting." - A.J. Lancaster, Author of the Stariel series

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fantasy, comedy and sparkling Regency romance blend together seamlessly... This story is hysterically funny." - Books, Bones & Buffy

"The perfect book for curling on the sofa - with shoulder-dragon if you have one, or a cat if you're not quite at the pet dragon level of society yet." -
Writing & Coe

"If you like clever women, magical shenanigans, and that indescribable quality of books that feel like friends the moment you pick them up, then you need to read this one and then put her on your auto-buy list too. This is perfect fluffy, fun fantasy of manners, and I loved every moment. I can't wait for book two!" - A Cat, A Book, and a Cup of Tea

"An absolutely delightful Regency romp complete with lap dragons, hidden identities, fortune hunters - and a swoon worthy romance. At times hilarious, always sweet, this story will hit you in the feels at the most unexpected moments. If you like your tea taken with a dragon on your shoulder, this story is for you!" - Intisar Khanani, Author of
The Sunbolt Chronicles and Thorn

"Howl's Moving Castle meets Mansfield Park in this gloriously fun Regency romantic comedy-of-calamities. From the maids to the fortune hunters, all the characters are just so clever and compelling. I want more!" - Tansy Rayner Roberts, author of the
Teacup Magic and Castle Charming series

"Stephanie Burgis does it again, authoring another whimsical and comforting historical romantic fantasy. Scales and Sensibility delivers on everything you'd expect from a Fantasy-of-Manners romp through Regency-era England - gentlemen and ladies, country estates and balls, delightfully quirky characters, and a touch of magic. " -
Libri Draconis

"If books were cakes, Scales and Sensibility would be a chocolate-and-champagne one" -
Read, Ruminate Write

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08ZNSXSVL
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Five Fathoms Press (October 4, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 4, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B09GQLKFGJ
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 460 ratings

About the author

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Stephanie Burgis
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Stephanie Burgis grew up in America but now lives in Wales with her husband (fellow writer Patrick Samphire), their two young sons, and their extremely vocal tabby cat. In between those two points, she spent time playing in orchestras, studying music history in Vienna, and editing the website of an opera company in Leeds.

She writes sparkling romantasy for adults and fun, funny MG fantasy adventures.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
460 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and charming. They describe it as a fun Regency romance with dragons. Readers become invested in the characters and find the hero endearing. The dragon is described as adorable and charming. The story is considered interesting and perceptive. It's described as an easy, quick read that provides comfort and emotional content.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

25 customers mention "Enjoyment"25 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor and witty writing style. They find it an enjoyable read with relatable characters and comic moments. The story is described as lighthearted and charming, with dragons adding a delightful touch.

"...His friend, an amiable, book-obsessed dragon scholar, provides some comic moments, as does Elinor’s aunt, once she finally makes her presence felt...." Read more

"...If you can overlook that stuff, this is a fun house party romp with suitors and a pleasingly vain and irritating cousin, a villain appropriately..." Read more

"...A regency fantasy with dragons, magic, a mystery and a down to earth heroine who is embarks on a romp...." Read more

"...Loved the sample, so I bought the book - which is saying a lot because I’m a Kindle Unlimited subscriber and often jump to those first...." Read more

24 customers mention "Romance"24 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book. They describe it as an Austen retelling in Regency England with dragons and magic. The period and fantasy elements feel authentic and vivid. The heroine and her love triumph, making the story predictable but delightful.

"...is sensible and practical, but also stronger, braver, and more determined than she thinks. She is delightful!..." Read more

"...Yes, this is an Austen retelling in Regency England– a house party romance– with dragons. And some magic...." Read more

"...A regency fantasy with dragons, magic, a mystery and a down to earth heroine who is embarks on a romp...." Read more

"...Well, I have to say, this was a fun, light book. The romance wasn’t hot and heavy nor did it involve a ton of angst, and that was perfectly fine..." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers are invested in the characters. They say the villain is appropriately dealt with, and the story has a full personality. The heroines are plucky and smart, and the side characters endearing. The hero isn't smug or arrogant, and he treats Elinor with respect throughout. The satisfying conclusion has both growth of character and a poetic justice to antagonists.

"...suitors and a pleasingly vain and irritating cousin, a villain appropriately dealt with, and a bully who doesn’t get his way, with a touch of..." Read more

"...The hero isn't smug or arrogant and he treats Elinor with respect throughout; the villains are hissably villainous; and Sir Jessamyn the dragon is..." Read more

"...but it is a fun read that moves at a fast pace with engaging characters and one obstacle after another to overcome. Love the dragon!..." Read more

"...full of comedic suspense, and I was so immediately invested in the characters that I couldn’t help but keep reading even as I wanted to groan at..." Read more

7 customers mention "Dragon content"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the dragon content in the book. They find the dragon adorable and charming. The hero is also described as kind and unexpectedly delightful.

"...On the other hand, our hero, Benedict Harper, is charming, kind, and unexpectedly perceptive, with a strong streak of responsibility and a good..." Read more

"...But this little dragon was adorable and certainly understood much more than people assumed he did...." Read more

"...Pros: Easy to Read, Humorous, Witty, Lovable Leads, Sweet Romance, CUTE DRAGONS!!! Cons: Needs another round of copy edits...." Read more

"...; the villains are hissably villainous; and Sir Jessamyn the dragon is utterly adorable & worth the price of the book all by himself...." Read more

4 customers mention "Interest"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's niche interest. They find it romantic, fun, and full of fantasy elements like dragons, hidden identities, fortune hunters, and a swoon-worthy romance.

"...other hand, our hero, Benedict Harper, is charming, kind, and unexpectedly perceptive, with a strong streak of responsibility and a good sense of..." Read more

"...and dragon fantasy is a combination that caught my eye as a very niche interest. I loved it and look forward to reading the next books in this series!" Read more

"...Regency romp complete with lap dragons, hidden identities, fortune hunters--and a swoon worthy romance...." Read more

"Gripping from ear to tail. Romantic, interesting and just all over fun, fashion, fantasy where love and justice prevails. Read it!" Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it humorous, witty, and a quick, enjoyable read with lovable leads.

"...Pros: Easy to Read, Humorous, Witty, Lovable Leads, Sweet Romance, CUTE DRAGONS!!! Cons: Needs another round of copy edits...." Read more

"...Fortunately there is a minimal amount and otherwise it’s a clean read...." Read more

"...While it is not an Austen story re-imagined, it is a delightful quick read. The plot is fresh and engaging; I read the book in two sittings...." Read more

"...innocent romp, very light and fun - not much depth, but delightful for an easy, fast read...." Read more

3 customers mention "Comfort"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's comforting and relaxing style. They find it a light, fluffy read that doesn't challenge them.

"...It’s fluffy and comforting, and doesn’t challenge you with trying to figure stuff out...." Read more

"...is a fun and sweet read for any fan of clean regency romance and soft, whimsical magic...." Read more

"delightfully fluffy..." Read more

3 customers mention "Emotional content"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the emotional content of the book. They find it relatable, with moments of deep grief and love that tug at their heartstrings.

"...Yet, amid all the comedy, there were still moments of deep grief and love, and it added the perfect touch of reality to the comedy...." Read more

"...Scales and Sensibility was light and fun, while still having a strong emotional core...." Read more

"...A delightful combination of laugh out loud hi jinx’s and relatable emotion that tugs on your heartstrings. Highly recommend!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2021
    I could go on and on about how charming Scales and Sensibility is, and how much I enjoyed it, but honestly, the series title says it all: REGENCY DRAGONS!!! Seriously, Stephanie Burgis has taken two of my favorite genres—fantasy and historical romance—and added one of my favorite fantasy creatures—dragons—to create this lovely confection of a novel. I tried to read it slowly so I could savor it, but I was too eager to know what would happen next: I gave in to temptation and gulped the second half of the cup in a single swallow (so to speak.)

    All the elements of a good historical rom-com are here: the good-but-poor relative mistreated by her unpleasant relatives; the kind and handsome gentleman who comes to her aid; a debut ball, societal expectations, and a series of complications and misunderstandings; and the eventual setting-of-everything-to-rights. Dragons and wishes provide a whimsical gloss of magic, whilst witty dialogue and humorous situations add sparkle to the whole.

    I loved Elinor, who is sensible and practical, but also stronger, braver, and more determined than she thinks. She is delightful! The same cannot be said of her spoiled, petulant cousin Penelope, nor of Penelope’s doting, blustering father, Sir John. On the other hand, our hero, Benedict Harper, is charming, kind, and unexpectedly perceptive, with a strong streak of responsibility and a good sense of humor. His friend, an amiable, book-obsessed dragon scholar, provides some comic moments, as does Elinor’s aunt, once she finally makes her presence felt. But it’s not all fun and games; the stakes for Elinor and Benedict are high, both seperately and together, and their happy-ever-after is far from assured–-or it wouldn’t be, if this were real life rather than a romance novel.

    One of my favorite characters is Sir Jessamyn, the pet dragon whose rescue from Penelope’s mistreatment proves Elinor’s undoing. I love dragons, and I’m particularly fond of friendly ones. Sir Jessamyn quite stole my heart, despite a certain, er… unfortunate tendency when he feels threatened. (Side note: I want fan art of Sir Jessamyn!)

    If you’re in the mood for a charming, frothy, magical historical rom-com, Scales and Sensibility is the perfect choice. And if you fall in love with it as I did, there are two sequels planned, each featuring one of Elinor’s sisters… and a dragon. Of course!

    REVIEW originally published on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2023
    Elinor Tregarth and her two sisters were sent away to different relatives for their care and boarding when their parents both suddenly died after a failed financial venture — magical Brazilian dragons.

    Yes, this is an Austen retelling in Regency England– a house party romance– with dragons. And some magic. I got this off the SPFBO Finalist sale for 99cents…and I’m glad I snagged this one from Burgis (I’ve only read her Snowspelled before, which was identically pleasing and light but way too short. This one was a better length)

    It’s pleasingly Austenesque in the framework, but the author filled in the lines with some fantasy elements. Ladies of wealth and breeding carry small dragons on their shoulders as a kind of adornment. When Elinor’s cousin Penelope, destined for marriage and a London Season, gets her first dragon, hijinks abound.

    Elinor ends up leaving, meets a handsome young minor noble in a carriage accident and then magic happens.

    I have this teensy weensy little pet peeve about magical retellings of stuff– the magic has to somewhat, kind of, make sense. And if you’re introducing magic to a society that has never experienced it before, consequences…or at least questions…have to happen.

    If you’re okay with a minor noble seeing through an illusion but having absolutely no questions about it, doesn’t act with the knowledge of the magic despite his best friend being an expert on dragons, somehow falls in love whilst his sweetie isn’t quite herself, then you’ll fully enjoy this. If like me, the magic was a bit too nebulous or plot mechanismesque, then you might get frustrated with Elinor’s surrounding people.

    If you can overlook that stuff, this is a fun house party romp with suitors and a pleasingly vain and irritating cousin, a villain appropriately dealt with, and a bully who doesn’t get his way, with a touch of dragons and magic. It’s fluffy and comforting, and doesn’t challenge you with trying to figure stuff out.

    I would read on in this series when I needed a light, comfort read.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2025
    I enjoyed skills and sensibility by Stephanie burgess Because it has things that I enjoy the most. A regency fantasy with dragons, magic, a mystery and a down to earth heroine who is embarks on a romp. Alexa look forward to the next book in the series of Regency Dragons.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2022
    So many books these days are just so gosh-darned dark. Seems like every other book is apocalyptic in some way or another and the others are intensely serious. I was toying with digging into my collection of Georgette Heyer romances in my Kindle library when this popped up in my recommendations. Loved the sample, so I bought the book - which is saying a lot because I’m a Kindle Unlimited subscriber and often jump to those first.

    Well, I have to say, this was a fun, light book. The romance wasn’t hot and heavy nor did it involve a ton of angst, and that was perfectly fine with me. I was looking for something that I could just enjoy. Other reviewers have summarized the book nicely, so I’ll get to what I liked best about this - Sir Jessamyn the dragon. I also liked Elinor and enjoyed following her come into her own. But this little dragon was adorable and certainly understood much more than people assumed he did. Needless to say, things turn out for the best for Elinor and her rescuer Benedict. In the acknowledgment at the end, Burgis writes that she is planning to continue in this universe with Elinor’s sisters. I do hope that Elinor, Benedict, and Sir Jessamyn are part of subsequent books in the series. I dearly want to see how he continues to develop and if he gains any more magic.

    Anyway, if you’re looking for a light, mannered historical romance, you’ll like this book. Is it up to Georgette Heyer’s style? No, but it was a fun read for sure.
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Karen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful regency romance with dragons!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2024
    A fantastic start to a new series from Stephanie Burgis. Frothy and fun, this regency romance with pocket dragons (yes, really!! I was absolutely delighted!) is the perfect antidote to a reading slump.
  • Bastida
    4.0 out of 5 stars Funny read
    Reviewed in France on September 15, 2022
    I liked this book. It was funny and the characters are interesting. I would have like a little less eccentric drama but a nice read.
  • TM
    5.0 out of 5 stars It is indeed a splendid regency romp
    Reviewed in Germany on April 9, 2022
    Unlike other reviewers here on amazon who recounted the plot (spoilers!) for some reason, I'm just going to say I was determined to sew on my day off, dipped into this book over lunch first, and ended up reading the whole book in one go. No sewing has been done.

    Playful, charming, not too nauseatingly rom-comy, and the baddies get their comeuppance. Huzzah!

    Now I'm hoping for book 2 to be released soon.
  • Vanessa Len
    5.0 out of 5 stars A charming regency romance with dragons!
    Reviewed in Australia on December 8, 2021
    This was such a delight! Regency romance with shoulder dragons!

    The plot was full of fun surprises, and so satisfying. And I loved Benedict and Elinor (a great, Sophie-Hatter-like protagonist). And of course Elinor’s nervous dragon, Sir Jessamyn!
  • Ann
    4.0 out of 5 stars Unputdownably lovely
    Reviewed in Germany on September 3, 2023
    Read this in a weekend and loved it. Couldn't put it down. Elinor is a heroine worthy of Jane Austen, and Benedict is exactly the swoon-worthy love interest you look for in a romcom. Add to that Sir Jessamyn, Elinor's adorable dragon, a wonderfully imagined cast of supporting characters and a plot that manages to continually add twists and turns, and you'll keep turning the page until the story ends far too soon. If you love your regency romance and also love dragons, magic, wicked step sisters (okay, counsins), and lots of suspense, this one is for you. The writing and voice are spot on, too. I can't wait to read other books by this author.

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