Audiobook Review – Dawn’s Promise (Silent Wings, Book 1) by A.W. Exley, Narrated by Mary Sarah (4/5 stars)

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Length: 9 hours and 17 minutes
Publisher:‎ Tantor Audio
Release Date: June 19, 2018
ASIN: B07DJXDZYV
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in the Silent Wings series
Source: Borrowed Audiobook from Audible
Rating: 4/5 stars

“A heart prepared to die that has never lived or loved…

Born with fragile health, Dawn Uxbridge has lived a sheltered existence. Her lonely days are filled by drawing fanciful landscapes and nurturing plants. When tragedy strikes, she finds herself alone and penniless with only one talent – a green thumb.

Jasper, the Earl of Seton, is in need of a gardener to reclaim his derelict estate in the remote west of England. He expected a robust commoner, not a fragile young woman.

With the next train a week away, Dawn has one chance to change the earl’s mind and earn her place. But all is not as it seems at the ancestral manor. The estate is full of secrets. Ravens cluster on the parapets, and a ghostly young woman cries out at night. This garden conceals a rotten heart, and it plans to squeeze the last beat from Dawn’s….”

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Silent Wings trilogy. I borrowed this on audiobook from Audible.

Thoughts: This is a well done Victorian paranormal read. I listened to this on audiobook and it is beautifully narrated. This has hefty gothic themes as well as some fantastical ones.

Dawn has had heart issues since she was a child and has lived long past her expected life expectancy. As a very sheltered child who was not expected to live, she has no friends but finds solace in her garden and the love of her parents. When her parents die in an accident, she finds herself penniless and alone. That is until she answers a request for a gardener at an estate in the remote west of England. There, she meets Jasper, the Earl of Seton, and his family and finds out that there is much more to the world than she originally thought.

This is a strangely peaceful read. Dawn is so accepting of her fate and seems to have found her own peace but also has hope that she can do more. She is one of those heroines that is tough but incredibly caring and giving as well. I admired her quiet strength throughout. The Seton family and staff have similar vibes of being kind and caring, even if they do guard dark secrets.

I enjoyed watching Dawn become more and find hope for a better life. I enjoyed watching her gain confidence and find peace. I also enjoyed Dawn’s knowledge and caring for plants and the way she constantly looked for more knowledge in this area.

The relationship between Dawn and Jasper was well done but the chemistry wasn’t really there for me. The steamy scenes are okay but lack creativity and detail. Jasper was one of the weaker characters in this book, which is a pity.

This was deliciously gothic. Dawn’s constant expectation of death being around the corner made her a strangely peaceful but doomed character. The Seton family and the way they struggled against evil also made them feel hopeful but tragic.

I listened to this on audiobook and Sarah did an amazing job matching the tone of the story. Her narration was smooth and lyrical and very beautiful; it just matched the mood of the book perfectly. I would definitely recommend listening to this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this. I was looking for a mysterious paranormal Victorian read and this definitely fit the bill. I really enjoyed the mystery of the Seton estate and enjoyed watching Dawn grow and become more than her illness. The Seton family was well done, and I would love to read more about them. I plan on continuing the trilogy at some point when I am in the mood for a more serious Victorian paranormal gothic read like this.