{"id":27454,"date":"2026-08-31T20:24:06","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T00:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/?p=27454"},"modified":"2026-08-31T20:24:06","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T00:24:06","slug":"the-spellmaster-of-tutting-on-cress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/27454","title":{"rendered":"The Spellmaster of Tutting-on-Cress"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Spellmaster of Tutting-on-Cress<\/em> (2024) Sarah Wallace<\/a> (Meddle & Mend #5)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>Set in Tutting-on-Cress in 1818<\/p>\n

Gerry has been hoping to fall in love the way two of her brothers did, but has never felt the way she thought falling in love should be. So she figures she’ll be content running her shop and living with her brother and friends. <\/p>\n

But her friends have other ideas.<\/p>\n

Rose grinned, making Gerry immediately suspicious. \u201cOh, we don\u2019t mind!\u201d Rose said cheerfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cWould next Sunday do?\u201d Julia said.<\/p>\n

Gerry saw that she had fallen into a trap.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Basil Thorne went away to school soon after his mother died, and never quite managed to come back, especially after his father remarried. <\/p>\n

When Basil was still at Eton, his father remarried and started to have a great many children. Basil quite liked his stepmother, but he also felt as though his father\u2019s new family was something separate from himself.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now that his father has died, he suddenly has more family than he knows what to do with, and has decided to stay in Tutting-on-Cress to help take care of everything.<\/p>\n

Then she opened the door of the sitting room where the children had been crowding to eavesdrop. Mary seemed thoroughly unsurprised to find them there.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have some good news at last,\u201d she told them. \u201cYour brother is allowing us to stay at Verdimere Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n

The children gasped as if they hadn\u2019t overheard the conversation<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Unfortunately for all of them, they have guests.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long are they staying?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gavin turned his head a little, waiting for Charles to answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few months, probably.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gerry and Gavin both groaned.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am hopeful that John, at least, will learn to be more pleasant by the time he leaves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s quite a generous expectation,\u201d Gerry said. \u201cEven for you.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

First off, the children are not adorable plot-moppets, but full-fledged characters, and you can often tell which kid is speaking without being told.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes it really matter if the ports are friendly? After all, we could be armed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Basil said. \u201cYou could be. But you would do better to think in terms of peace first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arabella looked dubious and Basil wondered if it was possible to acquire a position for her in the navy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Second, I liked the exploration of romance and romantic feelings, and what is normal.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust think about it,\u201d they said. \u201cAnd consider the possibility that you are waiting for a feeling that might not actually come to you.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is another lovely queer cozy story where queerness is simply one of many ways of being.<\/p>\n

Characters<\/strong>: Geraldine \u2018Gerry\u2019 Hartford, Charles Kentworthy, Gavin Kentworthy, Seb Hartford, Mr. Laurence Ayles, Mr. Robert Ayles, Pip Standish, Viscount Bertie Finlington, Julian the Dukex of Molbury, Basil Thorne, Mary Thorne, Levinia, Arabella and Elias Thorne, Grace Thorne, Martin Thorne, Sophia Thorne, Lucy Thorne, Modesty Munro, John and Veronica Hartford, Lily and Gregory Talbot, Julia, Lizzy Canterbury, Rose Hearst, Lady Caroline Windham, Maria Windham, Roger, Mrs. Bailey, Mr. Milton Weatherbee, Mr. Applebough, Mr. and Mrs. Canterbury, Nell Birks, Betsy, Harriet, Patience, and Lino, Mr. Reginald Hartford, Lord Antony Caldwell, Mr. Haines<\/p>\n

Rating: 8.5\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Spellmaster of Tutting-on-Cress (2024) Sarah Wallace (Meddle & Mend #5) Set in Tutting-on-Cress in 1818 Gerry has been hoping to fall in love the way two of her brothers did, but has never felt the way she thought falling in love should be. So she figures she’ll be content running her shop and living […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[191,27,30,190,292,2,33,207,148,26],"tags":[213,981,826],"class_list":["post-27454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-8-5-10","category-alternate-history","category-british","category-cozy","category-ebook","category-fantasy","category-historical","category-mental-health-rep","category-queer","category-romance","tag-grief","tag-meddle-mend","tag-sarah-wallace"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/piQkW-78O","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":27448,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/27448","url_meta":{"origin":27454,"position":0},"title":"Dear Bartleby","author":"Michelle","date":"August 30, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Bartleby (2023) Sarah Wallace (Meddle & Mend #4) Seb, youngest sibling of Gavin and Gerry has been sent down for Oxford for one too many pranks. Father sat me down in his study and told me I need to learn to be a proper gentleman. Ominous start. He listed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dear Bartleby","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dear-Bartleby.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":27442,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/27442","url_meta":{"origin":27454,"position":1},"title":"One Good Turn","author":"Michelle","date":"August 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"One Good Turn (2022) Sarah Wallace (Meddle & Mend #2) Set in London ~1816 Nell Birks doesn't want the life she grew into. As an orphan plucked off the streets she was glad to have food to eat and a safe place to sleep, but she wants to learn magic\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"One Good Turn","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/One-Good-Turn.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/One-Good-Turn.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/One-Good-Turn.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27419,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/27419","url_meta":{"origin":27454,"position":2},"title":"Letters to Half Moon Street","author":"Michelle","date":"August 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Letters to Half Moon Street (2022) Sarah Wallace (Meddle & Mend #1) Set in alternate London in 1815 I enjoyed the Fae & Human Relations series Sarah Wallace co-wrote with S.O. Callahan, so I picked up this book awhile ago, but hadn't gotten around to reading it. I'm sorry I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"Letters to Half Moon Street","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Letters-to-Half-Moon-Street.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Letters-to-Half-Moon-Street.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Letters-to-Half-Moon-Street.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27441,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/27441","url_meta":{"origin":27454,"position":3},"title":"The Education of Pip","author":"Michelle","date":"August 29, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Education of Pip (2023) Sarah Wallace (Meddle & Mend #3) Set in England in ~1816 This story overlaps with One Good Turn and we get Pip's story. Please check the trigger warnings, as Pip has been abused by the man he thought to be his lover, and has been\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "9\/10"","block_context":{"text":"9\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/9-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Education of Pip","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/The-Education-of-Pip.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/The-Education-of-Pip.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/The-Education-of-Pip.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21413,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/21413","url_meta":{"origin":27454,"position":4},"title":"The Seven Dials Mystery","author":"Michelle","date":"December 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Seven Dials Mystery (1929) Agatha Christie (Superintendent Battle) As threatened at the end of The Chimneys Lord Caterham has let Chimneys to those who would like to stay there. While Sir Oswald and Lady Coote were there, one of their visitors, Gerald Wade, died unexpectedly, at the same time\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "7\/10"","block_context":{"text":"7\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/7-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Seven Dials Mystery","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/The-Seven-Dials-Mystery.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9408,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/9408","url_meta":{"origin":27454,"position":5},"title":"Pastime, Audio Book","author":"Michelle","date":"November 7, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Pastime, Audio Version (1991\/1992) Robert B. Parker narrated by David Dukes I thought Michael Prichard was a weak narrator for this series. In contrast to David Dukes, he was marvelous. I had to listen to multiple words and names mispronounced (including acorn and Vinnie Morris) which was awful, but not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio Book"","block_context":{"text":"Audio Book","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/audio-book"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Spenser-Pastime.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27454"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27456,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27454\/revisions\/27456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}