The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist

Written by Ceinwen Langley

Narrated by Elisabeth Lagelée

Aspiring young naturalist Celeste Rossan is determined to live a life of adventure and scientific discovery. But when her father loses everything, Celeste’s hopes of ever leaving her home town are dashed… until she sees a narrow opportunity to escape to Paris and attend the 1867 Exposition Universelle.

Celeste seizes her chance, but the elements overwhelm her before she can make it five miles. In desperation, she seeks refuge in an abandoned chateau only to find herself trapped inside the den of an unknown species: a predator with an intelligence that rivals any human.  

It’s the discovery of a lifetime. Or, it will be, if Celeste can earn the beast’s trust without losing her nerve – or her heart – to her in the process. 

The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist is a queer historical fantasy for adventurers of all ages.

For additional information about this title, please check the author's website.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Feed the Writer Press.
• Release date: Feb 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9780992474089

Reviews for The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist

[Aubrey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Based on the description and the beginning of the book, I was expecting a historical fiction set in the late 1900s about women in science. And then it evolved into a consensual, sapphic, magical romance between our scientist and her talking beast. I'm not mad about it!

[bibliovermis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Similar in subject and feeling to Frances Hardinge's The Lie Tree, but lighter and less fraught, with the addition of queer themes and romance elements. A retelling of Beauty and The Beast that makes the Gaston character actually pretty nice? Unthinkable!