The Naturalist Society

The Naturalist Society, Book 1

By: Carrie Vaughn

Narrated by: Caitlin Davies

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

In this magical tale of self-discovery from New York Times bestselling author Carrie Vaughn, a young widow taps into the power that will change the world—if the man’s world she lives in doesn’t destroy her and her newfound friends first.

In the summer of 1880, the death of Beth Stanley’s husband puts her life’s work in jeopardy. The magic of Arcane Taxonomy dictates that every natural thing in the world, from weather to animals, can be labeled, and doing so grants the practitioner some of that subject’s unique power. But only men are permitted to train in this philosophy. Losing her husband means that Beth loses the name they put on her work—and any influence she might have wielded.

Brandon West and Anton Torrance are campaigning for their expedition to the South Pole, a mission that some believe could make a taxonomist all-powerful by tapping into the earth’s magnetic forces. Their late friend Harry Stanley’s knowledge and connections would have been instrumental, but when they attempt to take custody of his work, they find that it was never his at all.

Tied together by this secret and its implications, Beth, Bran, and Anton must find a way for Beth to use her talent for the good of the world, before she’s discovered by those who would lay claim to her rare potential—and her very freedom.

©2024 by Carrie Vaughn, LLC. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Vaughn spins a moving tale about the hardships that women faced in the late 19th century, while also introducing an inventive magic system that hinges on the pursuit of knowledge. The result is an adept and provocative feminist fantasy.” —Publishers Weekly

“Vaughn’s historical fantasy captures both the science and the magic of the natural world, as well as 19th-century sexism. With a unique magic system and engrossing character arcs, this novel will speak to fantasy and lit fic readers alike.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“Vaughn's prose is captivating and the story begins slowly, almost meditatively, echoing Beth's own grief and solitude while building a compelling magical system…perfect for anyone who enjoyed the science and magic parts of the His Dark Materials series and longs for more.” —Booklist (starred review)

Surprisingly Steamy

Loved the story of an intelligent and determined woman facing the challenges of 1880s culture and the sprinkling of magic woven in- surprised it was so steamy in parts! Unexpected but it gave the story much more depth!

Interesting Story, I Enjoyed

I liked this book very much. The story was interesting, characters likable, world building unique. I felt this story started a bit slow, but as soon as Beth followed Brandon and Anton the story picked up and became engaging and captivating. I was unable to put it down until the end. Narrator did a good job with telling this story but I thought her male voices were just ok. Overall this was a very enjoyable listening experience. This was a new to me author and i am looking forward to reading more of her books.