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Quenby Olson
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Miss Percy's Pocket Guide (to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons) (A Miss Percy Guide Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Quenby Olson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 2,627 ratings

Miss Mildred Percy inherits a dragon.

Ah, but we’ve already got ahead of ourselves…

Miss Mildred Percy is a spinster. She does not dance, she has long stopped dreaming, and she certainly does not have adventures. That is, until her great uncle has the audacity to leave her an inheritance, one that includes a dragon’s egg.

The egg - as eggs are wont to do - decides to hatch, and Miss Mildred Percy is suddenly thrust out of the role of “spinster and general wallflower” and into the unprecedented position of “spinster and keeper of dragons.”

But England has not seen a dragon since… well, ever. And now Mildred must contend with raising a dragon (that should not exist), kindling a romance (with a humble vicar), and embarking on an adventure she never thought could be hers for the taking.

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  1. Book 1 of 3
    A Miss Percy Guide
  2. Print length
    421 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 26, 2021
  5. File size
    836 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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  1. She didn’t know which was more difficult to believe, that she had once been such an adventurous child, or that her transformation into the woman she’d become had happened without her even noticing.
    Highlighted by 152 Kindle readers
  2. Stress did not suit her, no matter how many people throughout her life had referred to her ability to remain calm in a crisis as something to be complimented. But then, how were others to know that beneath her cloak of adept composure there existed a panicked thing, alternately crying and screaming and longing for a nap and all while craving something glazed in sugar?
    Highlighted by 123 Kindle readers
  3. Two ladies, neither of them of an age for adventure, heading off together into the light of a brand new day. And with an inebriated dragon loaded onto the cart behind them.
    Highlighted by 98 Kindle readers
  4. (There were a fair number of things Mildred had gone through her life assuming she would never have to say. Not until that moment did she realize that this one had failed to make the list because of its obvious aspirations towards utter preposterousness.)
    Highlighted by 79 Kindle readers
  5. Strange, she thought, how a building constructed with the purpose of welcoming as many people as possible through its doors could seem more beautiful, more holy without so many of those people inside of it.
    Highlighted by 72 Kindle readers
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Miss Percy's Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons focuses on the importance of (found) family, acceptance, kindness, and love, but it's also an exciting story about adventure, overcoming adversity, and teamwork. It's packed full of lyricism, poignancy, and heart. Highly recommended to readers of all ages, especially those tired of doom and gloom. - Fantasy Book Critic

And Miss Percy's Pocket Guide fully satisfies my craving for authentically rendered historical narratives set in the Regency era. The book is an absolutely charming silk grab-bag of Austen tropes—from the lonely spinster to the scheming matron to a scandalous elopement. Plus, there are the bonus points for it being a fantasy. - Fantasy Faction

Overall, Miss Percy's Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons is the perfect read for a cold winter night, if you want to escape to a small British village and go on a journey of self-discovery along with Miss Percy and her adorable baby dragon, Fitz. You'll find friends, budding relationships, and adventures at the end of which you'll want more. As do I. - Queen's Book Asylum

But seriously. The heart that is in this small story is insane. It's not some epic, twisty, save-the-world tale. It doesn't have to be. Quenby Olson does a fantastic job at pulling you into Mildred's life when Mildred doesn't really have one her own. From there, with a little bit of kindness from others, she is able to slowly and carefully build one. It's so... sweet. It's the best kind of feel-good. It's bottled dopamine. - The Fantasy Inn

I have heard this book compared to Terry Pratchett, Douglass Adams and Jane Austen, but honestly it is 100% Quenby Olson. She is an author of the highest quality and holds court with these other favorites in her own right. - Rusty's Reads

Miss Percy's Pocket Guide (to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons) is a book that's so delightful you could spend an entire review trying to come up with analogies and comp titles to fully capture how impossibly brilliant it is. - FanFiAddict

All in all I'm utterly delighted to have read this book, it is funny, creative and ingenious at times with an adorable romance weaved in, and a lot of originality. The pace is good and it's definitely one I'd want to re-read. - Coffee, Cups & Books

Miss Percy, I am so glad to have made your acquaintance, via Quenby Olson's superior manuscript entitled Miss Percy's Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons, this January past. You have given me hope that adventure can be had at any age, that life can be grabbed by the horns even at the very last moment. - Bookforager

Miss Percy's Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons is a warm, cozy, and utterly delightful comfort-read about a downtrodden 40-year-old spinster who inherits a dragon egg and discovers magic, possibility, and even some romance. It's like Cranford with dragons, but even more fun! I love all of the domestic details and characters in the village and the humor is SO sly, wry and perfect. - Stephanie Burgis, author of The Harwood Spellbook Series

Ultimately, Miss Percy's Pocket Guide left me feeling like I'd just experienced the warmest of hugs. Flawlessly written, enchantingly told, with an unforgettable protagonist and a relentless plot, reading this book was an experience I won't forget anytime soon. - Sarah Chorn, author of Seraphina's Lament

I loved, loved, loved the two principal characters, I loved the writing style, and I adored the baby dragon. If you're looking for something a bit different and you like dragons, then you should drop everything and read this at once. Five stars. - Mary Kingswood, author of the Silver Linings Myseries Series

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B097GF4Z1H
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ World Tree Publishing
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 26, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 836 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 421 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ A Miss Percy Guide
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 2,627 ratings

About the author

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Quenby Olson

Quenby Olson

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Quenby Olson lives in Central Pennsylvania where she spends most of her time writing, glaring at baskets of unfolded laundry, and chasing the cat off the kitchen counters. She lives with her husband and children, who do nothing to dampen her love of classical ballet, geeky crochet, and staying up late to watch old episodes of Doctor Who.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/QuenbyOlson

Website: https://quenbyolson.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/QEisenacher

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,627 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book a delightful novel with a cozy slice-of-life fantasy style, featuring multi-dimensional characters and a narrator who is clever and snide. The story is heartwarming and perfect for Jane Austen fans, with one customer noting it's reminiscent of Terry Pratchett at times. Customers enjoy the humor, with one describing it as "wholesome fantasy fun."

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116 customers mention "Story quality"116 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as a delightful novel with great plots.

"...The story is a beautifully written adventure and tale of self discovery." Read more

"...This was a really cute story, and the perfect way to cap off my cozy November reading list." Read more

"...In terms of genre, this book is primarily fantasy. I think it tends to be seen as being heavy on romance, but it did not necessarily strike me so...." Read more

"This is a charming story of a dragon and how he affects the lives of people in a small English town or village as it changes from time to time and..." Read more

94 customers mention "Humor"94 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous, describing it as witty and delightful, with one customer particularly appreciating the wonderful banter from the author.

"If you are a reader who enjoys creative writing and clever descriptions, this book will hopefully engage you as much as it engaged me...." Read more

"...It must be highly stylized, ideally blending archaic and modern phrasings to create the proper atmosphere, etc...." Read more

"...and showing a clear Jane Austen influence, MPPGttCaFoBD shines in its characterizations...." Read more

"...This gives the book a playful feel and delivers storytelling that does not take itself too seriously, while still successfully hitting emotional..." Read more

49 customers mention "Character development"49 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the multi-dimensional personalities and the older female protagonist.

"...There is the requisite villain, an accomplice, and for something a little different our heroine is a spinster who is about to have a fabulous..." Read more

"...The writing style is fun and the characters are relatable. I can't wait to read the next one and find out what happens to Fitz!" Read more

"...The characters are so full and deep and rich. Even the bad guy is not all bad. (Except for the sister, who desperately needs her ears boxed!)..." Read more

"...Miss Percy is a fantastic character—a 40-something year-old spinster who enjoys all things butter-soaked, baked, or cheesy...." Read more

44 customers mention "Writing style"37 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as delightfully and cleverly snide, though some find it lumbering.

"If you are a reader who enjoys creative writing and clever descriptions, this book will hopefully engage you as much as it engaged me...." Read more

"...in its rambling, baroque sentence structures, sweeping through various asides and explanations before coming back to the point...." Read more

"...commentary both elaborating on story events and occasionally from a direct author perspective...." Read more

"Quenby Olson’s writing style is just delightful!..." Read more

17 customers mention "Heartwarming"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming, with one customer noting how it successfully hits emotional beats and another mentioning how it brings the world to life.

"...that does not take itself too seriously, while still successfully hitting emotional beats that had me enraged, enamored, and excited in turns...." Read more

"...The characters are so full and deep and rich. Even the bad guy is not all bad. (Except for the sister, who desperately needs her ears boxed!)..." Read more

"...Charming, refreshing, and the right amount of protofeminist kick. Bravo!" Read more

"...It is real, heartwarming, interesting, and believable. And I am very much looking forward to book 2!" Read more

10 customers mention "Warmth"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book wonderfully cozy, describing it as a slice-of-life fantasy. One customer compares it to a soothing cup of tea.

"...It did not disappoint. As a cozy fantasy, the stakes are fairly low, but the characters are what make it such a great read...." Read more

"...by Quenby Olson is a cozy fantasy...." Read more

"...Lovely, cozy and exciting all at once! Highly recommend!!" Read more

"4.5 stars Warm, full of humor and interesting lead characters, this book feels like the soothing cup of tea I kept craving while reading..." Read more

9 customers mention "Author"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's work, noting its Jane Austen influences and Austen-esque world, with one customer highlighting its character-driven narrative.

"...The story has wonder, excitement, danger, and love. The writer shows influences of Jane Austen and produces some very Dickensian turns of phrase,..." Read more

"Quenby Olson is a talented author, and both Mildred Percy's and the author's voices are delightful in this fantastical historical novel...." Read more

"...Perfect for fans of Jane Austen, TJ Klune, and JRR Tolkein." Read more

"A reasonable mix of an Austen world and fantasy. Miss Percy is a 40 year old sponsored who has been much out upon...." Read more

8 customers mention "Dragon story"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the dragon story in the book, with one mentioning it includes a baby dragon character.

"...our heroine is a spinster who is about to have a fabulous adventure with the titled Dragon." Read more

"...Entire. Book. Reads. Like. That. Again, interesting plot. Dragons. All things that one loves to read about...." Read more

"...A heroine who doesn’t know she is one, a dragon, adventure, fun and love (but no sex scenes, thank you)...." Read more

"...A cute, baby dragon that is so lively that the story never drags on (see what I did there??)?..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • sbgoodgirl
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant prose and character development
    Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    If you are a reader who enjoys creative writing and clever descriptions, this book will hopefully engage you as much as it engaged me. If you're looking for action packed, this is not the story for you. The story is a beautifully written adventure and tale of self discovery.
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  • A.J.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Really cute
    Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide had been on my radar for quite a few years, and I’ve heard a lot of great things. It did not disappoint.

    As a cozy fantasy, the stakes are fairly low, but the characters are what make it such a great read. Mildred (or Miss Percy) is about forty years old, though she’s still figuring out certain aspects of her life. I really related to that bit, as I feel the same most of the time—at about the same age. She isn’t very outgoing, and often caves to her younger sister’s domineering ways (her sister, Diana, was a piece of work and then some.) But what I loved most about Miss Percy was that she learned to change—and eventually even gained the courage to find her own path. Given the time period (which felt somewhat Victorian era?), it wasn’t easy for her to do so.

    The romance mentioned in the synopsis is very subtle, more a friendship than anything else for most of the book, but it was sweet. It was also a very minor part of the plot (in my opinion), since the focus was on Mildred and her inherited dragon.

    The dragon (Fitz) is very small as a hatchling, but he still manages to get himself into a fair share of trouble. I don’t know if the author is familiar with lizards (specifically bearded dragons), but a lot of Fitz’s mannerisms reminded me of my lizard…combined at times with a house cat’s. For a non-verbal, pet-type character, Fitz was a lot of fun and had a big personality.

    This was a really cute story, and the perfect way to cap off my cozy November reading list.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Daniel Clouser
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I had not intended to read the Miss Percy series. It came onto my radar shortly after the term "cozy fantasy" started being bandied about everywhere, and while I understood why the trend was happening, it wasn't something that I, personally, was crying out for. Fantasy is my thing, but I can't possibly read it all, so I just try to keep informed on all the goings on within the genre. I ended up being informed enough on Miss Percy to recommend it to others and even create a lifelong fan or two. Then, I met Quenby Olson in person, and I started feeling guilty about never having read the book. Though I play Mrs. Greyling to Quenby's Lady Peavley (daughter of a Marquess) in saying so, I simply must read a friend's book, after all.

    In all seriousness, when I got down to reading, the book shattered my expectations in one key way. I say that because it is, in many ways, exactly what I expected. I felt that I knew precisely what this book was as soon as I saw the cover, and I wasn't wrong. However, the success of such a book rides on the writing style. It must be highly stylized, ideally blending archaic and modern phrasings to create the proper atmosphere, etc. This seems like a thing that the author either does or does not do--either it's a success, or we think, Oh, how embarrassing for you! as we watch the author fail completely. But here is where my expectations were so upended: I love Quenby Olson's style. She is way better than I expected--and I did expect the writing to at least be decent, with her being an SPFBO finalist and all.

    A key aspect of Quenby's style (using her first name because, as you may remember, we are friends) is the extensive use of parenthetical statements. This is what sets her apart from similar authors like Josiah Bancroft. The parentheses operate a lot like footnotes--think Susanna Clarke in Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell--and like footnotes, they are sure to be divisive. I can see a lot of readers not appreciating parentheses nested within parentheses, but--while that is certainly a valid opinion from the standpoint of taste--to argue that the writing is therefore bad is flatly wrong. The magic of the text lies in its rambling, baroque sentence structures, sweeping through various asides and explanations before coming back to the point. There is a single sentence in the book that does not work, and it's intentional: in a possible moment of self-parody, the author has one of her characters (Squire Manning) ramble through a paragraph-long run-on sentence that peters out instead of coming together.

    In terms of genre, this book is primarily fantasy. I think it tends to be seen as being heavy on romance, but it did not necessarily strike me so. It is more of a comedy than a romance, but I wouldn't call it a comedy either. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, for example, has situational comedy and romance, but the murder mystery is the main thing. If we cut out the murder mystery part and replaced it with "found a dragon," then you've got Miss Percy--albeit with a very different protagonist, personality-wise. I have argued in the past that fantasy is more of a mode than a genre; that is, the average fantasy story could be stripped of its fantastical elements, and it would still have a genre. The Helm of Midnight would take a lot of work to lose its fantasy elements, but once you did that, it would be a mystery/thriller in the vein of Silence of the Lambs. Miss Percy, however, is evidence that this position isn't quite right. If you remove the fantasy, then you don't really have anything. It really is mostly fantasy and not any other genre, even though it isn't dabbling in any of the standard epic tropes.

    Now, I have not been converted away from my beloved high fantasy epics. The book I am most looking forward to, at the moment, is the next Bound and the Broken novella. But I am a Quenby Olson convert, anyway. She is a great writer. Perhaps I can convince her to write a big, sprawling epic fantasy in a secondary world (based on the strength of our friendship, of course). In the meantime, I will definitely be continuing the series.
    21 people found this helpful
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  • S. Nelson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ready to read the next.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is a charming story of a dragon and how he affects the lives of people in a small English town or village as it changes from time to time and the author explains all that in the book. There is the requisite villain, an accomplice, and for something a little different our heroine is a spinster who is about to have a fabulous adventure with the titled Dragon.
    Helpful
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  • Phil Parkman
    4.0 out of 5 stars Cozy Austen with Dragons
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Miss Percy's Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons (A Miss Percy Guide #1)
    by Quenby Olson is a cozy fantasy. Fantasy as a genre has been dominated by grimdark -> violent horrific tales where all the actors are morally questionable. Well, cozy fantasy couldn't be more different. Everyone, even the villains, are nice - the stakes are low - and the points don't matter. After all the brutality, it's very refreshing to be amused by noshing and parenthetical asides.
    Set in Regency Britain and showing a clear Jane Austen influence, MPPGttCaFoBD shines in its characterizations. Like its title, the book may be a little wordy at times, but you will come to enjoy the company of players. The fantasy is not intrusive at all; it's no spoiler to note that there are dragons, but they are animals not magical beasts. Since the dragons are no surprise, the drama in the book is reserved for the personal relationships we encounter, and any Jane Austen fan will be happy with the way they are handled.
    This book is the first in a series - certain issues are settled but the next volume, out now, continues a cliff-hanger in the coziest sense. Nobody is at risk, but we want to see how our friends fare
    16 people found this helpful
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  • AzUWish
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good and boring
    Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is a period piece set in England. If you are a fan of that genre you'll like this. That leaves me out.
    The author is WORDY. She takes a page to describe a sentence worth of info. Personally I skipped about half the book and still knew the plot.
    The premise is great. A gift of a rock that turns out to to be a dragon egg! Then what to do with the baby dragon.
    Mildred is much of a doormat to be a heroine but she tries to break out of that role by the end.
    This is Downton Abbey with a dragon.🐉
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Ashley Neitz
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fun fantasy adventure
    Reviewed in Canada on November 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Written with the humor of a Douglas Adams book, Miss Percy's Pocket Guide is an entertaining fantasy with plenty of charm.
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  • Loremae
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional!
    Reviewed in Australia on May 26, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    In a manner quite outside of my usual character, I kept reciting entire passages of this marvellous story to my family.

    You see, not only are the characters richly detailed and utterly lovely. The writing is of such superb standard that I found myself delighting in the smooth cadence of the script. This tale is a delight from beginning to end and far more action packed than one could imagine!

    I highly recommend this book. To borrow terminology from the time period, it’s such a frolic!
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  • Nora M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars It's as if Pride and Prejudice met Marry Poppins
    Reviewed in Germany on February 6, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed reading this book! It did take me almost a year after having rented it on KU to actually pick it up and read it because I had feared it to be only pocket guide entries. After having read "Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Fairies", which turned out to be one of my favorite reads so far this year, I decided to give Miss Percy a chance and did not regret it!
    I didn't really go in with too many expectations regarding the story and way it was written. Every chapter starts with an excerpt of Miss Percy's Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons. The story then goes on to (mainly) follow Miss Mildred Percy who lives a rather dull life until a rather unconventional inheritance is bestowed upon her: a stone, which turns out to be a dragon's egg. The ensuing adventure is equally captivating as endearing and I especially enjoyed her journey towards more self-esteem.
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Delightful
    Reviewed in Australia on May 6, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    What a thoroughly enjoyable book! A little fantasy, a little intrigue, beautiful character development, a teeny bit of romance, and best of all, a dragon.
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  • TB
    4.0 out of 5 stars overall good!
    Reviewed in Canada on May 31, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The story was interesting and I feel the narration was very characteristic of the setting - sometimes slow and usually proper and a bit pretentious and a little boring. It was funny though and I enjoyed reading it. The characters were unique and had different motivations that were interesting to read. Probably would give it a 3.5/5
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