# Claws and Contrivances

By Stephanie Burgis · Regency Dragons, book 2

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/claws-and-contrivances-c1a256e7/

Rose Tregarth’s new home at Gogodd Abbey in Wales comes with kind relatives and a long list of things that need organizing. Mysterious little dragons and a threatening neighbor give her more urgent work. Scheming with dragon scholar Cornelius Aubrey leads to a fake engagement, adding a romantic performance to her practical responsibilities.

## What makes it funny?

Rose’s carefully underlined Grand Plan stays blank while her relatives require help with everything else. Her aunt overlooks a toddler painting the wall with tea, then urgently requests advice about the heraldry of a fictional dark knight. The household can make a writing problem seem more pressing than domestic damage.

### The comedy at work

Rose can tackle other people’s emergencies more readily than her own uncertain future. Her relatives apply practical concern to Gothic fantasies: when Rose wonders who would feed her if monsters bit off her fingers, Georgie volunteers because Beth would cry into the food and ruin the flavor.

### Try this if…

An affectionate, disorganized household gives this Regency romance much of its appeal. Readers drawn to a determined heroine and an easily distracted scholar can follow their schemes as small dragons bring them together.

### Good to know

This second Regency Dragons novel can be read on its own. Rose is grieving her parents and separated from her sisters; threats to pet dragons and a menacing human neighbor occur within the cozy setting. There is also a sapphic side romance.

## What to expect

- Genre: Fantasy · Historical · Romance
- On the shelf: Cozy fantasy · Historical romance · Romantasy · Romantic comedy
- Kind of humor: Banter · Situational comedy
- The atmosphere: Cozy · Warmhearted
- Audience: Adult
- Format: Novel
- Length: 323 pages (ebook)
- Published: 2023

## A few distinguishing details

- A fake engagement involving a dragon scholar
- A crumbling Welsh abbey full of competing emergencies
- Gothic-fiction worries interrupt a heroine’s practical plans

## Sources & further reading

- Book information: [Claws and Contrivances by Stephanie Burgis on Apple Books](https://books.apple.com/us/book/claws-and-contrivances/id6444136534)
- Author commentary: [Author](https://www.stephanieburgis.com/books/claws-and-contrivances)
- Author commentary: [Author series bibliography](https://www.stephanieburgis.com/novel-series/regency-dragons)
- Author commentary: [Author publication commentary](https://www.stephanieburgis.com/2023/07/claws-and-contrivances-arrives-in-the-world-with-some-notes-about-how-it-got-here)
- Reading sample: [Opening chapter](https://www.stephanieburgis.com/books/claws-and-contrivances/chapter-one)
- Review: [Books, Bones & Buffy review](https://booksbonesbuffy.com/2023/07/13/claws-and-contrivances-by-stephanie-burgis-review)