Graduating with honors from the University, Dorie Rochart is frustrated by her inability to get a job doing the field work she has the experience to do: collecting medicinal plants like feywort and studying rare wilderness creatures such as the wyvern and the basilisk. Only men are hired for field work, so Dorie, who is half-fey, decides to alter her body. As “Dorian” she is hired by the Queen's Lab and paired with Tam, the cousin she has loved and missed for years. They had a mysterious falling out when they were fifteen. As Dorian, Dorie works with Tam who does not realize her identity. While investigating the properties of wyvern egg albumen, Tam and Dorie discover that the Queen's Lab is doing nefarious work that endangers the livelihood of the fey species.
Connolly's world comes alive with fantastical creatures, fey magic, and disturbing technologies. Her characters are diverse, well drawn and likable—even the villain has admirable qualities. Dorie is a delightful and complex protagonist, and her romance with Tam flows easily within the greater plot of the story, which is well paced and suspenseful. Themes such as the environment and women's rights are integral but not didactic. Highly recommended. ( )

My love for these books knows no bounds. Dora is wonderful, she is a scientist studying wyverns and basilisks, how much better does it get? Connolly has created an amazing world and uses it to make moving points about the women's equality movement and racism. The romance is heart wrenching and the plot twists are subtle but mind blowing. Just read this book okay? ( )