Beth Pickering is the youngest female professor of ornithology at Oxford University. Devon Lockley is also  professor of ornithology, but at Cambridge University. As assistant to Hippolyta Quirm, Beth travels on many missions trying to capture an array of rare magical birds, and when her path crosses with Devon doing much the same assisting Professor Orberhufter, they quickly become rivals. So when a competition to capture the endangered caladrius bird and win not only Birder of the Year award but also tenure, the chase is on! Yet as events unravel Beth and Devon find themselves teaming up to unravel a bigger mystery and avoid the clutches of other ornithologists clawing their way to victory. Ornithology is a ruthless game but along the way perhaps, just maybe, Beth and Devon can find love. 

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton is a fun blend of historical fantasy, rom-com and added light academia. This is a book full of wit, charm and an abundance of chaotic escapades!

Whenever I read a book by Holton, there are a few things that I have now come to expect; fun characters, whimsical worldbuilding and a heartwarming romance. Beth Pickering has the manners of an angel and Devon Lockley has the cynicism of a villain, but oh my they are both adorable characters. Holton always has neurodivergent female leads and the representation of this is always an important aspect of her books. Beth Pickering is a character who is smart, passionate and loves her work, to the point where it alienates her because many do not understand or share her obsessions. In the company of birds and academic facts, she is the most comfortable. She has spent a lifetime feeling like an outcast, being submissive to those who take advantage of her and her loneliness can certainly be felt. That is until she meets Devon Lockley, a man who at first she cannot stand, but one she is drawn to nonetheless. Underneath Devon’s rakish humour, his rogue antics, he has also been an outcast and spent a lifetime without a real connection to anyone. Together they go from “rivals” (and I use this term loosely because the rivalry is very humorous and lighthearted), to being partners and eventually more. Their journey is filled with many shenanigans, misunderstandings and many high speed chases! Yet as their closeness, kindness and tenderness towards each other grows the more they both made me smile.

“I like you. I like you a great deal. Frankly, anyone who doesn’t is a fucking idiot. And anyone who says cruel things, or uses silence as a weapon, is a bully who knows how to be violent without lifting a finger. Don’t blame yourself, sweetheart. It’s not your fault or your shame.”

The side characters in this novel were also as I expected, overdramatic, dastardly and ever so amusing. Though I found Hippolyta Quirm a bit too over the top at first and unpleasant towards Beth, an aspect I wasn’t expecting, she did eventually get put in her place which I very much enjoyed. Her rivalry with fellow Ornithologist, Orberhufter, was quite outrageous and took some strange turns that were just hilarious. However my two favourite side characters were Mr Flogg and Mr Fettick, who cleverly added another dimension to the novel, first by adding some mystery to the plot and then acting as narrators in certain parts by giving a good commentary on what readers of romance like to expect. This worked to either foreshadow what was to come or for us to guess how these events would go wrong. I very much enjoyed their interludes because of this. 

“The reeling flamingo of Peru somersaults during its courtship dance,” she said. “And uses magic to flip rocks as well. The bigger the rocks, the more likely it is to find a mate.”

“I flipped a couple of these mattresses to stack them out of the way,” Devon answered with a boyish smile as they side stepped again, their movement slower this time, their hands growing warm.”

I have now read four books by Holton and I think this one has my favourite worldbuilding because it has the most magic, which comes in the form of magical birds. This is a world set in 1890 but is filled with thaumaturgic magic found in the earth and in wildlife. As our characters journey across England to save the rare caladrius, a bird with healing properties, along the way they meet many other species and see their magic first hand, and oh is it deadly?! The frostbird that could freeze its prey instantly, the deathwistle with its fatal song, and the rather comedically named whopper swan, were just some we encountered. Holton also showcases how the other ornithologists, in the name of discovery, science and their own personal ambition, were prepared to mistreat the birds, cage them and not put their welfare first. Having Beth and Devon show the welfare of the caladrius and its freedom as their top priority over winning Birder of the Year and their precious tenure, was a lovely touch that made me admire them even more. In turn the caladrius seems to sense this of them and its magic prospers in their presence which was beautiful. One of my favourite scenes in the entire book comes when one of Devon‘s favourite birds magically lights up the sky while he and Beth share a romantic moment together. It was swoonworthy!

If you’re looking for a feel-good, lighthearted read with a touch of silliness and plenty of romance then The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love will certainly hit that spot. 

“Love filled the air.

It was magic, but more. It was pure healing, right down to the core of life, where only truth existed.”

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love is available now. You can order your copy on Bookshop.org