I Should Read That

Book review¹

At sixteen, Honora ‘Nora’ Holtzfall is the daughter of the most powerful heiress in Gamanix; her family controls all the money – and all the magic – in the entire country. But when her mother is found murdered in an alley, the family throne and fortune are up for grabs, which means Nora will be pitted against her cousins in the deadly Veritaz trials to determine the rightful inheritor.

But there’s a surprise rival in the form of Ottoline, aka Lotte, the illegitimate daughter of Nora’s aunt, who was left with nuns as a baby. Thrown into the Veritaz, she is suddenly surrounded by a hostile family she never knew she had.

But as the Holtzfalls wage their battles of privilege, something bigger and more sinister bubbles beneath the surface, and revolution is in the air.

Incredible tests, impossible choices, and deadly odds await both girls. But there can only be one winner.

Fans of Alwyn Hamilton’s Rebel of the Sands series – rejoice! Her much-anticipated newbook is out now, and The Notorious Virtues is a fabulous YA fantasy read. A tale of family, power, secrets, and rebellion wrapped in a 1920-inspired world, The Notorious Virtues is worth the wait.

This book is an action-packed adventure from the get-go. From the high-profile murder of a fabulously wealthy heiress to the start of the trials to pick a virtuous new heir, this book gets its hooks into you immediately. I really enjoyed getting thrown into the deep end, particularly because I loved the world, which is the same as her Rebel series, so much. Hamilton is an excellent world-builder and the 1920’s flair makes this book feel like a breath of fresh air. Much to my delight. there is also a fairytale interspersed throughout the book between chapters, sneakily providing more information on the world and the Holtzfall’s family history and of the city of Gamanix.

Now, for the characters. For me, this is where the book really shines. There are a number of POV characters, and their chapters are all equally fun to read. While I especially loved August, the journalist looking for a career-saving scoop, and Lotte, the secret, illegitimate Holtzfall daughter and surprise Veritaz candidate, Nora is my queen. She is spoiled rotten, a media darling, and far too clever for her own good. She has a fantastic character arc – I loved watching her lift her head up from her champagne glass and see what’s going on in the city outside of her incredibly privileged circles. Her relationship with journalist August and her cousin Lotte gave her so much dimension. I’m really excited to see where everyone’s story goes, but especially Nora’s own character arc and growth.

The Notorious Virtues is a fantastic fantasy novel that is totally unputdownable. A lush world with magic, mystery, and rebellion, you’ll love this if you’re a fan of her Rebel of the Sands series or are looking for a refreshing YA fantasy tale.

1. A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ↩︎