Review
When offered
the chance to join this blog tour I was really excited by the books premise, a magician
turned cardsharp to gamble and win a secret. The Knave of Secrets doesn’t
disappoint and most certainly delivers what it states in the blurb, however for
me personally I wasn’t as excited once I started reading the book.
The Knave
of Secrets though it
wasn’t personally for me does have its high points which I can see will appeal
to other readers. What I did respect and enjoy was the complexities of the
world building and multiple narrative perspectives (which will appeal to many more
readers too). This book certainly has a very complex magical system which
is explored through Valen and Tenerieve who met and studied magic together at
the Seminaire academy. As I said this complex magical system will be enjoyable to
a number of readers. The reason that I struggled to enjoy it was because it
felt too complex and disconnected due to the multiple narratives that didn’t always
feel like they followed on easily from one another. To me the multiple perspectives
felt like they jumped too much for me to keep up at times. That said, the
multiple perspectives also allow for Mr Livingston to explore and expand the
world so that readers can have a wider perspective of the world, not just contained
to one or two oppositional viewpoints, as well as to better understand the
value of the stolen and much sought after secret.
‘A spellbook in the hands of a novice could be dangerous, to say nothing of the ownership of the ideas within. Thus any paper book of spells bore some sort of encryption, normally hidden.’
Besides the excitement
and political intrigue the pacing of this book was slightly too long for me. We
know going into The Knave of Secrets that we will encounter a gambling
den where players trade their secrets, not just their money, and so this was
why the book is new and exciting. It took over 100 pages, nearly around 170,
before the big secret was finally won and revealed by Valen. Therefore, as I said
the pacing for me felt too long and drawn out due to the time spent building up
to the game losing some of the initial excitement I had going into this book.
However,
what stood out for me instead was the exploration of Tenerieve and her status
as an outsider. I always
enjoy books which explore important themes through the safety of a fantasy world.
Tenerieve is born among the Mistigri people, the closest comparison is our
worlds known travelling communities, and therefore she is seen as an outsider
and mistrustful by most other than her trusted and close companions. I enjoyed
not only the questions and issues raised about how certain communities and
individuals become ostracized but the found family that Tenerieve finds amongst
her companions with Jaq, Valen, and Margo. This to me was the stand out element
for The Knave of Secrets.
“Ten, you wouldn’t have believed me otherwise, but you have a home here. With me and Margo. I knew you would try to make amends with the Seminaire, to prove you were no threat to them; those are the skills that have kept you alive. We wanted to show you that we understand. If we had told you about our suspicions, you would have run off.”
Synopsis
A twisty tale of magicians, con artists and card games, where secrets are traded and gambled like coin, for fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora and The Mask of Mirrors.
Never stake more than you can afford to lose.
When failed magician turned cardsharp Valen Quinol is given the chance to play in the Forbearance Game—the invitation-only tournament where players gamble with secrets—he can’t resist. Or refuse, for that matter, according to the petty gangster sponsoring his seat at the table. Valen beats the man he was sent to play, and wins the most valuable secret ever staked in the history of the tournament.
Now Valen and his motley crew are being hunted by thieves, gangsters, spies and wizards, all with their own reasons for wanting what’s in that envelope. It’s a game of nations where Valen doesn’t know all the rules or who all the players are, and can’t see all the moves. But he does know if the secret falls into the wrong hands, it could plunge the whole world into war…
Key Quotes
‘[Margo] told her that this is what a home meant. That you were always forgiven.’
‘He spun to see the silhouette of the hunter against the glow of the torch light […] He had not figured, though, that the bastard would take it upon himself to start shooting people when he lost.’
‘A criminal is always well-versed in the precise details of the law she breaks.’
‘Words had power. Words could kill. And secret words all the more.’
Author information
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| Alex Livingston |
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