I think I was expecting something slightly different from this book. I had the idea somehow that this was a mystery with a hint of the supernatural.

Instead, it's a gothic bildungsroman about a girl seeking to know who her parents were, and then how to get her inheritance despite the vast array of relatives seeking to get rid of her. It's also very slow paced.

This is sort of a Dickensian book with a huge cast of characters. I can usually hold my own with genealogy but this book defeated me. Despite the family tree provided, I kept losing track of who was whose child and therefore who was in line for inheritance where, and in the end I didn't care enough to keep wading through it.

It's also pretty slow. We read about our heroine as a very young girl, get walked through her youth with her benefactor, follow her as she loses everything because of the greed of her benefactor's nephew, how she reads cards and manages to catch the notice of people who she might be able to use for something later. There are dresses. There are balls for the dresses to be worn to.

In another mood I might have sunk into this and enjoyed the slow pace, the heroine's journey (with a surprise at the end). I decided the time sink was too much and bailed.

The beginning drew me in with Red's tale. I loved reading about how Mr. Antrobus took her in, and how secure she felt in the his care and that of his housekeeper. I also liked reading about the Square of Sevens and how it worked. There were some engaging characters.

However, there were too many characters and the book was too long. By the end of the story, I had had a very hard time keeping up with the characters and the relation of each to Red. By the time I learned who Red really was, I didn't care much as I had lost interest and wondered why we had to wind around and around through the story to get to this point.

Wow! I loved this book. It is so rich in characters and descriptions, it is not hard to visualize every page. The storyline is complex without bogging down and there are surprises throughout. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historic fiction, mystery, intrigue and surprises. Add an appreciation of classic literature, and you have a great read.

Absolutely loved this book! From start to finish, it kept me hooked. Highly recommend to any book lover out there!

An intricate puzzle box of a book that appears, on its surface, to be a story of a girl trying to find her connection to her mother’s family. It’s also about aspects of 1730s Georgian society: the wide disparity in wealth and opportunity, the fascination amongst the wealthy for fortune-telling, the illegality of practicing any kind of divination (card-reading, etc.), and the complications of inheritance when a family is at war with itself. (The inheritance situation in this story reminded of Dickens' "Bleak House", and its very long running inheritance case before the Court of Chancery.)

Author Laura Shepherd-Robinson gradually reveals a many- layered narrative and its large cast. This story is wonderfully Dickensian with its colourful characters, mysteries, vicious family relations, corruption, danger, and wonderful atmosphere. Also, the story is cleverly structured using the Square of Sevens, and the meaning of specific cards, showing us the progress of the narrative, and Red's fortunes.

This book held me enthralled from its beginning, when we meet Red and her father telling fortunes, while on the run from a wealthy family intent on doing them harm. Her father has taught her a complex method to read cards, called the Square of Sevens. It's difficult to learn, and not a widely known form of cartomancy. Red ends up in Bath after her father's death; she's taken in by a kindly, wealthy bachelor , Mr. Antrobus, as his ward, and cared for with much love by his staff and him, and gains the name Rachel. Red/Rachel is raised to be a proper Georgian lady.

Red remains intent on finding out who her relations are, and takes any crumb of information she can find, gradually making her way to Bath, London and Devon.

To accomplish this, she joins a travelling troupe of performers and practices cartomancy, despite the risks, and gains a wealthy clientele, giving readings in their homes. This eventually leads her to the de Lacys, her mother's family, who have been engaged in a long inheritance fight amongst themselves.

Fashioning herself as a respectable woman, who can also tell fortunes for those with discernment (and money), Red infiltrates the de Lacys. There are many dangers that Red encounters along the way; she's resourceful, adept at reading people, bold, but also flawed, which leads her into conflicts and risky situations. Red is also a survivor, and figures her way through the conflicting stories about family members, as well as the naked desire of some to profit at the expense of others, leading to some wonderful conversations, many perils and a wild flight at one night.

I loved this story and its captivating, complex lead. Shepherd-Robinson gives us an engrossing story full of lies, misdirections, greed, violence, and many secrets. It's wonderfully plotted; its wide-ranging plot is full of drama and scheming characters, surprises, social commentary, and detailed mysteries. I had a blast reading this.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

THE SQUARE OF SEVENS by Laura Shepard-Robinson

I received the digital ARC of this last year, but I knew I wanted a hard copy so I waited to read it. As a causal tarot reader, this was right up my alley. Also, whenever a book has maps and images throughout, it’s best (IMO) to have a physical copy. That’s part of the whole reading experience y’know?

This story has it all; two wealthy and influential families fighting over an inheritance, a large manor house with multiple hidden passageways and rooms, astrology, suspicious deaths, scandals, gossip etc. At the center of it all is Red, a young fortune teller who desperately wants to learn more about the mother she’s never known.

What this book also has is a large cast of characters and multi layered twists and turns interwoven into the plot. There are details you’ll need to keep track of and people you can’t quickly forget. While I felt the story lost its momentum at the midway point when it became bogged down with too many details, the ending made up for it.

I loved how all twenty one cards (and its meanings) were shown at the beginning of each chapter. The author’s historical note at the end was also quite insightful. I appreciate when historical fiction incorporates divination and astrology without it feeling too “woo woo” or contrived.

Overall, this is a worthwhile story to get into if you love a good historical mystery with the added bonus of cartomancy.


Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

1730 Cornwall England

Red is a young girl traveling with her father making a living as a fortune teller using an ancient technique of reading cards called the Square of Sevens. After her father dies she is raised as a lady in Bath, an area where high society enjoys life with other elites. She continues her fortune telling while quietly investigating who her mother was and who the enemies might be that, according to her father ,would want to kill her. Red travels from Bath to London and Devon in her pursuits of the truth.

This book was a very long telling of a story that wasn't as interesting to me as it felt like not a lot happened to keep me intrigued. However if readers enjoy this era of English life and the mysticism that was so popular in this era, this book might be interesting. It just wasn't for me.

My thanks to Net Galley, Atria Book and Cindy Burnett from Thoughts From a Page for an advanced copy of this e-book.

Very interesting story. It had me captivated right from the start. The second part did drag a bit for me, but overall very well done. Thought provoking as well.

This “intricately plotted, epic, follows an orphaned fortune teller in 18th-century England as she searches for answers about her long-dead mother.

I absolutely loved this book. This is historical fiction done well! This story had so many moving parts it was easy to get caught up in this world. Red/Rachel was as tenacious a FMC as I have ever read. The mystery, the lies and all the family scandal will keep you hooked.

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for allowing me to review this book.

QOTD: What would you do with one million dollars?

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Wow! I was drawn to this book by the description of fortune telling, historical novel, orphan. What I was expecting was a story of intrigue, arson, nuanced deception, real cartomancy, and locations ranging from the seamy side of London, Mayfair, Bath and manor houses, the time between magick and technology, Anti-Catholicism, lawsuits, a few murders, and not one but several twists!

This is a great book with Dickensian length and intrigue but a more modern feel.

What a web of a story that the author created! It took awhile for the author to land the plane, but the two major twists at the end really bumped up my rating- wow! I'm also glad I read the author's note that she wanted it to read like a Dickensian novel, thus it being 500+ pages and floral detail. For readers that can stick with a book when the middle drags, the payoff is great.

The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of human relationships, personal identity, and the power of numbers.

The story follows the life of Alex, a math prodigy who sees the world through the lens of numbers and patterns. His unique perspective leads him to discover the Square of Sevens, a mathematical concept that he believes holds the key to understanding the very fabric of existence. As he delves deeper into this concept, he finds himself on a journey of self-discovery, navigating complex relationships with those around him.

One of the book’s standout aspects is its unique blend of mathematics and philosophy. Shepherd-Robinson seamlessly weaves together complex mathematical concepts and existential questions, creating a narrative that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. The author’s use of numbers and patterns as a metaphor for the human experience adds depth and richness to the story.

The characters in the book are well-developed and multi-dimensional, with Alex being a particularly compelling protagonist. His struggles to connect with others, his obsessive focus on math, and his desire for meaning are deeply relatable, making him an empathetic and endearing character. The supporting cast of characters also adds nuance and complexity to the story, highlighting the intricate nature of human connections.

There were parts I really liked and this book and parts I wasn't crazy over. The beginning started out really strong for me. I loved the vibes, the mystery around Red's past and the magic in cartomancy. Plus, the idea of fortune telling is just exciting. I was fully engaged in book 1, but book 2 took a little turn for me. The story kind of lost me around the law suit situation. It began to drag a bit in the middle, but then picked up towards the end of book 3 and book 4. There are times it feels like there was a lot going on and a lot of characters and plot points to keep up with. I still really enjoyed the writing and hope this author brings her other books to the United States so I can read them! 3.5/5

The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson has all the spooky vibes readers search for to add to their towering TBR piles. I might even hand this one off to interested teens.

This is an absolutely beautifully written book. I loved the detail to the time period. Red is a character I truly cared about and, although it’s a longer book, I flew through the pages. The mystery and twist were not predictable. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction and mystery should grab this one! I’ll keep an eye on this author in the future.

A complex and cleverly crafted read with an unexpected twist.
Many thanks to Atria and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read this book early! I really enjoyed it. I thought the writing was very well done, and the story kept me interested. I believe my students/patrons would also love this book and will be acquiring it for the library!

Nothing is as it seems in “The Square of Sevens,” Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s Georgian England atmospheric occult mystery novel featuring an orphaned little girl named, Red, who is sly, smart and most assuredly an unreliable narrator.

Readers learn in the beginning that Red’s mother died at her birth and that she was raised by her vagabond father, a debonair card trickster who specialized in telling fortunes by an exotic, esoteric method known as the Square of Sevens.

But what of Red’s heritage is true and what is fabricated? And why is a wealthy family willing to kill Red to prevent dark and dangerous secrets from emerging? Yes, this is a long and winding journey to a fabulously twisted and unpredictable end. I loved every word in this mind-bending fictional tale of survival and resilience.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Laura Shepherd-Robinson, and Publishers Altria Books and Edelweiss for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

Our protagonist, Red, spent the first seven years of her life on the run with her father, evading the eyes of those who, according to her father, intend to harm them. Red’s father, who goes by the name of George the Tenth of Kernow, is a "cunning-man" who comes from a long line of pellars. Using an ancient method of card reading that has been passed down through generations, father and daughter make their living telling fortunes using the Square of the Sevens method. Red is a gifted fortune teller. She never knew her mother, having lost her when she was a baby, and her father hadn’t shared much about her with Red. After her father dies, seven-year-old Red is left in the care of an antiquarian from Bath to whom he also entrusts the manuscript detailing the unique Square of Sevens technique. However, she remains curious about her parents, a quest that is discouraged by her guardian. Red spends the next ten years in Bath until her fortunes change after the demise of her guardian. She runs away from Bath and the clutches of her guardian’s shady nephew and tries to support herself, telling fortunes – a risky venture after the passing of The Witchcraft Act of 1735, which could result in imprisonment. She follows the clues of her mother’s family history from her father’s documents which lead her to London and Devon amid two feuding but influential families who would rather their secrets stay buried but also wouldn’t hesitate to use Red as a pawn to further their own motives. Will Red discover the truth about her family connections and finally find out why she spent her early childhood on the run with her father? Will she be able to see through the lies , deceit and manipulation?

The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a cleverly plotted work of historical fiction with an intriguing mystery at its core. I loved the Gothic vibes and the atmospheric setting and how cartomancy is incorporated into the narrative structure. Each chapter begins with the card and its interpretation, which, if studied together, predicts the possible outcomes for the relevant plot point /person concerned. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and loved the large cast of characters, each of whom had a significant part to play in Red’s quest – both her friends and allies as well as the villainous and shady people she encounters. She doesn’t always make the wisest of choices, but one wouldn’t expect a sheltered teenager to be worldly wise and exercise caution in her dealings with others. Red’s character development was on point in keeping with her age, naiveté and life experiences. The author excels in depicting the contrasting worlds of both London’s fair folk and affluent society. I would have given a higher rating had the story been shorter and a tad more tightly woven. The pace slows down considerably in some segments and dragged around the halfway mark. Though a few of the revelations were not completely unpredictable, I loved the ending and thought that the final twist was well executed.

The author has penned a fascinating historical note where she discusses the era, her inspiration for this story and much more. This is my first time reading this author and I intend to explore more of her work.

Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Wow, I was not expecting this! From the first chapter, I was swept into this 18th century world with characters I quickly connected with. The storyline of The Square of Sevens is unique, with a great premise and captivating unexpected plot progression.
Laura Shepherd- Robinson excelled at "showing not telling" while world-building and that's not something I can say about a lot of books. I loved the explanation of the square of sevens and how she used the cards & meanings at the beginning of each chapter, allowing the reader to learn more about the concept without beating us over the head with an info-dump.
The only thing I regret is I read this in e-book form instead of a physical copy and this is definitely a story I wanted to have that physical connection with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy and provide my honest opinion.