The Square of Sevens doesn't seem like my typical read, even though it is classified as Historical Fiction and that is a favored genre. At 528 pages, this is quite a read.

Red and her father seem to be "undercover" and trying to avoid detection; Red's father dies. Red's past is hidden from her. As one knows, those things that are hidden from youngsters become a persistent passion.

Red is a fortune teller and has understanding of the "Square of Sevens" and reading of cards. I was drawn to this book because my mother's great-aunt used to tell fortunes by card reading. At the beginning of each chapter, there is a little insight in regards to what each card represents and a bit of a hint as to what is contained in each chapter.

As I think about this book, I've decided to round this one up to 5 stars. I had been debating between 4 and 5 stars. I especially liked the authors notes.

This is my first book by Laura Shepherd-Robinson. One of the things I love best about NetGalley is that I discover “new to me” authors. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (Atria Books) for the opportunity to review the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review. Additional thanks to Atria Books for approving my ARC request.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oooh boy. I was excited to find this book as it seemed right up my alley but I have to admit I was disappointed. The premise and setting held a lot of promise for me - girl with fortune telling abilities (maybe) discovers she's (probably) a wealthy heiress in the 1720s. But the great number of characters and confusing family connections and slow progression of the plot, plus an occasional flashback... well, I really didn't even want to finish it to be honest. The story line didn't hold my attention in the middle 75% of the book. However I did enjoy the twists and turns at the end which improved my overall opinion of the novel.

Thank you to the author, publishers, and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was the perfect read to kick off fall with. It was immersive, gritty, dark, twisty, and enveloping. Shepherd-Robinson writes a beautifully encompassing novel full of magic, Dickensian characters and names, all while deftly weaving a story that envelopes you. This was a book I struggled to put down--I wanted to keep reading it no matter what was going on, but alas! I loved Red-she was determined, a bit reckless, a little cunning if not outright manipulative when she NEEDS to be (she doesn't manipulate or act duplicitously for the sake of it), and she kept me rooting for her and journeying with her through the whole novel. I loved the heft of this book. It isn't a quick read, so if you're looking for something to sink your teeth into for fall, THIS is the one to start with.

Mystery and fortune-telling in the 1800 life of Red a young woman brought up with a gypsy father of unusual education and breeding, who passes away and leaves her with a very valuable and long-lost instruction called the "Square of Sevens". Also, a copy of a codicil (will) stating that she may be the beneficiary of a large fortune from a family that she thinks might be her mothers, whom she has never known.
The Square of Sevens is an extremely complicated way of dealing out cards for a Querist, resulting eventually in a rectangle (parallelogram) of 21 cards in 3 columns of 7.
Red is extremely proficient at these interpretations and meanings of each card and is sought out because of her skill. When Red starts reading people’s cards, she stumbles into the path of the De Lacy family. Her pursuit of the truth and the fortune behind it is a dark mystery and high jinks bring us on a journey! It is like a puzzle wrapped up in a riddle and then an enigma. So many twists, and turns, and red herrings. I had to stop reading now and then, take a breath, and think about what was happening!
This is such a fun read and the writing achievement is wonderful. I’d never heard of the document and the Secret of Sevens but I am so interested in it now. The author includes a historical note at the end of the book that is very fascinating. She has taken a mystery and given us a magical story.
There’s lots to love here – fortune telling, card games, inheritances disputed and stolen, people who say they are one thing but are really another, stolen documents, and hidden wills. And just as you think you’ve worked something out, you are surprised yet again. This is a long book, approximately 500 pages, so prepare for a long and fantastic adventure.

Cartomancy novels never seem to be as much about cartomancy as I want them to be and this book is no exception, but it’s a terrifically immersive historical novel regardless of that.

I did appreciate that the cartomancy provided some subtle clues to the plot, and it made a great backstory for Red.

But mostly it’s just a great story, and maybe most importantly, one that makes you feel like you’re there.
The best historical fiction always achieves a tremendous sense of place, and this book does an excellent job at that. The atmospheric quality of the prose lets you get lost in this appropriately lengthy saga.

Both Red and Lazarus are excellently written, complex characters who serve as both foils and parallels to one another that create a very satisfying narrative convergence at the end of the novel.

This made me want to seek out more of the author’s previous work, as well as look forward to what she does next.

I received this advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. It's novel was particularly interesting and strongly plotted. I greatly enjoyed it, even though my library will not be purchasing a copy as it has to focus on student related topics. Overall this was a highly atmospheric and intriguing story, which I highly recommend.

The Square of Sevens was fine but I found that halfway through it got a little dull and drawn out. It was hard for me to finish it unfortunately. The ending was good though.

Wow. Just wow. This book has got to be on my list of best reads of 2023, because I was blown away by the originality and incredible story. An orphaned fortune teller in England searching for the secrets kept by her father and long-dead mother kept me turning the pages far into the night. I loved the heroine, I loved the way the story wove around the fortune cards used by Red. There were twists and turns I did not see coming, and when I turned the final page, I had to start all over again. That was how much I wanted to stay in this wonderful, intriguing world.
TEN STARS!

3.5 Stars
Historical fiction with an intelligent, independent-minded heroine is almost always appealing to me. Georgian society is also a real plus. Add in the fortune telling and a bit of mystery and there was no way I wouldn’t add this to my TBR list.

That said, I knew within a couple of pages that this wouldn’t be a 5-star read. The writing was just not the lush and complex style that I personally prefer. That said, the story and character development were good. I could also tell the book was very well researched.

I do believe if this book had been 100 pages less the pacing would have been better, particularly in the first half of the book. The second half really picked up with lots of twists and turns. I’ll say no more, so as not to spoil.

I really enjoyed all the Don Quixote references and was inspired to add a copy to my audio collection.
All said I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to historical fiction fans who are up for a 500+ page read and aren’t looking for literary fiction style writing.

Many thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Ever since I finished THE SQUARE OF SEVENS, I've been scheming like a criminal to figure out how to make as many customers as possible read this book. On the surface, it's a tough sell! Not many people want automatically to pick up a 500-page book set in the 1740s, but I'm sure to tell them how I absolutely could not put this dazzling story down. From page one, I loved Red--there's something so enchanting about a hardscrabble little girl wise beyond her years, getting into adventures and plotting her escape. Red tells us her story exactly as she wants us to hear it, which sometimes means omitting details or asking us to make assumptions, and she's damn good at her trade. At several moments, I thought for sure I had the book figured out, only for the last third to deliver a series of twists and turns that left me flipping pages like a madwoman. I think I read the last chapter three times out of sheer delight! What an atmospheric novel, and what a gift Shepherd-Robinson has to transport the reader to dusty carnival booths and Georgian manors. To be honest, I'm mad that I can never read this one again for the first time!

This was a dazzling, sprawling narrative of 18th century England that ventured from the gutters to the richest houses in the country. The Square of Sevens centers around a young woman who is taken in by a gentleman after her father, a cunning-man, dies when she is seven years old. Through a series of hidden clues, secret documents and family secrets, our main character will stop at nothing to get the birth right that is hers.

This novel is all at once dirty, from the traveling roads of the back country, to the fairgrounds of London where all sorts of characters live and perform, to the back alley taverns where illegal fortunes are told, yet also sparkling clean and pristine from the homes of rich, including their country estates. However, those places can also be as seedy as those that they try to separate themselves from.

I enjoyed our main character's (Red/Rachel) boldness, going after what she wants and using her tricks and fortune-telling to get it. There were many times where I was wondering how she was going to get out of a particular situation. The author also was able to weave a complex family history in a way that not only packed a punch when the final clues set into place, but added richness to the story involving some of the sub plots.

Filled with tension, intrigue, mystery, fate and fortune this is a spell binding and clever novel that will captivate you until the startling conclusion.

In 1840’sRed was a card reader and traveled the circuit with her daddy but when he got sick he beseached a fine gentleman to take her and make her into a lady. In exchange he would give Mr. Robert Antripos the square of seven‘s in ancient formula for prophecy. Red was seven years old and at first Mr. Atropos was hesitant but to Reds good Fortune he changed his mind. All the little girl was left with was a compartmento full of loose ends from her dad‘s life and although curious or guardian wanted her to wait until she was older to go through it. With the exception of her overwhelming curiosity about who her parents were she had everything else she needed and grew up a beautiful young lady but then when her guardian Mr. Antripos passed away she was left with his much older cousin Henry and although Red who now went by Rachel thought him an okay fellow when he came on to her it was more than she could take this is when she packed her bags and heads to London in search of the family she never knew due to various encounters in the past years she come to believe her mother was one of the daughters of a Lord named Nicholas DeLacey and having met the new Lord Julius DeLacey and being invited to his home to give his mom a reading Red decided and that would be her way in threw her involvement with the people on the circuit and the DeLacey family she will soon find out things that are astonishing to her and become the main focus of a long drawn out court suit for the battle of the DeLacey fortune she has always been told that if her mom‘s family knew she was alive they would want her dead and although she is always yearned for family is it enough to risk her life over? This was an awesome multi layered book with mini plots subplots inside plots that all make for one great historical fiction read. I don’t like and never do I criticize my fellow reviewer‘s but anyone who gives this book less than five stars is a book snob this is an absolute brilliant brilliant story! I want to think atria books and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Set in the Georgian era and full of intrigue, mystery and almost a Gothic atmosphere, this sprawling saga kept the attention!

A fortune teller, complex characters and a journey that twist and turns on every page! Cannot wait to read more by this author!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Atria Books. I'm voluntarily leaving a review—all opinions are my own.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Magical Realism
Spice Level: Low-Medium (some things are mentioned but nothing is on the page)
Language: Medium (not much cursing but the most censored word is included)

*THE SQUARE OF SEVENS* is an interesting read—Red drew me into her life and never let go.

The opening chapter is a sneaky prologue, giving us a look into Red's life before we enter the rest of the book. It's a must read for everything to make sense. Even though the protagonist is 16, this book isn't YA.

As a fortune teller, Red gains insight into those around her—even the wealthy families. But there is a mystery surrounding Red and these well-heeled society families who've been at war with each other. I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of the time. (True confession...I wish the book was a tad shorter, and I'm not sure how that would happen, but that was still my thought. I think I got bogged down a bit when Red is living with one of the wealthy families.) The author lead me along, keeping me guessing. I thought I had everything sussed out. BUT the ending surprised me—and I'm still considering what I thought about the ending.

In the author notes, she tells us how the Square of Sevens is an actual book! Most of the original printed books were destroyed in a fire. So some of the names in this book include accounts of the original fortune-telling book. My recommendation would be to go into this book as if the Square of Sevens is fictitious and be amazed over the story.

Things I loved:

Fortune telling
The carnival: Bartholomew Fair
Puzzling through the mysteries
The curse on a servant
Secret hiding places
Twisty
Driven protagonist
Layers of lies
London
Bath
Age of Enlightenment
Don Quixote references
The maps and cards!

I think you're going to love this book if you're into mysteries, historical, or thrillers. And I recommend it.

Happy reading!
And may you have good fortune.

Very long and plodding, and just didn’t keep my attention. I can see the appeal, especially with the strong start, but it’s not for me.

I wasn't a fan of the fortune-telling part in the book The Cloisters so I was hesitant when I saw the main character in this book was also a fortune-teller. It turned out that the use of cards in The Square of Sevens was so deftly woven into the story that I looked forward to seeing what the cards would reveal.

Red was orphaned at an early age when her father, a Cornish "cunning man", died and left her in the care of a wealthy gentleman scholar., Robert Antrobus Her legacy is her knowledge of fortune-telling using the Square of Seven technique. Although she no longer casts fortunes for money, she is still in demand even in the sophisticated society of Bath. Secure in the Antrobus household, Red delves into her past, trying to find out who her mother was and what happened to her. What Red finds not only disrupts her life but those of the wealthy De Lacy and Seabrooke families. Could she be related to them and, if so, could she be a long-lost heir? Finding out could put her life in peril as well as those closest to her.

This is a beautifully written book that is intricately plotted and whose characters come alive in eighteenth-century England. It is a complex mystery with twists that kept me engaged. throughout. Red is a wonderful heroine and her life, though often trying, is one such that the reader hopes she comes out on the winning side. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is September 5, 2023.

This was a very enjoyable book. The setting of 18th century England and the theme of fortune telling sucked me in from the first page. The book opens with Red as a 7 year old reading fortunes using a method calledthe Square of Sevens. She is traveling with her father who is on the run. The story follows Red as her father dies and she tries to decipher the mystery of her unknown mother. As she navigates London, reading fortunes, and looking for her family mysteries of her father, her mother and her family are unveiled. Red is naive and often foolish unaware of the dangers that could be awaiting her. A good book although a slow read. Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the digital ARC that I received. This review is my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

"The Square of Sevens" is a sweeping, fantastical saga by Laura Shepherd-Robinson. The novel had elements and themes of magical realism that reminded me at times of "The Night Circus" but mixed with a dark, historical setting that was very reminiscent of Charles Dickens. Two of our main characters/points of view are Lazarus Darke and Red, both of whom are compelling , complex, and, occasionally, ruthless characters. Their paths have plenty of twists and turns throughout the book and intertwine in clever ways. This is a big book and it took a while for me to get into the story and start reading at a faster pace but, once the plot kicked into high gear, I was eager to finish the book and find out the conclusion. 3.5/5 stars

The Square of Sevens was an engrossing, meaty, twisty read! The publisher's description compares it to a Sarah Waters book, and I think that's very apt. If you're a Waters fan, you'll love this story.

I was extremely happy to have the chance to read this book in advance of its publication, and I"ll be recommending it widely to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, the occult, Dickensian storytelling, and twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end - and then leave you satisfied.

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I think that this long (over 500 pages) book is going to be one of the big novels of the fall. It tells an involving story of a young girl called Red as the story opens and later called Rachel. She travels about with her father who is a man of unique talents. Red does not know anything about her mother as the book opens and she is curious.

Red has learned to tell fortunes using the square of sevens. Apparently this takes some talent. This cartomancy is important to the story.

SPOILER BUT EARLY IN THE BOOK: Red’s father dies.

Red later lives wit a guardian who introduces her to a much more luxurious lifestyle than she and her father had; they were close to destitute. Red becomes Rachel and moves to Bath from Cornwall.

I don’t want to give anything away as the plot is important in this novel. There are adventures, secrets, lives lost, charlatans and better people, will and inheritance issues, mysterious documents, the cards and so much more.I will say that this story, which takes places in Georgian England is Dickensian in scope. This is true both of characters and the story itself as can be seen from the summary above.

Will Red learn who her mother was? If yes, will she be welcomed by her family? Will Red find happiness? How much will the Square of Sevens be part of her life?

For readers who want to settle down with a long and involving (if a bit slow at times) read, you may just have found your next book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this title. All opinions are my own.