This is a difficult book to describe, there are so many things going on and a lot of characters to keep track of, the book is also over 500 pages long and keeping track of characters can get confusing. Red is a young girl who has lost her father and the caregiver her father had left her with. Red has always had a curiosity about her mother, her dad had been very vague about her. Red and her father had made their living by telling fortunes through a card game, The Square of Sevens, certain cards that appear in a certain order have meaning and Red, by talking to the person, interprets that meaning. Red is convinced she is the related to a wealthy family and using her card game manages to get herself invited to their sprawling estate in the country to tell fortunes of the family and attendees of a yearly ball. While at the mansion Red attempts to discover any truth to whether or not she is related to the family, this part of the story was quite suspenseful and well written. The author does a sort of summary at the end that goes over everything that happened and adds information that wasn't revealed, very interesting. I would recommend this book, though the length of it and the many characters may be off putting to some. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Atria books for the ARC.

Ah wow! What an enthralling story with so many twists and turns. Trust no one and pay attention while you unravel mysteries, intrigue, familial disputes, and murders.

The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a captivating 18th-century English tale following Red, a young fortune teller seeking to uncover the secrets of her past, guided by the ancient Cornish Square of Sevens technique. As she traverses the splendors of Georgian society, her journey reveals scandals, murder, love, and Machiavellian twists, creating a rich historical tapestry.

Shepherd-Robinson's impeccable world-building immerses readers in the era, though the complexity of the inheritance scandal in the second half might challenge some. Despite this, Red's compelling character, the allure of fortune-telling, and the satisfying conclusion make The Square of Sevens a captivating read, showcasing the author's talent for blending mystery, historical fiction, and the supernatural.

Well, that was a fun one! A little bit of everything with a big ol’ dose of twists and turns. It is really nice to read a book and not figure out what has really happened until the actual end. No spoilers here, but do try to plod along even if you might get bogged down a time or two, and maybe even a wee bit confused. It all gets explained.

This book had the right amount of fortune telling, romance, greed, and deceit! Kudos to Laura Shepherd-Robinson for weaving it all together masterfully!

Thanks go to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eArc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Red is the main character of this epic tale, taking place in England in the first half of the 1700s. When it starts she is a small child, traveling with her fortune-telling father. Her luck changes when a kindly man adopts her, and that, together with her knowledge of cartomancy, plus some of her invaluable possessions, put her on a path that will change her destiny.

Up to 50% this novel was my cup of tea. The writing style is Dickensian but very readable, the world-building impeccable and delightful. A mystery at the heart to keep one’s interest. The plot was a pastiche of several genres, all among my favorites. (Can’t say much more than that due to spoilers). But then the pacing was off, the story dragged too much for my taste. It became repetitive and needed to be shortened. I skimmed the last half to find out how it ended, and I have to say the ending is extremely satisfying. There are twists I couldn’t see coming. The author’s notes are fascinating and I have such respect for her talent! So…I have mixed feelings.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Usually I am not a huge Historical Fiction reader but this book was a really great read!!
I absolutely loved how this story was a constant mystery right up till the last page. It constantly left you asking questions and constantly left you wanting answers.
I absolutely loved Red. She was a character that would lead you to believe one thing only then at the very next second show you that you were wrong. There were so many twists and turns with her story and I loved following them and finally unlocking all her truths at the very end!
The only reason this is not a 5 star for me was because it did feel like it dragged on at certain points. This book is very long and though I understand why certain things needed to be in there I felt like there was some that didn’t need to be.

HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for giving me an eARC of this book and allowing me to review it. This really was a fun story!

I received this from Netgalley.com.

Red is such an interesting, frustrating character. I enjoy reading these long family sagas that leave you just a little off-balance.

Good read!

4.25☆

"An orphaned fortune teller in 18th-century England searches for answers about her long-dead mother and uncovers shocking secrets in this immersive and atmospheric saga perfect for fans of Sarah Waters and Sarah Perry.

Cornwall, 1730: A young girl known only as Red travels with her father making a living predicting fortunes using the ancient Cornish method of the Square of Sevens. Shortly before he dies, her father entrusts Red's care to a gentleman scholar, along with a document containing the secret of the Square of Sevens technique.

Raised as a lady amidst the Georgian splendor of Bath, Red's fortune-telling delights in high society. But she cannot ignore the questions that gnaw at her soul: who was her mother? How did she die? And who are the mysterious enemies her father was always terrified would find him?

The pursuit of these mysteries takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the rough ribaldry of the Bartholomew Fair to the grand houses of two of the most powerful families in England. And while Red's quest brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads to grave danger.

Laura Shepherd-Robinson, "the queen of modern Georgian literature" (Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora), has written a dazzling and Dickensian story of mystery and intrigue, with audacious twists and turns."

Oh my, a fortune teller with comparisons to Sarah Waters and Sarah Perry, the two best English Sarahs!?!

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. I actually loved the writing, the plot, the characters - all of it. But the overly excessive details ruined the suspense I thought the read needed. Every time I was really invested in the drama and suspense of the story line the writing would pull me out with just too many words. I think at least 100 pages could be lobbed off and the story would pack a serious punch of dramatic page turning suspense. Because the story is an excellent one. It's full of intrigue, mystery, wonderful characters, and twists and turns right up to the very last page.

First of all thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for giving me this opportunity to read this arc
i sadly couldn’t finish reading this book because the pacing didn’t make me want to read more of this book, like i loved the premise of the book and how it talks about the main character being a fortune teller, and i truly loved Red’s Personality and i get how she feels, but the pacing made me not want to read more!
i might give it another chance when it’s published but i sadly can’t keep reading it now

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Atria Books for an advanced copy of this novel about a young girl making her way in English society, the futures she can foretell, and the secrets that are slowly unearthed changing her life forever.

The future is unknown to us, as is frankly much of the present. There are some who say they can see the future, can foretell when love might come into a darkened life, when riches might come to a poor person. However they can also see when love fails, and riches disappear. This makes people uncomfortable, that lack of control. People get worried, talk of the supernatural arise, as do mobs and dunkings of innocent people. Or burnings. One has to be quite clever with their gifts, give enough to entertain, to earn a few coins or have a few laughs a society ball. All the while knowing that while the future might be open to one, knowing this can unleash secrets that could change a young lady's life for good and for bad, forever. The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a novel about a young girl, her gift, society, secrets, the supernatural, searching for the truth, no matter the consequences.

The year is 1730 and Red is a young woman with fiery hair who has never known her mother. Red and her father travel the highways and byways of England, telling fortunes, doing tricks and making enough sometimes for a night at an inn, but other times sleeping under the stars. Red is able to tell fortunes with cards, not Tarot but an ancient Cornish skill known as the the Square of Sevens. Life was going ok, a little cold, a little lonely a lot hungry, but an irate farmer fearing his livestock had been cursed by the duo, had dunked Red's father, giving him a cough that didn't seem to want to go away. Soon her father is taken from her, but not before he makes arrangements for Red to be watched over by a gentleman scholar who lacks family. Soon Red is a part of society, telling the future at dances and galas, but still feeling an emptiness that seeing the future can not fill. Who was her mother, and why did her father fear enemies coming for her.

A big sprawling book that takes place in the eighteenth century, and one that reminds me most f Charles Darwin or even Charles Pallister's writings, with a touch of David Mitchell tossed in. Shepherd-Robinson really knows her England and it shows in her writing, giving the book a real sense of place and time. The characters, Red especially are very well developed, and seem of the era, except for Red as she stands out with both her gifts, and her canny ability to defeat the many enemies she had no idea were stacked against her. The pacing, especially for such a large book is very good and once the plot starts rolling, doesn't really let off until the end. There is a lot going on but Shepherd-Robinson never loses course and ends the book quite strongly. The use of the Square of Sevens is fascinating, as is the afterword explaining this form of cartomarcy, and how the author became interested in it.

A nice big book for the fall, as the weather will, hopefully, get cooler this is a great book to have to watch leaves fall and sip cider. A very big story that really delivers.

I loved reading this witchy historical fiction. It was so good and so full of drama that you didn't want to put the book down. Spellbinding.
I just reviewed The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson. #NetGalley
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What a fun read! I thoroughly enjoyed THE SQUARE OF SEVENS, which has an almost madcap / hall of mirror feel to it. Even though the book is really long, it's well paced for the most part and you do feel compelled to keep reading, especially as the ending approaches. Red can be quite ruthless, but the author does a great job at making us care about her as she goes on these adventures, some of which are dangerous.

The title and the cover of this book drew me in and boy am I glad I got to read it. It is a long read for sure but you won't be able keep the book down. The turn of fate for an orphan to be a fortune teller and the tale that ensues kept me captivated in this historical fiction. Some parts of the story like the family drama got a little too complicated for me to follow but the gist of the story remains the same. The only thing I wish for would be if it was not as long as a read, some parts felt redundant and unnecessary (I don't want to give away too much of the story). I love historical fiction, so this book did not disappoint as it transported me to the 18th century right away. Thank you NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read and review this book. Good luck to Laura Shepherd-Robinson for a well written book.

I loved this book. There were so many twists and turns. I was so excited to read to the end to see what happens. For lovers of historical fiction and mysteries, this book is for you.

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

Well that is a read! First, be prepared it's a long book. One you can pick up and put down, but there will come a point where you JUST NEED TO KNOW and maybe (like me) you'll find yourself racing to the end.

Second, be prepared to learn about card reading, not Tarot, but decks of cards and please read the authors note about the inspiration behind this.

Scandal, natal charts, large estates with priest holes, desperation, planning, murder, love, it's all here. Red tells you who she is pretty much regularly (Machiavellian for sure) as the ends justify the means. And the means makes for a fun book.

Enjoy!

4.5 stars

The literary equivalent of a fun fair dominated by fortune-tellers and a hall of mirrors, "The Square of Sevens" keeps you on your toes as it shifts from shady taverns to the ballrooms of Bath, London pillories to Devonshire manors. It's almost impossible to discuss the book in any detail without revealing spoilers, so I won't. The writing is vivid, though, and the characters multifaceted. If you liked "The Quincunx" but wished it were a bit less lugubrious or loved "Playing the Jack" (one of my all-time favorite books), "The Square of Sevens" is for you. It's fun, fast-moving, and twisty. Go ahead and read it!

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thus was a interesting book about a orphan and being a fortune teller. It just goes to show if you work hard your dreams will come true. This book was approved by netgalley and the publisher for me to read and review.

The Square of Sevens is mystery tale about fortune-telling, family secrets, and fate. Set in Georgian England, the story follows Red, a headstrong young girl who has learned the occult art of the Square of Sevens, a mysterious cartomancy technique that she performs for strangers. Living a nomadic life with her Father, selling fortunes across the land, the Square of Sevens will reveal a most shocking fortune, one involving Red and her obscure background. This shocking discovery will implicate an aristocratic family whose famous inheritance scandal will implicate Red in ways she could have never have imagined.

Overall, I liked the storyline and I liked the character Red, who I thought had many admirable qualities including her courage, creativity and perseverance. The cartomancy featured in this story was very interesting and I was pleasantly surprised to learn of its actual existence in the author's afterward in the book, Her inspiration for this story was fascinating and I thought it made for an engrossing read. It was very clever to structure the book after the Square of Sevens spread and to title and focus each chapter with a playing card.

With that being said, I liked the first half of the book (around 500 pages) but the second half of the book dragged a bit. The inheritance scandal and family drama in this story was very complex and the longer the story went on, the more complicated it got. This was frustrating for me as a reader because I could not keep up with all of the characters and details. I kept getting confused, and quite frankly, lost amidst the cluttered plot. However, I do think the writing style complimented the complexity because the book was a page turner and written with a lot of suspense. I never got bored reading the story, and I think the plot was well balanced between the Square of Sevens and the family drama.

I can only give this book a 3/5 stars rating because there were too many characters, details, and layers to the inheritance plot that complicated the story.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! This book is a masterpiece. It is a long book but so worth it. The author is an intelligent writer who crafted a truly immersive story. This story needs a movie adaptation ASAP.