I'm a HUGE SUCKER for a trials trope book! So when I first got this ARC I was super excited and was getting like Hunger Games meets The Inheritance Games meets Knives Out!!

When I started reading this book, it was a little hard for me to get into this book and understand the world and the magic.... BUT ONCE IT PICKED UP I WAS IN!!!

I was pleasantly surprised with the different POVS and obviously I was 100% rooting for my girl Lotte!! Loved her and Nora's character growth. There were some lines/quotes that I didn't vibe with and felt a little bit offensive BUT that was just my opinion :)

(I received an ARC from Netgalley. This is my unbiased review)

The Notorious Virtues is a book that collects and combines fairy tales, family struggles, secrets, and trials of the richest family in Walstad. Honora "Nora" Holtzfall is a sixteen year old girl with a sharp mind and a carefree spirit. Nora never had a worry up until the moment that her mother is brutally murdered in the streets. Her mother's death triggers the end of an heiress and the only way to confirm the next true heiress is by trial. The Veritaz Trials. These trials are a mix of fairytale lore and magic steeped with various trials. The winner of each trial is rewarded a ring that symbolizes the purpose of each and every trial presented to those in line as heir.

It is up to Nora to keep her status as future heiress by competing in the trials against her cousins. Of course Nora wants to win and make her grandmother proud but unbeknownst to her there are more problems to face. One of those being the Grims that are seeking control over the power the Holtzfall's wield. Not to mention the deep rooted secrets that Mercy, Nora's Grandmother has taken from the minds of her family member, and most of all the revelation of an unknown relative.

Ottoline Holtzfall, Lotte for short, has been left out in the countryside in a convent forced to believe she is a wicked sinner all because she hears voices. Unbeknownst to Lotte these voices are the strands of her Holtzfall gift to read minds.

As Lotte is claimed back into the Holtzfall family it is up to Nora and Lotte to work together to face the trials, their grandmother, and their cousins. Their challenges are constant as they have to deal with unraveling secrets and betrayals along with saving themselves from fairytale trial beasts and the Grims themselves. While Lotte finds herself undeniably drawn to the knight, Theo, Nora herself is finding that a certain journalist is making life that much more interesting.

It was left for the Holtzfall to face the forest and the Veritaz Trials to recover the ax and be named the true heiress.... but that is not the end of this story. Oh... not at all... this is put the beginning.

I really enjoyed the story and idea for The Notorious Virtues. I am interested to see what happens to Nora and Lotte and the rest as the series continues. Until next time, Happy Reading!

Alwyn Hamilton delivers a compelling start to her much-awaited new trilogy with THE NOTORIOUS VIRTUES. If you’ve read her previous works, you can clearly see how much she has grown as a writer—this book is sharp, intriguing, and meticulously arranged.

Set in the vibrant and dangerous world of Walstad, a name rich with meaning, the novel blends a 1920s-inspired aesthetic with imaginative modern gadgets and advanced science. The magic system stands out for its simplicity yet impressive plausibility, especially for those familiar with folklore where gems serve as conduits for inner magical power.

The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, yet remains easy to follow, keeping the pace lively with no dull moments. The characterization is stellar—each figure is fleshed out with distinct personalities, making it effortless to connect with them. Lotte, an unexpected contender in a ruthless competition, offers a fresh dynamic to the intrigue. Meanwhile, Nora’s discovery about her mother’s fate adds depth to the overarching mystery, entangling her with a sharp-witted reporter who challenges everything her family represents.

Beyond the tension of the trial for heirdom, Hamilton masterfully weaves themes of power, corruption, and shifting societal dynamics. The world is deeply layered, filled with treachery and family complexities that shape the narrative in fascinating ways. The echoes of the “woodcutter and the axe” fable resonate throughout, as honesty seems to be far removed from the virtues of those at the heart of this tale.

With its strong start, THE NOTORIOUS VIRTUES promises to be more than just a fight for inheritance—it’s a grand-scale upheaval of power in Walstad. I have high hopes for this trilogy and eagerly anticipate where Hamilton takes her characters next.

This book was a twisty game of magic that can sadly only have one winner. I really liked the world’s mythology that was woven through this book. In addition to the chapters that were stories of the characters’ ancestors we got the story through four voices and I grew to like them all. I’ll admit I didn’t start out liking the all, but they grew on me. Lotte has been raised in a convent, a battered servant, when she is whisked away and told her family is the rich rules of the whole land. Nora has always been raised as the heiress but when her mother is killed suddenly a new trial must be held to find who is the most virtuous of her family and deserving. This book ended on quite a cliffhanger so I do hope there is a sequel and quickly. It took me a while to really get into this one but once I did I struggled to put it down.

I've been waiting for the release of this book for a while-- pub date kept getting pushed back. But I'm glad it's finally here. Been a fan of Hamilton since her Rebel of the Sands trilogy, and was eager to dip my toes into her newest book.

This did not disappoint. Loved the premise and it was executed well. World-building was transportive, and I was at the edge of my seat at some parts, eager to see where the plot was going to take me. Cannot wait for the sequel!

Adding to our collection, if it was ever a doubt.

This took a lot to get into in the beginning because we're thrown into the story with no context. Once you're familiar with everything it gets easier to follow along and read without asking yourself who and what and why and where. The story was really intriguing, a deadly cut throat trial, an entertaining magic system, and drama that had me HOOKED! Basically the throne is up for grabs after Nora's mother is murdered, so let there be a deadly trial to see who gets the throne! I'm so excited for the next book!

I am soooo happy to report that this was well worth all the waiting and delays, even if it did make me want to cry because something like SEVEN years has passed since Alwyn Hamilton's last book. But I think we can all understand why this might have been pushed back so many times, especially during that specific period in time. And if this is going to be the result of that, I am wholly on board. I don't really like comparisons to other books because I find them not very apt or they sway me from reading a book, but I will say that if you enjoyed Libba Bray's The Diviners, you should definitely pick up The Notorious Virtues. And that is no small compliment.

Like Evie, Nora is another pampered rich girl who everyone underestimates, and they assume they know who she is simply because of what she shows them. Jokes on them. The other characters were just as fascinating, even some of the more vile competitors, past and present. And while I'm not always a fan of so many different perspectives in the narrative, it really worked for this particular story. It was also great that each was represented by a different narrator in the audiobook, and each did an exceptional job with their character.

I thoroughly enjoyed this first installment in what I'm sure will be a phenomenal series. And while it was a little slow to get going in the beginning, the competition, the magic, and the characters all made it worth it in the end. Because even with as long as this novel is, I still finished in a day because I just could not put the book down. But now I'll probably perish waiting on the sequel. *sniff*

This was a wildly fun ride! Alwyn Hamilton expands her magical universe she began in the Rebel of the Sands trilogy, and seamlessly introduces us to a new land, new magic, and new faces (with a few ties to our favorite characters from the past.) This was so much fun. The multiple points of view were not confusing and flowed well. The characterization was peak as our two main protagonists, Lotte and Nora, both brought a sense of uniqueness and intrigue to the table. The stakes were high with the intense family drama and conflict, as well as the real sense of urgency and danger around every corner. Alwyn is a master at young adult literature, and with that genre being very oversaturated at the moment, this brought just enough freshness to keep me engaged throughout! I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!

A thousand years before Alwyn Hamilton’s tale of The Notorious Virtues (hard from Viking Books for Young Readers) a simple woodsman was given a magical ax by a dryad. The family prospered until they ruled over the town, each generation having to prove that they were worthy of the ax. Nora is more interested in finding her mother’s murderer than getting one of the magical rings that allow entrance to the test. Lotte was raised in a nunnery not realizing she was part of the family. In an age of magical cars and mechanical wolves; a time when the magical woods are barred from the human side. Walstad is run utilizing vast magical powers, all belonging to the family that owns the axe. What follows is the beginning of a tale of opening up the corruption that lies below the surface of great power. This is a tale advertised for teenagers, but it is far more appropriate for adults. I am eagerly waiting for what comes next

This book has been on my radar for quite a while and was one of my most highly anticipated reads for 2025. It did not disappoint! I flew right through it, because I just couldn’t put it down. It is like nothing I have ever read. This book is brim full of political intrigue, cut throat competition, power struggles, familial conflict, betrayals and even includes some found family, pining and a touch of romance.
The story is told from multiple points of view, providing the reader with valuable insight into the sinister machinations behind all of the glitz and glamour. There is much driving the characters and the several viewpoints help the reader see more of what is going on and that is not even enough to see what’s coming. There world building and lore is incredible. The author presented it all in a way that fully immersed me into incredible tale.
I highly recommend this to anyone that lovely richly built fantasy worlds, whether or not you typically pick up YA. This book has something to offer all fantasy lovers.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an early digital copy of the book. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Wow! I loved this book. I am a fan of the author's other trilogy, so I was really looking forward to this one. While this book has a very different vibe, her engaging and well-crafted writing style remain the same. My favorite part of this book is our two main female protagonists, Lotte and Nora. These characters are successful because they feel real. They are vulnerable, they have valid feelings, they make mistakes. They are not perfect and they know it. The setting and the general feel of world seemed very Gatsby-esque to me, which I enjoyed. I also appreciated that there was a mystery with more than one antagonist. I can't wait for the next book.

I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, but as I got deeper into The Notorious Virtues, I found myself completely hooked. The storyline is a fresh and unique concept, blending magic, competition, and ambition in a way that felt original and exciting. Hamilton’s world-building is immersive, and the twists kept me eagerly turning the pages. By the end, I was fully invested and am now excited to see where the story goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the advanced reader copy.

The Holtzfalls rule the city, reaping the benefits of their ancestor’s bargain with an ancient tree spirit. The city is seething with unrest, there is a a revolutionary demanding fairer sharing of money and magic . After the shocking death of the Holtzfall’s heir, a magical trial begins to find the next heir. Nora was the presumptive heir of the dead including her mother and is determined to reclaim her position. But the arrival of a hidden cousin throws her plans into jeopardy.

The novel is told from many points of view. It is a story that is full of gripping magic, mystery, intrigue and adventure that I enjoyed reading. It’s a tale of excess, of abuse of power and desperation to win in a world full of glamour and blood. This is my first novel of Alwyn Hamilton — I look forward to reading more books written by her.

The Notorious Virtues is probably one of the books I anticipated longer for it and, I admit it, at some point, I really thought it wasn’t happening. But the wait is finally over and you know what? It was totally worth it. Alwyn Hamilton is better than ever and this book delivered goals like a pro.

I didn’t need to worry about not loving this book because I was hooked since the first page until that damned epilogue almost killed me. The Notorious Virtues has everything I love in a story, that’s the true. First, it has the most charming worldbuilding, mixing the old good tales and the dazzling of the golden age, a mix I didn’t know I needed it so badly. Then, it has the most complicated family drama, full of secrets and where you can’t trust anyone, what gave us the most tricky relationships ever. And last but not least, a twisty, full of mystery and danger plot, where you never know what will happen next.

Finally, Hamilton knows how to deliver the most badass female main character and she didn’t fail me. Nora isn’t perfect and has a long way to go, but the girl is the proof people can change and get out of their mental cage. And Lotte… I started distrusting the girl and now she has my respect. The cast in general, is morally grey and quite compelling and just one of the POV’s, or the character, didn’t reach the same level of interest as the others. But my real and only complaint, it’s that I got the main twist in the beginning of the book.

Either way, that just makes it to not get the favorite level. I did love this book a lot and I can’t wait for the sequel and please, pretty please, don’t make me wait 5 years again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for giving me an eARC in exchange of an honest review

I really enjoyed this fast paced ya fantasy it was a little info dumpy at times but still had a really good time. This books follow a group of cousins who are competing to be the next heir while having a lot of political battles with their rivals. One thing this book has is a lot going on, there were quite a few POVs and a lot of information and history about the kingdom that was easy to get confused in. The character POVs were all entertaining to me but could be a little confusing at times. The magic system in this one was never really well fleshed out and I wish we would have gotten some more info about how the magic worked. I really enjoyed the last half of the book as it had some fun twists and excited to see what will happen next. This is my first book by this author but look forward to reading the next on the series. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

The story world in this book feels a little bit like “The Gilded Wolves” series. It’s fancy, and the magic feels high-tech. There’s a lot of classism happening in the story. There’s not exactly a heist, but there is a contest and a powerful magical object up for grabs.

The story follows the point of view of several characters. First, there’s Nora, who was the default Holtzfall family heir until her mother (the actual heir) was murdered. That murder set off a new magical contest among Nora and her cousins to see who the rightful heir would be.

The narrative also follows Lotte, a girl raised in a small town convent with the ability to read minds. Her ability becomes a pretty powerful asset in the attempt to solve a notorious murder and stop a vigilante group from dismantling the Holtzfall legacy.

We also meet August, a young journalist who desperately needs a big story in order to break into the business and provide for his mother, and Theo, a young knight sworn to serve the Holtzfall family.

Primarily, those voices tell the story, but there are a few scenes from other points of view spliced in here and there. I enjoyed all three main points of view, though. Nora is very analytical and figures things out quickly. Lotte is more of an intuitive person. August and Nora have great banter back and forth.

At first, I was nervous about reading this 500+ page book, but the complexity of the plot really demanded that many pages. The story is pretty tightly wound, packing in a lot of drama and intrigue in those pages. The ending left me desperate for more of the story.

I think readers who enjoy books like Six of Crows or Gilded Wolves will want to check out this book. I think it’ll also appeal to readers who enjoyed Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning will love the family intrigue and magic in The Notorious Virtues.

DNF

The clunky worldbuilding and infodumping made this laborious to get through. The setting was weird because I couldn't quite put my finger on when exactly this takes place. I'm putting this down for now, I'm not sure if I'll revisit it later.

A new all-time favorite! For those who waited. This book didn’t disappoint.

I’m honestly at a loss for words to fully describe just how much I love this book.

The story is told through four perspectives: Nora, Lotte, August, and Theo. I love them all! The plot centers on an heiress murdered and that opens up the heirship to the rest of the family where they must win trials of virtues to become the next heir.

This book is everything —a perfect blend of mystery, twists, and high-stakes trials. I’m beyond excited that it’s part of a trilogy, but also a little heartbroken that I’ll have to wait for the next installment. If you're looking for the next book. This is it.

It was intriguing enough that once your get about info I couldn't put it down and had to know what happened next. That the story just jumps right in an adds world building and the history of the Veritas trails as you read. Although at first it makes the trials seem like they are going to be the main focus of the book when it feel more like a sub plot compare to the murder mystery and finding out the truth of the family secrets. There are some dark twist and turns. The magic system need to be explained more it's very presently use but not explained enough.

Hi friends! I had been waiting on the Notorious Virtues for so long, so when I was approved for an eARC of it, I was overjoyed! I wasn’t able to actually get to reading the ARC until after the book came out (I’m going to have to blame work and life on that one), but as soon as I was able to, I grabbed it and got to it! While The Notorious Virtues might not have been the best executed book, there were a lot of fun elements to it too and I think it’s a great start to a new series!

The Notorious Virtues

3/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads: A glamorous media darling, a surprise heiress, and the magical competition of a lifetime.

At sixteen, Honora “Nora” Holtzfall is the daughter of the most powerful heiress in all of Walstad. Her family controls all the money–and all the magic–in the entire country. But despite being the center of attention, Nora has always felt like an outsider. When her mother is found dead in an alley, the family throne and fortune are suddenly up for grabs, and Nora will be pitted against her cousins in the Veritaz, the ultimate magical competition for power that determines the one family heir.

But there’s a surprise contestant this time: Lotte, the illegitimate daughter of Nora’s aunt. When Lotte’s absent mother retrieves her from the rural convent she’d abandoned her to, Lotte goes from being an orphan to surrounded by family. Unfortunately, most of them want her dead.

And soon, Nora discovers that her mother’s death wasn’t random–it was murder. And the only person she can trust to uncover the truth of what happened is a rakish young reporter who despises everything Nora and her family stand for.

With everyone against her, Lotte’s last hope is hunting for the identity of her father. But the dangerous competition–and her feelings for Theo, one of the Holtzfalls’ sworn protectors–turns her world upside down.

Let’s start by talking about the good in this book: the magic system was really interesting and I liked how the lore of the woodcutter was interspersed throughout the book, the Vertiaz trials seemed like an interesting concept, the whole royal/protector relationship being done through a sworn blood oath with real, dire consequences was cool, and overall, I thought that Lotte and Nora could have been really fun characters. In terms of the bad, I never felt like any of the ideas were 100% fleshed out, so I was never really immersed into the book, which made caring about what was happening to the characters kinda hard. I really think too much was happening, and everything was going in so many different directions- in the end, the two big endings/twists made it good, but I think we really only needed one maybe? We had 3 main stories going on at any given time and that’s always a little hard for a reader to keep up with. Overall though, The Notorious Virtues kept my interest enough that I’ll definitely read book 2 when it comes out.