This book had a very interesting premise and a great setting. I loved Alwyn Hamilton's Rebel of the Sands series so I was really excited for another fantasy. I definitely loved all the fairytale elements and the relationships that grew, specifically the connection between Nora and Lotte and Nora's romance with August. I'm fascinated by the story and will definitely be reading the next book when it comes out. Unfortunately it just didn't grip me like Rebel of the Sands did, I don't know, maybe it was because it felt so tense all the time, I just couldn't relax into it.

It was a long wait for this one but I'm so glad Alwyn Hamilton is publishing again. While I struggled with the characters at first, they became a lot more engaging as you got through the book. I was surprised by how few of the pages were devoted to the trails. That seemed like it was going to be the main plot, but it ended up being on par with the mystery element. The classism was challenging to read about, with things the way they are in the US right now, but it addresses them well. Highly recommend to anyone who likes unique magic systems and family drama. Lots of Knives Out vibes.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group YA and Alwyn Hamilton for the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

When I started this book, I was fairly sure it wouldn’t get a great rating from me. The biggest issue being I disliked the majority of the characters. However, as I read, I obtained a better understanding of the characters, why they were the way they were and was able to follow the ones that had true growth to their arcs. The themes are a bit on the nose, you won’t have to guess as to what the author is trying to say about power, wealth, the fight against change, what is truth and more. The title is amusing, as there isn’t a single person at the start of the book, except for possibly a few, that have any virtues at all. The thought that the family in charge has to prove their worth as leaders through a competition testing virtues (hint, it really doesn’t) is laughable once you get to know them. If you are rich and powerful, it is because you are better. If something good happens to you, it is because you deserve it. There are multiple POVs, which I feel was done well. Nora’s character is fairly predictable, the cynical heiress that hates her family as much as she hates the position she is in. This doesn’t mean I didn’t come to like her character, I just found her arc wasn’t new. I did enjoy Lotte’s character and felt she was much different than the normal orphan trope. She wasn’t the innocent, pure character you often get from an abused orphan that didn’t grow up with everything. She is flawed and jealous. Neither her nor Nora have an actual ‘family’. Arthur is a young journalist just trying to survive and possibly tell the truth and Theo is a part of a family bloodworn to protect the Holtzfalls. The magic system is intriguing and where the magic truly comes from isn’t completely fleshed out but the story hints at more to come. Where the book ends is quite interesting and I am looking forward to seeing how the story continues in book 2. There is a twist, but no true cliffhanger. Long review short, if you are struggling with the beginning, please give it more time before you set it down!

The Notorious Virtues is a stunning dark fairytale set in one of my new favorite fantasy settings. The story takes place in a world that blends the familiar imagery of fairytales (dark forests, enchantments) with a semi modern setting of Walstad, a city bustling with cars, politics, newspapers, and skyscrapers. And yet, despite featuring some familiar technology, citizens wear magical charms and use mechanical birds to deliver messages long distances. The world is teaming with a well crafted history that left me wanting to learn more.
The plot centers around the Holtzfall family heirs and the magical trials that they must face in order to claim their magical inheritance. While the setting of the story immediately pulled me in, it was Alwyn Hamilton's characters that kept me there. The novel jumps between the perspective of four different characters, each flawed and delightful in their own way. The first half of the book spends considerable time establishing these characters and then it takes off with twist after twist as it hurtles towards the end.
I'm excited to return to the world of The Notorious Virtues.

“Tonight, Mercy Holtzfall would give the ax to the immortal Huldrekall and ask him the same question Honor Holtzfall had asked a thousand years ago: Who is most worthy to inherit this powerful gift?”

The Notorious Virtues follows the lives of the Holtzfalls, the most powerful family in the city of Walstad. Everything was perfect for Nora: her mother was the heiress, and Nora was next in line. But then her mother was found dead. Now, Nora must compete against her cousins in the Veritaz Trials, the deadly test to discover which Holtzfall is most worthy to inherit the family’s vast fortune of magic and wealth. However, Nora’s attention strays to hunting down clues about her mother’s murder, thinking she is guaranteed to win—until her Aunt Grace reveals a secret child. Lotte, who grew up in a country convent with no idea about her lineage, does not fit into this world of dresses and charms, no matter how much she craves a family. But the trials come for both the girls when they least expect it.

The Notorious Virtues is a masterpiece of unexpected twists, complex plot devices, and phenomenal characters. The story is told through four perspectives, and each one drove the novel forward. I really liked both Nora and Lotte and, at times, found myself torn between who I wanted to win the trials more. Lotte craves a family more than anything, and I empathize with her longing. Nora has spent her entire life training to be the heiress, so her character arc focuses on her learning who she is without the certainty of her future, which was wonderfully portrayed. I wasn’t fully expecting the dash of murder mystery, but it added a fresh layer of depth to enjoy. I liked the magic, a cross between charmed jewelry and abilities that a character can utilize at their own will. There are also many fairy tale references, with breaks in the narrative that tell the origins of the Holtzfall family like a fable, which was another thing I absolutely loved. But what I loved most of all about this book was that each detail, even ones I didn’t think would matter, came back to surprise me. This only added to the vibrancy of the plot, and the many intersecting threads throughout fit perfectly into the whole. The ending, while it was a cliffhanger, was an absolute showstopper. I am delighted to say that this is only the first book in a trilogy, and I am beyond excited to see where Hamilton takes this story!

4.75/5 stars

This Teen/YA mystery fantasy is the first book in a duology or trilogy (not sure which) and is the first book from this author for me. I definitely want to read more from her. While not specifically stated, this has the feel of the 1920s and incorporates pieces from some of Grimm's Fairy Tales throughout.

While not going into great detail here, there's a lot to unpack in this story, and I KNOW that with a re-read I would find even more with deeper and varied meanings/insights. There's family (both blood and chosen), friendship, a tiny bit of romance, developing (and further enhancing) strength and confidence in oneself, what duty means to both oneself and to others and a huge dose of what self-worth can and should look like. There are (of course) villains, morally gray aspects to the story, and complex and flawed characters. Politics are delved into as well as socio-economic issues. This book covers a lot of territory.

The story is told through the eyes of several characters, but the main focus is on the uber self-confident and brilliant Honora (Nora) Holtzfall and her newly discovered "forgotten" cousin Ottoline (Lotte) Holtzfall. I fell in love with both. They both faced harsh and heartbreaking circumstances in their lives, but we're shown how each separately and together (one coming from a life of wealth and privilege; one from poverty and despair) learn how to navigate and overcome obstacles in their way. At its core, I felt this was a treatise on inner and outer courage. The world-building itself (very well done, by the way) lent itself to that exploration of what courage means to both Nora and Lotte.

I really enjoyed this book. My only caveat was its length. I felt that at 500 pages it was a bit long and could have been tightened up a bit.

I'm looking forward to more from the Holtzfalls and the Rydders.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Penguin Group / Penguin Young Readers Group and Viking Books for Young Readers for providing the free early arc of The Notorious Virtues for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

I’m going to be honest, I started, stopped, restarted and stopped this book a few times. I just didn’t get into it but sometimes its just the mindset. Once I got into it I really enjoyed this book.

The books is told from four points of view, Nora, Lotte, Arthur and Theo. Sometimes too many POV can drag down a story but this one was handled well. Each character brought a unique perspective to the story, from the outsider in Lotte to the heiress of Nora. They each add to the overall story giving the backstory of much of the plot from Nora while also giving the perspective of the everyday folks under the thumb of the ruling family through Arthur. Another thing that can sometimes get lost with too many POV is unique voices, they can blend a bit together but these all stayed unique characters. I really liked Nora, she is rich and expects everyone to give her what she wants and yes she remains that way through the book but still manages to grow which I appreciate. I hate when characters just completely shed who they are in the beginning to feel almost like a new character but Nora is recognizable throughout. Lotte may not be on equal footing as Nora but she more than holds her own throughout the book. She never really loses her outsider status despite being welcomed by the family. I loved watched Lotte and Nora slowly build up first an alliance and what feels like a genuine friendship as they came to realize they share more in common than they truly know.

The story seems rather straightforward, another contest to determine who is the head of the family. It does well though to weave throughout the story murder, betrayal, scandals and the fight by the lower class to gain power. The grims are an interesting group, do they really want to distribute the wealth of magic and money throughout the common folk or will they become just another tyrant. There are hints woven in the book about who everyone really is. There is no black and white, not everyone is strictly good or evil. The author handles this well as we get to know both sides, making me sympathize with both.

Writing is really well done. At about the half way point I really found it hard to put the book down. The magic system is nothing special but I liked how they used items and their own unique gifts. It is setting up in the sequel how magic of the forest that has been held at bay for so long will be handled.

Overall I really liked this book after a bit of a shaky start. The characters all remain unique even with the multiple POV chapters and leaves on a bit of a cliffhanger that has me very excited to read the next book.

The beginning of this book really makes you despise Nora in particular while introducing three other characters that almost feel irrelevant to the plot that it appears the author is setting. However, once the Trials start and all of the characters start to interact with each other, it feels like the book sets better into its plot.

Don't walk into this book expecting a nice, happy, wrapped-up ending. It won't give you that. But taking a moment to think about the layers beneath the veneer of the story reveals quite a bit.

This one had a very slow start for me. I almost gave up because the pace just crawled. However, I’m glad I stuck with it because it became an enjoyable read. The more I got to know of Nora, the more I wanted from her. I liked that even though she is essentially the “pampered princess,” she cares for others. She also listens to others, mainly August, and she changes her views, which I super appreciate.

While I understand all the varying perspectives, I didn’t really care about the others all that much. I liked Nora because she had depth. The competition doesn’t really take center stage here, which could be disappointing for some people. But the progressing storyline helps to move the story forward, making it an overall enjoyable read.

I was immediately sucked into this book and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for the review copy!

The magic system was so cool and unique, I really loved how it pulled in the folk tales of how the Veritaz trials came to exist. And that in order to achieve all of the power, they had to risk losing their magic by competing.

The murder mystery, the competition, the romance, and the way Nora and Lotte have to work together all comes together into a great time.

I haven’t read Hamilton’s previous series, but from what I know about it, it seems to be set in the same universe. I’m interested to pick it up now and see what Easter eggs I find.

DNF at 5%. I really was so intrigued by the first chapter of this book—the premise is great, enjoyed the writing. But then I hit the next few chapters and I lost steam. There are several POVs, then we get a story within a story right away, and I was just overwhelmed by the info dumping. I may pick it up again when I’m more in the mood for something like this.

I had high hopes for this book and it was okay the plot was a bit confusing for me in the beginning and the character development was slow.

Thanks for the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

Nora Holtzfall is thrown into a deadly competition after her mother’s murder. The Veritaz isn’t just a set of magical trials—it’s a high-stakes battle to control the future of the Holtzfall legacy. Money, magic, and status are all on the line. Nora is smart, bold, and determined, and I was immediately pulled into her story.

The added POVs—Lotte, Theo, and August—layered the story nicely. Each character brought something different to the plot. Lotte’s quiet strength, Theo’s loyalty, and August’s outsider perspective gave the story depth without overwhelming it.

The world feels sharp and glittering. It’s fantasy meets high society with 1920s flair. Think magic rings, vintage vibes, and power plays behind every smile.

The pacing dipped a bit in the middle. Some scenes dragged where I expected more urgency, especially with the Grims pushing from the outside. Still, the tension builds back up by the final trial.

This book is a solid 4 stars. It didn’t fully knock me off my feet, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The family politics, the glamour, the danger—I’m hooked. I’ll be first in line for book two.

If you love morally gray characters, family rivalries, and magic systems tied to personality and choice, this one’s for you.

I received a digital review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was excited to read this book because I loved Hamilton's Rebel of the Sands trilogy.

The story is an intriguing mix of magic, murder mystery, and political intrigue. The Holtzfall family hosts a magical competition called the Veritaz, where the family heir is determined. After Nora's mother is found dead in the streets, Nora, who was once comfortable in her role as Heir, suddenly finds herself competing against her cousins for the title. The competition intensifies when a long-lost cousin named Lotte appears, drawing attention from all sides. As Nora uncovers the possibility that her mother's death was a murder, she teams up with an unexpected ally to solve the mystery. Along the way, Lotte learns about her father's identity and navigates the challenges of the Veritaz trials and the complexities of her powerful family.

I gave this book 3 stars because it took me some time to get into it. However, I enjoyed the multiple storylines and am always in favor of a good betrayal! The magic system is fascinating, especially the concept of using charms to channel magic. The ending left me wanting to know more about the story, so I will definitely be looking for book 2.

Why Did I Read?

I really enjoyed Alwyn Hamilton's Rebel of the Sands (and never finished the series, I really need to get on that) and when I heard about her latest, I knew I had to read it! Magical trials and family shenanigans - yes, please!

My Thoughts:

The Notorious Virtues has a fascinating premise. Long ago, the Holtzfall family, with the aid of a magical being in the forest, carved out a safe spot for themselves in the forest. It spread, turning into a city, all under their protection. Generations later, the family magic and power is passed down to the next deserving heir who has to prove themselves with a number of trials testing various virtues. However, the poorer circles chafe under the Holtzfall rule and rebellion is brewing.

We have a couple different main players in the story - Nora, the previous heiress until her mother was murdered, Lotte, who had no idea she had a family, and Theo, a loyal knight protecting the family. I thought all the different POVs worked really well together with multiple threads of the plot that kept me turning the pages.

Due to the premise of Nora's mother's murder, there is a slight murder mystery vibe tied with the other plot points of navigating both family secrets and the Veritaz trials. I thought the trials testing virtues was really unique and really interesting especially as there was no set time or anything for when one may start. You didn't know, for the most part, if one was happening until you were in it.

I was also very invested in Nora and Lotte's fates. Nora seems like an empty headed socialite but she is anything but. Lotte is thrust into a world she never knew but handles each new thing so well and adapts so fast. I was so immersed into their stories, I didn't want to put it down!

The fairytale like snippets of the world this is set in were really fascinating and I think there is so much more to discover. The world is so cool with the way the magic is set up, the charms and magical connections and social hierarchy. I truly loved all the aspects of this story! Now my problem is, I want the sequel like now and I discovered there isn't even a synopsis for the next book yet! Ahh!

In Short...

The Notorious Virtues features a great cast of characters with POVs that will keep you rooted to the book. The magical world the story is set in is unique and fascinating with a story that will keep you on your toes. There are twists and turns and is such an exciting new release from Alwyn Hamilton! I highly recommend if you like competitions, family secrets and an exciting fast paced plot!

When the heiress is found dead in suspicious circumstances, a new heiress must be chosen. In a world where an heiress is chosen, Honora must compete in trials in who will be the next heiress. In another point of view, cursed orphan Lotte, portrayed as the outsider, always paying for others sins and seemingly forgotten until her absent mother returns to tell her who she truly is.

Underneath it all, this is a tale of classism. Honora is defiant and proud, Lotte was cold and selfish but still leaves you feeling sorry for her situation, Theo was nostalgic and very much a do-gooder, and August was the investigative reporter who is obviously building something more with Honora than just a story. It was too many point of views. Each character feels like the fantasy stereotypes, but they are written well for the most part. Lotte was confusing as a character, and she was almost different from every chapter till closer to the back half of the book.

If you want story and world building in your fantasy, this is the one. It was still building until about 100 pages. I went into this wanting it about the trials but it’s really not. It’s really just a mystery of what happened to the former heiress and those involved. I wish the trials had been more of the focus and more fantasy creativity had been applied.

There was a lot in this journey, too much, especially for a first in a series. A lot of moments would have been better saved and developed for future installments, for a more streamlined story. I think this left me intrigued enough to continue this series.

Overall, I liked it. I liked the characters I was supposed to like and I cared about the trials. There were some good overall lessons about classism and governance. However, the world development was lacking. A random word that was made up as part of the magic system would pop up with little context. Too many extra characters were tossed in with very little background or purpose. I also thought it was an interesting choice to talk about alcohol so much in a YA book. It was seriously like another Holtzfall family member.

I really enjoyed this start to a new series! I really liked that Hamilton gave readers multiple points of view to understand what was happening in the different spaces. I’m super interested in the next book in this series to see where Hamilton takes this story. The ending really provided a twist that I don’t think anyone saw coming!

Thanks for the chance to chance to read this early!

The Notorious Virtues is based on a single premise: that virtue is important. The Holtzfall family has been demonstrating this for centuries, ever since a single virtuous ancestor was rewarded for his virtue; that reward has been being passed down through the generations ever since. Only those descendants who demonstrate a significant virtue will be given the opportunity to be the next inheritor. However, that demonstration may only be skin-deep; the Veritaz trials only measure the potential heir's virtue at that moment in time, with no consideration for their ongoing behaviors - which have all the plots and intrigue one would expect from the potential heirs to a widespread and wealthy dynasty.

This novel is told from multiple viewpoints, with Honora (Nora) and Ottoline (Lotte) being the primary narrators as well as primary contenders; two secondary characters, Theo and August, also narrate some chapters. This can occasionally get confusing, especially early on when trying to keep straight which characters are which, and which ones know what, but following the chapter titles, which are names, helps with that. The use of magic is widespread in Walstad, mostly with charms but occasionally, and somewhat confusingly, without - something which apparently only the Holtzfalls can do. Still, this is a fast-paced and engaging story, appropriate for teens and adults, with a rather unique take on the competition necessary to win the Veritaz trials.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review*

A hunger games style trials between family members to win the chance to be Heir of a magic filled family where only the Heir gets all the magic of the generation. Count me in!! Not to mention there are fairy tales waved in that were said to make the Holtzfall family who they are and their Knights who they are as well, if they like it or not.

To be honest there were some characters i did not like when i first met them but as things went on they became some of my favorite characters.

There was a lot going on all at once revolving around the past, present and future that kept me distracted at times so i didnt catch clues to the things. With everything going on I had so many questions towards the end.

Would i recommend this to a friend or family member? Yes

Would i buy this book or read it again from library? Yes

Do i have interest in reading the rest of the series once it comes out? Yes