The Notorious Virtues

The Notorious Virtues is a sparkling concoction of intrigue and suspense, filled with twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With her trademark lyrical prose, Hamilton has crafted a thrilling story that explores the dark side of wealth and power while celebrating the strength of those who dare to challenge the status quo. This series starter promises to be an unforgettable ride, leaving me eager for what comes next in this mesmerizing world of magic and ambition.

I have been insanely excited about this book ever since it was first announced (4 or 5 years ago? I think?) and having finally got my grubby hands on a copy I can confirm: it is 100% worth the wait. Brilliantly written with twists and betrayals and family and magic, I loved every page and will now patiently (but desperately) wait for the sequel! Please not so long a wait this time though?

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This book had me hooked from early on. The fairy tale-inspired plot was also rich in illustrations of the evils of capitalism. The despotic family who run the city are also subject to a fairy tale trial of their virtues. The characters are fully fleshed out and you really care what happens. I can't wait for the sequel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

At sixteen, Honora ‘Nora’ Holtzfall is the daughter of the most powerful heiress in Gammamix; her family controls all the money – and all the magic – in the entire country. But when her mother is found murdered in an alley, the family throne and fortune are up for grabs, which means Nora will be pitted against her cousins in the deadly Veritaz trials to determine the rightful inheritor.

But there's a surprise rival in the form of Ottoline, aka Lotte, the illegitimate daughter of Nora's aunt, who left her with nuns as a baby. Thrown into the Veritaz, she is suddenly surrounded by a hostile family she never knew she had.

But as the Holtzfalls wage their battles of privilege, something bigger and more sinister bubbles beneath the surface, and revolution is in the air. Could the balance of power be about to be overturned?

I loved the characters and the multiple POVS, especially Nora and Lotte as they both developed as characters both had very interesting backstories. I also thought that Hamilton wrote each character well and you could tell whose POV you were reading without having to read who it was.

The Notorious Virtues was filled with so many twists and turns! The trials were so interesting to read and I wasn’t expecting anything that unfolded - I truly love Hamilton’s writing and would recommend this to anyone who loves the Thriller and Fantasy genres and also The Inheritance Games series by Jennifer Lynne Barnes