Published by: Katherine Tegen Books, October 13th 2015
Genre: YA, Historical, Fantasy
Pages: 304
Format: Ebook
Lady Truthful will inherit her family’s most valued heirloom on her eighteenth birthday. Until the Newington Emerald is stolen.
Lady Truthful, nicknamed “Newt” by her boy cousins, discovers that to her horror, the people closest to her have been framed for the theft. But Newt won’t let their reputations be damaged by rumors from a false accusation. Her plan is simple: go to London to recover the missing jewel. Despite her best intentions, a young lady travelling alone is frankly unacceptable behavior. So Newt and her aunt devise another plan…one that entails men’s clothing and a mustache.
While in disguise, Truthful encounters the handsome but shrewd major Harnett, who to her amazement volunteers to help find the missing emerald under the assumption that she is a man, Henri de Vienne. But once she and her unsuspecting ally are caught up in a dangerous adventure, Truthful realizes something else is afoot: the beating of her heart.
Truthful has far more than romantic complications to worry about. The stolen emerald is no ordinary heirloom-it is the source of the family’s luck and has the power to yield vast magic. It would be completely disastrous if it fell into the wrong hands. The fate of England depends on Truthful securing the emerald.
While in disguise, Truthful encounters the handsome but shrewd major Harnett, who to her amazement volunteers to help find the missing emerald under the assumption that she is a man, Henri de Vienne. But once she and her unsuspecting ally are caught up in a dangerous adventure, Truthful realizes something else is afoot: the beating of her heart.
Truthful has far more than romantic complications to worry about. The stolen emerald is no ordinary heirloom-it is the source of the family’s luck and has the power to yield vast magic. It would be completely disastrous if it fell into the wrong hands. The fate of England depends on Truthful securing the emerald.
I wasn't sure what to really expect from this - I'd seen a few reviews that said it was boring (HOW AND WHAT AND WHY?) so you can imagine my surprise when I really, really liked it. A whole lot. For starters it's a Regency romance, AKA my favourite historical period, plus the heroine dresses as a man in order to investigate the theft of a very important emerald. It's just plain awesome.
It doesn't hurt that Charles is so dreamy and gentlemanly and harbouring a secret from Truthful (what a cool name; Truthful?), and I loved reading his floundering around when a) he discovered truthful was a woman and not a man as he'd been duped into believing and b) when he kept trying and trying to tell Truthful he maybe might have lied a tiny bit regarding his true identity. But Charles isn't the only character I loved - Truthful herself is amazing and fun and driven, and I connected with her a lot, but Lady Badgery (her ... aunt? I forget how they're related) stole the show in so many scenes with her sarcasm and wit and secret knowledge of things proper ladies really shouldn't know (magic and deception and weapons just for starters.) I also loved magical London, and magical Brighton. Hella cool world!!
This book is just fun and heartfelt, and even though it starts slow it makes up for it with a healthy dose of fantasy, attacks from magical bad guys (and bad girls), and plenty of suspense and action. I loved it!
It doesn't hurt that Charles is so dreamy and gentlemanly and harbouring a secret from Truthful (what a cool name; Truthful?), and I loved reading his floundering around when a) he discovered truthful was a woman and not a man as he'd been duped into believing and b) when he kept trying and trying to tell Truthful he maybe might have lied a tiny bit regarding his true identity. But Charles isn't the only character I loved - Truthful herself is amazing and fun and driven, and I connected with her a lot, but Lady Badgery (her ... aunt? I forget how they're related) stole the show in so many scenes with her sarcasm and wit and secret knowledge of things proper ladies really shouldn't know (magic and deception and weapons just for starters.) I also loved magical London, and magical Brighton. Hella cool world!!
This book is just fun and heartfelt, and even though it starts slow it makes up for it with a healthy dose of fantasy, attacks from magical bad guys (and bad girls), and plenty of suspense and action. I loved it!
Characters ★★★★☆
Setting/world ★★★★☆
Writing ★★★★☆
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