A ragtag crew with forbidden magic must pull off an elaborate heist and stop a civil war in An Illusion of Thieves, a fantasy adventure from Cate Glass!
An Illusion of Thieves is many things rolled into one; a slow burn heist novel, a break up novel, a novel of magicians, sibling bonding, and persecution. It has strong themes of justice, fairness, brutal consequences for even seeming unlawful, and the imbalance in power between the rich and the poor.
This novel unfolds itself slowly, I loved the everyday drudgery of Romy's fall from grace, because she scrapes and claws for everything (most especially for the good behavior of her younger brother). As time goes on you see that Romy and Navi collect people- Placidio, Drummond and his family. Once all of these pieces are in place, the novel really becomes a symphony of all the disperate elements that have been sprinkled throughout the book. Romy is most certainly a mastermind, and it is not often that the female is in that position- even in books written by women.
There is sooo very much I am bursting to say- mostly that a love between Master and Concubine is not one of equals. If she makes herself to be everything her wants and lives in fear OF DEATH to disappoint him, that is not love ROMY. But she knows that. Romy is not stupid, and I love that about her.
I've been thinking about these characters for DAYS, and I want to put it out into the world: I ship Romy and Placidio. Big time.
An Illusion of Thieves
Chimera Series, Book #1
by Cate Glass
by Cate Glass
cover art by Alyssa Winans
Coming May 21, 2019
Coming May 21, 2019
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In Cantagna, being a sorcerer is a death sentence.Romy escapes her hardscrabble upbringing when she becomes courtesan to the Shadow Lord, a revolutionary noble who brings laws and comforts once reserved for the wealthy to all. When her brother, Neri, is caught thieving with the aid of magic, Romy's aristocratic influence is the only thing that can spare his life—and the price is her banishment.
Now back in Beggar’s Ring, she has just her wits and her own long-hidden sorcery to help her and Neri survive. But when a plot to overthrow the Shadow Lord and incite civil war is uncovered, only Romy knows how to stop it. To do so, she’ll have to rely on newfound allies—a swordmaster, a silversmith, and her own thieving brother. And they'll need the very thing that could condemn them all: magic.
"In a world reminiscent of Renaissance Italy. You know, intrigue, mercenaries, poison rings, artists, family rivalries, political skullduggery of all kinds. And the mythology that makes use of magic a mortal crime starts to creep in..."--Cate Glass
