Booklog 31/2019 - Cate Glass: An Illusion of Thieves – Chimera #1

[jacey]

The setting is Cantagna, a bustling city ruled over by Il Padrone, sometimes called the Shadow Lord. Cataline has been his courtesan for the last nine years after being sold into high-class prostitution as a child and trained well. He confides in her so she is well-versed in court intrigue and the politics of the day. She is tainted by magic which is outlawed. Punishment for crimes rests not only on the guilty, but their families, too. When Il Padrone is forced to pass harsh judgement on Cataline's father for thievery (a crime he didn't commit, but he's covering for his wayward – magical - son, Neri) Cataline world falls apart. She is banished from court, dead to Il Padrone from that day onwards. She reverts to her childhood name, Romy and sets up a low paid business as a scribe in the bad part of town, while trying to force some sense into bother Neri with the help of a drunken sword master. Things go pear-shaped when Il Padrone's foolish young wife drops trouble in Romy's lap. Unless she can put right the wife's terrible mistake, Il Padrone's position and his vision for Cantagna will be in jeopardy, and Romy and Neri will be in terrible danger. Together with the swordsman, an artisan metal-worker and the aforementioned Neri, Romi has to come up with a plan. Expect forbidden magic, forgery, and daring escapades. This is obviously the first in a series.

Comments

[dray]

That sounds really compelling! Where'd you pick it up?