The Devil's Gambit

Chronicles of Tarotland #2

by Killian Wolf

A pirate prince, hungry for revenge. A thief with magic that can kill. Both will face Death to save someone they love. When Soren comes back from Tarotland, her powers come back with her. Trying her hardest to avoid them, her efforts are wasted when she sees a deadly vision through the looking glass. Now, she’s left with questions about who she is, and what her mother was doing in Tarotland so many years ago. The only way to find answers is to go to the Empress’s Tower, which would involve making the Devil’s Gambit Fly. But the Gambit is lost at sea. To find it, she’ll have to reunite with The Devil captain himself, and his undead crew. The last time she saw him, he took her breath away, and by going back, she’s confronted by emotions she’s not sure she’s ready for. Seeing him again jeopardizes her own life, and his. And now, death’s clock is ticking for both of them.

Genres: Fantasy

512 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2023

About the author

Killian Wolf is a Miami, FL native who enjoys pirates, rum, and skulls as much as she loves writing about dark magick and sorcerers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology and Sociology and a Master of Science in Environmental Archaeology and Palaeoeconomy.

Killian writes books about obtaining magickal powers, and stepping into other dimensions. She lives in England with her husband, a tornado of a cat, and the most timid snake you'd ever meet.

When she isn't writing, you might find her at an Archaeological dig, rock climbing, or sipping on dark spiced rum while working on a painting.

Reviews

[Crystalclearwpg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Killian has hit it out of the park! I was taken on such a ride I am still sitting here trying to come down. The Devil's Gambit takes you on a journey of finding family, truth, belonging and love.

Soren had returned home in the first book and thought she would be happy but instead found she still had to fight for the family she wanted. Through a "looking glass" she sees the Devil's Gambit in trouble and knows she has to return to help them.

You will be whisked onto such a rollercoaster ride with this book and will just be left with wanting more. The slow burn romance between Soren and Nkella is something to hold onto tightly because you will need it to go onto the next installment. I have felt so many emotions reading this book and can not wait to continue on within the world of Tarotland. The characters and world become a part of you. This is a must read series!!!

I received a complimentary copy of this tale from Story Origin and am leaving this review with my honest and unbiased thoughts.

[Sara Lawson]

I really enjoyed this book. After returning home for her mom and her sister, nothing was anything like Soren expected. She's back in the the group home with her sister who doesn't seem to need her anymore. So when she sees in a vision that her crew is in trouble, so heads back to Tarotland armed with new information, new powers, and a quest for revenge. And it gets darker from there.

While I wasn't certain the first book in the series was dark fantasy, this one certainly is. There is an attempted rape, multiple murders, magic trafficking (capturing humans with magic and sucking them dry), even fights between shifters trapped in their animal forms. All hope seems lost on many fronts. This is not a happily ever after sort of story.

So why did I enjoy this? Well, it was incredibly imaginative. So many twists that I didn't see coming. And also pirates are fun. We definitely need more books with pirates. And there is something satisfying about seeing actions with real consequences, rather than people always lucking their way out of things. And hope is never completely lost. That said, there had better be a voyage to the deep in book three, because some things, er people, should never be lost.

Soren and Nkella and their friends were a delight to adventure with, even in their darkest moments. And I'm ready for more.

I copy edited this book, so feel free to ignore any bias in my review.

[ciin_leest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you think it can't get any better.. Killian Wolf did it again! I loved the first book and I loved this one even more! I was really happy to be back in Tarotland with all the characters. Killian has a way of writing that sucked me into the story and spit me out when the book was done. 

It was great that this book just continued where book one ended. Soren being back in this world but it didn't end up the way she thought it would be. When she got back to Tarotland she dives into one adventure after another! And I loved every second of it. Killian did an amazing job with the worldbuilding and the characters grew throughout the story. 

The twists and turns the book gave us kept me at the edge of my seat and gave me a hard time putting the book down, I just wanted to finish so I would know what would happen. And then the cliffhanger at the end?! I almost threw my ereader out my window with that! I can't wait to read book 3 to see how it all will end. 

Thank you StoryOrigin and Killian Wolf for this ARC to read.

[C.J. Piperata · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH my Lanta, where do I begin? Killian Wolf has built such an immersive world, marrying both mythology and magic, seamlessly transporting us into new realms through a looking glass. The nods to the classic tale of Alice are an exciting feature of the book, as well as the series. In book two, destiny (or shall we say… fate!) pulls Soren back into the world she thought she’d never see again… the found family vibes in book 2 are beautiful, and the slow burn love story had me moving from page to page, until my eyeballs were dry and ready to fall out of my head. And did I mention that Nkella is a striped, tattooed, absolute smoke show? The internal and external conflicts of the MC’s had my heart pounding… Book 3 can’t come out soon enough!! Wolf knows how to make a reader beg for the next one!!!

[Darian - Books With A Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good, I feel like I just got off a roller coaster. The adventure kept me on the edge of my seat. I felt Soren’s character was better in this book than in book one and things flowed a lot better. I absolutely love the slow burn romance between her and Nkella. I want her to be her own person but at the same time I want her to stay with him forever because I just love them together. The twists in this story are great, you really can’t predict what’s going to happen. The book ends on an amazing cliff hanger, I can’t wait for the next one.

[Michelle VanDaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil's Gambit is book 2 in the Chronicles of Tarotland series. Soren's exciting journey continues in this loosely based Alice in Wonderland retelling. I absolutely love this series -magnificent world building and captivating characters kept me captivated from start to finish. This series has it all action, suspense, magic and twists you wont see coming. I highly recommend it to all fantasy fans and I can't wait for the next book.

[TaniaRina · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Pirates against the Tower’
Always name your cause. That’ll give “more punch” to it and will pump up the crew when they all yell it together. Repeat. Again. Can’t hear you…


It’s never “just” a dream…
Our psyche talks to us in visions so that we delve into the true meaning of our thoughts and related emotions. ‘The answers you seek are within you.’

Journaling has many functions. It can be therapeutic, provide historical information for our descendants, assist with writing, and be a memory refresher. But how lonely a life when a diary is one’s best and only friend!


Be someone’s guiding light – they might need you to escape ‘The Serpent’s Deep’ (expected in July 2024).

[Cat B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have waited for this one! Was it worth the wait? Oh my, yes. It has everything we have come to expect in a Killian Wolf story. Love lost and found, adventure on the high seas and on the land, betrayal and redemption... and magic. All this and more. Give yourself time to get comfy, grab a snack and a beverage because once you start ...
I received a free ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion of the tale.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this, it had everything that I wanted from this type of book. The story was really well done and the story keeps you invested in what was going on. The characters felt like they were supposed to and were written in a realistic way. Killian Wolf has a great writing style and left me wanting to read more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC READER***

All I can say is OMG! This book was absolutely amazing. Once I started I couldn't put it down.

Our favorite group of pirates are back for an adventure more emotional than the last. There may have been tears shed while reading.

I am so thankful to get to read this book before everyone else I cannot wait for the next installment 🖤

[Marie-Pier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brillant !!

This series is one of my best read this year.
Beautifully written and such a good world building. The characters are incredible and their back stories are well explained.

Plus, the books are BEAUTIFUL !

I don’t know how I’ll wait till 2024 for the third one.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book that will intrigue you all the way to the last page. There’s a pirate, a thief and plenty of danger that will keep you wondering what could happen next. We try to figure out what is in Tarotland. Absolutely loved everything about the story.

[Hanna Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite stories and I LOVED this retelling! So captivating with great characters and an intriguing story.

I received a free copy of this book via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kayla Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What? WHAT?! That’s the ending that I’m left with?! My heart can’t take it…

And there’s no mention of another book in the works?!

UGHH!! 😵

[Kennedy Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the book love the storyline and characters can't wait for the next one thanks for writing it

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soren goes back to Tarotland looking to bring her mother back to life and learns more how to control her powers. Loved this book and can't wait for the next story

[Cali Ravenwing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love emotional roller-coaster books. Killian Wolf has done it for the third time!! The adventure of Soren and the crew of The Devil's Gambit leaves you drooling for more. The slow burn romance or Soren and NKella is something to hang on to. The found family elements makes you appreciate the found family you have. The side characters add so much to main story. The human characters would not be as awesome without Gery, Philo, and the other AO characters. The world building makes you want to jump through pictures in hope that you might land in Tarotland and the surrounding areas. The character building makes it easy to imagine what they look like, which helps if you are artistic and want to portray the characters in real life. I can't wait for the next book in the series!!! The ending, I will say, tore me apart. It is a masterpiece cliffhanger that makes you want to read the next book as soon as possible. I highly recommend this book and the whole Tarotland series.

[Cathryn Melani (cat.inspired) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was soooo excited when an ebook ARC of this jumped into my inbox! Big thank you to the author.

The devils gambit is book two in the chronicles of tarotland series and I adored book one lost in tarotland and gave it 5star rating!

If you love fairytalevibes retellings then this is the perfect fantasy series for you. With dark Alice in Wonderland vibes it's the story of Soren who falls through a portal into a fantasy world ruled by an evil empress, tarot deck markings of magic and cursed pirates!!

I mean what could be better!!

I loved this book, and couldn't put it down, needing to know what happens next! Who needs sleep right!

I loved Soren as a character, her morally great outlook on life after finding herself in the foster care system. How she cares for and wants to protect her 'sister' and how she connects with the cursed crew of the pirate ship. Found family vibes for sure.

And especially the slow burn romance with the Devil cursed Captain in this book especially. Nkella is DEFINITELY a strong contender for best bookish boyfriend material in this story.

This book is such a rollercoaster ride. Both character development, fantasy vibes and world building are brilliantly orchestrated. I loved the very unique magic system of this book, while still retaining Alice vibes.

And that ending!! (No spoilers) But it's one of those where you will instantly want the next installment.

I will definitely be adding this gorgeous PB to my shelves and I highly recommend you pick this series up!

[Tayler Bullard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book probably one of my favorites in the series the end did leave my really upset when Nkella gets dragged into the deep by the Empresses Serpent and Soren stuck their feeling guilty that she made Nkella sacrifice himself and about a whole lot of other stuff but no more spoilers...

I do recommend reading the previous book LOST IN TAROTLAND(THE CURSED TAROT) because without it you will be totally lost about the characters why/how she has her magic abilities blah blah blah but ya over all one of my favorite books and I do hope you consider reading it and love it as much as I did!