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The Square of Sevens
Laura Shepherd-Robinson's The Square of Sevens is an epic and sweeping mystery set in Georgian high society, a dazzling story offering up intrigue, heartbreak, and audacious twists.
This is your story, Red. You must tell it well . . .
A girl known only as Red, the daughter of a Cornish fortune-teller, travels with her father making a living predicting fortunes using the ancient method: the Square of Sevens. When her father suddenly dies, Red becomes the ward of a gentleman scholar.
Now raised as a lady amidst the Georgian splendour of Bath, her fortune-telling is a delight to high society. But she cannot ignore the questions that gnaw at her soul: who was her mother? How did she die? And who are the mysterious enemies her father was always terrified would find him?
The pursuit of these mysteries takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the rough ribaldry of the Bartholomew Fair to the grand houses of two of the most powerful families in England. And while Red's quest brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads her into grave danger . . .
This is your story, Red. You must tell it well . . .
A girl known only as Red, the daughter of a Cornish fortune-teller, travels with her father making a living predicting fortunes using the ancient method: the Square of Sevens. When her father suddenly dies, Red becomes the ward of a gentleman scholar.
Now raised as a lady amidst the Georgian splendour of Bath, her fortune-telling is a delight to high society. But she cannot ignore the questions that gnaw at her soul: who was her mother? How did she die? And who are the mysterious enemies her father was always terrified would find him?
The pursuit of these mysteries takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the rough ribaldry of the Bartholomew Fair to the grand houses of two of the most powerful families in England. And while Red's quest brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads her into grave danger . . .
560 pages, Paperback
First published June 22, 2023
1561 people are currently reading
35182 people want to read
About the author
Laura Shepherd-Robinson
8 books1,002 followersLaura Shepherd-Robinson was born in Bristol in 1976. She has a BSc in Politics from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics. Laura worked in politics for nearly twenty years before re-entering normal life to complete an MA in Creative Writing at City University. She lives in London with her husband, Adrian.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,904 reviews
August 24, 2023
Holy. Shit. The plottwist went so hard I couldn’t sleep for like 4 hours after this 🥲
December 8, 2023
Our protagonist, Red, spent the first seven years of her life on the run with her father, evading the eyes of those who, according to her father, intend to harm them. Red’s father, who goes by the name of George the Tenth of Kernow, is a "cunning-man" who comes from a long line of pellars. Using an ancient method of card reading that has been passed down through generations, father and daughter make their living telling fortunes using the Square of the Sevens method. Red is a gifted fortune teller. She never knew her mother, having lost her when she was a baby, and her father hadn’t shared much about her with Red. After her father dies, seven-year-old Red is left in the care of an antiquarian from Bath to whom he also entrusts the manuscript detailing the unique Square of Sevens technique. However, she remains curious about her parents, a quest that is discouraged by her guardian. Red spends the next ten years in Bath until her fortunes change after the demise of her guardian. She runs away from Bath and the clutches of her guardian’s shady nephew and tries to support herself, telling fortunes – a risky venture after the passing of The Witchcraft Act of 1735, which could result in imprisonment. She follows the clues of her mother’s family history from her father’s documents which lead her to London and Devon amid two feuding but influential families who would rather their secrets stay buried but also wouldn’t hesitate to use Red as a pawn to further their own motives. Will Red discover the truth about her family connections and finally find out why she spent her early childhood on the run with her father? Will she be able to see through the lies, deceit and manipulation?
Set in Georgian England, The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a cleverly plotted work of historical fiction with an intriguing mystery at its core. I loved the Gothic vibes and the atmospheric setting and how cartomancy is incorporated into the narrative structure. Each chapter begins with a card and its interpretation, which, if studied together, predicts the possible outcomes for the relevant plot point /person concerned. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and loved the large cast of characters, each of whom had a significant part to play in Red’s quest – both her friends and allies as well as the villainous and shady people she encounters. She doesn’t always make the wisest of choices, but one wouldn’t expect a sheltered teenager to be worldly wise and exercise caution in her dealings with others. Red’s character development was on point in keeping with her age, naiveté and life experiences. The author excels in depicting the contrasting worlds of London’s fair folk and affluent society.
I would have given this novel a higher rating had the story been shorter and a tad more tightly woven. The pace slows down considerably in some segments and dragged around the halfway mark. Though a few of the revelations were not completely unpredictable, I loved the ending and thought that the final twist was well executed.
The author has penned a fascinating historical note where she discusses the era, her inspiration for this story and much more. This is my first time reading this author and I intend to explore more of her work.
Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Set in Georgian England, The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a cleverly plotted work of historical fiction with an intriguing mystery at its core. I loved the Gothic vibes and the atmospheric setting and how cartomancy is incorporated into the narrative structure. Each chapter begins with a card and its interpretation, which, if studied together, predicts the possible outcomes for the relevant plot point /person concerned. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and loved the large cast of characters, each of whom had a significant part to play in Red’s quest – both her friends and allies as well as the villainous and shady people she encounters. She doesn’t always make the wisest of choices, but one wouldn’t expect a sheltered teenager to be worldly wise and exercise caution in her dealings with others. Red’s character development was on point in keeping with her age, naiveté and life experiences. The author excels in depicting the contrasting worlds of London’s fair folk and affluent society.
I would have given this novel a higher rating had the story been shorter and a tad more tightly woven. The pace slows down considerably in some segments and dragged around the halfway mark. Though a few of the revelations were not completely unpredictable, I loved the ending and thought that the final twist was well executed.
The author has penned a fascinating historical note where she discusses the era, her inspiration for this story and much more. This is my first time reading this author and I intend to explore more of her work.
Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
August 24, 2023
I was intrigued with the beginning of this book. A young girl whose mother died during childbirth who tells fortunes and desperately wants to know more about her mother who was disowned when she married Red's father. Prior to her father's death, Red and her father supported themselves by telling fortunes using The Square of Sevens. They are constantly on the move as her father feels that they are in danger. When it is clear he is not going to survive his illness, Red's father asks Mr. Antrobus, a gentleman, to take Red in and raise her.
Red continues to tell fortunes during her life with Mr. Antrobus, while still hoping and trying to learn more about her mother, her mother's family, and her mother's past.
This was a meaty book. Initially I was glued to the pages and interested in learning why Red's father kept them moving and never settling down. But soon this book began to feel slow and very, very long. I have no problem with long books. One of my favorite books is over 1,000 pages but it never felt long. I felt every single page of this book. This book is dubbed a "Dickensian story of mystery and intrigue..." I enjoy Dickens book and only felt the length in one of his books (Bleak House). Can you tell I did not care for how long the book felt. It also felt slow as well and slow, and I do not get along very well.
The chapter titles are very clever as they depict the Square of Sevens but that was not enough to fully win me over. I did enjoy the twists and turns that came along the way. Red experiences a lot in this book. Red is an interesting character. She was raised in a time where she had little choices and opportunity yet found her way and made opportunities for herself. She was strong, inquisitive, and intent on finding the truth no matter what. This book has a lot going on and I usually enjoy Gothic tales, but this is one that never fully won me over.
This book was well written and well thought out.
Most reviewers are enjoying this book much more than I did so please read their reviews as well. We can't love them all.
Thank you to Atria Books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Red continues to tell fortunes during her life with Mr. Antrobus, while still hoping and trying to learn more about her mother, her mother's family, and her mother's past.
This was a meaty book. Initially I was glued to the pages and interested in learning why Red's father kept them moving and never settling down. But soon this book began to feel slow and very, very long. I have no problem with long books. One of my favorite books is over 1,000 pages but it never felt long. I felt every single page of this book. This book is dubbed a "Dickensian story of mystery and intrigue..." I enjoy Dickens book and only felt the length in one of his books (Bleak House). Can you tell I did not care for how long the book felt. It also felt slow as well and slow, and I do not get along very well.
The chapter titles are very clever as they depict the Square of Sevens but that was not enough to fully win me over. I did enjoy the twists and turns that came along the way. Red experiences a lot in this book. Red is an interesting character. She was raised in a time where she had little choices and opportunity yet found her way and made opportunities for herself. She was strong, inquisitive, and intent on finding the truth no matter what. This book has a lot going on and I usually enjoy Gothic tales, but this is one that never fully won me over.
This book was well written and well thought out.
Most reviewers are enjoying this book much more than I did so please read their reviews as well. We can't love them all.
Thank you to Atria Books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 15, 2025
I was utterly "gobsmacked" when I reached the final chapters of this outstandingly clever novel!
And once again I have to tread carefully, for fear of revealing massive spoilers. I will say that this was an incredibly well written story: the plot is downright diabolical!
My advice: just keep your thinking cap on (or your wits about you, as Red would say) and try to remember as many details as you possibly can, so that you can fully appreciate that sensational ending! Take notes even!!!
Laura Shepherd-Robinson rivals Dickens for managing to introduce so many characters and still tell a coherent, enthralling story. From rags to riches indeed... or so everyone in this story seems to aspire to...
At first I was attracted to this book because of the theme of cartomancy. I dabble (very amateurishly) in the study of the Tarot. The Square of Sevens method is an incredibly complex layout of cards that defied my limited comprehension, so I just went with the various interpretations of each reading throughout this incredible story.
I will readily admit that I was totally ENTHRALLED! By chance, I had read an excerpt of this novel several weeks ago on my Libby App and, to my great frustration, had to wait several excruciating weeks to get a copy of the actual book from the library.... and it was well worth the wait!
As the story unfolds, we are told that Red (aka Rachel) - being a precocious child - was able to read fortunes using the Square of Sevens method taught to her by her father, an itinerant "Cunning Man" - aka Cornish Gypsy.
.... And AGAIN I have to stop here because so many spoilers will fall from my lips if I go any further!
This book was almost impossible to put down. Many is the time I would find that I'd been reading non-stop well into the night and then into the wee hours of the morning!
This story is ADDICTIVE, so make sure you have a good block of time to devote to this incredible tale of the occult, avarice, seduction, treachery and even murder! (Don't fret, by saying this, I didn't reveal any spoilers that are not already contained in the blurb!)
And don't worry that this is set in the 1700s. I haven't read historical fiction in ages, but this story had a contemporary vibe.
So what are you waiting for?!!! Go get your hands on this book and READ IT! Highly, highly recommended: you won't regret a minute of the time you spent on this novel, and I also recommend that you hold on to your jaw at the very end - it will drop so low with shock. I was literally gasping: I did not see that ending coming!!! 5 out of 5 well deserved stars!
And once again I have to tread carefully, for fear of revealing massive spoilers. I will say that this was an incredibly well written story: the plot is downright diabolical!
My advice: just keep your thinking cap on (or your wits about you, as Red would say) and try to remember as many details as you possibly can, so that you can fully appreciate that sensational ending! Take notes even!!!
Laura Shepherd-Robinson rivals Dickens for managing to introduce so many characters and still tell a coherent, enthralling story. From rags to riches indeed... or so everyone in this story seems to aspire to...
At first I was attracted to this book because of the theme of cartomancy. I dabble (very amateurishly) in the study of the Tarot. The Square of Sevens method is an incredibly complex layout of cards that defied my limited comprehension, so I just went with the various interpretations of each reading throughout this incredible story.
I will readily admit that I was totally ENTHRALLED! By chance, I had read an excerpt of this novel several weeks ago on my Libby App and, to my great frustration, had to wait several excruciating weeks to get a copy of the actual book from the library.... and it was well worth the wait!
As the story unfolds, we are told that Red (aka Rachel) - being a precocious child - was able to read fortunes using the Square of Sevens method taught to her by her father, an itinerant "Cunning Man" - aka Cornish Gypsy.
.... And AGAIN I have to stop here because so many spoilers will fall from my lips if I go any further!
This book was almost impossible to put down. Many is the time I would find that I'd been reading non-stop well into the night and then into the wee hours of the morning!
This story is ADDICTIVE, so make sure you have a good block of time to devote to this incredible tale of the occult, avarice, seduction, treachery and even murder! (Don't fret, by saying this, I didn't reveal any spoilers that are not already contained in the blurb!)
And don't worry that this is set in the 1700s. I haven't read historical fiction in ages, but this story had a contemporary vibe.
So what are you waiting for?!!! Go get your hands on this book and READ IT! Highly, highly recommended: you won't regret a minute of the time you spent on this novel, and I also recommend that you hold on to your jaw at the very end - it will drop so low with shock. I was literally gasping: I did not see that ending coming!!! 5 out of 5 well deserved stars!
June 26, 2023
In her historical note, Laura Shepherd-Robinson states that she wanted to write ‘something mythical and magical, a sweeping Dickensian story with a twist’ and, boy, has she succeeded. The author takes us on a endlessly inventive and enthralling journey that in its story of disputed inheritance, suspicious deaths and familial intrigue has echoes of Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins and Robert Louis Stevenson but never feels derivative.
The book is peopled with fascinating supporting characters, notably Lazarus Darke whose name could surely have come from a Dickens novel. And I couldn’t help thinking of Dickens’s Bleak House when it comes to the long-running legal case, in this instance between two powerful families connected by blood but divided by past events, that forms much of the backdrop to the book.
Any attempt to summarise the twists and turns of the plot would be doomed to failure and risk giving away some of the many surprises awaiting the reader, so I’m not even going to try. Safe to say, the dividing line between truth and illusion is gossamer thin and you shouldn’t necessarily believe what you see or hear.
Our heroine, Red, is the epitome of relentless determination, pursuing her goal with ingenuity and, at times, a careless regard for her own safety. She’s also not averse to a little manipulation when she believes it will serve her purpose. Let’s face it, in this book she’s not alone when it comes to that.
I loved the way the author integrated the Square of Sevens itself into the book, with each chapter bearing an illustration of a card whose accompanying interpretation may give clues to the events about to unfold.
At over 500 pages The Square of Sevens is a chunky book but it moves along at pace with a constant sense there is a surprise around the next corner. There invariably is. Some of them are positively audacious. In fact, I can imagine the author thinking, gotcha!
Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s previous two books, Blood & Sugar and Daughters of Night, were great but this is definitely her best yet. The Square of Sevens is a rip-roaring romp of a historical novel that will keep you turning the pages.
The book is peopled with fascinating supporting characters, notably Lazarus Darke whose name could surely have come from a Dickens novel. And I couldn’t help thinking of Dickens’s Bleak House when it comes to the long-running legal case, in this instance between two powerful families connected by blood but divided by past events, that forms much of the backdrop to the book.
Any attempt to summarise the twists and turns of the plot would be doomed to failure and risk giving away some of the many surprises awaiting the reader, so I’m not even going to try. Safe to say, the dividing line between truth and illusion is gossamer thin and you shouldn’t necessarily believe what you see or hear.
Our heroine, Red, is the epitome of relentless determination, pursuing her goal with ingenuity and, at times, a careless regard for her own safety. She’s also not averse to a little manipulation when she believes it will serve her purpose. Let’s face it, in this book she’s not alone when it comes to that.
I loved the way the author integrated the Square of Sevens itself into the book, with each chapter bearing an illustration of a card whose accompanying interpretation may give clues to the events about to unfold.
At over 500 pages The Square of Sevens is a chunky book but it moves along at pace with a constant sense there is a surprise around the next corner. There invariably is. Some of them are positively audacious. In fact, I can imagine the author thinking, gotcha!
Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s previous two books, Blood & Sugar and Daughters of Night, were great but this is definitely her best yet. The Square of Sevens is a rip-roaring romp of a historical novel that will keep you turning the pages.
September 22, 2023
I'm going to be honest, the best aspects of this particular book are the cover, the quirky illustrations of Bath and the fact the story was set in Bath. Apart from that, this book was difficult to like, and, putting it lightly, my heart is most definitely dissatisfied.
As usual, this book was purchased unexpectedly in a boutique bookshop on one of my trips. As I walked in, it was there sitting there looking all pretty in its mouthwatering hardback special edition form. What could one do?
I was enthusiastic about it until I started reading it and I just knew we weren't going to get along. I love that it is set in Bath, as that place is one of my favourite cities to spend time in, and obviously one of those reasons is because of the closeness with Jane Austen. This will sound terrible, but I couldn't picture Laura Shepherd-Robinson's characters swanning about in Bath. I'm a way, the story didn't belong there.
The book was terribly long, with use of words that didn't fit the dialogue. There was a lack of suspense or emotion and no build-up which led to a yawn inducing experience, hence why it took me longer than usual to finish.
I am in no doubt disappointed with this somewhat flat read, and a bit irritated with myself for spending nearly £20 on it, but then, there is that cover to gaze at...
As usual, this book was purchased unexpectedly in a boutique bookshop on one of my trips. As I walked in, it was there sitting there looking all pretty in its mouthwatering hardback special edition form. What could one do?
I was enthusiastic about it until I started reading it and I just knew we weren't going to get along. I love that it is set in Bath, as that place is one of my favourite cities to spend time in, and obviously one of those reasons is because of the closeness with Jane Austen. This will sound terrible, but I couldn't picture Laura Shepherd-Robinson's characters swanning about in Bath. I'm a way, the story didn't belong there.
The book was terribly long, with use of words that didn't fit the dialogue. There was a lack of suspense or emotion and no build-up which led to a yawn inducing experience, hence why it took me longer than usual to finish.
I am in no doubt disappointed with this somewhat flat read, and a bit irritated with myself for spending nearly £20 on it, but then, there is that cover to gaze at...
December 5, 2023
The Square of Sevens tries very hard to be Fingersmith, but it falls short on every level.
I try not to let marketing influence me too much, but when my favorite author is invoked, please forgive me for fixating on that a bit. Claiming that a book is "perfect for fans of Sarah Waters" sets up very high, perhaps impossible, expectations. I wish it was a surprise that the story, writing, historical immersion, atmosphere, and characters don't come anywhere near Waters level, but it's not. The comparison really does this book a disservice, because on its own, this is a perfectly serviceable bit of historical frippery if you're reading solely for plot, and in fact, with some edits probably would've made a better YA novel than an adult historical.
It does some Fingersmith sleight of hand, but the reveals come very late in a book that feels far too long for its content, and it's not nearly clever enough to justify the somewhat exhausting lead-up and the unnecessarily convoluted (in that it does not add as much to the story as it seems to think the reader wants) structure of painstakingly matching chapter content to playing cards, which here are used in divination. I also had trouble feeling immersed in Georgian society as well; aside from a few nice details such as when she's making fake coins on the streets, the historical elements felt somewhat generic and glossed over.
Anyway, I listened to all 20 hours even though I could tell after 3 major deaths that the book wasn't going to hit the intricacy of plotting, depth of character and themes, or emotional impact of a Sarah Waters book. A missed opportunity, because while it feels historical lite for adults, reworked a little, this could've been a much stronger cozy historical mystery or book for young adults.
I try not to let marketing influence me too much, but when my favorite author is invoked, please forgive me for fixating on that a bit. Claiming that a book is "perfect for fans of Sarah Waters" sets up very high, perhaps impossible, expectations. I wish it was a surprise that the story, writing, historical immersion, atmosphere, and characters don't come anywhere near Waters level, but it's not. The comparison really does this book a disservice, because on its own, this is a perfectly serviceable bit of historical frippery if you're reading solely for plot, and in fact, with some edits probably would've made a better YA novel than an adult historical.
It does some Fingersmith sleight of hand, but the reveals come very late in a book that feels far too long for its content, and it's not nearly clever enough to justify the somewhat exhausting lead-up and the unnecessarily convoluted (in that it does not add as much to the story as it seems to think the reader wants) structure of painstakingly matching chapter content to playing cards, which here are used in divination. I also had trouble feeling immersed in Georgian society as well; aside from a few nice details such as when she's making fake coins on the streets, the historical elements felt somewhat generic and glossed over.
Anyway, I listened to all 20 hours even though I could tell after 3 major deaths that the book wasn't going to hit the intricacy of plotting, depth of character and themes, or emotional impact of a Sarah Waters book. A missed opportunity, because while it feels historical lite for adults, reworked a little, this could've been a much stronger cozy historical mystery or book for young adults.
November 3, 2025
Amazing, surprising, sometimes disconcerting novel where all seems to be true but where nothing really is like it looks.
I think the author made an incredible job.
It's an historical mystery fiction, set in the 30s then the 40s of 18th century, with a touch of magical realism and a slightly gothic style, that captivated me from start to end.
Goodreads introduction says that the novel has a Dickensian style, but I would say that it is more in the style of Wilkie Collins, an author considered the father of the mystery genre and a great friend of Charles Dickens.
I rated it 5 stars on 5 because I really loved it, despite it's a very long book ( but never boring and full of unexpected twists and turns ) and despite the ending was so different from the one I would like.
I also can say that the very end with the solution of the mystery is 100% unpredictable for readers and it was very disconcerting, but I can assure all people that the novel and its characters are still with me even after many days I finished to read it !!
_____ But let's say something about THE PLOT:
1730, England. A girl known only as Red, the daughter of a Cornish fortune-teller, travels with her father making a living predicting fortunes using the ancient the Square of Sevens. When her father suddenly dies, Red becomes the ward of a gentleman scholar.
Now raised as a lady amidst the Georgian splendour of Bath, her fortune-telling is a delight to high society. But she cannot ignore the questions that gnaw at her who was her mother? How did she die? And who are the mysterious enemies her father was always terrified would find him?
The pursuit of these mysteries takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the rough ribaldry of the Bartholomew Fair to the grand houses of two of the most powerful families in England. And while Red's quest brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads into her grave danger . . .
_________________________
THE TROPES :
While the tale of an orphan who loses her father and goes in search of her mother, having to face a thousand vicissitudes and misfortunes, including snake-like relatives who want her dead, may seem unoriginal, I assure you that the story is so full of surprises, both good and bad, that continually change without pause, keeping the reader constantly on edge, that you will never be bored, not even in the descriptive moments that serve to set the mood of the story and the place, and help the reader regroup all thoughts about it.
TWISTS AND TURNS :
The author has divided the novel into four main parts, each containing 21 chapters, each beginning with a card and a prediction.
This not only helps create the surreal atmosphere of life read through the cards, but also foreshadows what will actually happen in the chapter.
Each chapter, the reader discovers a truth that will then be overturned again by the events of the next.
Reality and appearance, truth and lies, dark secrets and equally dark threats, a faint glimmer of hope for the future, and a desperate struggle to solve the mystery.
I chose that read as my Halloween read and so loved those Gothic vibes and how cartomancy was so well mixed into the story.
The continuous transformation of truth into lies and lies into truth, of good characters into villains and of suspected villains into good ones and vice versa again, in a continuous whirlwind of emotions, kept me glued to the pages, leading me to read with great avidity.
----> I think the author, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, did a truly excellent job crafting such an intricate mystery, where events intertwine and overlap, with many characters we discover are all connected by an invisible thread until almost the end.
The author also excelled in making the read captivating (which isn't easy, especially in very long novels) and comprehensible despite the intricacies and the many names of characters past and present in the story.
(At first, it may seem difficult to keep track of characters and connections, but I assure you that after a while, thanks also to the author's diagrams, everything will become clear and easily understandable.)
THE CHARACTERS:
----> The protagonist is Red, later also known as Rachel Antrobus, and she is partly the narrator of the story in first person.
The book begins with her as a child; we see her grow up, make bad choices, and then courageously face the consequences.
There will be moments when you might be angry with her, but like any teenager, she is impulsive and passionate. However, it is only at the end that you discover Red's true nature and how life's adversities pushed her to find a way to survive.
----> Her narration is complemented by another protagonist: Lazarus Darke, a man who believes he is a servant of the truth.
Here the story is sometimes told in third person and sometimes in first person by Lazarus himself.
It will take many chapters and many events to understand who Lazarus is, and it is precisely this "not knowing much about him" and his "search for the truth" that makes the chapters in which he is the protagonist interesting.
Not knowing whether he was good or evil, I tried to keep my thoughts neutral about him, and yet as I read, I continued to speculate and bet on his character.
__ There are completely positive characters, yet they hide dangerous secrets.
There are characters whose evilness will surprise you quite a bit, and when their true nature is revealed, it will disappoint and hurt you.
I can't say much about the characters because I would risk ruining all the surprises.
I will say, however, that each character in the story has a very specific and fundamental role.
Each personality is well-drawn, bringing them to life and making you root for one, sometimes for another, and then suddenly surprising you, making you change your mind and changing your feelings toward them.
In any case, the author made them unforgettable, and like a classic by Charles Dickens or Wilkie Collins, I loved this book so much, so much that it has stayed with me even now, more than a week has passed and I've already read two other books.
As soon as I finished it, I bought an Italian copy for my mother, who is halfway through the story and is equally thrilled!
TRUE HISTORY CONNECTIONS :
The historical setting doesn't precisely feature true historical figures among the characters or great true events, but it does offer some interesting links to real past history:
_ The laws on witchcraft and fortune-telling such as card reading. No more death sentences, but prison and the pillory for fraud.
_ Superstitions and the brutality of society at the time toward those condemned to the pillory and the slanders invented to fuel that brutality.
_ The popular experiments on electricity (which only truly arrived in the late 19th century) and the demonstration shows that became a true craze of the era.
_ The Clockwork Universe, a concept according to which the universe operates with predictable, mechanical regularity, an idea born from the scientific works of figures including Isaac Newton.
_ The passion for mechanical objects whose ingenious mechanisms made them move and operate as if by magic.
_ The Bartholomew Fair, great London event that lasted from 1133 to 1855.I was only a cloth market in the start and then became a multi-week festival known for its rowdy entertainment and crowds.
_ The descriptions of buildings and squares inspired by real historical places, then carefully reported in the author's precious historical notes at the end of the book (which I RECOMMEND, DO NOT READ before the end of the book, you would ruin all the surprise and emotional tension of the story).
_ The corruption of a real political figure and an architect inspired by a real historical figure: Nicholas Owen, a renowned maker of priests' holes and other hiding places of the Catholic gentry.
_ And then something that seems absurd, but is true: did you know that in the 18th century, "hermits" were hired and paid as attractions? Of course, on the condition that they lived on the nobles' lands, without speaking to anyone and truly living as hermits. Crazy!!!!
_ A quote from a 1700s court case still cited in courtrooms in modern times!
_ An then again you'll find something in the historical notes about the real book The Square of Sevens... Well, I can't explain it without spoiling you all the fun.
-----> IMPERATIVE : read the historical notes only after you've finished the entire story!!!!!!!!!
IN CONCLUSION:
Is this book worth reading?
My answer, as a reader who loves mystery and intrigue, but who in recent years has only chosen short books and who dared to read a very long book simply because she was intrigued by the plot: YES, ABSOLUTELY YES!!
... And I can't wait to read more books by this fantastic author!
A LITTLE NOTE :
Clean language and no sex scenes or gruesome scenes. Suitable to all ages.
Thanks for reading my opinion and please forgive my English since it's not my mother language.
I think the author made an incredible job.
It's an historical mystery fiction, set in the 30s then the 40s of 18th century, with a touch of magical realism and a slightly gothic style, that captivated me from start to end.
Goodreads introduction says that the novel has a Dickensian style, but I would say that it is more in the style of Wilkie Collins, an author considered the father of the mystery genre and a great friend of Charles Dickens.
I rated it 5 stars on 5 because I really loved it, despite it's a very long book ( but never boring and full of unexpected twists and turns ) and despite the ending was so different from the one I would like.
I also can say that the very end with the solution of the mystery is 100% unpredictable for readers and it was very disconcerting, but I can assure all people that the novel and its characters are still with me even after many days I finished to read it !!
_____ But let's say something about THE PLOT:
1730, England. A girl known only as Red, the daughter of a Cornish fortune-teller, travels with her father making a living predicting fortunes using the ancient the Square of Sevens. When her father suddenly dies, Red becomes the ward of a gentleman scholar.
Now raised as a lady amidst the Georgian splendour of Bath, her fortune-telling is a delight to high society. But she cannot ignore the questions that gnaw at her who was her mother? How did she die? And who are the mysterious enemies her father was always terrified would find him?
The pursuit of these mysteries takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the rough ribaldry of the Bartholomew Fair to the grand houses of two of the most powerful families in England. And while Red's quest brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads into her grave danger . . .
_________________________
THE TROPES :
While the tale of an orphan who loses her father and goes in search of her mother, having to face a thousand vicissitudes and misfortunes, including snake-like relatives who want her dead, may seem unoriginal, I assure you that the story is so full of surprises, both good and bad, that continually change without pause, keeping the reader constantly on edge, that you will never be bored, not even in the descriptive moments that serve to set the mood of the story and the place, and help the reader regroup all thoughts about it.
TWISTS AND TURNS :
The author has divided the novel into four main parts, each containing 21 chapters, each beginning with a card and a prediction.
This not only helps create the surreal atmosphere of life read through the cards, but also foreshadows what will actually happen in the chapter.
Each chapter, the reader discovers a truth that will then be overturned again by the events of the next.
Reality and appearance, truth and lies, dark secrets and equally dark threats, a faint glimmer of hope for the future, and a desperate struggle to solve the mystery.
I chose that read as my Halloween read and so loved those Gothic vibes and how cartomancy was so well mixed into the story.
The continuous transformation of truth into lies and lies into truth, of good characters into villains and of suspected villains into good ones and vice versa again, in a continuous whirlwind of emotions, kept me glued to the pages, leading me to read with great avidity.
----> I think the author, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, did a truly excellent job crafting such an intricate mystery, where events intertwine and overlap, with many characters we discover are all connected by an invisible thread until almost the end.
The author also excelled in making the read captivating (which isn't easy, especially in very long novels) and comprehensible despite the intricacies and the many names of characters past and present in the story.
(At first, it may seem difficult to keep track of characters and connections, but I assure you that after a while, thanks also to the author's diagrams, everything will become clear and easily understandable.)
THE CHARACTERS:
----> The protagonist is Red, later also known as Rachel Antrobus, and she is partly the narrator of the story in first person.
The book begins with her as a child; we see her grow up, make bad choices, and then courageously face the consequences.
There will be moments when you might be angry with her, but like any teenager, she is impulsive and passionate. However, it is only at the end that you discover Red's true nature and how life's adversities pushed her to find a way to survive.
----> Her narration is complemented by another protagonist: Lazarus Darke, a man who believes he is a servant of the truth.
Here the story is sometimes told in third person and sometimes in first person by Lazarus himself.
It will take many chapters and many events to understand who Lazarus is, and it is precisely this "not knowing much about him" and his "search for the truth" that makes the chapters in which he is the protagonist interesting.
Not knowing whether he was good or evil, I tried to keep my thoughts neutral about him, and yet as I read, I continued to speculate and bet on his character.
__ There are completely positive characters, yet they hide dangerous secrets.
There are characters whose evilness will surprise you quite a bit, and when their true nature is revealed, it will disappoint and hurt you.
I can't say much about the characters because I would risk ruining all the surprises.
I will say, however, that each character in the story has a very specific and fundamental role.
Each personality is well-drawn, bringing them to life and making you root for one, sometimes for another, and then suddenly surprising you, making you change your mind and changing your feelings toward them.
In any case, the author made them unforgettable, and like a classic by Charles Dickens or Wilkie Collins, I loved this book so much, so much that it has stayed with me even now, more than a week has passed and I've already read two other books.
As soon as I finished it, I bought an Italian copy for my mother, who is halfway through the story and is equally thrilled!
TRUE HISTORY CONNECTIONS :
The historical setting doesn't precisely feature true historical figures among the characters or great true events, but it does offer some interesting links to real past history:
_ The laws on witchcraft and fortune-telling such as card reading. No more death sentences, but prison and the pillory for fraud.
_ Superstitions and the brutality of society at the time toward those condemned to the pillory and the slanders invented to fuel that brutality.
_ The popular experiments on electricity (which only truly arrived in the late 19th century) and the demonstration shows that became a true craze of the era.
_ The Clockwork Universe, a concept according to which the universe operates with predictable, mechanical regularity, an idea born from the scientific works of figures including Isaac Newton.
_ The passion for mechanical objects whose ingenious mechanisms made them move and operate as if by magic.
_ The Bartholomew Fair, great London event that lasted from 1133 to 1855.I was only a cloth market in the start and then became a multi-week festival known for its rowdy entertainment and crowds.
_ The descriptions of buildings and squares inspired by real historical places, then carefully reported in the author's precious historical notes at the end of the book (which I RECOMMEND, DO NOT READ before the end of the book, you would ruin all the surprise and emotional tension of the story).
_ The corruption of a real political figure and an architect inspired by a real historical figure: Nicholas Owen, a renowned maker of priests' holes and other hiding places of the Catholic gentry.
_ And then something that seems absurd, but is true: did you know that in the 18th century, "hermits" were hired and paid as attractions? Of course, on the condition that they lived on the nobles' lands, without speaking to anyone and truly living as hermits. Crazy!!!!
_ A quote from a 1700s court case still cited in courtrooms in modern times!
_ An then again you'll find something in the historical notes about the real book The Square of Sevens... Well, I can't explain it without spoiling you all the fun.
-----> IMPERATIVE : read the historical notes only after you've finished the entire story!!!!!!!!!
IN CONCLUSION:
Is this book worth reading?
My answer, as a reader who loves mystery and intrigue, but who in recent years has only chosen short books and who dared to read a very long book simply because she was intrigued by the plot: YES, ABSOLUTELY YES!!
... And I can't wait to read more books by this fantastic author!
A LITTLE NOTE :
Clean language and no sex scenes or gruesome scenes. Suitable to all ages.
Thanks for reading my opinion and please forgive my English since it's not my mother language.
June 26, 2024
A wonderful historical adventure, packed full of twists and turns, complex characters and fantastic moments. I loved this so much; it was simply huge fun. A good one for fans of Sarah Waters, Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens.
dnf
May 4, 2024A decent first 50 pages were followed by a further 200 pages of boredom. I'm glad I decided to quit at that point as the ending, I later found, is just ridiculous.
March 2, 2023
I loved this book! This author can do no wrong as far as I’ve read. With an intricate plot and a wide range of characters, all untrustworthy, the context of the story is very evocative of time and place. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
September 4, 2023
Wow, the beginning of this book really hooked me. The main character is really inspiring as she didn't come from much but trudged on through and made her way in the world. She's determined and inspiring. However, the reason for 3 stars is because this book was long. I don't mean the number of pages. Nor do I mean it's a "slow burn". I feel like it just kept dragging. There wasn't enough interesting things to keep my interest constantly around halfway, I was over it. It does has some good twists and turns but the moments in between lacked and dragged on for me. I really wanted to love this, and at the beginning I was so gripped. However, it just slowly become less interesting. The ending was good but didn't make up for the lacking 50% of the book. Please check this one out for yourself, because what may lack for me might be amazing to you. We all have different preferences. It has good reviews, so I'm not sure why I'm the one that isn't that thrilled with it.
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
October 22, 2024
“When a man is powerful and evil, other people surround themselves with lies, until they’re not sure if they’re protecting him or protecting themselves.”
An immersive Dickensian novel with lots of twists and turns.
Red has grown up with her father, who taught her how to read cards using the Square of Sevens technique. When he passes away she falls into the care of a friend. Determined to find more information about her mother she begins digging into secrets.
What follows is a tale of deception where Red mist pretend to be someone else to grow close to her wealthy relatives in an eventual bid to claim her inheritance.
But everything is not as it seems.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one!
“If you’d wanted a saint, then you should have read a different book.”
An immersive Dickensian novel with lots of twists and turns.
Red has grown up with her father, who taught her how to read cards using the Square of Sevens technique. When he passes away she falls into the care of a friend. Determined to find more information about her mother she begins digging into secrets.
What follows is a tale of deception where Red mist pretend to be someone else to grow close to her wealthy relatives in an eventual bid to claim her inheritance.
But everything is not as it seems.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one!
“If you’d wanted a saint, then you should have read a different book.”
September 6, 2023
WOW. Just wow. This book is exceptional!
Full review to follow, once I've found the words...
---
I had the absolute privilege to read an early copy of this stunning new novel from one of my all-time favourite authors. To say this was my most anticipated release of the summer would be an understatement. I have loved everything Laura Shepherd-Robinson has written to date, and I’ll continue to pick up absolutely everything she writes. I couldn’t love her writing and her stories more.
This novel takes a different tone from her previous two books; set between Georgian Bath, London and Devon, this is a story of fortune-telling, Cartomancy, truth and deception. This is the tale of a young girl named Red, who travels the roads of Cornwall from town to town with her ‘cunning man’ father, telling fortunes to pay their way. Red’s life changes dramatically when she meets Mr Antrobus, who, as her guardian and caretaker, means a move to Bath and a life as a Lady. But burning at her core is a desperate need to know who she really is, where she came from, who her mother was and her family’s history. Together with Red we set out to discover her past.
Both setting and plot are so richly detailed you will truly feel like you are there, but will you brave having your own fortune told?
Absolutely glorious from start to finish, this is a spectacular novel and I can’t recommend it enough.
Full review to follow, once I've found the words...
---
I had the absolute privilege to read an early copy of this stunning new novel from one of my all-time favourite authors. To say this was my most anticipated release of the summer would be an understatement. I have loved everything Laura Shepherd-Robinson has written to date, and I’ll continue to pick up absolutely everything she writes. I couldn’t love her writing and her stories more.
This novel takes a different tone from her previous two books; set between Georgian Bath, London and Devon, this is a story of fortune-telling, Cartomancy, truth and deception. This is the tale of a young girl named Red, who travels the roads of Cornwall from town to town with her ‘cunning man’ father, telling fortunes to pay their way. Red’s life changes dramatically when she meets Mr Antrobus, who, as her guardian and caretaker, means a move to Bath and a life as a Lady. But burning at her core is a desperate need to know who she really is, where she came from, who her mother was and her family’s history. Together with Red we set out to discover her past.
Both setting and plot are so richly detailed you will truly feel like you are there, but will you brave having your own fortune told?
Absolutely glorious from start to finish, this is a spectacular novel and I can’t recommend it enough.
January 24, 2024
3 Stars
It took me forever to finish this one. Excellent writing, but for some reason, the story just didn't grab me.
It took me forever to finish this one. Excellent writing, but for some reason, the story just didn't grab me.
July 24, 2023
I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. I actually loved the writing, the plot, the characters - all of it. But the overly excessive details ruined the suspense I thought the read needed. Every time I was really invested in the drama and suspense of the story line the writing would pull me out with just too many words. I think at least 100 pages could be lobbed off and the story would pack a serious punch of dramatic page turning suspense. Because the story is an excellent one. It's full of intrigue, mystery, wonderful characters, and twists and turns right up to the very last page. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy and provide my honest opinion.
July 8, 2023
It took me over 6 long, laborious, bum numbing weeks to read this book and in the end, I wish I hadn’t bothered.
It was not worth the effort.
It was not worth the effort.
Read
October 27, 2023Laura Shepherd-Robinson has made a deserved name for herself writing historical thrillers, but The Square of Sevens is a larger beast than that. While still a novel led by mystery and intrigue, it is less of a thriller and more of an historical drama set in the Bath and London of the 1730s and ’40s.
Our protagonist is a girl named Red, who grew up travelling the roads of England with her father, performing cartomancy using the pseudo-mythical art known as the square of sevens. She never knew her mother, and early in the novel her father dies, but not before urging a kindly and wealthy man to take his daughter in.
This man, Antrobus, raises Red as “Rachel” in a life of comfort, until her life becomes unravelled when she turns sixteen. As she searches for the truth about her parents — specifically who her mother might have been — Red is soon forced to flee to London.
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-historic...
Our protagonist is a girl named Red, who grew up travelling the roads of England with her father, performing cartomancy using the pseudo-mythical art known as the square of sevens. She never knew her mother, and early in the novel her father dies, but not before urging a kindly and wealthy man to take his daughter in.
This man, Antrobus, raises Red as “Rachel” in a life of comfort, until her life becomes unravelled when she turns sixteen. As she searches for the truth about her parents — specifically who her mother might have been — Red is soon forced to flee to London.
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-historic...
March 6, 2023
Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s books are getting better and better! This one will be on my books of the year list in December, without a doubt.
A standalone novel set in the first half of the 18th century, The Square of Sevens is the story of Red, the daughter of a Cornish fortune teller or ‘cunning-man’. Red can’t remember her mother and has spent the first seven years of her life moving from village to village with her father, telling fortunes using an ancient method of cartomancy known as the Square of Sevens. They need to keep on the move, her father says, to avoid being caught by enemies who wish them harm.
Life changes abruptly for Red when her father dies of a sudden illness and she becomes the ward of a respectable gentleman, Mr Antrobus. Going to live with him in his elegant home in Bath, Red finds herself thrust into society for the first time. Raised by Mr Antrobus and his kindly housekeeper, she settles into her new life while entertaining the people of Bath by reading their cards for them. It’s through her gift for card-reading that Red crosses paths with the wealthy De Lacy family, whom she believes hold the key to the secrets of her own past. And so a sequence of events are set in motion that take Red from Bath to London’s Bartholomew Fair and a grand house in Devon in search of answers.
It’s not really possible for me to say much more about the story without spoiling it, but if I tell you it includes family secrets, disputed inheritances, stolen documents, and lots of surprising twists and turns you’ll get the idea! It’s very entertaining, with the feel of a Charles Dickens novel at times, and I was often reminded of Charles Palliser’s The Quincunx (another great Dickensian novel with an inheritance at the heart of the plot).
I found Red a very engaging narrator; I initially had a lot of sympathy for her, as she struggles to uncover the secrets of her family background and find her place in the world, while others around her try to prevent her from learning the truth at all costs. However, I soon discovered that Red can be just as ruthless herself and is not above doing some plotting and scheming of her own in order to get what she wants. As she tells us at one point in the novel, If you’d wanted a saint, then you should have read a different book. There are plenty of other interesting and memorable characters to get to know – I was particularly intrigued by Lazarus Darke – and what makes the book so fascinating to read is that we can never be quite sure who can be trusted and who can’t.
The ‘Square of Sevens’ method of card reading was described in an 1897 book by Edward Irenaeus Stevenson and Shepherd-Robinson incorporates it throughout the novel. Red tells the fortunes of many of the characters she meets and the fortune-telling theme is carried further with each chapter heading including a picture of a playing card and an interpretation of that card’s meaning. Reading the author’s note at the end of the book, a lot of thought went into choosing the correct card for each chapter and I feel a bit guilty that I didn’t always pick up on the significance of that choice.
If you’ve read and enjoyed Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s two previous novels, the Georgian mysteries Blood and Sugar and Daughters of Night, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book too – I think it’s even better. If you’re yet to try any of her books then this would be a great place to start!
A standalone novel set in the first half of the 18th century, The Square of Sevens is the story of Red, the daughter of a Cornish fortune teller or ‘cunning-man’. Red can’t remember her mother and has spent the first seven years of her life moving from village to village with her father, telling fortunes using an ancient method of cartomancy known as the Square of Sevens. They need to keep on the move, her father says, to avoid being caught by enemies who wish them harm.
Life changes abruptly for Red when her father dies of a sudden illness and she becomes the ward of a respectable gentleman, Mr Antrobus. Going to live with him in his elegant home in Bath, Red finds herself thrust into society for the first time. Raised by Mr Antrobus and his kindly housekeeper, she settles into her new life while entertaining the people of Bath by reading their cards for them. It’s through her gift for card-reading that Red crosses paths with the wealthy De Lacy family, whom she believes hold the key to the secrets of her own past. And so a sequence of events are set in motion that take Red from Bath to London’s Bartholomew Fair and a grand house in Devon in search of answers.
It’s not really possible for me to say much more about the story without spoiling it, but if I tell you it includes family secrets, disputed inheritances, stolen documents, and lots of surprising twists and turns you’ll get the idea! It’s very entertaining, with the feel of a Charles Dickens novel at times, and I was often reminded of Charles Palliser’s The Quincunx (another great Dickensian novel with an inheritance at the heart of the plot).
I found Red a very engaging narrator; I initially had a lot of sympathy for her, as she struggles to uncover the secrets of her family background and find her place in the world, while others around her try to prevent her from learning the truth at all costs. However, I soon discovered that Red can be just as ruthless herself and is not above doing some plotting and scheming of her own in order to get what she wants. As she tells us at one point in the novel, If you’d wanted a saint, then you should have read a different book. There are plenty of other interesting and memorable characters to get to know – I was particularly intrigued by Lazarus Darke – and what makes the book so fascinating to read is that we can never be quite sure who can be trusted and who can’t.
The ‘Square of Sevens’ method of card reading was described in an 1897 book by Edward Irenaeus Stevenson and Shepherd-Robinson incorporates it throughout the novel. Red tells the fortunes of many of the characters she meets and the fortune-telling theme is carried further with each chapter heading including a picture of a playing card and an interpretation of that card’s meaning. Reading the author’s note at the end of the book, a lot of thought went into choosing the correct card for each chapter and I feel a bit guilty that I didn’t always pick up on the significance of that choice.
If you’ve read and enjoyed Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s two previous novels, the Georgian mysteries Blood and Sugar and Daughters of Night, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book too – I think it’s even better. If you’re yet to try any of her books then this would be a great place to start!
October 13, 2024
Non mi spiego lo scarso successo di questo libro in Italia, lo giuro.
Ho scoperto una scrittrice dalla penna creativa, sferzante, incantatrice.
Personaggi tridimensionali, ambientazioni storiche nell'Inghilterra del 700 che danno sensazioni termiche, tattili, visive e olfattive, un'atmosfera grigia e cupa come il mare selvaggio e minaccioso della Cornovaglia che accompagna l'intera storia.
Una trama tanto intricata quanto lucida e perfettamente resa dall'autrice, in un susseguirsi cavalcante di colpi di scena, tanto che nella seconda metà del libro si arriva a pensare che può succedere tutto e il contrario di tutto (sarà ancora più sconvolgente di quanto si possa immaginare).
Questo libro ha uno stile incredibile, magnetico, elegante e degno di un romanzo storico con gli attributi: è capace di calare il lettore dentro l'azione, tanto da avere vividamente in testa scenari e volti dei personaggi.
Consigliato anche ai neofiti del genere perché credo fermamente che questo libro sia un vero gioiellino in grado di conquistare un ampio spettro di lettori, catturandoli grazie all'avvincente curiosità che non si può evitare di provare fin dalle prime pagine.
Lasciatevi entrare dentro una storia che vi causerà una confusione di sentimenti e un senso di magnifica adrenalina a ogni pagina.
Ho scoperto una scrittrice dalla penna creativa, sferzante, incantatrice.
Personaggi tridimensionali, ambientazioni storiche nell'Inghilterra del 700 che danno sensazioni termiche, tattili, visive e olfattive, un'atmosfera grigia e cupa come il mare selvaggio e minaccioso della Cornovaglia che accompagna l'intera storia.
Una trama tanto intricata quanto lucida e perfettamente resa dall'autrice, in un susseguirsi cavalcante di colpi di scena, tanto che nella seconda metà del libro si arriva a pensare che può succedere tutto e il contrario di tutto (sarà ancora più sconvolgente di quanto si possa immaginare).
Questo libro ha uno stile incredibile, magnetico, elegante e degno di un romanzo storico con gli attributi: è capace di calare il lettore dentro l'azione, tanto da avere vividamente in testa scenari e volti dei personaggi.
Consigliato anche ai neofiti del genere perché credo fermamente che questo libro sia un vero gioiellino in grado di conquistare un ampio spettro di lettori, catturandoli grazie all'avvincente curiosità che non si può evitare di provare fin dalle prime pagine.
Lasciatevi entrare dentro una storia che vi causerà una confusione di sentimenti e un senso di magnifica adrenalina a ogni pagina.
August 3, 2023
With thanks to Gullivers Bookshop for the advanced reader copy.
Rating: 3.5
The Square of Sevens is about a girl who travels with her fortune teller father as a child, but who after unexpected events ends up being raised as a lady in Bath. Many aspects of her past are unknown and as she searches for answers she gets caught up in mysteries surrounding her father's fortune teller skill and an influential family in society.
The book's storyline is really original. It had a unique premise and the plot progressed in a way I wasn't expecting. It was interesting meeting characters from both genteel and lower societies and how the character navigated both. I also liked that the main character knew her own mind and drove her own destiny.
What let down the characters and the plot was the pacing of the book and lack of development in some aspects. There was a lot included in the book but they weren't all given enough dedication for them to have meaningful impact on the reader. There were also times when the plot slowed significantly. As a reader I could see there was so much potential and I was sad the execution just wasn't quite refined enough.
Overall I still recommend reading the book for the excellent world it paints, unique story line and variety of characters.
Rating: 3.5
The Square of Sevens is about a girl who travels with her fortune teller father as a child, but who after unexpected events ends up being raised as a lady in Bath. Many aspects of her past are unknown and as she searches for answers she gets caught up in mysteries surrounding her father's fortune teller skill and an influential family in society.
The book's storyline is really original. It had a unique premise and the plot progressed in a way I wasn't expecting. It was interesting meeting characters from both genteel and lower societies and how the character navigated both. I also liked that the main character knew her own mind and drove her own destiny.
What let down the characters and the plot was the pacing of the book and lack of development in some aspects. There was a lot included in the book but they weren't all given enough dedication for them to have meaningful impact on the reader. There were also times when the plot slowed significantly. As a reader I could see there was so much potential and I was sad the execution just wasn't quite refined enough.
Overall I still recommend reading the book for the excellent world it paints, unique story line and variety of characters.
November 15, 2023
I realized, I’m drawn to card reading plots though I’ve never done it IRL.
Add a magic system + judicial issues + family drama, and the book tends to make my TBR shortlist.
Now, I did have some pacing issues in the 2nd & 3rd quarter- and the audiobook definitely helped- but holy smokes- stick with it because the 4th quarter makes up for it.
I think the formatting was intriguing- though I would have loved clearer flashback call outs.
3.75/5 Rounded Up because I’m curious to read more Shepherd-Robinson.
I’m glad this book made my #nohypeNovember list. 👍
Add a magic system + judicial issues + family drama, and the book tends to make my TBR shortlist.
Now, I did have some pacing issues in the 2nd & 3rd quarter- and the audiobook definitely helped- but holy smokes- stick with it because the 4th quarter makes up for it.
I think the formatting was intriguing- though I would have loved clearer flashback call outs.
3.75/5 Rounded Up because I’m curious to read more Shepherd-Robinson.
I’m glad this book made my #nohypeNovember list. 👍
December 3, 2023
First third: three stars
Second third: four stars
Third third: 6 stars- didn’t see it coming
Second third: four stars
Third third: 6 stars- didn’t see it coming
October 6, 2024
2⭐️= Below Average.
Hardback.
This was my physical book club read for this month and I was SO disappointed not to have enjoyed it, as I thought it would be right up my street- quirky.
I loved Red and her resilience, but sadly that’s where my interest terminated. There were far too many characters and the constant introduction of someone new meant that cohesion was lost.
I’ll be interested to see what the rest of my group feel about this book.
Hardback.
This was my physical book club read for this month and I was SO disappointed not to have enjoyed it, as I thought it would be right up my street- quirky.
I loved Red and her resilience, but sadly that’s where my interest terminated. There were far too many characters and the constant introduction of someone new meant that cohesion was lost.
I’ll be interested to see what the rest of my group feel about this book.
December 2, 2023
This was INCREDIBLE and you should all go out and read it immediately! 🥰
Expect:
Georgian vibes
Fortune telling
Mystery galore
Twists and turns
Courtroom drama
Lots of intrigue
Heroes and villains (mainly villains!)
Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a master of storytelling and this was a blast from start to finish.
Expect:
Georgian vibes
Fortune telling
Mystery galore
Twists and turns
Courtroom drama
Lots of intrigue
Heroes and villains (mainly villains!)
Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a master of storytelling and this was a blast from start to finish.
November 17, 2023
I thought this book would never end. The plot was convoluted and had too many characters to keep track of and remember who was related to whom. It was confusing and I was bored throughout. I haven’t disliked a book as much as this one in a long time. Watching grass grow is more entertaining.
January 4, 2024
I got a quarter of the way in. So many nasty characters in this, and the good ones being killed off. I’m just not interested in slogging through with this, the mystery aspect isn’t pulling me in bc all the good ppl are gone and it’s just too grim.
November 24, 2023
This book just didn't do it for me could of been alot shorter though
August 22, 2023
The Square of Sevens is an intricately plotted book but I felt it was both too long and too slow. I think it would have benefitted from being shorter in length. The story involves a complicated inheritance and dueling families locked in a legal battle. There is a large cast of characters but the relationships between them didn’t have as much depth as I would have liked. I felt that Red and Lazarus were the most fleshed out characters.
In terms of the mystery, there’s a fair amount of twists and subterfuge. You can never really trust what you’re being told. I also liked the cartomancy elements since it was something I was unfamiliar with. I’m not sure if I loved the way things ended but it certainly surprised me. Overall, an interesting read at times but it is not a favorite.
In terms of the mystery, there’s a fair amount of twists and subterfuge. You can never really trust what you’re being told. I also liked the cartomancy elements since it was something I was unfamiliar with. I’m not sure if I loved the way things ended but it certainly surprised me. Overall, an interesting read at times but it is not a favorite.
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