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The Art of Deception
Niko Hrabanic was once a famous swordsman. But after a scandal-laden departure from his last job at a royal court, he's now hiding out in a rural inn, making himself useful to his attractive landlady in all sorts of ways that don't actually involve paying rent...
...until a summons from the mysterious and dangerous White Library shakes up his life all over again. His landlady, it turns out, has secrets of her own. Now Hrabanic and Julia will have to confront both of their pasts - and if they're going to have any hope of survival, they'll need both Hrabanic's sword arm and Julia's magical training.
It's time for them to become experts at the art of deception.
...until a summons from the mysterious and dangerous White Library shakes up his life all over again. His landlady, it turns out, has secrets of her own. Now Hrabanic and Julia will have to confront both of their pasts - and if they're going to have any hope of survival, they'll need both Hrabanic's sword arm and Julia's magical training.
It's time for them to become experts at the art of deception.
54 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2016
21 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Burgis
82 books1,399 followersI grew up in America, but now I live in Wales with my husband, fellow writer Patrick Samphire, our two sons, and our sweet (and extremely vocal) tabby cat, Pebbles. I write fantasy rom-coms for adults (most recently Claws and Contrivances and Good Neighbors) and fun MG fantasy adventure novels, too (most recently The Raven Crown duology). My next series will be the adult romantasy trilogy The Queens of Villainy, published by Tor Bramble, starting in 2025 with Wooing the Witch Queen.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
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August 11, 2016This epic (and romantic) fantasy novelette for adults is my tribute to The Prisoner of Zenda, The Three Musketeers, and every other cloak-and-dagger adventure with flashy swordfights and romance that I've ever devoured in books or on film. I wrote it as a Christmas gift for my brother Dave, who asked for a story with "swordfighting, banter and a twisty plot." It was so much fun to write!
It was originally published in the fabulous adult f/sf anthology Insert Title Here, ed. Tehani Wessely, and it's now available as a standalone ebook, too. (Isn't the cover gorgeous? It was designed by Jenn Reese at Tiger Bright Studios, and I LOVE it.) I meant to put it out as an ebook sometime next year, but then I got the wonderful and unexpected news that it is a finalist for the 2016 WSFA Small Press Short Fiction Award, so that was perfect motivation to publish it straightaway after all. :) I hope you guys enjoy it!
It was originally published in the fabulous adult f/sf anthology Insert Title Here, ed. Tehani Wessely, and it's now available as a standalone ebook, too. (Isn't the cover gorgeous? It was designed by Jenn Reese at Tiger Bright Studios, and I LOVE it.) I meant to put it out as an ebook sometime next year, but then I got the wonderful and unexpected news that it is a finalist for the 2016 WSFA Small Press Short Fiction Award, so that was perfect motivation to publish it straightaway after all. :) I hope you guys enjoy it!
August 20, 2019
This was an Instabuy in 2017, based on Ilona Andrew‘s recommendation. Finally picked it up. It was ok. Pretty forgettable, actually. Deception after deception folded into each other. Minimal world building, okay characters, a sword master that mostly spent his time wanting to grab his sword or unsheathing it in a dramatic fashion, to not do much with it. Whatever. Not picking up anything else by the author in a hurry.
2.75 illusionary stars
2.75 illusionary stars
February 4, 2017
Thoughts after reading
This was a breath of fresh air.
A novella that managed to pack illusionists, assassins, several plot twists and sword fighting into just 48 pages. I have read some hundreds of pages long books with less story.
Recommended.
Thoughts after buying
This is all Ilona's fault.
She read this 48 pages long novelette and liked it enough to recommend it on Twitter, so I better read this soon.
This was a breath of fresh air.
A novella that managed to pack illusionists, assassins, several plot twists and sword fighting into just 48 pages. I have read some hundreds of pages long books with less story.
Recommended.
Thoughts after buying
This is all Ilona's fault.
She read this 48 pages long novelette and liked it enough to recommend it on Twitter, so I better read this soon.
April 23, 2017
A novella of riddles within riddles - funny, clever and just delightful.
January 13, 2017
My only complaint is that this story was too short, so I read it twice back to back. I picked this novella up as a recommendation from one of my favorite authors and I loved it. Great world, interesting characters and fun story. Get this now you won't be disappointed!
May 23, 2017
The most enjoyable short story I've read in a long time. It's twisty-clever, but in a nice way, rather than the type of clever that sneers at everyone. Perfect length, but my goodness, I would love so. many. more.
January 8, 2017
Puts me in mind of The Princess Bride
February 3, 2017
Great novella. Pity it's not a full length book.
June 23, 2019
I think everyone knows by now that Stephanie Burgis has become one of my favorite authors recently. Ever since reading Snowspelled at the end of last year, I’ve been hooked. This is a short fantasy romance novella/novelette (not sure what the cut off is, but it’s only about 50 or so pages), centered around Hrabanic, a sort of maybe retired famous swordsman, and Julia–his landlady. Or supposed landlady. This short book once again proves why I love Burgis so much as a writer. Here she’s taken the word deception, and used it in multiple ways. It’s about the swordplay. But it’s also about the infamous White Library, because apparently everything there is not as it seems. And every one is not who they seem, either. I love the way she plays with this concept again and again throughout the story, adding in a layer of complexity to an otherwise simple story.
The characters here are a lot of fun and their relationship and interactions with each other reminded me a bit of the main characters in T. Kingfisher’s Swordheart, so if you liked that, you’ll probably like this as well. I think Burgis’ strength is her characters–she has a knack for getting you to care about them in no time at all, which is great for her short fiction. I also love that the characters were already in a relationship, of sorts, before the start of the story, and they just have to figure out what they feel about each other. Nothing like a little bit of conflict and peril to help those revelations along. What else can I say about this except that it’s a short, quick, fun read and I loved it. 4.5/5 stars.
The characters here are a lot of fun and their relationship and interactions with each other reminded me a bit of the main characters in T. Kingfisher’s Swordheart, so if you liked that, you’ll probably like this as well. I think Burgis’ strength is her characters–she has a knack for getting you to care about them in no time at all, which is great for her short fiction. I also love that the characters were already in a relationship, of sorts, before the start of the story, and they just have to figure out what they feel about each other. Nothing like a little bit of conflict and peril to help those revelations along. What else can I say about this except that it’s a short, quick, fun read and I loved it. 4.5/5 stars.
June 12, 2020
I'm a big fan of this author's adult and children's novels. Burgis blends historical fiction into rich new and diverse worlds. This novella gives us a rarity in fantasy fiction: middle-aged hero and heroine settled in a solid relationship. There's also some lovely swashbuckling sword fights, nifty deceptive magic, and many witty remarks made along the way. Don't be deceived. This is a charmer.
January 19, 2022
An amusing read, full of entertaining and funny twists and turns. Also magic and sword fights.
September 3, 2020
It was a fun and quick read. The world building was interesting and the character of Niko too, I haven't read too many light fantasy romances where the male lead is not so perfectly perfect. I liked some of the twists, but it was such a short story that at some point the twists were just coming and coming, and I couldn't care about them or see their importance.
January 14, 2017
A fun, twisty novelette
I'm glad I followed Ilona Andrews's recommendation, and picked up this quick, enjoyable read. Swords and schemes, magic and banter, what's not to love? And the writing and editing are both excellent. I'd be happy to read more of this pair's adventures, and maybe to find out just exactly what happened when Hrabanic was "not fired" by his previous employers.
I'm glad I followed Ilona Andrews's recommendation, and picked up this quick, enjoyable read. Swords and schemes, magic and banter, what's not to love? And the writing and editing are both excellent. I'd be happy to read more of this pair's adventures, and maybe to find out just exactly what happened when Hrabanic was "not fired" by his previous employers.
April 19, 2018
So many things to love here! A fascinating magical library, a twisty and intrigue-filled plot, assassins and sword fights and romance, humour and warmth – this is a perfect one-sitting read for a day when you’re looking for pure enjoyment.
Read the full review at Starship Library.
Read the full review at Starship Library.
January 15, 2017
fun little story. a good fight and the usual rule about don't tell everything you know. a good fluff for an hour or so.
July 10, 2025
Stephanie Burgis always coming to the rescue when I'm feeling down! This is also the oldest piece of fiction by her I had on my TBR on recommendation by Ilona Andrews and it took me a bit to make the connection that this short-story (or maybe novellette?) was by Stephanie Burgis. Yeah, I know, but we've all been there, right?
Anyway, this was delightful, this story has a certain The Princess Bride flare around it, although the author herself mentions The Three Musketeers, which also fair, I just didn't read that one in a while. Our main character is Nico Hrabanic famous swordsman who... fallen on hard times? Or well, I guess it depends on your definition of hard time - he very happily fucks his landlady (whom he clearly adores) instead of paying his rent. But anyway, all of that is changing as the story starts.
There is also a powerful institution full of knowledge, illusions, magic, murder and political intrigue called the White Library and that is obviously where Nico and Julia (the landlady who has certain hidden depths and talents) end up.
This was so much fun and I want this to be made into short animated movie. There were couple things I wish were made clearer (like the whole Archduchess thing, I think I was supposed to read something between lines there but I was completely unable), but overall great short read. Would recommend.
4,5⭐
Anyway, this was delightful, this story has a certain The Princess Bride flare around it, although the author herself mentions The Three Musketeers, which also fair, I just didn't read that one in a while. Our main character is Nico Hrabanic famous swordsman who... fallen on hard times? Or well, I guess it depends on your definition of hard time - he very happily fucks his landlady (whom he clearly adores) instead of paying his rent. But anyway, all of that is changing as the story starts.
There is also a powerful institution full of knowledge, illusions, magic, murder and political intrigue called the White Library and that is obviously where Nico and Julia (the landlady who has certain hidden depths and talents) end up.
This was so much fun and I want this to be made into short animated movie. There were couple things I wish were made clearer (like the whole Archduchess thing, I think I was supposed to read something between lines there but I was completely unable), but overall great short read. Would recommend.
4,5⭐
August 18, 2025
I am currently going through a Stephanie Burgis book binge (yes, even the romantasy ones 🙈😱 lol) & her books have been a superb antidote to some of the darkness happening in my world lately.
The world setting is small, 99% is set in The White Library, and soon, an upcoming election is to be held to vote on whom should take over when the current librarian retires or dies.
Julia left the library years ago but has been summoned back, and this is the start of the many layers and meanings of the word "deception" in the title. Julia uses deception to get our other MC, Hrabanic (once a noted swordsman), to accompany her. Hrabanic himself even wrote a treatise on the use of deception during a sword fight.
There's certainly plenty of deception going on at the library - plenty of politicking, backstabbing (literal and verbal), magical illusions, and the like.
For me, personally, it is the way Burgis writes characters that make her books so enjoyable; especially how she writes women. Her characters are never perfect, Burgis writes them flaws and all, and it doesn't matter if it's a main character or someone who is only briefly mentioned in a paragraph to help move the plot along.
The world setting is small, 99% is set in The White Library, and soon, an upcoming election is to be held to vote on whom should take over when the current librarian retires or dies.
Julia left the library years ago but has been summoned back, and this is the start of the many layers and meanings of the word "deception" in the title. Julia uses deception to get our other MC, Hrabanic (once a noted swordsman), to accompany her. Hrabanic himself even wrote a treatise on the use of deception during a sword fight.
There's certainly plenty of deception going on at the library - plenty of politicking, backstabbing (literal and verbal), magical illusions, and the like.
For me, personally, it is the way Burgis writes characters that make her books so enjoyable; especially how she writes women. Her characters are never perfect, Burgis writes them flaws and all, and it doesn't matter if it's a main character or someone who is only briefly mentioned in a paragraph to help move the plot along.
September 4, 2018
I liked the ideas behind this story, but it was just too short in my opinion.
I originally thought Hrabanic and Julia's relationship was of the casual kind due to the beginning of the story. But as the story develops, it seems like their relationship is deeper and more serious than is portrayed. I could have actually believed these two loved each other without saying "I love you," but the story was too short for the author to show that perfectly.
The world-building, though short, was pretty interesting and cool. The idea that there's this library out there with all the knowledge in the world, but dangerous due to all the illusions the librarians had power over, was quite an original idea. But again, lack of pages didn't manage to flesh out the world-building enough.
I was also kind of disappointed to see Julia needing Hrabanic's help so many times in the story. As someone who can use magic (and one who is supposed to be very good at it), we hardly see her use magic other than the one time she used it to disguise herself as a man. And somehow, Hrabanic, who has never set foot in the White Library, is more in his element than Julia, who was born and raised there.
The illusion part of the story was interesting, and the plot twists actually caught me off guard.
The ending was pretty cute. I think it fit the whimsical tone of the story.
I originally thought Hrabanic and Julia's relationship was of the casual kind due to the beginning of the story. But as the story develops, it seems like their relationship is deeper and more serious than is portrayed. I could have actually believed these two loved each other without saying "I love you," but the story was too short for the author to show that perfectly.
The world-building, though short, was pretty interesting and cool. The idea that there's this library out there with all the knowledge in the world, but dangerous due to all the illusions the librarians had power over, was quite an original idea. But again, lack of pages didn't manage to flesh out the world-building enough.
I was also kind of disappointed to see Julia needing Hrabanic's help so many times in the story. As someone who can use magic (and one who is supposed to be very good at it), we hardly see her use magic other than the one time she used it to disguise herself as a man. And somehow, Hrabanic, who has never set foot in the White Library, is more in his element than Julia, who was born and raised there.
The illusion part of the story was interesting, and the plot twists actually caught me off guard.
The ending was pretty cute. I think it fit the whimsical tone of the story.
October 16, 2019
3 stars for potential. This was a short novella. Niko Hrabanic is a disgraced swordsman and has been hiding out after leaving his position as greatest swordsman to the archduke and archduchess. Living in an inn for 3 years and having a physical relationship with his landlady, Julia (who he free-loads off of), is the ultimate of his aspirations until his landlady gets a summons to the white library, a place of great knowledge, power and magic. Manipulating the simple swordsman to protect her, Julia and Hrabanic must both enter the walls of illusion and intrigue and, above all, deception and try to come out alive.
Fun read, a bit unfinished, a bit rushed, the “romance” was pretty thin, the characters only partially likeable, but the potential for something great if only given more time was huge! All in all an enjoyable, action packed read.
Fun read, a bit unfinished, a bit rushed, the “romance” was pretty thin, the characters only partially likeable, but the potential for something great if only given more time was huge! All in all an enjoyable, action packed read.
April 26, 2018
a fun layering of twist on twist
this story comes from the Sword and Sorcerer tradition, like Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, some of Terry Brook’s work or Violette Malan’s Dhulyn and Parno series. They’re joyful stories peopled by wonderfully skilled swordsmen/women, often burdened by secrets (and occasionally by outrageously high self-esteem) and strong intelligent companions who use wit to cut down their partner’s bombast. Lots of fun, the requisite medieval setting, political maneuvers to outwit, clever enemies to outfight and a wonderful Library setting to do it all in.
this story comes from the Sword and Sorcerer tradition, like Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, some of Terry Brook’s work or Violette Malan’s Dhulyn and Parno series. They’re joyful stories peopled by wonderfully skilled swordsmen/women, often burdened by secrets (and occasionally by outrageously high self-esteem) and strong intelligent companions who use wit to cut down their partner’s bombast. Lots of fun, the requisite medieval setting, political maneuvers to outwit, clever enemies to outfight and a wonderful Library setting to do it all in.
December 26, 2023
It's the problem I always have with novellas, I always want more depth than the format allows. An impressive amount was packed into a short space. Actually I don't think I would have enjoyed the premise (literally backstabbing magical librarians/ illusionists/ sword wielders) as a novel, so there's that. I think I thought that this was set in her universe that I have read more in, but it's either a standalone or in a different setting. On the whole I enjoy Burgis, but this is a very slight thing.
January 18, 2017
Novella.
Totally worth your time. Brief, well knit, non-standard ending, stands alone.
This bears repeating: worth reading.
Strong characters, well built, consistent. Interesting repartee. Fun relationship --and it turns out, a relationship of equals. If you have an hour to spare, and you want just ... a good piece of fantasy writing to read, not too sexualised and about the world and the characters, this may be what you're looking for.
Totally worth your time. Brief, well knit, non-standard ending, stands alone.
This bears repeating: worth reading.
Strong characters, well built, consistent. Interesting repartee. Fun relationship --and it turns out, a relationship of equals. If you have an hour to spare, and you want just ... a good piece of fantasy writing to read, not too sexualised and about the world and the characters, this may be what you're looking for.
June 3, 2017
The problem with deception after deception after deception is that by the end, I don't buy any of it - including the story itself. I didn't care much for the characters, and the minimalist world-building appropriate to the story length was insufficient.
July 15, 2017
3.75 stars. Fun short story! The characters were complex and mature. The world was intriguing and, with this being a short story, there was a lot more to be explored at the end. I've never read Burgis before but I definitely will be reading more now.
December 28, 2018
Swordfighting + wordplay
This is a great mixture of witty dialogue, action scenes, and mystery. Stephanie Burgis's short stories always have a twist and I do like how this one stayed twisting the whole time.
This is a great mixture of witty dialogue, action scenes, and mystery. Stephanie Burgis's short stories always have a twist and I do like how this one stayed twisting the whole time.
August 22, 2019
This novelette is cute enough, but it's the kind of story that would have benefited from being a longer novella instead. It moved too quickly for me with very little detail, making the story rather forgettable.
May 3, 2021
This was Short and interesting, I wouldn't mind a longer one on these characters but I like how the story was straight to the point not dragged out. The author is quite good and the character interesting.
February 20, 2017
Very cute short story about a couple surviving the attacks of a bunch of illusionist wizards. This ended well.
May 17, 2017
This was fun! light and fluffy, sure, but well written and a quick read. Makes me want to check out her other works...
June 9, 2017
Entertaining little fantasy adventure tale that fits a lot into a small package.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews