The Notorious Virtues

The brilliant new novel from the author of the Rebel of the Sands trilogy features the Hotzfall family, in which each member is named for a virtue. They own all the property and power in the city of Walsted, wielding money and magic. Honora Hotzfall (Nora) is the clever grandchild, who loves nothing more than to party. When Nora’s mother, the heir to the Hotzfall magic, is murdered, it forces the Veritas Games to begin. The Games are a series of trials that Nora and her three cousins must undertake so that their virtues – honour, truth, and loyalty – are challenged to determine the next heir.

Meanwhile, Ottoline (Lotte), who has been cruelly raised by nuns far from the capital, is revealed as the illegitimate daughter of a Hotzfall. She is introduced to the family so she too can compete in the trials, despite attempts to murder her. Also upsetting the peace in Walsted are the Grims, a rebel group who seek a more equal society, but use violence and shock tactics.

This engaging narrative looks at the power of political systems and the inevitable corruption that comes with inherited wealth. Nora and Lotte, both feisty and surprising, are delightful characters, and the knights that have vowed to protect them, as well as the poor newspaperman desperate for a big story, are also compelling. This is a page-turning read with teeth, clearly pitched at readers of The Inheritance Games but with far more sophisticated characterisation and plotting. Highly recommended for readers aged 12+.