Scan barcode
A review by clendorie
Smuggler's Fortune by Angela Boord
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I saw the cover of Fortune's Fool, Angela Boord's first novel online and liked it. So, I read the blurb and it seemed to have everything I love: Renaissance-inspired setting, revenge-seeking main-character, scheming nobles... It reminded me of Ash, A Secret History, one of my favorite novel.
Why didn't I start with Fortune's Fool ? It's a chonky book, like 700 pages long, and English is not my main language. I was afraid I would not understand the ramifications of the plot and taint my experience. So, I picked Smuggler's Fortune, a novella starring the same cast as a trial and I loved it.
Even without the background of the first novel, I was immediately immersed in the world. The plot is fun and easy to follow, the world-building is complex with a lot of different cultures and politics in the background but it's so seamlessly integrated that it makes you feel smart when you pick up the threads – and I love feeling smart. The characters are the best part of the story: they're well crafted with clear motivations and past history, their banters are hilarious (I may have search for pictures of weasel and ferret because I was as lost as Razi) and you can't help but want to spend more time with them.
If you hesitate to start with Fortune's Fool because it's a long book, try Smuggler's Fortune. It's a wonderful novel and everyone should read it.
Why didn't I start with Fortune's Fool ? It's a chonky book, like 700 pages long, and English is not my main language. I was afraid I would not understand the ramifications of the plot and taint my experience. So, I picked Smuggler's Fortune, a novella starring the same cast as a trial and I loved it.
Even without the background of the first novel, I was immediately immersed in the world. The plot is fun and easy to follow, the world-building is complex with a lot of different cultures and politics in the background but it's so seamlessly integrated that it makes you feel smart when you pick up the threads – and I love feeling smart. The characters are the best part of the story: they're well crafted with clear motivations and past history, their banters are hilarious (I may have search for pictures of weasel and ferret because I was as lost as Razi) and you can't help but want to spend more time with them.
If you hesitate to start with Fortune's Fool because it's a long book, try Smuggler's Fortune. It's a wonderful novel and everyone should read it.