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The Blurb On The Back:
Finmere Tingewick Smith had a strange beginning. Abandoned as a baby on the steps of the Old Bailey he’s grown up as a ward of the austere Judge Harlequin Brown. He’s lived a double-life for sixteen years – sixteen years today - spending alternate years at two very different schools and lying to everyone to keep his separate lives separate.
Today he’s going to get some answers.
Or so Fin thinks.
But answers only lead to more questions … and to a murder that Fin has to investigate or risk being accused of committing himself. So who wielded the lethal double-edged sword, and why does he find it so disturbingly familiar? Finding out is going to launch Fin into an incredible adventure, drawing on all the contacts and skills of his double life – and taking him from the London he knows into the realm of the mysterious Knights of Nowhere …
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Sarah Silverwood’s YA novel, the first in a trilogy, is a good mix of alternate world and contemporary fantasy. The concept’s great, I liked the characters and the finale is really well executed. However I did find it slow to get started and at times the pace dragged while a key twist is telegraphed. For all that though, there is a real sense of high stakes with a good set-up for the sequel, which I’m looking forward to reading.
Thanks to Gollancz for the free copy of this book.
Finmere Tingewick Smith had a strange beginning. Abandoned as a baby on the steps of the Old Bailey he’s grown up as a ward of the austere Judge Harlequin Brown. He’s lived a double-life for sixteen years – sixteen years today - spending alternate years at two very different schools and lying to everyone to keep his separate lives separate.
Today he’s going to get some answers.
Or so Fin thinks.
But answers only lead to more questions … and to a murder that Fin has to investigate or risk being accused of committing himself. So who wielded the lethal double-edged sword, and why does he find it so disturbingly familiar? Finding out is going to launch Fin into an incredible adventure, drawing on all the contacts and skills of his double life – and taking him from the London he knows into the realm of the mysterious Knights of Nowhere …
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Sarah Silverwood’s YA novel, the first in a trilogy, is a good mix of alternate world and contemporary fantasy. The concept’s great, I liked the characters and the finale is really well executed. However I did find it slow to get started and at times the pace dragged while a key twist is telegraphed. For all that though, there is a real sense of high stakes with a good set-up for the sequel, which I’m looking forward to reading.
Thanks to Gollancz for the free copy of this book.
