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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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Pub date August 17, 2021

ISBN 978-1735067933

Price $12.99 (USD) Paperback, $3.99 Kindle edition

Author interview

Sandor continues The Heart of Stone Adventures series with this rollicking entry that sees Malfred getting entangled in yet another sinister mission. It’s been a year since the events of Fool’s Proof, and Malfred Murd, the former Royal Fool turned outcast and con man, is content being the newly minted nobleman. But with his panache for getting in trouble, Malfred soon finds himself caught in a new conspiracy: trying to bust the city’s most powerful criminal leader, Marfred becomes an undercover officer, unaware of a sinister turn of fate awaiting him ahead. Sandor clearly has great fun developing her quirky world, and it shows: she mixes her ambitious fantasy worldbuilding with magical tech to create a vivid landscape. The lavish setup gains sparkle from clever humor, relentless twists, and tightly constructed plotting. Though Corvinalias and Malfred stay at the center of the story, it’s refreshing to see a whole new cast of entertaining characters mark their entry along with the older ones. The premise is completely original, and the witty yet conversational tone of the book highlights Sandor’s ability to convey deep emotion through attention to detail. A surprising cliffhanger ending adds to the anticipation for the next installment. Utterly unpredictable, and with a dark tint to it, this pleasantly engaging novel makes for a page-turner.

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