Synopsis
In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family’s social position.
What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain’s king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England’s heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king’s favor.
Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition’s wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.
Thoughts
I have a sneaking suspicion that this, my first Bardugo book, was an excellent gateway into her elaborately written world of stories. Within a few pages, I knew that this was going to be in the four-plus-star realm for me. And I wasn’t wrong. However, I will admit that I had a hard time remaining focused, so I missed a few plot points. The characters and world building are so exquisite that I found it easy to get lost in the finer details.
I loved this story for the overall vibe and I enjoyed the ending. It has been on my mind since finishing it, so I think a reread will be in my near future.
Quote
“But let it be my ambition and not my fear that seals my fate.”
Editions
Both of these editions are stunning. The black one is by Flatiron Books while the red one is by Illumicrate.