Review - The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues, #1) by Alwyn Hamilton

 

  

 Title: The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues, #1)

Author: Alwyn Hamilton

Pages: 512

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Release Date: 1st April 2025

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Bestselling Rebel of the Sands author Alwyn Hamilton is back with a glittering thriller about a glamorous media darling, a surprise heiress, and the magical competition of a lifetime.

At sixteen, Honora “Nora” Holtzfall is the daughter of the most powerful heiress in all of Walstad. Her family controls all the money–and all the magic–in the entire country. But despite being the center of attention, Nora has always felt like an outsider. When her mother is found dead in an alley, the family throne and fortune are suddenly up for grabs, and Nora will be pitted against her cousins in the Veritaz, the ultimate magical competition for power that determines the one family heir.

But there’s a surprise contestant this time: Lotte, the illegitimate daughter of Nora’s aunt. When Lotte’s absent mother retrieves her from the rural convent she’d abandoned her to, Lotte goes from being an orphan to surrounded by family. Unfortunately, most of them want her dead.

And soon, Nora discovers that her mother’s death wasn’t random–it was murder. And the only person she can trust to uncover the truth of what happened is a rakish young reporter who despises everything Nora and her family stand for.

With everyone against her, Lotte’s last hope is hunting for the identity of her father. But the dangerous competition–and her feelings for Theo, one of the Holtzfalls’ sworn protectors–turns her world upside down.

Incredible tests, impossible choices and deadly odds await both girls. But there can only be one winner.

 

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My Review: 

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Faber & Faber and NetGalley*

Honora "Nora" Holtzfall is next in line to the Holtzfall fortune after her mother, the heir. The Holtzfalls practically own Walstad, have the most magic, and the most money.

Everything changes when Nora's mother dies and Nora suddenly has to fight to win a series of trials to prove she's the rightful heir, just like Nora's mother did.

The Veritaz trials unearth buried secrets, such as Lottie, the daughter or Nora's aunt, Grace, who has lived her life hidden away in a convent, not knowing who she was.

As the unhappy residents of Walstad begin to rise up, Nora and Lottie won't just be fighting their family members.

Will they survive the trials?

Who will be named heir?

As a fan of the author's books, I was intrigued to see what this next series would be like.

I really liked both Nora and Lottie as protagonists. They were relatable, and I felt sorry for them both. There were also chapters told from the perspectives of Theo, a knight sworn to protect the Holtzfalls, and August, a journalist. I liked the combination of the different perspectives, but Nora and Lottie were my favourites.

The premise of the book was interesting, and I liked the twists on fairy tales, and the lore created by the author.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention throughout. Things happened that I didn't expect, and I am left wanting to find out what happens next.

I enjoyed the writing style and found this easy to read.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read I would recommend.