Impress the Kingdom’s loftiest Lady by busting said Kingdom’s biggest crime boss. Sounds like a Fool-proof plan!
A year after the events of Fool's Proof, Malfred Murd is no longer a Fool, royal or otherwise. He’s a newly minted nobleman— who can’t help plunging back into his own special brew of trouble. This time he’s taken on a task that’s outrageous even for him: becoming an undercover officer, out to bust the biggest crime boss in a vast and decadent city. Will it win him the attention of a certain maddeningly inaccessible Lady... or get him packed at the bottom of a barrel?
Follow Fred, Corvinalias, the other characters we met in FOOL'S PROOF, and a dazzling collection of new ones on a journey through a world that blends equal parts comedy, crime novel and adventure: heroic, horrific and hilarious.
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, he soon finds himself caught in a new conspiracy: trying to bust the city’s most powerful criminal leader.
Malfred 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.
Good story, well written...it does point firmly into the next book...which I'm now looking forward to :-)
Read the (advance copy of the) book and loved it...Though much darker than the first novel, I actually enjoyed it more. There is still the wit and charm in bucket loads, with added emotion, mystery and intrigue. The only annoying thing about it is having to wait for the next one.
What an epic effort. Loved it. A wonderful collection of characters and your use of language is brilliant.
