Review: The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton

The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.  In full transparency I opted to borrow the audiobook after publication from my library.  

The audiobook has a full cast as this follows Nora, Lotte, Theo, and August which really makes for an enjoyable listen.  Each of the four main characters plays a substantial role in the storyline and I really appreciate when there are distinct narrators for each point of view.  

I really enjoyed this.  This follows Nora, heir apparent in a familial competition to determine who is the most worthy to be the next heir.  The Holtzfall family is very powerful and want for nothing.  Their magic and power stems from a long line of woodcutters, and the next heir is always chosen through a set of magical trials.  Nora's mother won the trials the last time they were held, so it is only natural that Nora would win next, but only the trial can determine if she or one of her cousins will claim the role.  Enter Lotte, and illegitimate cousin who never knew she was a Holtzfall and eligible player for the competition.  She has grown up in a convent and now she is thrust into the glitz and glam of the Holtzfall lifestyle where money and power reign supreme.  She and Nora quickly become friends as they work to unravel what happened to Nora's mother and discover who Lotte's father was.

While the trials progress Lotte befriends one of the Holzfall  guards, sworn to protect one of her newfound cousins.  Theo takes his oath very seriously, but as the competition to determine the most worthy family member progresses he discovers that plots to destroy the family and his order are afoot.  Theo isn't sure who he can trust, but he knows he has to protect Lotte no matter the cost. We also have August, a reporter  looking to make his big break who happened to get some photos of the crime scene that help Nora's investigation into her mother's murder.  Nora and August find themselves on their own investigation that leads them down a very unexpected path.  

I really enjoyed this.  This has an interesting magic system, well explained lore, an interesting competition with high stakes, political maneuvering, and much more.  We get great character development and good banter between the characters.  I thought the pacing was good and that the author did a good job bringing the four POVs together.  Interspersed with the 4 character POVs we also get chapters of the lore of Holtzfall family and how they came into power and how the trials started.  Over the course of the book this explains the traits the next heir is expected to have in contrast to what is happening in the real world. This has good commentary about elitism and classism.  

This does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, which leaves you with lots of questions.  I am anxiously awaiting the next book to find out what happens next.  This is my first book by the author but is certainly will not be my last!

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