Ah, I'm disappointed. I love Caroline Stevermer's other writing, and this book just doesn't stand up. I hate to give a negative review, but I had a hard time getting into it, I found the characters shallow, and the world-building perfunctory -- it's such an interesting world! There are some weird species/racial/talent divides, that are only lightly explored and very little explained -- why are the Traders more wealthy and privileged? It doesn't make any sense to me that shifting should give you an automatic pecuniary advantage, unless they are kept like pets. Why do the Sylvestri hate everyone? The origin story makes them sound like Tolkein Elves with a mad on for anyone else with magic. It's could be a cool world if any of it made sense, but being able to transform into an animal doesn't give inherently give you power over others, so....

Also, the plot, which initially I was excited about -- stage magicians! Murder mystery! A heroine with a mysterious past and dangerous future as her magic develops! Turns out to function more on "because that's how it is" rather than compelling explanations or logical progressions. It just didn't quite gel for me.

Advanced Readers copy provided by Edelweiss. ( )

Throughly enjoyed this one! An interesting world of shapeshifters, stage magicians, and all that New York City had to offer at the turn of the century, but before the Roaring 20’s came to call. The world building is gracious and doesn’t lore-dump, with a main character that I was very invested in and was rooting for before I got through the first 25 pages. Definitely worth picking up!

Note: I received this book in the form of an ARC as a giveaway done by Tor Books and their great social media team. Thanks for the copy, friends! ( )

I was intrigued by the alternate history of this book and what the author does with it, especially concerning Native Americans. The book was enjoyable, but it could have used more world-building and a tighter plot. ( )

{Stand alone? Fantasy, set in Manhattan 1905}

20 year old Thalia Cutter is a Solitaire and a stage magician, having taken over her father's act three years ago. Or, at least, she thought she was a Solitaire until she seemed to change shape when one of her tricks went wrong - and that would mean that she's a Trader.

There are three types of people in this alternative Earth: Solitaires - who have no magic of their own; Traders (the cream of New York society) - who can change into an animal shape (each Trader can change human form for one specific animal form); and Sylvestri - who are attuned to nature.

When they get to New York for their next engagement, she and her stage manager, David Nutall, decide to change that trick for another but then find that another stage magician strenuously objects which results in difficulties for them.

And if Thalia turns out to be a Trader, that will bring a whole host of other difficulties - not least of which would be being hunted by a Manticore which preys on newly fledged Traders to absorb their magic. Fortunately she makes friends with two Trader siblings who are happy to help her.

The story was fun but I was a bit confused as to the distinctions between the types of people; why Traders should belong to rich families or what a white or a black Solitaire is. If it refers to their skin colour, I did not see the significance of pointing it out.

February 2021
3.5-4 stars ( )

A romp with a bit of bittersweet and a whiff of danger in a world where Solitaires, Traders, and Silvestri all wear human forms but may not be quite what we call human. After a near fatal accident, Solitaire stage magician Thalia Cutler suspects she may be a Trader, but assured she is not, resumes her life without knowledge of the danger she is in and which she may bring to others. ( )