I was so pleased to be granted an ARC by the publisher! This is my honest review.

I recently was considering the reading habits of boys, as I'm now the mother of a little one. There seem to be so many fewer books that would appeal to boys than to girls...but I think I've just found one that will appeal to both equally. The author had BETTER turn this into a series or so help me! I'm invested now.

"A Trick of Spades" has enough action, adventure, heartpounding chases and thrilling fight scenes to satisfy the most adventurous child, but also a connection to the heart and emotions (with just the TINIEST hint of "Ooooo he liiikes her" in the background!).

I liked how the author kept your interest throughout by utilizing the dual POVs to keep you just slightly off-balance...dropping breadcrumbs, giving hints, then reeling you back into the plot. I also liked the twins' both having a voice....you can see how they both mature over the book, and how their different experiences affect them. However, all the characters piqued my interest...from the secondary characters, to the members of the villainous Flight, even to the twin's mother. Related by marriage or not, Aunt Finna isn't the only member of that family too independent for her own good!

And the setting! I'm getting midcentury Wales or Ireland, only with MAGIC! (It hasn't escaped my notice that the leader of the baddies has a posh English name and the majority of the populace has Gaelic...)

I'm so excited to read the next book and see if some of my theories are correct. I'm picking up on some minor points that are making the wheels in my brain turn and I want answers!!