I was lucky enough to get an extract of the book for you all to see, so here it is:
This is a key beat from Jac's opening
chapter--his first ever point of view in The Shadow Game series.
Now that Enne and Levi have been made notorious by the events of the Shadow
Game, Jac has become a wanted man entirely by association. And Jac has spent so
many years as Levi's friend, listening to him go on about his destiny for
greatness, knowing that Levi wanted this, that Jac has to
unpack how he has now become collateral damage in his best friend's story.
Jac struck a match and watched it burn like
a votive candle.
“I can turn on the radio, if you want,”
Lola offered. “But Levi’s probably fine.”
“I’d rather you didn’t.”
“Afraid you’ll hear your name?”
He inhaled his cigarette deeply. It was no
secret that he worked with Levi; that he lived on 125 Genever Street in Olde
Town, apartment 4C; that he covered the Wednesday through Saturday shifts at
the Hound’s Tooth tavern. The whiteboots had probably already interviewed his
boss, already rummaged through his home and what little he had. He tried to
imagine what conclusion they could’ve drawn from his possessions. A
loner, this one, they’d say. No decorations. No sentimentals. Jac
had lived there for two years and still treated his place like it was temporary—a
side effect of someone who’d never really had a home.
“I wasn’t in a good place not that long
ago, but I have been lately, or at least in a better one,” he explained. He
didn’t normally share these details with anyone, even ones so vague. But he
needed to unload his thoughts on someone other than Levi, someone who could
feel sympathetic without also feeling responsible. “I guess that’s gone
now.”
Levi and Enne had made sure of that last
night.
He squeezed his hand into a fist. He knew
Levi hadn’t wanted to start that shatz investment scheme that got him invited
to the Shadow Game. And Levi had looked out for Jac time and time again, so Jac
didn’t feel he had a right to be angry. Hell, he was angry at himself for feeling angry.
But Jac also knew Levi and his reckless
dreams. And if Levi was safe right now, then Jac would swear
some part of his friend was mucking pleased—even if Levi had put everyone
around him in danger.
But he didn’t say that. Instead, he
bitterly spat out, “I hate this casino.”
Lola pursed her lips, and Jac waited for
her to say something about how, while he’d sworn his allegiance to Levi
willingly, she’d been forced to give Enne her oath with a
knife at her throat. Or how good people did bad things, and bad things happened
to good people, and neither they nor their friends could really call themselves
good people anyway. She was annoying and wise like that.
But all she said was, “Deal the cards.
You’re clearly very vulnerable right now, and I intend to take advantage of
that.”
Jac snorted and tapped his cigarette ashes
into the rim of a teacup as he slid back into his seat.
“Enne will hate that, you know,” Lola told
him. The teacup was porcelain, covered in some floral design that Enne would
find pretty. Jac realized Enne, who’d only lived here for ten days, probably
didn’t possess much she could call her own, so he retrieved his cigarette
guiltily and pushed the cup away.
Lola leaned over and slid it back toward
him. “But fuck them.” The corner of her lips slid into a
smile.
Jac barked out a surprised laugh, and the
knots in his shoulders loosened. Over the next ten minutes of Tropps, the
teacup’s bottom steadily grew coated in ash.
*************
First, I can't believe how action packed this book was, there were so many points all coming together I seemed to spin through reading all of the action - but it was written so well that I never felt like I was being overloaded or left behind with the plot.
Secondly, I just have to mention that there are now 3 POVs in this book - and one of them is Jac. I adored Jac as a character in Ace of Shades, and I was so excited to find out that he had his own POV in King of Fools, which is why I was so glad I got an extract of his first chapter in the series. Now, it wasn't only because of how much I love Jac that I was glad he got his thoughts out in this book - I think it was really good to get in a POV that shows just how Enne's and Levi's plans have effected the others in the books, and even how much it will effect them as the plans change.
On that point, I think Enne is such a complex and beautifully written character - warring with herself as to whether she should be the woman she was raised to be - or if she should accept that she enjoys being a street lord and living in New Reynes. Watching her change and grow is definitely one of my favourite things about the series, and I think she's going to grow even more in the future, which I can't wait to see.
I could write so much on this book, but I think leaving you with a small extract, and a small review is for the best, so I will just say this: GO READ THE SERIES. It's such a unique series, with a setting that I've not come across before and absolutely love, that I think everyone will get something from reading it. I can't wait to see where Amanda takes the next book after it was left where it was - I don't know how I'll be able to wait!
Overall, I give this book: 5 cats.
Make sure to check out the rest of the stops on the blog tour, below!
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