Review: A Thief & A Gentlewoman

A Thief & A Gentlewoman by Clare Sager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quin Guldan is the daughter of a former favourite of the Sultan in the harem, but after the former Sultan died the first concubine assumed the throne as regent for her daughter and ruled harems outlawed. The child of the first concubine was declared legitimate and all children by lesser concubines were deemed illegitimate, the concubines fled and Quin's mother Livia went from wealth and luxury to living from hand to mouth on the streets.

Quin is a master of the long con, although she isn't averse to picking pockets and stealing trinkets from the rich, she favours fake engagements to wealthy lordlings who then are happy to pay non-existent blackmailers or other scams before she and her crew disappear into the night.

After years travelling she has returned to her home of Arianople under the name of Countess Quinta Sabia for her biggest con ever, she wants to trap one of the wealthiest Pasha's Atesh Shahin, cousin to the Queen into an engagement. But what starts as a standard seduction soon becomes real, Atesh seems immune to Quin's practised flirtation techniques but reacts positively when she shows him her true personality. Soon the lines between love and a con have become blurred, until a horrific murder and Atesh seems guilty - can Quin prove his innocence or will she save her own neck?

I enjoyed the world-building in this novel, the use of magic through playing cards that people hand-paint themselves to enhance attributes like stealth or hearing, the political machinations the detective plot and the exotic sabrecats which people use instead of horses.

In terms of plot, I felt the novel lagged a bit in the middle, there was a lot of investigation and fighting which was interrupted by dips into Quin's (and Atesh's) backstory, or by an explanation of the history of the playing cards which slowed the pace and distracted from the sense of urgency. I also felt the identity of the plotters was obvious from early on and couldn't believe that Quin and her friend/servant Derry didn't piece it together sooner.


But overall, this was an exciting swords, sorcery and magic story set in a fictional land similar to Turkeywith concubines, slaves, Sultans and Pashas. I look forward to reading the continuing adventures of Quin and Atesh and their loyal servants.

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