Book Review: The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Our protagonist, Red, spent the first seven years of her life on the run with her father, evading the eyes of those who, according to her father, intend to harm them. Red’s father, who goes by the name of George the Tenth of Kernow, is a "cunning-man" who comes from a long line of pellars. Using an ancient method of card reading that has been passed down through generations, father and daughter make their living telling fortunes using the Square of the Sevens method. Red is a gifted fortune teller. She never knew her mother, having lost her when she was a baby, and her father hadn’t shared much about her with Red. After her father dies, seven-year-old Red is left in the care of an antiquarian from Bath to whom he also entrusts the manuscript detailing the unique Square of Sevens technique. However, she remains curious about her parents, a quest that is discouraged by her guardian. Red spends the next ten years in Bath until her fortunes change after the demise of her guardian. She runs away from Bath and the clutches of her guardian’s shady nephew and tries to support herself, telling fortunes – a risky venture after the passing of The Witchcraft Act of 1735, which could result in imprisonment. She follows the clues of her mother’s family history from her father’s documents which lead her to London and Devon amid two feuding but influential families who would rather their secrets stay buried but also wouldn’t hesitate to use Red as a pawn to further their own motives. Will Red discover the truth about her family connections and finally find out why she spent her early childhood on the run with her father? Will she be able to see through the lies , deceit and manipulation?

The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a cleverly plotted work of historical fiction with an intriguing mystery at its core. I loved the Gothic vibes and the atmospheric setting and how cartomancy is incorporated into the narrative structure. Each chapter begins with the card and its interpretation, which, if studied together, predicts the possible outcomes for the relevant plot point /person concerned. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and loved the large cast of characters, each of whom had a significant part to play in Red’s quest – both her friends and allies as well as the villainous and shady people she encounters. She doesn’t always make the wisest of choices, but one wouldn’t expect a sheltered teenager to be worldly wise and exercise caution in her dealings with others. Red’s character development was on point in keeping with her age, naiveté and life experiences. The author excels in depicting the contrasting worlds of both London’s fair folk and affluent society. 

I would have given this novel a higher rating had the story been shorter and a tad more tightly woven. The pace slows down considerably in some segments and dragged around the halfway mark. Though a few of the revelations were not completely unpredictable, I loved the ending and thought that the final twist was well executed.

The author has penned a fascinating historical note where she discusses the era, her inspiration for this story and much more. This is my first time reading this author and I intend to explore more of her work.

Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.