Anabelle Gage’s determination is about the only thing keeping her alive. That and the hope that, maybe, someday, she might be able to have a better life. In the opening pages of Petra Lord’s new novel, The Queen of Faces, Anabelle ekes out a living as a maid for a wealthy criminal—at least until the casual cruelty gets so far under Anabelle’s skin that she can’t help but lose her temper. Out on her ear, with no money, Anabelle receives an offer she can’t refuse because it might be the bit of help she needs.
Anabelle’s world is a cutthroat one, but one where the deck is weighted towards those with money and connections. Without either, it’s almost impossible for anyone to rise above mere survival. Anabelle is desperately in need of a new body. She lost her original one to a terminal illness. Unfortunately, her mother was so poor that she could only afford the cheapest model and one that was the wrong gender for Anabelle. Worst, the body is decaying. Anabelle might only have a few months left to live unless she can find a way to get a new one. At her lowest moment, a powerful mage offers her money and a place at the prestigious Paragon Academy in exchange for her assistance in tracking down a legendarily terrifying criminal. Her only help will be an aristocrat, Nell, who has fallen from her privileged place as an admiral’s daughter.
Fueled by the need for money (Anabelle) and the need for revenge (Nell), the pair cut a swath through the criminal’s allies and employees. The plot can feel a little like a video game as the duo work their way from boss fight to boss fight, but Lord provides plenty of character development and interpersonal contact in between battles to make up for this. She also slowly develops a fascinating mystery that flips our perceptions of who the real heroes and villains are. The climax of The Queen of Faces is more than worth the price of entry.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.