A corkscrew plot, full of ingenious twists and turns, a charismatic heroine, a rogue’s gallery of aristocratic rascals in Georgian England and a dangerous family feud makes Shepherd-Robinson’s third novel a hugely engaging, entertaining read. Daily Mail The book's storyline is really original. It had a unique premise and the plot progressed in a way I wasn't expecting. It was interesting meeting characters from both genteel and lower societies and how the character navigated both. I also liked that the main character knew her own mind and drove her own destiny.

I did feel that there were pacing issues in some aspects of the story and the plot slowed down significantly in the middle of the book. The book felt slightly too long because of this. However I did really love the ending which more than made up for any slow parts. The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson Review: Summary My thanks to Pan Macmillan Mantle for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Square of Sevens’ by Laura Shepherd-Robinson. Red is a young girl who travels with her father, a fortune teller named John Jory Jago. They make their living predicting fortunes using the ancient Cornish method the Square of Sevens. Ever since her bestselling debut, Blood & Sugar, Laura Shepherd-Robinson has made the Georgian era her own. In her latest, The Square of Sevens, she revisits the period, this time following a young girl named Red as she navigates the dark mysteries of her own past and the convoluted - and murderous - machinations of two of the country's most prominent dynasties warring over a disputed inheritance. A big, meaty, meticulously researched and unashamedly ambitious historical novel." - Vaseem Khan

The pursuit of these mysteries takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the rough ribaldry of the Bartholemew Fair to the grand houses of two of the most powerful families in England. And while Red's quest brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads into her grave danger . . . I wasn't a fan of the fortune-telling part in the book The Cloisters so I was hesitant when I saw the main character in this book was also a fortune-teller. It turned out that the use of cards in The Square of Sevens was so deftly woven into the story that I looked forward to seeing what the cards would reveal. 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 chapter titles are very clever as they depict the Square of Sevens but that was not enough to fully win me over. I did enjoy the twists and turns that came along the way. Red experiences a lot in this book. Red is an interesting character. She was raised in a time where she had little choices and opportunity yet found her way and made opportunities for herself. She was strong, inquisitive, and intent on finding the truth no matter what. This book has a lot going on and I usually enjoy Gothic tales, but this is one that never fully won me over. The Square of Sevens follows Red, the daughter of a Cornish fortune-teller; when her father dies she becomes the ward of a gentlemanly scholar. As she grows older, she wonders about her mother and becomes embroiled in the court case of the century. Our heroine, Red, is the epitome of relentless determination, pursuing her goal with ingenuity and, at times, a careless regard for her own safety. She’s also not averse to a little manipulation when she believes it will serve her purpose. Let’s face it, in this book she’s not alone when it comes to that. The pursuit of these mysteries takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the rough ribaldry of the Bartholomew Fair to the grand houses of two of the most powerful families in England. And while Red's quest brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads her into grave danger . . . The Square of Sevens was such an intriguing read. Narrated alternately by Red and the mysterious Lazarus Darke, it weaves a tale of secrets, fortune-telling, and unexpected revelations.narrative that is gripping and filled with unexpected twists and turns - multi-layered and filled with nuance which will question if what you are reading is the truth or if it’s all lies.