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Daniel O'Malley: The Rook (2012) 4 stars

The Rook is the 2012 debut novel of Australian author Daniel O'Malley. It follows protagonist …

Review of 'The Rook' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I loved the crap out of this book, totally surprised me, in the best way. I just have this thing for books about the supernatural in the UK, like Harry Potter or Peter Grant. Now I have a new heroine, Myfanwy Thomas.

Said heroine comes to at the start of the book, with chapped lips, two black eyes and a circle of dead men around her, remembering absolutely nothing. In her coat pockets she finds letters adressed to her by the original owner of this body, one Myfanwy Thomas, who happens to be an agent in the Checquy, something like a supernatural version of the MI5, keeping the UK safe from harm. Myfanwy has the rank of Rook, and thanks to the letters the other Myfanwy left her, she knows that she was betrayed by a member of the court of the Checquy? But which one? And that's before an ominous organisation from Belgium called the Grafters tries to invade.

I found this story captivating, funny and mysterious up to the end. I liked both the Myfanwy before her brain was wiped, who we get to know through her many letters to her successor and the newer one we meet. Looking forward to the next book!