The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues, #1) by Alwyn Hamilton Series: The Notorious Virtues #1
Published by Viking Books for Young Readers on April 1, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Fantasy & Magic
Pages: 320
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
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A glamorous media darling, a surprise heiress, and the magical competition of a lifetime.
At sixteen, Honora “Nora” Holtzfall is the daughter of the most powerful heiress in all of Walstad. Her family controls all the money–and all the magic–in the entire country. But despite being the center of attention, Nora has always felt like an outsider. When her mother is found dead in an alley, the family throne and fortune are suddenly up for grabs, and Nora will be pitted against her cousins in the Veritaz, the ultimate magical competition for power that determines the one family heir.
But there’s a surprise contestant this time: Lotte, the illegitimate daughter of Nora’s aunt. When Lotte’s absent mother retrieves her from the rural convent she’d abandoned her to, Lotte goes from being an orphan to surrounded by family. Unfortunately, most of them want her dead.
And soon, Nora discovers that her mother’s death wasn’t random–it was murder. And the only person she can trust to uncover the truth of what happened is a rakish young reporter who despises everything Nora and her family stand for.
With everyone against her, Lotte’s last hope is hunting for the identity of her father. But the dangerous competition–and her feelings for Theo, one of the Holtzfalls’ sworn protectors–turns her world upside down.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Why Did I Read?
I really enjoyed Alwyn Hamilton’s Rebel of the Sands (and never finished the series, I really need to get on that) and when I heard about her latest, I knew I had to read it! Magical trials and family shenanigans – yes, please!
My Thoughts:
The Notorious Virtues has a fascinating premise. Long ago, the Holtzfall family, with the aid of a magical being in the forest, carved out a safe spot for themselves in the forest. It spread, turning into a city, all under their protection. Generations later, the family magic and power is passed down to the next deserving heir who has to prove themselves with a number of trials testing various virtues. However, the poorer circles chafe under the Holtzfall rule and rebellion is brewing.
We have a couple different main players in the story – Nora, the previous heiress until her mother was murdered, Lotte, who had no idea she had a family, and Theo, a loyal knight protecting the family. I thought all the different POVs worked really well together with multiple threads of the plot that kept me turning the pages.
Due to the premise of Nora’s mother’s murder, there is a slight murder mystery vibe tied with the other plot points of navigating both family secrets and the Veritaz trials. I thought the trials testing virtues was really unique and really interesting especially as there was no set time or anything for when one may start. You didn’t know, for the most part, if one was happening until you were in it.
I was also very invested in Nora and Lotte’s fates. Nora seems like an empty headed socialite but she is anything but. Lotte is thrust into a world she never knew but handles each new thing so well and adapts so fast. I was so immersed into their stories, I didn’t want to put it down!
The fairytale like snippets of the world this is set in were really fascinating and I think there is so much more to discover. The world is so cool with the way the magic is set up, the charms and magical connections and social hierarchy. I truly loved all the aspects of this story! Now my problem is, I want the sequel like now and I discovered there isn’t even a synopsis for the next book yet! Ahh!
In Short…
The Notorious Virtues features a great cast of characters with POVs that will keep you rooted to the book. The magical world the story is set in is unique and fascinating with a story that will keep you on your toes. There are twists and turns and is such an exciting new release from Alwyn Hamilton! I highly recommend if you like competitions, family secrets and an exciting fast paced plot!
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