The Square of Sevens

By Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Book Overview

This "intricately plotted, epic" (The Times, London) international bestseller--in the vein of the vivid novels of Sarah Waters and Sarah Perry--follows an orphaned fortune teller in 18th-century England as she searches for answers about her long-dead mother.

Cornwall, 1730: A young girl known only as Red travels with her father making a living predicting fortunes using the ancient Cornish method of the Square of Sevens. Shortly before he dies, her father entrusts Red's care to a gentleman scholar, along with a document containing the secret of the Square of Sevens technique.

Raised as a lady amidst the Georgian splendor of Bath, Red's fortune telling delights in high society. But she cannot ignore the questions that gnaw at her soul: who was her mother? How did she die? And who are the mysterious enemies her father was always terrified would find him?

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 to grave danger.

"Intricate, haunting, and magical by turns, Laura Shepherd-Robinson's tale is an absolute immersive read you won't soon forget" (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author).

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1668031124
• ISBN13: 9781668031124
• Release Date: September 2023
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

4 stars

THE SQUARE OF SEVENS by Laura Shepard-Robinson I received the digital ARC of this last year, but I knew I wanted a hard copy so I waited to read it. As a causal tarot reader, this was right up my alley. Also, whenever a book has maps and images throughout, it’s best (IMO) to have a physical copy. That’s part of the whole reading experience y’know? This story has it all; two wealthy and influential families fighting over an inheritance, a large manor house with multiple hidden passageways and rooms, astrology, suspicious deaths, scandals, gossip etc. At the center of it all is Red, a young fortune teller who desperately wants to learn more about the mother she’s never known. What this book also has is a large cast of characters and multi layered twists and turns interwoven into the plot. There are details you’ll need to keep track of and people you can’t quickly forget. While I felt the story lost its momentum at the midway point when it became bogged down with too many details, the ending made up for it. I loved how all twenty one cards (and its meanings) were shown at the beginning of each chapter. The author’s historical note at the end was also quite insightful. I appreciate when historical fiction incorporates divination and astrology without it feeling too “woo woo” or contrived. Overall, this is a worthwhile story to get into if you love a good historical mystery with the added bonus of cartomancy. Rating: 4/5 ⭐️