THE NOTORIOUS VIRTUES, by Alwyn Hamilton, Viking Books for Young Readers, April 1, 2025, Hardcover, $22.99 (young adult)
A glamorous media darling and a surprise heiress compete against their cousins in a magical competition for control of their family magic and fortune in The Notorious Virtues, by Alwyn Hamilton.
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.
While the dangers of the Veritaz competition threaten each of the Holtzfall girls, and the stark class differences turns political outrage to terrifing violence—the new cousins must fight to stay alive, no matter what.
Incredible tests, impossible choices, and deadly odds await both girls. But there can only be one winner. —Synopsis provided by Viking Books for Young Readers
The Notorious Virtues is a young adult fantasy that starts a little slow, but builds into a page-turner.
Told from multiple points of view, the book mostly focuses on Nora and Lotte and their male “love interests” (for lack of a better explanation). Nora and Lotte are better realized but all four are compelling.
Author Alwyn Hamilton is adept at world-building, creating varied settings that feel grounded. The overall feel is that of the 1930s — both the glitter and grit. Hamilton’s writing is strong and assured.
The Notorious Virtues is a fast-moving read that explores a society and all its complexities — power, privilege, poverty and revolt. It’s an exciting read that ends with a humdinger of a cliffhanger.
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