Book Review: The Book of Gold by Ruth Frances Long
About the book
A desperate thief. A magical book. A heist for the ages.
There's only one thing notorious thief Lyta loves more than a big score: her little brother, Kit. But when Kit is arrested for producing seditious pamphlets, he stands to lose not only his printing press, but possibly his life.
In exchange for her brother's freedom, Lyta strikes a daring bargain with the king - she will steal the infamous Book of Gold: a mysterious manuscript reputed to be hiding vast magical power within.
It's just the kind of challenge Lyta relishes, but she didn't bargain for a secretive scholar, her brother's interference, or the return of handsome and brooding Captain Sylvian Chant, once her lover and partner in crime, now an incorruptible royal bodyguard...
Why we love it
Sometimes you're just in the mood for some pure fantasy escapism and that's exactly what this is.
The book is set in an alternative version of Renaissance Europe, where gods, kings and magic compete with a magisterial church for power and authority over the common people.
Lyta Cornellis, a thief with a knack for trouble, is desperate to save her brother Kit from devastating sedition charge.
To bargain for his life, she agrees to steal a rare book for the king and becomes quickly embroiled in dangerous political machinations between power-hungry rulers and half-forgotten gods, while gathering an unlikely crew of friends and accomplices along the way.
This is a wild, high-speed heist where Lyta's best-laid plans are constantly going awry. She’s impulsive, constantly winging it, and when things do actually go her way, it’s usually through a mix of brass nerve and pure luck. Even so, she's the most fantastic character and you can't help but be completely invested in her journey throughout the book - she's feisty, independent, capable and motivated entirely by her love for her brother.
But what really makes this book so gripping, is the author’s incredible world-building and the compelling cast of characters around Lyta, adding depth and richness to the story. The villains are suitably villainous and the heroes are suitably complex and engaging.
I particularly loved the way Ruth Frances Long centres the rise of publishing and the printing press within the story, along with the theme that whoever controls these controls public opinion. It's not a million miles away from what actually happened in Renaissance Europe which adds so much authenticity to the storytelling.
A European-inspired setting with a heist at the heart of it does naturally invite comparisons to Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows and if you liked that, you’ll most likely enjoy this too.
Having said that, The Book of Gold is an entirely original piece of world-building which I just couldn't put down - a definite must-read!
