A Grimoire for Gamblers

Elizabeth (Beth) is mourning her father. In fact she’s been doing that for 8 years, since he was committed to a psychiatric hospital, where he had steadily been trying to kill himself, finally succeeding. Then a series of suicides start making the news. Beth makes a discovery in the attic of her fathers house, and things take a magical and dangerous twist. It’s a race against time to find out what had driven her father to his actions, and it’s nothing like she thought.

This is an interesting read, one I took a little while to get into, but once I had, it had me hooked. There are creatures from fairy tales, who walk among us, like trolls and wizards, but you can’t always see them as they really are. They aren’t all cuddly and friendly, but view humans with disdain. Max is developing nicely but I’d have liked to know more of his back story, and also Faisal, Beths partner. This is the first book in the series, and I’m looking forward to see where these characters go next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I didn't think I'd like this book upon starting it, but it grew on me. I did enjoy it. It starts out slowly but it's certainly worth the ride. It's an unusual story and I'd like to know where it ends up in the future. #AGrimoireforGamblers #NetGalley

When we think of the term "origin story," we typically think of it in reference to superheroes, though I've found that urban fantasy protagonists typically have them too. This is a good one. And Elizabeth is a good protagonist too, along the lines of Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson and Ilona Andrews' Dina Demille. I'm looking forward to seeing where her story goes, what new creatures she meets and obstacles she overcomes.

A cut above the usual made-from-box-mix urban fantasy, with a sensible, capable (sometimes to the point of ruthlessness) protagonist. It's darker than I really prefer, with a number of tragic deaths of innocents that the protagonist has some unintentional responsibility for and is unable to prevent. The supernatural world is hostile and dangerous to a medieval degree, and only an extraordinarily gutsy move by the protagonist is able to resolve the plot.

There were some weaknesses and unanswered questions for me. For example, the voodoo train. Why would someone make that, and having made it, why would they leave it active, literally an accident waiting to happen?

I groaned when the handsome wizard with green eyes turned up, because that's the universal signal for a love interest, and the protagonist already had a boyfriend who seemed like a decent guy - by her account, anyway; he was absent elsewhere for almost the whole book, and even when he returned he felt like he didn't have much heft to him as a character. He functioned more as an aspect of the protag than a person in his own right. Hopefully the author will figure out what to do with him in future books in the series and give him his own independent reality. I hope he doesn't just become a genderflipped damsel in distress/hostage to fortune/motivating factor/fridge inhabitant. Anyway, the green-eyed-love-interest trope was invoked only to be averted, and I sincerely hope that continues.

The protagonist is smart, and a good problem solver, and while she narrates in a version of First Person Smartass, it's not overdone. She has some genuinely tough stuff to cope with, and does so bravely and resourcefully. I'm not sure if it's a Covid side-effect, a phenomenon whose time had come regardless, or just good luck or good management on my part, but I'm loving the fact that I'm finding so many really competent, pragmatic female protagonists lately.

I'll definitely be looking out for a sequel, though I hope the author manages to make more of the boyfriend next time.

This is an excellent book and I can't wait for the next in the series

A multilayered fantasy peopled with interesting, relateable characters.

The author entwines magic, loss and grief and creates a quirky yet immensely readable novel.

I received a free ARC. I am leaving my honest review

I received a digital ARC via Netgalley in return for my honest opinion. Thank you very much!

4 stars - Great urban fantasy with an excellent heroine!

Okay, I really enjoyed this one even though urban fantasy does not always work for me, so I'm really glad I gave this one a chance.

We follow Elizabeth, who has just lost her father to suicide and moved into his house. Upon going through his things she finds a trove of magic knowledge - something that non-wizards really should not get their hands on if you ask the local wizards.
The trove and and a series of suicides that cannot be coincidence and might be connected to her father's death draw her quickly into the world of wizards and supernatural creatures. And it is not a world for the faint of heart. It is strange, hostile and Elizabeth has to learn to navigate it without getting herself killed while at the same time trying to solve the murder mystery at hand.

What really shone for me in this book was our heroine Elisabeth. She is smart, compassionate, thoughtful, perceptive, courageous and tough. I could relate to her thought processes a lot which is always helpful for getting immersed in a story. There is also a colourful ensemble of side characters who are all complex - neither cookie cutter good nor bad guys. The world of supernatural creatures and magic carries plenty of promise, as does her relationship with her boyfriend Faisal and I am very much looking forward to any next parts in this series.

This quickly became one of my favorite urban fantasies. The setting is dark and intriguing, the characters are larger than life, and the world is complex and ever changing.

The story begins with Elizabeth, struggling emotionally after her father has committed suicide. After going through his things, she finds a mysterious box, which leads her to places she could have never imagined. All of a sudden, Elizabeth is thrown into a world of magic, deals, and dangers beyond comprehension. While dealing with new revelations, Elizabeth has to work through the discovery that there may be more to her father's death than anyone realized and it could all be connected to numerous unexplained and mysterious suicides happening around her.

The world-building in this and the magi system were superb! The writing is so immersive and you really feel like you are by Elizabeth's side experiencing all the magic and craziness with her. The world is complex but not overwhelming. The magic system is really unique and so interesting that I even started making notes about how things work as I read.

The characters also shined in this book, especially Elizabeth. She is a very entrancing character and so easy to like and relate to. I really liked how she initially reacted to the existence of magic and once she got past the impossibility of it, she took it like a champ, diving straight in for more answers. Elizabeth was fun and witty and strong and I cannot wait to read more of her story.

Elizabeth, has been on leave from her job as an assistant to the mayor of her small town. A couple of weeks earlier her father had committed suicide, leaving her quite adrift, mentally. As she returns to work, she is approached by a stranger who hands over a file with news articles about several local suicides with a curious pattern. She soon realises she's not quite ready to be back at work and takes further leave. Meanwhile, while going through the attic of her childhood home, she discovers a side of her father totally unknown to her, magic. It's not long before she has learned a bit of it herself and she is knee-deep in figuring out connections and makes the acquaintance of several who might assist her. She must keep a step ahead, though, as there's the wizard Max, who has insinuated himself into her life with the goal to erase her mind of all knowledge of magic. At the same time, it becomes obvious she needs his assistance too. it all becomes quite a balancing act and figuring out who is friend or foe becomes quite important.

This was a delight to read, being quite easy to get into and having a good adventure along the way. Elizabeth is quite clever and she uses her wits to get on with things. But she's also smart enough to realise she can't do it all on her own. Max is both foe and friend depending on the circumstances. We only get a few glimpses of his history which I suspect will become more known in future books. As the title suggests, there's gambling involved in this story and it's not necessarily about money. There are small gambles when approaching characters to know if the real intent is help or harm. And then there are the big ones on which her future depend upon.

I pretty much devoured this book within a day or two and really loved it. Overall I give it four stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for sharing an advanced reader copy. My review is totally voluntary.

Exciting new urban fantasy series. Well written, with an intricate plot, interesting characters and terrific world building. I’m eagerly anticipating book 2!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

A grimoire for gambles is an interesting and new urban fantasy. The worldbuilding done by the author is fantastic. She gradually takes the readers with the protagonist in to a dark and magical world where mythical creatures live secretly among humans. Especially the magic system is very refreshing and unique.

At times I found the solutions to problems to be a little be too convenient, especially towards the end. In addition, there were a couple of loose ends I would like to have learned more about, like the voodoo train. All in all, a pretty good start of a series and I am looking forward to reading the next book.

I had never read this author before, and I was anxious to read this one as the blurb sounded fun. I dived in, and it didn’t take long to get engrossed in the book. I loved how the author didn’t always take me where I thought she was going, and the premise is a little different than I expected it to be. Not that either of those are bad things, because they are not; I like to be surprised sometimes. I at times found the solutions to problems to be a little be too convenient, and I got a little confused at times at what was going on. However, I really did enjoy this little darker urban fantasy, and I am all in to read the next in the series. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

A delightful read that shows a very real human approach to discovering the world of magic! The characters were unique, and the plot had enough twists to keep you guessing until the end.

Elizabeth works for the mayor in her small town of Springfield, she's recently inherited her father's house after his suicide, something he's been attempting for the last eight years. Before he was committed, her father had been a creator and Elizabeth spent her childhood watching her father crafting things in his loft, particularly train sets, so she shouldn't be surprised when she finds a model railway in the loft. Except it seems to be running without any visible form of power, eight years after he left the house. Also, unlike his previous sets, this train set is an exact replica of Springfield. Unthinkingly Elizabeth flicks the train, knocking it off the tracks, and is horrified when the next day the papers are full of the story of how a train derailed in Springfield. Is she losing her mind like her father? Could the model railway be linked to the real thing? Elizabeth also finds a locket, together with a note from her father, imploring her to stay out of the loft, or at least wear the locket for protection.

Then a strange man claiming to be a wizard barges into the house shouting about humans and magic and threatening to wipe Elizabeth's memories. Only the locket seems to prevent him from doing anything to harm Elizabeth. Still unsure of whether what is happening is real or signs of impending mania, Elizabeth searches the loft and finds a locked box containing spell books and other paranormal paraphernalia, can it be real?

The box, the locket and the magical objects draw Elizabeth into a world of wizards and magical creatures hidden from normal humans and a series of bizarre suicides which seem to be linked to that of her father. Can she solve the mystery and prevent further human deaths?

OMG what a breath of fresh air. Elizabeth isn't (yet) a special snowflake growing into her powers. She's a mundane human with a magic book, and 21st century technology like a scanner and a printer to help her draw her spells accurately. The magical creatures are not the usual shifters and vampires (something wiped out the Fae), the mystery is dark and Elizabeth has to make some terrible choices.

I really enjoyed this and I am curious to see where Amanda Creiglow is going to take the series. I hope she keeps it dark and twisty.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC

At the start, I was a little skeptical at whether I would like this book or not.

This was an amazing urban fantasy novel. The world building was very well done and I enjoyed following the deep story that I was unable to predict. I loved that the story had so many different small plots going that slowly revealed solutions.

I ended up really liking the book and it wasn't at all what I was expecting from it. I would highly recommend it and I look forward to the sequel.

This was a great story with wonderful flow and amazing characters. The flow of the book weaved a great story which made this urban-fantasy hard to put down. I loved the characters and the single POV. I can not wait for the next book in the series.

This book is a bit dark but I really liked the writing and the setting. I thought the storyline also more original than most urban fantasies at the moment. I look forward to the next in the series!

Elizabeth thought that the worst thing that could happen to her was her father going crazy and eventually following through with suicide. But when unexplainable things start happening to her she can think shes either following in her father's footsteps or there are unexplainable occurrences that really are explainable if you believe in magic.

This was a good start to a series! I loved that the world building was happening but not at the sake of the story. The story pulled me right in and there I stayed until I finished. I look forward to learning more about Elizabeth and the dark world she inhabits. Some twists I didn't see coming and questions left to be answered in the next installment! I am looking forward to it.

This was a very well written book. The plot was very enticing and I couldn't put the book down. This was a new to me favorite author and I will definitely try another book by this author.

A Grimoire for Gamblers is the first book in the Trove Arbitrations series by Amanda Creiglow. Small town mayor’s assistant Elizabeth has enough on her plate grieving her father’s suicide. She doesn’t need his stash of magical knowledge in the attic. She doesn’t need the hidden supernatural subculture of monsters it pulls her into. And she certainly doesn’t need hints that her father’s madness might have been a smokescreen for something far darker. But uncovering her father’s secrets could be the only way Elizabeth can stop a string of suspicious suicides… if the local wizard doesn’t rip the memories out of her mind, first.

A Grimoire for Gamblers is the start of a new series that I will be reading. I think the world building was well done, delivering a great deal of information throughout the book with out feeling like there were any big info dumps to wade through. I liked Elizabeth's character as well, I thought her grief at the loss of her father and her curiosity at the world she was discovering was well done. I thought the introduction to the secondary characters was very well done as well. I have questions, but not because the author left out important information but because I simply want to know more and see more of them in future installments of the series. I also liked that some of the magical creations and characters were ones that are not as prevalent in the genre. Some oft he magic and characters were ones I do not remember being worked into urban fantasy before, which made me very happy. I love discovering new to met hings and exploring them further. I think the twists and turns of the story were very well done, and I look forward to were the story might go from here.

A Grimoire for Gamblers is a solid series starter with a nice balance of satisfying ending and needing more.

Elizabeth has returned home. Eight years ago, her father voluntarily committed himself to an asylum and her mother ran away to Florida. Last week, her father committed suicide. Returning to her childhood home, Elizabeth is surprised to find his train set still in the attic — and still running. In a fit of anger and frustration, she knocks the little train off its track. The next morning, she is shocked and horrified to hear that a real train also derailed …. Then things get really weird. A wizard shows up and threatens to wipe her memory. The local ice cream lady turns out to be a stone creature who can never lie (but that doesn’t mean she speaks the entire truth). There’s a troll living under the bridge, and a chance demon running a casino at the local crossroads. And so much, much more. If Elizabeth is to survive, she has to figure out exactly what happened to her father and mother eight years ago, and exactly who she can — and cannot — trust ….

For bookworms, it can be a struggle to find new series that we can look forward to enjoying for years to come. As such, I was thrilled when I came across A Grimoire for Gamblers, the first book in the Trove Arbitrations series. The book sucked me right in and didn’t let up until the last page; and now I badly want to read the second book (A Surplus of Sirens) and the upcoming third book (A Reckoning of Wraiths).

First, there’s Elizabeth. Mostly, she’s an ordinary person. She works in small town politics, loves her boyfriend Faisal, and worries that her father’s mental illness may prove to be hereditary. That soul-deep skepticism — even paranoia — proves to be a life line. When Elizabeth suddenly finds herself spiraling down the rabbit hole into a world of dangerous magic and even more dangerous enemies, her paranoia is a vital navigational tool; she constantly checks what she knows against her assumptions, what people have told her, and what seems most likely or unlikely given the facts; it helps her determine who to trust, who to avoid, and how to finally figure out the mystery of her father’s insanity.

Then there’s Max. Max is … complicated. I won’t say much about him. Only that he’s a wizard, that he’s made some ethically grey choices in the past, and that having Elizabeth thrust into his life is going to badly upset the fragile balance he has created. I look forward to seeing how he evolves (or not, but I hope he does evolve) as the series progresses.

Finally, there’s the magical underground world that has been invisible to humans for centuries; likely longer. Magic works by Right Mind and intention, by glyphs and mental focus and language. The illusions that hide wizards and trolls and others from humans also, in their own curious, bizarre way, reveal the truth — if you know what you’re looking for. And Elizabeth, as she begins to practice magic, learns what to look for, and what it means, and how she can use that knowledge to survive.

That’s probably enough. If I say more, I’ll give away too much, and I want the book to be as much of a surprise for others as it was for me.

Highly recommended to fans of The Guild Codex by Annette Marie, The KC Warlock Weekly by MN Jolley, The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths and Magics by FT Lukens, Touched by Magic by Celine Jeanjean, and The Girl with Ghost Eyes by MH Boroson.

This was so much more than I expected, I loved Elisabeth so much, she’s intelligent, sassy, caring , brave and tough. As well as Elisabeth theres also a supporting cast of characters who are all well written and complex. The world building with all the supernatural creatures and magic is wonderful, I loved this and look forward to future books

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this free ARC! Urban fantasy is kind of a newer genre for me and I overall enjoyed this one. I loved seeing how Elizabeth finds out that magic exists and how she's drawn into that whole world. I guess some of the middle of the book dragged on for me a bit, which is why it wasn't a 5-star read for me. I would definitely check out more from this author, though!