The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

The Rook (The Checquy Files, #1)

by Daniel O'Malley

'The body you are wearing used to be mine.' So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves. With no recollection of who she is, Myfanwy must follow the instructions her former self left behind to discover her identity and track down the agents who want to destroy her.

She soon learns that she is a Rook, a high-ranking member of a secret organization called the Checquy that battles the many supernatural forces at work in Britain. She also discovers that she possesses a rare and deadly supernatural ability of her own.

Filled with characters both fascinating and fantastical, The Rook is a richly inventive, suspenseful fantasy. An astonishing debut from a brilliant new voice.

Reviewed by Amber (The Literary Phoenix) on

4 of 5 stars

Share
Myfanwy Thomas died when her personality was erased. The woman who wakes up is not Myfanwy Thomas, but she has inherited Myfanwy's body, assets, job, and enemies. Challenged with finding out who tried to kill her when she doesn't even remember who she used to be, Myfanwy (pronouced "Mih-fan-nee") dives into Thomas's old life and does her best to run the Rookery the way her predecessor did. Can Myfanwy run part of the British secret supernatural branch, all while learning who she is and pretending she is Thomas? She is sure gonna try.

I liked this book, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a masterpiece of fantasy fiction. The Rook is fun. There's a lot of storytelling within the novel itself, choosing to give background information via a dossier left for Myfanwy after her memory is completely wiped. There are points where this really drags, but I liked the world-building, and Myfanwy's voice is a blast. She's witty and sarcastic, if a little clueless at times (forgivable).

Generally speaking, I think that this book will be hit or miss depending on the reader. It has the feel of something by Jasper Fforde or Jodi Taylor, and the characters are a blast. Some of the powered individuals are positively fascinating. I don't think it's a series I'd re-read, but I'm glad I read this book and I intend to read the sequel.

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 11 February, 2019: Finished reading
  • 11 February, 2019: Reviewed