League of Liars

by Astrid Scholte

[Quirky Cat]

I have loved Astrid Scholte's previous works and thus knew that I had to give League of Liars a chance. One thing that did surprise me – I didn't realize that League of Liars was the start of a new series. I wish I had known that going in. For the record, I consider this a positive, not a negative.

Cayder Broduck has spent his entire life toeing a meticulous line. He feels passionate about bringing illegal magic use to an end. Yet he also feels compassion for those that resort to this sort of magic, even if magic use comes at a cost.

That's why Cayder rushed at the opportunity to be an apprentice to one of the best public defenders he knows. Even if he has to keep this job a secret from his family, it'll all be worth it. You see, all Cayder has ever wanted was a chance to return to a place he saw as home. That and help people, of course.

“Don’t be one of those people who hates their life but doesn’t have the courage to change it,”

At this point, I've decided that I'll read anything Astrid Scholte writes – her worlds are so unique and creative. Better yet are the characters filling out the pages. And boy, are there a lot of characters within League of Liars.

This book has several main perspectives (four, if we're being specific), so those who don't enjoy lots of transitions may not appreciate what this book has to offer. A lot is going on here. I sometimes wished that the book had slowed down and let readers breathe a bit. Though I may just be saying that because I desperately want to see more of this world, a slower pace may have allowed for more sightseeing.

While I highly enjoyed League of Liars, there is admittedly something misleading about the title. I sort of expecting, well...a lot of betrayals and scheming? Not to say that this book lacked in those departments. It just was a different tone than I was expecting; I suppose that is what I'm trying to say. I still haven't decided if that is a delight or a disappointment. Maybe somewhere in between.

When I went into League of Liars, I expected a standalone novel (probably because everything else I've read by Astrid Scholte has been a standalone thus far). So imagine my surprise when I realized it was the start of a series. Readers should know this is going in, so they can prepare for the emotional investment. I personally still would have read the book upon release (o regrets there), but it would have been nice to know.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks