Satrine Rainey is a former street rat and ex-spy. Now she is a mother and wife to Constabulary Inspector Loren who was so brutally attacked that it's a wonder that he is alive. But he is not able to support his wife and two daughters anymore so Satrine fakes her way into the post of Constabulary Inspector to be able to support her family.

I was quite looking forward to reading this book, loved the cover and the blurb was intriguing. Satrine Rainey is a very interesting character and I liked her working relationship with Minox "Jinx" Welling. I especially like that there weren't any romance in this book. Well, Satrine is married, but there isn't any instalove to ruin the book. I liked this fantasy world and its characters, but I must admit that I felt the story dragged a bit in the middle, but luckily it got better towards the end. One thing, though, I figured the bad guy quite fast, or should I say I guessed and that in a way ruined the story somewhat for me because I do like it when I'm kept in the dark. Sure I like to guess who the bad guy is, but I like twists, I want to arrive at the end and suddenly the rug is pulled out under my feet, figuratively of course.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy reading this book for the most part and I liked the world and I liked Satrine and Minox so I will, without a doubt, read the next one in the series.

3.5 stars

I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review! ( )

Satrine Rainey is a former street rat and ex-spy. Now she is a mother and wife to Constabulary Inspector Loren who was so brutally attacked that it's a wonder that he is alive. But he is not able to support his wife and two daughters anymore so Satrine fakes her way into the post of Constabulary Inspector to be able to support her family.

I was quite looking forward to reading this book, loved the cover and the blurb was intriguing. Satrine Rainey is a very interesting character and I liked her working relationship with Minox "Jinx" Welling. I especially like that there weren't any romance in this book. Well, Satrine is married, but there isn't any instalove to ruin the book. I liked this fantasy world and its characters, but I must admit that I felt the story dragged a bit in the middle, but luckily it got better towards the end. One thing, though, I figured the bad guy quite fast, or should I say I guessed and that in a way ruined the story somewhat for me because I do like it when I'm kept in the dark. Sure I like to guess who the bad guy is, but I like twists, I want to arrive at the end and suddenly the rug is pulled out under my feet, figuratively of course.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy reading this book for the most part and I liked the world and I liked Satrine and Minox so I will, without a doubt, read the next one in the series.

3.5 stars

I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review! ( )

Very rich and complex. The puzzle wasn't solvable with the info we-the-readers had, and Minox is slightly annoying with his perception thing (I dislike know-it-all detectives) - but he doesn't push it to Sherlock Holmes levels, and he does admit he doesn't know, and needs to know, several things. Satrine is a very interesting person - so many layers to who she is. Street girl, Intelligence, stick's wife, wife and mother, smart, determined...it's odd that she's the only one willing to engage with Minox's deductions, she doesn't seem to be extraordinary in that way. But they make a very good pair. I'm glad to see the captain saw her value - I suspect that's what he'd intended earlier too (when the commissioner came). And a nice hint of hope to end the story. I hope there's more - apparently there is more in this world, but I want to see Minox and Satrine again. ( )

Good solid story with interesting and complex characters. ( )

Satrine Rainey is a street kid, a princess, a spy, a near-widow with a family to support, and now an Inspector Third Class in the Constabulary. And a liar. A big liar whose family depends on nobody finding out the truth. She's partnered with Minox Welling, an investigator from a family of public servants who almost never considers a case closed. Their first case together is a dead mage, a case that could spark another mage war if it isn't handled fast.

This whole D&D-Cops subgenre is one I really enjoy, so there's no way I was going to resist this book. Maradaine is a lively city populated with believable characters, including Minox's sprawling family and a few people from Satrine's past. I liked the mystery, though I did figure out whodunnit (but not why or how) before the ending. There's also a huge mystery running beneath all of this and you can see the author slowly making connections for you both along with the characters discovering those connections, and layering some through more subtly for only the reader to pick up on.

There were some interesting things here aside from the mystery, like how and if people can change, gender politics and discrimination, class issues. There are also some absolutely great friendships and budding friendships in this book that were a pleasure to read. I very much enjoyed Minox and Joshea (I ship it), Satrine and her landlady, and any time Satrine interacted with someone from her past.

Satrine's Inspector husband was at the docks investigating the dog-children fighting ring, wasn't he? And he was beaten to almost dead but very carefully not killed just unable to communicate by the constables who were part of it. Is this where the reporter's son went? What about the missing girls? And the dead assassins? I'm really excited to have some of these questions answered in a future book.

[I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.] ( )