Imagine you live the life of a spy in training, and you’re ready to take on your first mission and expose the king’s wickedness. There’s only problem. You’re cursed to tell the truth… no matter what. This is Cressida’s life.
Cressida grew up under the constant pestering of her two aunts, who always wanted to know the limits of her truth-telling curse. They, after all, were the ones who gave her the poisoned tea that cursed her.
Cressida feels a breath of fresh air when she is sent to a young woman’s school for manners and noble behavior. Only upon stumbling over a crate of weapons does Cressida discover that the school is actually a front. Run by a league of spies who want justice for the royal families mysteriously killed over the last decade, they train Cressida for her first mission, which won’t go the way she expects.
What a twist! I’m a terrible liar, that’s no lie (pun intended), but a spy who can’t deceive anyone? That’s ingenious. I pray there is a sequel because this story left me starving for more! There are sword fights, battles of wit, and deception on every side. What’s not to love???
Scoresheet:
Category: Cozy YA Fantasy/Spy Regency novel
Spice/Romance: No spice, only two people pretending to ‘make out’ to avoid a confrontation.
Violence: Knife wounds and head trauma present
Morals/Worldview: Christian worldview in allegorical form
Recommended reading age: 14+
Language: None
World view: Clean/Good morals
