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1739: Are you ready to discover what The Secret of Sevens might reveal?
1739: Are you ready to discover what The Secret of Sevens might reveal?
A girl known only as Red, the daughter of a Cornish fortune-teller, travels with her father making a living predicting fortunes using the ancient method: the Square of Sevens. When her father suddenly dies, Red becomes the ward of a gentleman scholar.
Now raised as a lady amidst the Georgian splendour of Bath, her fortune-telling is a delight to high society. But she cannot ignore the questions that gnaw at her soul: who was her mother? How did she die? And who are the mysterious enemies her father was always terrified would find him?
The pursuit of these mysteries takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the rough ribaldry of the Bartholomew Fair to the grand houses of two of the most powerful families in England. And while Red’s quest brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads into her grave danger . . .
The London, Bath, Cornwall and Devon of The Square of Sevens
The wonderful locations of a novel which captures the magic and mystery of the art of telling fortunes with playing cards. The Square of Sevens is real and based on a fantastic history of the magic arts which were once seen as the dark arts.
The real location here is in the parlours, the inns and the dark corners of some travelling caravan where we meet those who deal in this mysterious cartomancy.
London and Bath are the two dominant locations for this is where much of the story takes place.
London
London is rife with pickpockets, chancers and the dark inns and we also see the posh side around Hanover Square where the Seabrookes live. The most iconic location is Smithfields which was once the location of the Barthlomews Fair which is vividly evoked here.
Bath
You will want to head straight to Bath after reading this! A city of marvels if people who are tempted to go to the baths are to be believed. This is the city where you can heal and be healed, where the power of magic has no boundaries. It is also the home to the Antrobus family which is where the msytery of the Secret of Sevens first orignates. Oh and to be able to go to Leake’s bookshop in Terrace Walk or to the faschionable houses of Queen Square!
Very vividly evoked. The world of fortune telling, playing cards and the illustrious Secret of Sevens is where the true magic lies.
TheBookTrail’s bookreview of The Square of Sevens Laura Shepherd Robinson
Do you want to read a novel inspired by a real life mystery involving cards and fortune telling? Immerse yourself into Dickensian London with larger than life characters you will be aching to stay with and others, to run from?
Oh the highjnks, codes, puzzles in this novel are devilishly good and perpetually perplexing.
Turn over your first playing card and enter at your own peril….
Destination/location: London, Bath, Cornwall, Devon Author/guide: Laura Shephered Robinson Departure Time: 1739
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