Enne Salta wants to fulfill her destiny as a dancer; she attends a finishing school, where she is always aware that she comes from a lower class than the other students. But her close relationship with her adoptive mother, the nonconforming journalist Lourdes Alfero, has always been a comfort to her. When Lourdes disappears, Enne must track her down in New Reynes, aka the City of Sin. Her only lead is Levi Glaisyer, a street lord, con man, and the only name her mother left her as a clue. Foody creates a richly populated world with rival gangs, ruthless Mafia, casinos, acrobats, and many different levels of society. This is clearly the first in a series, and its cinematic, action-packed plot contains enough romance to satisfy readers of that genre while piling on danger, thrills, and plot twists. While character development is somewhat weak, the elaborate costumes and extensive physical descriptions help define the large cast of characters. A shocking conclusion sets the stage for book two in the series.

A sheltered girl seeking her missing mother teams up with an ambitious young crime lord in a dangerous gambling city.Seventeen-year-old Enne Abacus Salta, a proper white girl from conservative Bellamy, arrives in New Reynes clutching a guidebook to the notorious City of Sin. She is in search of her missing adoptive mother, Lourdes Alfero, a white woman known for her genderfluid style of dress. Enne quickly learns that saying her name is a bad idea—Lourdes has been moonlighting for years as a renegade journalist loyal to the Mizer kings who were overthrown and executed during a rebellion 25 years prior. Desperate, she seeks help from the Iron Lord, the bisexual Levi Glaisyer, dark brown-skinned with bronze-and-black curls. He is struggling to pay for a scheme gone bad lest he be sent to participate in the deadly Shadow Game. Complex worldbuilding and large cast introductions initially cause things to drag, but the guidebook serves as an efficient expository device. A positive take on sexuality and sex work is expressed in a nongraphic manner. While the largest plot twist is all too predictable, the relationship between Enne and Levi simmers, and dangers pile up to an exciting climax.Readers will eagerly wish for a sequel that will allow them to revisit New Reynes. (Fantasy. 14-adult)

This uneven trilogy opener from Foody (Daughter of the Burning City) follows 17-year-old Erienne -Enne- Salta on a quest to find her adopted mother, journalist Lourdes Alfero. When Lourdes set sail for New Reynes, the -City of Sin,- she promised Enne that she-d be home in two months. Four months later, Enne leaves finishing school to find her, arriving in New Reynes to discover that the city is even more debauched than its nickname suggests. Gangs rule the streets, crime families own the cops, and Lourdes-s emergency contact, Levi Glaisyer, is a 17-year-old con man whom Enne must pay to help her. The duo-s investigation takes them to the darkest corners of the city, uncovering dangerous secrets and ensnaring them in a mystical game that requires players to gamble their lives. At its best, Foody-s novel is a magical tale of introspection, romance, and self-determination. Complicated worldbuilding confuses the plot, however, and an extended setup delays the establishment of stakes, eroding tension and hindering readers- ability to invest in the characters- fates. Ages 14-up. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House. (Apr.)