Stiletto
A Novel
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4.5 • 250 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
In this spirited sequel to the acclaimed The Rook, Myfanwy Thomas returns to clinch an alliance between deadly rivals and avert epic -- and slimy -- supernatural war.
When secret organizations are forced to merge after years of enmity and bloodshed, only one person has the fearsome powers -- -and the bureaucratic finesse -- -to get the job done. Facing her greatest challenge yet, Rook Myfanwy Thomas must broker a deal between two bitter adversaries:
The Checquy -- -the centuries-old covert British organization that protects society from supernatural threats, and...
The Grafters -- -a centuries-old supernatural threat.
But as bizarre attacks sweep London, threatening to sabotage negotiations, old hatreds flare. Surrounded by spies, only the Rook and two women who absolutely hate each other, can seek out the culprits before they trigger a devastating otherworldly war.
Stiletto is a novel of preternatural diplomacy, paranoia, and snide remarks, from an author who "adroitly straddles the thin line between fantasy, thriller, and spoof "(Booklist).
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The promise of O'Malley's supernatural thriller The Rook isn't fulfilled in this lackluster sequel. The people of Britain are guarded by the Checquy Group, "the secret Government department that employed the supernatural to protect the populace from the supernatural." Checquy operatives had been taught that a rival group, the Grafters, who were able to "twist and warp living flesh to suit their purposes," had been exterminated; but, as the current book opens, the Checquy lower ranks receive double shocks: not only do the Grafters still exist, but they are to be integrated into the Checquy Group itself. The task of making the improbable alliance work falls to Myfanwy Thomas, a high-ranking Checquy who's uniquely able to completely control others' bodies. There are bizarre acts of violence for example, a birthday cake consumes an entire family but they don't create a sense of menace. The highlights come from O'Malley's dry humor, but readers unamused by lines such as "No situation is improved by the presence of a gigantic anus" will find this a rough slog.
Customer Reviews
Well done sophomore episode
O'malley's characters are always fun to read, smart and cool. With Stiletto he steps everything up a notch, especially the weirdness and the gore. A few of the attempts at humor seem misplaced, but overall, it's a fun ride and fans of THE ROOK. Won't be disappointed.
Love The Story, Love The Characters, And Simply Fun
I thought The Rook was extremely well written and entertaining but Stiletto, while the sequel, sits apart as the better read. The characters are made so vibrant and the story line is quite vivid. But O’Malley’s writing skill and style is on full display here. And probably the best part of the book is the intertwined humor and sarcasm. I don’t often LOVE books. Usually, I rate a 3-4 tops, or I simply don’t rate at all but this is such a fun and great read. One of my most recent favorites.
Wonderful!
Read The Rook and then immediately moved on to Stiletto -- couldn't put either of them down. They're quite different but I loved both. Wonderfully drawn characters and so funny and creative.