My Five Word TL:DR Review : Wow,Very Original, Definitely Unforgettable 

I requested A Little Trickerie on something of a whim, I like to have some historical fiction on my shelves and this sounded different although I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I would say that this is a compelling read. Set in a harsh and superstitious Tudor England it brings to us one of the most captivating narrators I can recall, at times heartbreakingly innocent whilst at the same time being only too well aware of the cruelty of life, particularly for those who have fallen between the cracks.

In a world where vagabonds can be branded and thrown into the stocks we make the acquaintance of Tibb and her Ma. Unfortunately Tibb’s ma passes away very early in the story leaving Tibb an orphan with a small baby, no money, no roof and no idea what to do. The opening chapters are something of a shock and an eye opener. In fact Tibb’s predicament feels desperate with one unhappy occurrence after another, until she finally stumbles upon a friend, a young boy called Ivo. 

The two survive traversing the coastline and countryside, always on the move but becoming firm friends. 

I don’t want to give too much away about the plot simply because I had such a good time discovering Tibb’s story with no prior knowledge. 

I loved this story and here’s why. 

Firstly Tibb. What a captivating character. I love her voice. Her’s has not been a gentle upbringing. Her mother taught her little tricks to survive (mainly involving light fingers) but with Ivo she finds a surprising friendship. I love the way Tibb looks at life, she has a surprising and unique way of looking at things but at the same time she seems to bring out the strangest reaction in people veering mostly into two camps, those that want to help or protect her and those that want to own or hurt her. 

This story brings to us a fantastic and eclectic collection of characters for you to love and hate. And you will really feel that range of emotions. 

I loved this snapshot of Tudor England. This is quite a different view from that usually written of with the nobles and their political shenanigans. This is harsh. Life is hard for the more lowly. There is a lot of superstition and any behaviour outside the norm is not just frowned upon but actively and harshly acted against. I would point out that this story can be very grim in parts so be prepared for that. 

I loved the plot, even though I’m going to avoid discussing it, Tibb comes up with a trick that spins out of control with scary consequences  and a lot of tension. 

The pacing, the writing and the story were perfect. To be honest I can’t fault this and that’s made even more remarkable when you consider that this is a debut. 

A remarkable story, sometimes a difficult read, at others uplifting. Tibb is a character I won’t forget. Emotional, heartbreaking, uplifting. A book that reminds you of the strength of good friends and love. 

I highly recommend this book, it’s quite taken my breath away. 

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. 

5 of 5 remarkable stars