Review of The Rook (The Checquy Files, Book 1)

Author: Daniel O'Malley
Rating: 4 Stars
Review By: Shana

If you are in the market for a seriously fun fantasy novel, you could do far worse than The Rook.  Think super-secret organization designed to protect Britain from paranormal threats. O'Malley writes with great humor and heart, keeping the reader fully engaged.

When we meet our heroine, she has awoken in a downpour, surrounded by dozens of dead bodies, and with no memory of who she is. In effect, she has woken up as a new person. What follows is Myfanwy Thomas's (our amnesiac protagonist) attempt to figure out what the hell is going on, guided by... well, herself. Before her memory was irretrievably wiped, Myfanwy (which is what we come to think of as the pre-amnesia narrator) became aware of her impending future and knew that she would lose (like, really lose) her mind. With the future hurling itself forward and a memory-wipe in the offing, she started to do what she does best: plan. 

The chapters alternate between present-day events of Thomas (thus differentiated from her Myfanwy self) and informative missives from her former self (Dear You, From Me). And without these letters from Myfanwy to Thomas, Thomas would have no hope of passing for herself at the Checquy Group (said super-secret, supernatural government outfit), fulfilling her duties as Rook (a high-ranking member of said government outfit), and unraveling the dastardly scheme that led to her mind wipe.  

If this sounds confusing, it is. But don't worry, it's confusing in a fun way and chock full of action and wry British humor. And best yet, there is already a sequel.