'The Gambler's Fortune' by Juliet McKennaReviewed by: Lloyd (Wyrmtongue, Nov. 2000) This book is the third in a projected series of five, but stands alone in its own right. It deals with an attempt to raise a rebellion and the heroes' attempts to put it down. A great strength of McKenna's writing is that she does not gloss over the harsh realities of life. Her heroine, Livak, is a thief who makes her living cheating at games like the famous Three Card Trick. She is suspicious of her wizard 'allies' and is anxious just to live her own life. There is a definite sense of depth to the fantasy world she lives in, and this is increased by the incidental details. Her world is not free of problems - there is a meaningless civil war like that in Bosnia dragging on in the background, and the new Rationalist thinking condemns homosexuality as 'unnatural'. Although these do not stand in the way of the plot, they do give her writing a refreshing dose of gritty realism, which is unusual for this type of fantasy novel. This is a really great read; it is sold as being 'for people who don't normally like fantasy', but it should appeal to those who do read fantasy even more.
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