Ten Ruby Trick

Julia Knight

Privateer Van Gast thrills in capturing treasure; delights in pulling off elaborate scams; and has an outrageous reputation with the ladies. But there is only one woman for him: fellow privateer Josie-seductive, brave and unpredictable. He's hoping to make their relationship permanent, until he raids the wrong ship. Now slavers are stalking him, his crew is verging on mutiny and Josie has disappeared. 

When she reappears with a new mark wanting Van Gast's help running the ten ruby trick con, he senses trouble. It seems like Josie has joined up with mage-bound slavers to turn him over to their Master. Van Gast is about to take the biggest risk of all-and find out the true meaning of trust and betrayal.

My Take:

Are you looking for a book with mages who's magic manifests itself in the form of crystals growing out of the mage's skin who enslaves his people with a little wiggly silver worm that attaches itself to the bone controlling the enslaved's mind and body and if the enslaved tries to fight it black lines of poison spread out all over the body thus killing the person?  What's that you say?  You weren't looking for something quite that specific?  Oh. Well...you need to check this book out anyway :)  It's not often I come across a book that is truly different without feeling artificial or contrived.  I was really surprised at just how much I did enjoy the odd little universe in Ten Ruby Trick.  The vibe was very much the golden age of piracy with cutlasses and pillaged treasure while adding in a fantasy element with mages and mystical slavery.  Of course if I'm going to talk about the things I liked in the book, I can't leave out the classic "old lost love vs. new love" love triangle with three very interesting characters.  One of which is a bonded slave, Holden, with no free will, the other two being notorious "racks" (pirates) Josie and Van Gast who, while deeply in love, maintain their reputation of being the most bitter of enemies to better scam unsuspecting victims.  Honestly, this book has it all: danger, magic, sexy swashbuckling anti-heroes, a fierce and strong female protagonist, and several twists to keep you guessing until the very end. Really, the only thing I didn't like was the excessive language.  The sheer volume of f-words felt very forced to me and was quite distracting.  Had that been toned down this book would have been perfection.  That being said I rate Ten Ruby Trick a 2, Borders with a Coupon

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Ten Ruby Trick was a movie, it would be rated R for mild sexual content, violence and excessive language

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

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