The Sister Mederos by Patrice Sarath

I’m not gonna lie, I picked up this book because of the cover.  Sisters that are card sharks/bandits?  Yup, I’m into it.

I knew there would be magic involved, but honestly, it doesn’t feel like a fantasy book at all.  The two Sisters are Yvienne and Teresa.  Born to the wealthy House Mederos, their family experiences a tragic fall from grace at the hands of the Merchant Guild and the sisters are sent to a boarding school of horrific proportions.  The book doesn’t spend a lot of time at the school…just enough so the reader can get a sense of the way the girls had to rely on themselves.

They return to their family 6 years later, after the family is forced out of their opulent masion and cosigned to live in a less reputable part of town.  Through happenstance, Yvienne realizes she has a talent for robbing rich debutantes.  She is quickly named the “Gentlman Bandit” by the press.  Her sister, who for years believes her small magical powers were responsible for her downfall uses her talent at counting cards to take money from the rich merchants that rejoiced in her family’s misfortune.

While working from opposite ends, the sisters end up uncovering a greater conspiracy and work to restore their family to their once vaulted position.

I DEVOURED this book.  Light on the fantasy elements, it had all the marks of a great heist book.  I immediately went on to NetGalley.com the next day and requested the second in the series which I’m starting today.  Definitely a promising start to the story of the Mederos.