As one of the more relatable protagonists I've read, Amelia suffers the injustice of having an older brother. I jest, but her troubles would never have begun if her brother had just listened to her. She would have done her duty delivering books to the Vilnarian library as she was told-- not minding the murder she'd witnessed.
Instead, Leon drags her into an investigation that leads them to "deliver" rare goods to the capital. However, when they arrive, they're mistaken for the dead dignitaries, and the truth seems farther-fetched than a lie.
Amelia and Leon become actors in a horrible game of life and death not only for themselves but for two kingdoms they've never known.
My only complaint is that Amelia is a passive protagonist. I prefer more active agents, but the passivity sells the character in its own way.
*The Librarian's Ruse *is a perfect airport or rainy evening read. It will be over before you know it, and you'll be begging for the next one.
After witnessing a triple murder, Leon drags Amelia to investigate a smoldering campfire that happens to contain the remnant of what they thought were merchant goods. Unfortunately for them, taking these goods turns into a grave affair.
Within the capital of the war-mongering Vilnarian empire, the brother and sister are mistaken for long-awaited ambassadors of a northern kingdom no one has witnessed. Though Amelia begs her brother to tell the truth, he sells a lie to save their lives. Well, that's what convinces her, anyway. Leon has the time of his life intending to steal from the emperor in the name of showing his kingdom what the Vilnarians have to offer. That is until one of the dukes catches on.
Amelia flees the lies, running into the emperor's open arms and kind eyes. Slowly a love grows between the two, but it's littered with lies and politics complicating everything.
As the duke gets closer to uncovering her brother's lies, Amelia decides to come clean. She tells the emperor everything, and he tells her he already knows. They devise a plan to keep the empire out of the war and save Amelia's life.
If only it were so easy...
Unfortunately, the duke comes to Leon with surefire proof that will get them executed and send the empire into war. Leon tells Amelia it's over and they need to run, but that would mean war for Vilnaria as soon as the nobles found out the northern ambassadors were simple con artists.
Though Leon leaves her, Amelia makes the hard decision to come clean during her "ambassador" speech before the duke can publicly expose them. It will result in her death, but at least the emperor's goals may yet succeed. In the middle of her speech, just when she's going to tell the people of her true heritage, a hulking man from the northern kingdom takes over and covers for Amelia and Leon, thanking them for their service while he is delayed.
This was only another ruse crafted by Leon and actualized by the emperor. Unlike before, Amelia realizes this lie can only last so long.
She commits to righting her wrong. She will travel to the northern kingdom to hopefully proffer a relationship between the two empires. Though the emperor tells her she doesn't have to go, Amelia sticks to her guns and tells him she hopes to return and become his forever.
And that's it... I'll see you in the next book, A Traitor's Vow.
