"Lady Eve's Last Con" by Rebecca Fraimow is wonderfully unique, and without a doubt, one of the best books I have read in the genre in a long while. In this fantastical sci-fi/space opera/rom-com tale, we get to follow Ruth Johnson, a small-time con artist and one of those characters you don't want to leave behind when the book ends.
Meet Ruth Johnson, a con artist who speaks Yiddish with her younger sister Jules, and lives on her wits. When her sister falls in love with one of their targets, Esteban Mendez-Yuki, and gets dumped by him for lack of class, Ruth decides to take revenge. Disguised as the provincial debutante Evelyn Ojukw, she plans to make Esteban fall in love with her and take him for all he is worth in the process. However, she didn't bargain for falling for his cool sister Sol, a charming and sharp-witted gal who is proving to be far more interesting than her dull brother, Esteban. The plot thickens when the mafia enters the picture, further complicating an already convoluted con.
I loved everything about this book! Kosher ducks, playful and witty banter, great setting, wonderful world-building, aristocratic society in space, gay romance reminiscent of Jane Austen—what's not to like? I loved the Jewish angel, the Rachel and Lea reference, and the use of Yiddish to hide intentions. The concept of shipping Kosher ducks with consideration to Shabbat made me cackle.
The characters are well-rounded, and the author does a great job of establishing them as people you want to root for. Ruth is smart and feisty, and I just love the way she infiltrated her way into the snobbish society. The observations on class and old wealth were right on point, and playing the provincial debutante was a clever move. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters and the relationship between the sisters. The dialogue is quick-witted and clever, building a strong intimacy between characters. Sol was delightful and a good counter to Ruth. Jules was hardly in the picture, which is a pity. She seems more clear-headed than her sister.
The book was well-written, well-plotted, and kept me interested throughout. The pacing of the plot is perfect; it’s not too fast or too slow, and everything has just the right amount of detail. The author paints beautiful pictures of the settings and scenes. You can see every image as she describes it: the balls, the outings, the zero-G restaurant scene—which was hilarious— and the bike rides. I loved it all!
It's a brilliant book—an adventure, a rom-com, science fiction, and humor all rolled into one. The ending was a bit abrupt, and I would have liked a bit more closure. Hopefully, another book is on the cards. In sum, this is one of those books that are very difficult to put down once you've started. I don't have words adequate enough to express how much I enjoyed this book. If you love flawed characters, refreshing tales, and tongue-in-cheek dialogues, then this is totally for you. Lovers of the genre would be well advised to immerse themselves in this story. Full stars from me!
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
*For more info about the book: "Lady Eve's Last Con" by Rebecca Fraimow
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