©2025 Fable Group Inc.
3.5 

Amberlough

By Lara Elena Donnelly
Amberlough by Lara Elena Donnelly digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

A double-agent sacrifices all his ideals in order to save his smuggler lover before a government coup takes over their decadent city in Lara Elena Donnelly’s glam spy thriller debut, a Nebula finalist for Best Novel!

“Exploring the roots of hatred, nationalism, and fascism, while at the same time celebrating the diversity, love, romance, fashion, and joy the world is capable of producing.” —Bookriot

Introducing…

The Smuggler: By day, Aristide Makricosta is the emcee for Amberlough City’s top nightclub. By night, he moves drugs and refugees under the noses of crooked cops.

The Spy: Covert agent Cyril DePaul thinks he’s good at keeping secrets, but after a disastrous mission abroad, he makes a dangerous choice to protect himself…and hopefully Aristide too.

The Dancer: Streetwise Cordelia Lehane, burlesque performer at the Bumble Bee Cabaret and Aristide’s runner, could be the key to Cyril’s plans—if she can be trusted.

As the twinkling marquees lights yield to the rising flames of a fascist revolution, these three will struggle to survive using whatever means — and people — necessary. Including each other.

“James Bond by way of Oscar Wilde.” —Holly Black

“Sparkling with slang, full of riotous characters, and dripping with intrigue, Amberlough is a dazzling romp through a tumultuous, ravishing world.” —Robert Jackson Bennett, winner of the Shirley Jackson Award and the Edgar Award

“Astonishing first novel!” —World Fantasy Award-winning author Ellen Kushner

Download the free Fable app

app book lists

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
app book recommendations

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
app book reviews

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
app comments

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities
app book lists

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
app book recommendations

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
app book reviews

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
app comments

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities

193 Reviews

3.5
“*3.5* Truth be told, books that have a 1920s esque feel to them aren't really my taste. (Don't know if this is how this book is classified, this is just how it comes off to me.) However, while the beginning was rather slow, I found myself becoming more and more intrigued with the story and the characters as I went on. I did get confused about who was who and what was going on, and I'm still a little confused as to what some of the stuff that happened. Some of the revelations and actions didn't quite make sense to me, and I'm still trying to puzzle some of them out. However, despite my constant confusion, I have to say I kept reading because I loved Cordelia and Ari. They were both incredibly strong and clever characters, and they felt really fleshed out. Cyril was...pretty dull in comparison. He lacked definition, and I didn't always know what was going on with him. Overall, despite my confusion and frustrations, I still found this to be quite an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to continuing the series to see how this all wraps up.”
“🎶"wilkomen, bienvenue, welcome. wilkomen, étranger, stranger..."🎶 - me the entire time i was reading this”

About Lara Elena Donnelly

LARA ELENA DONNELLY is a graduate of the Alpha and Clarion writing workshops. Her fiction won the Dell Magazine Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy; she has been published in Icarus, Strange Horizons, Grim Corps, and Mythic Delirium. Donnelly has worked as professional fire performer, belly dancer, and is knowledgeable in aerial acrobatics and burlesque. Amberlough is her debut novel.

Start a Book Club

Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!
Error Icon
Save to a list
0
/
30
0
/
100
Private List
Private lists are not visible to other Fable users on your public profile.
Notification Icon
Fable uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB