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An absolute gem of a story - an intricate, engrossing, hilarious adventure like no other
"I have a soft spot for pirates. They made sure to point it out to me, right below the ribs."
After years of isolation, the little island of Amrestir is finally getting its recognition from the world at large. Unfortunately for the outlaws living there, this includes every piece of plank and plunder making up its shores. Now ambassadors from across the Grand Sea are drifting in to fight tooth, nail, feather, flipper and fin, for dominance of the town built on piracy.
To Pamela Marsson, a young con-artist and recent stowaway to Amrestir, it's a golden opportunity to finally make a name for herself. When an ill-fated forgery scheme lands her straight in the middle of an international power-struggle, and an accidental business opportunity at the local magic institute, the shockwave of Pamela's ambition may just send ripples across every edge of the ocean.
Greg Lucci spins a tale of bizarre and offbeat opportunists struggling to make a living in a world of piracy, pyromancy, printmaking and propaganda. RIGGED is home to desperate sailors, fire-crazed zealots, living suits of armor, counterfeiting rats, flying mailmen, undersea legions and fitness-cult walruses.
The tiny island of Amrestir is built on piracy - literally and figuratively - as the town buildings and streets are made of scraps from captured ships, and a huge part of the population consists of outlaws. After being isolated for so long, delegations from other lands are finally scheduled to arrive to reconnect the small community with the rest of the world. Their arrival shakes up the status quo and turns out to spell trouble for some of Amrestir's inhabitants and opportunity for others.
Young pyromancer and con-artist Pamela Marsson tries to eke out a living among the repurposed ship parts and scoundrels populating the island. Her latest scheme is forging and selling valuable letters of pardon ostensibly signed by the Governor of Amrestir. Her activities catch the attention of Professor Johan from the Kindling Institute, Amrestir's center of education. Johan takes an interest in the street-smart and talented girl and decides to share some of his ambitious projects with her.
Meanwhile, Governor Charlie Windell starts to notice he might be out of his depth when dealing with the dignitaries from abroad, who start to poke at the town's checkered history.
Other notable characters include Constable Phil Cooper, whose task of keeping the peace just increased several levels in difficulty. Johan's assistant Gilbetrine is a Feo of a few words but many principles. Feo are a walking suit of armor with a burning core that keeps them alive. Usually happy to be of service to other species taking on menial tasks, some Feo seize the opportunity to break from the mold and experience freedom, like Cap'n Barret, Amrestir's very first Feo to captain a ship. The Governor's sawfish assistant Yusra is also a delight, with her Latin phrases peppered in her speech and her excitement for things that frustrate her boss.
This just barely scratches the surface of the intricate worldbuilding seamlessly woven into the narrative. Characters' paths cross and diverge as they try to make the best out of a turbulent diplomatic situation. Every scene, every new character introduced is a revelation - from the foreign ambassadors of various species with their just as varied quirks, to the professors at the Kindling Institute, the sailors on Barret's ship, the inhabitants of Amrestir and so many more.
Lucci's command of language and humor is masterful, with so many puns and jokes that make each page crackle with life. The story is gripping and easy to follow, swashbuckling and hilarious, and held together with a lot of heart and an unbelievable depth of characterization.
The original illustrations complement the story beautifully, and it's a lot of fun to try and pick out details mentioned in the text and compare them to the drawings. The descriptions are already so vivid, but the illustrations then take every scene to the next level.
Rigged is one of the most unique, intricate, creative works of art out there, guaranteed to keep you in stitches like Ms. Peabody’s tailoring shop does Amrestir.
Reviewed by
I'm a language teacher and budding linguist with a passion for reading and talking about the books I love.
Synopsis
"I have a soft spot for pirates. They made sure to point it out to me, right below the ribs."
After years of isolation, the little island of Amrestir is finally getting its recognition from the world at large. Unfortunately for the outlaws living there, this includes every piece of plank and plunder making up its shores. Now ambassadors from across the Grand Sea are drifting in to fight tooth, nail, feather, flipper and fin, for dominance of the town built on piracy.
To Pamela Marsson, a young con-artist and recent stowaway to Amrestir, it's a golden opportunity to finally make a name for herself. When an ill-fated forgery scheme lands her straight in the middle of an international power-struggle, and an accidental business opportunity at the local magic institute, the shockwave of Pamela's ambition may just send ripples across every edge of the ocean.
Greg Lucci spins a tale of bizarre and offbeat opportunists struggling to make a living in a world of piracy, pyromancy, printmaking and propaganda. RIGGED is home to desperate sailors, fire-crazed zealots, living suits of armor, counterfeiting rats, flying mailmen, undersea legions and fitness-cult walruses.
About the author
Greg Lucci is an author, digital artist, marketer and general beach bum living in Long Beach, NY. He is an experienced character designer and writer, previously acting as Editor in Chief for Stony Brook University's literary magazine. view profile
Published on January 06, 2025
Published by
110000 words
Genre: Fantasy
Reviewed by
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