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Guile
In the Bad Bayous the water is thick with guile, a powerful substance that wreaks unpredictable changes on objects, animals, and even people who soak too long.
Sixteen-year-old orphan Yonie Watereye scrapes a living posing as someone who can sense the presence of guile, though in fact she has no such power--it's her talking cat, LaRue, who secretly performs the work.
While hunting for the secrets of her mother's past, Yonie discovers that someone is selling dangerous guile-changed objects for malicious purposes. Soon the resourceful Yonie and her feline companion face threats that could end their adventuring forever.
Reviewers have called Guile a refreshingly unique cross-genre novel with fantasy, mystery, and adventure elements.
Sixteen-year-old orphan Yonie Watereye scrapes a living posing as someone who can sense the presence of guile, though in fact she has no such power--it's her talking cat, LaRue, who secretly performs the work.
While hunting for the secrets of her mother's past, Yonie discovers that someone is selling dangerous guile-changed objects for malicious purposes. Soon the resourceful Yonie and her feline companion face threats that could end their adventuring forever.
Reviewers have called Guile a refreshingly unique cross-genre novel with fantasy, mystery, and adventure elements.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2016
11 people are currently reading
1209 people want to read
About the author
Constance Cooper
9 books42 followersNote: there is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.
Constance is the author of the fantasy novel GUILE and various science fiction and fantasy short stories and poems.
She grew up mainly in the San Francisco Bay Area, with one year spent in Surrey, England and a chunk of another in Newfoundland, Canada. She studied journalism at UC Santa Cruz, where she hiked to class through redwood forest, explored secret caves, and helped edit the college newspaper. Later she earned an MA in Linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania, and stayed on in Philadelphia working on a linguistic research project before getting sucked into the brand-new world of website design.
After Constance met her husband, they moved to Edinburgh, Scotland for two years, where she morphed into a software engineer. Just as she'd acclimated to saying “beeta testing” and “proh-cessor,” she and her husband returned to the Bay Area to work for a natural language search company.
Now Constance lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two children. Her published science fiction so far has all been set on alien planets, and often told from alien viewpoints (including reptilian, mammalian, and crustacean analogues.) In writing fantasy, she's attracted to inventive, nonstandard settings, light touches of humor, and just pure adventurous fun. Constance's writing also shows the influence of her love for mysteries.
Constance is the author of the fantasy novel GUILE and various science fiction and fantasy short stories and poems.
She grew up mainly in the San Francisco Bay Area, with one year spent in Surrey, England and a chunk of another in Newfoundland, Canada. She studied journalism at UC Santa Cruz, where she hiked to class through redwood forest, explored secret caves, and helped edit the college newspaper. Later she earned an MA in Linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania, and stayed on in Philadelphia working on a linguistic research project before getting sucked into the brand-new world of website design.
After Constance met her husband, they moved to Edinburgh, Scotland for two years, where she morphed into a software engineer. Just as she'd acclimated to saying “beeta testing” and “proh-cessor,” she and her husband returned to the Bay Area to work for a natural language search company.
Now Constance lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two children. Her published science fiction so far has all been set on alien planets, and often told from alien viewpoints (including reptilian, mammalian, and crustacean analogues.) In writing fantasy, she's attracted to inventive, nonstandard settings, light touches of humor, and just pure adventurous fun. Constance's writing also shows the influence of her love for mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 29, 2016
3.5 Stars
'Guile' is an intriguing YA fantasy novel that blends several genres such as action, adventure, suspense and mystery, together to create an original story that will have readers guessing until the very end. I'm a big fan of thrillers - including mysteries and suspense - so when I read that this book was a blend of those genres along with fantasy elements, I couldn't wait to read it. It lived up to any hopes and expectations I may have had for it, and turned out to be a very quick and enjoyable novel. The aspect of the story that fascinated me the most was the guile. I loved learning as much as I could about it - history, legends, what it can do to objects and living things, and it's mystical qualities too. This part of the book is very unique and really made it stand out from the rest of the genre for me. I loved getting to know both Yonie and LaRue (I absolutely adored her character!) and to watch them get out of sticky situations throughout the story. There's a bit of a mystery in the book about Yonie's family and some dark secrets, which I thought brought the book to new level and was a great addition to the plot itself.
One thing that bothered me a bit was the third person point of view the book is told in. I'm a huge fan of first person POV and I almost always believe that a story should be told from this perspective because of the deep connection that forms between the reader and the narrator. Since this novel is told from the third person POV, I wasn't able to lose myself inside the world the author created (which usually happens with first person POV). The world building was fantastic and I loved getting to know all of the places and people scattered throughout the story. I really wish that I could have slipped deeper inside of Yonie's world, because it was really original and had tons of potential - and I would have loved feeling like I was beside Yonie in this strange land while everything was happening. This is my own opinion (of course) and has nothing to do with the book or the writing itself. I'm sure that other readers will have differing opinions than mine and these things won't be an issue at all. It's just one of my personal quirks as a reader. Overall, this was an interesting book with solid writing, a good blend of genres, great worldbuilding, and a plot with a quick pace. I definitely recommend it to fans of YA fantasy, along with readers who enjoy paranormal, action, adventure, and mysteries.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
'Guile' is an intriguing YA fantasy novel that blends several genres such as action, adventure, suspense and mystery, together to create an original story that will have readers guessing until the very end. I'm a big fan of thrillers - including mysteries and suspense - so when I read that this book was a blend of those genres along with fantasy elements, I couldn't wait to read it. It lived up to any hopes and expectations I may have had for it, and turned out to be a very quick and enjoyable novel. The aspect of the story that fascinated me the most was the guile. I loved learning as much as I could about it - history, legends, what it can do to objects and living things, and it's mystical qualities too. This part of the book is very unique and really made it stand out from the rest of the genre for me. I loved getting to know both Yonie and LaRue (I absolutely adored her character!) and to watch them get out of sticky situations throughout the story. There's a bit of a mystery in the book about Yonie's family and some dark secrets, which I thought brought the book to new level and was a great addition to the plot itself.
One thing that bothered me a bit was the third person point of view the book is told in. I'm a huge fan of first person POV and I almost always believe that a story should be told from this perspective because of the deep connection that forms between the reader and the narrator. Since this novel is told from the third person POV, I wasn't able to lose myself inside the world the author created (which usually happens with first person POV). The world building was fantastic and I loved getting to know all of the places and people scattered throughout the story. I really wish that I could have slipped deeper inside of Yonie's world, because it was really original and had tons of potential - and I would have loved feeling like I was beside Yonie in this strange land while everything was happening. This is my own opinion (of course) and has nothing to do with the book or the writing itself. I'm sure that other readers will have differing opinions than mine and these things won't be an issue at all. It's just one of my personal quirks as a reader. Overall, this was an interesting book with solid writing, a good blend of genres, great worldbuilding, and a plot with a quick pace. I definitely recommend it to fans of YA fantasy, along with readers who enjoy paranormal, action, adventure, and mysteries.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2016
I really enjoyed Guile by Constance Cooper so much so I was able to devour it in one day. First of all you just don't drink the water it contains guile which can change a person making them good or evil. Yonie is a sketchy character who makes her living as a "*pearly" someone who can see guile in other people or rather sense it's presence. This is a great read for anyone especially those who love Young Adult literature. I was provided this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2016
Absolutely spectacular. A detailed, sweet, adventuresome tale filled with wonderful characters in a unique world. Definitely read!!!
May 31, 2021
DNF @ 51%
I’m...bored. I’m not invested and the writing style of the dialogue is making it worse.
I’m...bored. I’m not invested and the writing style of the dialogue is making it worse.
March 14, 2016
Check out this and other reviews on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
Guile is one of the most original, thought provoking novels that I have read in a very long time. It takes all the usual young adult cliches and throws them overboard, and it's just great. It isn't the same book you've read at least 10 times - Guile is a breath of fresh air that will captivate you from the very first page.
I have to admit, when I started reading Guile, I was a little skeptical...it's been a while since I've read anything that was even close to being in the same genre of books as this one. I still don't really know exactly how to classify this one, so instead of trying, let me tell you a little bit about this little gem.
Yonnie Watereye (not her real name, but the name she goes by), lives in the swampy area of Wicked Ford, where the water is full of guile, which is a substance that gives objects certain powers. While she is sixteen and lives without any family, she has her cat, LaRue, who is not only her best friend, but like her sister. Here's the interesting thing about LaRue - she's a cat who can talk. Yep, this book is chock full of interesting dialogues between Yonnie and LaRue, and while at first the writing kind of irked me, I started to look at LaRue as being an older sister like figure to Yonnie, and I started to enjoy the conversations they have. Since LaRue is essentially a slybeast (an animal who was affected by the guile), and the people in Wicked Ford and surrounding areas do not take kindly to slybeasts, Yonnie and LaRue try their best to keep the fact that LaRue can talk a secret.
Yonnie makes barely enough money to get by, and she manages this by offering her services as a pearly, which is an individual who can sense an object that has been touched by guile and has powers. Only, Yonnie isn't really a pearly...in fact, she has none of the talents it takes to perform these seeings. But LaRue does, and the two of them find ways to make this work. It's complicated and kind of a struggle, but Yonnie does what she has to.
There is A LOT of stuff going on in this book. For one, Yonnie is trying to find out who her father is, which is a complicated endeavor. She's also trying to track down a guile filled object for a girl she met, Justine, whose father is acting strangely, and she believes it has to do with something like this. At the same time, Yonnie is also trying to live a somewhat normal life (aside from having a talking cat and an interesting profession), and she encounters all kinds of interesting people and situations on the way.
There are parts of this book that make you laugh, and certain parts that make you cringe (such as all the horrible things Yonnie and LaRue have to endure), but they all just add to the awesome experience of this book. I found myself referring to the map in the front of the book quite often (glad it was there), because it's kind of hard to imagine without one. The book itself is just so engaging and enjoyable to read - the story flows pretty smoothly and that makes it really easy to get engrossed in. The characters are a little different that we're used to seeing, but it makes the book even better, in my opinion.
I read through this quickly, because the story kind of just sucks you in and makes you keep reading to see how it all turns out. There are some twists in here, and some parts that make you wondering "wait, what," but I absolutely loved this book, and I loved how it deviated from the typical YA novels and really shook things up. Guile was definitely a fun read, with a bit of fantasy and mystery, and it's sure to put a smile on your face (did I mention it has a talking cat?). So if you're looking for something different than you're used to, and you like adventure (which this book is full of!), then check this one out!
Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Guile is one of the most original, thought provoking novels that I have read in a very long time. It takes all the usual young adult cliches and throws them overboard, and it's just great. It isn't the same book you've read at least 10 times - Guile is a breath of fresh air that will captivate you from the very first page.
I have to admit, when I started reading Guile, I was a little skeptical...it's been a while since I've read anything that was even close to being in the same genre of books as this one. I still don't really know exactly how to classify this one, so instead of trying, let me tell you a little bit about this little gem.
Yonnie Watereye (not her real name, but the name she goes by), lives in the swampy area of Wicked Ford, where the water is full of guile, which is a substance that gives objects certain powers. While she is sixteen and lives without any family, she has her cat, LaRue, who is not only her best friend, but like her sister. Here's the interesting thing about LaRue - she's a cat who can talk. Yep, this book is chock full of interesting dialogues between Yonnie and LaRue, and while at first the writing kind of irked me, I started to look at LaRue as being an older sister like figure to Yonnie, and I started to enjoy the conversations they have. Since LaRue is essentially a slybeast (an animal who was affected by the guile), and the people in Wicked Ford and surrounding areas do not take kindly to slybeasts, Yonnie and LaRue try their best to keep the fact that LaRue can talk a secret.
Yonnie makes barely enough money to get by, and she manages this by offering her services as a pearly, which is an individual who can sense an object that has been touched by guile and has powers. Only, Yonnie isn't really a pearly...in fact, she has none of the talents it takes to perform these seeings. But LaRue does, and the two of them find ways to make this work. It's complicated and kind of a struggle, but Yonnie does what she has to.
There is A LOT of stuff going on in this book. For one, Yonnie is trying to find out who her father is, which is a complicated endeavor. She's also trying to track down a guile filled object for a girl she met, Justine, whose father is acting strangely, and she believes it has to do with something like this. At the same time, Yonnie is also trying to live a somewhat normal life (aside from having a talking cat and an interesting profession), and she encounters all kinds of interesting people and situations on the way.
There are parts of this book that make you laugh, and certain parts that make you cringe (such as all the horrible things Yonnie and LaRue have to endure), but they all just add to the awesome experience of this book. I found myself referring to the map in the front of the book quite often (glad it was there), because it's kind of hard to imagine without one. The book itself is just so engaging and enjoyable to read - the story flows pretty smoothly and that makes it really easy to get engrossed in. The characters are a little different that we're used to seeing, but it makes the book even better, in my opinion.
I read through this quickly, because the story kind of just sucks you in and makes you keep reading to see how it all turns out. There are some twists in here, and some parts that make you wondering "wait, what," but I absolutely loved this book, and I loved how it deviated from the typical YA novels and really shook things up. Guile was definitely a fun read, with a bit of fantasy and mystery, and it's sure to put a smile on your face (did I mention it has a talking cat?). So if you're looking for something different than you're used to, and you like adventure (which this book is full of!), then check this one out!
Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2018
I bought this book soon after its release date back in 2016, prompted by its promises of magical "guile" water. However, once the book landed on my bookshelves, its intrigue faded and I never got around to reading it ... until now.
The first third of this book was aimless, if interesting. Yonie Watereye is introduced as an orphan sixteen-year-old who makes her meager living posing as a "pearlie," a.k.a. a human who is able to sense if objects have been imbued with magic. The actual pearlie (or slybeast, rather) is her cat, La Rue. Yonie takes on a client that I assumed would launch the plot forward — but instead seemed to be one in a series of stepping stones towards the larger plot, which only kicked in much later.
Cue me growing invested in a story-line that meant very little twenty pages later. I simultaneously appreciate Cooper's skill in creating fascinating adventures/mysteries for Yonie and La Rue to solve ... and dislike her consistency in abandoning those plot threads with little resolution for the characters involved. One example I'll use comes from the very beginning of the story (so I will spoil little). Yonie and La Rue receive an item from a client but the client goes missing. They search for the client, meet his family while trying to find them, assume the item has something to do with it all and look into the item's history, so on and so forth. THEN Yonie comes across a different mystery and, while she does end up figuring out where the client went, the reader does not get any reunion with the client, we do not meet the family again, anything. The level of investment at the beginning does not match the mini-plot's wrap-up.
Obviously Guile had its own universe to introduce, which Cooper did without leaving info dumps scattered on the pages. (Thank you!) But she also did not give me a full picture of what guile was, or how a person becomes a pearlie, or where exactly all this was taking place until halfway through the novel, which did complicate reading somewhat. This did not make reading the book impossible, but it does bare mentioning: if you're a little disoriented at the start, explanations will come.
I loved La Rue. A talking cat? That can go wrong or that can go right. But La Rue was charming and level-headed and that voice of wisdom that Yonie lacked from pretty much every other adult in this book. Sometimes I wish La Rue was a little bit more sassy, because I always picture my cats as super sass-masters, but she was still a standout. Sadly, Yonie did not always strike all the same chords with me. She relied on others to make her own decisions a lot (particularly La Rue) and without advice, she made some really brash, really dumb decisions that had me burning from secondhand embarrassment. I truly grew to love her at the end of the book, when she puts her foot down with a love interest (that scene made me laugh so hard) and finds a way to make her own dreams come true.
RATING
I think some people will rate this book high and some will give it more modest ratings like myself -- it's truly based on taste. I'm settling on three stars primarily because the actual plot of the book doesn't emerge (and stay prominent) until the mid-point of the book. Until then, it feels like a collection of mini-mysteries surrounding guile objects ... which were interesting, but did puzzle me, especially since it left the ending a bit rushed.
The first third of this book was aimless, if interesting. Yonie Watereye is introduced as an orphan sixteen-year-old who makes her meager living posing as a "pearlie," a.k.a. a human who is able to sense if objects have been imbued with magic. The actual pearlie (or slybeast, rather) is her cat, La Rue. Yonie takes on a client that I assumed would launch the plot forward — but instead seemed to be one in a series of stepping stones towards the larger plot, which only kicked in much later.
Cue me growing invested in a story-line that meant very little twenty pages later. I simultaneously appreciate Cooper's skill in creating fascinating adventures/mysteries for Yonie and La Rue to solve ... and dislike her consistency in abandoning those plot threads with little resolution for the characters involved. One example I'll use comes from the very beginning of the story (so I will spoil little). Yonie and La Rue receive an item from a client but the client goes missing. They search for the client, meet his family while trying to find them, assume the item has something to do with it all and look into the item's history, so on and so forth. THEN Yonie comes across a different mystery and, while she does end up figuring out where the client went, the reader does not get any reunion with the client, we do not meet the family again, anything. The level of investment at the beginning does not match the mini-plot's wrap-up.
Obviously Guile had its own universe to introduce, which Cooper did without leaving info dumps scattered on the pages. (Thank you!) But she also did not give me a full picture of what guile was, or how a person becomes a pearlie, or where exactly all this was taking place until halfway through the novel, which did complicate reading somewhat. This did not make reading the book impossible, but it does bare mentioning: if you're a little disoriented at the start, explanations will come.
I loved La Rue. A talking cat? That can go wrong or that can go right. But La Rue was charming and level-headed and that voice of wisdom that Yonie lacked from pretty much every other adult in this book. Sometimes I wish La Rue was a little bit more sassy, because I always picture my cats as super sass-masters, but she was still a standout. Sadly, Yonie did not always strike all the same chords with me. She relied on others to make her own decisions a lot (particularly La Rue) and without advice, she made some really brash, really dumb decisions that had me burning from secondhand embarrassment. I truly grew to love her at the end of the book, when she puts her foot down with a love interest (that scene made me laugh so hard) and finds a way to make her own dreams come true.
RATING
I think some people will rate this book high and some will give it more modest ratings like myself -- it's truly based on taste. I'm settling on three stars primarily because the actual plot of the book doesn't emerge (and stay prominent) until the mid-point of the book. Until then, it feels like a collection of mini-mysteries surrounding guile objects ... which were interesting, but did puzzle me, especially since it left the ending a bit rushed.
February 22, 2024
This book was a fast read for me because the author put me right into a fantasy world without me even questioning it ever. I think the setting was well done. The characters are well-drawn and not just cardboard cutouts. There are so many mysteries for this girl to solve, however, that I couldn't give it a 5 star rating. The book needed more time to explore these relationships/mysteries than was given for the reader and sometimes I felt as if the red herrings were dismissed to quickly. Overall, a fun read suitable for anyone who doesn't want the typical YA book thick with romance and sex.
I won a copy of this book with no agreement to write a review.
I won a copy of this book with no agreement to write a review.
July 8, 2016
Excellent setting, decent characters, lots of minor plot lines that just disappear. Cooper's background as a short story writer is evident.
I recommend this for middle grade readers, not older YA. The plot lines aren't satisfying and the characters are too superficial.
I recommend this for middle grade readers, not older YA. The plot lines aren't satisfying and the characters are too superficial.
May 14, 2020
Part mystery, part fantasy, add a talking cat with a dash of humour and viola, you’ve got Guile.
Couldn’t put it down..
Couldn’t put it down..
December 4, 2020
*Spoiler Alert*
Guile by Constance Cooper is a genius mix of multiple genres including adventure, fiction, and mystery. It keeps the reader on the edge of their seat throughout most of the book. Yonetta DuRoy, better known as, Yonnie Watereye and her beloved wily cat, LaRue, are the main characters of this novel. As Yonnie scraps together a living as a sixteen-year-old pearly (a person who examines objects and determines if said object is wily or not based on how much guile is in that item). However, she isn’t the one examining them, for it is LaRue, her loyal cat. The author’s message is that your past may not always be what it seems. This is shown throughout the book as Yonnie reveals all of the past’s secrets that the reader and herself would have never thought she could.
The novel is an extremely unique one. Cooper’s blend of genres is perfect and it keeps the reader interested. However, the first part of the book was not as exhilarating as the final half. Yes, the first half kept the reader guessing, but it was pretty slow. The author still does a good job at including major plot points and unexpected twists throughout the novel. One of the biggest ones came when Yonnie finds out her parent’s death was not an accident, but rather a murder. Yonnie was planned to go down with them. It was her aunt who killed them, “Vendette, here. She just confessed to killing my parents,” (Cooper 342), and it was all so she could have a houseboat. The houseboat never ended up being Vendette’s! Vendette was probably one of the least suspected up until that very sentence where her guiltiness was revealed. This quote clearly shows the theme, which is your past may not always be as it seems. Yonnie thought that her parents were killed by accident, then progressively she realized it was murder. She then finds out it was her aunt, the person she was helping find the special healing power.
As stated before, Guile is a very unique book. There is no love incorporated into the storyline, which is great. There could have been some romantic scenes that occurred between her and Gilbert (her cousin). Thankfully, Yonnie had little desire for this as Cooper shows on page 308, “If she had any change of heart about Gilbert, Yonnie realized, inviting him out here would have been a perfect way to contrive a romantic situation.” This quote shows Yonnie hoping that Gilbert will not attempt to flirt with her. If there were any romantic scenes, it would feel extremely forced and probably drop the book a whole star and a half. Even though Gilbert is a nice, compassionate man, their love story (if there was one) just wouldn’t have fit well.
From the beginning, the reader could tell there was something fishy about Yonnie’s past. However, no one would have guessed where her search would have taken her. The theme: one’s past may not be as clear as it appears, is demonstrated very well in the novel, and the absence of romance ties the whole story together. It helps the reader focus on the mystery at hand. I would give this book a four out of five stars. Even though it is very unique and intriguing, the overall plot is too long and there are some boring parts. Cooper went into too much depth with some parts of the storyline. My interest was too inconsistent.
Guile by Constance Cooper is a genius mix of multiple genres including adventure, fiction, and mystery. It keeps the reader on the edge of their seat throughout most of the book. Yonetta DuRoy, better known as, Yonnie Watereye and her beloved wily cat, LaRue, are the main characters of this novel. As Yonnie scraps together a living as a sixteen-year-old pearly (a person who examines objects and determines if said object is wily or not based on how much guile is in that item). However, she isn’t the one examining them, for it is LaRue, her loyal cat. The author’s message is that your past may not always be what it seems. This is shown throughout the book as Yonnie reveals all of the past’s secrets that the reader and herself would have never thought she could.
The novel is an extremely unique one. Cooper’s blend of genres is perfect and it keeps the reader interested. However, the first part of the book was not as exhilarating as the final half. Yes, the first half kept the reader guessing, but it was pretty slow. The author still does a good job at including major plot points and unexpected twists throughout the novel. One of the biggest ones came when Yonnie finds out her parent’s death was not an accident, but rather a murder. Yonnie was planned to go down with them. It was her aunt who killed them, “Vendette, here. She just confessed to killing my parents,” (Cooper 342), and it was all so she could have a houseboat. The houseboat never ended up being Vendette’s! Vendette was probably one of the least suspected up until that very sentence where her guiltiness was revealed. This quote clearly shows the theme, which is your past may not always be as it seems. Yonnie thought that her parents were killed by accident, then progressively she realized it was murder. She then finds out it was her aunt, the person she was helping find the special healing power.
As stated before, Guile is a very unique book. There is no love incorporated into the storyline, which is great. There could have been some romantic scenes that occurred between her and Gilbert (her cousin). Thankfully, Yonnie had little desire for this as Cooper shows on page 308, “If she had any change of heart about Gilbert, Yonnie realized, inviting him out here would have been a perfect way to contrive a romantic situation.” This quote shows Yonnie hoping that Gilbert will not attempt to flirt with her. If there were any romantic scenes, it would feel extremely forced and probably drop the book a whole star and a half. Even though Gilbert is a nice, compassionate man, their love story (if there was one) just wouldn’t have fit well.
From the beginning, the reader could tell there was something fishy about Yonnie’s past. However, no one would have guessed where her search would have taken her. The theme: one’s past may not be as clear as it appears, is demonstrated very well in the novel, and the absence of romance ties the whole story together. It helps the reader focus on the mystery at hand. I would give this book a four out of five stars. Even though it is very unique and intriguing, the overall plot is too long and there are some boring parts. Cooper went into too much depth with some parts of the storyline. My interest was too inconsistent.
May 19, 2025
Do you know what true power is? or even magic? This book has it all, going from heartbreaking moments to parts of wonder. On a journey to discover what "Guile" is and what it means, our friend here Yonie Watereye, and a couple of they friends. go on a remarkable journey. This book was a lil twist to it though, it has like a western accent. For example, "Come over 'ere" referring to, "Come over here" is quite cool. To discover what power is, and what it could hold is another mystery. This book is full of turns and different routes, not so skibidi if you asked me. But if your into lots of twists and turns this is the one for you. Also the amount of suspense is driving me crazy, it makes you feels like your in a movie. But yeah, that's all I got for this book. MUST READ 10/10, no cap, no glaze, READ.
November 30, 2017
I enjoyed reading this debut novel by Constance Cooper. As I read it, I kept picturing the setting as a fantastical version of New Orleans. Yonie Watereye is a fake seer (aka a Pearlie) and her cat LaRue is the one actual doing the "readings." Yonie protects LaRue from those who would harm her and LaRue helps Yonie survive. Yonie leaves on a quest to find out the truth of what happened the night her parents were murdered. Along the way, readers meet her Bayou cousin Gilbert, a crazy aunt and a cast of entertaining characters. There is a lot to love about this book. I highly recommend it to those who love a good light-hearted fantasy novel.
February 6, 2021
I loved this book! Yonie and her cat LaRue are quite the pair. There is something about the water, Guile. And objects that hold great power. In this twist of suspense, survival, and abstract objects Yonie longs to discover who her mother was, her family, and what happened on the night their home caught on fire.
September 10, 2017
Talking cats!!! Bayou setting! 1800s-esque class divides! Dialect! Strange, uncanny substances in the water! Realistic, self-shot-down opportunities at romance! Basically no romance in the book! I love love loved how the setting drove the book.
May 5, 2020
Not at all what I expected
I bought it out of a vague curiosity and loved the heck out of it. An adventure novel with a bit of mystery that keeps me thinking of southwest Louisiana bayou culture. I very much recommend it.
I bought it out of a vague curiosity and loved the heck out of it. An adventure novel with a bit of mystery that keeps me thinking of southwest Louisiana bayou culture. I very much recommend it.
November 6, 2020
This book was really weird, like probably the weirdest thing that I have read in a while. It was really entertaining and easy to get through. I also liked the aspect of the guile which would transform objects into having whims of their own. Largest example of personification possibly ever.
January 26, 2019
DNF...maybe I will later
June 10, 2019
Really enjoyed this magical book. Hope that there are more to come!
August 12, 2019
A very interesting mystery. I liked the southern feel. However, some of the scenes were confusing and hard to follow.
March 15, 2020
Overall a great book.
March 6, 2022
It was alright! Not really a fan of the written accents, but aside from that it was decent.
March 10, 2016
I might have had a more pleasurable reading experience with this one, had my eARC not been so badly formatted – no capitalisations and words randomly broken up, which made things rather frustrating.
That said, Guile wins points for its unique setting and concept – a bayou where inhabitants mainly get around by boats, surrounded by swamp water that contains a magical substance called guile, which has the ability to turn objects or people a tad more strange and magical than they were before. Citizens largely look down upon those with abilities to sense guile, particularly since they tend to be lower class, unless in need of their services – possessing an object acting oddly, for instance.
Our protagonist, Yonie, and her talking cat find themselves providing such a service - she has no immediate family, and needs some way to put food on the table. Yonie as a character is fiercely independent - largely out of necessity, and has her heart in the right place, although is prone to making some impulsive decisions. Nevertheless, she's someone you can root for, as she tries to work out the complicated remnants of her past that are making themselves known.
The book also contains a wonderful shut-down of the "if boys are mean to you it means they like you" trope. Exhibit A:
"You think that excuses you?" Yonie spat. "You just say, 'oh, all along it was just because I liked you!' and then I say 'oh, poor thing, how sweet?' Gilbert, you didn't pester me. Mosquitoes are pesky. You were cruel. You and your brothers made me miserable for years. For your own entertainment. And you were the worst!"
However, at certain points I found myself bored, and the writing style didn’t always gel with me – particularly the heavily accented dialogues. (Then again, I'm also in the midst of a major slump where nothing at all is appealing to me!)
If you like the sound of the guile concept, along with a lack of romance and a portion of adventure, then this might be one to try.
ARC received from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from uncorrected proof and may differ from final publication.
That said, Guile wins points for its unique setting and concept – a bayou where inhabitants mainly get around by boats, surrounded by swamp water that contains a magical substance called guile, which has the ability to turn objects or people a tad more strange and magical than they were before. Citizens largely look down upon those with abilities to sense guile, particularly since they tend to be lower class, unless in need of their services – possessing an object acting oddly, for instance.
Our protagonist, Yonie, and her talking cat find themselves providing such a service - she has no immediate family, and needs some way to put food on the table. Yonie as a character is fiercely independent - largely out of necessity, and has her heart in the right place, although is prone to making some impulsive decisions. Nevertheless, she's someone you can root for, as she tries to work out the complicated remnants of her past that are making themselves known.
The book also contains a wonderful shut-down of the "if boys are mean to you it means they like you" trope. Exhibit A:
"You think that excuses you?" Yonie spat. "You just say, 'oh, all along it was just because I liked you!' and then I say 'oh, poor thing, how sweet?' Gilbert, you didn't pester me. Mosquitoes are pesky. You were cruel. You and your brothers made me miserable for years. For your own entertainment. And you were the worst!"
However, at certain points I found myself bored, and the writing style didn’t always gel with me – particularly the heavily accented dialogues. (Then again, I'm also in the midst of a major slump where nothing at all is appealing to me!)
If you like the sound of the guile concept, along with a lack of romance and a portion of adventure, then this might be one to try.
ARC received from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from uncorrected proof and may differ from final publication.
March 2, 2016
When I first read the description for this book, I knew it was one I wanted to read. I love the idea of guile, and it effecting the people and objects it encounters. And I love the idea of this teenager going on investigative adventures with her talking cat. This sounded like such a fun and different fantasy book, that I knew I wanted to get my little paws (hehe) on it!
Yonie is a great heroine! She cares about people, shows compassion and tenacity, and just wants to help; a good character for young girls for sure. She as a strength about her all through the book that helps her push through different circumstances and still be okay. I really loved that about her, and made me really invested in her journey to find out more about her past. Of course, LaRue was fabulous! She, even while being a cat, gives off a definite big sister vibe. She is there to help guide Yonie and support her. she protects Yonie, just as Yonie protects her, creating a really deep bond between the two, which I loved and makes you sometimes forget that LaRue is a cat!
The world that is built in the book is fabulous. I love the whole idea of guile, especially because I was taught at a young age that objects hold memories of the people who posses them and can reflect those memories/emotions/whatever you want to call them. This is definitely seen within the different guile-effected objects that Yonie and LaRue encounter. The bayou itself is so full of life and different people, that you really start to see yourself in this world. I love such intricate and imaginative worlds and makes me want more!
There are a lot of twists throughout the book, some of which you can see and others smack you upside the head! I love a mix of genres, and Guile was a total mashup with the perfect amount of fantasy, thriller, and mystery thrown together. If you've been looking for a fresh new book, then Guile is a MUST-READ!
Yonie is a great heroine! She cares about people, shows compassion and tenacity, and just wants to help; a good character for young girls for sure. She as a strength about her all through the book that helps her push through different circumstances and still be okay. I really loved that about her, and made me really invested in her journey to find out more about her past. Of course, LaRue was fabulous! She, even while being a cat, gives off a definite big sister vibe. She is there to help guide Yonie and support her. she protects Yonie, just as Yonie protects her, creating a really deep bond between the two, which I loved and makes you sometimes forget that LaRue is a cat!
The world that is built in the book is fabulous. I love the whole idea of guile, especially because I was taught at a young age that objects hold memories of the people who posses them and can reflect those memories/emotions/whatever you want to call them. This is definitely seen within the different guile-effected objects that Yonie and LaRue encounter. The bayou itself is so full of life and different people, that you really start to see yourself in this world. I love such intricate and imaginative worlds and makes me want more!
There are a lot of twists throughout the book, some of which you can see and others smack you upside the head! I love a mix of genres, and Guile was a total mashup with the perfect amount of fantasy, thriller, and mystery thrown together. If you've been looking for a fresh new book, then Guile is a MUST-READ!
April 12, 2016
There's Power in the Water
When Raincoast Books first pitched the synopsis of Guile by Constance Cooper, I was hooked! A bayou related title with fantasy AND a mystery? I was so in! It's not often I come across a title with a bayou-like setting (I'm intrigued by the marshy lands and the low hanging trees) and absolutely knew Guile was a must on my to read list.
"The clouds drenched the land unrelentingly for the next four days. The series of storms was violent enough to make canoe travel impossible, or at least dangerous, though by the fourth day, Yonie was almost willing to try.|"
Guile by Constance Cooper was, put simply, unique. I knew before picking it up that it would be, however it wasn't just the bayou inspired setting OR it's mysterious powers that stood out for me - it was Constance's writing. Although difficult to settle into in the beginning, Constance's writing was lyrical, and steadily flowed from chapter to chapter - like a constant and moving stream. It played to the uniqueness of this epic YA fantasy/mystery, and it also solidified Constance's portrayal of Yonie's overall character - quizzical and always searching.
Overall, I found Guile to be an intriguing adventure! Discovering Yonie's quirks, her past, and tagging along with the mystery and learning every little secret Guile had to offer was an absolute thrill. I strongly feel readers of all ages will enjoy Yonie and will find Constance's addition to the YA genre absolutely refreshing.
When Raincoast Books first pitched the synopsis of Guile by Constance Cooper, I was hooked! A bayou related title with fantasy AND a mystery? I was so in! It's not often I come across a title with a bayou-like setting (I'm intrigued by the marshy lands and the low hanging trees) and absolutely knew Guile was a must on my to read list.
"The clouds drenched the land unrelentingly for the next four days. The series of storms was violent enough to make canoe travel impossible, or at least dangerous, though by the fourth day, Yonie was almost willing to try.|"
Guile by Constance Cooper was, put simply, unique. I knew before picking it up that it would be, however it wasn't just the bayou inspired setting OR it's mysterious powers that stood out for me - it was Constance's writing. Although difficult to settle into in the beginning, Constance's writing was lyrical, and steadily flowed from chapter to chapter - like a constant and moving stream. It played to the uniqueness of this epic YA fantasy/mystery, and it also solidified Constance's portrayal of Yonie's overall character - quizzical and always searching.
Overall, I found Guile to be an intriguing adventure! Discovering Yonie's quirks, her past, and tagging along with the mystery and learning every little secret Guile had to offer was an absolute thrill. I strongly feel readers of all ages will enjoy Yonie and will find Constance's addition to the YA genre absolutely refreshing.
March 1, 2016
I loved Yonie, I loved LaRue, the world was a lot of fun and there's a mystery to solve. Lots of good things on the pages as we follow Yonie and LaRue on their search for the person selling dangerous Guile affected objects. What is Guile? This is was a great concept of how things become magical based on some murky swamp water and how long the relic sits in it. Something a little different, but a little familiar, and added a very unique element to the story.
We don't really get to see the mystery begin for a few chapters though. I wish it had been introduced a little bit sooner so that I could enjoy it for a longer period of time. There a tons of loops and twists as Yonie and LaRue follow the trail. It leads them to long long family memebers, strange far off places that no one has ever heard of, odd creatures, and a lot of Guile.
It is quite an adventure to fit into one book that is just under 400 pages, but it flows very nicely from one point to the next. It never seems to rush or get bogged down, but has a very natural pace and flow. I'll be looking for more from this author.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
- See more at: http://www.hotofftheshelves.com/2016/...
We don't really get to see the mystery begin for a few chapters though. I wish it had been introduced a little bit sooner so that I could enjoy it for a longer period of time. There a tons of loops and twists as Yonie and LaRue follow the trail. It leads them to long long family memebers, strange far off places that no one has ever heard of, odd creatures, and a lot of Guile.
It is quite an adventure to fit into one book that is just under 400 pages, but it flows very nicely from one point to the next. It never seems to rush or get bogged down, but has a very natural pace and flow. I'll be looking for more from this author.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
- See more at: http://www.hotofftheshelves.com/2016/...
April 24, 2016
I won this book from a SFWA giveaway via their New Release Newsletter.
Typically when a reader chooses a book, they are in for a rewarding experience.
However, when a book chooses the reader, something extraordinary and magically happens.
Originally, I thought I had chosen the book because it was my #1 pick from the giveaway, however, as I became immersed in Yonie Watereye's world, it soon became clear that Guile chose me as a reader.
I loved everything about this novel, the setting (a mix of Venice, Italy & Louisiana's Bayou), the plot (searching for family and sense of self), & the characters (Yonie, LaRue, and especially Jack)
The novel as a whole transported me to the Bad Bayous and I could see the world like it was just outside my front door. I was so captivated by the novel that I ended up reading until the early morning dawn stretched her fingers across the sky.
Constance Cooper is a magician and I can't wait to see what else her creative mind conjures up. Thank for an extraordinary & magical reading experience.
Typically when a reader chooses a book, they are in for a rewarding experience.
However, when a book chooses the reader, something extraordinary and magically happens.
Originally, I thought I had chosen the book because it was my #1 pick from the giveaway, however, as I became immersed in Yonie Watereye's world, it soon became clear that Guile chose me as a reader.
I loved everything about this novel, the setting (a mix of Venice, Italy & Louisiana's Bayou), the plot (searching for family and sense of self), & the characters (Yonie, LaRue, and especially Jack)
The novel as a whole transported me to the Bad Bayous and I could see the world like it was just outside my front door. I was so captivated by the novel that I ended up reading until the early morning dawn stretched her fingers across the sky.
Constance Cooper is a magician and I can't wait to see what else her creative mind conjures up. Thank for an extraordinary & magical reading experience.
August 21, 2016
Also posted on my blog at The Humble Book Nerd
https://humblebooknerd.wordpress.com/...
Enchanted objects, talking animals, and a treasure hunt. This was charming for sure, and unique, and it threw out any and all cliches you expect with fantasy, adventure, and mystery novels. Unfortunately, it just didn’t sink its claws into me. There was nothing wrong with it, it’s just that it never had the I-gotta that Stephen King sets so much stock in. No urgency to unravel the mysteries and see how it all turns out.
Don’t get me wrong, it had its moments. The setting was an interesting mash up of Southern bayous and Cockney alleys. The characters were likeable, especially LaRue the cat. It wasn’t a demanding read, fairly easy to come back to when convenient. I can appreciate what it is, and accept it as such. The only trouble is that it never really came alive for me. The words on the page were never more than words on a page. There are plenty of books more exciting, thought-provoking, suspenseful, and immersive, but there are a LOT more books that are a lot worse. This one falls somewhere in the middle, and sometimes that’s a good place to be.
https://humblebooknerd.wordpress.com/...
Enchanted objects, talking animals, and a treasure hunt. This was charming for sure, and unique, and it threw out any and all cliches you expect with fantasy, adventure, and mystery novels. Unfortunately, it just didn’t sink its claws into me. There was nothing wrong with it, it’s just that it never had the I-gotta that Stephen King sets so much stock in. No urgency to unravel the mysteries and see how it all turns out.
Don’t get me wrong, it had its moments. The setting was an interesting mash up of Southern bayous and Cockney alleys. The characters were likeable, especially LaRue the cat. It wasn’t a demanding read, fairly easy to come back to when convenient. I can appreciate what it is, and accept it as such. The only trouble is that it never really came alive for me. The words on the page were never more than words on a page. There are plenty of books more exciting, thought-provoking, suspenseful, and immersive, but there are a LOT more books that are a lot worse. This one falls somewhere in the middle, and sometimes that’s a good place to be.
April 13, 2016
I adored this book. It's a completely fresh plot with a talking cat. There is no romance. The main character is Yonie. A girl who has lost it all, but is doing well for herself. The only thing she has left is her pet cat. The theme of this book is a repeated one, a girl on her own trying to find who she is and where she belongs. However it's done in a very unique way. For starters Yonie doesn't need a guy to help her. The love in this book is familial.
This is a fantasy story. The author never explains whether or not the Bad Bayous are in our world, but that doesn't distract from the beautiful world she has created.
This book feels like many stories put together. You are living life with Yonie. She has encounters and adventures. There is the common thread of her looking for someone, but a lot happens during this search.
The resolution of this book was complete and made me happy.
Anyone who is a fan of fantasy and magical realism will enjoy this book.
This is a fantasy story. The author never explains whether or not the Bad Bayous are in our world, but that doesn't distract from the beautiful world she has created.
This book feels like many stories put together. You are living life with Yonie. She has encounters and adventures. There is the common thread of her looking for someone, but a lot happens during this search.
The resolution of this book was complete and made me happy.
Anyone who is a fan of fantasy and magical realism will enjoy this book.
February 25, 2016
This book got a 3 star rating from me as the first half of the book really kept my attention, i liked the whole back story about Yonie and her cat larue. Ya really get caught up in the investigations she does with her cat as she trying to make a name for her self in the nicer part of the bayoue. For me the story started to fall flat about the middle when Yonie starts investigating about the roots of her family. The author has a great imagination and the details about the life and times of the area the story based in are nicely done. It just did keep my rapt attention the way i liked it to.
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