The Fortune Seller by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
4.0 / 5 Stars
309 Pages
Originally Published in 2024
Finished Reading on May 3, 2024
Elite academic settings and dark secrets? Say no more. As a Capricorn sun, my love for ambition and complex social dynamics makes The Fortune Seller by Rachel Kapelke-Dale a perfect read for my bookshelf.
I felt completely immersed in the world of Yale’s equestrian team. As someone who’s always been fascinated by the fine line between friendship and rivalry, this book delivered in ways I didn’t expect.
“Fortune favors the bold – but luck always has its price.”
What I Loved
The setting of early 2000s Yale is so vividly drawn that if feels like you’re sitting right there in the dorms or standing on the edges of an equestrian competition. The friendship between Rosie Macalister and Annelise Tattinger is magnetic and fraught, balancing a mix of trust and suspicion.
The use of tarot as both a literal and metaphorical tool adds a mysterious edge that ties beautifully into the plot’s themes of fate, ambition, and identity.
I also appreciated how Kapelke-Dale explored the darker sides of privilege, class, and Ivy League elitism without ever becoming preachy.
“Sometimes, the only way to reveal the truth is to shuffle the deck and deal again.”
What I Didn’t Love
While I was hooked on the unraveling of Annelise’s secrets, some of the twists felt a little rushed near the end. A couple of storylines could have used more room to breathe, especially given how intricate the relationships and stakes were earlier in the novel.
“Even the brightest stars burn out – it’s the ones who know how to fall gracefully that survive.”
Final Thoughts
This book is a fascinating exploration of ambition, trust, and the masks we wear to navigate elite social circles. It examines the fine line between ambition and manipulation, as well as the price of striving for perfection in a competitive world.
The tarot symbolism adds a rich layer to the story, making it perfect for anyone who enjoys books that weave mysticism into real-life drama.
This book is for:
- Readers who enjoy Ivy League settings with dark, suspenseful twist
- Fans of stories centered around complicated female friendships
- Those who appreciate books with a touch of mysticism or tarot
I couldn’t put The Fortune Seller down – it’s a compelling tale of ambition, privilege, and the dangerous games we play in pursuit of our dreams. If you enjoy character-driven suspense set against a rich backdrop of academia and equestrian drama, this is a must-read.
It’s a 4/5 star read for me!
What do you think makes a friendship cross the line into rivalry?