Daniel O'Malley, just take my money. Believe me when I say that I absolutely *devoured* The Rook, etc. Those are definitely some of my favorites of all time. I was feral when I heard about another book from O'Malley on the horizon. And it absolutely didn't disappoint. While The Rook holds a special place in my heart, there's no denying that this book was fantastic. The plot was compelling, the supernatural elements were fantastically woven in and I never had any moments of being pulled out of the story. The characters were engaging and really came to life within the setting. Ugh, I need more. I'm going to be thinking about this book/series for a while again.

I love when a new Daniel O'Malley and Checquay Files book is no the horizon. These books are fun, witty, and pretty action packed.

In this installment, Alix's past of growing up with the royal family comes into play when the heir to the throne, Edmund, dies with no outward signs of why. Even Odette, who has special abilities, is unable to revive him. Alix must now help comfort the family and is chosen as one of the lady's in waiting for Louise who must now be the next heir to the crown.

Information of what happened to Edmund is kept under wraps but once he is examined, a granite cube is found in his brain. The odd thing is, this is not the first time this has happened. Apparently someone else died from these circumstances quite a few years ago in in the United States. Edmund is also not the last to suffer the fate as a tech billionaire and a soccer player also seem to die from the same circumstances.

Now Alix must try to balance her duties as a lady in waiting with the royal family as well as being a Checquay Agent who needs to remain objective in who could be pulling the strings and targeting these victims. There's also a rampaging stegosaurus and an agent who turns into a tree to talk to the neighborhood. I always love the quirky powers which arise in these books and how the agency is able to keep everything under wraps.

I thoroughly enjoyed this newest entry in The Checquy Files. I think The Rook will always be my favorite, when O'Malley introduced us to this delightful world of an agency in London that governs supernatural abilities and events, but this book is a close second to that one. And as a bonus, there aren't any of the long historical screeds that interrupted the action in previous books. This book follows Alix, an aristocrat and Checquy pawn, who has to balance her loyalties to her employers alongside her loyalties to the Royal Family when the Crown Prince is murdered through supernatural means. I loved her character and the plot was thoroughly engaging. Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for a digital review copy.

Alexandra "Alix" Dennis-Palmer-Hudson-Gilmore-Garnsey, the twelfth Lady Mondegreen, has had little control over her life due to her supernatural abilities. As a member of the aristocracy and the supernatural British governmental agency, the Checquy, she is called upon to become a lady in waiting and body guard for the new Crown Princess Louise after her brother dies under suspicious circumstances. Alix must protect Louise while investigating the supernatural murder for the safety of the nation.

This is such a fun series, it is one of my favorites. I have lost count the number of times I have read The Rook. I wasn't a huge fan of the third book but this one was a real return to form. I can't say enough about the unique world that Daniel O'Malley has created. The characters are also top notch. Alix fits right in with the other incredible women that populate this series. The plot is fast paced and has so many twists. I was on the edge of my seat and giggling the entire time. I have already pre-ordered the audiobook and have been counting the days until I can do a reread.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

This is number 4 in the Checquy series. However, you do not have to read them in order to enjoy them.
The group is a part of the English Government that handles supernatural events and utilizes people with extraordinary, and unusual powers.

This time, the heir to the throne has been targeted. He dies in the library when no one else seems to be around.What initially appeared to be natural causes is found during his autopsy to be murder. Things heat up when several other people are found to have been murdered in the same manner.

Alix, a member of the Checquy and personal friend of the royal family is enlisted to help solve the murder. She also must adjust to her new role as lady-in-waiting. The story is a good mystery. There is also humor and likable characters. This book goes very quickly as you will want to see how the murder was carried out and by whom.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Royal Gambit (The Checquy Files, Book 4) by Daniel O’Malley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 407
Genre: Fantasy Thriller
Release Date: July 15, 2025

Alix was made the twelfth Lady Mondegreen thanks to her uncanny ability to shatter bones with a touch. Her supernatural power made her the perfect companion and protector to Princess Louise, second to the throne. She was trained and placed in the royal court by the Checquy, a secret British government agency that handles anything having to do with the supernatural. Alix was able to separate her work with the Checquy and her personal relationships with the royal court until the Prince of Wales dropped dead under suspicious, most likely preternatural, circumstances. Who’s the threat, what are they after, and how can she protect Princess Louise?

This exciting series combines the British royalty with supernatural heroes and villains and I’m all in! This is the fourth book in the Checquy Files series, which I didn’t even realize until I started putting this review together. I will definitely check out the previous books, but I was able to jump right into this one and enjoyed it thoroughly.

The Rook is one of my favorite books, so I was thrilled to see that a new entry in the Checquy Files. While the whole series has been fun, it’s a bit uneven. Fortunately, Royal Gambit is absolutely a high point. O’Malley is back in top form and has written a hilarious, weird, and rollicking story. I was absolutely sucked in - I literally stayed up way too late trying to finish it because I couldn’t put it down. There’s a fabulous balance between the Royals, the Checquy, and the proper mystery plot. I will, once again, be forcing people to read this series.

I absolutely loved this installation in the Checquy Files. What a fun read! I loved the storyline and now that I've read all the books, I was not nearly as disoriented when the characters shifted around. I really enjoyed reading Blitz and coming into this book knowing more of the story of the Lord and Lady of the Checquy and also learning more about Alix. As a fan of the UK Royals, this was a really fun way to explore the world of royalty through a Checquy lens.

Thanks to NetGalley, Daniel O'Malley, and Little, Brown and Company for the eARC of Royal Gambit in exchange for an honest review.

A secret occult ministry that protects an alternate England, and the murder of the Prince of Wales by supernatural means forces an agent to not only investigate the murder, but also become a lady in waiting to the new Princess of Wales. Enjoyed the book and will be recommending it.

Sure, there were a few plot holes here and there. But I enjoy Daniel O'Malley's writing and humor, and the Checquy world, so much that I'm willing to be less critical than usual. Royal Gambit was really quite fun, and funny. I think it was also a nice change of pace to have the main character (Alix) be someone who was already familiar with, and established in, the Checquy (instead of having a large portion of the story focus on someone learning about the existence of the organization and/or their own powers). I really, really hope that this series doesn't end anytime soon!

Royal Gambit is the 4th entry in the Checquy Files series, and it's every bit as good (if not better than) as its predecessors. In this book we meet Alix, whose parents basically sold her to the Checquy when she was a small child. For those who haven't read the previous books in the series, The Checquy is a secretive British organization made up of people with various supernatural abilities who fight back against supernatural threats to society.

In this case, Alix is tasked with responding to the sudden and mysterious death of the Prince of Wales. In order to investigate, she must take on the role of lady-in-waiting, which poses its own set of issues.

The book does a wonderful job of balancing supernatural suspense and action with more down-to-earth emotional dramas. I eagerly turned the pages to see how Alix would balance her many responsibilities. The supernatural element adds a fun twist to things--the range of abilities is truly astonishing.

Can't wait to see what comes next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alix was born with an aristocratic title and the ability to break bones with the touch of a finger, so the supernatural government agency known as the Checquy snatched her away from her narcissistic parents at the age of six and shoved her into the orbit of Princess Louise. When the Prince of Wales dies in a decidedly spooky manner, Louise becomes heir to the throne with Alix as her lady-in-waiting/bodyguard. Book four is much more focused than previous volumes: one timeline, one POV, hardly any digressions into aggressively wacky background information, just the investigation into an impossible murder.

The Rook was one of the first unnecessarily gross and very weird urban fantasy reads and it opened my eyes to the genre. I was, therefore, delighted to be given the opportunity to read and review the latest entry in the Chequy files series. As this is book four in the series, let's go in order. If you are already an avid reader of these books, should you sign up for the latest? To make a long story short--yes! This one has all the grossness, hilariously specific powers, political intrigue, and supernatural shootouts you could want. Go forth. Enjoy. In fact, if you were, as some readers (but not this reader) turned off by the split timelines of the third entry, this one is a return to usual structure, so don’t worry.

If you are a potential new reader to the series, let’s discuss if you should pick this up. I’ll say this--it’s kind of a James Bond/The Avengers send up. It’s funny and irreverent. Do you like The Atrocity Archives? Do you think the super powers available to The Avengers make too much sense? Do you think something like “can turn into a very particular kind (just one species) of tree” might be funnier? Then yes you should try these out. Do you have a weak stomach? Do you like your books to make sense? Then pass on and look for greener pastures.

I was provided with an advance copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.

great, fun, fastpaced book with some interesting ideas and fantastic vibes! the ideas are impeccable throughout. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This HIGHLY anticipated read was really what I needed to get me out of a reading slump. I always enjoy delving into the world of the Checquy. I liked this book a lot better than the previous. I enjoyed Alix and her complexities of being part of the Checquy but also being a lady who was treated differently because of her roles. Some parts seemed slow moving but when it picked it up it got awesome. Unique powers and fun reveals at the end. I was angry with some of the characters actions towards the end of the book! Love when a book makes you feel all the emotions. Overall wonderful book! Cannot wait to get it in the hands of friends so we can discuss,

Alix was groomed by the Checquy, a secret organization protecting Britain from supernatural threats. Her special talents were discovered when she was young, but due to her family background, it was decided that she would be raised more with her family instead of the Checquy like her supernatural peers. She was encouraged to be a playmate and friend to Princess Louise, the sister of the Prince of Wales.
If life had gone as planned, at the very least Alix would be expected to provide covert security for the Princess when the utmost discretion was required. However, when the Prince of Wales dies under suspicious circumstances, Princess Louise becomes the new heir to the throne, and Alix's role as covert security is upgraded to full-time. Now, she must juggle keeping the Princess safe, fulfilling her duties as one of her ladies-in-waiting, and assist in the investigation into the Prince's death.

This is the fourth book in O’Malley’s Rook series, but it can also be enjoyed on its own. While there are references to characters from previous books, they are minimal and do not significantly impact the overall story for new readers

Royal Gambit is a captivating fantasy thriller that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end, and I highly recommend it.

I do love the world of the Checquy! O'Malley has written a novel that can absolutely be read as a standalone, but that falls solidly within the existing universe of his Rook series and carries over a number of characters. I have not read the original books in some time, but found myself falling right back into their world and now am eager to go back and revisit books 1-3.

The world-building here is magnificent. Truly. Having just finished watching The Crown recently, I found the choice of a royal death to be fascinating and allow O'Malley to blend together actual physical magic with the magical elements of royal life in a way that was, well, magical. I found the characters and their talents to be as fascinating as always, and when you overlay that with the daily realities of being A Royal (and being royal-adjacent), you wound up with a series of opportunities for drama and action that were intriguing, often hilarious, and full of twists and turns I didn't anticipate.

I do hope O'Malley keeps writing in this universe - and that the next installment comes soon!

I’m a huge fan of O’Malley’s Checquy books, and this novel is no exception. It’s always a treat for me to pick up a book that delves into a mixture of supernatural and real-world plot elements, and that’s what this does, with a whole lot of humor and style. There’s suspense, supernatural abilities, and various brushes with the British royal family--you’ll love it!

"Royal Gambit" by Daniel O'Malley is the fourth volume in The Checquy Files series. The Checquy is a secret intelligence and law enforcement agency that polices the supernatural happenings in the UK. Each book in the series is linked thematically and focuses on a different member of the Checquy. Lady Alexandra Mondegreen, or Pawn Mondegreen as she is known in the agency, is tapped to investigate the death of the Prince of Wales through supernatural means. Given her status and friendship with the royal family, Mondegreen is pressed to become a Lady in Waiting (and covert bodyguard) to the new heir to the throne--a duty which comes with it's own app--as she navigates both the protocols of royal life and her investigation. O'Malley's ability to create ever more odd supernatural powers and resulting situations makes each volume in this series a treat to read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for allowing me to read and eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, the Checquy Files series is one of my all-time favorite series' and I recommend it to EVERYONE who even remotely enjoys reading sci-fi. I discovered the series in 2017, so the first 2 books were already out and #3 (Blitz) came shortly after. I honestly thought at the time there wouldn't be any more book, so I was SO STOKED to hear that O'Malley not only had a new book, but it was #4 in the series! I couldn't get my hands on it and read it fast enough! Royal Gambit can be read as a standalone, but I HIGLY recommend reading the first three for character backstories and context.

Royal Gambit starts off with the death of the Prince of Wales, which is determined to be of a supernatural cause. Enter They Checquy, the top-secret British agency in charge of investigating all things supernatural. Lady Alix Mondegreen, a Checquy Pawn and aristocrat that has been friends with Princess Louise since childhood, is deployed into the Royal Family as a lady-in-waiting. As more and more suspicious deaths pile up, it seems to be the work of a supernatural serial killer (of sorts) and it's up to Alix and her team -- which includes an adorable "crime scene" quokka -- to solve the mystery.

This book was AMAZING! Full of action and suspense, and very likeable characters. Alix is a force to be reckoned with and the quokka literally steals the show. The supernatural abilities in this book are also hilarious and impressive and I found myself pitching "would you rather" scenarios with them to my husband while I was reading. For example, would you rather be able to turn into a stegosaurus or a tree? Walk through people's dreams or be able to break people's bones? Etc... I also really enjoyed that they brought Odette's character back (from book 2) and added another Grafter doctor and an American from the Croatoan. Such a good group, except Pawn Sweven, whose personality sucks.

This book was such a good read, and I HIGHLY recommend it and the reast of the series. I'm going to try not to hold out my hope for a 5th book (??) but I would really love it if there would be one in the near future. I will read anything O'Malley writes! Definitely check his books out if you love sci-fi and secret supernatural organizations and cool supernatural abilities. You won't be disappointed! Royal Gambit is one of the best books I've read so far this year!