Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own..
The rules are simple: wear the clothes approved by her mother, attend the social events planned by her mother…and marry the man chosen by her mother. Just two days ago, she was living in London, hoping her family had forgotten her. It has been a decade since she was whisked away and exiled as a young girl for what seemed like the smallest of childhood mistakes. So why is she suddenly so important now? What role is she meant to play in the plans of a dynasty where every move is made with intention?
Isabella Valeri continues her debut series, Letters from the Dead, with The Prodigal Daughter, the second installment in the series. In this suspenseful follow-up, Valeri delivers a striking tale of familial manipulation, gaslighting, and dynastic control. With near-gothic atmosphere and a story that stretches across continents, the novel draws readers into a dark world of old money and European aristocracy. At its center is a compelling tension between family duty and personal freedom, a conflict that will resonate with many young adult readers navigating the pressure to honor their parents’ expectations or pursue their own path. Layered with mystery, romance, and the kind of danger only entrenched power can create, the novel offers both suspense and a tantalizing glimpse behind the curtain of the elite.
I give The Prodigal Daughter 4 out of 5 stars. The novel opens at a deliberate pace, and it took some time to fully capture my attention. However, that slower beginning gives way to a much more compelling and intriguing final third. At times, the repeated references to a childhood fight, lingering scars, and drug use begin to overshadow the larger plot, and the male lead’s blatant promiscuity is difficult to overlook. Even so, I was ultimately drawn in by the mystery, the almost mafia-like power plays of the family leaders, and the heroine’s determination to push back against the control surrounding her. Her defiance carries shades of Lorelei Gilmore’s wit and Natasha Romanoff’s investigative grit, which made her story especially engaging to follow.
Given the novel’s frequent references to sex, drugs, and murder, I would recommend it for mature readers ages 16 and up. As the second book in the series, it may be even more rewarding when read with the context of the preceding novel, though it can still stand on its own. This book should appeal to readers who enjoyed Rachel Hawkins’s The Heiress or novels by Ruth Ware and Alice Feeney. It would also make an excellent book club selection, with plenty to discuss about each character’s choices and motivations.
The Prodigal Daughter will release on July 7, 2026, and is available for pre-order now in our Bookshop.org store.
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- Current print book: Killing Lincoln, Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
- Current audio book: The Mark of Zorro, Johnston McCulley
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