Confidence Game and over 360,000 other books are available for Amazon Kindle – Amazon’s new wireless reading device. Learn more

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
More Buying Choices
59 used & new from $0.01

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Confidence Game
 
See larger image
 
Start reading Confidence Game on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
 
  

Confidence Game (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author)
3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

Price: $7.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
  Special Offers Available
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Only 1 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want it delivered Tuesday, November 24? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
12 new from $3.35 46 used from $0.01 1 collectible from $10.00

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
  Kindle Edition, December 18, 2007 $6.39 -- --
  Mass Market Paperback, September 29, 2003 $7.99 $3.35 $0.01

Frequently Bought Together

Confidence Game + Chasing Fire + The Bright and The Dark
Price For All Three: $20.99

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: Confidence Game by Michelle M. Welch

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Chasing Fire by Michelle M. Welch

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • The Bright and The Dark by Michelle M. Welch

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


Special Offers and Product Promotions

  • This item is eligible for our 4-for-3 promotion. Eligible products include select Books, Single Copy Magazines, and Home & Garden items. Buy any 4 eligible items and get the lowest-priced item free. Here's how (restrictions apply)
  • Sci-Fi Sale Extravaganza: Over 600 Sci-Fi movies & TV shows are now on sale as part of our Sci-Fi Sale Extravaganza. Sale ends November 23. Shop now.

  • Over a hundred thousand items are eligible for our 4-for-3 promotion. How do I find more eligible items?


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Chasing Fire

Chasing Fire

by Michelle M. Welch
$6.50
The Bright and The Dark

The Bright and The Dark

by Michelle M. Welch
3.3 out of 5 stars (3)  $6.50
Lucinda, Darkly (Demon Princess)

Lucinda, Darkly (Demon Princess)

by Sunny
3.8 out of 5 stars (23)  $7.78
On the Prowl

On the Prowl

by Sunny
3.6 out of 5 stars (67)  $7.99
Poison Study

Poison Study

by Maria V. Snyder
4.3 out of 5 stars (221)  $9.99
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

SHE DIDN’T BREAK THE RULES.
THEY BROKE HER.

Beneath its peaceful exterior, Dabion is a land of violence and intrigue, its politics run by judges, schemers, and spies. Elzith Kar is one such spy, gifted with an uncanny skill derived from rigorous training—and an unusual magic inherited from parents she never knew. Dabion may have use for her talent, but its rulers fear the magic that tempts it, so Elzith has hidden her history and true power, becoming a master player in a game she despises.

But now, as she heals in the aftermath of a dangerous mission, Elzith finds herself temporarily forced into life as a civilian. It is here she finds Tod Redtanner, a humble man with secrets of his own, and feels compelled to tell him her story. But as Elzith’s history unfolds and the present begins to unravel, it soon becomes clear that the past haunts more than just her dreams. And that if Elzith is to survive, she has no choice but to return to the world of intrigue and corruption that was once her domain. And this time she must play to win.


From the Inside Flap

SHE DIDN?T BREAK THE RULES.
THEY BROKE HER.

Beneath its peaceful exterior, Dabion is a land of violence and intrigue, its politics run by judges, schemers, and spies. Elzith Kar is one such spy, gifted with an uncanny skill derived from rigorous training?and an unusual magic inherited from parents she never knew. Dabion may have use for her talent, but its rulers fear the magic that tempts it, so Elzith has hidden her history and true power, becoming a master player in a game she despises.

But now, as she heals in the aftermath of a dangerous mission, Elzith finds herself temporarily forced into life as a civilian. It is here she finds Tod Redtanner, a humble man with secrets of his own, and feels compelled to tell him her story. But as Elzith?s history unfolds and the present begins to unravel, it soon becomes clear that the past haunts more than just her dreams. And that if Elzith is to survive, she has no choice but to return to the world of intrigue and corruption that was once her domain. And this time she must play to win.

Product Details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Spectra; 1st THUS edition (September 30, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0553586270
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553586275
  • Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,332,058 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

More About the Author

Michelle M. Welch
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Visit Amazon's Michelle M. Welch Page

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

 

Customer Reviews

12 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.3 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A classic tortured spy novel set in a fantasy world, November 27, 2003
By Adam Missner (Roswell, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This fantasy novel takes the somewhat cliche story of the tortured spy and sets it in another land, where judges are the rulers and their reasons for their schemes are difficult to ascertain. Elzith, the best spy in the ruling judge's secret army was found as a baby by thieves in a trash pile. Her life pretty much goes downhill from there (figuratively). Elzith is tortured by those she has killed, tortured by the abuse to her own body and somewhat tortured by her magical abilities that make her what she is. Tod Redtanner, is also tortured, but by failure and fear. When Elzith rents the room in his apartment, he falls in love with her and does everything he can to help her. While this may sound somewhat trite, it is difficult to convey the interesting world where Welch sets this tale. As Elzith recounts her story to Tod, one can't help but notice the parallels with all society (corruption of its leaders, their opaque goals). I had never heard of this book and picked it up on a whim, I am glad I did and look forward to the sequel due out in August '04.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Getting it right., July 13, 2004
By "lejon35" (Anthem, AZ) - See all my reviews
I looked at the reviews on this book after checking out info on when Ms Welch's new book is coming out. I find baseless accusations in the reviews currently on the page. Flat characters-convoluted plot-it's not Kushiel's series. First, if you can't get past the fact that 1. Cover artists rarely read the book, and can do covers for more than just one author, and 2. Michelle M. Welch is not Jacqueline Carey, you may be in for a disappointment. As for Flat characters-I don't see how a recovering alcoholic, who's taking it one day at a time is flat, perhaps a little boring, yes, but not flat. A spy, who was thrown in a dumpster as an infant, forced to grow up in a shadowy underworld and who is thus, left cold and logical with few emotions, are flat characters. Maybe I'm just too thick, but I'm seeing depth. Convoluted? The story is well developed, it's set in the middle of a world with a deeper history than you get to see in a single story-Perhaps this is too much for an average reader to grasp. Wait, I'm an average reader, so it can't be that. Choppy. Yes, you win. It's a little uncomfortable to read, but I believe this is by design. You aren't supposed to be comfortable reading this. You're supposed to see hopelessness, and possibly a little gleam at the end, where the future is unclear. I look forward to the second book "The Bright and the Dark", which Amazon claims is coming out soon.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A very enjoyable first novel..., October 4, 2003
The author has created an interesting world (is it total fantasy or a far-future dystopia on some forgotten colony planet?) and two very engaging lead characters who are both emotionally/physically scarred by their past. A chance encounter that may not be so coincidental as it first appears bring a maybe ex-spy Elzith Kar, who is slowly recovering from wounds both physical and emotional from her recent missions, and bookbinder Tod Redtanner, a lonely recluse who hides deep-buried secrets of his own. As they slowly begin to interact, growing ever more closer, the world around them is threatening to destroy itself as events whirl out of control as forces of government, religion and magic clash with increasing levels of violence and destruction.

I enjoyed the romance aspects most of all. I felt a bit lost some of the time when Elzith was revealing her past with a series of stories (told to Tod a various points in the novel) which explain her present apparent cold emotionless state and cynicism towards her trade and her masters, the despotic Judiciary bent on stamping out any potential threats to their rule of the five countries. It was hard to seperate what occuring presently with her and what was a tale of being recounted (seemed awkwardly structured to me anyways). Looking forward to the sequel coming in 2004, hopefully Elzith and Tod will appear in that as well (doesn't seem likely), set about a decade after the events of the "Confidence Game".

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Slow with boring characters.
Confidence Game describes itself as two characters that are troubled by their history and are caught up in a situation that leads them together to confront their problems. Read more
Published 17 months ago by J. Hulet

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite good
I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow and hard to keep track of in the beginning with all the geographical information and a very lacking map for reference, but as I... Read more
Published on August 18, 2005 by A. DeStefanis

3.0 out of 5 stars decent first effort
Wow. There are very mixed reviews here, but I think the book was actually somewhere in between the extremes we're getting here on Amazon. Read more
Published on July 6, 2005 by Jane

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy is not just wizards and kings
I have one question for the reviewer from BC Canada: who put him in charge of the genre? No, "Confidence Game" is nothing like the Kushiel books. Read more
Published on July 13, 2004 by alison h.

1.0 out of 5 stars Disapointing
As much as i wanted to enjoy this book I just could not get involved because of the convoluted and choppy structure. Read more
Published on June 27, 2004

1.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievably Terrible...
To start off, I really wanted to like this book... I tried, HONEST! but now to explain the sorry truth about the confidence game.

1. Read more

Published on June 21, 2004 by Erik Ferguson

5.0 out of 5 stars Make no mistake; buy this book!
I felt, after reading some reviews of this book, that I should add my own piece, since it's true that people who dislike something are more likely to give their opinion than those... Read more
Published on June 6, 2004 by Antoinette Leova

1.0 out of 5 stars She didn't break the rules, they broke her...please
This was one of the most tedious,tiresome books I have read in years...just getting past the flat characters, unnecessarily convoluted plot wasted too much time. Read more
Published on May 28, 2004 by Seth_Saoirse

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine fantasy starring heroic characters
In the country of Dabion, the Justices who make the laws and the Public Force militia rule the people. Read more
Published on October 1, 2003 by Harriet Klausner

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   




Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Books by subject:







i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...
 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.