Liar's Dice: a coming of age historical fiction of one girls fight against all odds

Liar’s Dice by Juliet Faithfull is historical fiction, coming of age story of a teenage girl in 1970s Brazil who must learn to fight even against all odds. Dolores and Mita are identical twins who grew up in rural Brazil. At the age of seven, it is discovered that Mita has a degenerative condition and Dolores does not. By the age of 12, her condition becomes debilitating and suddenly, their parents send Mita to a hospital in their father’s native London and the family moves to Rio and begins to live an obstacle lifestyle. However, Dolores is miserable. She misses her sister, her small town and struggles in her new school. It all starts to change when she meets a brave, headstrong girl who shows Dolores a new side of Rio and how to survive. Soon tensions rise with the dictatorial government cracking down on protesters and dissenters. Dolores is determined to find the truth, discover where her sister and her own place in the world. 

I was looking forward to Liar’s Dice as it is a historical fiction which takes place in a different place and time that isn’t normally talked about. Liar’s Dice is described as a “heart-rending and hopeful” coming of age story as one young girl learns to form her own identity, the price of secrets and the courage to forge a different path. Dolores is a sympathetic character and I felt her pain and confusion. I liked the use of Portuguese phrases; however, I would have liked some form of translation in the context of the dialogue or description. Not a glossary at the end of the book which I didn’t know was there until I was finished. There were a lot of time jumps without explanation that pulled me out of the story at times. Overall, I did enjoy it, especially Dolores’s tenacity to find her sister and make sure Mita knows she is not forgotten. If you enjoy historical fiction, I recommend Liar’s Dice. 

Liar’s Dice will be available in paperback, eBook and audiobook on April 28, 2026.