Release Date: September 9, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 288
Source: eARC for Review
Pages: 288
Source: eARC for Review
ISBN-10: 0062135899
Rating: 3.5 Hearts
Book Description
"Downton Abbey meets Cassandra Clare in this lush, romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.
I did my best to keep you from crossing paths with this world. And I shall do my best to protect you now that you have.
Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.
Kiersten White captured readers’ hearts with her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy and its effortless mix of magic and real-world teenage humor. She returns to that winning combination of wit, charm, and enchantment in Illusions of Fate, a sparkling and romantic new novel perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, The Madman’s Daughter, and Libba Bray."
Review
Short and Sweet:
I love the writing and the main character, Jessamin, but there were some things I really wanted to see more of.
To Elaborate...
All Jessamin wants is to be challenged in school and help her home island. When she meets Finn and strange crows start following her, everything changes. She is thrust into a world of power and magic with people thirsty for revenge. She will have to do everything she can to protect those she is coming to love and to avoiding getting lost in a world so different from her own.
Jessamin is possibly one of my favorite main characters ever. I love her cleverness and bravery, and she's a really fun character overall. The writing is so smooth and captivating, and it really wraps you up in Jessamin's world. It's a quick read, but I continuously wanted it to be longer so I could enjoy more of it.
I shipped the romance between Finn and Jessamin so hard, but I felt like it only scratched the surface of their relationship. I'm 90% sure this is a stand alone (and everything with them big question-wise is tied up by the end), but I REALLY wanted to see more of them. The swoony scenes were both tortuous and brilliant at the same time. Highlight for spoiler: The big kiss doesn't happen until about 70% in, which was great for build up, but then they only got maybe one or two other kisses in for the rest of the book, and dammit, they needed more kissing with how much I ship them.
Just
like with the relationship, I really wanted to see more world building
as well. The magical elements were super cool and neat, but again, it
felt like it only scratched the surface on something really great.
All in all, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I knew that there was another book to look forward to that might go into more detail. Even without it though, the writing is just beautiful and I thorougly enjoyed reading the story. I'm really eager to go read more of Kiersten White's books now. She has so many out that I haven't read!
3.5 Hearts!
I haven't read anything by the author yet either! I read the first chapter of this and loved it, I am gonna finish it in a few days.. I wasn't sure if this was a stand alone either. Kinda sucks tho when it's a stand alone that seems like it's not developing deeper.. Then again, it also sucks when series stretch their plots so thin it feels forced. Glad you enjoyed this though,move heard good things about it overall. :)
ReplyDelete-Dee @ Dee's Reads
I have had my eye on this book for ages because of it's beautiful cover. I hope to be able to read it soon...
ReplyDeleteThe cover is SO gorgeous! It captures the book perfectly.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it wasn't really until I hit the end that I realized just how much more I wanted from the story (which I guess is a good and bad thing, I wouldn't want more if I didn't like it). I would still recommend it though, especially if you liked the first chapter! The main character is so awesome.
ReplyDeleteYep my (not yet published) review says pretty much the same thing. I feel like this book was too short to accomplish what it needed to...
ReplyDeleteGlad you understand! I've sent lots of loving it reviews, and I do love it in a way, but it would be infinitely better with more or even the promise of a sequel.
ReplyDeleteI really like her Paranormalcy trilogy so I'd definitely recommend you check that out! I loved her characters in that so I think I'll try out this book, too.
ReplyDeleteThey're definitely on my TBR list. I have her Mind Games duology that I'll probably read soonish.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to try out a book by Kiersten White by the longest time and Illusions of Fate is the one I'm most interested in. Great that you enjoyed it! Great review :)
ReplyDeleteI just reviewed this and rated it the same as you. I liked the story, it was enjoyable. I liked the characters but I wanted more romance. More development. Trying my best not to sound like a perv but the romance was very PG, which was weird since she was 18 and he was 19. I just wanted more. But I did like it. And oh my gosh that cover!
ReplyDeleteI think it's a solid starter book for her. :)
ReplyDeleteI think the historical type element might have played a part in the romance, but yeah, I wanted more swoony scenes as well. More development overall would probably have turned it into a favorite for me.
ReplyDeleteI am quite excited about this one, and a 3.5 stars is giving me hope that I'll enjoy this one!
ReplyDeleteI'm very pleased to see that Jessamime is a wonderful and strong leading lady and that even if you wished there was more explained about the world building, what was there was engaging and intriguing!
Great review, Sabrina!
Kiersten White is amazing, I just love her humor. Her romances are mostly slowly building but worth it. I cant wait to meet Jessamin, she sounds like my ideal character. Great review.
ReplyDeleteOh, how I loved this. (Even with it's faults, but I still couldn't give it a 5, I've rated it a 4.) mainly because of the world-building and you don't get to see much out of where you are, or hear much. Just basics. But THE ROMANCE. THE ROMANCE. That was mean, and for most of it I was just like 'KISS ALREADY' and then yeah, but I wanted more, there wasn't enough. I usually don't like that much romance in mine anyway, but for the first time, I wanted more romance, haha. Really hope it doesn't stay a standalone, though.
ReplyDeleteSame. I think there's easily another 300 pages worth of digging deeper that could happen. :)
ReplyDeleteThe humor is excellent! I giggled so many times while reading this one.
ReplyDeleteThis one was actually me haha. We're working on brainstorming ways to change the signature so they aren't as alike.
ReplyDeleteaAAAGH!! I saw the Sa- and assumed it was Sabrina! Dammit, sorry Samanthat!!
ReplyDeleteNo worries! Our names are similar, so it's a really easy mistake. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah I read it and loved it! It should've been a series...that ending was SO sweet though ;)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the cover ahhhh I totally want to read it :)
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