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libraryofdreaming's review
4.0
Illusions of Fate was a lot of fun. It had elements of the supernatural, romance, and a bit of period drama-ness. I liked the narrator, Jessamin, and her unusual background. I enjoyed the world-building and the writing so much I barely noticed this book was written in my nemesis, first person present tense. I would also like a pet crow now, please and thank you! However, I do wish that this story had been turned into a series instead of a stand-alone. Not something I usually say, but I thought everything, especially bits of the plot regarding the villain, would have benefitted from some more fleshing out. Still, it was an fun bit of fluff that I enjoyed a lot and actually laughed out loud over!
oxlabyrinthxo's review
5.0
“There you are, darling. So sorry I'm late.”
I'm having a flashback to Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle film. Which is good, that has been my prerequisite for books lately. Kiersten White wow's us with a fantastic YA Fantasy book about a stubborn girl named Jessa. Jessa is from the island country of Melei (in my mind I think it's like Hawaii or the Caribbean Islands) but she is half-Albion. Thanks to that she has received the opportunity to study in Albion at a prestigious school her father teaches at. Though he is a huge jerk and refuses to acknowledge his illegitimate child.
On her way home from school she meets Finn, and enigma within an enigma. He is a mysterious lord who rescued her from the unwanted advances of another gentleman, things get more confusing with each meeting she has with Finn. Sometimes he's flirty and funny, other times he seems to ignore her very presence or wants nothing to do with her. One night she receives a mysterious package from him, in it is a beautiful dress and an invite to a ball, an because of this she is drawn into a world she does not fully understand. One of long standing grudges and magic. Can Jessa save everybody and find romance in the process?
I love, love, love this book. I'm literary going to be rushing to the bookstore next payday to buy a paperback of this book because I adore it so much. It has romance, wit, well rounded and relatable characters. Thinly veiled allusions to British and American colonialism and the effects it has on the natives (i.e. not good). This book deals slightly with prejudice and racism, but those issues take more of a back seat to the main plot point. I would have like to maybe have this dealt with a little more in depth, but alas I cannot always have what I want. The book is a nicely paced fantasy adventure with a heroine who actually is worth caring about. They only thing I did not like was how rushed the ending felt. This book could have easily ended in a cliffhanger and spurred a sequel, but instead the resolutions were all crammed into the last few chapters. Despite this I would still like to see a sequel. I feel like there is a lot more that can be told about this world, and it doesn't necessarily have to be about Jessa and Finn (à la Castle In The Air).
Overall this was a solid read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Howl's Moving Castle or The Paper Magician series.
I'm having a flashback to Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle film. Which is good, that has been my prerequisite for books lately. Kiersten White wow's us with a fantastic YA Fantasy book about a stubborn girl named Jessa. Jessa is from the island country of Melei (in my mind I think it's like Hawaii or the Caribbean Islands) but she is half-Albion. Thanks to that she has received the opportunity to study in Albion at a prestigious school her father teaches at. Though he is a huge jerk and refuses to acknowledge his illegitimate child.
On her way home from school she meets Finn, and enigma within an enigma. He is a mysterious lord who rescued her from the unwanted advances of another gentleman, things get more confusing with each meeting she has with Finn. Sometimes he's flirty and funny, other times he seems to ignore her very presence or wants nothing to do with her. One night she receives a mysterious package from him, in it is a beautiful dress and an invite to a ball, an because of this she is drawn into a world she does not fully understand. One of long standing grudges and magic. Can Jessa save everybody and find romance in the process?
I love, love, love this book. I'm literary going to be rushing to the bookstore next payday to buy a paperback of this book because I adore it so much. It has romance, wit, well rounded and relatable characters. Thinly veiled allusions to British and American colonialism and the effects it has on the natives (i.e. not good). This book deals slightly with prejudice and racism, but those issues take more of a back seat to the main plot point. I would have like to maybe have this dealt with a little more in depth, but alas I cannot always have what I want. The book is a nicely paced fantasy adventure with a heroine who actually is worth caring about. They only thing I did not like was how rushed the ending felt. This book could have easily ended in a cliffhanger and spurred a sequel, but instead the resolutions were all crammed into the last few chapters. Despite this I would still like to see a sequel. I feel like there is a lot more that can be told about this world, and it doesn't necessarily have to be about Jessa and Finn (à la Castle In The Air).
Overall this was a solid read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Howl's Moving Castle or The Paper Magician series.
staring_at_words's review
4.0
Really enjoyable summer read. Above everything else this is a classic romance novel. There are some magical elements but regarding the story it could work absolutely the same as mundane political intrigue/ romance without magic involvement et all.
The main character is Jessamin, a young girl of mixed origins, with black mother and white father, who came from colonized island Melei to the capital, for studies. By including the racism problem author tried to make a twist in a story and give it more depth then in similar romance novels. But is that really different? I mean, in that kind of a story there is always a girl that doesn't belong in a society she lives in, or she is too different, "weird" or has some other trait that sets her apart form the majority of people, and she inevitably falls in love with the most popular, the wealthiest, the most powerful and mysterious bachelor around, after what someone makes multiply attempts on her and his life. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with that plot, it's usually funny, includes light banter between characters, is interesting to read, has a feel good finish and ultimately makes you smile, it's just that you know what to expect and you get exactly that, nothing less and nothing more.
The same thing is with Illusions of fate. I read it in a day and had really good time. Characters are likeable, conversations flow easily and have some funny moments, SPILER ALLERT the story has a happy ending ;), and I would gladly recommend it to anyone who likes romance novels such as those written by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Brenda Joyce or Julie Garwood.
The main character is Jessamin, a young girl of mixed origins, with black mother and white father, who came from colonized island Melei to the capital, for studies. By including the racism problem author tried to make a twist in a story and give it more depth then in similar romance novels. But is that really different? I mean, in that kind of a story there is always a girl that doesn't belong in a society she lives in, or she is too different, "weird" or has some other trait that sets her apart form the majority of people, and she inevitably falls in love with the most popular, the wealthiest, the most powerful and mysterious bachelor around, after what someone makes multiply attempts on her and his life. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with that plot, it's usually funny, includes light banter between characters, is interesting to read, has a feel good finish and ultimately makes you smile, it's just that you know what to expect and you get exactly that, nothing less and nothing more.
The same thing is with Illusions of fate. I read it in a day and had really good time. Characters are likeable, conversations flow easily and have some funny moments, SPILER ALLERT the story has a happy ending ;), and I would gladly recommend it to anyone who likes romance novels such as those written by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Brenda Joyce or Julie Garwood.
lyakimov's review
3.0
3.5 stars.
this was an interesting premise! It was super short, and I am shocked because I actually did like all the characters, and enjoyed the romance! and I usually do not like romances at all, so I was very surprised. just wish it were longer so it could’ve been more fleshed out. But I liked it!
this was an interesting premise! It was super short, and I am shocked because I actually did like all the characters, and enjoyed the romance! and I usually do not like romances at all, so I was very surprised. just wish it were longer so it could’ve been more fleshed out. But I liked it!
madelynskies's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
akeira's review
5.0
Captivating
I picked this up in passing, just looking for a book to use up some time between another order of books. I'm so happy I read this! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I picked this up in passing, just looking for a book to use up some time between another order of books. I'm so happy I read this! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
manoukreviews's review
2.0
The cover made me excited for this book, but I am dissapointed. The book did not suck me into the story and it was confusing sometimes for me. I wanted to like it, but it just didn't work. Therefore I give this book 2 stars.
emrodav's review
1.0
I wanted to like this book. I've liked other books by Kiersten White, but I cannot like this book.
It is never the place of a white author to write postcolonial texts. (Especially not when that white author is a member of a religion that currently practices a modern form of religious colonialism.) Everything she tries to do to make it work just point out ignorance.
I'll give examples:
1) Any conversation with Finn and Jessamin about colonialism devolves into him basically going "not all white men are bad" and her saying "oh yeah you're right I guess this country that brutalized mine isn't that bad!" It's ridiculous.
2) Jessamin is the only Meleinese person who gets a story or an interesting life. Everyone else she knows from her country works as a servant and never experiences anything else.
3) The metaphor for magic being privilege is dumb. Finn basically says, it's not something I chose or something I can control. Which is true to an extent, privilege isn't something you choose, but you can use your privilege to make change, and Finn never did that re: Melei before or even after Jessamin.
4) The plot twist.
Please, instead of reading this book, please read something by a non-white author about the same subject. You'll be happy you did.
(I think maybe I should add that I don't think Kiersten White set out to write this problematic of a book. She probably had good intentions. But it is not her place as a white Mormon woman to write a book like this.)
It is never the place of a white author to write postcolonial texts. (Especially not when that white author is a member of a religion that currently practices a modern form of religious colonialism.) Everything she tries to do to make it work just point out ignorance.
I'll give examples:
1) Any conversation with Finn and Jessamin about colonialism devolves into him basically going "not all white men are bad" and her saying "oh yeah you're right I guess this country that brutalized mine isn't that bad!" It's ridiculous.
2) Jessamin is the only Meleinese person who gets a story or an interesting life. Everyone else she knows from her country works as a servant and never experiences anything else.
3) The metaphor for magic being privilege is dumb. Finn basically says, it's not something I chose or something I can control. Which is true to an extent, privilege isn't something you choose, but you can use your privilege to make change, and Finn never did that re: Melei before or even after Jessamin.
4) The plot twist.
Spoiler
Having Kelen turn out to be a crazy madman willing to destroy his country and Alben was ridiculous. And all it did was turn a realistic white villain into a caricature of a person of color.Please, instead of reading this book, please read something by a non-white author about the same subject. You'll be happy you did.
(I think maybe I should add that I don't think Kiersten White set out to write this problematic of a book. She probably had good intentions. But it is not her place as a white Mormon woman to write a book like this.)
bestieandthebookish's review
5.0
This book was INCREDIBLE. It was definitely giving a re-imagining of Howl's Moving Castle (one of my favorite movies) & I absolutely love Finn! This book was gothic and the magic was intriguing! The BANTER was top notch! I just loved this book so much and am so glad my friend recommended it to me!