3*
I loved Born of Illusion, the first book in this series. It was something new and fresh and I like the psychic powers and abilities of the people. It's a kind of book that I had never read before and the concept was new and exciting.

This second book, however, seemed lacking. I didn't really enjoy the love triangle that started in this book. Billy (Anna's second love interest) just seemed to be everywhere at any given time. I found it strange that he was on the same ship she was crossing over to England, and then would happen to be just about anywhere she went (sometimes planned and sometimes unplanned). He felt forced in those ways. He also felt bigger and better than real life with all the crazy perfection that he was detailed to have. The one imperfection we learn about seems bigger than life as well. His just didn't feel natural to me and that kind of ruined his character.

Anna's strength in the last book was one thing that I liked about the first book. I liked that she was so independent and wanted to break free of her mother's reigns. I liked that she was such a nicely rounded character. In this book, I feel that she lost some of that dimension. She pined after or was jealous of Cole's affections in just about every single chapter. I understand where those feelings were coming from, but I wanted her to suck it up for a couple pages and get some things done before pining and acting like a jealous lover. People should feel like with their first relationship especially if they aren't giving you real reason to suspect infidelity. That part just got old for me.

Once again, I liked the ideas behind this story, but certain parts felt rushed and I saw the "plot twist" from a mile away. Anyone who can't "see it coming" would seriously have something wrong with them. And then, after the climax of facing off with that that plot twist I was left with about a dozen questions because so much new information was introduced just in the climax alone and left me wondering it it will be discussed and figured out in the next book, or if everything from the climax will just be left hanging. I feel that only one thing was truly figured out and fixed while creating about 3 or 4 more issues and questions that should be discussed. I'm probably making no sense, but I didn't want to give away any spoilers.

I feel that 3 stars is probably generous considering I just ripped this apart, but love Teri Brown's writing and her overall concepts and ideas. She could have definitely spent a little more time developing this story and the relationships between characters, but overall, her ideas are good ones. Hopefully the next book in this series is put together a little more nicely. ( )

Anna, a young magician and medium, has just arrived in London from New York. She is hoping to get connected with a society of Sensitives, where she hopes to meet people like her, and to get advice on using her powers. At the same time, she manages to find a job with a group doing a vaudeville-like tour of Europe. Shortly after she arrives, though, a couple of the sensitives turn up murdered.

I really enjoyed this. I was sure frustrated with Anna and Cole and their lack of communication? Understanding of each other? (Sadly, it’s been a few days since I finished, so I’m already forgetting details of how I felt about the book!) I did like the cowboy (part of the touring show Anna becomes a part of) – he was a fun addition. Although, not quite as good as the first book, I still enjoyed the atmosphere of this one. As YA, it was also a fast read. ( )

This is the sequel to Born of Deception. It starts off where the last book leaves off. Anna is on a ship bound for London. This is her first time traveling outside of the United States. She is going to be a star in a vaudeville show, the first time without her mother. They will be traveling all over Europe. She will also be reuniting with Cole, her love interest. They are both members of the Society for Psychical Research, although there is a lot of unrest. Anna is keeping her some of her abilities a secret. Other sensitives are beginning to disappear from London and Anna is worried for herself. Her and Cole need to solve the mystery of all these disappearances to keep other sensitives safe.

This is a YA historical/paranormal romance. I recommend reading the first book, but this book could stand on its own. Some of the character development would be missing. Readers will find it interesting to go from the setting of the Jazz Age in New York City to the completely different setting of London and the end of the Victorian Era. The actors, magicians and performers of the vaudeville show, they discuss the worry about motion pictures taking away from their show. Anna hopes to discover a bit more about who her father is. She gets a chance to visit Hungary, where her mother is from and has kept a large part of her life there hidden from Anna.

I would consider this book recommended purchase, especially if you have the first one. It’s an interesting setting for lovers of historical/paranormal fiction. I do think the plot kept moving and the mystery was intriguing. There are not really any direct curricular connections with this book. It’s a fun read and would be a good book for a paranormal or historical book display in the library. ( )

Despite having entirely forgotten Born of Illusion, I was excited to read Born of Deception. The good news is that I didn’t struggle with the sequel due to my memory lapse. There’s some recap and my brain also returned some things I’d forgotten. I enjoyed the first book, but was definitely hoping for something with a bit more oomf and emotion. Instead, I’d say Born of Deception is weaker narratively with more forced romantic drama. However, the paranormal romp across Europe is quite fun.

Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions. ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Born of Deception is the highly anticipated sequel to Born of Illusion. It is set in the 20’s in the mysterious city of London. Filled with intriguing characters, wonderful romance, and a unique plotline this is sure to be a hit with all young adult fans.

Opening Sentence: A circle of children surround me, their bright faces turned upward, as if eagerly awaiting the cascading lights of a fireworks show

The Review:

Seventeen year old Anna Van Housen has finally gotten what she has always wanted, a chance to perform her own magic show. She has been offered an opportunity to tour Europe with a traveling group of performers and their first stop is in London. She is also going to finally be able to meet other sensitive’s like herself when she joins the Society for Psychical Research. Also, another big perk is that Cole Archer, the boy she is in love with, is also in London. It looks like all of Anna’s dreams are about to come true, but things don’t quite turn out as planned.

Sensitive’s have started mysteriously disappearing and no one knows who is responsible. The Society is supposed to be a safe haven for people with unique abilities. They are supposed to help them learn to control their abilities, but it seems that they just want to run experiments on them instead. Is someone within the Society involved in the disappearances or is the infamous Dr. Boyle behind them? As Anna struggles to find answers she finds herself at odds with Cole and how he feels for her. Will Anna be able to find the kidnapper before she becomes their next victim?

Anna is such an interesting character that was so easy to like. She is very independent, but at the same time she knows that she can’t do everything herself, which I love because sometimes in books when you get a very independent girl that’s not willing to accept help from someone else it tends to create a lot of unnecessary drama. Not that Anna’s life doesn’t have drama because it does, but I liked that it was created because of the situation she’s in and not because she has made foolish decisions. I also love that Anna is a magician. I have always found magic fascinating and Anna’s love of it made me understand her better. I think that Anna has a very strong voice and I really enjoyed being inside her head.

Cole is a very frustrating man that I absolutely adore. He hasn’t really had a lot of experience expressing how he feels, so when it comes to being with Anna it is very different for him. Even though he generally will show Anna affection he will never tell her how he feels about her, which can bring very frustrating. But Cole is just a good guy. He is always willing to help anyone in need and even though he can be a little clueless at times, I found him to be a very endearing character. I loved watching his and Anna’s relationship grow from the first book. It isn’t perfect, which made it seem so much more real. I think they are perfect together and I can’t wait to see where things go for them in the next book.

I think the reason I like this series so much is because it is so unique and different from anything else I have ever read. There aren’t many young adult books that take place in the 1920’s, at least that I have read. I just think that time period is so full of mystery and intrigue and Brown does a wonderful job implementing that into the world she has created. The first book took place in New York, but I loved that this one took place all across Europe. It was refreshing to have a different yet familiar setting. While I wouldn’t say that the writing was perfect, I do think that Brown really knows how to tell a captivating story that just completely held me enchanted. She did a great job weaving paranormal aspects into real life and that made the story feel more realistic. I also have to mention how much I love the covers of these books, they are so pretty and actually match the books really well. I can’t wait to get my hands on the final book and see how the story ends. I would highly recommend this series to anyone that likes real life magic or anything to do with the raging 1920’s, this book will be right up your ally.

Notable Scene:

We approach cautiously. The screams take on an eerie, keening quality, and my whole body trembles at the sound. It takes every bit of self-control I have to follow Calypso down those rickety steps. As we descend, the dank smell of an ancient basement assaults my nostrils. Fear and a strange sense of suppressed excitement ripple through the air, though I can’t tell if the emotions belong to Calypso or the terrified woman we find still screaming at the bottom. It’s a young woman with dark blond hair. Her face is dead white and her blue eyes are wide with horror. An upturned basket of laundry lies at her feet. I follow her terrified gaze and my stomach lurches at the sight that greets me.

Calypso skids to a stop and her hand goes over her mouth. The woman jumps when she sees us and then, as if released, turns and races up the stairs. I stand frozen, staring. Pratik is sitting up against an old-fashioned washing machine with his hands lying in his lap, palms upward. Something round and dark like a beetle gleams against one palm, but I can’t tell what it is. His vacant eyes are staring at something horrifying that only he can see and his dark skin is a sallow and sunken, as if his essence had been drained. Even from a distance I can tell that his clothes are mussed, as if they had been thrown on hastily. His white turban is nowhere in evidence.

FTC Advisory: Balzer + Bray/HarperTeen provided me with a copy of Born of Deception. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )