Illusions of Fate
by Kiersten White
I picked this book up at the library b/c of the awesome cover and author. I really loved White's Mind Games & Perfect Lies. Due to the thickness of the book, 278 pages, I hoped it was as fast-paced as both of those. I wasn't disappointed.
Click on the title or cover to go to Goodreads for the premise, etc. I won't repeat what the story's about here, just my quickie review.
Here's my review... I'll hide my very spoilerish re-working of the ending, etc, below.
The story is told from Jessamin's POV and she's a very fresh, new personality. The world is also new and as solid as earth. Even the magic is easy to take for granted like the characters in the story do. The scale is epic, but the story line trips along from the first chapter.
Yep. I read the first page, ready to set the story aside for another time, and was pulled in that quickly. Jessamin is writing a letter to her mom, telling her what she thinks she wants to hear. Her own thoughts are so contradictory, it's funny. And then she ends with "I miss you very much" and her thoughts echo the words, "I do, very much." For some reason, this acceptance of herself endeared Jessamin to me immediately. She's sarcastic and rather cynical and yet accepts her emotions along with life's hardships.
Tea was not well portrayed. Just to warn other tea-lovers out there. I'm not sure I like sugar anymore at all. The birds flying off the cup on the cover are a very good, symbolic peak into the story, however.
I really, really, really like Finn. He's also fresh and fun. He's overly confident and yet has such vulnerable moments without diminishing his greatness of strength and character.
These two main characters are so vibrant. And Eleanor totally ROCKS. (Oh, do write a story for Eleanor, Ms White!!) Each of the characters step in and out of the story adding their piece full of color and life and then fade away, into the background again. Sir Bird is one of the best of them. So much character for a nearly-inanimate object with black - no blue! - feathers. :-)
I'm giving the story 4.5 Stars for awesome speed, depth of character, twisting storyline and smooth delivery. Definitely read this book. It's fast.
Ok... now for the spoiler fun...
