Thursday 28 April 2016

Early review: Smoke and Mirrors - Jess Haines

A girl who uses her illusions to fool the world into thinking she's just like all the other magi.
A dragon who sees through her lies.
Together they just might survive a world that wants to control or destroy them both.

Kimberly may wield ultimate cosmic power, but even a mage has to pay the rent. No one will hire her for her magic talents until she's got the credentials, so she’s stuck in a crappy rent controlled apartment with her mother, yearning for treats she can't afford at her part time job in a café, counting down the days until she graduates the secret Blackhollow Academy school for magi. Only then will she have the certificate she needs to land her dream job in a coven. The problem? She needs a familiar to graduate.

As an illusionist, she doesn't have the ability to summon or create a familiar of her own. Her only option is to convince a supernatural creature to let her bind it instead. Since having a powerful Other at her beck and call would guarantee her a place in a coven after she graduates—and legendary treasure hoards are an added bonus—she thinks binding a dragon as her familiar will solve all her problems... Because sometimes a girl needs a dragon, not a knight.... 

My thoughts:
Kim is a sorcerer, the rest of the school are magi. Sorcerers gets killed, magi prospers. She does not have it easy. And hey I get it, but just cos there are a few bad apples does not mean all sorcerers are bad.

She is also really poor, she lives in the projects with her mum. She does nothing else but study and work. She is in her early 20s, but her life is on hold. She is not kick-ass, she is normal, exhausted and very proud.

Ok let's talk Cormac now. See she needs a familiar, a professor told her to get a  dragon, that will show them! So she is sent to Cormac Hunter, and he introduces her to New York's  Others. Someone must say yes...or? Anyway, forget the hunt for a familiar so she can pass her exams. I want to talk about Cormac, yes he was all alpha. But not an alpha.hole that drags you by the hair to his cave. No, he was a gentleman, he totally started to fall and have those MINE feelings, but, he did not act in the alphahole way, he stood silently by since he knew that dragging someone by the hair would scare her. Awww, Cormac, forget about her and let's run away together.

Oh and no, no real romance here. 

The Academy, idiot students, Others (good and bad), daily life and the need for an Other to pass her exam (cos if you don't you are out). I liked being back in this world, yes, it is set in the same world as another awesome series, hint hint.

I enjoyed it, and mmm Cormac.


ebook, 290 pages
Expected publication: May 1st 2016
Urban fantasy
For review

38 comments:

  1. On the one hand it sounds a bit too YA for my liking. On the other hand I like dragons. Choices, choices...

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  2. I definitely like the sound of Cormac!

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  3. Well....now I have an itch for dragons. GAH. LOL

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    Replies
    1. There are wyverns, centaurs and more too ;)

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  4. Sounds fun, even if there are idiots.

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  5. Hmm. That cover... Not a fan.

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  6. Hmm sounds like a load of fun and I'd read it for sure.

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  7. Gosh. Can't even remember the last time I read about dragons. Lol.

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    Replies
    1. Hmm, see I can't see through is it irony or sarcasm, so I have no idea what you actually mean

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  8. I got this for review too. Glad it's good and yay for no real romance! Woot!

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  9. An alpha who's also a gentleman, now this I have to see! I'm so sick of "alphas" in books these days who are nothing more than possessive, aggressive bullies.

    ~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum

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  10. Huh, I hadn't heard of this one. Thanks!!

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  11. I'm so curious bout her new book

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  12. This one sounds good. Haha alphahole! So true! That's why I cringe when they say alpha. I'm glad this one isn't an alphahole.

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  13. Cormac and dragons sounds like good ingredients for a story. ;)

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  14. I do love dragons! But I think I would want romance

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  15. I have this one on my TBR pile - can it be read and enjoyed w/out having read her original series?

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    Replies
    1. Oh yes, you need not have read that series

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  16. Sounds like a great story that has all the pieces. I guess I'm adding another to the TBR. LOL Thanks for sharing.

    Melanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads

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  17. He sounds yummy! Maybe just a little hair pulling?

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    Replies
    1. Fine, a bit, but then they have to be fiiine

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