Illusions of Fate

Title: Illusions of Fate

Author: Kiersten White

Number of Pages: 275

Publisher: Harper Teen

Date Read: 6.26.15

Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

** ARC: This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review

"Shadows go in front of you, leading into your future, and trail behind you, leaving a part of you in the past. They are clearest when we are in the light, and disappear when we lose ourselves in darkness.” – Finn

       Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home to study in the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, an 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 dangerous secrets, which his enemies are desperate to uncover – and Jessamin, armed solely with her wits and her determination, is the only one who can stop them.

“His lips are soft and warm and fit mine like the answer to an equation I didn’t know I was trying to solve.” – Jessamin

       The beautiful cover is what drew me in right away. It’s just so pretty! I was going through some giveaways and BOOM! this one caught my eye; and after reading the quick blurb I just had to have it. So I entered, but wrote down the title so I remembered to look for it when it came out. I was beyond ecstatic to win it!

       It did take me a while to get around to reading it; which was NOT the book and/or author’s fault. (The book was amazing, but I’m getting to that.) I just had a span of time where I couldn’t read anything in the 1800s time frame and taking place in Britain (which Albion basically is). Seriously, I could barely get through the first Infernal Devices book and had to take a sabbatical from that genre. In a way, I’m glad I waited, because I cannot describe how much I ended up loving this novel.

“I plan on studying history scholars.” – Finn

       First and foremost, I am in love with Finn. I giggle like a schoolgirl every time he opened his mouth or did anything. He was so rakishly charming and witty. *heart eyes*

       Now that that bit of gush is out of the way, let’s talk about the rest of the novel. The characters were all lovable, most especially: Finn, Jessamin, and Eleanor. They were so sassy, in that witty British way; you know, where they’re being polite but still getting jabs in. I loved every minute of it. I hated how everyone (except Jessamin) underestimated Eleanor, but I guess that was part of her ruse. If no one paid attention to her, no one knew where the mischief was coming from. I think out of all the characters, she ended up being my favorite.

       I was also very intrigued with the how White used the Ancient Greek name for Great Britain, Albion. As I started reading the book, I kept thinking how similar the world, customs, and mannerisms were very British. So, I looked up the name Albion and came up with it being the oldest name for Great Britain. It tickled me pink to have guessed right (not that it would have taken a genius to figure out), but I like when authors do that – use old names for a “new” world they are giving to us readers. It makes the historian in me go “I see what you did there”. ^-^

       I was a little disappointed when the reveal for our bad guy, Lord Downpike, finally came up. But it was enough of a disappointment to retract any points, in my opinion. At that point, I was so invested in whether Jessamin was going to stop being a blockhead and realize her feelings for Finn that I didn’t care much.

       Oh! and I almost forgot. This doesn’t pertain to the review, but I liked how Jessamin came from a culture whose language allowed for eleven different words for “love”. I have always wondered WHY this English language is limited only one word when there are so many different feelings that go with that word.

“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.” – Finn