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duvyna's review
1.0
Smoke and Mirrors has some good parts and I liked the base story line but the writing grated a bit. Our heroine Kimberly is told she needs to get to cooperation of a dragon to pass her finals and she seeks to find one. Kimberly I’m afraid has the personality of milk toast and seems to be extremely naive for someone that is supposed to live in the projects of NYC. Kimberly is supposed to be 21 but about half the time she reads more like a 16 year old and I feel like the author made her 21 so her hanging out with immortals wasn't creepy. There is forced drama that dragged the story down; you cannot expect someone who has only known you a couple of days to spill all their secrets nor can you expect them to just trust you, it’s just unreasonable. Kimberly feels betrayed when she finds out who the dragon really is but since she wants to put him into a master and slave type of arraignment it’s pretty over the top. I think the first 35% of the book was alright but it kinda started going downhill from there and never truly recovered.
blodeuedd's review
3.0
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.
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.
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.
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.
raeanne's review
3.0
Smoke and Mirrors follows Kimberly, a sorcerer in a mage’s world, as she tries making her way by finding a familiar. She’s hoping to convince a dragon to give her a shot, and her mentor sends her to meet Cormac, a mysterious bridge between mages and shifters.
While I have a few favorite series, I’m not the biggest fan of paranormal romance. New Adult is even more fraught with issues and I support the idea behind it, but I have even fewer in this category.
And here comes along Smoke and Mirrors, which is both.
The instant I heard “dragon” I wanted in, but the genres did make me hesitate.
The good news is it surprised me in a lot of ways and I can highly recommend it.
One thing that often irritates me is the alpha “protective” male, that’s really domineering, controlling, and possessive. Behind it is the idea the woman is worthy of such affections, like it’s a privilege won, a goal met, an achievement earned.
Yet the woman also had to “tame” the man, to earn back her independence, as little as it maybe, from him to operate as her own person after being claimed. It’s everywhere – the woman who can make him love again and correct his behavior by being able to withstand and stand against him.
I often wonder why it’s so common and popular. It’s one of my biggest issues with NA and paranormal romance, especially with shifters. I was hesitant at first to read/review Smoke and Mirrors, but when I couldn’t forget the book I knew I had to sign up.
It does have the aforementioned trope but I didn’t hate it. I actually…liked it. WHY? HOW? Am I corrupted now?
Nah, I just understand the appeal better, I think. And no, I’m not attacking anyone for their preferences or questioning their feminist cred, I just don’t get it. I’m also an abuse survivor so I’m more cautious and willing to raise the red flag. The topic is fascinating in the history of the romance genre.
It is very important to note that Cormac isn’t an Alpha-Douche. << So much problematic and abusive behavior. It’s unconscionable. As a NA Paranormal romance, it not only doesn’t double down on the trouble, it dials it down to reasonableness I can support.
1.) Obsessive, borderline stalker >> He does track her and follow her home at one point. But he stops and backs off. A major event in the book happens because of this. He does visit her job and makes a scene but it’s not a jealous mess. He’s just an idiot.
2.) Moody and Quick to Anger >> He does get angry when she spurns him, but he doesn’t lash out at her or the people in her life. And he’s not moody. At least not that I recognized.
3.) Jealous >> Considering she has a male best friend, he’s leagues ahead of other Alphas. And doesn’t prance around with other women. What gets him going is her picking another as a familiar and it ending up being a strong young male. However, it’s nothing romantic. Kimberly’s choice is never in question though Cormac pleads his case, it stops there. That’s the only reason he doesn’t like other shifters sniffing around and it has nothing to do with gender or relations.
4.) Controlling >> He doesn’t try to change how she looks, her job, or her life. Like the jealously passage, it’s only the bonding ceremony where he wants his way. He also tries to pay his way improving her life, but she insists on working for everything she earns like she always has and he eventually grasps the concept. It’s been awhile, okay?
Funny how someone so old-fashioned for obvious reason is far more liberal than many modern male love interests. Whaddayaknow, age isn’t a fucking excuse.
I think it has to do with the characters, I really liked them and enjoyed seeing his perspective. I don’t like how he became a tagalong at first, but seeing him control himself and realize he’d been a bonehead was wonderful.
I LOVED Kimberly. She’s determined, hardworking, caring, and formidable. Her upbringing, lifestyle, and circumstances properly influence how she sees the world and response.
Her relationship with her mother is tricky. The financial burden plays a huge role and we don’t see much of her because of it. I do wish we saw more background, but what we see is a mix of traditional single motherhood, wariness of magic, and role reversal. However, it is nice to see when she’s needed, she’s there.
The depiction of poverty is spot-on with one “What?” moment. The interesting bit is when Kimberly says they live in a rent controlled apartment. I thought that would be better…I suppose that’s naïve of me. (And yes, at this point I’d entirely forgotten it was mentioned in the blurb and only re-realized that putting the review together.)
I adore the setting. I never really thought about differences between mages and sorcerers. I love how it’s part of the foundation with shifters, discrimination and oppression. It feels so real with the shifter underground hidden from everyone, and the mage’s system.
I can’t wait to find out more about the history. I don’t like how her fatherly parentage is so typical though. While it’s a mere sentence, it makes me uneasy because of how the trope works.
However, Smoke and Mirrors hasn’t disappointed me thus far. While I knew where it would go because of the genre, Kimberly being an Extraordinarily Empowered Girl with a rare talent, and Cormac the Alpha, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
Except I do think Kimberly overacted when Cormac revealed his secret. I understand her initial response and thoughts, but she really should’ve realized “oh, of course he didn’t trust me right away, hardly anyone else knows outside their community”. And I do wish Cormac stood up to her pissy antics with that reasoning. But then he had something to really apologize for so it all got lost and muddled.
It's just a feeling that leads it to be 3.5 stars instead of 4. Mainly if I had better feel for Kimberly's mother, the setting history, and Kimac saw how she messed up, it'd rate higher. I'm sure this will be better in the next book and I'm looking forward to it. I will definitely be continuing the series and checking out Haine’s other work.
For NA and paranormal romances lovers, I highly recommend Smoke and Mirrors. The only thing I'd really warn against is letting the cover stop you.
Smoke and Mirrors isn't perfect, but it's a great start that has a dragon and fills me with hope to follow along.
While I have a few favorite series, I’m not the biggest fan of paranormal romance. New Adult is even more fraught with issues and I support the idea behind it, but I have even fewer in this category.
And here comes along Smoke and Mirrors, which is both.
The instant I heard “dragon” I wanted in, but the genres did make me hesitate.
The good news is it surprised me in a lot of ways and I can highly recommend it.
| The Good | The Bad & The Other |
|---|---|
| + Loved Kimberly | - Standard genre tropes and plot so I knew in general what would happen |
| + Loved Cormac, NOT an alpha-hole | - Wish we saw more background with Kimberly’s mom |
| + Loved the setting | - Kimberly freaked out and didn’t realize she was being unreasonable |
| + Accurate depiction of poverty | |
| + Enjoyed the ride | |
| + Kimberly’s fight at the end was awesome | |
| + Want to find out more about the history | |
| + Will be continuing the series |
One thing that often irritates me is the alpha “protective” male, that’s really domineering, controlling, and possessive. Behind it is the idea the woman is worthy of such affections, like it’s a privilege won, a goal met, an achievement earned.
Yet the woman also had to “tame” the man, to earn back her independence, as little as it maybe, from him to operate as her own person after being claimed. It’s everywhere – the woman who can make him love again and correct his behavior by being able to withstand and stand against him.
I often wonder why it’s so common and popular. It’s one of my biggest issues with NA and paranormal romance, especially with shifters. I was hesitant at first to read/review Smoke and Mirrors, but when I couldn’t forget the book I knew I had to sign up.
It does have the aforementioned trope but I didn’t hate it. I actually…liked it. WHY? HOW? Am I corrupted now?
Nah, I just understand the appeal better, I think. And no, I’m not attacking anyone for their preferences or questioning their feminist cred, I just don’t get it. I’m also an abuse survivor so I’m more cautious and willing to raise the red flag. The topic is fascinating in the history of the romance genre.
It is very important to note that Cormac isn’t an Alpha-Douche. << So much problematic and abusive behavior. It’s unconscionable. As a NA Paranormal romance, it not only doesn’t double down on the trouble, it dials it down to reasonableness I can support.
1.) Obsessive, borderline stalker >> He does track her and follow her home at one point. But he stops and backs off. A major event in the book happens because of this. He does visit her job and makes a scene but it’s not a jealous mess. He’s just an idiot.
2.) Moody and Quick to Anger >> He does get angry when she spurns him, but he doesn’t lash out at her or the people in her life. And he’s not moody. At least not that I recognized.
3.) Jealous >> Considering she has a male best friend, he’s leagues ahead of other Alphas. And doesn’t prance around with other women. What gets him going is her picking another as a familiar and it ending up being a strong young male. However, it’s nothing romantic. Kimberly’s choice is never in question though Cormac pleads his case, it stops there. That’s the only reason he doesn’t like other shifters sniffing around and it has nothing to do with gender or relations.
4.) Controlling >> He doesn’t try to change how she looks, her job, or her life. Like the jealously passage, it’s only the bonding ceremony where he wants his way. He also tries to pay his way improving her life, but she insists on working for everything she earns like she always has and he eventually grasps the concept. It’s been awhile, okay?
Funny how someone so old-fashioned for obvious reason is far more liberal than many modern male love interests. Whaddayaknow, age isn’t a fucking excuse.
I think it has to do with the characters, I really liked them and enjoyed seeing his perspective. I don’t like how he became a tagalong at first, but seeing him control himself and realize he’d been a bonehead was wonderful.
I LOVED Kimberly. She’s determined, hardworking, caring, and formidable. Her upbringing, lifestyle, and circumstances properly influence how she sees the world and response.
Her relationship with her mother is tricky. The financial burden plays a huge role and we don’t see much of her because of it. I do wish we saw more background, but what we see is a mix of traditional single motherhood, wariness of magic, and role reversal. However, it is nice to see when she’s needed, she’s there.
The depiction of poverty is spot-on with one “What?” moment. The interesting bit is when Kimberly says they live in a rent controlled apartment. I thought that would be better…I suppose that’s naïve of me. (And yes, at this point I’d entirely forgotten it was mentioned in the blurb and only re-realized that putting the review together.)
I adore the setting. I never really thought about differences between mages and sorcerers. I love how it’s part of the foundation with shifters, discrimination and oppression. It feels so real with the shifter underground hidden from everyone, and the mage’s system.
I can’t wait to find out more about the history. I don’t like how her fatherly parentage is so typical though. While it’s a mere sentence, it makes me uneasy because of how the trope works.
However, Smoke and Mirrors hasn’t disappointed me thus far. While I knew where it would go because of the genre, Kimberly being an Extraordinarily Empowered Girl with a rare talent, and Cormac the Alpha, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
Except I do think Kimberly overacted when Cormac revealed his secret. I understand her initial response and thoughts, but she really should’ve realized “oh, of course he didn’t trust me right away, hardly anyone else knows outside their community”. And I do wish Cormac stood up to her pissy antics with that reasoning. But then he had something to really apologize for so it all got lost and muddled.
Bottomline:
It's just a feeling that leads it to be 3.5 stars instead of 4. Mainly if I had better feel for Kimberly's mother, the setting history, and Kimac saw how she messed up, it'd rate higher. I'm sure this will be better in the next book and I'm looking forward to it. I will definitely be continuing the series and checking out Haine’s other work.
For NA and paranormal romances lovers, I highly recommend Smoke and Mirrors. The only thing I'd really warn against is letting the cover stop you.
Smoke and Mirrors isn't perfect, but it's a great start that has a dragon and fills me with hope to follow along.
booklvrkat's review
5.0
I love a good Jess Haines story. And this one did not disappoint in the least. PLUS there is a dragon. It reads fast and easy, the characters are well built, and you know the author is going to give you more. 'Cause she's just that cool!
chllybrd's review
5.0
Loved it, couldn't put it down. Jess Haines new series, Blackhollow Academy, takes place in the same world as her H&W Investigations series. We do get to hear about and see some characters, but the Blackhollow Academy series has characters and a storyline of its own.
I was completely enthralled with the story in SMOKE AND MIRRORS. I found the main heroine Kimberly to be extremely hard working and down to earth. It was very easy to tap into Kimberly's emotions which made the story that much more enjoyable as the trials and tribulations she went through came to pass. Even though she has not lived an easy life and doesn't have much herself, she was very willing to help others in need. I just really liked her and can't wait to see how her life will continue to unfold in the next book. There is romance in SMOKE AND MIRRORS. It's slow and a bit turbulent, but it was also real and well played out. The development of said relationship is another thing I'm looking forward to in book two.
My only complaint about SMOKE AND MIRRORS is that sometimes it read like a YA novel and sometimes like an adult novel and to this day I'm not quite sure where it should land. As I said already, I'm looking forward to reading book two and I keep checking the authors pages to see when it might be planned.
* This book was provided free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I was completely enthralled with the story in SMOKE AND MIRRORS. I found the main heroine Kimberly to be extremely hard working and down to earth. It was very easy to tap into Kimberly's emotions which made the story that much more enjoyable as the trials and tribulations she went through came to pass. Even though she has not lived an easy life and doesn't have much herself, she was very willing to help others in need. I just really liked her and can't wait to see how her life will continue to unfold in the next book. There is romance in SMOKE AND MIRRORS. It's slow and a bit turbulent, but it was also real and well played out. The development of said relationship is another thing I'm looking forward to in book two.
My only complaint about SMOKE AND MIRRORS is that sometimes it read like a YA novel and sometimes like an adult novel and to this day I'm not quite sure where it should land. As I said already, I'm looking forward to reading book two and I keep checking the authors pages to see when it might be planned.
* This book was provided free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
brokebybooks's review
3.0
Smoke and Mirrors follows Kimberly, a sorcerer in a mage’s world, as she tries making her way by finding a familiar. She’s hoping to convince a dragon to give her a shot, and her mentor sends her to meet Cormac, a mysterious bridge between mages and shifters.
While I have a few favorite series, I’m not the biggest fan of paranormal romance. New Adult is even more fraught with issues and I support the idea behind it, but I have even fewer in this category.
And here comes along Smoke and Mirrors, which is both.
The instant I heard “dragon” I wanted in, but the genres did make me hesitate.
The good news is it surprised me in a lot of ways and I can highly recommend it.
One thing that often irritates me is the alpha “protective” male, that’s really domineering, controlling, and possessive. Behind it is the idea the woman is worthy of such affections, like it’s a privilege won, a goal met, an achievement earned.
Yet the woman also had to “tame” the man, to earn back her independence, as little as it maybe, from him to operate as her own person after being claimed. It’s everywhere – the woman who can make him love again and correct his behavior by being able to withstand and stand against him.
I often wonder why it’s so common and popular. It’s one of my biggest issues with NA and paranormal romance, especially with shifters. I was hesitant at first to read/review Smoke and Mirrors, but when I couldn’t forget the book I knew I had to sign up.
It does have the aforementioned trope but I didn’t hate it. I actually…liked it. WHY? HOW? Am I corrupted now?
Nah, I just understand the appeal better, I think. And no, I’m not attacking anyone for their preferences or questioning their feminist cred, I just don’t get it. I’m also an abuse survivor so I’m more cautious and willing to raise the red flag. The topic is fascinating in the history of the romance genre.
It is very important to note that Cormac isn’t an Alpha-Douche. << So much problematic and abusive behavior. It’s unconscionable. As a NA Paranormal romance, it not only doesn’t double down on the trouble, it dials it down to reasonableness I can support.
1.) Obsessive, borderline stalker >> He does track her and follow her home at one point. But he stops and backs off. A major event in the book happens because of this. He does visit her job and makes a scene but it’s not a jealous mess. He’s just an idiot.
2.) Moody and Quick to Anger >> He does get angry when she spurns him, but he doesn’t lash out at her or the people in her life. And he’s not moody. At least not that I recognized.
3.) Jealous >> Considering she has a male best friend, he’s leagues ahead of other Alphas. And doesn’t prance around with other women. What gets him going is her picking another as a familiar and it ending up being a strong young male. However, it’s nothing romantic. Kimberly’s choice is never in question though Cormac pleads his case, it stops there. That’s the only reason he doesn’t like other shifters sniffing around and it has nothing to do with gender or relations.
4.) Controlling >> He doesn’t try to change how she looks, her job, or her life. Like the jealously passage, it’s only the bonding ceremony where he wants his way. He also tries to pay his way improving her life, but she insists on working for everything she earns like she always has and he eventually grasps the concept. It’s been awhile, okay?
Funny how someone so old-fashioned for obvious reason is far more liberal than many modern male love interests. Whaddayaknow, age isn’t a fucking excuse.
I think it has to do with the characters, I really liked them and enjoyed seeing his perspective. I don’t like how he became a tagalong at first, but seeing him control himself and realize he’d been a bonehead was wonderful.
I LOVED Kimberly. She’s determined, hardworking, caring, and formidable. Her upbringing, lifestyle, and circumstances properly influence how she sees the world and response.
Her relationship with her mother is tricky. The financial burden plays a huge role and we don’t see much of her because of it. I do wish we saw more background, but what we see is a mix of traditional single motherhood, wariness of magic, and role reversal. However, it is nice to see when she’s needed, she’s there.
The depiction of poverty is spot-on with one “What?” moment. The interesting bit is when Kimberly says they live in a rent controlled apartment. I thought that would be better…I suppose that’s naïve of me. (And yes, at this point I’d entirely forgotten it was mentioned in the blurb and only re-realized that putting the review together.)
I adore the setting. I never really thought about differences between mages and sorcerers. I love how it’s part of the foundation with shifters, discrimination and oppression. It feels so real with the shifter underground hidden from everyone, and the mage’s system.
I can’t wait to find out more about the history. I don’t like how her fatherly parentage is so typical though. While it’s a mere sentence, it makes me uneasy because of how the trope works.
However, Smoke and Mirrors hasn’t disappointed me thus far. While I knew where it would go because of the genre, Kimberly being an Extraordinarily Empowered Girl with a rare talent, and Cormac the Alpha, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
Except I do think Kimberly overacted when Cormac revealed his secret. I understand her initial response and thoughts, but she really should’ve realized “oh, of course he didn’t trust me right away, hardly anyone else knows outside their community”. And I do wish Cormac stood up to her pissy antics with that reasoning. But then he had something to really apologize for so it all got lost and muddled.
It's just a feeling that leads it to be 3.5 stars instead of 4. Mainly if I had better feel for Kimberly's mother, the setting history, and Kimac saw how she messed up, it'd rate higher. I'm sure this will be better in the next book and I'm looking forward to it. I will definitely be continuing the series and checking out Haine’s other work.
For NA and paranormal romances lovers, I highly recommend Smoke and Mirrors. The only thing I'd really warn against is letting the cover stop you.
Smoke and Mirrors isn't perfect, but it's a great start that has a dragon and fills me with hope to follow along.
While I have a few favorite series, I’m not the biggest fan of paranormal romance. New Adult is even more fraught with issues and I support the idea behind it, but I have even fewer in this category.
And here comes along Smoke and Mirrors, which is both.
The instant I heard “dragon” I wanted in, but the genres did make me hesitate.
The good news is it surprised me in a lot of ways and I can highly recommend it.
| The Good | The Bad & The Other |
|---|---|
| + Loved Kimberly | - Standard genre tropes and plot so I knew in general what would happen |
| + Loved Cormac, NOT an alpha-hole | - Wish we saw more background with Kimberly’s mom |
| + Loved the setting | - Kimberly freaked out and didn’t realize she was being unreasonable |
| + Accurate depiction of poverty | |
| + Enjoyed the ride | |
| + Kimberly’s fight at the end was awesome | |
| + Want to find out more about the history | |
| + Will be continuing the series |
One thing that often irritates me is the alpha “protective” male, that’s really domineering, controlling, and possessive. Behind it is the idea the woman is worthy of such affections, like it’s a privilege won, a goal met, an achievement earned.
Yet the woman also had to “tame” the man, to earn back her independence, as little as it maybe, from him to operate as her own person after being claimed. It’s everywhere – the woman who can make him love again and correct his behavior by being able to withstand and stand against him.
I often wonder why it’s so common and popular. It’s one of my biggest issues with NA and paranormal romance, especially with shifters. I was hesitant at first to read/review Smoke and Mirrors, but when I couldn’t forget the book I knew I had to sign up.
It does have the aforementioned trope but I didn’t hate it. I actually…liked it. WHY? HOW? Am I corrupted now?
Nah, I just understand the appeal better, I think. And no, I’m not attacking anyone for their preferences or questioning their feminist cred, I just don’t get it. I’m also an abuse survivor so I’m more cautious and willing to raise the red flag. The topic is fascinating in the history of the romance genre.
It is very important to note that Cormac isn’t an Alpha-Douche. << So much problematic and abusive behavior. It’s unconscionable. As a NA Paranormal romance, it not only doesn’t double down on the trouble, it dials it down to reasonableness I can support.
1.) Obsessive, borderline stalker >> He does track her and follow her home at one point. But he stops and backs off. A major event in the book happens because of this. He does visit her job and makes a scene but it’s not a jealous mess. He’s just an idiot.
2.) Moody and Quick to Anger >> He does get angry when she spurns him, but he doesn’t lash out at her or the people in her life. And he’s not moody. At least not that I recognized.
3.) Jealous >> Considering she has a male best friend, he’s leagues ahead of other Alphas. And doesn’t prance around with other women. What gets him going is her picking another as a familiar and it ending up being a strong young male. However, it’s nothing romantic. Kimberly’s choice is never in question though Cormac pleads his case, it stops there. That’s the only reason he doesn’t like other shifters sniffing around and it has nothing to do with gender or relations.
4.) Controlling >> He doesn’t try to change how she looks, her job, or her life. Like the jealously passage, it’s only the bonding ceremony where he wants his way. He also tries to pay his way improving her life, but she insists on working for everything she earns like she always has and he eventually grasps the concept. It’s been awhile, okay?
Funny how someone so old-fashioned for obvious reason is far more liberal than many modern male love interests. Whaddayaknow, age isn’t a fucking excuse.
I think it has to do with the characters, I really liked them and enjoyed seeing his perspective. I don’t like how he became a tagalong at first, but seeing him control himself and realize he’d been a bonehead was wonderful.
I LOVED Kimberly. She’s determined, hardworking, caring, and formidable. Her upbringing, lifestyle, and circumstances properly influence how she sees the world and response.
Her relationship with her mother is tricky. The financial burden plays a huge role and we don’t see much of her because of it. I do wish we saw more background, but what we see is a mix of traditional single motherhood, wariness of magic, and role reversal. However, it is nice to see when she’s needed, she’s there.
The depiction of poverty is spot-on with one “What?” moment. The interesting bit is when Kimberly says they live in a rent controlled apartment. I thought that would be better…I suppose that’s naïve of me. (And yes, at this point I’d entirely forgotten it was mentioned in the blurb and only re-realized that putting the review together.)
I adore the setting. I never really thought about differences between mages and sorcerers. I love how it’s part of the foundation with shifters, discrimination and oppression. It feels so real with the shifter underground hidden from everyone, and the mage’s system.
I can’t wait to find out more about the history. I don’t like how her fatherly parentage is so typical though. While it’s a mere sentence, it makes me uneasy because of how the trope works.
However, Smoke and Mirrors hasn’t disappointed me thus far. While I knew where it would go because of the genre, Kimberly being an Extraordinarily Empowered Girl with a rare talent, and Cormac the Alpha, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
Except I do think Kimberly overacted when Cormac revealed his secret. I understand her initial response and thoughts, but she really should’ve realized “oh, of course he didn’t trust me right away, hardly anyone else knows outside their community”. And I do wish Cormac stood up to her pissy antics with that reasoning. But then he had something to really apologize for so it all got lost and muddled.
Bottomline:
It's just a feeling that leads it to be 3.5 stars instead of 4. Mainly if I had better feel for Kimberly's mother, the setting history, and Kimac saw how she messed up, it'd rate higher. I'm sure this will be better in the next book and I'm looking forward to it. I will definitely be continuing the series and checking out Haine’s other work.
For NA and paranormal romances lovers, I highly recommend Smoke and Mirrors. The only thing I'd really warn against is letting the cover stop you.
Smoke and Mirrors isn't perfect, but it's a great start that has a dragon and fills me with hope to follow along.
writeramyshannon's review
4.0
Truly magical!
Kimberly is a mage, but she has a great deal to prove. I really enjoyed this story because she was not perfect, and she had a lot to prove, not just to others, but to herself. From the beginning, she was accused of cheating. This is the first story by Haines that I've read, and I really liked it. Sometimes we all need something like a "dragon" to help us, especially when there is no Knight around to save us. Besides, who needs saving. I look forward to reading more from Haines. Highly recommended.
Kimberly is a mage, but she has a great deal to prove. I really enjoyed this story because she was not perfect, and she had a lot to prove, not just to others, but to herself. From the beginning, she was accused of cheating. This is the first story by Haines that I've read, and I really liked it. Sometimes we all need something like a "dragon" to help us, especially when there is no Knight around to save us. Besides, who needs saving. I look forward to reading more from Haines. Highly recommended.
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