⋙ Libro Gratis Born of Illusion Teri Brown Books

Born of Illusion Teri Brown Books

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Born of Illusion Teri Brown Books

Anna Van Housen is a very gifted magician. She is the opening act for her mother's mentalist show, but sometimes she wishes she owned the stage. There is something amazing about being up there and causing people to gasp in wonder. Anna also has a little secret, she has a few unusual abilities. She can senses peoples emotions and see the future and keeping that information from everyone can be a bit tricky. Lately, her powers are getting stronger and she keeps seeing her doomed future loom before her eyes. Can she figure out who means her harm and save the day or is she cursed to live out her vision and perish?

Anna is amazing. She's clever and determined, but somehow manages to come off as completely vulnerable and maybe just a touch naive. For someone with the ability to sense people's emotions, not to mention the years of picking people out of the crowd for her tricks, she's still a bit blind to others. She completely misjudges several people and she doesn't see the bad guy coming until the very end, despite the mixed emotions she gets from him constantly. She is a completely interesting character and the question of is she or isn't she Houdini's daughter is one I was begging to be answered. There are so many clues leading either way and I WANT TO KNOW! I NEED TO KNOW! Besides the obvious mystery of who is out to get Anna, that's the biggest conundrum of this tale and, like I said, I need to know! You're not going to tell me, are you? Darn.

Cole, my dear sweet Cole, is so adorable cute that there aren't words to describe him. He's spent his childhood in a boarding school for boys and he's so easily embarrassed around Anna that I just want to hug him. It's clear from moment one that he is hiding something, but it's equally clear (at least to me) that it's not something malicious. He tells her quite frankly that they aren't his secrets to tell and that's the truth. He could have cleared a lot up if he had just let her read him so she could feel his honesty, but alas, things can never be that simple. I just loved how squeamish he was around her, how much he wanted to be around her, but he didn't know what to say or how to act and kept blushing over every fumble. Like I said, adorable.

There is also a host of well formed side characters, everyone from Marguerite (Anna's mother), to Cynthia (a soon-to-be friend of Anna's), to Houdini himself. I especially loved Mr Darby, Cole's uncle. He's that crotchety old man who seems mean, but is really a big softie. I love (love love) him. I wish he was real and would be my neighbor so I could harass him good-naturedly. Cynthia surprised me a bit because I wasn't expecting her to become such a big part as she was. I was expecting her to play her role in the beginning and then leave, but she doesn't. She sticks around and becomes fast-friends with Anna.

The writing and world-building are just as amazing as the character development. I am not an aficionado of the Jazz Age, but I feel like Brown put a lot of research into making this world as realistic as possible and it shows. The language, the old words I knew anyway, felt spot on and authentic. There were even terms I'd never heard of before, such as four-flusher, that I enjoyed learning about. The plot was a bit predictable to me, but it was predictable in that way that I'm not sure if everyone will find it predictable. I saw several twists coming and I faintly suspected who would be the villian early on.

I have been dying to read this for quite a while. Both the title and the cover have called my name. Normally covers with chick's faces on the cover are a bit overdone, but the contrast here is just so striking that the result is lovely. And the book is just as good as the gorgeous cover promises. I think everyone who enjoys historical YA or mystery YA or just a good novel that's a bit different than what you were expecting will love this. It's blessedly cliffhanger free and that just makes me want the next one more!


Tags : Amazon.com: Born of Illusion (9780062187543): Teri Brown: Books,Teri Brown,Born of Illusion,Balzer + Bray,0062187546,Fantasy - General,Historical - United States - 20th Century,Romance - General,Houdini, Harry,Identity,Identity;Fiction.,Magicians,Magicians;Fiction.,Mothers and daughters,New York (N.Y.) - 20th century,Psychic ability,Psychic ability;Fiction.,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Fantasy & magical realism (Children's Teenage),Fiction,Fiction-Fantasy,Historical - General,Historical Fiction (Young Adult),JUVENILE,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Grades 7-9 Ages 12-14,Love & Romance,Paranormal,TEEN'S FICTION FANTASY,TEEN'S FICTION HISTORICAL,United States,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Fantasy General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Historical United States 20th Century,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Romance General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Visionary & Metaphysical,Young Adult FictionRomance - General,Young Adult FictionVisionary & Metaphysical,Historical - General,Love & Romance,Paranormal,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Fantasy General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Historical United States 20th Century,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Romance General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Visionary & Metaphysical,Young Adult FictionRomance - General,Young Adult FictionVisionary & Metaphysical,Fiction,Historical Fiction (Young Adult),YOUNG ADULT FICTION,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Fantasy & magical realism (Children's Teenage)

Born of Illusion Teri Brown Books Reviews

Born of Illusion reminded me a lot of the movies The Illusionist and The Prestige, which I loved! The story is set in New York City during the 1920s, and I was immediately immersed in the flapper drop-waist dresses and fashionable cloche hats. There is so much to love about Born of Illusion - I am a total fan.

Anna Van Housen and her mother recently moved to the big apple after being run out of several cities. Their crime? Performing seances and practicing occult arts. But, do they stop? No, of course not. Anna's mother has a new show in the city, and Anna is doing everything she can to protect her them from being arrested or exiled.

Another little "problem" Anna has is that although her mother is a charlatan who preys on the weak, Anna has real, unnatural abilities. In addition to being a whiz at getting out of handcuffs and performing artful sleight of hand, Anna can read people's emotions through touch. She's hidden her abilities even from her mother, who would use her to skyrocket their career.

So, when Anna meets her new downstairs neighbor, Cole, she's suspicious of his attention to her and wonders if he can be trusted. He's super cute, so that doesn't help her thought processes, of course.

What is fascinating about Born of Illusion is Anna's relationship with her mom. Her mom is super manipulative, and Anna can tell from her emotions that she will do anything to prevent Anna from taking over the show. They have a strange love/hate relationship that I found authentic - it's the classic struggle of fighting the bonds that are keeping you a child instead of a budding adult.

Although Anna's mom is not a loveable character in the least, you can understand Anna's desire to love and protect her while also trying to avoid becoming anything like her.

Brown does a great job of keeping readers on their toes. So many things about so many characters shifts and changes to where you're second guessing everything and everyone. Which is the point because that's exactly how Anna feels.

And, I just loved Anna - she is like so many YA book characters with powers. She wants a normal life but can't seem to escape her crazy circumstances. Plus, there's the mystery of her father. Who is he? Is her mother lying when she claims her real father is Harry Houdini? Will Anna every really know?!

I think more of these questions will be answered in the second book, Born of Deception, out next in 2014.

OVERALL

The authentic magic tricks and the more supernatural abilities showcased in this debut book had me enchanted. I loved the whimsical setting, the challenging relationships and Anna's search to find out who she is and what she can do. Born of Illusion is definitely a top read of 2013 - go read it now!
Set in 1920’s New York, the story of young Anna Van Housen was a treat. Her mother Marguerite is a medium, and they have a stage show as well as holding private séances. Anna has been told by her mother that her father is the renowned Harry Houdini, and it seems plausible, since she is a gifted magician, even though her mother’s talent is all smoke and mirrors. She also has other gifts, the ability to sense feelings and see visions of the future, which she keeps secret from everyone, including her mother. Anna’s relationship with her mother is strained; the self-centered Marguerite views the gifted Anna as competition, and she has to tread lightly when trying to showcase her talents in their performances. She’s sixteen and wants to start spreading her wings, but she is so used to taking care of her mother, such as springing her from jail and keeping her out of trouble, that she doesn’t want to do anything to damage their fragile relationship. Anna begins to have disturbing visions of harm befalling her mother and her powers seem to be intensifying. She meets two young men that show interest in her, the intriguing Cole who lives in the flat downstairs and may be able to help her understand her gifts, and Owen, the charming and fun-loving nephew of their stage manager. I liked the paranormal aspect of the story, and although some of the outcome was a bit predictable, overall it was an entertaining tale. I especially enjoyed the 1920’s setting, which the author really made come alive, with the descriptions of the speakeasies, clothing, and street scenes.
Anna Van Housen is a very gifted magician. She is the opening act for her mother's mentalist show, but sometimes she wishes she owned the stage. There is something amazing about being up there and causing people to gasp in wonder. Anna also has a little secret, she has a few unusual abilities. She can senses peoples emotions and see the future and keeping that information from everyone can be a bit tricky. Lately, her powers are getting stronger and she keeps seeing her doomed future loom before her eyes. Can she figure out who means her harm and save the day or is she cursed to live out her vision and perish?

Anna is amazing. She's clever and determined, but somehow manages to come off as completely vulnerable and maybe just a touch naive. For someone with the ability to sense people's emotions, not to mention the years of picking people out of the crowd for her tricks, she's still a bit blind to others. She completely misjudges several people and she doesn't see the bad guy coming until the very end, despite the mixed emotions she gets from him constantly. She is a completely interesting character and the question of is she or isn't she Houdini's daughter is one I was begging to be answered. There are so many clues leading either way and I WANT TO KNOW! I NEED TO KNOW! Besides the obvious mystery of who is out to get Anna, that's the biggest conundrum of this tale and, like I said, I need to know! You're not going to tell me, are you? Darn.

Cole, my dear sweet Cole, is so adorable cute that there aren't words to describe him. He's spent his childhood in a boarding school for boys and he's so easily embarrassed around Anna that I just want to hug him. It's clear from moment one that he is hiding something, but it's equally clear (at least to me) that it's not something malicious. He tells her quite frankly that they aren't his secrets to tell and that's the truth. He could have cleared a lot up if he had just let her read him so she could feel his honesty, but alas, things can never be that simple. I just loved how squeamish he was around her, how much he wanted to be around her, but he didn't know what to say or how to act and kept blushing over every fumble. Like I said, adorable.

There is also a host of well formed side characters, everyone from Marguerite (Anna's mother), to Cynthia (a soon-to-be friend of Anna's), to Houdini himself. I especially loved Mr Darby, Cole's uncle. He's that crotchety old man who seems mean, but is really a big softie. I love (love love) him. I wish he was real and would be my neighbor so I could harass him good-naturedly. Cynthia surprised me a bit because I wasn't expecting her to become such a big part as she was. I was expecting her to play her role in the beginning and then leave, but she doesn't. She sticks around and becomes fast-friends with Anna.

The writing and world-building are just as amazing as the character development. I am not an aficionado of the Jazz Age, but I feel like Brown put a lot of research into making this world as realistic as possible and it shows. The language, the old words I knew anyway, felt spot on and authentic. There were even terms I'd never heard of before, such as four-flusher, that I enjoyed learning about. The plot was a bit predictable to me, but it was predictable in that way that I'm not sure if everyone will find it predictable. I saw several twists coming and I faintly suspected who would be the villian early on.

I have been dying to read this for quite a while. Both the title and the cover have called my name. Normally covers with chick's faces on the cover are a bit overdone, but the contrast here is just so striking that the result is lovely. And the book is just as good as the gorgeous cover promises. I think everyone who enjoys historical YA or mystery YA or just a good novel that's a bit different than what you were expecting will love this. It's blessedly cliffhanger free and that just makes me want the next one more!