Anna Van Housen has a secret.
A gifted illusionist, Anna assists her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums, and mentalists in 1920's New York. As the illegitimate daughter of Harry Houdini—or so Marguerite claims—sleight of hand illusions have never been a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her own gifts secret from her opportunistic mother. Because while Marguerite's own powers may be a sham, Anna possesses a true ability to sense people's feelings and foretell the future.
But as Anna's powers intensify, she begins to experience frightening visions of her mother in peril, which leads her to explore the powers she's tried so long to hide. And when a mysterious young man named Cole moves into the flat downstairs, introducing Anna to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, she is forced to confront her past and rethink everything she's ever known. Is her mother truly in danger, or are Anna's visions merely illusion? And could the great Houdini really be her father, or is it just another of Marguerite's tricks?
From Teri Brown comes a world bursting with magic, with romance, and the temptations of Jazz Age New York—and the story of a girl about to become the mistress of her own destiny.
Returning to the atmospheric and mysterious Jazz Age world of Born of Illusion, Teri Brown's Born of Corruption is a 64-page companion digital novella about what happens when New York City's most notorious socialites, mobsters, and bootleggers get together for a larger-than-life scavenger hunt . . . and someone gets killed.
Cynthia Gaylord, a vivacious blonde flapper and the niece of one of the most infamous mob bosses in New York City, loves scavenger hunts, and the one she's putting together for her best friend Anna's going-away party is going to be the swankiest one ever. But then, Anna Van Housen is no ordinary friend. She is reputed to be Harry Houdini's illegitimate daughter and a magician of the first order—and she possesses psychic powers.
Before Anna leaves for a European tour with her vaudeville company, Cynthia throws open the doors of her Gramercy Park mansion for a giant bash, but when one of the guests turns up dead, Cynthia and Anna must join forces to discover the truth. Who is the mysterious dead man? And which of Cynthia's guests could have killed him? Cynthia's relatives in the mob? Or someone related to the Society for Psychical Research, a shadowy group with a dangerous history? Cynthia and Anna have to find out who done it before the coppers are called in . . . something both Cynthia and Anna are eager to avoid.
From Goodreads:
Budding illusionist Anna Van Housen is on top of the world: after scoring a spot on a prestigious European vaudeville tour, she has moved to London to chase her dream and to join an underground society for people like her with psychic abilities. Along with her handsome beau, Cole Archer, Anna is prepared to take the city by storm.
But when Anna arrives in London, she finds the group in turmoil. Sensitives are disappearing and, without a suspect, the group's members are turning on one another. Could the kidnapper be someone within the society itself—or has the nefarious Dr. Boyle followed them to London?
As Cole and Anna begin to unravel the case and secrets about the society are revealed, they find themselves at odds, their plans for romance in London having vanished. Her life in danger and her relationship fizzling, can Anna find a way to track down the killer before he makes her his next victim—or will she have to pay the ultimate price for her powers?
Set in Jazz-Age London, this alluring sequel to Born of Illusion comes alive with sparkling romance, deadly intrigue, and daring magic.
My Review:
I loved reading these books! I haven't read much in set in this time period that I can recall, so yeah, that was a very nice setting! And then New York and London? Two pretty fantastic cities! Add in interesting characters and amazing writing, and you have some pretty incredible books!
I have read the first book before, and I enjoyed it a lot. But reading these books all together was even better, because the little things, and the bigger things, just came together for some pretty great storytelling! Everything was just so much fuller and complete, you know?
I really enjoyed Corruption, because a) it was pretty awesome being in someone else's head, seeing Anna from the outside, and b) scavenger hunt with a murder mystery! Cynthia was an interesting narrator, and I really enjoyed being in her head!
It was a bit strange reading Deception, because Anna was basically in another world. And there was almost an entirely new cast of characters, and more with the society and politics and such. I loved the mystery, there were a number of little pieces, and pieces that I totally didn't know that they would come into play! So great, and I really enjoyed how it all ended!
This series was spectacular, and I enjoyed reading it a lot!
Author: Teri Brown
Series: Born of Illusion #1, 1.5, 2
First Read: September 4th, 2013
Read: November 15th, 15th, 15th, 2017
Source: Ebook.bike, Bought, Edelweiss
Reason Why: Enjoyed the first book so rereading, and they're Historical Fiction 2017 Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2017 Books! And Born of Deception is a End of Series 2017 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Balzer + Bray, Epic Reads Impulse
Published: June 11th 2013, May 6th 2014, June 10th 2014
Born of Illusion:
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| 5/5 Hearts |
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| 5/5 Books |
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| 5/5 Stars |
Born of Corruption:
|
| 5/5 Hearts |
|
| 5/5 Books |
|
| 5/5 Stars |
Born of Deception:
|
| 5/5 Hearts |
|
| 5/5 Books |
|
| 5/5 Stars |
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