This book had my attention with its first line and I didn’t want to put it down. The story opens with such mystery! My mind raced with a thousand questions. 😉 I could not guess where the plot was going and it kept me guessing right up until its finale. The Illusionist’s Apprentice offers so much to readers – intrigue, history, and a great deal of heart.
Wren is known for being an entertainer on the stage, but this girl shined off the stage even more to me. I loved this unique character. Her strength and talents added to her charm, but it was her vulnerability, her honesty, and her faith I’ll remember the most. I loved how she changed and grew through the story too, opening her heart once more. Her journey is understated and yet profound all at the same time.
There are great elements of truth and snippets of real history tucked within the illusions and plot twists. There are heroic moments and heartbreaking moments. A couple scenes brought tears to my eyes. There’s a real depth to the relationships between characters too. I tell you, my heart overflows. 😉
The Illusionist’s Apprentice was unlike anything else I’ve read. I loved it! I really hope my reader friends pick this one up and enjoy it too.
I received a free copy from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.
————————————————————————————————————————-
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Harry Houdini’s one-time apprentice holds fantastic secrets about the greatest illusionist in the world. But someone wants to claim them . . . or silence her before she can reveal them on her own.
Boston, 1926— Jenny “Wren” Lockhart is a bold eccentric—even for a female vaudevillian. As notorious for her inherited wealth and gentleman’s dress as she is for her unsavory upbringing in the back halls of a vaudeville theater, Wren lives in a world that challenges all manner of conventions.
In the months following Houdini’s death, Wren is drawn into a web of mystery surrounding a spiritualist by the name of Horace Stapleton, a man defamed by Houdini’s ardent debunking of fraudulent mystics in the years leading up to his death. But in a public illusion that goes terribly wrong, one man is dead and another stands charged with his murder. Though he’s known as one of her teacher’s greatest critics, Wren must decide to become the one thing she never wanted to be: Stapleton’s defender.
Forced to team up with the newly formed FBI, Wren races against time and an unknown enemy, all to prove the innocence of a hated man. In a world of illusion, of the vaudeville halls that showcase the flamboyant and the strange, Wren’s carefully constructed world threatens to collapse around her. Layered with mystery, illusion, and the artistry of the Jazz Age’s bygone vaudeville era, The Illusionist’s Apprentice is a journey through love and loss and the underpinnings of faith on each life’s stage.
————————————————————————————————————————-
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
KRISTY CAMBRON has a background in art and design, but she fancies life as a vintage-inspired storyteller. She is the bestselling author of The Ringmaster’s Wife, named to Publishers Weekly Spring 2016 Religion & Spirituality TOP 10. Her novels have been named to Library Journal Reviews’ Best Books and RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards Best lists for 2014 & 2015, and received a 2015 INSPY Awards nomination for best debut novel. The Illusionist’s Apprentice (HarperCollins, 2017) is her fourth novel. Her first Bible study DVD and study guides, The Verse Mapping series, will release in 2018.
Kristy holds a degree in Art History from Indiana University, and has 15 years experience in education and leadership development for a Fortune-100 Corporation. She loves storytelling from the stage and travels to speak about her love for Bible Verse Mapping throughout the year. Kristy lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, where she can probably be bribed with a coconut mocha latte and a good read.
The last and most important thing? Jesus Christ is everything — let her tell you about Him sometime.
————————————————————————————————————————-
I just got this book from the library, I really can’t wait to read it now!!
Yay, Megan! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 🙂
Excellent review, Savanna! I’m excited to read this one!
Thanks, Caryl! I think you’ll love it. 😉
This book is at the top of my list to read. Every time I see this cover, I love it more.
Hi Karen! Isn’t it beautiful? It sure grabs your attention. 😉 Hope you get to read it soon.
I just finished reading this book. It was a great book. One of my favorites. I love the historical detail in it.
Wonderful, Steph. Yes, that’s something I love about all of Kristy Cambron’s books. Have you read any of her other stories? They’re so good!