Rating: 2.5🌈

Smoke and Mirrors is the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth Silvers and I had quite a few issues with it, starting at the beginning.

It’s a two-person point of view narrative. The first voice the reader is introduced to sets the stage in many ways for the story to come. But Smoke and Mirrors stumbles immediately when it’s Justus, who lives on another planet with magic. He’s telling us about a magical explosion, citizens of Arcania, some Aquaspire Mountains, a town of Lumia, and how he joins the Luminere Squad. Honestly, right there, the author is losing me. I’m picturing dancing candlesticks, watery mountains, and all things Disney.

Not what Silver had in mind, obviously, but , there’s a lesson there in how not to name things if you’re creating another world. Don’t do that!

It gets progressively worse when the author delivers up the next main character. That’s Xander back on Earth. We met him as he’s bemoaning his terrible taste in men, while preparing to go on a date with someone who’s got a reputation in his office for, wait for it, treating people badly. This is “Dorian, the hottie from accounting who no one seems to like.” He will go on for pages about how he knows this won’t go well but he’s going to do it anyway.

Yes, immediately, we have a TSTL character that’s making me think this is a DNF story. At 3%. Honestly, I’ve had as much of the TSTL character in my books as I’ve had billionaires recently asking people for money. Both need to go.

Plus the author has made Xander (another quibble of mine, pls find another name) someone with dyslexia, which is not a problem by itself. Only issue with this is his dyslexia is such that Xander can’t read at all for reasons we will find out later. It’s so bad he has had to tattoo left and right on his hands as a guide. (except for he can’t read) . So what’s his job? He went into Library Science and does reference. The dyslexia is less a real problem than an element stuck on purely out of necessity for the storyline .

Spoiler: How a reader might feel about a deeply serious learning disorder being treated as merely a mild case of “oh look I’m an alien “ is up to each individual. However, I find it a tad insensitive.

Silver just doesn’t seem to have a good handle on the logical flow of her storyline. Xander goes from not reading, to no magic to THE magical power . All without much training. I won’t go into the holes the dot the narrative landscape here but it’s a veritable pothole Main Street of storytelling.

Justus and Xander are all very cute and instant love in their relationship. There’s a secondary relationship that’s one dimensional and comes out of nowhere. As do several agencies, agents, and frankly, most of the world building.

As to the Carnival of Mysteries element? Blink and you will miss it.

Even what happened to the villain was unsatisfying. He was an intelligent delusional mass murderer so,yes, let him go somewhere else . It’s not like you gave him a personality transplant. What harm could he possibly do? SMH.

Like I said, it’s choices like these that Silver makes that leave a reader confused and frustrated instead of wanting more.

No recommendation.

Even that cover is off. If that’s Xander, and I’m sure it is, he’s in his early twenties in the book. One of the few misses in a group of fabulous covers.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

✓ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

✓ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver

◦ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill – September 27

◦ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore – October 4

◦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25

Buy Link :

Smoke and Mirrors: Carnival of Mysteries

Blurb:

Two things I know for sure: Magic isn’t real and never date your coworkers.

Xander knows for a fact magic belongs solely in the realm of fiction. But fate has other plans when he finds himself reluctantly going on a date to a mysterious traveling carnival. Little does he know that this seemingly harmless outing will thrust him into an entirely different dimension, where magic is very much a reality—though its practitioners label it as science.

As Xander navigates this extraordinary new world, he finds himself accompanied by distractingly attractive government agent Justus Farhill, whose good looks and honest heart make it challenging to keep those pesky emotions in check. Their undeniable chemistry grows the more they work together, and even though he knows he should be fighting to find his way home, Xander instead finds himself with one heck of a reason to stay.

But amidst the blossoming romance, the veil of tranquility over this strange realm has begun to fracture. A cataclysmic battle decades in the making looms on the horizon, where the balance of power between science and magic threatens the very fabric of existence if the wrong side gains control.

As alliances shift and loyalties are tested, Xander finds himself questioning what’s real… and what’s really worth fighting for. With the fate of multiple dimensions at stake, both Xander and Justus must confront doubts and insecurities about themselves and where they belong.

Even if that means sacrificing everything in the end.

Smoke and Mirrors is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains a roller-coaster ride of magic, science, and heart-pounding romance—are you ready to take the plunge?