Review by Booklist Review
Magical trapeze artist Luxe Revelle is part of a family that uses magic to make illusions on the magical island of Charmant, off the coast of New York. Jamison Port is an orphan who, though he has no magic of his own, has a few magical friends. On opening night at the Big Tent on Charmant, booze and sin are supposed to flow free, but Prohibition is affecting even the magical families. In a bid to seduce a bootlegger so the family can remain in business, Luxe accidentally bewitches Jamison, mistaking him for the mayor's son. As she begins to feel something for Jamison, she realizes her mistake and must scramble to seduce her real mark. But now that true feelings are complicating things, can Luxe still follow through for her family's sake? And how much will it cost her if she does? The lush, glittering descriptions of this Moulin Rouge!--based fantasy will hook readers from the very first page. Debut author Smith is one to watch.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Though Prohibition is in full swing on the mainland, liquor still flows on Charmant, a small island off the coast of New York City that's home to the Revelle family--a spectacular theater troupe that can magically manipulate people's emotions. To secure a vital bootlegging contract, their star, 18-year-old Luxe, must seduce 21-year-old Dewey Chronos, scion of a powerful family of time-traveling politicians. In a case of mistaken identity, however, she encounters 19-year-old orphan Jamison Port, who's come to Charmant seeking answers about his mysterious past. While falling for Jamison, Luxe continues pursuing Dewey, whose campaign to become mayor of Charmant relies heavily on the Revelles' social clout. The three are soon caught in a dangerous game of deceit and betrayal as their individual motivations clash. In this captivating debut, Smith conjures up a decadent atmosphere tinged with looming disaster, especially as Luxe's unique magical ability slowly saps her health. A magic system whose utilization comes at a great cost, the Revelles' enemies' merciless pursuit, and a plot peppered with Moulin Rouge influences make for an arresting dark romantic fantasy. Main characters read as white. Ages 14--up. Agent: Lauren Spieller, Triada US. (Feb.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Magical families live on an island off the coast of Manhattan in Prohibition-era New York. The biggest tourist draw is the Big Tent, a raucous circus spectacle, and the Fun House, a darker form of entertainment. Both are owned by the Revelle family, who cling to their struggling businesses by their very toes. Luxe Revelle is the trapezist star who uses her family's magic but also has a secret one. The Revelles rely on an alcohol-fueled audience to toss gems on stage, gems they use to channel their magic. Prohibition threatens their business. Their only hope is to forge an alliance with Dewey, the youngest son of their arch nemesis, the time-traveling Chronos family. Dewey agrees, with the caveat that Luxe act as his sweetheart during his mayoral campaign. A case of mistaken identity finds Luxe charming Jamison, an orphan with few clues to his past, instead, to magnificent effect. Secrets revealed bring a spectacular showdown of magic, death, and change. Smith has created compelling characters, enchanting family histories, and some very complicated magical abilities that propel the action. Dazzling descriptions of the Big Tent allow readers to truly picture the tawdry glamor of the circus. Each character has unique vulnerabilities while a theme of loyalty to friends and family runs strongly throughout. Less compelling is the Fun House, which comes across as a brothel where the girls make anyone's fantasies feel true, no matter how disturbing. The various forms of magic and the complicated rules of time travel can be confusing yet at the same time, are overly explained. Still, there is a whole new world, not just an island, to be discovered. VERDICT Recommended for fans of Laini Taylor and Stephanie Garber.--Lee De Groft
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
The island of Charmant is a dazzling place where liquor flows freely despite its prohibition on the mainland and a single jewel can bring one's wildest fantasies to life. Beneath the glamour, all is not as it seems, and none knows that better than Luxe Revelle, whose family teeters on the brink of starvation while others exploit their own magic to prosper. When Dewey Chronos, the passed-over scion of Charmant's mayor, offers not only everything the Revelles need to keep their business alive, but a chance to put all of the island's magical families on equal footing in exchange for Luxe's help in securing his victory in the upcoming election, she can't refuse. Meanwhile, orphan Jamison Port finds himself in over his head (and heels) when pursuing a strange sense of déjà vu catapults him into a world of intrigues as multifaceted as the jewels the island runs on. On the surface, this fantastical romance ticks all the standard boxes. However, the carefully orchestrated plot unfolds, revealing new layers, twists, and revelations at every turn and building to a crescendo. A great deal of thought has been put into the worldbuilding, and the characters are richly and sensitively drawn. This attention to small details makes it easy to lose oneself in the story, and if the ending feels a bit rushed, the story's strengths more than make up for it. Lead characters are White. An enchanting debut. (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
