**ARC provided by Netgalley for honest review**

Jester by Brielle D. Porter was an immersive and entertaining story that follows a reckless, fiery, down on her luck street performer just trying to make ends meet on her way to win the long sought after Jester competition for the Queen. This YA fantasy novel takes place in a bustling, deserty, Las Vegas-type city filled with casinos and theaters of all kinds and it feels very immersive, along the lines of Caraval or The Night Circus. There's even a soft magic system that gets passed down which is super interesting. The romance was a bit of a stretch for me, but I could suspend my disbelief enough to still enjoy the story. I had heard that this book was a hidden gem before, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it (romance notwithstanding).

I really liked the magical system in the book. Having power inherited is a really interesting idea. I really hope we get a second book in this universe. I did not want it to end.

5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
This book had such a unique plot, it kept me hooked most part of the book. The narrator did an outstanding job that further made this a great ride. I’ll be giving it 4.5 ⭐️. This is because I felt like the ending, or particularly the climax, could’ve been a bit better and it would’ve earned it an easy 5 ⭐️ from me.

Thank you NetGalley and CamCat Books for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this very entertaining to listen to; the narrator added another layer of excitement to the plot, which you want. The plot itself was really enjoyable and not at all boring, with well written characters that had a lot of emotional depth to them. I loved Lisette’s character, and her growth throughout. Furthermore, the mystery aspect and tension between the characters made you, as a reader, look forward to reading to find what an earth was going on. Even though this book was YA, which can sometimes be something I struggle with, this is appropriate for an adult audience too.

Rating: 4.25🌟

Things I liked:
Characters
Plot
Narration
Character development

Things I didn’t like:
Lack of world building
Hurried climax

"A good book and a strong cup of tea. The most underrated magic in life."⠀
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Brielle Porter, Jester ⠀
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Jester by Brielle Porter is an intelligent fantasy that combines the intrigue of The Night Circus with magical awakening similar to Lore of the Wilds. Lisette is a dynamic character who is always plotting and planning and doesn't find weakness and asking for help. She is a street magician on the precipice of greatness and her only obstacle is Luc, a dark magician with a sinister power. I adored the almost steampunk feel of the world building with the kingdom built on magic and mayhem. The royal family was suitably aloof to the problems of the public and there was greed and corruption everywhere! The magic system was a bit confusing at first but the more you read the more you understood. As a fan of fantasy like Six of Crows and The Magicians, this book stood out as a fun and interesting stand alone read. ⠀
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Interesting stand-alone fantasy set in magical Las Vegas named Oasis. Our main character Lysette performs as Mirage and her biggest dream is to become a Royal Jester but she has a rival - stunningly attractive and talented man who possesses a special gift…

This book has rivals to lovers, friendships, court drama and a very unusual peculiar setting. I feel like this was taking me out of the story - I had a hard time picturing the world. It has monarchy and royal drama, magic in a way that feels very medieval but at the same time this world has guns, elevators and a bunch of modern concepts like “minimal wage”. Yet not an urban fantasy because it’s not our world.

I really enjoyed following the story and Lysette’s journey. The part of the story related to justice really spoke to me.

I would give this book 3.5 stars out of 5 because the world didn’t feel extremely thought out, I couldn’t find the balance between modern concepts and magical other world DND type of fantasy.

Thank you NetGalley and CamCat publishing for providing audiobook copy of the book.

This is one of those cases where the voice of the narrator makes you stick with the book.

And i'm glad i did so!

I don't usually invest much time in fantasy, however, this book caught me by surprise. The story at the beggining discouraged me a little (maybe that's why i don't read much of this genre) and then i got hooked.

Characters well built, the story made sense, the ending could be better but still enjoyable, with the wit of our MC still present.

Solid read if you haven't already !

Thanks

"Jester" follows Lisette, daughter of the infamous King Killer, as she vies for the coveted role of the Queen's jester. Without real magic, she relies on her wit and illusions, facing fierce competition from Luc, a gifted performer. Amidst their rivalry, questions about the King's death arise, forcing Lisette to choose between her ambitions and clearing her father's name.

The audiobook was a mix of daunting and thrilling to listen. I really liked the characters and the details added. Reba Buhr narration was wonderful. Overall, it was fun.

"Jester" is the story of Lisette, the daughter of the late and disgraced high judge -- her father had been convicted of killing the king -- and her quest to become the queen's jester. In her quest, Lisette works as a street performer and cocktail waitress (until she is fired early on) in Oasis, a Las Vegas-like town in the kingdom, that operates in many ways outside of royal rule. Her chief competition for the position of jester is Luc, the irritatingly handsome and charging performer who, unlike Lisette at the beginning of the story, possesses real magic.

The book is well written and the characters well developed. The storyline, though not terribly unique, is interesting. I am often skeptical of fantasy fiction, although when done well I enjoy it (think Harry Potter, or the YA series "The Magisterium). In this case, many of the magical anecdotes were very well told and kept my attention. But I sometimes had difficulty suspending my disbelief, not just with regard to the magic but also regarding the behaviors and decisions of some of the characters. For example, it was never apparent to me that some of the characters were close enough to Lisette to justify some of the sacrifices they made for her. Or why Lisette, who was facing homelessness in Oasis, was at first skeptical of taking Rose up on her job offer. It also took a bit for me to really get into this story.

But overall, an enjoyable read and a solid YA fantasy novel! Thank you to NetGalley and CamCat books for the audiobook for review. All opinions are my own.

Lisette, the daughter of the notorious King Killer, is a street-wise and inventive magician. The problem is she has no real magic. She must rely on charm, sleight of hand, lies, and illusion to claw her way to the top. Luc is a born performer. He has all the money, all the connections, and all the magic. Their rivalry is heating up as both compete to become the Queen's next Jester.

As the competition unfolds, questions surrounding the King's death emerge. Lisette must decide between becoming Jester or clearing her father of wrongdoing.

The cover drew me in, but I stayed for the fun. Jester had so many elements that I love in a book. It is full of banter between rivals, competition, mystery, magic, kings, queens, murder, a Wild West Vegas-style setting, a little romance, and some fun side characters. Luc and Lisette are great rivals. Lisette is obsessed with magic and becoming Jester. She will do anything to win. Luc is the irritating thorn in her side. Their banter and rivalry were my favorite part of the book.

However, I do think that the author tried to accomplish too much. I wish this would have been a straight fantasy or a straight mystery. Porter's execution of both led to a poorly realized mystery and clunky pacing, and the worldbuilding and the side characters needed to be fleshed out more.

Despite my complaints, I think this is a strong debut, and I look forward to reading more from the author.

Reba Buhr did a great job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brielle D. Porter, and CamCat Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun magical novel filled with political upheavals, hidden agendas, betrayals, poisons. Nothing is as it seems. Mirage is the perfect stage name for Lisette as she navigates a world turned upside down: her dad was high judge until he wasn't and his powers died with him leaving her in a world where nothing is as it seems.

The Oasis is a Vegas-vibes town where people go to blend in, gamble and escape their lives. Royalty and commoners have equal shots at winning it all or losing it all. When the king is murdered, Lisette's brother and father are implicated in it, leaving them beheaded and Lisette on the streets. Lisette can't live life out of the spot light, so she joins a deadly competition to be the queen's jester... but everything is not what it seems, all the world is a mirage in the Oasis. Can Lisette solve a murder, gain the spot as jester and reclaim her family's honor? Read on to find out!

What I liked most: the blind bear stunt at the start of the novel, the clever magic tricks Lisette comes up with as Mirage with no magic, the message of good books and a good cup of tea are all you need in life to be happy, the evoker magic, the panther... and maybe even the spiders...

3.75.
I really enjoyed this. Then why is it not higher rated? Well it didn't catch my attention until around the 40% mark. The idea of this book is so unique and thrilling, which makes me sad I didn't enjoy it more. I feel like we could use some more romance in this book, but that may just be my opinion. I wish we got more from her and Luc. Also sometimes the main character was very almost narcissitic but that felt intentionally.
The audiobook is really well narrated, sometimes the audiobook can feel flat but the narrator does an amazing job!

Jester had an interesting premise and attempts to create a magical fantasy mystery. However, the book lacks world building and character building leaving you feeling as though the story lacked depth. There was a lot of potential here and I think if things had been a little more flushed out it had 5-star potential. I think there is enough potential here that I'd be likely to pick up this debut authors next book!

I was intrigued by this book as soon as I saw the cover, but when I read the description of it, I knew I had to have it! I listened to the audiobook version, and I thought the narrator, Reba Buhr, did a wonderful job with the different voices and personalities. I thought the characters, the main characters Lisette and Luc, as well as the secondary characters, were very likeable and unique from one another, another plus when you are listening to the audiobook version of a story. The book was well written and the pacing was very well done. The story itself was very unique and captivating, keeping me entertained from beginning to end.

In summary, I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it.

5/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, CamCat Books, and Brielle D. Porter for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Lizette is one of the most popular magicians in the noose with her only competition being a good looking arrogant jerk who is not above subterfuge to ruin her cell but when she finds herself in competition with him for the role of jester in the royal court she knows she would be the better magician if only she had the magic that was due to her until her dad decided to kill the King. Can Lizette get her magic back and will she become the jester oh will she be out done by overconfident good looking jerk. I love Lizette‘s attitude and thought she made for a great main character and although I knew there was going to be a little romance in the book I was not prepared for everything that eventually happened but I need for such a great thrilling read. I have become a big fan of magical realism in the past few months and thought this was a great addition to the genre I loved the narrator and thought this was a great audiobook. I have never listened to all read a book by Brielle D Porter before but I have since looked for her books and will be reading more in the future this was a great book and when I highly recommend if you’re a than of magical realism Syfy and a great love-hate relationship then you definitely should read the jester you will not be disappointed I definitely was not. I want to think The author and Net Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Y’all. Y’all. Y’ALL!!!!
This book was so good! Fantasy, magic, betrayal, murder mystery, ghosts, and enemies to lovers!!!!!

It’s. So. Good.
I devoured it.

I wanted an audiobook to listen to at work, and I was intrigued by the description of this one.

The story did take a bit to get into for me, but overall I thought this was a fun and enchanting story. I loved the magic and how it's passed down from someone, and the concept of jesters with magic to woo their crowds was unique to me.

I thoroughly enjoyed the enemies to lovers situation and was giggling at my desk while listening to it ramp up. I did guess the "bad" person a bit before it was revealed, but the build-up to who that person is was done well and made you piece a few things together.

I liked the little "past" chapters to help tell a full story and get more background into the main character.

Overall, this was a fun listen and would recommend!

"Jester" by Brielle D. Porter, narrated by Reba Buhr, is a fantasy YA book set in Oasis. I picked this audiobook solely on the cover. I was pleasantly surprised by this captivating story.
Lisette, after her father's disgrace, enters a deadly competition to become the Queen's Jester, but her lack of real magic hinders her chances against her rival. The book skilfully combines fantasy, romance, and mystery, drawing readers into a world where magic powers are passed down. Lisette's resilience and determination make her a compelling protagonist, while the unfolding romance and the mystery surrounding her father's actions add depth to the plot. The narration style is engaging, and the world-building is vivid, immersing readers in Oasis' captivating atmosphere. Overall, "Jester" is a well-crafted and captivating YA fantasy novel that promises an entertaining read for fans of romance and intrigue. I recommend adding this magical book to your TBR!

Thank you, NetGalley, Brielle D. Porter, and CamCat Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for making this audiobook available!

Absolutely love this books all the characters are lovable. The whole book you’re rooting for her to become jester over her rival, and to save her family name as her father was convicted of meeting the king and the family stripped of magic. Only once she is jester does she start putting the pieces together that her father was innocent of the crime, and that there was someone else with an alternative motive for his death.