Review appeared in the March 2025 issue of SFRevu.com.

This short story takes place in Venice in the 1820s. Magician Oscar Van Hoff and his assistant/wife Olivia are performing their next to last night before leaving the city. The tale is told from Olivia's point of view.

Olivia doesn't know how her husband manages his wonderful manifestations. She has her lines in the tightly scripted performances and she's not allowed to deviate from them. She believes his shows did not become popular until after their marriage. But she doesn't know for sure because, on the evening of their marriage, she fell from the balcony, hit her head, and broke her wrist. She has no memory of their life before that evening only what Oscar has told her. Now she is beginning to wonder about her life before the wedding.

There are several ways the story could have gone after you learn the above information in the first few pages. There are also several ways based on what we learned early in the story, we could imagine what their life had been like before the accident. Needless to say, I was surprised by the ending. In fact, I still find myself wondering about Olivia and how her life will change now that she knows the truth.

This was an okay read for me. I enjoyed the premise of the story but it didn’t capture my attention as much as I’d hoped it would. Thank you for the arc.

Thank you Negalley for the copy!!

The premise of Olivia Van Hoff, the magician's wife on the cusp of uncovering her husband's secrets, was undeniably compelling. I was eager to be drawn into a tale of Venetian mystery and perhaps a touch of the supernatural.

While I ultimately enjoyed the book and appreciated Penner's evocative writing, I have to admit it didn't quite grab me with the intensity I had hoped for. The descriptions of Venice were lovely, painting a vivid picture of the canals and palazzi, and Olivia's internal struggle as she began to question her husband's illusions was well-developed. You could feel her growing unease and the stirrings of her rebellious nature.

However, the pacing felt somewhat deliberate, and at times I found myself wanting the story to move with a greater sense of urgency. While I appreciated the focus on Olivia's observations and her gradual awakening, the unfolding of the central mystery felt a little too subtle for my taste. I was anticipating a more immediate hook, something to really pull me into the heart of the secrets surrounding Oscar's magic.

That being said, Penner's strength lies in her character development. Olivia is a thoughtful and engaging protagonist, and her journey of questioning her role and her marriage was interesting to follow. The glimpses into the world of stage magic and the societal expectations placed upon women in that era were also fascinating.

Ultimately, "The Conjurer's Wife" is a well-written and atmospheric historical novel with a compelling central character. While it didn't completely sweep me away and leave me breathless, I still found it to be an enjoyable and thoughtful read. If you appreciate historical fiction with a focus on character and setting, and a mystery that unfolds at a measured pace, this book might be right up your alley. I was hoping for a more immediate connection to the narrative, but I still found myself invested in Olivia's journey and curious to see how her story would conclude.

I don’t tend to be a huge historical fiction fan, but the writing and mystery of this story kept me interested from start to finish. I enjoyed the plot overall. My main complaint is that the end truly felt like it wrapped up way too quickly. The beginning felt like it had good pacing but all of the conclusion happened within a few paragraphs. I guess that might be expected with a story this short but it did make it a less satisfying ending.

An exciting step into a new book?

I really enjoyed this short story, but it felt more like an opening prequel to a longer work rather than a self contained and complete work. As with all of Jenner's works this is a rich and evocative work filled with real characters and wonderful dialogue. My only critical comment is I wanted more of what felt like a teaser to the authors next work.

It is nineteenth-century Venice. Oscar Van Hoff is a magician that perplexes his audience with his manifestations. His wife Olivia, his assistant, unravels his secrets and controls the End. Loved it, but the story ended far too soon. Signed hoping for Part 2!

Thank you for an early read in exchange for a fair review. 4 stars.

Olivia is the wife of world-renowned magician Oscar Van Hoff. Right before her husband's most significant performance, she uncovers a secret about him that changes everything. Now she faces a life-altering decision. Although the story concludes with a cliffhanger, it doesn't need to go any further. It ends in the perfect place for Olivia Van Hoff. We understand her desires for the future, and I believe she'll achieve them. For me, this is the best possible ending.

Short but intentional, this novella had all the drama, mystery, and revenge I’ve come to expect of a Penner story. While some elements could have been fleshed out more, I think the airs of uncertainty just added to the vibe. A quick yet enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-ARC. All opinions are my own.

A fast paced short story with an interesting premise. Some aspects of the story seem like a prequel of sorts to the author's upcoming novel. A good read!

I really like Sarah Penner's writing and storytelling. I've already read her two other published books, and this one solidifies my decision to read all her future works. It's quite short, and I wished there was more, but in the sense that I just didn’t want the story to end. Some people feel the ending is a bit rushed, but actually, I think it fits well with the pace of this novella, and it was a great way to end the story.

I can't wait for *The Amalfi Curse* to be released, and I loved the little nod to the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast in this novella.

This didn't feel like a Sarah Penner book.
I dnfed it on page 2. It's repetitive and lacks any curiosity. I will not be posting this review anywhere else as I do not want to harm the authors overall ratings.

I have read and enjoyed Penners novels before, and this short story was good! Intriguing and unique - I will continue to purchase / read / recommend her novels (and snow, short stories).

"The Conjurer's Wife" by Sarah Penner is a captivating and enchanting read that will transport you to a world of magic, mystery, and romance. This delightful novel follows a young woman named Lucy, who marries a charismatic conjurer and becomes embroiled in a world of illusion, deception, and wonder.

I rather enjoyed this short read. Set in 1821, Italy, a Venetian conjurer pulls off such captivating tricks (wallets to flowers and foxes from thin air) that not even his wife (and assistant) knows his secrets. After an accidental discovery regarding her accident last year that left her broken with amnesia, Olivia seeks out the truth about her husband's tricks, her accident, and her mysterious wedding with no witnesses.

I read this short story during a nail appointment, so it does not take a major time commitment. The story drew me in from the beginning, and each little twist and turn kept my interest peaked until the end.

This had potential but ended too abruptly for me. I think I would have enjoyed a full length novel so much more.

For a short story, it was entertaining. I liked the setting, period and the characters were well developed. Yet, I feel that some things were unanswered, or that should have a second part. Thank you to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ARC.

The wife of a magician finds herself increasingly annoyed with him and wanting to break free. As she finds out the source of his magic, she learns a dark secret.

Overall, for a short story, this was pretty good. My biggest problem, as with most short stories, was that I wish there just had been more in places. If it had been like 10 pages longer even, I think this might’ve solved that problem.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Read this one buddy read with my girlfriend who originally also gave me The Lost Apothecary. We’re both Sarah Penner fans now and The Conjurer’s Wife was excellent too. A nice length with it being a short story as well.

First time reading a book by Sarah Penner and I had no idea what to expect. Who knew a short story could hold your attention and come with a plot twist. I love how it was short but so full of information. I wish it was longer but at the same time, it was perfect. I am definitely going to check out more of her books.

Thank you, NetGalley, the author and the publisher, for the advance copy for an honest review.

A short story (only 30-40 pages), but I though it was such a smart, well-written story. Well crafted!

Sarah Penner, who wrote The Lost Apothecary, writes a wonderful short story ... about the conjurer's wife (go figure). I re-read most of it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to read the advance read copy of The Conjurer's Wife by Sarah Penner in exchange for an honest review. GoodReads indicates that certain versions are no cost, must be part of an unlimited package. For $0, why not?