This was a really strong fantasy story with an intriguing premise and an easy plot line to follow.

I was initially wary of this book, thinking that it might be too complex for me to read simply. However, Opocensky did a fantastic job of creating a world that was believable while being intricately designed. One chapter was dedicated to world-making, but this was midway through the book and told in a character's voice which made it easy to understand. Cory was being introduced to magic alongside us, meaning he had the same questions that we did as we read.

I especially loved the elves and the nymphs. Their backstories were really intriguing and I loved hearing their histories and I thought the author did a fantastic job of making them inventive and unique but also believable.

There were a few unresolved threads at the end, but I could make my own assumptions and these weren't enough to really bother me. Overall, the ending was satisfying--a type that's becoming a bit more rare but that didn't bother me as many do these days. A few of the scenes near the end made me a little uncomfortable, but they didn't detract from the book.

I loved the characters and the way they interacted. There were many different personality types that had conflicts and friendships and many places in between. Max was one of my favourites to watch grow and develop.

Cory was just lovely. His relationship with Claude was my absolute favourite, but he had his flaws too that made him someone I could very much relate to.

The ending killed the potential for a follow-up book, but I really enjoyed this and though I probably won't read it again, I recommend it to younger readers or readers who love fantasy and well crafted worlds.

I received a copy of this book from Smith Publicity via Netgalley in return for an honest review

I'm so glad I read this book!

Corbin was 10 years old when his mother died. Scared of being taken away by social services, he wishes to fly like a bird. Staring at the bird outside his window, suddenly Corbin feels different,
When he spreads his arms wide, he realises, they're not arms at all, but black wings.
A crow. Corbin is a Mage and having shed his humanity for 2 years and taken on the life of a crow, he is found by Magus Maxim Moritz Grobian.
Maxim offers him all kinds of wonders, teaching him magic and for a penniless orphan, Corbin's dedication and loyalty to Max is unrivaled. Until Max gives him an impossible and crude task. To bring back his Daughter Lorelei by making her fall in love with corbin.
"Water nymphs are driven by love. They will do anything for love, and you, dear boy, are a very charming fellow. You will make her fall in love with you"
Suddenly Corbin is taken from his life in America and thrust into a magical sanctuary- Hexenheim.

This was a really good story. I did enjoy it a lot.

We meet Corbin when he is despondent at being sent to Hexenheim, what was a bit confusing was that in the further chapters there was no hint at him talking about his memories of the past. So one chapter you're in the present with 16 year old Corbin and the next couple of chapters he's 10, 12 and 15 years old. That was a bit confusing because there was no indication that was going to happen.

However, this book was very original and i really like the concept of it all. There was some comical moments too- I mean a bunny, really? It was hilarious! (You'll have to read to understand.)

There is also a bit of romance, however, it is not the focal point of the entire story. This is because the inquisition/ inquisitors are after the magic beings and they don't have time to flirt! Which i enjoyed.

I liked the way the author wrote about the villain, i meant she could have made him more maniacal but i would say that she did well for a YA book. That being said, this book is suitable for +13 year olds, its clean and adventurous.

Side Note- there were some grammatical errors that i picked up.

Overall, i really enjoyed this story, i hope book 2 is on the horizon because i must know who Corbin's dad is!

I really enjoyed Smoke and Mirrors. It puts an interesting spin on the fantasy genre that left me wanting more.

Corbin owes everything to Maxim Moritz Grobian. He took him in and trained him to use the magical abilities that Corbin was only just learning about. Max provided him with education and a place to stay, so when he asked Corbin to retrieve his daughter for he was eager to accept. In the process of trying to fulfill his mentor's request Corbin learns that not all is as it seems in the world, and sometimes people are not what they seem.

It took me a while to get into Smoke and Mirrors, but after its slow start the book began to pick up and eventually I couldn't put it down. I was a little bothered by what felt like an overly long introduction to Corbin and his life during the first few chapters and felt it could have been shortened at some points. After that I was able to dive into the story and enjoy the magical tale for all it was worth.

I love the magic in this book. The fantasy and magical elements are written really well and I found myself wishing more than once that I could live in the same world as Corbin. The world-building was solid and everything felt full. It's nice to see a character utilizing the skills that he has as well. The one thing I really enjoyed about this book was that Corbin was skilled with magic, and actually used it.

I really liked Corbin. He's trusting, but he also has a mind of his own and questions everything, which helps to keep him from falling too deep into trouble. I also really liked Lorelei, she was a delight from start to finish. The other characters in the book were all well filled out as well and I really enjoyed seeing how some of the minor characters developed over the story.

Smoke and Mirrors takes readers into a world where witches and wizards really exist, a place where magic is real and anything can happen. It is fast and fun, and also poses some really interesting questions for readers to ponder. I'd recommend it to any young fantasy fan looking for a good read.

This book was hard to rate for me, because I think that if I'd read it when I was about 13 or 14 I would have absolutely adored it and given it a full five stars. However reading it now as an adult, it didn't quite do it for me, so I'd be more inclined to give it 3 stars. As such I've split the difference and given it 4.

Opocensky's world of secret mages is a delight, and her shape-changing young Corbin is a wonderful MC. I couldn't help but think of Harry Potter at times while reading, just because of the 'secret magic in a normal world' type feel. However Smoke and Mirrors is really quite different in a lot of ways (except Nob who seemed a bit too-close-for-comfort to Dobby the house elf), and in any case, being compared to HP can hardly be a bad thing.

The grown-up me found the phrasing a little childish at times, and I would be more inclined to aim the book at the younger end of the YA scale, but generally I found it to be a charming fantasy that young readers would love.