*Review* Jester by Brielle D. Porter

 

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance

Published: August 9, 2022

Pages: 450

What happens in Oasis, stays in Oasis.

Lisette’s father killed the King. His execution leaves Lisette alone, disgraced, and without the magic he intended to pass on to her. In Oasis, that’s a problem. Glutted with enchanted performers, Oasis is a sin city where courtiers pay in gold to drink, gamble, and above all, be entertained. To survive on its competitive streets, Lisette peddles paltry illusions in place of magic.

Desperate to prove herself, Lisette enters into a deadly competition to be chosen as the highest-ranked magician in the world, the Queen’s Jester. But her rival, the irritatingly handsome Luc, possesses the one thing Lisette does not—real magic. Lisette will do anything to win, but when evidence implicating the Queen in her husband’s murder surfaces, Lisette must choose between redeeming her family name, or seizing the fame she’s hungered for her entire life.

I received a copy of this audiobook through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This book was a wild ride. As far as I could tell, it seems to be set in fantasy Vegas, so typical laws just don't really apply there, but it's also a place known for it's amazing magical shows. Just imagine trying to survive and thrive in that world, when your family's magic has been taken from you. That's exactly what Lisette is trying to do. Not only that, but her dream is to become the jester for the queen, one of the highest honors in the realm, but to do that, she's got to put on the absolute best show. 

I was cheering for Lisette's success from the get go, because I just can't help to root for the underdog in all things. But she was also just a really fun character and I loved her sass, so I wanted good things for her for those reasons too. Then there was the relationship between Lisette and Luc. Their interactions were always full of the best quips. 

Although the twists in this story didn't take me by surprise, I didn't see all of them coming from the start. Some of them definitely almost snuck up on me, but their footsteps were just a little too loud for me to miss. 

The narration felt perfect for the story and the opposite gendered voices didn't bug me at all. 

Overall I give Jester 4.3067 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Brielle D. Porter decided to become a writer after a well-meaning elementary school teacher told her she had a gift for it. Stolen moments under the covers reading anything from Harry Potter to William Goldman solidified the desire to tell stories herself one day. Jester is her debut novel.

Brielle lives with her husband and three sons on a lavender farm in Northern Idaho. When she’s not writing, she can be found running and beekeeping. Only ask her about her hobbies if you have plenty of time to spare.