nerdyrev's review against another edition
4.0
I saw the Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister as one of the past selections from Book of the Month Club. Whoopi Goldberg was the judge for that month, but I had not been part of the club yet and I couldn't pull the trigger on buying the book.
The following week, the book was on an ebook sale, so I thought that fate was throwing me at this book. I took it with me on a work trip and decided to read the whole thing during that trip.
The difficult part was the book was the second book that dealt with abuse against women that I had read. It was something that I was not expecting and after having just finished a book that also had abuse, I wasn't feeling well after reading this one.
The book is about the rise of the Amazing Arden the second female magician of the late 1800s to early 1900s. We follow her life as she moves from a dancer to one of the greatest magicians of her time. She rivals men's tricks and amazes audiences. She is on top of the world, in love, and raking in money until her past catches up with her.
It is also about the murder of her husband, who is laying in the bottom half of one of her greatest tricks, where she uses an ax to cut a man in half. It appears as if she has killed her husband on stage in front of a live audience. She is arrested and interrogated. The book moves back and forth from her interrogation to her story. The question is- which parts are true and which aren't?
I have to admit that I asked my wife- what's up with female authors and writing about abuse? Not because I am unaware of spousal abuse or am ignorant that abuse happens, but because I had finished another book with the same topic, also written by a female author. My wife's response was- does the book have a man that she cannot love because she has to be with the abuser? My response was yes. Her reply was- my dear, you just read a typical romance novel.
I will also admit that I did find some fault with the Amazing Arden's character development. Throughout the book, we see her character grow and get stronger, as she is haunted by the abuse she took as a teenager. That abuse drives her to become the best and the greatest. To me, toward the late part of the book, she once again becomes the Arden that isn't as strong or mighty. From my understanding though, this too can play out in abusive situations. Personally, though I wanted a stronger Arden who has lived, grown, and become the woman she became. I am avoiding spoilers, but should you read it, you will see what I mean.
There are long parts of this book that simply do not move the story forward or develop the character much. The characters though are rich and the story is well written. I found myself, even during the longer parts, desiring to know what is next. I gave this one 3.5 stars.
The following week, the book was on an ebook sale, so I thought that fate was throwing me at this book. I took it with me on a work trip and decided to read the whole thing during that trip.
The difficult part was the book was the second book that dealt with abuse against women that I had read. It was something that I was not expecting and after having just finished a book that also had abuse, I wasn't feeling well after reading this one.
The book is about the rise of the Amazing Arden the second female magician of the late 1800s to early 1900s. We follow her life as she moves from a dancer to one of the greatest magicians of her time. She rivals men's tricks and amazes audiences. She is on top of the world, in love, and raking in money until her past catches up with her.
It is also about the murder of her husband, who is laying in the bottom half of one of her greatest tricks, where she uses an ax to cut a man in half. It appears as if she has killed her husband on stage in front of a live audience. She is arrested and interrogated. The book moves back and forth from her interrogation to her story. The question is- which parts are true and which aren't?
I have to admit that I asked my wife- what's up with female authors and writing about abuse? Not because I am unaware of spousal abuse or am ignorant that abuse happens, but because I had finished another book with the same topic, also written by a female author. My wife's response was- does the book have a man that she cannot love because she has to be with the abuser? My response was yes. Her reply was- my dear, you just read a typical romance novel.
I will also admit that I did find some fault with the Amazing Arden's character development. Throughout the book, we see her character grow and get stronger, as she is haunted by the abuse she took as a teenager. That abuse drives her to become the best and the greatest. To me, toward the late part of the book, she once again becomes the Arden that isn't as strong or mighty. From my understanding though, this too can play out in abusive situations. Personally, though I wanted a stronger Arden who has lived, grown, and become the woman she became. I am avoiding spoilers, but should you read it, you will see what I mean.
There are long parts of this book that simply do not move the story forward or develop the character much. The characters though are rich and the story is well written. I found myself, even during the longer parts, desiring to know what is next. I gave this one 3.5 stars.
nglofile's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. For much of the book I'd been firmly 4, but I was less enamored of the last quarter or so.
When Ada is apprehended under suspicion of murdering her husband in a manner too similar to her trademark illusion, she is asked for her version of events. To buy herself time, and because any story must begin at the earliest relevant part, she starts with her youth. I loved the hook of this approach. As she winds back to different formative times in her life, interspersed with the present-day conversations with the lawman, she seems completely believable and sympathetic and strong and vulnerable all at once. Yet, we as readers are teased with the reminder that the book is entitled The Magician's Lie! This was most compelling. It had been a while since I spent time with a book with little idea of where it was going. Sure, there were hints, conventions, and suspicions, and some of the developments were ones I hoped would be avoided, but it was a good ride.
audiobook note: The production structure makes perfect sense: Julia Whelan voices Ada's telling of her story while Nick Podehl takes on the narration of Virgil's chapters. Both offer strong readings of their respective primary characters. I was less impressed with how each performed voices of opposite genders. In Whelan's case, her choice to enact Clyde with a low-pitched, measured drawl gave the sense he was slow or backwards more than alluring, and I found it difficult to see him as any sort of match for Ava.
When Ada is apprehended under suspicion of murdering her husband in a manner too similar to her trademark illusion, she is asked for her version of events. To buy herself time, and because any story must begin at the earliest relevant part, she starts with her youth. I loved the hook of this approach. As she winds back to different formative times in her life, interspersed with the present-day conversations with the lawman, she seems completely believable and sympathetic and strong and vulnerable all at once. Yet, we as readers are teased with the reminder that the book is entitled The Magician's Lie! This was most compelling. It had been a while since I spent time with a book with little idea of where it was going. Sure, there were hints, conventions, and suspicions, and some of the developments were ones I hoped would be avoided, but it was a good ride.
audiobook note: The production structure makes perfect sense: Julia Whelan voices Ada's telling of her story while Nick Podehl takes on the narration of Virgil's chapters. Both offer strong readings of their respective primary characters. I was less impressed with how each performed voices of opposite genders. In Whelan's case, her choice to enact Clyde with a low-pitched, measured drawl gave the sense he was slow or backwards more than alluring, and I found it difficult to see him as any sort of match for Ava.
byashleylamar's review against another edition
4.0
It all starts out when Arden, famous for sawing a man in half, one night trades her saw for an ax. When her husband is found dead later that night, killed by an ax, Arden is the obvious suspect. Did this famed illusionist kill her husband or was it all...an illusion? She professes her innocence but is she telling the truth or is it all just one big lie? Her career is all smoke and mirrors but in this novel it's her life that is all the line.
I kept going back and forth while reading. Did I believe Arden or not? I also found it a bit odd that handcuffs could hold this amazing illusionist as she sits talking to the officer. Honestly, handcuffs? I didn't buy it; surely a famed illusionist could escape from simple police handcuffs, right? In the end though it all comes together perfectly and I was extremely satisfied.
I kept going back and forth while reading. Did I believe Arden or not? I also found it a bit odd that handcuffs could hold this amazing illusionist as she sits talking to the officer. Honestly, handcuffs? I didn't buy it; surely a famed illusionist could escape from simple police handcuffs, right? In the end though it all comes together perfectly and I was extremely satisfied.
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I'm writing this review months later, and I remember really liking this book. More I cannot say. I will probably revisit it soon.
ellerue's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book, but I just didn't.. But to be fair I still have a bit of a book hangover from the book just finished..
fictionalmandy's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bookkat's review against another edition
4.0
Engaging story, which I really enjoyed, although I felt the ending was a little rushed and a bit of a let down.
bookishnicole's review against another edition
3.0
Really more like 2.5, but I'll bump it up because while I called some of the ending, other parts surprised me.