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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Michelle Collier

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a great mystery! Adrijana want nothing more than adventure in her life. When she goes to the palace with her father, she gets more than she thought. She discovers the truth about herself and is thought to have killed the queen. She and Dragan one of the mesmerist helps her to uncovers the truth of the murders happening around them. I love this book. Such great characters.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Erica Fish

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Mesmerist by Claire Luana was a book that I could not wait to read. I never hesitate to pick up a book by Claire Luana because I know that there is an adventure waiting for me. I was not disappointed at all. This book is full of adventure. Around every curve, there is something else to surprise me. The characters are complex and fully developed. This story is about the Royal family and the trouble they are in. Adrijana is the village girl who gains access to the court when the queen was pushed to her death. She has a lot on her plate and she is trying to mount an investigation and she needs to do it quickly. I highly recommend this book to see what happens to Adrijana and her investigation.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Ariel Jensen

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After an invite from a childhood friend takes Adrijana to court, her life is flipped upside down after a seemingly simple question. Being new to the court, Adrijana becomes the obvious suspect in a series of deaths. How can she prove her innocence? Aligning with a royal Mesmer, she sets out to unravel the mysterious deaths and ultimate plot to destabilize the only home she’s ever known. What will it take to unravel the truth and protect those dearest to her?

This young adult fantasy mystery will draw you in immediately. Having never read anything by this author, something was intriguing about the short synopsis that first drew me to this book. As with any new-to-me author, I was skeptical but I’m so relieved to find that this book was one of the best YA fantasy books I’ve ever read.

The flow of storytelling is so incredibly polished that the reader becomes immersed in the world of Adrjssia from the first page. Claire Luana does an eloquent job of setting the tone and atmosphere of this new world without drowning the reader in minute details. This story could have easily been drawn out into multiple books but it works perfectly as a stand-alone tale. I am a reader who typically tries to figure out the mystery before the narrator does. However, this was not the case in this book. The reading was easy enough to follow along while gripping to keep me drawn to the moment instead of jumping ahead. There’s an expertly practiced balance between the mystery, depth of the characters, and seductiveness of journeying with Adrijana.

Overall, this book deserves nothing less than five stars.

Reviewed by @arielmj

The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Whitney Morrison

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So many plot twists and what the heck moments! I absolutely loooved The Mesmerist. Jana tries to see the good in everyone even if they’ve shown otherwise in some ways and I really related to that. I couldn’t put this book down because I just had to find out what was going on! Magic book with plot twists are one of my favorites and I was amazed by this book. Overall amazing world building, characters and just great story that kept me wanting more!

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Audrie Harrington

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fantasy mystery with a new take on magical abilities that I had not read before. The story takes place in a royal court where Adrijana has come to visit her best friend, Simeon, and also try to work for or befriend the princess so she can stay. The story unfolds as the Mesmers discover her true identity which her father had been hiding using a plant they grow and deliver to the royal court. Mesmers had been mostly killed off in the kingdom and are often thought of as having terrible magic and powers. Members of the royal family are dying and Adrijana is trying to help solve the mystery and the murders, while also learning the new powers that come with being a Mesmer. There are wonderful characters that are easy to follow as the story is told and there are mysteries and plot twists that keep you guessing as you flip the pages.

Reviewed by @bibliophilenerd
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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Megan Watson

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The “who done it?” books always get my suspicions going and everyone is guilty until innocent in my mind. I had that feeling throughout most of this book and loved it! Andrijana is a 17 year old girl from a farm village and is very excited to experience her first time at court. When the queen mysteriously falls to her death, Adrijana’s life is turned upside down as eyes look to the new girl for a person to blame.
Dragan, a royal mesmer – is her only ally as she tries to maneuver through the mystery of who had the motive and the most to gain by the murder of the queen and other royals. Mesmers are gifted people that have the ability to analyze and affect another person’s emotions. Meanwhile, the neighboring enemy kingdom the Vruks have an army closing in and it looks like war is inevitable. Andrijana is going to have to filter through the lies, half truths, and her own emotions if she’s to find the one who framed her and hopefully save the kingdom too.
Andrijana is a relatable and loveable character. The feeling of mystery that this story gave me was exciting and I enjoyed every bit of it. By the end of it I was definitely wondering how much a girl had to go through and begging the author the give her a break! A wonderful read.

View all my reviewsThe Mesmerist, Claire Luana, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, YA, Fantasy, Mystery, Crime

The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Edie Kelleher

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great YA Fantasy! The world building and character development was sensational, making me feel like I was right there in the book. With lots of mystery and magic, the plot keeps you turning the pages wondering what is going to happen next. I don’t want to spoil anything, but this is definitely a must read!

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Ember Daley

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana

Can I have some more please? I did not want this world to end! 10/10 would absolutely recommend to anyone who asks for a good fantasy book. This did it. Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, and not wanting to believe I was a real person and didn’t exist in this story. This was my first book by the author and I was impressed.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Anna Hirsch

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Mesmerist by Claire Luana
4 Stars

This is an enthralling story set in a fantastic world. The author did an amazing job of world building that when you read, you will enter a whole new realm full of magic, mystery and intrigue. The story is original and creative. Adrijana heads to the palace with her father to visit her friend Simeon. Unfortunately during her first night there, a murder occurs and she is blamed. The same night she learns that she is a mesmerist as well. Her life is turned upside down. Although acquitted of the first death, the royal family is being eliminated one by one. If she ever wants to enjoy her life, Adrijana must solve this mystery and find the real murderer.

The story is filled with twists and turns that will keep you wanting more. The magic of Mesmerism was fun to explore. The author was creative and inventive with their powers. You will go on a wild adventure of magic and mystery. You will not be disappointed.

Review by @Anna Hirsch
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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Erica Shoebridge

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantastic paranormal story with a page-turning plot, compelling characters, and complicated mystery. Adrijana longs to get away from her provincial verbena farm and live in the city with the interesting and colourful characters that reside there. She finally gets her wish, and the adventure is much more than she bargained for. A murderer is on the loose, one who has a very particular set of powers – and a small list of possible suspects. But there is more going on than most people are aware. Will the murderer be revealed before the body count gets too high?
Adrijana is an awesome heroine – brave, intelligent and lacking in the hubris that many of those who live at court embody. The friendships she makes with Simeon, Georgi and Nevena help her to survive the cunning of shadowy forces. Each of them are interesting in their own right, very well-developed characters. Dragan was my favourite – his true nature is so elusive and it was great fun trying to keep up. A must read for fantasy and YA lovers!

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Rosanna Ingram

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Adrijana, or Jana to her friends, is at the castle to visit her friend Simeon, who is a guard there. While Jana is at the castle, the queen is murdered and her, along with her father, are considered suspects. Simultaneously, Jana is learning that she has powers that may help her find the killer…but also make her a target for others. She must figure out who is telling the truth, who is lying, who is using her, and navigate the world of royal politics at the same time.

This story thrusts you into the world of Adrjssian head-first! There are twists and turns that I never saw coming. Jana finds herself on both sides of the story…hero and villain…while she figures out who she is, who she can trust, and what she is capable of.

I am glad that I went into this story without knowing anything…so I won’t give anything away so others can do the same! Such a good book…and I’m hoping there is another one!

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Sheri Schrader

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Mesmerist is a fantasy, magical story. I was excited to pick this book up because I had read the author’s books before. The book ties together an incredible story, fantasy, magic, and intrigue. I enjoyed the world-building and the different levels of magic. The characters are well developed. I do not want to say too much about the plot because I do not want to give anything away. The story has many twists and turns, and I enjoyed how the plot was not a cookie-cutter mystery. I know this is a standalone book and not part of a series, but it leaves me wanting more from this world. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Lisa Helmick

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This started off a bit slow, as the author builds the world and the characters, but as the story progressed it became one I couldn’t put down. I really enjoy reading stories where the whole world is made up and this one is filled with suspense, surprise and wonder. The author really built some great complicated characters as well and I loved never knowing who was trustworthy and who was untrustworthy. Each one is multi faceted and most have some wonderful growth. Did I have a favorite? Well I did lean a certain way but then I felt like Adrijana more than once doubting my judgement. That’s what makes this a great story..even the reader can’t figure it out.

Its hard to write this without giving anything away. If you love a great fantasy with outstanding characters and their sidekicks…. this story is for you and me!

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by La Toya Lewis

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What can I say about The Mesmerist? This book is absolutely amazing. Great characters, amazing world-building. This was definitely my kind of book. Our main character Adrijana is wonderfully intelligent, loving, and woefully naive. She’s also a very quick study. The characters are not dumbed down for the sake of the plot and I can totally see certain choices and/or mistakes. There were great twists and turns and I even had sympathy for the villain which almost never happens for me. I’d love to see a redemption arc if that were possible in some way. I adored all the characters. Even grumpy Valko. This was an amazing adventure. Everyone should run to read this book!

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Katie Matthews

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve read quite a few books by this author now and I absolutely love her creative writing style. Her attention to detail and wonderful imagination means she manages to bring the world of fantasy to life as I’m reading. I can always imagine exactly what she is describing. This story was full of action from the very beginning, I really liked Adrijana, she was such a great character to read about. There were a few parts of the story which I were different from other books from this author but it was all well written. There was so much going on in the story that my interest was definitely captured from beginning to end.
Overall, a really enjoyable read full of action and fantasy!

@katiem

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Dahnielle Hibbert

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Looking for a novel full of mystery, intrigue, political twists and magic? Then look no further. This book has it all. Adrijana is under suspicion for killing off the royal family one by one. With the help of Dragan she will try to clear her name. Dragan is a magician who can read and manipulate the thoughts and emotions of people around him. Can they work fast enough to clear Adrijana’s name before another death takes place?
This novel captured my attention from the first page all the way until the last page. I simply could not put it down. The character development is amazing and the plot puts you right in he middle of it all. Definitely worth the read!!

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The Mesmerist: A Young Adult Fantasy Mystery by Claire Luana Reviewed by Jasmin Slagle

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Adrijana is a village girl who is trying to discover who is killing the Adrjssian royals. Not only are the royals dying but the Vruk army is surrounding their borders. There is a surprise around every corner. This is my first read by Claire Luana and now I have to find and consume all of her books. LOL

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Amber Poole

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a sucker for anything magical and this story sucked me right in from the first line. The author has an amazing way of painting images with her words. This is my first book by this author but it won’t be my last. Not only is this story about magic, it’s also a murder mystery. There were twist and turns everywhere. Things aren’t what they appear to be. What you learned as a child isn’t always the truth. This book was an amazing read. I highly recommend it. The cover art is always beautiful.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana- Review by Lauren West

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of the best fantasy books I have started this year! I could not put this book down, and I know I will be reading it again! This story was a dark fantasy with mystery/murder in-between that pulled you in completely.
One decision in Adrijana’s life managed to change her entire future. New to the court and exploring the unknown she ends up being accused of murdering the Queen, and then events only spiral from there.
Given the situation Adrijana the MFC was amazing and fearless. She has to endure a lot of accusations and uncertainty toward her, but she only prevails and soon learns she has magic of a higher power. There were so many twists and turns until the very end, and every character had an air of mystery to their true intentions. This book is one you will not put down until the end.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Carla Clemmons

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This young adult mystery jumps right in and grabs your attention! It draws you in quickly when Jana and her papa arrive at the palace and soon events take an unexpected turn. I definitely was not expecting all of the intense plot twist in this story. To learn about the mesmers and all the power they hold is crazy to imagine. I definitely recommend reading this when you have time to keep reading as you won’t want to put this book down! I will be looking into more of this authors book!

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Erin Wolf

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was so, so good. I have read this author before and she has yet again weaved such an intriguing tale full of fantasy, a enraptured story, and wonderful characters. I was drawn in right away and could not put the book down until I was done. Who needs sleep or food when you’re engrossed in such a good book?

The story is something new and quite compelling. The characters are mostly young adult, but this book is written in such a way that us older adults will also enjoy it immensely. Speaking of the characters, they are done in such a realistic fashion, I feel like they could easily be my neighbors. They aren’t perfect, but have their own issues. They also learn and grow as the book goes on. This is what makes a good character to me. This book has fantasy, adventure, heartbreak — you will feel everything imaginable. There are also plenty of twists so you never know what will happen next or whom to trust.

If you are a fan of Fantasy, I highly recommend this book. To the author — please give us more of this fantastic world!

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Stephanie nicole

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story intrigued me from the very beginning. I didn’t even have to read the synopsis for this book, it’s cover pulled me in right away with its deep rich colors, and details. But once I opened the story I simply couldn’t put it down, with great characters, magic and a who done it plot, who on earth could put it down. But this book was full of so much more, including passion, betrayal, fear, and even murder. This was definitely a magical, twisted roller coaster ride and while it ended pretty decently I would love for the author to take some loose ends and give us another story. So if your looking for a great new read this week pick this one up today, trust me you won’t be disappointed.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Lorralei Hoerner

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 Stars!!!
What a wonderful book!!! Plot twists, turns, danger and who done it all wrapped into a fantastic read.

Adrijana becomes a suspect when someone is starting to kill off the Royal Adrjssian family one by one. Not only must she try and solve this to clear her name she also finds out about a special ability she has. Trying to piece the mystery of these murders, can Adrijana trust anyone?

This book is a must read!

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Corine Lombardi-Quiles

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book wasn’t the best it was AMAZING!
It was young adult so I picked it up because it has a beautiful cover.
It was good, the plot does keep you guessing.
The mystery of it is an OMG.
This book had me on the edge of my seat.
And as the first read from this author I was very surprised it was so good.
Felt like it was more fantasy then mystery and that’s just an honest opinion.
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
A lot goes on in this book and the magic was the best part.
These female MCs that I have read lately are seriously like wow.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Tia Martel

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Queen has been murdered!

When the Adrjissian royal family is being murdered one by one, the only thing that’s changed is Adrijana has come to the capitol. Determined to clear herself from the crimes, she agrees to stay and enlists the help of a charming royal Mesmerist, Dragan Vulpe, one of the magicians who can read and manipulate the thoughts and emotions of people around him.

But if the murders aren’t enough, the Vruk army is closing in on the borders around the capitol and it looks like the Vruk ambassadors are the biggest suspects in the deaths. As Adrijana investigates she finds evidence leading toward a Mesmer being involved and wonders who and what she can trust about those around her and herself. She’s going to have to find the killer before it’s too late.

The Mesmerist was a truly enchanting tale about a young girl trying to find her way in the world. The first few chapters felt a little slow for me but by Chapter 9 I didn’t want to put it down. It was fun, upbeat and you really feel for Adrijana as she struggles through finding herself and a killer in a palace where she thought she could find friendship.

This book has twists and turns and definitely kept me wondering what we were going to uncover next. If you enjoy magic and intrigue, you’ll love The Mesmerist.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Mesmerist is a stunning fantasy mystery, set in a royal court. It’s a stand-alone story packed with rich details and intriguing secrets that will draw readers in. A real treat for young adult readers!
I was intrigued from the start, with so many questions I was desperate to get answers to. Why was Adrijana’s father so worried about taking her to the city? What would it be like – would it live up to her expectations?
The setting is great! There’s a bit of magic, and it’s heavily tied in to power and politics. The Mesmers can see people’s thoughts and emotions, but there are those who are immune to their abilities, who are also the kinds of people you can’t accuse lightly. So Adrijana and Dragan, the royal Mesmer, have to tread carefully as they try to uncover the truth and deliver justice. At the same time, there’s all the glitz and glamour of a royal court, and the exciting melting pot of different cultures.
This book gets five stars from me! I would recommend it to fantasy lovers who enjoy stories with a royal setting, such as the Tortall books. I would love to read more, and in a way it’s a shame it’s a stand-alone, but the author has written plenty more that you can enjoy once you’ve savoured The Mesmerist.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Chrissy Spulak

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book I have picked up by this author, and it will not be the last. Once again, I am late to the party, but I will not be leaving any time soon! This book is the perfect adventure to fall into. There is a little something for everyone and, not to mention, great characters to sweep you away into the world of murder, lies, deceit, and so much more. Fantastic read and I HIGHLY recommend this book!

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Trish Ann

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was good and different than my usual reads. It was a bid lagging and slow in terms of plot for me because some parts were information overload. I was captivated by Adrijana’s quest for innocence. She also was a character you connect with because we all have doubts and second-guess ourselves. I like when stories have me keep guessing.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Stars
The Mesmerist by Claire Luana

The Mesmerist is a Fantasy/Romance that I absolutely loved reading. I was captivated from the beginning and had a terrible time putting it down. The cover is amazing and I found myself staring at it for several minutes. Something about it is just relaxing. I’m a huge fan of this author and she continues to blow me away with her ability to make you feel as if you are a part of the story. Wow what an adventure, the characters are great and the twists and turns had me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. I could go on and on but I won’t. I can’t recommend this author or this book enough. I assure you that you won’t be disappointed. This has just landed on my favorites list by this author and I will definitely be re-reading several times in the future. I look forward to seeing what she brings us next.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Ashley Johnson

The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely devoured this book! I finished it in one setting and did not get any sleep! I loved the characters and it had great world building. This story had you second guessing yourself. I thought I had it figured out many times but boy was I wrong! I can’t wait to read more from this author!

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