Common Sense Media Review
By Julie A. Carlson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Stylish mystery has black magic, romance in '20s London.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Anna Van Housen travels to London to perform her magic act with a new theater troupe. She's also in the city to meet a group of underground psychics like herself to learn how to control her powers. Upon her arrival, she meets up with her British boyfriend, Cole, from whom she's been separated for two months. She's happy to be back in his arms and performing her magic for the first time without her mother. But when Pratik, a young man from the psychic group, is murdered, Cole and Anna both try to figure out who killed him. While Cole hones his detective skills, Anna befriends a young man in the theater group and a couple of women among the psychics but becomes jealous of the ladies' attention to Cole. Jealousy starts to cloud Anna's judgment, including her own investigation into Pratik's brutal murder and her own safety.
Is It Any Good?
BORN OF DECEPTION is a great follow-up to Born of Illusion. Readers will thoroughly enjoy Anna's adventures on her own in the big city of London. Although they'll miss Anna figuring out she's Harry Houdini's illegitimate daughter (as she did in the first book) and New York, there are plenty of interesting new situations and locales in the sequel.
Born of Deception moves at a fast pace. The mystery keeps both readers and Anna on their toes. It's a solid whodunit with flair and style similar to the first book. Anna's charm, sparkling wit, strong personality, and will to fight for the man she loves and solve the mystery will keep readers turning the pages. Born of Deception has enough romance, history, secrets, and supernatural elements to appeal to all ages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how jealousy can get the better of you and cloud your thinking, especially leading you to trust -- or mistrust -- the wrong people. Has this ever happened to you?
Many current teen novels are set during the 1920s and have supernatural elements. Do you enjoy reading about this period? What about the 1920s interests you? Do you like the added elements of the supernatural and paranormal?
Occultist Aleister Crowley is portrayed in Born of Deception as a strange, intelligent man who's been mischaracterized as a satanist. Who was Aleister Crowley? Why were his beliefs so controversial?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Balzer + Bray
- Publication date : June 10, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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