Our Mistaken Identity

by Ariana Tosado

Nobody can know that Emmalynn Marie is actually the daughter of Tristan Melicent-Marie Atera, one of the most powerful sorcerers in the world; that's why she's now attending the Callistro Academy, an elite, private, all-girls boarding school that trains its students to become Hunters, people who hunt those like Emma. When the greatest Hunter in history Alexa Delphine finds her and suspects her of being Tristan's descendant--and begins hunting her--Emma soon realizes that everyone around her has a secret; how long can she keep hers? It should be easy for the world's most powerful sorcerer to ever live... right?

Written by 17-year-old Ariana Tosado, "Our Mistaken Identity" is the first book in the Emmalynn Atera series, and Ariana's first serious project. It is the very beginning of Emma's journey, and Ariana hopes it is also the beginning of hers as a young author.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Clean Romance

384 pages, Paperback

Published December 16, 2024

About the author

Ariana Tosado is an author, book editor and formatter, and content creator for teen and young-adult audiences. She started pursuing her passion of writing novels in middle school. Today, she’s homed her focus on the EMMALYNN ATERA Series, promoting THY KINGDOM COME, and writing the next heartwarming (and -shattering) fantasy adventure for her readers. She aims to make the most of her hip keeping her stuck at home by writing books and creating relatable content on her platforms—all with her cat, Sophie, in one hand and an iced vanilla latte in the other.

You can find out more about what she’s up to on her website (www.arianatosado.com) or on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok (@thearianatosado).

Reviews

[m.c. pending · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved OMI so much. Ariana Tosado is an amazing author and she created such a beautiful story of family and love and magic at such a young age!

Also, Emma and Jak? I need MORE. they are beyond cute and I love them so much 💜💜💜💜

my favorite character has to be either Jak or Mr. Dawson. when Mr. Dawson almost died I literally had a heart attack.

Please read this book!!

[L.J. Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may have read this forever and a half ago and just got around to reviewing it, but it hasn't left my mind since! This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading, and by the end of each chapter, I couldn't move on to the next one fast enough! I fell in love with the characters so quickly, and the suspense had me in a chokehold as the biggest plot twists were revealed. I loved this book, and I cannot wait til I get to read more!

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much!! Ariana Tosado can DEFINITELY tell a GREAT story!! With great characters, plot, and setting (and everything in between!!) I loved Emmalynn, and Jak (some of the main characters!!) And I HIGHLY recommend it, if you’re looking for an AMAZING novel!!! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!! 💜💜💜

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely book! I enjoyed reading about Emma and the fascinating world she lives in. The divide between those with magic and those without is creatively blurred as the book goes on. (I’m assuming it going to get even more so as I read the rest of the series!)

My two favorite parts of the book was how high the stakes jumped when Emma lost her magic for a bit there! And the part heen she finally got to give her Dad a hug. That was so beautifully written.

There were a couple points where I was a tad confused on the wording, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the book.

All in all, definitely a lovely read! Especially if you enjoy the boarding school setting mixed with magic! I’m definitely getting my hands on the rest of the books!

[Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic, clean, young adult book. Kinda cheesy at points, but the book as a whole is absolutely fantastic.

[Lauren Fulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5

I've heard quite a lot of hype over Ariana Tosado and the Emmalyn Atera series ever since I joined the Instagram space, and I finally decided to give it a read!
So here we are!

I often have two different opinions on books: How the make me feel vs. How "good" the story actually is. Usually they go hand in hand, but OMI had a but of an imbalance. I enjoyed the book A LOT, but there were a few flaws that bogged down the story a bit. It's in an intro to a series, and I'm not one for **details** so they really didn't affect my overall excitement over the novel, and the SERIES.
One thing this book got me pumped about was the series.
I wish all seven books were out so I could binge.
This book set up an awesome concept for a EPIC series. I cannot wait.

**MAY CONTAIN MINOR SPOILERS**

Characters:
Emmalyn was okay. I didn't mind her character as much persay as I did the trope she fell into. The sort-of-kinda "Chosen One" trope. Now, plenty of my favorite book series have this trope, but I've seen it fail too many times that I'm scared Emmalyn might too.
Who knows?
It just kinda made me lose a bit of interest in her hearing about how oh-so-powerful she is and her great destiny, when we don't see her do too much.

JAK ON THE OTHER HAND **CLEARS THROAT**
He's beautiful, and I love him. Why?
No. Not because he's apparently really hot. (Everyone in this book is canonly hot)
it's because of his complex character. I love the whole "son of the villain helps hero". It's why Keefe from Keeper of the Lost Cities is so interesting.
Jak had by far the most potential, and the most potential USED. He adds the perfect amount of conflict. His character is sweet, and badass. He's level headed, and ugh perfect.
Ariana, I'm SO excited to see what happens to Jak!!

Breanne and Sarah I don't have an opinion on. I actually couldn't tell the difference between them for half od the book, but the more they were on screen, I began to see more. AGAIN. I'm excited to see where they will go. I mean guys, one is a GENIUS, and I love me some well written tech geniuses.

Opal was in TWO scenes, but I LOVE HER. I can sense some antagonistic vibes from her, and I liked how Ariana Tosado didn't make her the "mean girl", even that's where I thought this was heading. I think Opal's curiosity is going to lead her down a path.
Also her purple contacts she never takes out?
IM INTRIGUED.

Alexa Delphine was ... okay? Again, I give her some leeway since this is Book One, but I wish there was more of a dynamic with her. She seems interesting and scary, and has plenty of secrets (like that EPIC plot twist at the end!! THAT WAS AWESOME. SO COOL.), but she didn't really complex. Just evil.
I want to know more how she personally relates with the main cast. Maybe her relationship deeper with Jak?? I don't know, but I hope we'll see her fleshed out more in later books, because with that plot twist, I'm SOOO interested!!

Setting:
Callistro was super cool!!
THat's all I have to say.
The history behind it was interesting, and I wanna know moorreee. Can I attend please?? (Actually, I'd probably fail xD)

The WORLD was so creative. The way Ariana Tosado intertwined magic with the modern world was so clever and super fun to read! Loved it.

Plot:
It was a tad bit predictable, but did a good job covering it's bases to set up what the rest of the series.

I loved this book, and would recommend this EVERYONE who wants to read a series as it's still getting big!!

[Elsa Singer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying, I absolutely loved this story and though there's a revised version out now and I only have the second edition, I still LOVED how Ariana Tosado wrote this!
Parts of the plot did catch me asking "Why don't the characters just do this?" but otherwise, it was a really good read!
I'm SO GLAD my favorite character IS NOT dead too. That was a nice surprise because I did not want to read about a funeral 😭
Anyways, if you like reading about magic and academies (also if you like Harry Potter because this reminded me a lot of it) then this is the book for you!

[zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok, could use an editor but wasn't that bad. impressively original storyline and pretty good characters, i just wasn't getting into it and the action wasn't holding my attention. wouldn't recommend but wouldn't stop you from reading.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review in the drafts
I need time to process this ending lol

[Kailyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN...a definite must read... just a warning... the later books incorporate some heavy topics, so be aware of what you are getting yourself into :)))

[Dana Caldwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - A fun read with killer plot twists.

I constantly see those boarding school aesthetic reels, and they look so cool, but I’m not much of a contemporary reader. Obviously, I got excited when I found out that Our Mistaken Identity is a low fantasy featuring a boarding school (and secret passageways: woohoo!).

What’s this book got to offer?

-Low fantasy
-Boarding school
-Secret passageways
-Magic
-Killer plot twists

It took me a little while to get a handle on the world but once I did, I found that it was pretty dang cool. Though I usually stick to high fantasy, I had a blast learning about the world of OMI. Though it’s similar to ours, it has the added benefit of magic (yay!) and a complicated history of anti-magic practices (and secret hunter schools).

The tension in OMI was nonstop. It was nearly impossible to predict the plot twists (which were insane). Almost every character in this story has secrets (cool). However, that did mean that the characters were terrible at communicating from time to time. I understood some of it, but there were some points where I was just like, why aren’t you mentioning this kinda vital piece of information? For example, why didn’t Emma tell Jak that his stepmother might be dead? She also refrained from telling the whole story about some of the kidnappings, and I have no idea why (I got it for some of them, but I have no idea how she forgot to mention to her mom that it was Alexa Delphine who kidnapped her).

While we’re on the subject, why the heck was Emma kidnapped so much? Like, I’d probably do no better in her situation, but come on, girl. Install a bell on your bedroom door, sleep with a knife, SOMETHING! It was actually kinda funny, TBH.

Okay, moving on.

Jak and Emma were super cute together. I’m really excited to see how their relationship develops over the series. I feel like they’re both keeping secrets that will eventually be exposed in a very dramatic and problematic way. I’m both scared and excited to see what happens.

I loved the arc where Emma lost her magic. Like, I wasn’t expecting that at all and I had no idea how they were going to fix it. Full disclosure, I still don’t fully understand why Emma was able to get her magic back. Maybe I overlooked a key sentence (it wouldn’t be the first time). Though that part of the ending tripped me up, I loved Emma’s reunion with her father.

While a few things confused me, I really liked Our Mistaken Identity, and will definitely be continuing the series.

[Tatiana Tawney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m super super picky when it comes to books like this, and really in general, but OMI was very well-written! I was never unclear on what was happening, and the sentences were well constructed. The vocabulary choice was 98% on point, with a few strangely word choices, but this is me being picky. It was on the whole, very well done.

The characters for the most part were alright. I was disappointed that Sarah and Brianna didn’t do anything, that they fell into the background, kind of blending together. The thing with the three boys: and the constant double/triple dates was weird and very cliche, and I was not a fan. Emma was ok as a character. She seemed to also fall into a bit of a cliched female protagonist, and is she an epic protagonist character I’m going to remember forever? Maybe she’ll redeem herself in the next two books. I’m looking forward to how she’s further defined there.

What I was really here for was the plot. THE PLOT GUYS. The plot was super cool and SO creative! It definitely overshadowed the characters but I was here for it. The backstory, the riddles, the conflict. It was SO GOOD. And the riddles were a clever idea! Kudos to Ariana for writing those- I know from experience how hard riddles are to write! And I’m super excited to see how the plot furthers in the rest of the series!

[Sabez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! Like I fully expected it to be good, but this!!!! THIS!!! This was amazing!! It gave me all the things I want when I read a YA fantasy!
OMI follows Emmalynn Atera (who I loved!) As she attends Callistro academy. An all-girls boarding school for hunters. However, she's the daughter of a powerful sorcerer-- the very person the hunters are after.
The plot took a lot of great turns and kept me hooked from the beginning! The book gave me spy vibes, and I was fully there for it!
The characters were intriguing, and I loved all of them! I think my favorite was probably Mr. Dawson or Emma. It's a hard choice since each character has so many great traits!
Nolan was only vaguely in this book, but I'm sensing a love triangle in future books, which I don't mind because I think Tosado will write it well. So far, I think he was an interesting character, and I'm excited to see him hopefully make an appearance in later books!-- which reminds me, this is a new series, which means the next (five?) books aren't out yet! Yeah... I'm not a very patient person when it comes to sequels. I can't wait to see what else this series has to bring!
Anyway, this is a really long way of telling you to read Our Mistaken Identity right now! It was worth the read 100%
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

[M. B. Springer · Rating 3 out of 5]

SO I enjoyed this book and will probably read the rest of the series, but I'm not a diehard fan or anything. It is a solid start to the series. A lot of it was blandish. Like, the story itself is very high concept and cool, but the teen characters are meh. The adult relationships are really cool, though.

[avery · Rating 2 out of 5]

50% ish through and i couldn’t finish it

[Larissa Gault · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book challenged so many aspects of how I thought YA Fantasy should be written or expressed, and I was so pleased as to the result. In short, this book follows the story of a 15-year-old-girl, Emmalynn Atera, as she attends a school built to eradicate people of magic. The catch is that she has magic herself. The Atera family was one of the most powerful sorcerer families in the world until the present patriarch and Emmalynn's father, Tristan, became close to discovery. He fled the country before he could receive the news of his near-fatherhood from his wife Amy. Now, almost sixteen years later, Amy has enrolled Emmalynn into the school in hopes of providing her daughter with the skills to protect herself against Hunters- people who are trained in the very schools that Emmalynn is now attending. Amy was a Hunter herself and knows that not many people suspect you of affiliating with magic if you have vowed to eradicate it. Emmalynn has never told a single soul of her secret besides her mother and aunt, and when she meets the son of the two Hunters determined to prove she is Tristan's descendant- her truth is threatened.

Our Mistaken Identity covers topics and tropes like the following (just in case you need any more convincing):
-boy falling before the girl
-the struggles of a teen girl growing up without a father
-a mother's guilt
-strong best friend relationships
-sassy and reliable narrator
-a multiracial cast (many characters outside the main cast are not described in terms of skin color or ethnicity- Ariana smartly leaves all aspects up to interpretation so every reader can see themselves in each one)
-(correctly done) loosely based chosen one/prophecy
-accurate and detailed descriptions of magic and spells
-realistic romantic feelings (girl not knowing her feelings toward a boy)

Ariana catches your attention in every paragraph, chapter, and line of dialogue. Unlike some self-published authors, Ariana did a fabulous job of maintaining grammar and spelling rules as if a lifelong professional had combed through it. The plot is engaging, the characters are fully alive, and at every page turn, there are more questions and more things being revealed. This book is truly a masterpiece and should be given credit as such. Emmalynn, Amy, Mr. Dawson, Breanna, Sarah, Jakson, Alexa, Tristan-even Nolan- are as real as you and me.

I would trade anything to be able to read this book again for the first time, but even so, I cannot wait to discover it on my bookshelf as the years go on and be captured once again. If you are still hesitant about reading or buying this book, I would worry about your health. You will not regret it- you'll thank Tristan Atera himself.

[The Nocturnal Booknook · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, this book is amazing. I love the urban fantasy vibe, and the whole hidden magic thing since it’s illegal. I’ve seen some people talking about how the plot/ characters are a tad poorly written, but please keep in mind this was published by a 17 year old author. She’s still young, and still has a lot to learn. Not gonna lie, I cried my eyes out when one of my favorite characters “died” as well as when Emma meets her father. Emma is somewhat the chosen one trope, but please try to get past that. It’s honestly really good. Jak has become one of my many book boyfriends. Emma’s friends are hilarious, and remind me so much of my own friends who drag me places I don’t want to go. The main antagonist of the story isn’t my favorite. I feel she is a bit poorly written. But like I said. 17 year old author, cut her some slack. Overall I really enjoyed the book, I won’t go too deep into the plot since there is a lot and I honestly don’t read reviews that drag out for a long time. This is a must read, especially if you want to support young authors. I can’t wait to read the next in series.

[Paris Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Mistaken Identity has been on my TBR for quite some time, and I am so happy I can now say I have read it! It is more than worth all of the hype it receives.

OMI is set in a real world setting with a magical history woven into our world. This makes the book both familiar and completely new.

I was hooked from start to finish, the character cast is relatable and often has me laughing and smiling with them. Emma’s narration style is fun, she calls it as she sees it which leads to an interesting narrative voice.

The plot twists throughout the book caught me by surprise, but the twists towards the end had me shaking in my boots! (I may or may not have literally let out a strangled “WHAT?!”)

I definitely recommend OMI to anyone looking for a magical read that isn’t your same old, same old. OMI introduces new forms of magic that will keep you intrigued all of the way through!

[Annalise Cavazos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! The characters almost all had backstories that made them more detailed and depth characters. I couldn’t predict nearly any plot twist, cause they were all AMAZING. I love seeing a teenage girl in a book actually act like one, while still showing her character development thought the book.

Her reunion with her father was PHENOMENAL. I loved her relationships between her friends and Jak, they had felt like real friendships.

Like all books it had its flaws and I was bored a little at times, but I feel that the series will progressively get better and that Ariana Tosada had done an amazing job.

[Elisa John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly loved this book SO MUCH!!! Ariana's writing had me hooked from beginning to end. The plot, the characters, and the romance was all soo good! The plot of the story is from the viewpoint of Emmalynn, who's been homeschooled all her life and s finally going to a regular school. BUT its not just any regular school, its the old school where Hunters are trained to hunt her kind, magicians, and ESPECIALLY her family. It's full of plot twists and the romance has no spice, and overall, it's a great book that will leave you on the edge of your seat with all the amazing cliffhangers!
All in all, this is a must read, and I can't wait to finish the series! :)

[Myah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the idea behind this book was really good. It had an interesting plotline and I like the way we were introduced to the story. I think that it got a bit slow towards the end, I know I didn't feel as inclined to pick it up. Other than that I think it was a really good book and I would probably recommend it!

[Pearl Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this?? It was so nice to read and I loved the plot.👌I recommend it to YA fantasy readers. I look forward to reading the sequel, there are so many things I want to see more of and relationships I want to see develop!

[Louise Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book definitely lives up to the hype! I loved every moment of it. I couldn’t do anything else until I finished it. The characters are well developed and the plot line keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.

[Eve Laughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish it. From the very beginning, I didn't like the writing style. It felt too childish, and some things were a bit redundant. I probably made it through the first 5 chapters. I have heard good things about this author, so maybe this book just isn't for me.

[T Nilsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS MY FAVORITE SERIES OF ALL TIME!!!
Quite literally INSANE! The plot twists are something else!
I love that it's our world, but with magic, and the relationships are so well done! Also the cutesy teen romance is the best 🥰

[Thelunarpotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!

[Rueben Delannis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn't my usual genre. It's a good read though. Enjoyed it!

[Kaity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing book!! Ariana Tosado is sooo talented!! The characters and plot and everything are just amazing and I loved the whole book 💙

[zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing! It’s quite the page turner and the prose is beautiful. I fell in love with Emmalyn and Jak from the moment I met them!

[Muhammedali]

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