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The Burdens Trilogy #0
Houdini's Last Trick
The world’s greatest magician has just one chance to pull off an illusion that will save the lives of everyone he loves.
Harry Houdini has a talent unlike any other—and it isn't magic. The famous illusionist has escaped death countless times because of his supernatural ability to see potential outcomes. But when a mysterious man running from a deadly pursuer seeks out the magician for help, the only outcome Houdini sees is death. Now in possession of an ancient object that brings danger to its possessors, Houdini finds himself on a chase that extends from the speakeasies of Manhattan to the grand movie palaces of 1920’s Hollywood. But a final confrontation will force Houdini to decide who can live and who must die.
Houdini’s Last Trick is the standalone prequel to The Sixteen Burdens historical fantasy series. If you like The Night Circus, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, or Abraham Vampire Slayer, then you’ll love Khalaf’s page-turning period-piece adventure with a fantastical twist. Named a finalist for the Black Hills Press Summer Writing Project (2015).
Buy Houdini’s Last Trick today to read the story that started Khalaf’s award-winning series!
Harry Houdini has a talent unlike any other—and it isn't magic. The famous illusionist has escaped death countless times because of his supernatural ability to see potential outcomes. But when a mysterious man running from a deadly pursuer seeks out the magician for help, the only outcome Houdini sees is death. Now in possession of an ancient object that brings danger to its possessors, Houdini finds himself on a chase that extends from the speakeasies of Manhattan to the grand movie palaces of 1920’s Hollywood. But a final confrontation will force Houdini to decide who can live and who must die.
Houdini’s Last Trick is the standalone prequel to The Sixteen Burdens historical fantasy series. If you like The Night Circus, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, or Abraham Vampire Slayer, then you’ll love Khalaf’s page-turning period-piece adventure with a fantastical twist. Named a finalist for the Black Hills Press Summer Writing Project (2015).
Buy Houdini’s Last Trick today to read the story that started Khalaf’s award-winning series!
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Published December 27, 2016
16 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
David Khalaf
7 books36 followersWant to read Houdini's Last Trick, the first book in David's historical adventure series for free? Get it here!
________________________________________
David Khalaf was born in Orange County, California. He studied journalism and creative writing at the University of Southern California, and wrote his first full novel, a futuristic social satire, right out of college. It's still sitting on a shelf somewhere. Don't go looking for it.
David's award-winning historical fantasy adventure series, The Burdens Adventure Series, grew out of David's interest in Los Angeles history and Hollywood during the Golden Age of film.
After nearly twenty years in Los Angeles, he came to know the city well, mostly after getting lost. He still gets lost sometimes. David currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with his husband Constantino. They blog and wrote a book together on same-sex marriage called Modern Kinship .
________________________________________
David Khalaf was born in Orange County, California. He studied journalism and creative writing at the University of Southern California, and wrote his first full novel, a futuristic social satire, right out of college. It's still sitting on a shelf somewhere. Don't go looking for it.
David's award-winning historical fantasy adventure series, The Burdens Adventure Series, grew out of David's interest in Los Angeles history and Hollywood during the Golden Age of film.
After nearly twenty years in Los Angeles, he came to know the city well, mostly after getting lost. He still gets lost sometimes. David currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with his husband Constantino. They blog and wrote a book together on same-sex marriage called Modern Kinship .
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 21, 2018
Short Story Prequel to The Sixteen Burdens gotten free thru giveaway or thru one of my book sites, not sure what genre would be considered or what genres is probably more to point as there is a mix of elements, but definitely entertaining. The Sixteen Burdens is where the story actually picks up around 10 years later, and will definitely try to remember to get that one as well, and it is on kindle unlimited where this one is not.
The world's greatest magician has just one chance to pull off an illusion that will save the lives of everyone he loves.
Harry Houdini has a talent unlike any other—and it isn't magic. The famous illusionist has escaped death countless times because of his supernatural ability to see potential outcomes. But when a mysterious man running from a deadly pursuer seeks out the magician for help, the only outcome Houdini sees is death. Now in possession of an ancient object that brings danger to its possessors, Houdini finds himself on a chase that extends from the speakeasies of Manhattan to the grand movie palaces of 1920's Hollywood. But a final confrontation will force Houdini to decide who can live and who must die.
Houdini's Last Trick/ is the standalone prequel to The Sixteen Burdens historical fantasy series. If you like The Night Circus, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, or Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer, then you'll love Khalaf's page-turning period-piece adventure with a fantastical twist.
got this back in feburary 2017, reviewed on amazon but not here, caught that when one came up for freebie day though have ku so just overlooked series
Houdini's Last Trick (The Burdens Trilogy #0)
The Sixteen Burdens (The Burdens Trilogy #1)
The Unknown Burden (The Burdens Trilogy Book 2)
The world's greatest magician has just one chance to pull off an illusion that will save the lives of everyone he loves.
Harry Houdini has a talent unlike any other—and it isn't magic. The famous illusionist has escaped death countless times because of his supernatural ability to see potential outcomes. But when a mysterious man running from a deadly pursuer seeks out the magician for help, the only outcome Houdini sees is death. Now in possession of an ancient object that brings danger to its possessors, Houdini finds himself on a chase that extends from the speakeasies of Manhattan to the grand movie palaces of 1920's Hollywood. But a final confrontation will force Houdini to decide who can live and who must die.
Houdini's Last Trick/ is the standalone prequel to The Sixteen Burdens historical fantasy series. If you like The Night Circus, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, or Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer, then you'll love Khalaf's page-turning period-piece adventure with a fantastical twist.
got this back in feburary 2017, reviewed on amazon but not here, caught that when one came up for freebie day though have ku so just overlooked series
Houdini's Last Trick (The Burdens Trilogy #0)
The Sixteen Burdens (The Burdens Trilogy #1)
The Unknown Burden (The Burdens Trilogy Book 2)
February 20, 2019
Refreshing; that would be my one word summary of this book. Great writing, flawless pacing, original setting with many historical (Hollywood stars) characters and a truly fun story would be the long version summary. Harry Houdini, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford are all characters that are part of this wonderful story, masterfully weave by a seriously talented author. This is one of the most fun and interesting historical fiction I have read. Highly recommended.
February 28, 2017
It sounds kind of silly if you want to summarize the plot: Harry Houdini gets a McGuffin from the Pope and, to protect it from "the Beast" he enlists the help of Charlie Chaplin. If you get past the historical inaccuracies and deploy a considerable suspension of disbelief, this book is a lot of fun. Plus, Houdini is one of the coolest historical figures ever and the funny dialog wouldn't disappoint Mr. Chaplin. Very entertaining.
December 11, 2015
Like Houdini, I don’t always believe in the supernatural. But…
“‘Maybe it’s not supernatural,’ Bess said. ‘Maybe it’s simply natural. The way I see it, your gift and the gifts of others are what we all should be, and it’s the rest of humanity that has fallen short.’”
This prequel to The Sixteen Burdens doesn’t disappoint. As someone who doesn’t usually read YA, I appreciated the fact that the characters in this book are more mature. The complexities of love and relationship explored by Khalaf in this book will appeal to an older audience, while the action-packed scenes will retain the interest of younger readers.
Houdini’s Last Trick stands on its own, and I didn’t find any spoilers for The Sixteen Burdens. I don’t think it makes any difference which book you pick up first, but having read both, I can’t imagine one without the other.
The use of “interludes” to tell Calamity Jane’s side story is an interesting technique, but it works. It made me want to learn more about the other “Burdens” throughout history.
Khalaf has created a world that draws you in, and gets you thinking. I hope future installments in the series dive deeper into the philosophy behind the premise espoused by Bess in the quote above.
“‘Maybe it’s not supernatural,’ Bess said. ‘Maybe it’s simply natural. The way I see it, your gift and the gifts of others are what we all should be, and it’s the rest of humanity that has fallen short.’”
This prequel to The Sixteen Burdens doesn’t disappoint. As someone who doesn’t usually read YA, I appreciated the fact that the characters in this book are more mature. The complexities of love and relationship explored by Khalaf in this book will appeal to an older audience, while the action-packed scenes will retain the interest of younger readers.
Houdini’s Last Trick stands on its own, and I didn’t find any spoilers for The Sixteen Burdens. I don’t think it makes any difference which book you pick up first, but having read both, I can’t imagine one without the other.
The use of “interludes” to tell Calamity Jane’s side story is an interesting technique, but it works. It made me want to learn more about the other “Burdens” throughout history.
Khalaf has created a world that draws you in, and gets you thinking. I hope future installments in the series dive deeper into the philosophy behind the premise espoused by Bess in the quote above.
August 5, 2016
Whilst reading The Sixteen Burdens, I definitely found myself wanting to know about the Harry Houdini of David Khalaf's imaginative world. Houdini was one of my favorite historical figures when I was a little girl (I wanted to be a magician at one point!) and so it was fun to explore his back story and how it leads up to the story in The Sixteen Burdens.
Harry Handcuff Houdini has the Burden of introspection. He knows every nook and cranny of his body and can see the outcomes of possible events minutes into the future. This is part of what has made him such a good magician plus his beautiful assistant and his love for magic.
Houdini doesn't realize that there are others like him until he chances to run into Calamity Jane, a Burden who has a gift for hunches. He's also sought out by the Pope himself, who passes on Newton's Eye and puts Houdini right smack dab in the middle of trouble.
The novella isn't quite what I expected-I think I was expecting a different story from the way Houdini is portrayed in The Sixteen Burdens-but it was fun and definitely ties all of the loose ends together.
Harry Handcuff Houdini has the Burden of introspection. He knows every nook and cranny of his body and can see the outcomes of possible events minutes into the future. This is part of what has made him such a good magician plus his beautiful assistant and his love for magic.
Houdini doesn't realize that there are others like him until he chances to run into Calamity Jane, a Burden who has a gift for hunches. He's also sought out by the Pope himself, who passes on Newton's Eye and puts Houdini right smack dab in the middle of trouble.
The novella isn't quite what I expected-I think I was expecting a different story from the way Houdini is portrayed in The Sixteen Burdens-but it was fun and definitely ties all of the loose ends together.
December 31, 2016
Just like in a magic show, "Houdini's Last Trick" has surprise and flare on every page. I'm excited to read on with "The Burdens Trilogy." David Khalaf is a very talented writer who made this story play out just like a movie in my mind.
Readers will enjoy this story if they enjoy historic fiction and adventure. I can't wait to show it to my nephew who is a major history buff and also fascinated by magicians.
Readers will enjoy this story if they enjoy historic fiction and adventure. I can't wait to show it to my nephew who is a major history buff and also fascinated by magicians.
February 4, 2016
I had read The Sixteen Burdens and wanted to read this prequel. I am so glad I did! It made Sixteen Burdens even more interesting. Houdini's Last Trick is a fun read and hits all of the things I enjoy in a book: historical fiction, young adult, mystery. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the trilogy.
February 19, 2017
This was an incredible new historical fantasy spin on Houdini and religion.
I didn't know what I expected when I started reading it, but I wasn't expecting a tight story, with a solid plot and memorable characters!
An author and series to watch for!
I didn't know what I expected when I started reading it, but I wasn't expecting a tight story, with a solid plot and memorable characters!
An author and series to watch for!
December 24, 2015
This started out good, but I lost interest as it went along. It was well written though.
February 7, 2016
Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews