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AVRA-K #2
Scheme (2)
The key to good is found in truth.
Genevieve may have left the circus behind in Oregon, but there is plenty of show still to come.
When she and Henry land in France, they are whisked away to Croix-Mare, the home of Henry’s grandfather, Nutesh, where they will prepare for a journey they never could’ve imagined. Now that they have all three AVRAKEDAVRA texts—Life, Death, and Memory—the books must be destroyed in the Undoing.
However, it’s not as simple as taking the books to their birthplace in Babylon and setting them alight. Genevieve and Henry must rely on unexpected allies as they embark on a harrowing global search to acquire pieces necessary to complete the Undoing. They’re offered cover and protection by La Vérité, the secret network of followers devoted to the message of the AVRAKEDAVRA, who, not surprisingly, are found under the big top—because no one does underground quite like the circus.
But loyalties among the magical community are fragile. Genevieve, still grieving the loss of her mother, now struggles to control the new AVRAKEDAVRA-bestowed gifts, and with mounting threats to her psyche and body, she clings mightily to the promise of a brighter future once this is over—if they can survive it. And Henry, broken by his father’s treachery but entranced by the heartwarming connection his family’s text has granted him, grapples with the fact that once they succeed in destroying the books, he’ll lose the only family he has left.
Together, our two young heirs will learn that when hope has abandoned us, the overwhelming love of friendship and family is all the magic we need.
Genevieve may have left the circus behind in Oregon, but there is plenty of show still to come.
When she and Henry land in France, they are whisked away to Croix-Mare, the home of Henry’s grandfather, Nutesh, where they will prepare for a journey they never could’ve imagined. Now that they have all three AVRAKEDAVRA texts—Life, Death, and Memory—the books must be destroyed in the Undoing.
However, it’s not as simple as taking the books to their birthplace in Babylon and setting them alight. Genevieve and Henry must rely on unexpected allies as they embark on a harrowing global search to acquire pieces necessary to complete the Undoing. They’re offered cover and protection by La Vérité, the secret network of followers devoted to the message of the AVRAKEDAVRA, who, not surprisingly, are found under the big top—because no one does underground quite like the circus.
But loyalties among the magical community are fragile. Genevieve, still grieving the loss of her mother, now struggles to control the new AVRAKEDAVRA-bestowed gifts, and with mounting threats to her psyche and body, she clings mightily to the promise of a brighter future once this is over—if they can survive it. And Henry, broken by his father’s treachery but entranced by the heartwarming connection his family’s text has granted him, grapples with the fact that once they succeed in destroying the books, he’ll lose the only family he has left.
Together, our two young heirs will learn that when hope has abandoned us, the overwhelming love of friendship and family is all the magic we need.
456 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2020
1 person is currently reading
400 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Sommersby
5 books317 followersI am a writer, copy/line editor, bibliophile, and mom of four living in the Great White North.
Represented by Stacey Kondla of The Rights Factory.
Romantic comedies under Eliza Gordon.
Website: www.jennsommersby.com
Facebook: Jennifer Sommersby
Instagram: @jennsommersbyauthor
Twitter: @JennSommersby
Represented by Stacey Kondla of The Rights Factory.
Romantic comedies under Eliza Gordon.
Website: www.jennsommersby.com
Facebook: Jennifer Sommersby
Instagram: @jennsommersbyauthor
Twitter: @JennSommersby
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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October 9, 2019who was allowed to let this cover become official???
May 5, 2020
Such a wonderful conclusion to this two-book story! I could not put it down.
July 29, 2020
The anticipated sequel to Sleight, Scheme is here! I just wanted to start off by giving a huge thanks to Jennifer herself for sending me an early copy – you are too kind!
Thankfully, I was able to slide right into the next book after I finished Sleight, which makes reviewing this book a whole lot easier. The magic of it all is so in-depth that it takes me a few chapters each time to be fully immersed in it, but in a good way! There's so many little twists and turns its hard to remember them all at once, then you come across a plot point and you're like, wait, I knew that!
Gen's character arc grows even more from the last book, as does her relationship with Henry. I really liked how she was at the end, so the ending left me satisfied. We get to see more of her interacting with side characters, which I enjoyed – especially her back and forths with a new character I can't name due to spoilers.
Off that, is the plot. I would say I liked the first book more, but that's just my opinion, and the second was still a great adventure. I just didn't find this one as engaging – but really enjoyed all the visual writing, which helped me really get into the book.
Thanks again to Jennifer for sending me a copy – Scheme is in bookstores now, and I highly recommend you pick it up! I'd give this book a solid 3.5/5 stars.
Thankfully, I was able to slide right into the next book after I finished Sleight, which makes reviewing this book a whole lot easier. The magic of it all is so in-depth that it takes me a few chapters each time to be fully immersed in it, but in a good way! There's so many little twists and turns its hard to remember them all at once, then you come across a plot point and you're like, wait, I knew that!
Gen's character arc grows even more from the last book, as does her relationship with Henry. I really liked how she was at the end, so the ending left me satisfied. We get to see more of her interacting with side characters, which I enjoyed – especially her back and forths with a new character I can't name due to spoilers.
Off that, is the plot. I would say I liked the first book more, but that's just my opinion, and the second was still a great adventure. I just didn't find this one as engaging – but really enjoyed all the visual writing, which helped me really get into the book.
Thanks again to Jennifer for sending me a copy – Scheme is in bookstores now, and I highly recommend you pick it up! I'd give this book a solid 3.5/5 stars.
April 18, 2020
I loved the magical world that Jennifer Sommersby has created in this series! She does a great job of world-building, and this is a story that easily sucks you right into the environment.
The story picks up where Book 1, Sleight ends. It is time for the three AVRAKEDAVRA books to be destroyed. The journey is not nearly as easy as Genevieve and Henry would like though! They encounter new friends that they need to partner with to help them destroy the books. I really enjoyed these additional characters in the story. I thought that they were nice additions and offered a great expansion to the world-building.
Genevieve and Henry both realize that they have struggles to overcome, even though they are now heirs to the AVRAKEDAVRA gifts. I liked that there was this dangerous journey to destroy the books that created the outward, physical struggle for the main characters. At the same time, they were individually trying to understand and overcome their own internal concerns about family and relationships.
The characters are just as wonderful as they were in book one. I enjoyed the additional character growth that both Genevieve and Henry go through as the story progresses. Genevieve is excellent as delivering these lovely cutting comments and I loved each time she dished one out.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. I liked the world and the characters. The plot was fun, and it was a nice follow-up to book 1.
To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Scheme for readers that like a magical fantasy. I would highly recommend that readers read book 1 in this series, Sleight, before jumping into this book. While there is a small reintroduction to the characters and the story at the beginning of Scheme, I think you would find the book much more enjoyable if you read the first book before starting this one. If you haven’t read book 1, I have a bit of a synopsis farther down in this review.
I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
My full review of this book will post to my blog on 4/21/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/all-boo...
The story picks up where Book 1, Sleight ends. It is time for the three AVRAKEDAVRA books to be destroyed. The journey is not nearly as easy as Genevieve and Henry would like though! They encounter new friends that they need to partner with to help them destroy the books. I really enjoyed these additional characters in the story. I thought that they were nice additions and offered a great expansion to the world-building.
Genevieve and Henry both realize that they have struggles to overcome, even though they are now heirs to the AVRAKEDAVRA gifts. I liked that there was this dangerous journey to destroy the books that created the outward, physical struggle for the main characters. At the same time, they were individually trying to understand and overcome their own internal concerns about family and relationships.
The characters are just as wonderful as they were in book one. I enjoyed the additional character growth that both Genevieve and Henry go through as the story progresses. Genevieve is excellent as delivering these lovely cutting comments and I loved each time she dished one out.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. I liked the world and the characters. The plot was fun, and it was a nice follow-up to book 1.
To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Scheme for readers that like a magical fantasy. I would highly recommend that readers read book 1 in this series, Sleight, before jumping into this book. While there is a small reintroduction to the characters and the story at the beginning of Scheme, I think you would find the book much more enjoyable if you read the first book before starting this one. If you haven’t read book 1, I have a bit of a synopsis farther down in this review.
I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
My full review of this book will post to my blog on 4/21/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/all-boo...
June 17, 2020
I absolutely adored Jennifer’s first book, and first book in the series, Sleight (you can find my review here), and I have been not-so-patiently waiting for the past two years for book two. I re-read Sleight before diving into Scheme, and it was such a delight to spend two books’ worth of time back with the Cinzio Traveling Players, Geni and Henry, Baby (probably my favorite character), the sweet elephants Gertrude and Houdini, tough-but-tame lion Othello, and to meet all of the new characters that are there to help (and hinder!) Geni and Henry in their quest. In book one, Geni and Henry learned all about their heritage, their special abilities, and the magical books to which they are heirs. In book two, they are determined to put an end to the magical books, so they must embark on a dangerous quest to gather the special keys that will allow them to do so. Scheme gives us even more adventure than the first book, while not losing the fun and grandeur of circus life that I loved so much from Sleight. We also get to meet a bunch of new characters, and I really enjoy all of the characters that Jennifer creates. If you enjoyed Sleight, you are going to love Scheme as well!
Rating: 5 stars!
**Disclosure: I received an early e-copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this blog tour. This review is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review of the book.
Rating: 5 stars!
**Disclosure: I received an early e-copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this blog tour. This review is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review of the book.
September 21, 2023
I am so upset with myself for not reading this series sooner, but I'm so glad I finally have!
The Avrakedavra duology: Sleight and Scheme (or The Undoing for Canadian readers) is a magical mix of everything I want in a fantasy with none of the typical grievances I have with YA books (it's nothing against them; I'm just too old for the teenage angst).
Genevieve and Henry, oh my goodness, Sommersby puts these two─and readers─through a maelstrom of emotions. Heartrending losses endured and grief profoundly felt with no reprieve (especially in Scheme) on their globetrotting mission makes your heart pump with every anticipated danger you just know is manifesting around every corner... It's an exhilarating magical adventure filled with mystery, peril, found family, friendships and love.
The Avrakedavra duology is heartbreaking but also heartmending along the way. It's a journey only the best fantasy adventures can take you on and one that will stay with you long after the last words on the page are read.
NOTE: If you're like me and tend to shy away from YA (any genre) DON'T do that with this series. There is no teenage angst or high school drama. Most of the time I completely forgot that Genevieve and Henry are eighteen/seventeen since neither had traditional upbringings and were already past all that. So any hang-ups you have about YA (like I have) do not apply here.
The Avrakedavra duology: Sleight and Scheme (or The Undoing for Canadian readers) is a magical mix of everything I want in a fantasy with none of the typical grievances I have with YA books (it's nothing against them; I'm just too old for the teenage angst).
Genevieve and Henry, oh my goodness, Sommersby puts these two─and readers─through a maelstrom of emotions. Heartrending losses endured and grief profoundly felt with no reprieve (especially in Scheme) on their globetrotting mission makes your heart pump with every anticipated danger you just know is manifesting around every corner... It's an exhilarating magical adventure filled with mystery, peril, found family, friendships and love.
The Avrakedavra duology is heartbreaking but also heartmending along the way. It's a journey only the best fantasy adventures can take you on and one that will stay with you long after the last words on the page are read.
NOTE: If you're like me and tend to shy away from YA (any genre) DON'T do that with this series. There is no teenage angst or high school drama. Most of the time I completely forgot that Genevieve and Henry are eighteen/seventeen since neither had traditional upbringings and were already past all that. So any hang-ups you have about YA (like I have) do not apply here.
April 19, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher and Rockstar Book Tours. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Scheme
Author: Jennifer Sommersby
Book Series: AVRA-K Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (some romance, death, violence)
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Pages: 432
Amazon Link
Synopsis: From Cirque Magnifique to Tanrilar Sirk,
From Europe to the sands of Babylon ...
Continue the adventure with Genevieve, Henry, and Baby in the sequel to SLEIGHT.
Review: I thought this book did well to build on the first book. It further developed our main characters, the world building greatly expanded, and the book did well to introduce new characters and settings. I continued to love the writing and the plot was intriguing and fun!
However, the pacing was still slower than what I would like it to be and I felt that the book became more character centric than about the main issue at hand.
Verdict: I recommend this series!
Book: Scheme
Author: Jennifer Sommersby
Book Series: AVRA-K Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (some romance, death, violence)
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Pages: 432
Amazon Link
Synopsis: From Cirque Magnifique to Tanrilar Sirk,
From Europe to the sands of Babylon ...
Continue the adventure with Genevieve, Henry, and Baby in the sequel to SLEIGHT.
Review: I thought this book did well to build on the first book. It further developed our main characters, the world building greatly expanded, and the book did well to introduce new characters and settings. I continued to love the writing and the plot was intriguing and fun!
However, the pacing was still slower than what I would like it to be and I felt that the book became more character centric than about the main issue at hand.
Verdict: I recommend this series!
April 21, 2020
Now in possession of all three books of the AVRAKEDAVRA, Genevieve and Henry are off to collect what's needed to destroy the books. Lucien and Aveline are on their trail. As they learn some secrets about their connected families they realize it's not so easy to get rid of. The second book in the AVRAKEDAVRA series is very different from its predecessor. Whereas Sleight focused on Delia and how the discovery of how her connection to the books upended her life, Scheme is a high stakes chase around the world to destroy the books before the villains could get the power of the books. There are fewer quiet moments and a lot more twists and cliffhangers from page one. With the protagonists away from everything that's familiar the supporting characters are mostly members of the organization devoted to protecting the books. Their journey sends them to France, Iraq, and other spots which Sommersby brings to life. Still, ramping up the thrills may be jarring to readers who prefer the quieter and more grounded Sleight. Fans of the Caracal series by Stephanie Garber may enjoy this series.
May 13, 2020
This book is the much-awaited sequel to Sleight. Genevieve and Henry are the seventeen-year-old heirs to two of three ancient magical texts with the power to preserve everlasting life, or destroy it if they fall into the wrong hands. The story follows their race through Europe and the Middle East, along with a secret society sworn to protect them, in a desperate attempt to locate the third text, and ultimately destroy all three.
Why I loved it:
The characters: Great chemistry between the slightly flawed, but completely relatable and even more loveable main characters.
The premise: I’m a huge fan of anything magic, especially when combined with high stakes.
The pacing: It’s insane. This book rushes forward like a freight train. Make sure you have time to read the whole thing in one go, because you won’t be able to stop.
The setting: The author manages to set us in each scene so brilliantly that you will feel like you are in every single one of these many exotic locations, right alongside Genevieve and Henry.
Why I loved it:
The characters: Great chemistry between the slightly flawed, but completely relatable and even more loveable main characters.
The premise: I’m a huge fan of anything magic, especially when combined with high stakes.
The pacing: It’s insane. This book rushes forward like a freight train. Make sure you have time to read the whole thing in one go, because you won’t be able to stop.
The setting: The author manages to set us in each scene so brilliantly that you will feel like you are in every single one of these many exotic locations, right alongside Genevieve and Henry.
March 5, 2020
My favourite books are the ones you want to savour... the ones that take you down the magical rabbit hole of magic, adventure, surprises, romance, and emotions. It’s been a long time since I’ve fallen so hard into a book that I lost count of the hours and days. It’s an amazing book for everyone to read, but especially for those of us who visualize the story when reading. I would love to see this be turned into a movie! The book also pulled at so many emotions, from the sad, gut wrenching parts, to the witty little comebacks that Genevieve so beautifully delivers. Simply a must read, if not more than once ❤️
April 6, 2020
Magic, young love and centuries old magicians? Oh yeah, bring it on! There is a great story here about life, memories and death. An heir represents each book and together they must complete an important life changing mission. I found myself captivated by the history, emotions and adventure that awaits on every page. Highly recommend reading Sleight first as the events happen immediately following. There’s a good bit of review early on which was a great reminder. I received an early copy through Netgalley and wrote my review voluntarily and unbiased.
April 10, 2024
Ok, this sequel gave me something very rare, a satisfactory ending. I really really enjoy when all the threads are tied, and I get to close my book with a sigh of satisfaction.
Mind you, I will be 100% thrilled if this world is revisited in future books, but with so many authors leaving open gaps in every story that you could drive a dang truck through, it was an absolute treat to have this wrapped up so well!
Mind you, I will be 100% thrilled if this world is revisited in future books, but with so many authors leaving open gaps in every story that you could drive a dang truck through, it was an absolute treat to have this wrapped up so well!
January 4, 2021
A good sequal to sleight. However only Henry and Gen are characters from the first book mainly throughout. Older characters make appearances throughout the book but play very minor parts. With this, new characters, and a new setting constantly changing, it feels a bit detached from the first book.
December 24, 2020
wonderful sequel to the first book 'sleight'. I thought it concluded beautifully and fully enjoyed the reading experience.
May 1, 2021
3.5 stars. I did enjoy the over all story and I found the ending satisfying. Some of the new characters we were introduced to were cool. I liked them. The reason for the 3.5 stars was because Gen got on my nerves on this book. I understand she is going through a lot but not listening to the people ho knows what they are doing and then getting mad at them when things went south because she disobeyed, was really annoying and frustrated.
March 5, 2020
My favourite books are the ones you want to savour... the ones that take you down the magical rabbit hole of magic, adventure, surprises, romance, and emotions. It’s been a long time since I’ve fallen so hard into a book that I lost count of the hours and days. It’s an amazing book for everyone to read, but especially for those of us who visualize the story when reading. I would love to see this be turned into a movie! The book also pulled at so many emotions, from the sad, gut wrenching parts, to the witty little comebacks that Genevieve so beautifully delivers. Simply a must read, if not more than once ❤️
May 29, 2020
I’m actually not sure if this is still being published. 5 pages in and I'm lost, is this a sequel? I swear I’ve just walked into the middle of a story. There’s no worldbuilding. Ok, this has to be a sequel. I own a copy of but haven’t read the author’s first book, Sleight, which has a main character with the exact same name as the main character in this book. That book also mentions the AVRAKEDAVRA. I wouldn’t have requested this if I knew it was a sequel
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews