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Jester
What happens in Oasis, stays in Oasis. Lisette’s father killed the King. His execution leaves Lisette alone, disgraced, and without the magic he intended to pass on to her. In Oasis, that’s a problem. Glutted with enchanted performers, Oasis is a sin city where courtiers pay in gold to drink, gamble, and above all, be entertained. To survive on its competitive streets, Lisette peddles paltry illusions in place of magic. Desperate to prove herself, Lisette enters into a deadly competition to be chosen as the highest-ranked magician in the world, the Queen’s Jester. But her rival, the irritatingly handsome Luc, possesses the one thing Lisette does not―real magic. Lisette will do anything to win, but when evidence implicating the Queen in her husband’s murder surfaces, Lisette must choose between redeeming her family name, or seizing the fame she’s hungered for her entire life.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published August 9, 2022
9 people are currently reading
7988 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
July 22, 2023
Love the idea and concept but couldn't fully immerse myself in the story.
Lisette wants to compete for the new position of Jester for the Queen. One big problem, she has no real magic. All she has is determination and sleight of hand. How will she beat Luc, her biggest competitor, when he has real magic?
We follow Lisette and her journey to get her own magic. Along the way, she found the truth behind her father's death. I love reading about all the magic shows Lisette and Luc (her rival) put on. I also enjoyed the tiny bit of romance sprinkled in. However, the world-building and character development/depth were lacking. (I'm still confused about the time period.) Without proper world-building and development, everything felt manufactured.
Overall, a decent YA Fantasy despite its flaws.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Brielle D. Porter, and CamCat Books for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Lisette wants to compete for the new position of Jester for the Queen. One big problem, she has no real magic. All she has is determination and sleight of hand. How will she beat Luc, her biggest competitor, when he has real magic?
We follow Lisette and her journey to get her own magic. Along the way, she found the truth behind her father's death. I love reading about all the magic shows Lisette and Luc (her rival) put on. I also enjoyed the tiny bit of romance sprinkled in. However, the world-building and character development/depth were lacking. (I'm still confused about the time period.) Without proper world-building and development, everything felt manufactured.
Overall, a decent YA Fantasy despite its flaws.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Brielle D. Porter, and CamCat Books for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
September 26, 2022
4.25 ☆
first a moment to appreciate this cover 🤌 Jester was everything i wanted. think Alice in Wonderland with magicians, political intrigue, and ✨Las Vegas✨ vibes. very reminiscent of Caraval. she's whimsical & deadly; my favorite combination. 🌀
[summary]
Lisette is a street performer in Oasis, a sin-city thriving on gold & glory, but most of all, entertainment. usually, the performers in Oasis possess magic, and can use that to their advantage- but, Lisette's father was executed for killing the King, and failed to pass on his magic to her. so Lisette is left with nothing. Determined to reclaim her name, she enters a deadly competition for the Queen's Jester: the most powerful magician in the world. however~ ;) she has anirritatingly handsome opponent, Luc, who does have magic. that obviously makes things way more complicated.
[thoughts]
first of all: the PREMISE, MAN! magic? 🎩 competition? ⚔️ enemies-to-lovers? 💘 there's simply no way this could ever be bad.
i was initially wary going in because even though i ATE that summary up, it was still a fantasy, and i wasn't sure how the book would tackle all these plots they offered. oh how i was mistaken- Brielle did not come to play folks.
Lisette is the OG "morally grey": ambitious and driven, and not really the best person, but she could not have been written more perfectly. she's your obsessive, consumed artist who won't fail at anything to get what she wants. and i will root for her 'til the end. 🙌 her character fit right into the atmosphere of the book -- in terms of how realistic her actions are for the circumstances she's in.
Luc is kinda a douche in a way that's endearing cuz he's fictional, but irl you would definitely file a restraining order. so, my dream book bf he's arrogant, annoying, and competitive, yet throughout the book you get to see his vulnerabilities and his charismatic side <33 i really enjoyed seeing how much of a role he played to the actual plot, and to the character's own choices. he wasn't there just as a love interest--we love 3 dimensional characters!! (he's also just so swoony oml🙇♀️🙇♀️)
honorable mentions to Cillian & Yasmin who carried this story. y'all rocked 🤟
this book also takes on some interesting ideas. it toys with how far you are willing to go to get what you want, and what your limits really are. "is it worth it?" is a question that is posed a lot in the text, which really puts things in perspective for Lisette and myself, tbh. it was fascinating to see Lisette grapple with that throughout the story, and face her biggest problems with that question in mind. really amazing character development there.
the novel also plays around with life and death and the line between the two. one of the characters can sorta manipulate & blur the 2, and it's so cool to see their perceptions of life & death versus someone else's.
some small nitpicky things because i'm annoying like that🤝
1. when the plot starts to really pick up, everything starts going suspiciously according to plan. i thought it was definitely gonna be a ploy, but that didn't happen. idk, it just seemed weird that Lisette was suddenly thriving and everything was working out for her (especially when it hadn't been for so long).
2. the action/climax scene was too fast and too convincing. again, everything is going too smoothly. we get to the big scene and it's obviously predictable but to a point where i'm like, cmon man, you couldn't spice it up a bit? make it a bit more complicated? idc if it ends predictably, just make it fun along the way, yk?
3. i wish there had been more world building!! Oasis is such a spectacular place, and i wanna know more! how does the currency work? what's the status quo like? are there other kingdoms outside of Oasis?
overall, a dark & thought-invoking read. i thought romance was gonna be on the back burner for this but it really shined through, and i'm so glad for that <3 Jester really was a magical story, and i absolutely fell in love with each and every character. 🪄
thank you to CamCat Publishing & Edelweiss for this ARC. all thoughts are my own.
first a moment to appreciate this cover 🤌 Jester was everything i wanted. think Alice in Wonderland with magicians, political intrigue, and ✨Las Vegas✨ vibes. very reminiscent of Caraval. she's whimsical & deadly; my favorite combination. 🌀
[summary]
Lisette is a street performer in Oasis, a sin-city thriving on gold & glory, but most of all, entertainment. usually, the performers in Oasis possess magic, and can use that to their advantage- but, Lisette's father was executed for killing the King, and failed to pass on his magic to her. so Lisette is left with nothing. Determined to reclaim her name, she enters a deadly competition for the Queen's Jester: the most powerful magician in the world. however~ ;) she has an
[thoughts]
first of all: the PREMISE, MAN! magic? 🎩 competition? ⚔️ enemies-to-lovers? 💘 there's simply no way this could ever be bad.
i was initially wary going in because even though i ATE that summary up, it was still a fantasy, and i wasn't sure how the book would tackle all these plots they offered. oh how i was mistaken- Brielle did not come to play folks.
Lisette is the OG "morally grey": ambitious and driven, and not really the best person, but she could not have been written more perfectly. she's your obsessive, consumed artist who won't fail at anything to get what she wants. and i will root for her 'til the end. 🙌 her character fit right into the atmosphere of the book -- in terms of how realistic her actions are for the circumstances she's in.
Luc is kinda a douche in a way that's endearing cuz he's fictional, but irl you would definitely file a restraining order.
honorable mentions to Cillian & Yasmin who carried this story. y'all rocked 🤟
this book also takes on some interesting ideas. it toys with how far you are willing to go to get what you want, and what your limits really are. "is it worth it?" is a question that is posed a lot in the text, which really puts things in perspective for Lisette and myself, tbh. it was fascinating to see Lisette grapple with that throughout the story, and face her biggest problems with that question in mind. really amazing character development there.
the novel also plays around with life and death and the line between the two. one of the characters can sorta manipulate & blur the 2, and it's so cool to see their perceptions of life & death versus someone else's.
some small nitpicky things because i'm annoying like that🤝
1. when the plot starts to really pick up, everything starts going suspiciously according to plan. i thought it was definitely gonna be a ploy, but that didn't happen. idk, it just seemed weird that Lisette was suddenly thriving and everything was working out for her (especially when it hadn't been for so long).
2. the action/climax scene was too fast and too convincing. again, everything is going too smoothly. we get to the big scene and it's obviously predictable but to a point where i'm like, cmon man, you couldn't spice it up a bit? make it a bit more complicated? idc if it ends predictably, just make it fun along the way, yk?
3. i wish there had been more world building!! Oasis is such a spectacular place, and i wanna know more! how does the currency work? what's the status quo like? are there other kingdoms outside of Oasis?
overall, a dark & thought-invoking read. i thought romance was gonna be on the back burner for this but it really shined through, and i'm so glad for that <3 Jester really was a magical story, and i absolutely fell in love with each and every character. 🪄
thank you to CamCat Publishing & Edelweiss for this ARC. all thoughts are my own.
January 6, 2023
4 stars
This was so cute
This was so cute
July 26, 2023
2023 reads: 230/350
i received an audio review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
when lisette’s father killed the king, he left her without family, disgraced, and magicless. now, lisette uses illusions just to get by. but then she enters a deadly competition, figuring she has nothing left to lose, and everything left to gain. if she wins, she’ll be the queen’s jester, but her chances seem slim since her rival has real magic.
the promise of a deadly competition is enough to draw me into nearly any fantasy book, so i was very excited to pick this one up. i was even more drawn in when i realized there would be some romance as well! both of these aspects were so well explored in this book. there was also the whole mystery aspect, what with the possibility that lisette’s father was framed by the queen herself. i loved how porter combined all of these together and i can’t wait to read more from this author.
i received an audio review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
when lisette’s father killed the king, he left her without family, disgraced, and magicless. now, lisette uses illusions just to get by. but then she enters a deadly competition, figuring she has nothing left to lose, and everything left to gain. if she wins, she’ll be the queen’s jester, but her chances seem slim since her rival has real magic.
the promise of a deadly competition is enough to draw me into nearly any fantasy book, so i was very excited to pick this one up. i was even more drawn in when i realized there would be some romance as well! both of these aspects were so well explored in this book. there was also the whole mystery aspect, what with the possibility that lisette’s father was framed by the queen herself. i loved how porter combined all of these together and i can’t wait to read more from this author.
May 6, 2022
I just don’t even know where to start. If you enjoy fantasy, clever/strong female protagonists, irritatingly handsome enemies-to-lover romance, mystery, illusion, near-death experiences, revenge, or anything good in life, then this book is for YOU! This book kept me on edge from start to finish. I fell easily in love with Lisette and her quest to redeem herself and her family name. I am absolutely honored to have had the opportunity to read this book! I cannot wait to see what Porter writes next!
October 23, 2023
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***.
Jester was a fun and thought-provoking listen, which hooked me from the first few chapters.
We follow Lisette, who longs to be Jester to the queen but unfortunately doesn't possess any real magic. She survives by being a street performer using tricks and smoke and mirrors, so to speak to pull her tricks off. Lisettes father was killed for killing the king. But Lisette doesn't think he did it and is desperate to clear his and her family's name.
To get to the spot of Jester and clear her father's name, she must compete against Luc, who is a performer with real magic. Luc gets under Lisettes skin and makes her blood boil - she knows she would be just as good if not better if she only possessed real magic too.
This book really makes you ponder as to how far you would go to get what you want and decide where your limits would lie, too. This book gave me Caraval vibes from the start, and the audio narrator was a perfect fit for this story, too.
Read if you love magic, jesters, enemies to lovers, fantasy and rivals.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***.
Jester was a fun and thought-provoking listen, which hooked me from the first few chapters.
We follow Lisette, who longs to be Jester to the queen but unfortunately doesn't possess any real magic. She survives by being a street performer using tricks and smoke and mirrors, so to speak to pull her tricks off. Lisettes father was killed for killing the king. But Lisette doesn't think he did it and is desperate to clear his and her family's name.
To get to the spot of Jester and clear her father's name, she must compete against Luc, who is a performer with real magic. Luc gets under Lisettes skin and makes her blood boil - she knows she would be just as good if not better if she only possessed real magic too.
This book really makes you ponder as to how far you would go to get what you want and decide where your limits would lie, too. This book gave me Caraval vibes from the start, and the audio narrator was a perfect fit for this story, too.
Read if you love magic, jesters, enemies to lovers, fantasy and rivals.
July 7, 2022
3.5 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Before starting with the review I would like to direct your attention to the cover for a second because the artist did an amazing job with it! And sure, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but well, a good cover is always a welcome plus! And this one is so beautiful!
And now let’s begin! This book was not at all what I was expecting. It was way darker than what I was expecting, and while it is usually not a bad thing in this case it wasn’t a good surprise. I think that there is much to like about this book, I am not saying that it is bad or that there are things that didn’t work, nope, but as much as personal taste goes, this one was not of my liking. And the main reason for it is that this is a story of an obsession, and the MC is an amazing anti-hero without redeeming qualities. So this is an amazingly well-done book because the author does an amazing job with the characters and the story, but obsessions are not really my thing, and I like my anti-heroes with some redeeming qualities somewhere. Probably it would be more accurate to say that I like morally grey characters, and it is not really the case there. Mind me, the MC, Lisette, is not a villain, but she is consumed by her obsession. Her need to be approved, to be accepted, and welcomed by the ones that have magic and power, and her need to be seen, to demonstrate that she is the best, is the thing that drives her, and that drives the plot too. There is nothing that would stop her, and she would do anything and pay whichever price to achieve her goals.
And she is not the only one consumed by obsession. Luc, the other almost main character in there, and her main antagonist is moved by the same ambitions. And he is even scarier than Lisette for the depths that he would touch to achieve his ending goal. They both are pretty scary. They are intriguing, and they are complex characters, yes, but mostly they are scary.
We have an interesting cast of characters, aside from Lisette and Luc, but they all are unlikeable ones. And the strange thing is that usually, I am not the biggest fan of unlikeable characters. One is okay, two can be okay but it is not sure, but all of them? Not really my thing. And here we have only one character that I truly liked, Cillian. He is a secondary character who I thought was intriguing and not bad at all. But he was the only one. And yet, I was intrigued by the story, and this is really something since I am so character-driven, as a reader!
At least I can say that the characters here are quite unique, that’s for sure! And another peculiar thing is the world-building. It is not the most accurate, we didn’t get really much to go by, but we get enough and the city in which the story takes place is really well portrayed. And it is interesting and fascinating because Oasis is a sort of Las Vegas, but with some magic in it. And from time to time, the city became almost a secondary character in the story. And this I appreciated quite a lot!
And let’s not forget about the plot. The beginning is a tad slow-going, but the story picks up its pace and it kept you intrigued and interested. We have some interesting twists and I just had to keep going because the curiosity was killing me. We have magic, actions, and some breath-taking moments here and there, especially thanks to Luc and Lisette’s performances, they may be scary in their obsessions, but they know what they are doing! And we have also a mystery. And the ending was just perfect for the book. And it was, in some ways, surprising but so satisfying!
This is a highly original book, and if you are not scared by unpleasant characters, then I really think you should give this one a try!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Before starting with the review I would like to direct your attention to the cover for a second because the artist did an amazing job with it! And sure, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but well, a good cover is always a welcome plus! And this one is so beautiful!
And now let’s begin! This book was not at all what I was expecting. It was way darker than what I was expecting, and while it is usually not a bad thing in this case it wasn’t a good surprise. I think that there is much to like about this book, I am not saying that it is bad or that there are things that didn’t work, nope, but as much as personal taste goes, this one was not of my liking. And the main reason for it is that this is a story of an obsession, and the MC is an amazing anti-hero without redeeming qualities. So this is an amazingly well-done book because the author does an amazing job with the characters and the story, but obsessions are not really my thing, and I like my anti-heroes with some redeeming qualities somewhere. Probably it would be more accurate to say that I like morally grey characters, and it is not really the case there. Mind me, the MC, Lisette, is not a villain, but she is consumed by her obsession. Her need to be approved, to be accepted, and welcomed by the ones that have magic and power, and her need to be seen, to demonstrate that she is the best, is the thing that drives her, and that drives the plot too. There is nothing that would stop her, and she would do anything and pay whichever price to achieve her goals.
And she is not the only one consumed by obsession. Luc, the other almost main character in there, and her main antagonist is moved by the same ambitions. And he is even scarier than Lisette for the depths that he would touch to achieve his ending goal. They both are pretty scary. They are intriguing, and they are complex characters, yes, but mostly they are scary.
We have an interesting cast of characters, aside from Lisette and Luc, but they all are unlikeable ones. And the strange thing is that usually, I am not the biggest fan of unlikeable characters. One is okay, two can be okay but it is not sure, but all of them? Not really my thing. And here we have only one character that I truly liked, Cillian. He is a secondary character who I thought was intriguing and not bad at all. But he was the only one. And yet, I was intrigued by the story, and this is really something since I am so character-driven, as a reader!
At least I can say that the characters here are quite unique, that’s for sure! And another peculiar thing is the world-building. It is not the most accurate, we didn’t get really much to go by, but we get enough and the city in which the story takes place is really well portrayed. And it is interesting and fascinating because Oasis is a sort of Las Vegas, but with some magic in it. And from time to time, the city became almost a secondary character in the story. And this I appreciated quite a lot!
And let’s not forget about the plot. The beginning is a tad slow-going, but the story picks up its pace and it kept you intrigued and interested. We have some interesting twists and I just had to keep going because the curiosity was killing me. We have magic, actions, and some breath-taking moments here and there, especially thanks to Luc and Lisette’s performances, they may be scary in their obsessions, but they know what they are doing! And we have also a mystery. And the ending was just perfect for the book. And it was, in some ways, surprising but so satisfying!
This is a highly original book, and if you are not scared by unpleasant characters, then I really think you should give this one a try!
May 25, 2022
Personally I think of this enemies to lovers story as CRUEL PRINCE meets the movie NOW YOU SEE ME. This story of a magical Las Vegas-esque city and a desperate bid to be the Queen’s Jester is a wild ride. Lisette is bold and I love that in a YA protagonist. I love the descriptions and the rich worldbuilding—some were so lush I could feel them intensely, others so raw I flinched. Awesome! Pick up this YA fantasy on August 9th!
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest review.
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest review.
October 17, 2022
If you had asked me last week how my reading was going in the month of August, I may have told you that it was going fantastically. Too well, even. Suspiciously well, and I was starting to doubt my rating ability because everything seemed to be working out incredibly high in terms of stars being given and that is something that just does not happen for me.
Alas, no worries, we’re back to the status quo to the way things normally go with me and young adult reads in that, this was clearly not for me, and it shows.
Demographics aside, everything about this story was entirely too messy for me. Between the randomly associated plot lines, the distinct lack of any sort of character relationship dynamics (friendship and romance especially) and some really uncompelling character motivations, I did not enjoy this.
The worldbuilding was not engrossing at all. It was supposed to be all Las Vegas, sin city vibes but we never really settled into any of that. Were there aspects of things like mob bosses and show stopping theatrics sprinkled in? Yes. But it was not nearly enough to establish the city of Oasis in my mind. Nothing about it stood out, nothing about it tickled my curiosity, and it was all very blah.
The characterization was much of the same, simply being not enough. Not enough depth, not enough real roots to explore or navigate when it came to character motivations and relationship dynamics.
The story was definitely plot driven, faster paced, with not a lot of inner debate with one’s demons. There were italicized chapters that went into more depth about Lisette’s family past, but they definitely felt very disjointed. And the romance was technically enemies to lovers, but also there’s no gradual progression between them to elevate from one to the other. It just randomly happens without any forethought or nuance.
I think for me to have settled into the story here, it needed to be longer, with more deeply fleshed out character interactions and development.
Because there’s definitely a story somewhere here, but it’s not nearly where I needed it to be. Which is a bummer, but not unexpected since I’m clearly slumping and the reading magic of last week is gone for me.
Alas, no worries, we’re back to the status quo to the way things normally go with me and young adult reads in that, this was clearly not for me, and it shows.
Demographics aside, everything about this story was entirely too messy for me. Between the randomly associated plot lines, the distinct lack of any sort of character relationship dynamics (friendship and romance especially) and some really uncompelling character motivations, I did not enjoy this.
The worldbuilding was not engrossing at all. It was supposed to be all Las Vegas, sin city vibes but we never really settled into any of that. Were there aspects of things like mob bosses and show stopping theatrics sprinkled in? Yes. But it was not nearly enough to establish the city of Oasis in my mind. Nothing about it stood out, nothing about it tickled my curiosity, and it was all very blah.
The characterization was much of the same, simply being not enough. Not enough depth, not enough real roots to explore or navigate when it came to character motivations and relationship dynamics.
The story was definitely plot driven, faster paced, with not a lot of inner debate with one’s demons. There were italicized chapters that went into more depth about Lisette’s family past, but they definitely felt very disjointed. And the romance was technically enemies to lovers, but also there’s no gradual progression between them to elevate from one to the other. It just randomly happens without any forethought or nuance.
I think for me to have settled into the story here, it needed to be longer, with more deeply fleshed out character interactions and development.
Because there’s definitely a story somewhere here, but it’s not nearly where I needed it to be. Which is a bummer, but not unexpected since I’m clearly slumping and the reading magic of last week is gone for me.
August 10, 2022
5 Stars
Jester by Brielle D. Porter is one of the best books I have read this year- or ever! It is such a fresh, original, and fun story- a fantastic fantasy with a little bit of a darker tone, plenty of mysteriousness, magic, dramatic developments, rivalry, revenge, danger, obsession, illusions, intrigue, interesting complex characters, stellar world-building, murder, politics, agendas, adventure, family dynamics/drama, humour, romance, emotion, and sooo much more.
I am so impressed with this book- even more so when I discovered that it is the author’s debut novel! Way to go to stamp your mark as an author! First time up to the base and Ms. Porter has hit it out of the park!!! If this is what she can do as her debut- I CAN. NOT. WAIT. to see where we will go from here! I am excited to find such a talented author to add to my MUST-READ author list! I can not recommend this book highly enough- if you love well-woven fantasy that provides an immersive experience in the form of a rich, vibrant, and exciting story- then you will definitely want to get your hands on this book- STAT!
I don’t want to go into the story in too much detail, as I really don’t want to spoil it for you. The blurb does a better job of whetting the appetite for what to expect, than I would, without giving too much away. I recommend going into the story a little blind and letting the author and the story surprise you- in the best possible way!
I loved Lisette (Mirage) and Luc… their rivalry really added to the overall feel and excitement of the storyline. I was so invested in them and the outcome of the story that I stayed glued to the pages the whole way through- reading the whole book in one sitting, just so I could find out how everything played out in the end. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE this book. I can’t wait to get my hands on Ms. Porter’s next book- my mind is whirling with possibilities! Ms. Porter is definitely an author to watch out for, as I can see great things in her future!
Must Read! If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would!
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Brielle D. Porter!
Jester by Brielle D. Porter is one of the best books I have read this year- or ever! It is such a fresh, original, and fun story- a fantastic fantasy with a little bit of a darker tone, plenty of mysteriousness, magic, dramatic developments, rivalry, revenge, danger, obsession, illusions, intrigue, interesting complex characters, stellar world-building, murder, politics, agendas, adventure, family dynamics/drama, humour, romance, emotion, and sooo much more.
I am so impressed with this book- even more so when I discovered that it is the author’s debut novel! Way to go to stamp your mark as an author! First time up to the base and Ms. Porter has hit it out of the park!!! If this is what she can do as her debut- I CAN. NOT. WAIT. to see where we will go from here! I am excited to find such a talented author to add to my MUST-READ author list! I can not recommend this book highly enough- if you love well-woven fantasy that provides an immersive experience in the form of a rich, vibrant, and exciting story- then you will definitely want to get your hands on this book- STAT!
I don’t want to go into the story in too much detail, as I really don’t want to spoil it for you. The blurb does a better job of whetting the appetite for what to expect, than I would, without giving too much away. I recommend going into the story a little blind and letting the author and the story surprise you- in the best possible way!
I loved Lisette (Mirage) and Luc… their rivalry really added to the overall feel and excitement of the storyline. I was so invested in them and the outcome of the story that I stayed glued to the pages the whole way through- reading the whole book in one sitting, just so I could find out how everything played out in the end. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE this book. I can’t wait to get my hands on Ms. Porter’s next book- my mind is whirling with possibilities! Ms. Porter is definitely an author to watch out for, as I can see great things in her future!
Must Read! If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would!
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Brielle D. Porter!
July 27, 2023
Lizette is one of the most popular magicians in the noose with her only competition being a good looking arrogant jerk who is not above subterfuge to ruin her cell but when she finds herself in competition with him for the role of jester in the royal court she knows she would be the better magician if only she had the magic that was due to her until her dad decided to kill the King. Can Lizette get her magic back and will she become the jester oh will she be out done by overconfident good looking jerk. I love Lizette‘s attitude and thought she made for a great main character and although I knew there was going to be a little romance in the book I was not prepared for everything that eventually happened but I need for such a great thrilling read. I have become a big fan of magical realism in the past few months and thought this was a great addition to the genre I loved the narrator and thought this was a great audiobook. I have never listened to all read a book by Brielle D Porter before but I have since looked for her books and will be reading more in the future this was a great book and when I highly recommend if you’re a than of magical realism Syfy and a great love-hate relationship then you definitely should read the jester you will not be disappointed I definitely was not. I want to think The author and Net Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
July 31, 2023
3.5
Lisette, the daughter of the notorious King Killer, is a street-wise and inventive magician. The problem is she has no real magic. She must rely on charm, sleight of hand, lies, and illusion to claw her way to the top. Luc is a born performer. He has all the money, all the connections, and all the magic. Their rivalry is heating up as both compete to become the Queen's next Jester.
As the competition unfolds, questions surrounding the King's death emerge. Lisette must decide between becoming Jester or clearing her father of wrongdoing.
The cover drew me in, but I stayed for the fun. Jester had so many elements that I love in a book. It is full of banter between rivals, competition, mystery, magic, kings, queens, murder, a Wild West Vegas-style setting, a little romance, and some fun side characters. Luc and Lisette are great rivals. Lisette is obsessed with magic and becoming Jester. She will do anything to win. Luc is the irritating thorn in her side. Their banter and rivalry were my favorite part of the book.
However, I do think that the author tried to accomplish too much. I wish this would have been a straight fantasy or a straight mystery. Porter's execution of both led to a poorly realized mystery and clunky pacing, and the worldbuilding and the side characters needed to be fleshed out more.
Despite my complaints, I think this is a strong debut, and I look forward to reading more from the author.
Reba Buhr did a great job with the narration.
Thank you to NetGalley, Brielle D. Porter, and CamCat Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Lisette, the daughter of the notorious King Killer, is a street-wise and inventive magician. The problem is she has no real magic. She must rely on charm, sleight of hand, lies, and illusion to claw her way to the top. Luc is a born performer. He has all the money, all the connections, and all the magic. Their rivalry is heating up as both compete to become the Queen's next Jester.
As the competition unfolds, questions surrounding the King's death emerge. Lisette must decide between becoming Jester or clearing her father of wrongdoing.
The cover drew me in, but I stayed for the fun. Jester had so many elements that I love in a book. It is full of banter between rivals, competition, mystery, magic, kings, queens, murder, a Wild West Vegas-style setting, a little romance, and some fun side characters. Luc and Lisette are great rivals. Lisette is obsessed with magic and becoming Jester. She will do anything to win. Luc is the irritating thorn in her side. Their banter and rivalry were my favorite part of the book.
However, I do think that the author tried to accomplish too much. I wish this would have been a straight fantasy or a straight mystery. Porter's execution of both led to a poorly realized mystery and clunky pacing, and the worldbuilding and the side characters needed to be fleshed out more.
Despite my complaints, I think this is a strong debut, and I look forward to reading more from the author.
Reba Buhr did a great job with the narration.
Thank you to NetGalley, Brielle D. Porter, and CamCat Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2022
A rich fantasy setting with inherited magic and a sin-filled city reminiscent of Las Vegas on steroids.
JESTER IS ONE OF THOSE BOOKS I CAN SEE MYSELF READING OVER AND OVER. Porter does such a good job of making us root for a sometimes-unlikeable main character. Not to mention the enemies to lovers arc!!! Lisette has to make some hard choices, but she shows that she will do anything to survive--or, better yet thrive. Her goal to become the Queen's Jester is a lofty one, even more so because most of her competitors are using magic and she has none.
The characters in this book are well fleshed out and each one interesting in their own right. The politics, family drama, and rivalries all add to the sense that Lisette is up against something much bigger than herself. You will find yourself cheering her on through every goal post!
I read an early draft of this book and haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. If you like YA fantasy and want a story that feels fresh and addicting, PICK THIS UP IN AUGUST!
JESTER IS ONE OF THOSE BOOKS I CAN SEE MYSELF READING OVER AND OVER. Porter does such a good job of making us root for a sometimes-unlikeable main character. Not to mention the enemies to lovers arc!!! Lisette has to make some hard choices, but she shows that she will do anything to survive--or, better yet thrive. Her goal to become the Queen's Jester is a lofty one, even more so because most of her competitors are using magic and she has none.
The characters in this book are well fleshed out and each one interesting in their own right. The politics, family drama, and rivalries all add to the sense that Lisette is up against something much bigger than herself. You will find yourself cheering her on through every goal post!
I read an early draft of this book and haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. If you like YA fantasy and want a story that feels fresh and addicting, PICK THIS UP IN AUGUST!
May 25, 2022
Don't know whether to rate this 3 or 4 stars... I'll decide when I write my review.
August 18, 2022
This book, wow. You see the cover and extra pure gold and, just wow, it lives up to all the hype the cover gives.
There was so much to this story. It has a quirky tipsy-turvy nature to it, with a feel as though you aren’t whether things are as they seem or something else entirely.
The main character is wonderful! She is strong, cheeky and really easy to get on with. You really find yourself hoping her story plays out well for her, but also thriving on the excitement her turmoil brings.
The pace is excellent and really helps build the story. It flows well and really brings to life all that is happening.
Honestly, I loved so much about this story. It is so good and really pulls you in! I highly highly recommend this beautiful book.
There was so much to this story. It has a quirky tipsy-turvy nature to it, with a feel as though you aren’t whether things are as they seem or something else entirely.
The main character is wonderful! She is strong, cheeky and really easy to get on with. You really find yourself hoping her story plays out well for her, but also thriving on the excitement her turmoil brings.
The pace is excellent and really helps build the story. It flows well and really brings to life all that is happening.
Honestly, I loved so much about this story. It is so good and really pulls you in! I highly highly recommend this beautiful book.
July 30, 2023
3.75
Jag fick lyssna på denna tack vare Netgalley. Jag hade svårt att fastna för den först men efter ca 40% så var jag intresserad. Jag tyckte själva konceptet är väldigt spännande och unikt och ljudboken var väldigt bra gjord.
Jag fick lyssna på denna tack vare Netgalley. Jag hade svårt att fastna för den först men efter ca 40% så var jag intresserad. Jag tyckte själva konceptet är väldigt spännande och unikt och ljudboken var väldigt bra gjord.
August 31, 2022
Okay first off the cover, I absolutely love it, it’s perfect for the story. Which leads me to second off: magic, mystery, enemies to lovers what more could you want?
This was a fast paced, fun read that I really enjoyed. When I first read the description I thought taking on fantasy, mystery, and romance was going to be a bit too all over the place. Thankfully that wasn’t the case, I think Brielle did a good job of working all three together into a story that flowed.
However I will say I wish there was a little more backstory/relationship building between characters because they had great foundations just felt it jumped ahead at times.
Overall, great debut and I look forward to more!
Thank you so much to Let’s Talk Book Promo and Comcat for my copy!
This was a fast paced, fun read that I really enjoyed. When I first read the description I thought taking on fantasy, mystery, and romance was going to be a bit too all over the place. Thankfully that wasn’t the case, I think Brielle did a good job of working all three together into a story that flowed.
However I will say I wish there was a little more backstory/relationship building between characters because they had great foundations just felt it jumped ahead at times.
Overall, great debut and I look forward to more!
Thank you so much to Let’s Talk Book Promo and Comcat for my copy!
August 15, 2023
4/5 ⭐️
Antes que nada quiero agradecer a Netgalley por darme la oportunidad de leer este ARC! 🩷
Ahora hablando del libro: lo amé <3 o sea miren esa portadaaaa, estoy obsesionada
Pero no solo eso, el libro fue hermoso por dentro también. El mundo me recordó muchísimo a Alicia en el país de las maravillas, y yo amo ese libro😮💨
Lo que más amé fueron los personajes. Mi favorita fue, obviamente, Liz que es la protagonista. Ella es un personaje fuerte que adoré aun cuando ella no se sentía así, fue un personaje muy real. También me encantó Luc pero siento que podría haber tenido más tiempo en el libro, leí muy poco de él 😩
En sí la trama estuvo buena y la disfruté, nunca me pareció aburrido el libro y siempre quería saber lo que estaba pasando, así eso es un 10/10 para mi.
La única razón por la cual no me di 5⭐️ es porque siento que podría haber tenido un romance tremendo con ese enemies to lovers, pero no lo tuvo :( También siento que el final fue un poco apresurado.
Overall lo recomiendo al libro pero no fue mi favorito. Tuve un buen tiempo leyéndolo con una historia que amé. Una vez más, gracias Netgalley 💗
Antes que nada quiero agradecer a Netgalley por darme la oportunidad de leer este ARC! 🩷
Ahora hablando del libro: lo amé <3 o sea miren esa portadaaaa, estoy obsesionada
Pero no solo eso, el libro fue hermoso por dentro también. El mundo me recordó muchísimo a Alicia en el país de las maravillas, y yo amo ese libro😮💨
Lo que más amé fueron los personajes. Mi favorita fue, obviamente, Liz que es la protagonista. Ella es un personaje fuerte que adoré aun cuando ella no se sentía así, fue un personaje muy real. También me encantó Luc pero siento que podría haber tenido más tiempo en el libro, leí muy poco de él 😩
En sí la trama estuvo buena y la disfruté, nunca me pareció aburrido el libro y siempre quería saber lo que estaba pasando, así eso es un 10/10 para mi.
La única razón por la cual no me di 5⭐️ es porque siento que podría haber tenido un romance tremendo con ese enemies to lovers, pero no lo tuvo :( También siento que el final fue un poco apresurado.
Overall lo recomiendo al libro pero no fue mi favorito. Tuve un buen tiempo leyéndolo con una historia que amé. Una vez más, gracias Netgalley 💗
September 12, 2022
I love a magic show, I think they're so much fun and admire anyone who can pull off tricks so well. In this book, Lisette is the magician, pulling off slight of hand and knife throwing in a world where some people have real magical powers. She yearns for her own powers and will do just about anything to get it.
The world was interesting, but underdeveloped. We learn that magic must passed down from one person to another, but how did magic come about initially? Is there a finite amount of it and no other way to acquire power? There are also various types of magic, including healing from death and summoning spirits, what else is there? I think the world could have been expanded on quite a bit and I would have loved to see more.
Our main character is Lisette and she comes across fairly unlikeable for most of the story. It's kind of sad how much she needs to be seen and appreciated and she takes it way further than she should. As we see flashbacks of what happened to Lisette and her family, it makes sense why she strives so hard for recognition, but as a grown woman I would hope that she wouldn't be so blinded by her ambition. It's easy for the reader to see who's the real villain, but Lisette doesn't figure it out until the very end and I found it kind of tedious.
I did like Lisette's rivalry with Luc and how he teased her. He's a great magician and his shows are pretty insane. His love for his family is sweet and he was my favorite character. I also liked the magic in general and the author gets points for creativity from me. The spider part made me shudder, but it was exciting and entertaining.
This has promise and was a pretty quick read, I'd just like to see more of the world and a more enjoyable main character.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Edelweiss and CamCat Books for the copy
The world was interesting, but underdeveloped. We learn that magic must passed down from one person to another, but how did magic come about initially? Is there a finite amount of it and no other way to acquire power? There are also various types of magic, including healing from death and summoning spirits, what else is there? I think the world could have been expanded on quite a bit and I would have loved to see more.
Our main character is Lisette and she comes across fairly unlikeable for most of the story. It's kind of sad how much she needs to be seen and appreciated and she takes it way further than she should. As we see flashbacks of what happened to Lisette and her family, it makes sense why she strives so hard for recognition, but as a grown woman I would hope that she wouldn't be so blinded by her ambition. It's easy for the reader to see who's the real villain, but Lisette doesn't figure it out until the very end and I found it kind of tedious.
I did like Lisette's rivalry with Luc and how he teased her. He's a great magician and his shows are pretty insane. His love for his family is sweet and he was my favorite character. I also liked the magic in general and the author gets points for creativity from me. The spider part made me shudder, but it was exciting and entertaining.
This has promise and was a pretty quick read, I'd just like to see more of the world and a more enjoyable main character.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Edelweiss and CamCat Books for the copy
April 25, 2024
Jester, was like Alice in Wonderland but with Las Vegas/casino vibes, which I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did. I ended up loving all the characters in this book. The author had a beautiful way of getting me to care about each of them.
The rivals to lovers were TRULY rivals to lovers. It wasn’t just the normal snarky banter turned charming; It had me actually go from hating Luc to then loving him. Getting to watch the walls Luc had built around himself start to crumble down little by little was so well put together for such a short book.
I didn’t think I was attached to any of the characters until the end, when I found myself sobbing LFMAOO
ALSO let’s talk about the cover art for a moment. It’s so prettyyyyy
ANYWAY
IN CONCLUSION I loved this book; it was so cute, i loved the unraveling of the story, and it was a quick read!
The rivals to lovers were TRULY rivals to lovers. It wasn’t just the normal snarky banter turned charming; It had me actually go from hating Luc to then loving him. Getting to watch the walls Luc had built around himself start to crumble down little by little was so well put together for such a short book.
I didn’t think I was attached to any of the characters until the end, when I found myself sobbing LFMAOO
ALSO let’s talk about the cover art for a moment. It’s so prettyyyyy
ANYWAY
IN CONCLUSION I loved this book; it was so cute, i loved the unraveling of the story, and it was a quick read!
September 12, 2023
Gripping plot and the cutest banter. Honestly need more books like this!
December 25, 2023
Fantasy for people who would get married in Las Vegas
August 6, 2022
Jester
Brielle. D. Porter
Rating 💖💖💖💖💖💖
Genre: YA Fantasy
Review:
Have you ever read a book and immediately rushed to the author to enquire about book 2! Jester was that book to me, I was fully invested in the book and the bonus is that it has an enemies to lovers done in perfect sync with the story!
Favorite lines:
🔹My whole life has become an illusion, I realize. But at least they always applaud at the end.🔹
Always on the hunt to be the best and shake off the name of her father's influence in court Lisette is one of the BEST performers on the street! Now all she has to do is find a seeker to represent her but she doesn't have magic just illusions will it be enough to be Jester... Only time will tell!
Luc is a pain in the backside and he's always there to ruin Lisette's act and she's always there to ruin his but how far will they take their competition...
This book had me giggling and laughing out loud that I couldn't help yelling NO!! A perfect book that had the right amount of fantasy to enthrall the reader and magic to entrance and weave into its mysticism! The book has my heart and hence it gets the extra heart out of the required five! The book had amazing character development, the plot was solid and the climax just hit the right spot! The book is definitely add¡cting and the book had the surprise elements everywhere and the plot wasn't predictable at all everything was brand new and totally incomparable and stupendous! The word style and quote factor was amazing I was highlighting away so much because it was soooooooooo good!! There was laughter, tears, sorrow and joy in equal measures to make this an amazing book!
Looking forward to read more from the author!!
Brielle. D. Porter
Rating 💖💖💖💖💖💖
Genre: YA Fantasy
Review:
Have you ever read a book and immediately rushed to the author to enquire about book 2! Jester was that book to me, I was fully invested in the book and the bonus is that it has an enemies to lovers done in perfect sync with the story!
Favorite lines:
🔹My whole life has become an illusion, I realize. But at least they always applaud at the end.🔹
Always on the hunt to be the best and shake off the name of her father's influence in court Lisette is one of the BEST performers on the street! Now all she has to do is find a seeker to represent her but she doesn't have magic just illusions will it be enough to be Jester... Only time will tell!
Luc is a pain in the backside and he's always there to ruin Lisette's act and she's always there to ruin his but how far will they take their competition...
This book had me giggling and laughing out loud that I couldn't help yelling NO!! A perfect book that had the right amount of fantasy to enthrall the reader and magic to entrance and weave into its mysticism! The book has my heart and hence it gets the extra heart out of the required five! The book had amazing character development, the plot was solid and the climax just hit the right spot! The book is definitely add¡cting and the book had the surprise elements everywhere and the plot wasn't predictable at all everything was brand new and totally incomparable and stupendous! The word style and quote factor was amazing I was highlighting away so much because it was soooooooooo good!! There was laughter, tears, sorrow and joy in equal measures to make this an amazing book!
Looking forward to read more from the author!!
December 5, 2024
In the flashbacks, we were told that Lisette’s father’s magic was promised to his eldest child. And yet, Lisette was so insistent that her father was killed before he could pass on his magic to her. It was never promised to her. Her father even told her, very sternly, that he was never going to give her his magic. The author never cleared up this loophole.
Something about the writing didn’t work for me in the first half of this book. There were parts where the author seemed to move our main character around without explaining why she was even at certain locations. Some things just seemed to be happening randomly for a while, and then Lisette unearthed her dead father to steal his magic. It wasn’t until that point that I finally started to get invested in the plot. That was about halfway through the book.
The only other aspect of this book that kept me intrigued was the mystery of what exactly happened in the past leading up to Lisette’s father killing the king and what the hell happened to her brother. I didn’t even care for the love interest. Personally, I’ve never been a fan of the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope.
3.5 stars
Something about the writing didn’t work for me in the first half of this book. There were parts where the author seemed to move our main character around without explaining why she was even at certain locations. Some things just seemed to be happening randomly for a while, and then Lisette unearthed her dead father to steal his magic. It wasn’t until that point that I finally started to get invested in the plot. That was about halfway through the book.
The only other aspect of this book that kept me intrigued was the mystery of what exactly happened in the past leading up to Lisette’s father killing the king and what the hell happened to her brother. I didn’t even care for the love interest. Personally, I’ve never been a fan of the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope.
3.5 stars
July 23, 2023
07/23/2023 || Jester by Brielle D. Porter || I just reviewed Jester by Brielle D. Porter. #Jester #NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley, Brielle D. Porter, and CamCat Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for making this audiobook available!
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author and myself.
I had to DNF (do not finish) this audiobook around the 22% mark. I really enjoyed the first 10% but I started having issues following where the plot was taking me (not that it’s NOT well written, it is) and started to lose desire to continue the story. It’s well written, the characters are very strong and fleshed out, but this was not a story for me and that’s okay.
I think there’s a lot of great strong elements of magical realism, revenge, power, and a bit of a sin city meets classic magic kingdom. It’s very interesting and the MC seems to be driven purely by seeking revenge and notoriety.
Thank you NetGalley, Brielle D. Porter, and CamCat Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for making this audiobook available!
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author and myself.
I had to DNF (do not finish) this audiobook around the 22% mark. I really enjoyed the first 10% but I started having issues following where the plot was taking me (not that it’s NOT well written, it is) and started to lose desire to continue the story. It’s well written, the characters are very strong and fleshed out, but this was not a story for me and that’s okay.
I think there’s a lot of great strong elements of magical realism, revenge, power, and a bit of a sin city meets classic magic kingdom. It’s very interesting and the MC seems to be driven purely by seeking revenge and notoriety.
July 10, 2023
Jester by Brielle D. Porter
4/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•••Spoiler free review below•••
Lisette is determined to obtain magic by any means necessary and claim the position of Royal Jester. Whimsical and magical, Jester is the story of one girl's dream for magic after losing it all and the path she will take to get there. A cross between Ace of Shades and Alice in Wonderland, this book will keep you entertained from the start and enjoying the show until the very end.
Read this book if you like:
- Alice in Wonderland vibes
- mysterious characters
- a touch of murder mystery
- revenge
Jester is available now and if it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
.
.
.
Special thanks to CamCat Books for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review on Instagram
4/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•••Spoiler free review below•••
Lisette is determined to obtain magic by any means necessary and claim the position of Royal Jester. Whimsical and magical, Jester is the story of one girl's dream for magic after losing it all and the path she will take to get there. A cross between Ace of Shades and Alice in Wonderland, this book will keep you entertained from the start and enjoying the show until the very end.
Read this book if you like:
- Alice in Wonderland vibes
- mysterious characters
- a touch of murder mystery
- revenge
Jester is available now and if it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
.
.
.
Special thanks to CamCat Books for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review on Instagram
August 10, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
4.5/5 STARS
Genre: YA fantasy
Similar Books:
Caraval series
Synopsis:
Lisette is an orphaned street performer without any real magic. She gets the chance to compete in a deadly competition to be the queen’s jester, her dream job.
Deadly competition?! Sign me up! For this book, think a Las Vegas setting but with real magic and a monarchy plus some Caraval series vibes. I really enjoyed the characters and the different magic (ie fire summoning). The concept was unique and kept me reading. I liked the flashbacks into Lisette’s upbringing. There is a subplot of romance as well. For a debut book, this was really good! I would read more from this author.
Thank you CamCat books for the gifted copy! 🪄
4.5/5 STARS
Genre: YA fantasy
Similar Books:
Caraval series
Synopsis:
Lisette is an orphaned street performer without any real magic. She gets the chance to compete in a deadly competition to be the queen’s jester, her dream job.
Deadly competition?! Sign me up! For this book, think a Las Vegas setting but with real magic and a monarchy plus some Caraval series vibes. I really enjoyed the characters and the different magic (ie fire summoning). The concept was unique and kept me reading. I liked the flashbacks into Lisette’s upbringing. There is a subplot of romance as well. For a debut book, this was really good! I would read more from this author.
Thank you CamCat books for the gifted copy! 🪄
August 18, 2022
YA fantasy books are becoming some of the best books around! The characters are so very well developed and unique. This year alone I have found such wonderful YA books, and this is yet again another. Pick it up and be prepared to be amazed when you are not able to put it down.
Lisette was such a fierce and out of the box type FMC. A true anti-hero, and the first female one for me. The death of her father left her in a bad way due to the magic he possessed never being passed down to her. She was determine to make her way no matter the cost, and she was prepared to do even the unthinkable. You will question her character, but be her biggest fan all the same. This is a story you will not want to miss.
Lisette was such a fierce and out of the box type FMC. A true anti-hero, and the first female one for me. The death of her father left her in a bad way due to the magic he possessed never being passed down to her. She was determine to make her way no matter the cost, and she was prepared to do even the unthinkable. You will question her character, but be her biggest fan all the same. This is a story you will not want to miss.
September 9, 2022
This was absolutely fantastic. The premise was so unique and it panned out in the most interesting way. The Las Vegas vibes were something I have never encountered in a book and they were awesome. I was fully engrossed with the characters and I just needed to know what was going to happen next. Definitely recommend this one if you are looking for something a bit different.
February 28, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
“lisette, you’ve shot me, stabbed me, and completely stolen the breath from my lungs more times than i can count. whatever heart i have left is yours to do with as you will.”
at the end of the day they are just fools for each other ☹️🫶🫶
“lisette, you’ve shot me, stabbed me, and completely stolen the breath from my lungs more times than i can count. whatever heart i have left is yours to do with as you will.”
at the end of the day they are just fools for each other ☹️🫶🫶
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