The Mesmerist

by Claire Luana

Someone is killing the Adrjssian royal family one by one. When the queen is pushed to her death, suspicion lands on 17-year-old Adrijana Mironacht, a village girl new to court. Determined to clear her name, Adrijana enlists the aid of the compelling and enigmatic Dragan Vulpe, one of the royal Mesmers—magicians with the ability to read and manipulate the thoughts and emotions of those around them.

As the royal body count grows and the hostile Vruk army gathers at the border, ready to capitalize on Adrjssian instability, Adrijana homes in on the Vruk ambassadors as the most likely suspects. But when she uncovers evidence of Mesmer help, she begins to second-guess both her instincts and the loyalties of those around her. Tangled in a web of half-truths and pretty lies, it will take all of Adrijana’s cunning to unmask the true killer.

From the author of the Confectioner Chronicles comes a stand-alone young adult fantasy mystery set in a seductive new world of glittering magic, shadowed secrets, and deadly intrigue.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Young Adult, Ebooks, Audiobook, Mystery, High Fantasy

306 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2021

About the author

Claire Luana grew up reading everything she could get her hands on and writing every chance she could. Eventually, adulthood won out, and she turned her writing talents to more scholarly pursuits, going to work as a commercial litigation attorney at a mid-sized law firm. While continuing to practice law, Claire decided to return to her roots and try her hand once again at creative writing.

She has written and published five series, the Moonburner Cycle, the Confectioner Chronicles, the Mythical Alliance, the Knights of Caerleon, with Jesikah Sundin, and the Faerie Race, with J.A. Armitage. She lives in Cle Elum, Washington with her husband and two dogs. In her (little) remaining spare time, she loves to hike, travel, binge-watch CW shows, and of course, fall into a good book.

Check her out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/claireluana/

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this purple loveliness of a cover and jumped straight on it when it showed up among my recommendations - not even noticing it was by an author I'd just finished another book by - The Confectioner's Guild.

After a while I put two and two together though.
And I noticed certain similar themes too.

The young girl showing up at court and almost instantly being suspected of a murder felt like a One Trick Pony I didn't want to ride, actually, but I stuck with it. The magic was fun, even if it wasn't very original, and I liked the world around the characters as well as the premise.

Adrijana grows as a character through out the book, but I never fully liked her. Maybe because she's a walking, talking trope. The one where the main character has no previous knowledge of the magic, but then somehow, almost instantly, turns out to be not only extremely skilled, but also ridiculously powerful - to an extent that puts everyone else using the same magic to shame.

I don't always hate this trope, but teamed up with the other tropes in the books, it felt like a bit too much tropey-ness to cope with.

The narrator really threw me a curveball when it came to the Ridiculously Handsome Male apparently called Dragan.
She (finally) decided on one version of the name after about the 50% mark, but before that, especially in the beginning, she alternated between Dragon (as in Dray-gon), Dregon, Dregen, Dregan, and even one Dragon (as in the big, scaly, fire-breathing creature).
The one she settled on sounded most like "Dregan", so.... Yeah. I really had to check what the name was supposed to be. 😂

On the plus side, I thought it was wonderful to find a fantasy mystery that was a standalone and not a trilogy.
I was quite fond of this book up until unfounded accusations thrown left and right took over and the entire (in)justice system showed its ugly face more and more. One character even dies quite in vain, but it doesn't actually leave much of a dent in the story or the main character's life - or anyone else's either, for that matter, even after it's obvious the entire thing was so unjust one could cry.

I sighed and rolled my eyes the closer to the ending we came.

The person (persons) turning out to be the bad guy(s) made me sigh too as I had sort of hoped for the mastermind behind everything evil to be the princess. She had everything to gain from all the people dying, and it would have been exceptionally ambitious of her, but... Nah. Guess that was too Game of Thrones dark of me to expect from a YA fantasy.

Instead I got: Twisted revenge.
Always a good-enough motive, but when you add some madness it becomes quite ... tropey.

Ah, well. I still love the cover.
The book was good enough, all in all, but for a hardcore mystery buff as me, it wasn't all that satisfying towards the end.

I'm sure I'll give this author more of my attention though.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5

Som z tejto knihy zmätená. Ale nie v zlom. Mala som pocit, že je to strašne dlhé, lebo sa tam neustále, ale že NEUSTÁLE niečo dialo. Bolo to dynamické, neustále sa objavovali nové záhady, drobné detaily nakoniec dali zmysel a CELÝ príbeh skončil na poslednej strane. Žiadne pokračovania- aj keby z toho autorka mohla vymlátiť o niečo viac. A predstavte si môj šok, ked som prišla na to, že tlačená kniha má len 308 strán..... WHAT THE FUCK 🤯.

Je to jednoducha fantasy, veľa veci by mohlo byť dotiahnutých, hlavá hrdinka je niekedy až príliš zaslpená a naivná (na druhú stranu, je to vlastnoť, ktorú jej ľudia vyčítajú veľmi často. Čiže jej naivita je zámerna.) Myslím si, že kniha by mohla mať o pár zvratov menej, ale...

Ale je to príjemné, oddychové a svojim spôsobom jednoduché čítanie. Celkom som si to užila, nehovoriac o tom, že slečna čo to čítala, mala veľmi príjmený hlas.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire Luana has done it again with another great fantasy mystery. This standalone intrigued me with great characters, an interesting magic system and a well-built “who done it?” plot line that surprised me by the end.

From the start, Adrijana, known to her friends as Jana, was a compelling protagonist. She’s thrown into the world of Mesmerism when the Queen was murdered, and she doesn’t have a lot of time to breathe as many things come at her all at once. I love how she sorts out her feelings for the situation and people around her, but at the same time, willing to solve the mystery, observant and determined throughout. Overall, the book explores themes of trust and confidence, as Jana struggles with both throughout the story.

The other characters were fleshed out as well, and each added to the mystery and to Jana’s character development. The romance was surprising in more ways than one, and I love how it explored Jana and her relation to her romantic interests. I love that the love interest, Dragan is a lie, using her in order to take over the country, and that Jana has to unpack those feelings once she finds out.

As the story continued, I was amazed at all the clues that were assembling. I love that no reasonable possibility was thrown out and there wasn’t any filler information. If you read Claire Luana’s previous fantasy mystery series, The Confectioner’s Chronicles, this book is quite a bit darker, exploring themes of genocide and quite a bit more blood shed throughout the length of the story. Since this one is a standalone, it moves at a faster pace. I love that the country is basically on the edge of war from early on and everything isn’t happy and peaceful, making the mystery that more difficult to solve. The magic system of the Mesmers felt like a great mix of Western and Eastern influences and was a great addition to the story.

The story has a satisfying end to the main conflict. However, there’s enough loose ends to possibly justify more books in this world, even if it’s through another character. If you’re looking for something fantastical, with a well built mystery, and some darkness, check this out.

[Alyss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely deserves to be a New York Time’s best seller!

Adijana enters into a life she didn’t ask for when she goes to visit her best friend Simeon. Upon arriving the queen is killed. Adijana learns that she has power that may make the truth of the murderer become apparent. However, she finds herself in murky waters as she muddles through politics, deception, and her new found mystical abilities.

Claire Luana knocked it out of the park with this one! I found myself staying up until midnight and waking up at 4AM just so I could read this book. I couldn’t find the self control to put it down! Every page leaked with passion, murder, fear, and betrayal. I didn’t know who to trust or where the story would lead. The last hundred pages Claire wrapped it all up in a beautiful box and set it on our laps.

I am really sad this book is over! I wish I could read it again for the first time. I will be anxiously awaiting the second book!

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adrijana has always dreamed of leaving her small village and going to the palace, where her best friend Simeon is one of the princess's guards. However, when she and her father are persuaded to spend the evening there, they are embroiled in the murder of the queen and considered suspects.

Jana seems to have a special ability, but how rare and unusual is it? Her father is so anxious about having her anywhere near the palace, it makes you wonder exactly what he's hiding. Could it have something to do with the palace Mesmers, who use their powers to read people. With everything that happens, it seems that only one of the Mesmers, can help her. So much mystery and intrigue, everyone seems suspicious and like Jana, I never knew who to trust.

There's just something so delightful about Claire Luana's writing, it's easy to fall straight into the worlds she creates. They are so rich and colourful, with such wonderful characters.

[Hetal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook review
The Mesmerist is a unique stand alone fantasy about a young girl who finds herself in a precarious predicament. To her surprise, Adriajana is but one of three mesmers left, she can manipulate those around her without lifting a finger. She has no choice but to serve the crown alongside the Prime Mesmer (a cranky, secretive man) and the enigmatic, handsome, Para Mesmer, Dragen.

As murders of the royal family take center stage, Adriajana must navigate romance, her growing powers, court secrets and a tremendous betrayal.


I really did enjoy this book. The ending was definitely a twist I was desperately hoping would go another way, and I desperately want a redemption arc for a certain character, despite knowing it's impossible. That person's story just doesn't feel finished yet.

One star off for the rushed ending. the perp's ending, reasoning...everything just didn't feel fleshed out enough. Maybe we weren't truly supposed to understand them, but it just didn't feel finished without a goating scene and a reveal or true intentions/feelings/whatever. We never truly can tell if the perp was truly at fault or be too was a victim of a far larger...entity (for lack of other words to keep it spoiler free.)

The first 3/4ths of the book was wonderfully fleshed out, and trust me when I say I couldn't put it down. Learning about Mesmer Powers was incredibly fascinating. I do wish a little more time was spent getting to know Nevena, Simeon, and Georgi. Though, this being a stand-alone, this gets a pass. There is only so much you can fit into one book and I get that.

A note on the romance - There is a romance, but it's merely a plot point foe character growth. It's a good romance in many ways that teaches Adriajana a couple lessons, but also...not a romance book. I'll leave it at that for you curious minds.

Despite knowing this is a stand-alone, I can't help but desperately hope that Luana changes her mind and we get more of the Mesmer world. The ending was left juuust open enough to allow further exploration into the characters and story.

[laur gluchie]

I’ve received a digital Advance Reader’s Copy of this book through the author. This has not affected my rating in any way.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous YA read. An engrossing story about a royal family being killed off one by one. The world building is amazing, the characters captivating and intriguing and twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. Suspense, danger, drama, lies and secrets with betrayal round every corner, I found myself drawn into this fast paced story hook, line and sinker.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book. So many plots, twists and turns to keep you intrigued. Who is killing the Royal Family. Help is needed to solve it. Such an amazing fantasy story. Another enjoyable story from this author. Don’t miss out once it’s released.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another clever and engaging fantasy from Claire Luana. I love the creative ideas she comes up with. The Mesmer magic was so fun and well used throughout the story. There were a few things that I didn’t see coming that were great twists. I love that Claire doesn’t shy away from bad things happening - they lead to characters being forced into deeper thinking or more important actions. It has the feel of a stand-alone, but I would totally read more from this world with Mesmers.

I received an ARC as part of the author’s street team. I plan on purchasing a finished copy.

[La Toya · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about The Mesmerist? This book is absolutely amazing. Great characters, amazing world-building. This was definitely my kind of book. Our main character Adrijana is wonderfully intelligent, loving, and woefully naive. She’s also a very quick study. The characters are not dumbed down for the sake of the plot and I can totally see certain choices and/or mistakes. There were great twists and turns and I even had sympathy for the villain which almost never happens for me. I’d love to see a redemption arc if that were possible in some way. I adored all the characters. Even grumpy Valko. This was an amazing adventure. Everyone should run to read this book!

[Carlotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

In conclusion, never trust a man who's condescending!

If you loved the Grisha Trilogy, i think you'll like this one.

This is what I call a well-made mystery. I couldn't wrap my head around all the information until Valko was arrested, and even after that, a few suspicions remained. In short, the author did a good job of putting suspicion onto every male character of the book: Valko, Simeon, the Vulkr ambassadors, Dragan.
I even suspected Georgi at some point, poor Georgi, he's too good for his own good.
Everyone had something to hide and it made it difficult for the protagonist to understand what was really going on. Nevertheless, the important elements to the plot and the story were all there and the author did a really amazing job at inserting them at points where they would be easily dismissed.
I honestly love that the love interest was the villain, it's original and I didn't want to believe it, until he started to be condescending, and at that point i KNEW he was bad, and I started to hate him: he was treating her like a doll, and it was really creepy, but already before that, when he was her teacher, he didn't seem to teach her some very important stuff.

I also love the layering. Valko and Aleksi were the obvious answers, but something was off. I didn't believe Valko was the culprit for a second (even tho he was suspicious at times). Then, the Vulkr ambassadors were too eagerly mean to actually be working to kill the entire royal family, but i couldn't dismiss them either.
Simeon, I'm sorry, for a moment I thought you could be planning the political scheme of the century, but you have to understand: you were suspicious as hell!

The main character was the naive cliché, but it was coherent. The only thing is that she wasn't suspicious at all of Dragan for the salve, when Hridtina told her immediately he sent the medicine to her. That was really annoying, give that I remembered it clearly while she had Hristina repeat that to her. But she was in love, I guess. I didn't trust Dragan for a second since the beginning, because saying that the Mesmers are superior to humans while the royal family is being killed like moths is suspicious, boy! The your-ora-is-broken-because-of-childhood-trauma thing was a little... "campata in aria" we'd say in italian, baseless. So when it was revealed it was a lie and the explanation was another (one coherent and already introduced in the book), i was really happy, because again, it was coherent. Dragan gave himself away because he didn't expect Adrijana to find what he was doing, but also because he couldn't control Silviya, who then did as she pleased. He was startled and he came out with something ridiculous, but possible, given that no one in that room new enough about Mesmerism to contradict him.

I found myself at 3 am trying to find the real villain and to connect all the loose ends and I loved it!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded to 5 stars

"But I wasn't alone. I had allies at my side... They believed in me, even if I didn't believe in myself just yet. And that was enough."

Adrijana Mironacht has lived in a small village her whole life and is suddenly thrust into court life after being a prime suspect for the Queen's murder and discovering that she is more powerful than she ever thought. Jana decides to uncover this mystery with help from the mysteriously handsome Dargan. But as more and more people die and more clues are discovered, Jana doesn't know what to think or who to trust. But one thing is for certain, she has to untangle the web of lies.

I will start of this review by saying that Claire Luana is an amazing writer, and knows how to keep her audience captivated throughout each chapter. I loved the mystery in this book. The author was able to weave a web through the book but still keep the true culprit hidden. I must admit I had my suspicions on a few of the wrong people at the start. But even when we knew who it was, Claire Luana just threw a giant plot twist at us which I did not see coming.

So, the plot was great and so was the worldbuilding. I will admit I couldn't exactly picture a lot of the scenery and there were a few elements that we were told but didn't have much of an impact on the story and I didn't really know how the races worked. But that didn't contribute to the story, just the readability. But the magic was written very well and that is definitely more important considering it is the forefront of the story.

The worldbuilding was a bit above average and I definitely still loved the story. Now onto the characters. Jana was your typical main character, with a power that she didn't know she had that turned out to be very powerful. But I do like that trope so I didn't mind it at all. I did like her character development and the ending, where she was still questioning herself and her confidence was down it wasn't just everythings ok now the whole conflict is over and I really enjoyed the conclusion. Simon, her friend I did enjoy his character as well and how they didn't end up together but still stayed close friends. All the other side characters, including the antagonist, where very well written.

Overall, this book was really amazing and I can't wait to pick up Claire Luana's other books, because this one was just so good! Also the cover is really really nice and what led me to pick up this book! It's so vivid and purple and such intricate patterns just made me know I would love this book.


~Abby

[IM211 -Scattered thoughts- · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Claire Luana, as a part of the street team newsletter. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

The Mesmerist Mesmerist is a fascinating world, we have magic, we have mystery and we have some wholesome friendhips too.

What I liked

Mesmerist is about our MC whose thrust into a world of magic, power and politics when her true nature is discovered....during a pretty inconvenient time.

Her new positions brings her luxury, self discovery, unexpected attachments... But it also puts a strain on the people from her... Normal life.
I love how this was explored, how we don't just focus on her training but also how this newfound power and esteem is pushing her loved ones. Everyone around her is ever so slightly apprehensive around her including her friends.

The first royalty murder, lead to discovery of the MCs veiled powered. But a second murder, makes her question everything she has learnt about the people around her... From the one person is trusted ever since everything changed.

I loved the last one third where shes a fugitive, goes to the enemy side to uncover what happened to the past mesmerists on the enemy's side, recover the relationships that were strained ever since she became a Mesmerist.

I wasn't expecting the villain to be who it turned out to be, didn't see that coming.
I really liked how the book ended, she may have been distant from her friends, but there's still hope. I belive the tone of story will be darker and more action packed in the sequel.

What I didn't like

I found some parts of the book to be a little heavy on info dumping, I found myself skimming thorough pages in the middle because I felt the story lag.

Personally, I think a trigger warning would have been appreciated of one character feeling up a female character although it was under trance but I found it very uncomfortable. I wasn't expecting that because the character wasn't of that sort.


In a nutshell, an amazing world with a good dose of fantasy, magic, tension, politics and humanity.

[Roxsanne Lesieur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrijana Mironacht is a seventeen year old girl from a small village within the kingdom of Adrjissia, a place where her life has been one of seclusion, living with her father and helping on their family farm, that is until they take a trip to the palace and her life changes forever. When they arrive, they find Adrijana’s friend and they are invited to the evenings festivities and much to her father’s chagrin, Adrijana accepts the invitation and they are shown to their rooms for the night. However, at the celebration, things go wrong and the Queen is killed during a ritual part of the festival where she is pushed and falls to her death but it isn’t until Adrijana is accused of the crime by the Royal Mesmers, the court magicians who can use their minds to control the thoughts and emotions of others.

After she is accused, Adrijana is determined to clear her name and so she enlists the help of one of the Mesmers, Dragan Vulpe, an enigmatic and mysterious man who just happens to be a Mesmer, but her suspicions always lie with the Vruk Ambassadors, two men who are at court, but are from a country which is a well known adversary of the Adrijana. Things become more complicated as time goes on when more of the royal family are killed and all in mysterious circumstances, she begins to suspect that a Mesmer could be involved and so she decides to look deeper into the Mesmers and this leads her to second guess everything she thought she had already put into place. There are lies, secrets and half-truths around every corner and the puzzle pieces essential to the mystery are still just out of her reach, but when she finds out that the Vruk armies are surrounding Adrjissia, can she trust those around her to help her, or will she have to solve this deadly mystery alone?

This is a young adult fantasy which is full of magic, mystery and intrigue and which will hook you in and keep you on your toes throughout, as you try and solve the mystery in this race against time to save the rest of the royals from a deadly enemy and root out the individuals behind it.

[Ariel Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

After an invite from a childhood friend takes Adrijana to court, her life is flipped upside down after a seemingly simple question. Being new to the court, Adrijana becomes the obvious suspect in a series of deaths. How can she prove her innocence? Aligning with a royal Mesmer, she sets out to unravel the mysterious deaths and ultimate plot to destabilize the only home she’s ever known. What will it take to unravel the truth and protect those dearest to her?

This young adult fantasy mystery will draw you in immediately. Having never read anything by this author, something was intriguing about the short synopsis that first drew me to this book. As with any new-to-me author, I was skeptical but I’m so relieved to find that this book was one of the best YA fantasy books I’ve ever read.

The flow of storytelling is so incredibly polished that the reader becomes immersed in the world of Adrjssia from the first page. Claire Luana does an eloquent job of setting the tone and atmosphere of this new world without drowning the reader in minute details. This story could have easily been drawn out into multiple books but it works perfectly as a stand-alone tale. I am a reader who typically tries to figure out the mystery before the narrator does. However, this was not the case in this book. The reading was easy enough to follow along while gripping to keep me drawn to the moment instead of jumping ahead. There’s an expertly practiced balance between the mystery, depth of the characters, and seductiveness of journeying with Adrijana.

Overall, this book deserves nothing less than five stars.

[Darla Yocom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe I may have found my new favorite author!

This incredible tale surrounds the struggle experienced by a naive but brilliant young lady, Adrijana once she visits the Adrjssian court. Within the first few chapters, we soon learn that a killer is amongst them. Multiple characters exude confidence and charisma, but the question they must answer is, who is trustworthy?

I found this book to be incredibly well written and exceedingly easy to read. I loved how the author allowed the story to build while watching the young Adrijana attempt to deal with constant trials and conflicting emotions with a very sheltered upbringing. On top of this, we become enveloped in the construction of her new life as an inexperienced Mesmerist. The different factions are very mysterious after learning of a small portion of what makes them tick, so I look forward to reading more by the author if/when she creates more titles that will dive deeper into each, especially the unsympathetic Vruk clan.

The hunt for the genuine assassin proves to be quite complex. While Adrijana is learning as she goes, I think the lessons learned within this story will help build her character for more story lines in the future.

I have absolutely nothing to say that I disliked about this book, as I found it very entertaining and I embraced the plot immediately.

Overall, I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
The Mesmerist

[Lorrene Huisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a first time author read for me, but certainly will say it will not be my last. I loved how this book was written and put together. It kept things going, and was unlike most I had read. It was something that brought on a lot of questions in my mind, and truly had me intrigued all the way through!

I loved the murders and the mystery take on this book. Especially with the murders being of the royal court, this made the book much more interesting than other murder filled books i have read. There was a lot of twists and turns and I was guessing myself a lot as I had read through, I was kept in suspense, and trying to figure out who is in danger next. Lots of intrigue came with each passing sentence!

Personally, I loved Adrijana. She brought such a strength, that she was remarkable in so many ways. For everything she is being told fault for, it did not push her down, she got up and kept working to clear her name as well as what is going on in the court. I admired her for many reasons and I found she was a character that really made the story. Loved the person she was, and whom she became by the end.

Amazing and fun read. The suspense was real too. I loved the craftmanship of this book and the characters that surrounded it. Truly highly recommend this author, not one to passed up to say he least. Ans seriously, read this book, super high recommendation from me. It truly is a "royal" treat.

[Amy Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excuse me while I scope out all her other literary works. I don’t even know where to start, to be honest. The world building gave me blinders to the real world, and I felt like I was pulled right in beside Adrijana, or Jana as she is called by her nearest and dearest. It seems like a cute little trip to the big city for her and her dad, until things quickly start falling apart, and she’s swept into a whirlwind of activity, accusations, and responsibilities that would overwhelm any 17-year-old, to be honest. The magic, and abilities of the Royal Mesmers are well thought out, crafted, and has you wanting to wish upon a star to gain some of those abilities.

The reader is lead on this adventure, second guessing everything, and personally, I had wound this great ending in my head about this novel, and this author added so many phenomenal twists and turns that I really couldn’t remember what to believe for more than a few pages. I found it very easy to connect to each of the characters that we follow, the character building well woven, and thoroughly enjoyed that there is more than one strong female character to lean on throughout this tale. I fell head over heels for a couple of the men, second guessed, and fell all over again. Trust me, you won’t want to pass up the opportunity to escape into Adrjssian. Highly recommend!

[Tia Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Queen has been murdered!

When the Adrjissian royal family is being murdered one by one, the only thing that’s changed is Adrijana has come to the capitol. Determined to clear herself from the crimes, she agrees to stay and enlists the help of a charming royal Mesmerist, Dragan Vulpe, one of the magicians who can read and manipulate the thoughts and emotions of people around him.

But if the murders aren’t enough, the Vruk army is closing in on the borders around the capitol and it looks like the Vruk ambassadors are the biggest suspects in the deaths. As Adrijana investigates she finds evidence leading toward a Mesmer being involved and wonders who and what she can trust about those around her and herself. She’s going to have to find the killer before it’s too late.

The Mesmerist was a truly enchanting tale about a young girl trying to find her way in the world. The first few chapters felt a little slow for me but by Chapter 9 I didn’t want to put it down. It was fun, upbeat and you really feel for Adrijana as she struggles through finding herself and a killer in a palace where she thought she could find friendship.

This book has twists and turns and definitely kept me wondering what we were going to uncover next. If you enjoy magic and intrigue, you’ll love The Mesmerist.

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mesmerist is a stunning fantasy mystery, set in a royal court. It’s a stand-alone story packed with rich details and intriguing secrets that will draw readers in. A real treat for young adult readers!
I was intrigued from the start, with so many questions I was desperate to get answers to. Why was Adrijana’s father so worried about taking her to the city? What would it be like – would it live up to her expectations?
The setting is great! There’s a bit of magic, and it’s heavily tied in to power and politics. The Mesmers can see people’s thoughts and emotions, but there are those who are immune to their abilities, who are also the kinds of people you can’t accuse lightly. So Adrijana and Dragan, the royal Mesmer, have to tread carefully as they try to uncover the truth and deliver justice. At the same time, there’s all the glitz and glamour of a royal court, and the exciting melting pot of different cultures.
This book gets five stars from me! I would recommend it to fantasy lovers who enjoy stories with a royal setting, such as the Tortall books. I would love to read more, and in a way it’s a shame it’s a stand-alone, but the author has written plenty more that you can enjoy once you’ve savoured The Mesmerist.

[Megan Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The "who done it?" books always get my suspicions going and everyone is guilty until innocent in my mind. I had that feeling throughout most of this book and loved it! Andrijana is a 17 year old girl from a farm village and is very excited to experience her first time at court. When the queen mysteriously falls to her death, Adrijana’s life is turned upside down as eyes look to the new girl for a person to blame.
Dragan, a royal mesmer - is her only ally as she tries to maneuver through the mystery of who had the motive and the most to gain by the murder of the queen and other royals. Mesmers are gifted people that have the ability to analyze and affect another person's emotions. Meanwhile, the neighboring enemy kingdom the Vruks have an army closing in and it looks like war is inevitable. Andrijana is going to have to filter through the lies, half truths, and her own emotions if she's to find the one who framed her and hopefully save the kingdom too.
Andrijana is a relatable and loveable character. The feeling of mystery that this story gave me was exciting and I enjoyed every bit of it. By the end of it I was definitely wondering how much a girl had to go through and begging the author the give her a break! A wonderful read.

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrijana longs for more out of life. She accepts an invitation for her and her father to stay for a celebration thinking this is the opening she has been seeking. However, she quickly learns that life is not always as it seems. Her world comes crashing down around her when she finds out her father has kept her true heritage from her since she was five years old. She has to come to grips quickly with who she is as the royal family is being murdered one by one. In a world of intrigue, secrets, and hidden agendas, Adrijana has to learn quickly who she can trust and who she cannot before it is too late! Can she learn everything about being a mesmerist fast enough to find the true killer? Or will the killer succeed in taking out the royal family?

This is my first time reading this author and I was not disappointed! The story drew me in immediately and I didn't want to put it down. There were strange things happening to her and I HAD to know what was going on. I was drawn in by Adrijana's vulnerability and her emotions throughout the story. The lessons she learns are hard ones, but she refuses to roll over and give up. All the characters were intriguing, and the storyline kept me guessing until the end! I hope there will be more books in this world!

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mesmerist started off really strong. I liked Adrijana’s character and the background setting. The world building was interesting and so was the court intrigue and there Mesmerists. I really liked reading about them and following Adrijana’s journey in to her own powers and awakening.

But I started struggling around the halfway point. Certain things became a little obvious and Adrijana’s ignoring all the mounting coincidences until the consequences were thrust directly on to her lap- annoyed me and elicited some eye rolls. The plot would’ve been better served IMHO to have Adrijana acknowledge the obvious and play dumb to try and right things for herself. Adrijana ignored all the signs for the sake of lust/love and it just went on too much/too long.

It did pick up before the end, but I didn’t love it. But this is just my opinion, and I do read a lot, so there are certain things that set off my meh detector. The audiobook was well read though and that was my favorite part after the beginning, all the voices and distinct characters.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.

[Santana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The concept of this book was very interesting. The main character, Adrijana, lived a poor life with her father longing to live in the city where the royal family lived. Little did she know her wish would be granted but not in the way she thought. Adrijana was always able to see peoples emotions but she didn’t really think anything of it. When her and her father went into the city to deliver a herb to the queen, she is found to be an undeclared Mesmerist. Her powers were suppressed and she had no idea. The two royal Mesmers take her in to train her. Overnight, Adrijana’s life is turned upside down.

Someone is killing the royal family one by one and Adrijana is trying to get to the bottom of it with the help of the other two Mesmers in the royal court. Nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted.

This book was filled with suspense and mystery with a splash of romance. I would love to look into some more works from this author. This book has for sure been my favourite read thus far in 2022.

[Anya Davies-schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book will keep you guessing! The Mesmerist is an adult fantasy mystery book about a girl named Adrijana, who comes to visit her friend who is one of the new guards for the princess. As a girl with much wonder about the world around her, she ends up staying for a royal party. However, this is also when her life will completely change. She finds out she is something that many fear, but at the same time someone is also killing off the royal family. Adrijana is trying to accept this new life and figure out, not only who is killing the royals, but who is trustworthy and who isn’t.

One of the things I loved most about this book was all the mystery. There are twists and turns in each chapter and I loved trying to figure out who is behind all of these weird and tragic mishaps. The clues will pull you back and forth thinking one thing one minute and then another just a sentence later. Adrijana presents strong character development and intuition as the mystery unfolds. So, if you are looking for a fantasy style book with lots of mystery, this is the book for you!!

[Erica S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic paranormal story with a page-turning plot, compelling characters, and complicated mystery. Adrijana longs to get away from her provincial verbena farm and live in the city with the interesting and colourful characters that reside there. She finally gets her wish, and the adventure is much more than she bargained for. A murderer is on the loose, one who has a very particular set of powers - and a small list of possible suspects. But there is more going on than most people are aware. Will the murderer be revealed before the body count gets too high?
Adrijana is an awesome heroine - brave, intelligent and lacking in the hubris that many of those who live at court embody. The friendships she makes with Simeon, Georgi and Nevena help her to survive the cunning of shadowy forces. Each of them are interesting in their own right, very well-developed characters. Dragan was my favourite - his true nature is so elusive and it was great fun trying to keep up. A must read for fantasy and YA lovers!

[Nelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an avid reader and I absolutely love fantasy books, but this is easily one of the best ones I have read. The Mesmerist takes place in a fantasy world that is beautifully created in the first few chapters of the book while introducing a diverse cast of characters. Jana, the main character, is loveable and complex in a way that I could connect with. I connected with her sense of adventure and wanting to explore the bigger world around her rather than just her family farm. I found myself trying to solve the mystery that surrounded her, but I also enjoyed the other aspects of the story. One of the things that I enjoy most about fantasy books is the ability to escape, and The Mesmerist definitely allowed me an escape from daily life. Once I started it, I had a difficult time putting it down!

This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last! I plan on reading her previous books and I am hoping for a sequel to this one! I absolutely recommend this book for both young adults and older. It is a beautiful story in a world that I hope we see again!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Luana has done an outstanding job with The Mesmerist. The world-building is intricate, the characters complicated and a complex plot with political upheaval, assassinations, magical powers, mystical creatures, and tons of mystery, a true whodunit.


This wonderful story is narrated by Talon David who did a great job bringing the characters to life. I loved the uniqueness of the mesmers powers. What they can do is unique but also makes a lot of sense if you know a little something about chakras. There is a lot of prejudices, past wrongs, and politics that show a darker side to this world but with its unique cultures in every region and the magical animals does bring a touch of wonder to the story.


The plot went smoothly, everything was consistent and paced well. Everything came together really well without revealing to much. It kept the story interesting and me excited for more.


The Mesmerist is the first book I've read by Claire but it won't be the last. It truly was a fantastical read the pulled me in and kept me guessing until the very end.

[Kerry carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this fantasy adventure. The story had me gripped from beginning to end and the twists and turns kept me reading all the way through. The author does an amazing job of building the characters and especially our lead character Jana.

She is a young woman who thinks she is normal but boy is she wrong. When the queen is murdered secrets come out about her abilities that were kept hidden from her.
Now she needs to find a way to learn about who she really is and what her abilities mean.
At the same time someone is killing the royal family. Jana is a suspect so she must try to work hard to prove that she is innocent.
All along she is learning that people aren't always who they seem to be and that not everybody can be trusted. As the story twists and the plot carries on we can feel the turmoil Jana feels when people she thought she can trust betray her.

Can she prove her innocence? Will she find the murderer and stop the killings?