This was a fun, short read! I had my own theories about the main character and her husband, but was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of the book.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 #𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 #𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘞𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.


Any story with a unique twist I don’t figure out until it is revealed is almost always a winner in my… book. 😉 This one did not disappoint.

It had been on my TBR list, so I was excited when I saw it on the available list at NetGalley.

A new twist on the magician story, I really enjoyed the historical aspect and the descriptions of the act. I liked the background on Olivia and Oscar’s story, but I wish there was just a little more of them interacting outside of being onstage.

Overall, it's a great story!


#NetGalley #ShortStories #HistoricalFiction #MagicalRealism #Mystery

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing and Sarah Penner for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I've always been intrigued by Sarah Penner's titles based on her faithful fanbase- but hadn't tried anything yet. I thought a novella would be the perfect place to start- and it sure was. This was a delightful small taste of the imagery and magic she can weave.

Perhaps it wasn't the point- but this book made me think about AI. Anyone else?

Brief/quick overview: The wife of a magician believes he might not be telling her the full truth.

My thoughts: I love a good short story, and boy was this GOOD! It manages to be descriptive enough to provide all the necessary details while still keeping the story about 40 pages. It seems to be a bit of a set up for her new novel Almafi Curse, as far as I can see! My only complaint here is that there isn't more, but it actually wrapped it up well enough that I don't really feel like I'm missing anything. Very impressive!

📌New Review

Thank you #partners @netgalley & @amazonpublishing for my #gifted copy.

📲: The Conjurer’s Wife
✍️: Sarah Penner
🖨️: Amazon Original Stories
📈: 3⭐️
🪄: Magical Realism

📝:

This was a quick, cutie little novella told by a magician’s wife, Olivia. Oscar Van Hoff is a world-renowned illusionist, but his beautiful young sidekick claims just as much attention from the audience. He would truly be lost without his wife & it shows when she purposely begins to aggravate him by saying the wrong lines, & standing too far away from her assigned spots on stage.

Life hasn’t been the same since her accident the night of their wedding exactly one year ago & she can’t quite put her finger on why. That is until one night she’s rooting around somewhere that she doesn’t belong & the proof is in the pudding. Now there will be hell to pay for dear old hubs.

💭: What’s your favorite tale of magic?
🙋🏻‍♀️: Hocus Pocus or Sabrina The Teenage Witch 🐈‍⬛

🏷️
#newbook #amazonpublishing #amazonoriginal #amazonoriginalstories #partner #fantasybooks #fantasyreads #fantasyreader #fantasybook #magicalrealism #magicalbooks #booksonmagic #witchyreads #bookreview #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyreads #newnetgalleybook #newreleasebooks #justlikemagic #hocuspocus #sabrinatheteenagewitch #primereading #amazonprime #primereads #freebook

I have read several books by the author so was immediately drawn to this. It was such an interesting concept. I think this would have been fantastic as a full length book. Even as a novella where the story progresses much quicker, it felt rushed. There was so much potential, but everything just came about too quickly. I enjoyed the premise, just wished it had lasted a bit longer.

I really enjoyed this short story! Olivia, the main character, is strong, defiant, and relatable. I would love to know where she goes and what her story is moving forward!

The story takes place in Venice in 1821. The main character is the wife of a conjurer who works as his assistant. She doesn’t remember her past because, a year ago, on their wedding day, she fell from the third floor of their villa. Due to the head injury, she has amnesia. Her husband tells her very little about her past, and she begins to suspect that something is wrong.

Despite the fact that this is a novella and the events develop quickly, it was thrilling and intense! I liked the heroine and her desire for freedom. Although the ending felt a bit abrupt, I was completely satisfied with it!
I consider this a successful introduction to the author, and I definitely want to read more of her books in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I don’t usually love short stories, but I actually wish this was developed into a full novel. I feel the idea could have provided enough for good character development. But it was original and enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing, I loved that this ARC took me away me away to Italy 🇮🇹 . This short story is the perfect read after finishing The Amalfi Curse, as @sarah_penner_author captures the same moment in history and mentions significant events from her upcoming book (look for it on April 29th, 2025!). Capturing the mystic, supernatural, patriarchal societal norms, and penning once again, a fierce woman determined to live her own life, Penner captured me and I couldn’t put this down.

An interesting short story that will leave you wishing for more! Imagine finding out that your entire life was a lie, and what your next steps would be after that revelation. Even though it is such a short tale you get a sense of the character of the two main characters immediately and will be pulled into their tale.

As this was a short story, I didn't expect complete character development. I was happy about the amount of character development I received. The character of Olivia had depth and was relatable. I enjoyed her story and her self-growth. Even though the plot was predictable, I did enjoy it. There were at least two instances that I didn't expect. I also like the addition of the baby fox, because who doesn't like cute, fluffy, baby foxes?

Oscar Van Hoff is a world renowned magician in Venice during the 1820's. His magic is incredible, and even his wife and assistant doesn't know how he does it. She has always played her role perfectly onstage, reciting the agreed upon lines, but is starting to get tired of the role...and then she uncovers his secret.

I really enjoyed the magic in this short story, but Marmalade the fox was my absolute favorite part. The writing was fantastical and I was really immersed in the story. The ending did feel rushed and abrupt, but it was still a great and quick read.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the ARC.

Really intriguing story, I wish it was longer! I know it was a short story but the ending was so abrupt!

I delighted in this! Captivating, mystical, compelling, atmospheric... It felt complete but simultaneously left me wanting the story to continue, so it was everything I love a novella to be. I highly recommend this super quick read!

Thank you to Amazon Publishing for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I love Sarah Penners previous books so was excited to read this novella. The story is intriguing with an interesting magic system. We are thrown right into the story but the beginning feels a little disjointed as the author describes the setting of the theatre, the audience and the protagonists feelings to quickly set up the story. However once this is established and we settle into the narrative the story flows well.

This story was just okay for me - nothing really bad, nothing really great about it. I was weirdly put off by the use of “cub” instead of “kit” for a baby fox (and I know that’s a me problem, but it irritated me enough to detract from the story).

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, This was such a fun short read. I absolutely was hooked from the beginning of the story. I loved the time setting along with the characters.

The Conjurer’s Wife is a glitzy short mystery. The plot is beautifully set in Venice and follows a magician’s wife. And the secret to his magic. The mystery of his magic unfolds and is truly unpredictable (for me!). It also has a lovely wrapped ending that was satisfying!

Set in 1820s Venice, The Conjurer’s Wife is a captivating short story that combines intrigue, mystery, and transformation. Olivia, the wife and assistant of the famous illusionist Oscar Van Hoff, spends her days reciting lines and playing a supporting role in her husband's grand performances. Yet, beneath the surface of her glamorous life, there’s a growing sense of dissatisfaction, especially when she uncovers a secret that threatens to unravel everything Oscar has worked for. Penner skillfully creates a rich atmosphere of tension and wonder, pulling readers into a world where nothing is quite as it seems. The story is short but brimming with mystery and emotional depth, leading to a satisfying and empowering conclusion for Olivia.

While the story’s brevity leaves little room for deep character exploration, it does succeed in delivering a quick yet immersive experience. Olivia’s arc is compelling, her quiet rebellion against the constraints of her life making for an intriguing narrative. The setting of Venice and the backdrop of magic add a layer of mystique, but at times, the story’s focus on the big reveal comes at the expense of deeper development. Nonetheless, The Conjurer's Wife offers a delightful, thought-provoking escape, particularly for readers who enjoy stories of personal empowerment and hidden secrets.