Max took Corbin in and taught him everything he knew about magic and about his shapeshifting abilities. So when Max charges Corbin with bringing home his estranged daughter, Corbin is more than happy.

Lorelei, however, is still scarred by her father’s abusive past towards her mother and her, and the sheer enormity of her power and its affect on the lives of other mages make her determined to do good. Soon enough, Corbin is realizing that things aren’t the way he thought and he becomes determined to keep Lorelei and the other mages safe.

Smoke and Mirrors by Helene Opocensky is a delightful read, age appropriate from 10 on up, filled with the magic of fairytale characters, the corruption of good men when power is involved. Each character has their own quirky, sometimes over-the-top personality that colors their actions, while Corbin becomes a young man wise well beyond his years who is determined to be a man his late mother would be proud of.