Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

Genre:  YA Fantasy

Kiersten White's website

Expected publication date:  September 9, 2014

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Description (taken from Goodreads):

"I did my best to keep you from crossing paths with this world. And I shall do my best to protect you now that you have.”

Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.

Jessamin escaped her mother's clutches and the world of engagements/marriages to attend school in Albion.  Unfortunately, the pompous Albions do not think much of the islanders no matter how smart and gifted they are.  Jessamin's strengths lie in the mathematical field, but her female islander status keeps her at the bottom of the food chain and leaves her as a history major at school.  And even though she's at the top of her class and puts up with the Albion attitude to civilize everyone, she's still left at the bottom barely surviving.  But then fate intervenes.

When Jessamin accidentally runs into Finn, an elusive rich man, she finds herself enthralled with him.  He finds her entertaining, and she just finds him annoying for pitying her.  She will have none of that because she is fully capable of taking care of herself and doesn't need help from a pompous Albion snob.  But just as Jessamin helps rid Finn of his prejudices, Finn releases her pride.  And all in the middle of this is a bit of magic.

This book is a super quick and fun read.  I loved Jessamin's character and her stubbornness.  And the role that magic played in this book was so creative and sly.  I mean sure, I had some questions like how does this magic come about?  Why does it only affect a few?  The history's a little bogus, but my story-listening mind told this inquisitive side to shut up and keep reading.  The plot lines played so well, and Finn is just as much of that good guy every girl wants to meet.  Plus he's rich (always a plus).  This book had so many secrets that it wouldn't give up until just the right moment, and I didn't even realize I was following a twisting path until the ending came.  I was kind of like, woah!  It was amazeballs...

Sidenote about the setting:  It's set in a fantasy world that kind of mirrors our own past world.  There's a ruling country that's hell-bent on making all civilizations live a certain way.  But not everyone's stepping aside to let them do just that.  Oh, and there's magic involved.

Honestly, if you haven't picked up any Kiersten White books yet, I suggest you start with this one.  I absolutely adored it.  And my logical side certainly made way for the small romance-y side that loved this one.

Thanks goes to Around the World ARC Tours for providing me a review copy.