I managed to finish the series while abroad and it had further delayed in coming up with this review as I have gotten a cold from travel fatigue- and the looming deadline has been dragged on.

OKAAAAAY. I think that's how I'll sum up The Smoke & Mirrors Duology series- it seem like an okay read. Don't get me wrong, the premise was good, the story line along with its dash of sophistication, this was a really good series but I was having a hard time connecting with the main characters and throughout the duology, there was a lot of dark twist and turns that mounted to series of occurrences that ultimately led to its conclusion but there was only one apparent plot twist that managed to blindside me (I don't want to mention it here because spoiler alert but if you've read this, you'll have an idea what I'm pertaining to) and that was it- the rest was expected, unfortunately.

I like the writing style and the sneak out-espionage-be-quiet-sex-escapades! Definitely plus points for entirety of this series but sadly it just wasn't able to win me over in the end. The fact that I was struggling with the connection between Adeline and Josh was enough indication that this series may have not been for me. I would possibly have overlooked other issues just as long as the story has successfully lured me in and become attached to the tandem.

The concept of this book was not something we haven't read before- that's the truth. However, I honestly read cliche and predictable stories quite too many throughout my years of indulging books but that doesn't mean that I'll berate a series or a book just because it was predictable. In the end, it all comes down to how the story work its way through my mind and how it'll fuck up with my feelings. If I've grown attached to it and it wants me to cry- I WILL SHED BUCKETS. If it wants me to throw the damn pillows at someone- I WILL. If a book will put me in a roller coaster ride- I WILL.

Unfortunately, this was SURELY not the ending I was expecting.

I'm looking forward to have my perspective altered by Jodi Ellen Malpas' other works in the near future!