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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2528 KP) rated The Ninja’s Illusion in Books
Apr 17, 2026 (Updated Apr 17, 2026)
Murder, Mayhem, and Magic in Japan
Jaya has a week off for Thanksgiving break, and she is heading to Kyoto, Japan, where her best friend, Sanjay, is appearing in a televised magic event along with a Japanese star. And Jaya is hoping to connect with a local professor who has just reached out for her help about a trading ship lost to history. Jaya has only been there for a few hours when she realizes a mysterious Ninja is following her. The magician that Sanjay is working with is keeping a secret close to his vest. Then, Sanjay and Jaya find a body at the bottom on an embankment. Can Jaya figure out what is going on in time to keep Sanjay safe?
This book emphasized magic a bit more than treasure hunts, but that element was still here. Either way, outside the pacing once or twice, I enjoyed this book. That included the bit of history we learned along the way. Sanjay annoyed me a little at times, but I understood where he was coming from most of the time. The rest of the cast were great, and I enjoyed the updates we got on the characters. If you haven’t picked up this book yet, you’ll enjoy it.
This book emphasized magic a bit more than treasure hunts, but that element was still here. Either way, outside the pacing once or twice, I enjoyed this book. That included the bit of history we learned along the way. Sanjay annoyed me a little at times, but I understood where he was coming from most of the time. The rest of the cast were great, and I enjoyed the updates we got on the characters. If you haven’t picked up this book yet, you’ll enjoy it.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2528 KP) rated The Raven Thief in Books
Jan 25, 2024 (Updated Jan 25, 2024)
Who Made the Impossible Possible?
Tempest Raj’s family’s specialty construction company has just finished a project for a family friend. Lavinia Kingsley wanted to redesign a space her ex-husband had used. She’s planning an open house followed by a séance, overseen by Tempest’s friend Sanjay, to ceremonially get her ex out of her life. However, when the lights come on in the middle of the séance, the group finds Lavinia’s ex’s very real body on the table in their midst. With the police looking at her grandfather, Tempest jumps into the case. But she realizes there are four impossible things that she needs to figure out in order to solve the case. Can she figure out not only who did it, but how?
I’m not sure why I didn’t get to this book sooner, but I’m glad I finally did. I was quickly hooked, and the locked room aspect really added to the plot. The complications and twists just made the book harder to put down, but I was completely satisfied when I turned the last page. I fell in love with the characters even more here, as well. We get some advancement to the overarching storyline related to Tempest’s family, which made me glad the next book is coming soon. There are even three recipes at the end. If you haven’t read this book yet, fix that today.
I’m not sure why I didn’t get to this book sooner, but I’m glad I finally did. I was quickly hooked, and the locked room aspect really added to the plot. The complications and twists just made the book harder to put down, but I was completely satisfied when I turned the last page. I fell in love with the characters even more here, as well. We get some advancement to the overarching storyline related to Tempest’s family, which made me glad the next book is coming soon. There are even three recipes at the end. If you haven’t read this book yet, fix that today.
