Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst

Conjured

by Sarah Beth Durst

Eve has a new home, a new face, and a new name—but no memories of her past. She’s been told that she's in a witness protection program. That she escaped a dangerous magic-wielding serial killer who still hunts her. The only thing she knows for sure is that there is something horrifying in her memories the people hiding her want to access—and there is nothing they won’t say—or do—to her to get her to remember.

At night she dreams of a tattered carnival tent and buttons being sewn into her skin. But during the day, she shelves books at the local library, trying to not let anyone know that she can do things—things like change the color of her eyes or walk through walls. When she does use her strange powers, she blacks out and is drawn into terrifying visions, returning to find that days or weeks have passed—and she’s lost all short-term memories. Eve must find out who and what she really is before the killer finds her—but the truth may be more dangerous than anyone could have ever imagined.

Reviewed by Kelly on

2 of 5 stars

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Conjured was a blend of mystery and fantasy, with contemporary elements and eerie flashbacks. I enjoyed the darker side of Conjured, but overall I struggled to really immerse myself within the storyline. Eve is as whimsical as she is magical, and although readers may struggle to connect to her character, her thoughts are among the loveliest, not to mention eerie, that I've had the pleasure of reading.

It's the memory flashbacks that Eve experiences that lured me into the storyline. A dark and magical carnival, where she recalls thoughts of a children's Storyteller that cared for her seemingly like a mother figure. There is a killer targeting children and teens that puts Eve in the line of danger. But when a group of magic infused teens try to recruit her to their cause, and that's where I begun to lose interest. I needed more creepy carnival and less teen romance. The introduction of Victoria, Aidan and Topher who are involved within the Agency, seemed awkward and unnecessary. Perhaps to create conflict or an alternative love interest I'm assuming. What I absolutely adored was the flashbacks.

Eve struggles to maintain memories and can't remember where she originated. The figments she begins to remember are incredibly poetic, I absolutely adored the deliciously dark carnival setting, but sadly the glimpses we see throughout the storyline were too few and far between. Overall, I felt as though the synopsis promised a delicious and dark suspense, but sadly delivered more of a contemporary teen romance with fantasy elements. Lovers of magic realism will enjoy this one.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 16 October, 2014: Finished reading
  • 16 October, 2014: Reviewed