Illusions of Fate

Downton Abbey meets Cassandra Clare in this lush, romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.

“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.

Kiersten White captured readers’ hearts with her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy and its effortless mix of magic and real-world teenage humor. She returns to that winning combination of wit, charm, and enchantment in Illusions of Fate, a sparkling and romantic new novel perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, The Madman’s Daughter, and Libba Bray.

Amazon: Check Best Offer

Fantasy Young Adult

Release date: September 4, 2014

Book Order

Your Rating

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Standard Shelves

Readers also enjoyed

Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations #1)

★ 9.16 / 12

Keeper of the Lost Cities (Keeper of the Lost Cities #1)

★ 8.90 / 10

The Dragonet Prophecy (Wings of Fire #1)

★ 8.70 / 37

The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass #0.5)

★ 8.62 / 13

The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo #1)

★ 8.42 / 14

★ 8.28 / 53

★ 8.26 / 23

Join the Discussion

You can post as a guest or sign in for more features.

Have questions about this book or want to share your thoughts? Join the conversation!

Kiersten White

Kiersten White’s storytelling is a blend of fierce imagination, sharp wit, and deep emotional resonance. Known for her ability to spin complex tales of fantasy, horror, and the supernatural, White has captured the hearts of readers with her distinctly bold, often dark narratives. Her stories are where the boundary between the ordinary and the extraordinary blurs, where readers are invited to dive into worlds filled with magic, monsters, and unforgettable heroines.

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Kiersten grew up with a passion for both reading and writing, though she was the kind of person who loved to daydream about new worlds before ever setting them down on paper. From an early age, she found herself enchanted by stories that pushed the limits of what was possible—stories that felt real, even when they were anything but. That love of the fantastical is something that continues to infuse her books, drawing from her own love of adventurous narratives and her curiosity about what lies beneath the surface of reality.

White made her mark with the Paranormalcy series, which quickly established her as a fresh voice in the young adult fantasy world. The series, which blends paranormal creatures with humor and heart, centers around Evie, a fierce yet relatable heroine who works as a monster-hunter and juggles the complexities of relationships, identity, and saving the world. But it’s not just the action-packed plotlines that make White’s work stand out—it’s her ability to delve into the emotional lives of her characters. Whether writing about teen angst or the complexities of friendship, Kiersten brings her characters to life with a depth that’s often missing in genre fiction.

In her later works, including the And I Darken trilogy and The Camelot Betrayal, White shifted to historical fantasy, reimagining history through the lens of the fantastical. With And I Darken, she brings to life a fierce, bold, and sometimes brutal reimagining of Vlad the Impaler’s story, with the main character, Lada, as a strong-willed, complex female lead. Her world-building in this series is rich and immersive, where battles, power struggles, and unflinching survival intersect with themes of gender, power, and self-determination.

White’s ability to tackle such varied genres—paranormal, historical, and mythological—shows her versatility as an author. She blends sharp dialogue, compelling character arcs, and bold ideas, challenging readers to reconsider what they know about the world and about themselves.

Her books have resonated with readers of all ages, particularly young adults, who find in her characters a sense of belonging, a sense of rebellion, and a voice that is unapologetically their own. White’s writing is as sharp and surprising as the twists she weaves into her narratives, making it no surprise that her books have become beloved favorites.

As Kiersten herself puts it, “I want to create books where readers feel both challenged and seen.” And it’s this balance of empathy and challenge that keeps readers coming back to her work, eager to see where her imagination will take them next.