fantasy short story | Ad Librum Aeternam

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Number of pages: 40
ISBN: 9781662526213

ASIN: B0D6RSVHLR

Format: eBook (Kindle), Audiobook (Audible)
Publication date: January 01, 2025
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Type: Short Story

A HUGE thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book! I get no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

The delightful cover which spoke of spectacle and ancient times what with the clothes and braid of the woman really caught my eye. But what intrigued me was the title, The Conjurer’s Wife! A conjurer? Interesting! And his wife… She’s clearly much more than what she appears to be at first.

I had to read this short story by Sarah Penner! Not only does it occur during the 19th century, but also in Venice, with a backdrop of illusionism and spectacles. I love everything magic and that relates to the arts of the scene.

So, I was kindly granted a digital copy, and honestly I read it so fast. When I had to do something else, I would keep thinking about the story and Olivia, the main character, until finally I could resume my reading.

This sounds like your cuppa too?

Keep reading, loves!

Blurb

In nineteenth-century Venice, a young woman’s marriage to an illusionist hides secrets that go deeper than his spectacular acts. The stage is set for transformation in a mesmerizing short story by the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary.

In 1820s Venice, world-renowned magician Oscar Van Hoff confounds sold-out crowds with his astounding manifestations. Even his beautiful wife and assistant, Olivia, is mystified. Her job is to smile and recite her lines—onstage and in society. But the thankless routine is bringing out her rebellious side. Then, on the eve of what promises to be Oscar’s greatest performance yet, Olivia uncovers a secret with the power to shatter all her husband’s illusions. Now the finale belongs to her.

The Positive Points

The prose is straightforward and includes much information in short sentences and fewer words than one would think. I love it! You know all you need to in a swift and direct way. The descriptions are succinct, yet they tell everything you need to know: like how common the clearing of throat is before a show as a spectator, and how the theatergoers are drunk, notably before it happens in the holidays and on a Friday evening. The author doesn’t shy away from less-than-agreeable truths and descriptions, and I appreciate it.

Also, I love the integration of gaslight system which is from that time period—it is accurate and well-thought of.

Plus, you can feel the tension between Oscar and Olivia right from his entrance! He doesn’t seem wholly good… what has he done in the past? It seems Olivia thinks it’s high time for a little rebellion of her own. I am intrigued about what truly happened to Olivia before the injury and what Oscar might have done to her… used her for his shows? Lied and manipulated her to wed her?

As I kept progressing in my reading, something clearly didn’t seem right about this whole thing and Oscar, was Olivia the magician before and then he met her and used her talents to become popular? Maybe he stole magic by causing her head injury… Argh, I didn’t know, but something was definitely wrong in this picture! He seemed to have no trick to his shows… which as a magician is highly improbable! Almost impossible. So what gives?

I love the scene with Olivia and the painting. It is much more important than we know at the moment!

Omg, the plot twist was great! I wasn’t expecting that plot twist until the very last minute. Fantastic and chilling at the same time. A grand number in the author’s show! The ending is excellent and rebellious—just like Olivia in the beginning. dang how I love her character! I would read a whole book about her.

Lastly, this short story reads like a show. I mean, it’s like I am watching a theater play or a tv show—it’s really entertaining and captivating.

The Negative Points

How can she be sure that thing (no spoilers here) is magic? She simply assumed when she saw it. Perhaps Oscar plans his shows with it? This would be more logical than assuming it’s magic right away. This seemed a bit illogical and it bothered me, jumping to conclusion like that—the right one at that, and much less plausible than anything else!

In Conclusion

Overall, I give The Conjurer’s Wife by Sarah Penner a grand rating of 5 stars out of 5 for how excellent the storytelling is, how captivating and engrossing the story is, and also how much I love Olivia as a character and the amazing plot twist! Honestly, I would really read a whole thick book about Olivia! This story is genuinely that good.

I recommend this short story to all lovers of magic in all its forms, art, and spectacles, as well as those seeking to be captivated by a story and characters and taken aback by a plot twist cleverly crafted!

If you want to learn more about the author, Sarah Penner, you can visit her author website, and follow her on her Goodreads author account, as well as on her Instagram account. Don't forget to add The Conjurer's Wife to your wishlist, your cart, or your bookshelves!

Let’s Celebrate 100 Followers!

chit-chatting with Cat, Freebies, Short Stories March 9, 2019 Leave a comment

YAY! I reached 100 followers! THANK YOU.

Do you remember my post back in October? I mentioned a gift to celebrate all you folks who choose to support and motivate me. I’m so thrilled you’re here!

Here’s your gift: a free short story written just for YOU.

Enjoy!

Crashing into the Veil

Copyrighted Catherine Girard-Veilleux, 2019

‘’This is ridiculous.’’

Martin sighed and shook his head at the traffic in a well-trodden suburban road. Patience wasn’t one of his virtues and he had a wife and a little girl of 4 to get to. It was late enough with evening plain to see outside the car windows. Work had drained him and he wasn’t quite in a… good mood. He grabbed the wheel and turned it in a brisk movement, his foot hard on the gas pedal.

He could’ve sworn there was no one else in the left lane, but some jerk cut in from the third lane and crashed into him. The first car barreled into two others on the right and caused a pile-up.

As for Martin, he gasped and cussed as fear froze him to the bone, making him let go of his wheel. When the cars hit, all he saw was his hood being crushed and pushed back, and his head hit the wheel with such force he thought he heard an awful cracking sound.

But then, all movement and sound ceased around him for what seemed like a second.

He blinked hard when a policeman directed a flashlight in his face. Someone must have called the 9-1-1… He couldn’t have been out that long, could he? The young officer talked to him through the window. Martin opened his mouth and tried to tell him he couldn’t hear. He was struck by the absence of pain, but his rational mind told him it was due to adrenaline. Of course. Instead of opening the door and saving him, the officer straightened up and walked to his colleague, discussing what he saw, no doubt.

Irritated by this obvious lack of compassion for someone in need, Martin pushes with much strength on the car door. He ends up tripping out of his car instead.

Okay, that was… strange. He filed this occurrence in his mind for later, though. It was a consequence of the accident.

He needed to focus on what’s important and help others since he was still able-bodied. No?

Without deigning to take a glance at the officer, Martin rushed to the nearest victims of the crash. A poor middle-aged woman lay on in the middle of the road, croaking with pain and blood oozing out of her mouth. Martin reached her and tried to hold her hand, but it slipped through. Shocked, Martin focused on his own fingers and flexed them; they still responded. So what the hell was that? Was he dead?

The dying woman turned her head an inch in order to face him. Her eyes were glazing over, but still she said in one last breath: ‘’You’re my angel, aren’t you?’’

Martin couldn’t reply as a paramedic walked through him to take the woman’s pulse. A cold, rippling sensation flooded him. He grimaced and touched himself. Why, he felt solid… to himself. Obviously, he was not.

Terrified, and piecing the puzzle together, Martin ran back to his car. Paramedics were doing CPR, trying to keep him alive. But the more they tried, the better he felt.

‘’Stop. He’s not coming back,’’ the older paramedic says to the youngest, putting a hand over his arm in a compassionate gesture.

‘’No! NO!’’ Martin shouted, though he knew no one here would hear him.

Panic was eating away at him. His body (or whatever it was now!) shook with force, his teeth gritting. He hugged himself, eyes roaming the horrendous scene, taking in all the tragedy.

His daughter? It would be hell not to see her grow up and become a woman. His wife? It would be torture to live without her… wherever he was going next.

Death had come and stolen his life away like the worst thief. Because he knew he was dead, all right. But what happens now? Is he left alone to wander the world without playing any part in it? Is it truly the end of the road? Surely there has to be more answers to these incessant questions, if not in life then in death!

A shrill scream tore through his dark thoughts. He spun around and saw a woman standing near a shape under a white sheet… The dying woman! Though now she looked beautiful; no blood, no wounds, and her vintage clothes weren’t torn.

Martin went to her. ‘’I know,’’ was all he said, nodding. Nothing could comfort her. That he was certain of.

Then, the whole area shudders and ripples. They both jerk their head up. ‘’What the-’’

It’s all gone in an instant.

Martin looks down and sees he’s not on a road anymore. In fact, it’s quite as though he’s floating as there’s nothing under his feet! All there is is a gray mist all around, above, and under them both.

‘’Wh-where are we?’’ the woman asked, her eyes bulging out of her face.

“Welcome to the land of the dead.”

There was nothing else to say; they needed to keep going. Perhaps they’d find the answer to all this at the end of the invisible path. And so they went, hand-in-hand, for God knows how long.

But he sure pondered. And most unsettling sensation was the growing freedom in him as they walked. Freedom…

Is this what it means…

Death?

If you enjoyed this short story (and I genuinely hope you did!), you’re more than welcome to leave me a comment or share your thoughts with me on Twitter.

See you next post, lovelies!

Let ‘ s Celebrate 100 Followers!

chit-chatting with Cat, Freebies, Short Stories March 9, 2019 Leave a comment

YAY! I reached 100 followers! THANK YOU.

Do you remember my post back in October? I mentioned a gift to celebrate all you folks who choose to support and motivate me. I'm so thrilled you're here!

Here's your gift: a free short story written just for YOU.