Review: Emerald Illusion

Happy Monday, Reader friends!

I’m kicking off the week with a review of J. Rodes’ Emerald Illusion. You may know her as Jennifer Rodewald and her thought-provoking contemporary fiction novels. But she also writes YA fiction under J. Rodes. If you haven’t read either of her genres, you must!

Let’s get started!

About the Book

Oz is not what you think.

Abrielle used to dream of a different life. Adventure. Romance. Hope.

Not of Kansas.

Now, after the loss of her mother and a move she didn’t want to make, she’s lost the will to dream anymore, let alone believe in her father’s Somedays. But a swirling wind, a wall of leaves, and a blinding darkness transform her world.

She and both of her brothers, Brogan and Matteaus, are swept from Kansas to someplace beyond—to a desert in which everything is watery brown, including the sky and the light of the weak sun. Abrielle finds herself in the middle of a realm everyone had heard of but no one believed existed. Except this version is run-down and broken, void of color and hope. Not much different from her view of life in Kansas.

When she gathers her bearings, she discovers her youngest brother is missing, lost in a land that is foreign and dying. Finding Matteaus becomes her sole focus, but when she and Brogan meet a boy named Levi, who only adds more mystery to this world that shouldn’t exist, she finds out this kingdom is much more perilous than the children’s book ever told.

Matteaus is in great danger.

There is nothing safe about Oz.

Links: Amazon, Goodreads

My Thoughts

The one thing I love about a J. Rodes book is the plethora of quotable lines. The woman has a way with words that pulls you into a story, sets your mind to things above, and has you examining your actions in the world.

And considering the deep allegorical story running in Emerald Illusion, it’s no surprise that my Kindle was highlighting left and right.

I really enjoyed the allegorical message behind Emerald Illusion and the ending was just about as perfect as could be in this ya fantasy. I did struggle in some of the parts only because I wanted to get to the action and see how Abrielle’s journey unfolded. Still, in those moments, I was highlighting quotes and applauding Ms. Rodes’ writing.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. My review was not required nor influenced.

About the Author

J. Rodes lives on the wide plains somewhere near the middle of Nowhere. A coffee addict, pickleball enthusiast, and storyteller, she also wears the hats of mom, teacher, and friend. Mostly, she loves Jesus and wants to see the kids she’s honored to teach fall in love with Him too.