Fantasy Book Review: Conjured

Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst

Synopsis:
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.

Review:
Eve suffers from severe memory loss. She remembers nothing before starting her new life with the Witness Protection Program. And when she discovers she has magic, she loses time and wakes up with memory loss almost every time she tries to use it. The agents working with her tell her they need to be a witness at a killer’s trial. But they won’t give her any information beyond that. Her dreams are dark and scary and are glimpses of her past. But Eve is so scared and confused, she doesn’t know who to trust. She’d rather run from her troubles than face them.

Conjured is another standalone fantasy from one of my favorite authors. This is more dark and creepy than her other novels. With plenty of suspense, unnerving imagery, mystery, romance, and magic – this fantasy is completely unpredictable and immensely captivating. It kept me guessing to the very end. The climactic ending made up for the slow start. And the feel of the story went from a dark, psychological fantasy into a twisted fairy tale. It’s wholly unique.