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Smoke & Mirrors
278 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 7, 2025
Smoke and Mirrors is not my usual reading fare, and as other reviewers have said, a lot of fun in many ways. I'm a voracious reader and speculative fiction writer, but this was my first time reading a middle grade novel with a male protagonist in the speculative or fantasy genres. It's a bit of a mixed bag; I vacillated between 3 and 4 stars. But as always with books like this, what works here works really well.
I didn't expect it, but I highly enjoyed and was endeared to Stewart Fox. Jeff perfectly captured the mix of capable and vulnerable that so often characterizes kids Stewart's age, especially boys. Stewart is independent, scrappy, and reckless--and yet he misses his mom and dad. He wants to carve his own niche in the world and be fully self-reliant--yet he feels abandoned and deeply wounded. Humor is his defense mechanism, but he's honestly funny, and quirky in an organic way, not because Jeff tried to make Stewart too "adorably awkward" or a class clown or nerdy or whatever.
I also enjoyed Samantha in particular. The way she and Stewart interact is 100% true to middle school social hierarchy and relationships. Your best friend today could be your worst enemy tomorrow--or in two hours. The mistrust and Samantha's sort of "back and forth" actions did wear on me at times. But I'll weigh the review scales in her favor because considering who Samantha is and what she has to cope with, her actions and reactions make complete sense. I also empathized with both her and Stewart's desires for belonging and consistency and family, all of which are, again, true to the target audience's experiences.
While it's a bit on the nose and could've been probed more deeply, I also loved the contrast between Stewart's love of stage magic or sleight of hand vs. "Real Magic." Jeff as the author, Stewart as the protagonist, and the environment of Devon, all capture some great interplay between the two magical forms. Additionally, Stewart's talent for sleight of hand and the joy he takes in it, contribute a lot to his character arc and developing worldview.
Speaking of "world," the world of Devon and the surrounding areas are well-written. I've rarely if ever seen a novel that focuses so much on the lore, mores, and habits of one magical creature, and I loved it. I love how Devon's negative obsession with dragons is contrasted with what dragons were and are meant to be. And while the overall setting and lore have some gaps, I like how Jeff played with some common fantasy tropes. For instance, Devon Prep is a magical school, but Smoke and Mirrors isn't a "magic school story"; the academic environment is important, but secondary to the adventure. Students like Maya, Samantha, and Stogg have secrets and worldviews that might be common to a book like this. But the way those are handled and the way they fit into overarching lore, is Devon's alone.
So, why would I vacillate between 3 stars and 4? Well, it comes down to needing "more" of some elements and "less" of others. As I noted, the worldbuilding is strong, but for me, it had significant gaps. The characters are strong, but their motives or ties to the overarching lore sometimes felt "sketched in." Samantha is a great example. I understand what her character arc is and where it comes from, and there's a solid if expected twist regarding how she fits into this dragon-centric tale, with whom, and how. But often, it feels like parts of her story remain untold or unfinished, or as if Samantha is a convenient satellite to other characters.
Maya has a similar, if not worse, problem. That is, the book makes a big deal about her heritage, why it and she are valuable to Devon, and how she is sort of a linchpin in Stewart's journey. But then, in many scenes, she's just kinda "there." For a little less than half the book, she's either out of action or again, a satellite to it. By the time I finished Smoke and Mirrors, I honestly remember thinking, "I love Stewart, but...why and how was he the point of view character here? I feel like this should've been Samantha or Maya's story, with Stewart in a supportive role."
That brings me to Stewart's role and journey in general. As with any good book like this, the reasons and solutions make sense when you see them. For me though, it felt downright odd that Stewart was the one and only student at Devon who never had a clue what was going on, who didn't have certain knowledge or abilities, and--this is the biggie--was somewhat okay with letting them go unexplained. For instance, I remember thinking, "What is the significance of the sashes and the 'classes,' other than the fact, Stewart's group is marginalized? How do you move up or down? Do Stewart, Samantha, and Maya have any allies?" Questions like that jarred me out of the story a lot.
Finally, I ended up with mixed feelings about the spiritual thread in Smoke and Mirrors. It's unique in the sense of how it's presented (through dragon eyes and a dragon world). And I did get a good chuckle out of Stewart thinking a certain character could grill some burgers, watch a couple movies, and still enact The Big Plan without breaking a sweat. (It occurs to me, I've felt the same way, if at times bemused). But as with worldbuilding, some of the details were, well, smoky or hazy. For example, was Samantha's desire to go to the Bright Lands before an appointed time--healthy? Is that what she was going for at all? What's the relationship between Cenric and Merwen? How exactly does Devon, as a school, fit into the spirituality of this story? And considering the heavy emphasis on dragon lore--how much did we really *need* Stewart as a character? (Well, I take that back. Obviously, we need him, but I think the spirituality called for him to be written slightly differently).
Overall then, Smoke and Mirrors may not satisfy you if, like me, you're looking for a "deep," multifaceted fantasy tale. However, I would definitely say it's a winner for the target audience or people who like their stories a little more plot-driven than I do. I'm not sure if there will be a sequel; the ending was too abrupt for me to tell if we were really "done." But if you have middle grade kids, especially ones who love dragons, I'd say Smoke and Mirrors will be a magical ride for you.
I didn't expect it, but I highly enjoyed and was endeared to Stewart Fox. Jeff perfectly captured the mix of capable and vulnerable that so often characterizes kids Stewart's age, especially boys. Stewart is independent, scrappy, and reckless--and yet he misses his mom and dad. He wants to carve his own niche in the world and be fully self-reliant--yet he feels abandoned and deeply wounded. Humor is his defense mechanism, but he's honestly funny, and quirky in an organic way, not because Jeff tried to make Stewart too "adorably awkward" or a class clown or nerdy or whatever.
I also enjoyed Samantha in particular. The way she and Stewart interact is 100% true to middle school social hierarchy and relationships. Your best friend today could be your worst enemy tomorrow--or in two hours. The mistrust and Samantha's sort of "back and forth" actions did wear on me at times. But I'll weigh the review scales in her favor because considering who Samantha is and what she has to cope with, her actions and reactions make complete sense. I also empathized with both her and Stewart's desires for belonging and consistency and family, all of which are, again, true to the target audience's experiences.
While it's a bit on the nose and could've been probed more deeply, I also loved the contrast between Stewart's love of stage magic or sleight of hand vs. "Real Magic." Jeff as the author, Stewart as the protagonist, and the environment of Devon, all capture some great interplay between the two magical forms. Additionally, Stewart's talent for sleight of hand and the joy he takes in it, contribute a lot to his character arc and developing worldview.
Speaking of "world," the world of Devon and the surrounding areas are well-written. I've rarely if ever seen a novel that focuses so much on the lore, mores, and habits of one magical creature, and I loved it. I love how Devon's negative obsession with dragons is contrasted with what dragons were and are meant to be. And while the overall setting and lore have some gaps, I like how Jeff played with some common fantasy tropes. For instance, Devon Prep is a magical school, but Smoke and Mirrors isn't a "magic school story"; the academic environment is important, but secondary to the adventure. Students like Maya, Samantha, and Stogg have secrets and worldviews that might be common to a book like this. But the way those are handled and the way they fit into overarching lore, is Devon's alone.
So, why would I vacillate between 3 stars and 4? Well, it comes down to needing "more" of some elements and "less" of others. As I noted, the worldbuilding is strong, but for me, it had significant gaps. The characters are strong, but their motives or ties to the overarching lore sometimes felt "sketched in." Samantha is a great example. I understand what her character arc is and where it comes from, and there's a solid if expected twist regarding how she fits into this dragon-centric tale, with whom, and how. But often, it feels like parts of her story remain untold or unfinished, or as if Samantha is a convenient satellite to other characters.
Maya has a similar, if not worse, problem. That is, the book makes a big deal about her heritage, why it and she are valuable to Devon, and how she is sort of a linchpin in Stewart's journey. But then, in many scenes, she's just kinda "there." For a little less than half the book, she's either out of action or again, a satellite to it. By the time I finished Smoke and Mirrors, I honestly remember thinking, "I love Stewart, but...why and how was he the point of view character here? I feel like this should've been Samantha or Maya's story, with Stewart in a supportive role."
That brings me to Stewart's role and journey in general. As with any good book like this, the reasons and solutions make sense when you see them. For me though, it felt downright odd that Stewart was the one and only student at Devon who never had a clue what was going on, who didn't have certain knowledge or abilities, and--this is the biggie--was somewhat okay with letting them go unexplained. For instance, I remember thinking, "What is the significance of the sashes and the 'classes,' other than the fact, Stewart's group is marginalized? How do you move up or down? Do Stewart, Samantha, and Maya have any allies?" Questions like that jarred me out of the story a lot.
Finally, I ended up with mixed feelings about the spiritual thread in Smoke and Mirrors. It's unique in the sense of how it's presented (through dragon eyes and a dragon world). And I did get a good chuckle out of Stewart thinking a certain character could grill some burgers, watch a couple movies, and still enact The Big Plan without breaking a sweat. (It occurs to me, I've felt the same way, if at times bemused). But as with worldbuilding, some of the details were, well, smoky or hazy. For example, was Samantha's desire to go to the Bright Lands before an appointed time--healthy? Is that what she was going for at all? What's the relationship between Cenric and Merwen? How exactly does Devon, as a school, fit into the spirituality of this story? And considering the heavy emphasis on dragon lore--how much did we really *need* Stewart as a character? (Well, I take that back. Obviously, we need him, but I think the spirituality called for him to be written slightly differently).
Overall then, Smoke and Mirrors may not satisfy you if, like me, you're looking for a "deep," multifaceted fantasy tale. However, I would definitely say it's a winner for the target audience or people who like their stories a little more plot-driven than I do. I'm not sure if there will be a sequel; the ending was too abrupt for me to tell if we were really "done." But if you have middle grade kids, especially ones who love dragons, I'd say Smoke and Mirrors will be a magical ride for you.
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July 4, 2026Very descriptive work. I can visualize the scenes and believe it would make a great animation movie.
October 25, 2025
I was given an advance copy of the book and what fun! A roguish protagonist in a world of dangerous dragons. I thoroughly enjoyed Stewart's voice and the many mysteries that unfolded as the adventure moved from boarding school to underground dragon world. The baddies are enjoyably evil. Stewart and Samantha are likeable and complex. Cenric is warm 'n fuzzy and filled with wisdom and magic. Detailed world-building, wonderfully smooth prose, lots of delicious turns of phrases, and delightful humor.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews