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Daughter of Deception #1
Always A Choice
Born to lie. Trained to spy.
Half-fae shapeshifter Jess is determined to follow in her spymaster mother’s footsteps, and a successful field mission will secure her dreams—if only her strict teachers will allow her the chance.
An unexpected opportunity provides exactly what she’s looking for: a high-stakes rescue mission to prevent a war in the Realm that will also give her a final shot at redemption after the catastrophe of her last mission.
But things get complicated when Jess learns the identities of her teammates: an enigmatic sibling she’s never met and Penn, the annoying fairy who tormented her as a kid. Jess hasn’t spoken more than a few words to him in seven years, but now they must work together if they want any chance at preventing the impending war.
As the first phase of their mission takes an unexpected turn, Jess is forced to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about the fae and their world. Her team is closing in on the truth, but Jess’s own secrets could unravel their delicate trust first. To save the future, Jess will have to do the one thing that scares her most: confront her past.
Half-fae shapeshifter Jess is determined to follow in her spymaster mother’s footsteps, and a successful field mission will secure her dreams—if only her strict teachers will allow her the chance.
An unexpected opportunity provides exactly what she’s looking for: a high-stakes rescue mission to prevent a war in the Realm that will also give her a final shot at redemption after the catastrophe of her last mission.
But things get complicated when Jess learns the identities of her teammates: an enigmatic sibling she’s never met and Penn, the annoying fairy who tormented her as a kid. Jess hasn’t spoken more than a few words to him in seven years, but now they must work together if they want any chance at preventing the impending war.
As the first phase of their mission takes an unexpected turn, Jess is forced to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about the fae and their world. Her team is closing in on the truth, but Jess’s own secrets could unravel their delicate trust first. To save the future, Jess will have to do the one thing that scares her most: confront her past.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2024
4 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Rana Schenke
2 books10 followersWhen she was younger, Rana Schenke spent way too much time reading, writing stories about quirky kids and fairies, and filming funny videos with her sisters.
She’s since channeled that creative spirit into two avenues: writing and a career in the toy industry.
When she’s not writing or playtesting board games, she can be found scouring thrift stores for books to add to her collection, dancing to old music in her living room, or concocting elaborate schemes with her sisters.
Of the twelve states in the Midwest, she’s lived in four of them: Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska.
You can get a FREE BOOK when you join Rana's newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/onetodeceive
She’s since channeled that creative spirit into two avenues: writing and a career in the toy industry.
When she’s not writing or playtesting board games, she can be found scouring thrift stores for books to add to her collection, dancing to old music in her living room, or concocting elaborate schemes with her sisters.
Of the twelve states in the Midwest, she’s lived in four of them: Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska.
You can get a FREE BOOK when you join Rana's newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/onetodeceive
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 29, 2023
I had the privilege of getting to ARC read Always a Choice by Rana Schenke!
This book is made for lovers of fast paced, action filled, thrilling adventures. Rana has a way of writing that is the perfect balance between prose and action. This book had incredible worldbuilding - I mean who doesn't love the premise of a magical academy, fairies and spies? Rana did an amazing job of creating a world of fascination and wonder without info dumping, as I find can happen in a lot of fantasy series.
Although the book was certainly a plot driven novel, there was no lack of character development! I loved the interactions between Jess and Penn, their interactions had me laughing and always wanting more! The way that they grew to trust each other throughout the novel, and went through each stage of building a friendship was an incredible thing to write.
Rana should be very proud of the debut novel that she has written, and I cannot wait to read more from her in the future!
This book is made for lovers of fast paced, action filled, thrilling adventures. Rana has a way of writing that is the perfect balance between prose and action. This book had incredible worldbuilding - I mean who doesn't love the premise of a magical academy, fairies and spies? Rana did an amazing job of creating a world of fascination and wonder without info dumping, as I find can happen in a lot of fantasy series.
Although the book was certainly a plot driven novel, there was no lack of character development! I loved the interactions between Jess and Penn, their interactions had me laughing and always wanting more! The way that they grew to trust each other throughout the novel, and went through each stage of building a friendship was an incredible thing to write.
Rana should be very proud of the debut novel that she has written, and I cannot wait to read more from her in the future!
January 14, 2024
I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book.
It is incredibly well written, with detailed world-building and incredible character descriptions. Reading this book, it is easy to imagine the world as though you're a part of it, and the witty dialogue between the characters keeps you constantly engaged.
It's hard to believe this is Rana's first book, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a less conventional fantasy/fae series.
It is incredibly well written, with detailed world-building and incredible character descriptions. Reading this book, it is easy to imagine the world as though you're a part of it, and the witty dialogue between the characters keeps you constantly engaged.
It's hard to believe this is Rana's first book, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a less conventional fantasy/fae series.
December 1, 2023
Recommended for fans of: light political intrigue, untraditional/quirky fae based fantasy books, young adult, asexual representation, spy/heist plots, light magic systems and world building.
Always A Choice is a young adult fantasy adventure novel that follows Jess, a half-fae / half-human student, part way through her time at LaMour Academy, a magical school for half-fae. Debut author Rana Schenke has injected book one of this duology with some really fun and fresh twists on the genre.
The aloof and whimsical fae and other related creature personalities you might expect from a fae fantasy are definitely represented in this story. There is a fun light magic system and intriguing world building regarding how full blooded fae interact with the human world. Like many young adult fantasy novels, the teens at LaMour Academy are faced with more responsibility and peril than is typical in our world. This danger doesn’t come solely from the magic in the world, but through secret missions meant to compliment their schooling assigned by the school and the fae governing body.
The story opens on Jess as she is caught attempting to run away from LaMour when she is offered a really important mission she can’t afford to pass up. On this mission we are given glimpses of Jess’s mysterious and stressful childhood. The spy/heist plot of this story intersects with some light political intrigue that fans of The Cruel Price might enjoy. Jess herself states in the book that she is asexual, so there is no conventional romance in this book. The complicated relationship between her and her partners on the mission are given a lot of room to develop non-romantic depth and nuance.
I really apprecaite the world building and magic system of this book and found it to inject some fairly unique twists. Some of the characters' personalities and mannerisms really shine through in the story and their reactions feel really believable. The pacing of this story is strong. It’s fast/medium paced and I didn’t find any section to drag but wanting to know what would come next definitely kept me reading.
The book is written in third person present tense, which is pretty different from other books I’ve read recently and I think because of this it felt a little awkward. It did take me a little bit to acclimate to the POV and tense of the book, but I don’t think it’s a dealbreaker.
By the end of the story, some questions are answered but even more mysteries are uncovered. I look forward to the conclusion to the Daughter of Deception duology and I hope it contains even more world building about how the fae interact with the human world.
Always A Choice is a young adult fantasy adventure novel that follows Jess, a half-fae / half-human student, part way through her time at LaMour Academy, a magical school for half-fae. Debut author Rana Schenke has injected book one of this duology with some really fun and fresh twists on the genre.
The aloof and whimsical fae and other related creature personalities you might expect from a fae fantasy are definitely represented in this story. There is a fun light magic system and intriguing world building regarding how full blooded fae interact with the human world. Like many young adult fantasy novels, the teens at LaMour Academy are faced with more responsibility and peril than is typical in our world. This danger doesn’t come solely from the magic in the world, but through secret missions meant to compliment their schooling assigned by the school and the fae governing body.
The story opens on Jess as she is caught attempting to run away from LaMour when she is offered a really important mission she can’t afford to pass up. On this mission we are given glimpses of Jess’s mysterious and stressful childhood. The spy/heist plot of this story intersects with some light political intrigue that fans of The Cruel Price might enjoy. Jess herself states in the book that she is asexual, so there is no conventional romance in this book. The complicated relationship between her and her partners on the mission are given a lot of room to develop non-romantic depth and nuance.
I really apprecaite the world building and magic system of this book and found it to inject some fairly unique twists. Some of the characters' personalities and mannerisms really shine through in the story and their reactions feel really believable. The pacing of this story is strong. It’s fast/medium paced and I didn’t find any section to drag but wanting to know what would come next definitely kept me reading.
The book is written in third person present tense, which is pretty different from other books I’ve read recently and I think because of this it felt a little awkward. It did take me a little bit to acclimate to the POV and tense of the book, but I don’t think it’s a dealbreaker.
By the end of the story, some questions are answered but even more mysteries are uncovered. I look forward to the conclusion to the Daughter of Deception duology and I hope it contains even more world building about how the fae interact with the human world.
November 21, 2023
If you're looking for a fast-paced, plot driven espionage story that delves into some surprisingly deep topics along the way, Always a Choice is right up your alley.
I was so fortunate to be an early reader of Rana Schenke's debut (the first in a series!), and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the motley crew of characters and their layered personalities. I'm a character reader first and foremost, and although the book is heavy on the plot, all of the main characters get some pretty hefty development along the way - not an easy thing to balance, especially as a new writer, and Schenke pulls it off flawlessly.
The book breezes along and is a fun, easy read, and can easily be devoured in one sitting. The plot is twisty, with many a clever red herring thrown in, and I was left guessing whodunnit until the very end. The writing is clean and something one would expect out of a seasoned YA writer. All in all, Always a Choice is a fantastic debut, full of complex characters, exciting moments, and some really clever worldbuilding in the form of magic systems.
I was so fortunate to be an early reader of Rana Schenke's debut (the first in a series!), and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the motley crew of characters and their layered personalities. I'm a character reader first and foremost, and although the book is heavy on the plot, all of the main characters get some pretty hefty development along the way - not an easy thing to balance, especially as a new writer, and Schenke pulls it off flawlessly.
The book breezes along and is a fun, easy read, and can easily be devoured in one sitting. The plot is twisty, with many a clever red herring thrown in, and I was left guessing whodunnit until the very end. The writing is clean and something one would expect out of a seasoned YA writer. All in all, Always a Choice is a fantastic debut, full of complex characters, exciting moments, and some really clever worldbuilding in the form of magic systems.
November 20, 2023
I was fortunate enough to be an early reader of Always A Choice, I can say with ease that I’m grateful to have been a part of that experience.
Rana has done an incredible job of bringing to life a cast of loveable characters with fantastic dialogue, I had many a laugh reading this as the characters went back and forth. The plot had me struggling to put this down, in fact it was one of my speedier reads due to how hooked I was. Not to mention the world building was fabulous, each place had that sense of magic to it. Speaking of magic I love the way it’s integrated into the world and the story, works incredibly well.
If you love magic, fairies, funny banter, awesome stories, twists, turns and ups and downs then Always A Choice is the book for you!
Not only am I eager for the next instalment already, but excited to see everything Rana will write.
Always A Choice gets a very happy five out of five stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rana has done an incredible job of bringing to life a cast of loveable characters with fantastic dialogue, I had many a laugh reading this as the characters went back and forth. The plot had me struggling to put this down, in fact it was one of my speedier reads due to how hooked I was. Not to mention the world building was fabulous, each place had that sense of magic to it. Speaking of magic I love the way it’s integrated into the world and the story, works incredibly well.
If you love magic, fairies, funny banter, awesome stories, twists, turns and ups and downs then Always A Choice is the book for you!
Not only am I eager for the next instalment already, but excited to see everything Rana will write.
Always A Choice gets a very happy five out of five stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 2, 2024
First thank you to Rana Schenke for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance.
I must say, first and foremost, I really liked this book! It has a very unique magic system, and I really really liked the characters. They are so different and divers with how they reacted around each other.
(also, somewhere at the beginning of the book I found some asexuality and LGBTQ related stuff THAT I LOVED!!!! We need more diversity in fantasy books!!)
This book kind of gives the vibe of Artemis Fowl with like the magic and just the vibe, idk (I don’t know Artemis Fowl too well).
This book has four starts because there are still flaws but I really really liked the storyline.
Everyone who loves schools in fantasy books, this is the right book for you!! Also found family (literally).
I must say, first and foremost, I really liked this book! It has a very unique magic system, and I really really liked the characters. They are so different and divers with how they reacted around each other.
(also, somewhere at the beginning of the book I found some asexuality and LGBTQ related stuff THAT I LOVED!!!! We need more diversity in fantasy books!!)
This book kind of gives the vibe of Artemis Fowl with like the magic and just the vibe, idk (I don’t know Artemis Fowl too well).
This book has four starts because there are still flaws but I really really liked the storyline.
Everyone who loves schools in fantasy books, this is the right book for you!! Also found family (literally).
November 21, 2023
Always A Choice is a fast paced, charming, and extremely entertaining book. I didn’t want to put it down!
I loved the world building Rana was able to do without any info dumping. She seemed to be able to see lesson weave in details about the world when applicable without it feeling forced or like, as a reader, you are lacking important information.
I loved the characters and how they each had their own distinct voices, personalities, and ways of dealing with the same situation. I thought the dialogue was captivating and flowed effortlessly.
The storyline was fantastic! My only problem? The next book doesn’t come out until fall of 2024!
I loved the world building Rana was able to do without any info dumping. She seemed to be able to see lesson weave in details about the world when applicable without it feeling forced or like, as a reader, you are lacking important information.
I loved the characters and how they each had their own distinct voices, personalities, and ways of dealing with the same situation. I thought the dialogue was captivating and flowed effortlessly.
The storyline was fantastic! My only problem? The next book doesn’t come out until fall of 2024!
February 1, 2024
I haven't been able to read as much as I wanted lately, so when I had the opportunity to read this book, I was excited to start on a chapter or two a night schedule before bed. I ended up reading the entire book in two nights because I just couldn't put it down! It really drew me in and reminded me of the joy, emersion, and investment in the characters I had reading books when I was younger and had more time.
November 20, 2023
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read! I can’t even quite put my finger on it. Made me so excited. The author did a fabulous job of world building.
Her use of words was SPOT on in my opinion. If I didn’t know it was her first book I would’ve thought it was written by a seasoned author.
Highly recommend this book!!
Her use of words was SPOT on in my opinion. If I didn’t know it was her first book I would’ve thought it was written by a seasoned author.
Highly recommend this book!!
January 25, 2024
4/5 stars!
Magic? 3rd POV? Fast-paced? Easy to understand?
This book is for you :)
The writing was easy to understand. I heard that some people don't read in third point of view due to it being confusing; however, this is not the case here!
You will enjoy it so much! The world is not confusing, give it a try!
Magic? 3rd POV? Fast-paced? Easy to understand?
This book is for you :)
The writing was easy to understand. I heard that some people don't read in third point of view due to it being confusing; however, this is not the case here!
You will enjoy it so much! The world is not confusing, give it a try!
February 5, 2024
A sassy, super spy, fae fantasy may seem like a melting pot of tropes but Always A choice brings it all together in a fast-paced and fun read. Jess and the annoying but undercover hilarious Penn will keep you entertained on this high stakes ride. This story is full of secrets, plot twists and friendship. If you love fairies and adventure with banter and sarcasm, check this out!
December 28, 2023
Thouroly enjoyed the story. Would of liked a little more world building, there were times I found the politics/magic confusing. But couldn't stop reading it. I needed to know what happened next. Realy loved the MMC.
April 27, 2024
Idk what happened to my progress and review but it somehow disappeared. Anyways, this book was great and written by an incredibly talented author as her debut novel. Highly recommend checking the series out!
January 15, 2024
This was absolutely incredible to read!
This book is recommended for you if you like spy themes,chaos and foremost,fantasy!
The book was plot-driven,but there was a lot of character development.
Can’t wait for Book 2.
This book is recommended for you if you like spy themes,chaos and foremost,fantasy!
The book was plot-driven,but there was a lot of character development.
Can’t wait for Book 2.
January 6, 2024
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book! I think it’s a nice mix of fantasy, dark academia, and espionage. I think some of the plot was predictable but I also still liked watching it play out. I also think the big answer that it seems they will be looking for in the second book is pretty obvious, but I’m hoping to be surprised! I’m excited to read the next book in the series.
January 14, 2025
Awesome premise: Spy with a secret must work with the banished fairy with which they share a history
This YA fantasy book made me think of The Lightning Thief series and Winx Saga!
Had some great queer representation which made my heart happy 🌈
In some ways it felt more like a self-reflection on processing trauma than a romance, which I was not expecting from a YA novel, but they did such a good job of it!
My favorite part of the book was the shifting! I loved how they described it, it sounded so freeing and magical 🥰
There was no spice in this book, but a lot of drama. I loved how Penn and Jess interacted with each other, it was tense with some moments where they could actually relax and be silly with each other! 🥰
Really great pacing, I didn’t want to put the book down!
I have so so many questions about the characters, I hope they answer some of them in the next book of the series!
I definitely recommend this book! ❤️
This YA fantasy book made me think of The Lightning Thief series and Winx Saga!
Had some great queer representation which made my heart happy 🌈
In some ways it felt more like a self-reflection on processing trauma than a romance, which I was not expecting from a YA novel, but they did such a good job of it!
My favorite part of the book was the shifting! I loved how they described it, it sounded so freeing and magical 🥰
There was no spice in this book, but a lot of drama. I loved how Penn and Jess interacted with each other, it was tense with some moments where they could actually relax and be silly with each other! 🥰
Really great pacing, I didn’t want to put the book down!
I have so so many questions about the characters, I hope they answer some of them in the next book of the series!
I definitely recommend this book! ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews