I guess it was ok. However, it gets one star less for subjecting a great character like Simon to an annoyingly common and eye-roll worthy plot. I'm disappointed, he deserved better. ( )

Devil's Luck is a Disillusionist-world novella about Simon, the reckless disillusionist, and Fawna, the prognosticator. The only thing wrong with it is that it's a novella. Novellas are short!

I love the Disillusionist series but I can't say I ever had a particular attraction to Simon, or a drive to see him get his HEA. Luckily, Carolyn Crane is brilliant and the first few pages of Devil's Luck completely sold me on him. The first scene at the fair is fantastic, probably my favorite in the book. And I was fascinated to find out what, exactly, was the source of Simon's recklessness.

I was also amazed at how perfectly he and Fawna were matched. Simon, who has been pointing his middle finger at certain doom since he was a teenager...and Fawna, who has been caged by her knowledge of the future all her life. I got the feeling that Fawna needed Simon a lot more than Simon needed Fawuna, but since he's a crazy dude and she's an amazingly accurate oracle, that's a pretty amazing dynamic to pull off.

Novellas always leave me kind of unsatisfied - short! They are short! - but, sometimes, if I like the author enough, I'll read them anyway. Good decision, in this case. ( )

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

There really isn’t another series that I can compare The Disillusionists to. It’s wonderfully weird and off in the way all truly fascinating things are. Unlike the previous three full length novels, DEVIL’S LUCK is much more a paranormal romance than urban fantasy. We get the his and her POVs, and the romance is the driving force behind the story.

Carolyn Crane is simply an excellent writer, really a step (or two) above most of the authors in this genre. She conveys emotion and intimacy in beautiful flowing prose that still feels raw and gritty, a must for this genre. In terms of writing, it’s the best thing yet from Carolyn. And the character development, the depth, the fullness of the story is just unheard of in a novella length story.

If you’ve read the other Disillusionists books (and you don’t need to in order to enjoy this story), you know who Simon is: the reckless gambler who lives on adrenaline, but wow is there so much more to him…shockingly good stuff. Fawna is a bit character in the series too, but honestly, I didn’t remember her. I won’t be forgetting her any time soon after reading DEVIL’S LUCK though. She is real. I believed every bizarre thing about her from her appearance to her fears and the way she was drawn to Simon in a way that frightens and exhilarates her. He lives completely in the moment. She can’t help seeing the future. Their relationship is volatile, combustible, and thrilling.

I’m so glad the Carolyn is fully committed to this series and that she keeps finding ways to bring more stories to us. I don’t care who publishes them, if they are long or short, or what format they are in. I just want more. More of this unique world, more of these endearingly messed up characters, and more of this staggeringly good writing. What’s next Ms. Crane? I already want it.

Sexual Content:
Scene of sensuality. One brief, non graphic sex scene ( )

Fawna is at the fair wondering on the man swallowing flaming knives ~ What kind of future would he have? Fawna is fighting the urge of looking into his future. This is her addiction, she needs to look, and keep looking for the sad part she knows is there. She's working with her therapist on the issue, but it's hard to fight what she's done all her life. As Fawna walks to the gaming tent, she sees Simon, whom she is not fond of for his ability with recklessness. These two opposites, might be able to teach each other something about themselves and what fate has in store for anyone... if they will let it happen, and not fight it.

Oh, I just loved reading this novella! Carolyn has done a wonderful job of pulling Simon to the front lines, along with Fawna. Even thought I had "heard" of Fawna in the first two books of the trilogy, we didn't physically meet her until the third book. I didn't really know much about her going into this read, but I love her now. We learn of Fawna's past, where she had been, what she did as a captive, and why she doesn't like Simon, feeling someone needs to keep an eye on him. Fawna finds she wants to be proven wrong for what she sees as the future, but doesn't feel it's possible....but maybe there's something more Fawna doesn't realize.

Then we have Simon! Oh.... I love Simon now. Oh do we learn so much of Simon! Why he's the way he is, with Simon being true to his form. Simon always seems to find trouble, and enjoys it! He is the one who takes us on the adventures we follow, being he does live a little on the dangerous side.

Did I mention a romance buds here? Well, our resident bad boy just might find some love along the way.

Carolyn does a wonderful job of doing different chapters from each view, which gives us the full rounded story of our two characters. This novella takes two who are complete opposites and possibly, if they let each other, could help and teach each other something in the end.

So much feeling and emotion in this novella! I didn't want it to end, and now I want more of Simon, and Fawna too! ( )