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I'm concerned about YA literacy, which is one reason I link my Website-- alyssadevinenovels.com--to the Marine Corps' T4T Literacy Program. I could have written the book as an adult novel but wanted to appeal first to YA readers. That said, all of my adult reviewers and editors loved the story.
As to the story, I love exploring how people cope with the cards they're dealt, tarot and otherwise. A lot of what we face every day is unexpected, which is why I write intuitively...just take an idea, write an initial scene, and let the story evolve. I'm often amazed where my characters take me. You will be, too.
Finally, you might find it interesting that I dabbled in hypnosis in high school. In fact, I almost was suspended two weeks before graduation when I was caught hypnotizing a friend in the hallway. When I saw the cover art, I knew instantly I not only had to write a YA novel on the subject of hypnosis, but also, had to use this photo.
Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite
The Hypnotist by Alyssa Devine is a charming YA adventure, and a very good debut offering by this new author. Ms. Devine has created a dynamic pair of intelligent, musically gifted high school students who just happen to solve a decades-old cold case multiple murder. Along the way, the two teens dabble in hypnosis, have a tarot card reading done by the enigmatic Madam Zu-Zu, and interview a retired funeral parlor director for a faux class project. Tom and Amanda, the protagonists in The Hypnotist, are not your typical super-heroes. They are both committed to their school orchestra, and enjoy positions of honor therein. In their spare time, they do their homework and practice their instruments. And solve murders, of course. They are all-around good kids, just trying their best to survive high school.
The Hypnotist is well written for the intended target group and beyond. Not as complex or complicated as many “adult” novels, The Hypnotist is ideal for readers more interested in enjoying a good story than in keeping abreast of the novel du jour in their social set. The story is entertaining and fresh. All the characters are likeable people – except the bad guys, of course. Good or bad, all the characters are believable as developed by Ms. Devine. The dialogue is crisp, but honest. The tidbits of factual background information provided by the author throughout the text are interesting, even fascinating at times. The Hypnotist is a great story from a new author, who should probably be on your watch list. Get copies of The Hypnotist for the young adults on your shopping list, and see for yourself if Alyssa Devine isn’t a name to keep your eye on.
