Illusionary: The unforgettable second installment of historical fantasy series, Hollow Crown

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But the greatest danger is within Ren – the Gray, her fortress of stolen memories, has begun to crumble, threatening her grip on reality. Their connection grows as the story progresses, with each of turn of events forging a stronger bond between them.

The story does a good job at portraying to two and how they're similar and different from each other, and despite the differences respect each other. Illusions detailed inside the book cover multiple genres including penetrations, appearances, vanishes, transpositions and escapes. A lot of my favourites from book one turn up, and we also get introduced to some new ones, but by far my favourites in this book were Leo, Renata’s only friend when she was in the Palace and Castian, the Prince she was once friends with.Do I think the book coulda been a tad longer to wrap certain things up sure I do but all in all this book is perfection and I will be rereading this duology a lot it has quickly became a comfort read for me. This is more of a wartime tale of broken families, inspired youths, and higher powers using people as pawns. The sequel begins a couple of weeks following the events of Incendiary and I was delighted to re-immerse myself in the rich world of Puerto Leones that the author has created.

They both have been through a lot, and shared a bond from the beginning that made it hard not to believe they will find their way back to each other. The latter is an absolute GIFT, starting off as funny as you’d imagine but turning into a really heart-warming scene. Overall, Illusionary is a fast-paced, thrilling sequel with a punchy finale that cements the brilliance of this duology.But in Incendiary, Ren grapples with her choice to leave the Whispers and trust Castian wholeheartedly.

Thank you to Hodderscape for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for participation in the blog tour and an honest review. Illusionary is full of fanfic tropes: fake marriage, bed sharing, enemies to friends to lovers, childhood friends, iconic besties, and pirates. Colonialism and displacement are big themes in this book, as we learn how the Moria people had their land taken from them and their history erased. Renata began to question her past and confront her trauma in Incendiary, and in the sequel she continues on her journey of self-discovery.Cordova has a real strength for world building and for writing character you can’t help but bond with. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. But I just felt that some of Ren’s interactions felt rushed, and her forgiveness of certain characters and their actions just didn’t feel natural. Renata’s heart may still beat for Dez, but as the danger of their quest increases, so does her attraction to Castian. Her rival for the job is handsome and wealthy Roman Kitt, whose prose entrances her so much she avoids reading his articles.