Cruel Illusions: the deliciously dark and addictive magical fantasy

Product Information

My brother’s hair is bitter chocolate. Mine is too, but only because I dye it. It’s naturally an almost white blond, but I got tired of people thinking we weren’t related. My brother has my mom’s round face and soft features. You can see the resemblance in the photo he keeps of her—all three of us sitting outside our trailer, the forest tight around us, my brother squirming in her thin arms, and me with my too-big dark brown eyes that mirrored hers. Parker with his deep blue eyes that matched our dad’s. Our mom died two weeks later. While reading this book I felt part of a show, as if I were literally under the circus tent to witness spectacular magic and vampire fights. The magic system is one of the things I enjoyed the most, as is the writing. Vampires that want to be able to live with people without needing to kill them often take a willing host who allows them to feed off them.

Well, well, well, wasn't this a delicious piece of dark fantasy if I ever saw one. It's almost a twisted fairytale. Full of magic, secrets, betrayals, vampires, secret societies, revenge, and a magical competition... but with a twist. Fans of The Night Circus and Caraval will eat this up. Jacob turns serious, widening his dark brown eyes. “Dude, I would totally put you down if you got bit.” I consider curling up in my annoyingly lavender bed and distracting myself by watching Criss Angel pull a quarter from his bleeding arm for the millionth time: a personal favorite. But I crave the familiarity of the night air on my skin—one of the only constant things in my life. It always calms me down. Ever since a vampire murdered her mother, Ava has been determined to get revenge. This all-encompassing drive has given her the fuel she needed to survive foster home after foster home.Cruel Illusions is a fabulous stand alone fantasy. There were some elements, especially towards the end, where I just wanted a bit more depth. When the dominoes are falling and all the kind of resolution and pieces are being introduced, I wanted to sink more into the developments. Into the consequences of thinking only of people in terms of monsters and heroes. This line which is explored between “who is the true monster?” is a major theme which I just wish we sat a bit more with. The magicians reveal they're part of an ancient secret society with true magic, and Ava has the same power in her blood that they do. If she joins them, they promise to teach her the skills she needs to hunt vampires and avenge her mother. But there's a catch: if she wants to keep the power they offer, she needs to prove she's worthy of it. And to do so, she must put on the performance of her life in a sinister and dangerous competition where illusion and reality blur, and the stakes are deadly. My steps lighten as I hurry from the kitchen and dart up the stairs, dusting the banister with my hand as I go. Here we have Ava, who had been moved about foster home to foster home (with her brother Parker) since the death of their parents, who were stage Magicians. Parker seems to have found his place in their newest home but Ava isn't sure where, or if, she fits in there too. Ava’s troupe knowing who she was and Xander faking interest in her did not surprise me one bit, however it’ll be interesting to see if there’s any kind of redemption arc in store for them after blatantly taking advantage of her.

The magicians reveal they’re part of an ancient secret society with true magic, and Ava has the same power in her blood that they do. If she joins them, they promise to teach her the skills she needs to hunt vampires and avenge her mother. But there’s a catch: if she wants to keep the power they offer, she needs to prove she’s worthy of it. And to do so, she must put on the performance of her life in a sinister and dangerous competition where illusion and reality blur, and the stakes are deadly. I think she did make the right decision, because it is her dream and the chance to get answers about what may have happened to her mother and how it became that her mother was on the run.

Need Help?

I think it might be a bit of Willow’s doing which makes me suspicious, but for Ava’s sake, I hope so (despite them competing for the same opening). I almost say thank you and accept the clothes. It’s perhaps a small enough gift I can accept without any strings. I open my bedroom door and close it behind me, leaning against the comfort of the solid wood. My room is brighter than the rest of the house. Deb painted the wood panels a soft dove gray. A purple bedspread and floral prints above the headboard give everything a light, girly feel. Silver-shaded lamps sit on white shabby-chic nightstands. It’s the kind of room meant to appeal to any foster girls passing through. Longest Pregnancy Ever: The pregnancy of Ava's mother lasts centuries, as she was pregnant with Ava before becoming immortal. Becoming immortal in the series causes biological functions to freeze, hence she became trapped like that for centuries. She was only able to give birth to Ava in the present day after becoming mortal once more.

I also loved the fact that Cruel Illusion talked about vampires and also incorporated these figures into the theme of magic and the circus ... a truly unique and never-seen-before union, but very successful!Officially part of Xander and Aristelle’s troupe, Xander amps up his flirting and he and Ava have their first kiss… but it doesn’t stop her thinking about Roman. Riassumendo, Cruel Illusion è un libro che vi consiglio se siete nel mood di leggere un libro non troppo elaborato e abbastanza prevedibile ma pieno di magia, spettacoli circensi, vampiri e con un romance carino! Amongst the vines, Ava sees Willow. She rounds on Roman telling him this is his fault. Willow isn’t all they find either. Roman’s sister is here. That’s why he won’t leave. Happy Monday and welcome to day 1 of our readalong of Cruel Illusions by Margie Fuston. I’m so excited to be reading this one with you, I hope you all love it! Drawn to the allure of a hidden magic show, Ava feels compelled to find a way to learn more. There’s something instinctive that draws her to these illusions, and the book focuses on Ava’s journey as she learns exactly what these illusions signify.