OG Cover so much better than FairyLoot.. omg

This one has an amazing opening and I feel kind of bad rating this just flat one star because there was at least a chunk of the book I got some enjoyment out of. But the sheer absurdity the story devolves to is just not within the vast range of mediocre to bad books I usually rate 2 stars. It's so much worse. I don't remember when I last read a book that went from easily 4 stars to not being worth the paper it's printed on.
It seems that as long as the author was closely following generic tropes it worked really well but as soon as she gets to the point where she actually has to reason about stuff and craft a coherent narrative everything falls apart.
This is particularly disappointing because there are quite a few fairly original and amazing world-building ideas that have huge potential (*sigh*, potential everywhere), and furthermore, the writing is engaging as well.
But I just can't even with the reasoning or rather the lack thereof. It's not a character being TSTL (even though some of them kind of are). It's not some particularly jarring contradiction (even though there are many). But just the simple lack of logical coherence of anything at all basically.
This is not a story that suffers from flaws in certain areas.
It's just a collection of scenes you would expect to find in a YA UF but they don't really make any sense in relation to each other beyond the absolute surface level. ( )

Quirky, fun book that any Buffy fans will eat up, a really enjoyable read with the perfect blend of Buffy, underworld and the vampire diaries. Absolutely loved the sarcasm and references to Neverending story, tomb raider etc.

Not quite 5 star read it was a little simplistic, very YA and has a few irritating typos, but I loved the story and characters. The Fairyloot edition is absolutely gorgeous and I love the cover art of Ava, Roman and Xander.


“There are small and easy ways to break a child. I know most of them-making promises you never keep; saying everything will be fine when it never is; giving a Popsicle to one kid and not the other; saying you love them and then pinching their arm hard enough to bruise; never bothering to look at them at all; kissing their forehead at night and telling them you'll never leave and then dying.
I'm sure other ways exist.
People like to say children are resilient. And they are. Their blood's like glue. Wound them, and their body puts itself back together again. But it's not like a scab that breaks off eventually and leaves the skin unmarred. It's more like a china doll. Even if it looks whole again, there's still that layer of glue there--evidence you can point to even when no one else looks close enough to see it. At this point in my life, I'm more glue than flesh.”
( )

Cruel Illusions by Margie Fuston is a novel that I have not seen get a lot of press, and that surprises me because there is a lot to like here. Yes, I know I am biased toward liking anything involving vampires, but they are superficial to the story. At its core, it is a story about magic and power dynamics with a bit of revenge thrown into the mix. What Ava learns about the secret society she is so desperate to join had me sitting up and buckling in because I knew I was in for a ride. I was not expecting at least some of the twists. Anticipating the others did not bother me or detract from my enjoyment of the story. I finished Cruel Illusions with that sense of satisfaction a good story brings and also wanting more from Ms. Fuston. ( )

Magic, revenge, immortality, and romance weave among bloody thorns and a very dangerous game.

Ava will never forgive the vampire, who took her mother's life. Nor can she forget her parents' love of performing magic shows on the stage. Now that her brother and her have shifted from one foster home to the other, he, at least, has found a place he can call home. She, however, is eighteen and needs to deal with the revenge she's planned for the last years. When she runs across a magic show, which not only impresses but seems to call to her in a strange way, she wonders if she's found what she's looking for. But it's the hunt for vampires the magicians do after the show, which completely wins her over. Convinced she can finally find her revenge, she agrees to become the troupe's apprentice...but she's no where near ready for everything that means. Especially when she's forced to take part in a dangerous competition, where only one of the new apprentices is allowed to keep their magic and continue the hunt.

This book packs a lot...which also explains the almost 500 pages found in the hardcopy. It starts out with Ava and her brother somewhat settled into their latest foster home, explaining a bit of past but mostly allowing the reader to get to know her situation and sink into her character a little, first. She comes across as sharp-edged but not as cold as she'd like to be. Her love for her younger brother is golden, and although she's untrusting of the rest of the world, she doesn't completely spit in kindness' face. It gives her just the right amount of warmth to gain a little sympathy, while showing how her past has hardened her, too. It sets up the perfect stage for the rest of the wild ride...because it does shift into high-gear from there.

The author does a fantastic job at opening up a world of amazing magic and scenes. The descriptions allow for wonder, letting the darkness mix with beauty. It was fun to watch the magic happen through Ava's eyes and almost see the impossibility unfold. The manor, the fight scenes, and everything else comes to clear life, and that without overly wordy or drudging description blocks.

Plots weave with secrets and sub-plots to make quite the intricate tale. While some aspects are predictable, there are quite a few which hit with unexpected twists and turns. Every truth is hard-won and comes at a price, and each one holds a darker secret behind it. It gave the read richness and felt as if there were more than the pages should be able to hold...but it all fits into a great story. The ending does leave enough open to let imagination flow, while securing the loose ends to form a solid finish.

There are tons of characters, many of which fall clearly into a gray zone. It's a complex world with shadows and forced survival, making each character hold their own goals and rules dear. It's hard to see who is worthy of friendship, and who is hiding their hand. But many have very individual story arcs...although Ava's didn't progress or change as much as it could have. Still, it was easy to root for her and the others, and hope they came through.

And there is romance. This wasn't quite my thing since it involved a lot of instant attraction and that with a love triangle... of sorts. I did root for one side, and Ava is in a hard spot. I just had a little trouble accepting the triangle with all of the other things going on too. But that's a personal thing, and the romance did flow with all the delicious tension and excitement that it should

I did enjoy this read quite a bit and found it extremely well done. I read it in one sitting and let myself happily get lost in this dangerous but magical world. I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the quick-paced fun. ( )