Reviews

Illusion by Paula Volsky

shane_tiernan's review against another edition

2.0

I loved Volsky's [b:The Grand Ellipse|599160|The Grand Ellipse|Paula Volsky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390586227l/599160._SY75_.jpg|585783], so I had high hopes for this. Unfortunately it just dragged and didn't really get anywhere. I gave it 160 pages, but after 2 or 3 reading sessions that all ended in me wanted to start skimming in hopes of getting on with the story, I gave up. Her writing is beautiful, but in this case, everything just took twice as long as it should. The "French" names were also problematic because I couldn't pronounce most of them and there were way too many of them, so I immediately lost track of who was who.

I would give other books from her a chance, but this one I couldn't finish.

tracey_stewart's review against another edition

5.0

Illusion. The cover comes first, because that was the reason I bought the book in the first place, and it was the first of Paula Volsky's books that I read. Michael Whelan, bless his brushes, is still my hero. This is nothing short of magnificent, and I'm still proud that I had coffee with the man once.

Anyway... the book echoes the French Revolution (except that the Queen isn't exactly Marie Antoinette - hated like she was, though), and follows both Eliste - Exalted lady-in-waiting to the Queen, spoiled but clever and thoughtful when she bothers - and the leaders of what becomes the Reparation movement, the bourgeousie, the "canaille" - the commoners, the serfs and tradesfolk who are being taxed literally to death to support their betters, who are no more than property or servants in the eyes of those "betters"...

One can't help but think about conditions here and now, and wonder about the possibilities of another revolution here and now. I'm not about to pick up a torch or a pitchfork... but I can see how it could happen.

Many of Volsky's books call up echoes of classics, and for Illusion the echoes are (somewhat obviously) A Tale of Two Cities - and, less obviously, The Diary of Anne Frank. It's a beautiful, unexpected book.

lachese's review against another edition

4.0

With the songs of Les Mis eternally stuck on repeat in my head and unable to rewatch the movie, I went for the second best option: re-reading Illusion. Its basis on the French Revolution made it the perfect match for my Les Mis obsessed mind.

It is the story of a land in revolutionary turmoil and at times even serves as a social commentary. Foremost, however, it is an adventure through the eyes of Eliste vo Derrivalle, a young member of the Exalted class. Through our journey with her, we experience her transformation from naive country girl to Exalted noblewoman and observe as her eyes open to the unpleasantries of life.

Readers of epic fantasy be warned! This is not a fantasy novel. It is an adventure with fantastical elements. The fantasy is an accent instead of an axis upon which the book revolves. This role is taken over by revolution.

Paula Volsky has a unique hold on the English language that enables her to breathe life into her characters and world. Each character is multifaceted and complicated with his or her own motivations, goals, thoughts, and actions. Her narrative style changes slightly between the privileged Exalted and the lowly serfs, furthering the divide of the classes in the reader's mind. In the Exalted, we can sense their air of superiority in their accustomed mannerisms. When our attention is turned toward the poor, we experience their foul conditions and feel their passionate anger.

In Illusion, Paula Volsky created a living, breathing world that sucks us in and sweeps us along with the tide of revolution. Can you hear the people sing?

macfiar's review against another edition

5.0

I read this in the 90s but I remember really liking it.

bellh's review against another edition

4.0

This is a very well written and thought out book. You commiserate with the main character even though she is a spoiled snob. I really hate her cousin Aurelie though. The book has a lot of politics, which isn’t always that interesting to me, but the author makes it compelling. The romance was good, there could have been more.

katmarhan's review against another edition

2.0

4/10
Too many flaws detracted from what could have been a good book.

The magic had the promise of being interesting but we never found out much about it other than the ability is somewhat hereditary and its use requires study and concentration.

The characters were almost caricatures--especially the pivotal character of Whiss and the conveniently Teflon character of Aurelie.

And were there no other Exalteds (other than Uncle Quinz) who could/would use their magic to turn things around? Of course not.

Parts of the story were engrossing. But overall, a disappointment.

mlejoy's review against another edition

1.0

I forced myself to read 100 pages of this book but I just can't do it. The author is way too descriptive. I was literally skipping pages at a time and all I'd miss out on was a discussion about the lace on the girl's dress or how her hair was fixed. I just can't do it. Too many other books out there I want to read.

slimikin's review against another edition

5.0

Illusion is one of my favorite fantasy novels: I read it for the first time when I was fourteen, and I've read it countless times since then. Paula Volsky brings together elements from the American, Russian, and French revolutions, mixes it with a touch of magic, and lets it loose on her heroine, Eliste vo Derrivale. Eliste, a spoiled and naive member of the wealthy upper class, is forced to come to terms with the realities of her nation, its people, and the strengths and desires of her own heart. Poignant, romantic, and suspenseful, Illusion is that rare breed of stand-alone fantasy novel capable of spinning an epic story.

bowienerd_82's review against another edition

3.0

A fascinating fusion of history and fantasy. What the French Revolution might have been like if aristocrats had special powers.

Volsky is sharp and merciless in her writing, but she weaves a good tale and she knows her history.

ianbanks's review against another edition

5.0

Published not long after the bicentenary of the French Revolution this is a very thinly-disguised, still-has-the-serial-numbers-on-it rewriting of it. The essence of it remains: over-taxed serfs - check; oblivious aristocrats - check; Robespierre stand-in - check; vicious method of execution - check; Scarlet Pimpernel-a-like - check. All it lacks is a Tennis Court Oath...

But it is more than just a retelling with magical bits: it's the story of Eliste, a pampered aristocrat who witnesses the revolution on the outskirts and becomes a protagonist in events only near the end. It makes for some clumsy story-telling moments, but on the whole you are immersed in the events even more so as the full impact of them begins to dawn upon her.

Of course, being a fantasy novel there is magic and derring-do, but it's carefully updated to a believable 18th-Century/ Enlightenment milieu, with counterparts from history making an appearance and rendering it a more realistic canvas - when this was published, firearms and steampunkiness were only beginning to make themselves felt in mainstream fantastic literature and the presence of muskets in the same places as spells and enchantments are cleverly mixed together so you barely feel any incongruity.

Finally, Ms Volsky's writing is amazing - she creates believable characters speaking realistic dialogue and behaving like actual human beings. She also doesn't overegg her pudding: the moments of violence and horror that you would get in a revolution are sensitively mixed with scenes where people are having fun or behaving as you might expect them to in this situation - her heart is clearly on the side of the serfs and the downtrodden, but you don't stop wallowing in the sheer fun that Eliste has when she comes to Court or goes shopping. It's all judged and portrayed effectively with little dissonance in the mind of the reader. Brilliant!