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skyegazer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shannon_wx's review against another edition
4.0
Thoroughly enjoyable, fast paced, with a captivating plot. Really likeable FMC in my opinion.
I figured out some of the major plot points quite early on however some of the twists took me by surprise and gave me short-term trust issues
I figured out some of the major plot points quite early on however some of the twists took me by surprise and gave me short-term trust issues
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Cruel Illusions is a ya fantasy standalone that wears vampire tropes well. Instead of focusing on dreamy vampires, we follow a self-made vampire hunter in Ava. Vampires were briefly in the public eye before vanishing again, and Ava knows one was responsible for killing her mother. When a troupe of magicians offers her an opportunity to nurture an innate magical talent to kill vampires, Ava doesn't need much convincing. It also makes her feel closer to her parents, who were both performing magicians. The decision is helped along by the fact that Ava's younger brother, Parker, is settling in with their latest foster family, but Ava feels on the outside of it all-- both thrilled to see her brother get an opportunity to thrive while feeling left out of a new family that seems to be forming around her but not with her. A seeming spare part to the person she loves most, it's time to seize on a new purpose and seek vengeance if she can, all while getting to act on a long buried wish to perform just like her parents once did-- only with real magic to amplify her tricks.
My favorite parts of this story come in two phases. First, I love Ava. I appreciate an unflappable heroine, probably because I'm super flappable. Ava finds herself in a competition among the apprentices of magical troupes where dangers lurk everywhere-- some blatant and some lurking out of sight. We see her adjust to new information at several points in the book, take steps to be the person she wants to be, and bounce back from hardships and several twists of betrayal to come out all the stronger. Though fierce and keen to take action, we also see her embrace moments of vulnerability and take a beat to think things through-- characteristics that were all the more endearing in the face of circumstances that try to strip her of those softer qualities.
My other favorite component of the book is a found family beyond the surface level. I think the popularity of the trope is warranted but also means it gets slapped on stories with little thought to family's complexities. Ava's road to acceptance and inclusion is not an easy one. Sometimes, other people get in the way of her happiness because of their motives and secrets. In other situations, Ava's past traumas and self-protective instincts get in her way. Seeing her approach people by the end of the book with the truth of those barriers made clear, we can see her make difficult decisions about who to let into her life and how to react to mistreatment.
I was surprised how into the romantic arc I became, as well. A green-haired love interest is new to me, but the name Xander screams ya fantasy heartthrob. Barely 10% of the way in, we see Ava develop a crush with undertones of jealousy. But don't let that run you off. I recommend giving Ava the space to grow and impress you. And I have to shout out the author's masterful work in writing a love triangle that didn't annoy me-- a rare feat.
This is a ya fantasy with bloodthirsty competition, found family, and a protagonist who grows into her power and her relationships. It offers tried and true tropes with fresh, creative twists. Expect a story that emphasizes the importance of choice and of not looking the other way when horrible atrocities are being committed that could benefit you-- a message that's sadly always relevant to real life and current events. Thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books for my copy to read and review!
My favorite parts of this story come in two phases. First, I love Ava. I appreciate an unflappable heroine, probably because I'm super flappable. Ava finds herself in a competition among the apprentices of magical troupes where dangers lurk everywhere-- some blatant and some lurking out of sight. We see her adjust to new information at several points in the book, take steps to be the person she wants to be, and bounce back from hardships and several twists of betrayal to come out all the stronger. Though fierce and keen to take action, we also see her embrace moments of vulnerability and take a beat to think things through-- characteristics that were all the more endearing in the face of circumstances that try to strip her of those softer qualities.
My other favorite component of the book is a found family beyond the surface level. I think the popularity of the trope is warranted but also means it gets slapped on stories with little thought to family's complexities. Ava's road to acceptance and inclusion is not an easy one. Sometimes, other people get in the way of her happiness because of their motives and secrets. In other situations, Ava's past traumas and self-protective instincts get in her way. Seeing her approach people by the end of the book with the truth of those barriers made clear, we can see her make difficult decisions about who to let into her life and how to react to mistreatment.
I was surprised how into the romantic arc I became, as well. A green-haired love interest is new to me, but the name Xander screams ya fantasy heartthrob. Barely 10% of the way in, we see Ava develop a crush with undertones of jealousy. But don't let that run you off. I recommend giving Ava the space to grow and impress you. And I have to shout out the author's masterful work in writing a love triangle that didn't annoy me-- a rare feat.
This is a ya fantasy with bloodthirsty competition, found family, and a protagonist who grows into her power and her relationships. It offers tried and true tropes with fresh, creative twists. Expect a story that emphasizes the importance of choice and of not looking the other way when horrible atrocities are being committed that could benefit you-- a message that's sadly always relevant to real life and current events. Thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books for my copy to read and review!
jgilge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
This was good, just not great.
taty_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
So I haven’t read Caraval. And I’ve only watched a couple episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So when starting this book, I didn’t know what I would be reading lol. But I have to say I liked it I love a good competition story. And I’m definitely down with magic and vampires. This was a good story. Even some romance throughout it with a little love triangle, but I have to say Roman definitely has my heart.
scjsasha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
firefox's review against another edition
5.0
(Arc)
'Cruel Illusions' is a story that combines magicians and vampires in a beautiful yet strange way. When I began reading this story I never thought I'd love it as much as I did, it was slow paced at first but getting into Ava and her story was quickly becoming interesting and I was highly invested in this book.
I loved this book so so much and I would definitely love to own my own copy of this book.
'Cruel Illusions' is a story that combines magicians and vampires in a beautiful yet strange way. When I began reading this story I never thought I'd love it as much as I did, it was slow paced at first but getting into Ava and her story was quickly becoming interesting and I was highly invested in this book.
I loved this book so so much and I would definitely love to own my own copy of this book.
goldkat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jasmine_elizabeth's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the magic and the illusions, the vampires and magicians were interesting. The romance was great, i always was rooting for Roman rather than Xander. I didn’t care much for the rest of the troupe either.
ttfluffy0's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
0 🌶️
Ava is a grungy girl that hates vampires because surprise surprise, they took her mother away
Ava has a little brother and they are both orphans. Father died when they were really young and mom died from a vampire and now Ava has a vendetta against them and wants them all dead… if she could find any to kill.
Ava seems a bit like a brat with her vendetta and only knows what her mom tells her but she is very protective of her little brother and making sure that her hate for vampires doesn’t bleed (pun not intended) into her brother. She wants him to be happy and grow in her adoptive family.
Ava meets a group of magicians and finds out that these magicians are vampire slayers and hate them as much as Ava does too, why? Because they went through the same pain that Ava went.
This group of magician go out a scout new magician apprentices and there is many groups that do this too but with all these many apprentices only one can win this competition.
This book has so much potential and i can see how it can be like Caraval (even though i havent read that series) but this book really drops the ball with Ava’s character and also the competition. She makes it hard to like her sometimes and also it seems like the ending of the book was a bit predictable on the ending about Ava’s past and her mom’s death.
I’m surprised I actually finished this book but i really wanted to finish this book and just get to the end because of how pretty the special edition from Fairyloot is. I feel like the book could of been so much better and not so predictable but what can you do.
If you are questioning if there is romance… hardly. A lot of tension and maybe 2-3 kisses but im not going to lie this book was such a drag and hard to care about. Dont get me wrong it does have its good moments but it does die quickly after like a chapter or so
Ava is a grungy girl that hates vampires because surprise surprise, they took her mother away
Ava has a little brother and they are both orphans. Father died when they were really young and mom died from a vampire and now Ava has a vendetta against them and wants them all dead… if she could find any to kill.
Ava seems a bit like a brat with her vendetta and only knows what her mom tells her but she is very protective of her little brother and making sure that her hate for vampires doesn’t bleed (pun not intended) into her brother. She wants him to be happy and grow in her adoptive family.
Ava meets a group of magicians and finds out that these magicians are vampire slayers and hate them as much as Ava does too, why? Because they went through the same pain that Ava went.
This group of magician go out a scout new magician apprentices and there is many groups that do this too but with all these many apprentices only one can win this competition.
This book has so much potential and i can see how it can be like Caraval (even though i havent read that series) but this book really drops the ball with Ava’s character and also the competition. She makes it hard to like her sometimes and also it seems like the ending of the book was a bit predictable on the ending about Ava’s past and her mom’s death.
I’m surprised I actually finished this book but i really wanted to finish this book and just get to the end because of how pretty the special edition from Fairyloot is. I feel like the book could of been so much better and not so predictable but what can you do.
If you are questioning if there is romance… hardly. A lot of tension and maybe 2-3 kisses but im not going to lie this book was such a drag and hard to care about. Dont get me wrong it does have its good moments but it does die quickly after like a chapter or so