The Illusions by Liz Hyder - Book Review

Publication Date: 22nd June 2023

Genre: Historical Fiction 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Intriguing premise and good execution 

Bristol, 1896

Cecily Marsden finds herself lost when her master, an aging con artist, dies in an unexpected accident. Cec tries to survive and make sense of her powers, fearing that she is somehow to blame for Arter’s death. 

Eadie Carleton is a talented early filmmaker struggling to run her family photography shop and make a mark in the male-dominated world. She has a lot to deal with and some very important decisions to make. 

George Perris is a young magician struggling to create the best act for his special show. He is fascinated by the motion pictures and sees their potential. However, he needs to convince Eadie to help him combine magic and motion pictures to achieve his dreams. 

Valentin knows he needs to return to Bristol and face his past to find peace. He soon becomes a part of the magic show as all these people come together. 

However, the group has to deal with several attacks and sabotages to find success. 

The story comes in the limited third-person POV of Cec, Eadie, George, and Valentin. 

What I Like: 

I confess I haven’t paid attention to the cover until I read the book. The colors aren’t bright enough for my liking, but I love the detailing. It’s perfect for the premise and includes important elements in the plot. 

Though the book has many characters and multiple versions of their names, it isn’t hard to track them once we get into the flow. I didn’t refer to my notes even once. It also helps that the story comes from the third-person POV of the four main characters. We get more insights into their backstories and the setting. 

Most of the characters (except for Skarratt) are layered and relatable. They have their flaws, say things they regret, make a few wrong decisions, and learn to move on. None of it goes overboard. 

The pacing is quite decent, though the story tends to drag in the middle. It picks up pace after 60% and brings a lot of action. The last section is easily the highlight of the book. Everything comes together and gets elevated to the next level. 

The central elements of the plot are very well done (not a surprise, based on the author’s note). The magic shows are detailed but not overly so. The concept behind motion pictures is explained but not in excess. This ensures that the focus stays on the characters and the plot. 

The plot includes quite a few themes like love, found family, regrets, loss, etc. These are seamlessly woven with other elements to create a cohesive story. There’s drama, action, romance, magic, intrigue, suspense, danger, and a HEA. 

What Could Have Been Better for Me: 

The book has itsy-bitsy pieces of magic realism. I was excited to see more of it, but it ends up as a plot device than an independent entity. While the author’s note answers why (the book was supposed to be about magic tricks, motion pictures, and theatre), I still feel the touch of real magic could have been more. 

The same goes for the teeny elements of dark magic. We get hints of it in Skarratt’s scenes, but it all ends up fake. I sure wouldn’t mind if some of it was real (even if the guy didn’t know it was). It would have added more personality and depth to his character (which is possibly the weakest in the cast, given how typically villainous he is). 

I still can’t point out what, why, or how but something’s missing from Cec’s character development. I’ve tried hard to identify it, and the closest I can get is that her arc is restrained and held back to suit the plot. Cec is a strong character on many fronts (and her being a teen only adds to it). However, she gets to bloom only in the second half (in the last quarter, to be precise). 

To summarize, The Illusions is a wholesome entertainer that blends different elements with ease. It takes time at the beginning but is worthy read in many ways. This is my first book by the author, and I’d love to read her future works. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK, and Manilla Press, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheIllusions