Solid read overall, but does not really offer anything new in the way of young adult fantasy and left me more than wanting.

Cruel Illusions is set in the same world as Vampires Hearts and other Dead Things.
Firstly I want to say how much I absolutely loved Vampires Hearts and Other Dead Things, so I was really excited to read Cruel Illusions. I loved the little hints to VHAODT, it was great to have that link.

Magic and vampires, what’s not to love. I fell in love with the characters straight away and couldn’t put this book down. I love how there’s little bits of information about real magicians throughout the book.

I loved Margie’s style of writing. I need more please.

Perfect for any vampire lover and fans of Hotel Magnifique and Caraval.

This book was like Caraval but with Vampires. I did liked it but at some point it felt flat for me. It was ok, but I would prefer more action.

Cruel Illusions is a standalone paranormal debut I adore so much. The world give us interesting blended atmosphere between secret magic society, deadly magic competition and vampires hunting. The story it self following young orphan Ava who struggles to fit into each foster homes for years. Ava determined to get revenge to Vampire who killed her mother and personal closures. When a magician's troupe offered answer of her life mystery with bloody magic competition, she finally found her place.

Her imperfect character and the potential intriguing me. Her emotions struggles and actions seem real. I love to see that sometime new skills is hard to earned and the process is overwhelmed. She makes mistakes, alot and she always tried do her best at each bad conditions.

The writing is good. I personally love scenes about illusion performance. It is so vivid and brimming with intriguing details. The slow burn romance is satisfying for a standalone. Enough chemistry and tension to make us believe. I expecially enjoyed story part about family strength and build friendships into healthy competition.

Thank you Netgalley and Hooder & Stoughton for provided my copy. My thoughts are my own.

Cruel Illusions is exciting, tense, and heart wrenching.

Ava and her brother have been shuffled from foster home to foster home after her mum was killed by a vampire when they were young. She’s always loved magic, clinging on to the illusions her mum showed her to keep her close, while simultaneously training with one goal in mind - to someday kill a vampire for taking her mother from her.
When she stumbles across a troupe of real magicians who offer her everything she’s been looking for, she can’t take them up on their offer quickly enough… but everything is not as it appears.

I absolutely loved Ava and her journey to find a real family. She’s so wrapped up in her grief that it seems impossible early on, but as the book progresses you see her grow so much as a person and realise so much about herself. Roman was equally loveable - I’m a sucker for a soft-hearted grump! The emotions in the book felt real, and I loved that Ava was able to see past the betrayal she was feeling at certain points to realise that, while she didn’t want to be around certain people at that moment, she had come to see them as family and would forgive them in the future.

I’m not a huge fan of love triangles, but the way this one was handled I didn’t mind so much. Similarly, the competition element can feel overdone in YA fantasy but I liked the way this one came together, and found the challenges themselves interesting to read.

Overall, I really enjoyed Cruel Illusions and would read more from this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC of 'Cruel Illusions' by Margie Fuston.

'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 thrilling YA Novel full of mystery and magic. The plot was fast paced and full of twists and turns which I love as it keeps you guessing.
The world building was fantastic and I truly loved all the magical mystery.
Ava is the main character of the story and she is a young woman who has been living in foster care with her brother since her mother was murdered. Ava loves magic and comes across a magic show where she learns that magic is real. She is soon sucked into a world full of magic, mystery and Vampires.
Ava is also trying to find out who murdered her mother and put an end to them.
The plot is fast paced which really suits this story. I loved all the characters that we meet throughout the story and felt that they were well developed throughout. I did find the book to be on the longer side and felt the start was a little slow but I did enjoy this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Publisher for an eARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cruel Illusions takes many familiar elements but mixes them in a way that offers something a little different. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this in advance of publication.
Our main character, Ava, recalls her mother’s death and is convinced that a vampire was responsible. Drawn to a mysterious magical world, Ava is willing to suspend her disbelief regarding the supernatural, but it quickly becomes clear that nothing could prepare her for what she is about to witness.
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.
From the outset we had a mysterious trial, the age-old battle of good and evil and a clear sense of characters striving to do their best in very trying circumstances. There’s magic, darkness and a clear desire to encourage us to rethink some of our assumptions.
While the story itself felt quite familiar, the things Ava learns about herself and her family were engaging. The book ex0lores attitudes to family and belonging, while providing us with a highly entertaining story.

I think this book swallowed me whole. It consumed me just as much as I consumed it. Stephanie Garber's way of building a world of magic was ever so present in this book. Much like Caraval, this world felt magical with a touch of sinister. Based on the author's note, it seemed Stephanie Garber was an inspiration for Margie Fuston and it works so well for this story. Fuston 110% nailed it and I'm sure Garber would be proud. I LOVED it,

Ava is a broken but determined character and I loved how she was constantly having to change her morals based on new information. Her journey to revenge isn't as simple as A to B, and all the twists make it so fun. The troupe had a unique blend of characters that made them fun to interact with.

I must say though, I feel like the troupe could have been more fully fleshed out. It seemed like they only wanted Ava so that their family wouldn't be split up and I would have loved to have seen more moral conflict of them actually liking her over just needing her and using her. Also, I felt like we were led to like Xander less from the start, so it wasn't hard to predict where it was going.

I did like where the story ended, even though the big finish was a little underwhelming.

P.S I LOOOVED ROMAN.

I really enjoyed this intriguing, mysterious YA fantasy! It was well paced and kept my attention with exciting reveals and dark plot twists! Ava the MC had a lot of issues such as losing her parents, being in an out of foster care and struggling to feel loved after everything she went through. I think these issues made her relatable and stronger. This book definitely has a dark side to it! The chemistry between Ava and Roman was great. I am so glad Ava finally got her family in the end!

3.5 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance reader copy of Cruel Illusions by Margie Fuston for an honest review.

Ava has been determined to avenge her mothers death ever since she was murdered by a vampire when she was a child. However no one has seen a vampire in years and she isn't sure she will ever find one until she stumbles across a hidden magic show where the illusions she sees cannot be anything but real. Maybe these magicians can lead her to the vampires that she has been searching for?

The magicians are part of a secret society who have true magic, power which Ava also has in her blood. They want her to join them and in return they will teach her to hunt vampires and help avenge her mother. However to do this and keep the power being offered she must take part in a deadly competition putting on the performance of her life. In this competition illusion and reality blur and the stakes are deadly.

This book is described as Caraval meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer so I was incredibly excited to read this as Buffy is my favourite TV show and Caraval is one of my favourite book Series.

You can 100% tell that aspects of this book were inspired by Buffy a girl discovers a power she has and needs help in training. The brooding and moody antagonistic love interest Roman gives Angel vibes. The initial love interest and friend is called Xander and the other trainee in magic who becomes her best friend is called Willow need I say more.

Alot of the references felt very on the nose and I almost felt the book became a tad predictable because of this homage as some of the side plot lines were very similar to Buffy plots lines and this took away from the story abit for me unfortunately as it was too similar.

This is a shame as the other aspects in the story were very unique including the whole magic system and how the magicians gain and boost their magic. As well as Ava's quest to avenge her mother and overcome her past trauma. That aside I did really enjoy the writing style and found myself being drawn into the competition and all the magical acts described and fantastical elements described.

The main love triangle was very similar to Buffy season 1 and it was clear who Ava would end up with following that theme. The twists and reveals did keep me engaged overall and I did enjoy the writing style and the story.

The many comparisons just made me feel like the book didn't quite hit the mark hence the 3.5 star rating.

Overall an enjoyable YA fantasy read and a good choice if you still don't want to let go of spooky season.

This book was a thrilling YA novel with a really fun concept. It was fast paced with lots of twists and reveals and a good romance storyline to balance it out.

I loved the main characters and the writing made me feel really attached to Ava and invested in her story. I loved watching her grow as a person and interact with the characters around her. However, I felt like some of the side characters were not fully characterised and so it became hard to distinguish them as the story got more complex.

The plot was complex and intricate and although there were many reveals that I saw coming, there were plenty that surprised me. The author did a good job wrapping up the plot and the story as a standalone novel and whilst I enjoyed it, I like where the story was left for our characters. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for giving me access to the eARC.

Cruel Illusions is a dark urban fantasy standalone, full of twisted paths and bloody actions. I saw it was compared to Caraval and Buffy, and I can see both of them. Especially the later one with all the vampire hunting. It’s a lot more sinister than Caraval, and I think if you see past the magical aspects it’s almost more akin to the Hunger Games. Because, the competition puts all these different young magicians in direct competition with each other, while the adults watched it like the most entertaining show ever, and cheered for blood shed.

Ava is a very sympathetic character, and I really related to her longing to find a forever home. A place where she felt she belonged, for a loving family to call her own. The yearn for love and acceptance of just being herself. Apart from her there were some characters I adored - like Roman, Reina and sweet Willow - and others I couldn’t care for. Not to mention a certain evil baddie who just made my skin crawl and my hands curl into fists. I didn’t like him at all. Something else I did enjoy though, was the fact that nothing was ever black or white when it came to the magicians and the vampires. Every coin has two sides, and the story did a good job portraying it.

I liked the journey the book took me on, and there were so many characters that really carried the story for me. I also enjoyed all the unexpected twists and turns, it kept me on my toes while reading. It was dark, twisted, charming… I have so many feelings right now about this one. All I know for certain is that I can’t wait to re-read it in the future.

Cruel Illusions is a magical, fast paced standalone fantasy that features vampires, magicians and an excellent cast of characters. From the get go we meet our protagonist, Ava, an orphan who wants revenge against the vampire who killed her mother. I really loved Ava and thought she was an extremely strong and well developed character.

This book felt like a blend of Caraval and Ace of Shades, whilst still remaining unique. I loved the magic system and the main plot was exciting and full of twists and turns. The overall atmosphere of the book was very magical and mysterious. There is a love triangle, which I do not usually enjoy, but I think this one was done rather well. I actually found myself really enjoying the romantic aspects of this book.

Cruel Illusions is slightly longer than the average book (over 500 pages!!) but it managed to keep me very entertained and I was very disappointed when it ended! I highly recommend this book to fans of Stephanie Garber.

Cruel Illusions was that immersive, imaginative and inventive escapism you desire from a YA fantasy story.

This was a surprisingly layered and intriguing story, full of secrets, twists and turns. It sits with that question of absolute power and how it may corrupt people. Also, the line between monster and human becomes increasingly blurred with some murky moral territory. That whole power dynamic and the increasingly sinister nature of the central competition was brilliant to watch unfurl. For me, the magic system was always endlessly entertaining. It felt very visual and cinematic, creating these elaborate spectacles around you. I loved how personalised it was and how different everyone’s abilities were when manifested. Magic is something that has always captivated me and this offers you a peek behind the curtain into a new world.

Fuston takes that performative nature and steps it up a gear into a high stakes and claustrophobic competition of wits. It is a game where little is truly as it seems and there are layers upon layers of plots, many of which are tinged with blood and death. The personal dynamics really wrap this up, with unknown relationships and connections slowly coming to life. You fall in love with these ragtag found families and their varied personalities. They all have different reasons and method for pursuing vengeance as well, which leads to some really interesting discussions. Where is that line between justice and vengeance and who draws it?

On top of this, I found myself really connecting to Ava. Here was a fiercely talented and brilliant young woman, caught up in a maelstrom of vengeance and blood and a desperation to find somewhere that she truly belongs in. That mix of vulnerability and needing a survival mechanism cannot fail to draw you to her. The moments when she allows aspects of herself to shine through past that wall are truly wonderful. Beyond that, she is also a badass.

Cruel Illusions is an endlessly tricksy YA fantasy story, always ready with another trick up its sleeve.

A great fast paced story mixing magic and myth. A really unpredictable and exciting plot which kept me guessing. Really enjoyable. If you like circus magic & vampires this is a must read.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the e-arc for an honest opinion.

Please take in mind it’s my opinion, and everyone is allowed to have one.

Vampires, Magicians, magic & murder? Sign me up! This book was so interesting, I loved every detail and plot. And yes there were so many plot twists, which made it even more interesting. The magical aspect was so interesting as well, to see everyone’s power. I honestly was completely hooked from beginning until the end.

Also the main character was so great, I loved how she grew as a person. The romance was quite interesting too.

Overall this was a great book!

3.75 stars rounded to 4

Cruel Illusion was the perfect Halloween read! In this book there is everything from vampires, a majestic circus, a thousand shows and a lot of magic!

The story is about Ava, a young woman who spent the last few years in foster families after her mother was killed by vampires, even if only she believes it. At seventeen, she is greeted by a family that her brother fits in perfectly, and stumbles upon a magic show that seems too good to be real. And that magic is real!

Taken in as their apprentice, and beguiled by the young man Xander, she agrees to join them at the competition of magicians that year and hopes to earn the chance to become part of the trope to learn more about her mother and take revenge on the vampires who killed her.

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.
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!

Speaking in terms of romance, there is a love triangle but it was not heavy or cringe for me, indeed I must say that the romance was very successful but in this book it has very little space so do not expect an entirely romance book.

Turning instead to the things that made me lower my rating a little, I found the book a bit too long and boring (it's 520 pages), I understand that being a standalone the story develops all in the book, but in my opinion some parts they could be shorter. Another flaw of the novel is predictability ... there are a lot of plot twists but most of them are really predictable, as is much of the plot.

To sum up, Cruel Illusion is a book that I recommend if you are in the mood to read a book that is not too elaborate and quite predictable but full of magic, circus shows, vampires and with a cute romance!

Thanks to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Margie Fuston for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.

A gripping storyline that was well written and had well developed characters some of which I have taken to my heart. I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley.

I usually much prefer adult fantasy these days, however when finding out that this book had buffy elements im a sucker (wink wink) for a good vampire book! Having not read caraval (the book is advertised as caraval mixed with Buffy) I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The book portrays a found family trope which I love and love triangle. Being YA the romance elements didn’t hit as hard as id usually like however trust me when I say it still hits the spot at the end and theres a particular brooding character that definitely stole the whole book for me!

I really did enjoy it, given that it was based around magical trials at different stages it helped it to feel fast paced, has characters you will definitely fall in love with and is tied up neatly at the end so that it wont leave you wondering.