#TheIllusions by Liz Hyder is an enthralling tale a tale of love, power, and endless possibilities.

Liz Hyder intricately blends historical and fictional components, creating an extraordinary narrative that pays tribute to the art of magic and the emergence of motion pictures. Hyder masterfully crafts memorable characters, captivating settings, and an original premise that makes the book ‘unputdownable’.

Bristol, 1896. After the sudden death of her con artist master, young Cecily Marsden is left questioning her own dormant powers. At the same time, female film-maker Eadie Carleton struggles for recognition in a male-dominated industry, while magician George Perris sees the potential for moving pictures to revolutionise the art of magic. As their worlds collide, Cecily falls in love with the world of theatre and magic, but must also fight to save a grand illusionist spectacle from sabotage and harness her own true magical abilities.

With its compelling characters, immersive world-building, and gripping storyline, "The Illusions" is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves a good adventure story. Whether you are a fan of historical fiction, fantasy, or both, this book is sure to captivate your imagination and leave you spellbound.

Thanks to #Netgalley Bonnier Books UK, Manilla Press for the Advance Review Copy

#pudseyrecommends #LizHyder #MovingPictures #Magicians #Bristol
#HistoricalFiction #WomenInFilm #MagicRevolution #Illusionists #RealMagic #Pioneers #19thCentury #LoveAndPower #booklover #bookstagram #bookworm #bookish #booknerd #readmorebooks #readingtime #readingcommunity #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookclub #bookaddict #bookobsessed #mustread #newbook #bookishlove #bibliophile #bookcollection #bookshelfie #booknerdigans #booksofinstagram #bookblog #ReadMoreBooks #readingwithdogs #dogreadingcompanion #readingbuddies #readingchallenge #bookstagram #ilovebooks #readinggoals #readingcommunity #bookaddict #readingtime #bookrecommendations #readingpals

The Illusions is a brilliant tale set at the turn of the 20th century, when magical illusions were still famed in their novelty and moving pictures were finding their feet.

A great magician is retiring and naming his successor, but as the show is threatened by a rival performer, an unlikely troop of magicians and inventors work together to fulfil the legacy.

I found this book a challenge - whilst the story was clearly told for each of the characters clearly, the story took a while to develop.

I loved Eadie's character, and Cecily was a force to be reckoned with in the end but I felt like more could have been developed in the feminist element of the story.

Overall, it was a great premise for a story and it was told well - but it was a little slower paced than I tend to steer towards.

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me, there was nothing wrong with the writing or the story, it just wasn't for me. People who love this genre would enjoy this book so I would still recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me early access to this book

I totally immersed myself in this book on a rainy Sunday afternoon and it was perfect. The mix of romance and magic was just right and the historical setting of Bristol seemed perfect. Oh how I wish I could have seen that final show. If this gets made into a film, I’ll be right there waiting.

If you love magic,mystery and a touch of the supernatural this is the book for you. I loved the fact that the central character was a young woman at the forefront of moving pictures who ran a business, made short films,constructed projectors and combined these talents with the world of magic. Great book and very entertaining.

Set in a world of magic and conjuring in Bristol, this has a great range of characters, of theatre and magic tricks, and of drama and intrigue - which was really enjoyable.
It also had a Mills & Boon-style romance which to be honest got a little annoying… I found myself skipping over those bits.

Thank you for this book, here is my 50 Word Review.

I was quickly drawn into a world of magic and illusions, power, lies, romance and friendship in this atmospheric historical novel. I sunk deeper into late Victorian Bristol with its vivid characters and potential for change. Not too dark or too light, this novel had near perfect momentum and tension.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book, I found it very enjoyable and recommend it to lovers of historical fiction. Set in the late 1800's, it follows young Cecily as she moves from performing in shows with a man who rescued her from the streets to taking a bigger role within magic & Illusions taking place in Bristol. Life is never easy for Cecily, will she succeed?
The many important characters are very well written by Liz Hyder. The settings were realistic for the times. I easily found myself drawn into this magical world of illusion and magic. I wish i could watch one of these performances. Life in the 19th century without the technology of today means these illusions and the early moving pictures would have been quite intriguing to the audience.

It seems in late nineteenth century Bristol that you could not step outside your door without bumping into a magician, conjuror, medium, charlatan or illusionist. The place is positively humming with them, and despite there being showmen and honest entertainers, there are also those who would use tricks to defraud and give false hope to those grieving loved ones. There seem to be plenty of these, but there is also some more unexplainable magic and wonders of magic realism here. We have a cast of characters who belong to some of these, and more. The moving picture is in its infancy, and confuses and delights in equal measure. It will be brought into the drama and theatre of this tale.
I loved all the references to Bristol of a bygone time, as I knew it in my youth; the drama of the stage and the expectation and excitement of performance. The story very cleverly builds to a dramatic finale in the same way, and as always with illusions we are left not knowing what has happened before our very eyes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for the eARC of The Illusions.

The illusions is set in the late 1800s and I loved the grandness of the world. It felt richly described and the magic created mystery and intrigue as we deliver further into the story.
The writing on a whole was fantastic, the novel captured me from the start and I had a vested interest into the characters and the outcome of the storyline.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Illusions.

The Illusions by Liz Hyder
Publication Date 22 June 2023

In The Illusions the reader is welcomed into a world of magic, mystery and intrigue set in the late 1800s. I throughly enjoyed this lovely tale that captures the drama, excitement and grandness of the theatre and magic shows of the time.

For all there is the excitement of magic along with burgeoning romance along the way, there are also darker elements with twists and turns aplenty to keep the plot racing along until the spellbinding climax.

I was transported back in time while reading The Illusions and totally captivated as the story progressed and all the little threads were woven together. Liz Hyder really captures the atmosphere of the time period. I adored the little band of characters who found themselves bound together - and the odious Skarratt was a brilliantly portrayed villan!

I loved this book and would highly recommend to everyone who likes historical fiction with a sprinkling of magic, romance and strong female characters - Cecily and Eadie are a force to be reckoned with!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I was a big fan of the first adult book, the gifts, and so I had high expectations for this one.

It was a little different to the previous book, it felt more relaxed and less fantastical. The history element was nice and well researched.

Character wise they were pretty likeable, or unlikeable when required, but I have to say Cec was a little annoying and I found some of her choices unbelievable. I kind of felt like she was the kind of person who would tell and get help.

Otherwise though, this was a nice simple read. I had figured out the plot twist early on, but this didn't really spoil it for me.
Not extraordinary, but a good read, relaxing and easy to follow.

So where can I get a ticket to a show by these amazing Illusionists? That is my first thought after finishing this highly entertaining and original novel from Liz Hyder.
It took me a while to settle into the rhythm of the novel due to the number of characters and scenarios:
Cecily Marsden, our youngest illusionist, who is also an ex con-artist and may actually possess magic
Eadie Carlton, a projectionist and inventor
George Perris, a magician
The Professor, a famous magician
Valentin, another magician,
And associated family, friends and foes.
The tale tells us of the backgrounds of these characters and how they come together to create an incredible fairwell show for the Professor. Mixing fact and fiction, around the development of the early moving pictures, The Illusions, is a fast-moving and intriguing take that sweeps the reader along to the grand and satisfying conclusion.

Thoroughly enjoyed this "magical" book. Lots of characters to keep in mind, lots of sub-plots to pick over and a most dramatic closing sequence. In the end, highly entertaining and simply just great fun! What more can you ask for in a book? Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity of this A.R.C. and congratulations to the author, Liz Hyder.

I loved this book, and was drawn into it from the first page. I know Bristol well, so it was a treat to read a book set there. I also love anything to do with magic and illusion, so this book couldn't fail with me! I completely fell in love with the characters, and the story (predictable but with some real surprises) was a real joy. I will definitely recommend this book.

Charming , quirky and magical, rather like most of the main characters 4.5 raised

I read this with a happy smile on my face, almost all the way through, except when shouting out "oh no! oh no! " whenever any of the likeable major characters (that’s most of them) seemed to be in any imminent danger, whether from normal happenstance, or malevolent intent, whether through supposed evil magic, or purely human evil intent

Hyder, from the start had me deeply engaged with (almost) all her characters, and warmly sympathetic towards their foibles, struggles, desires and humanity.

In fact, if I have some slight reservation, it is that we pretty well know, from the off, just who are the ‘hiss the villains’ Thoroughly unlikeable and obviously not to be trusted by anyone with half a heart or half a brain, from the very get go.

Her far larger cast of utterly delightful characters all have obvious nobility and heroic natures, even if they have some foibles

Set at the tale end of the nineteeth century (1896) this has two major settings. One is that of the theatre, and, more specifically, follows 4 magicians, and their particular brand of magical illusion. Or perhaps, just, the possibility of magic itself, without illusion. The other is in the development of the art of photography, and, in particular, the very young development of the moving picture phenomenon, and how the use of the moving picture ‘illusion’ and the magician’s employment of illusion, might coincide.

This is also the trajectory of several love stories

As in the first adult book, The Gifts, which also dealt with the magical realm – but more obviously ‘supernatural’ magic – Hyder creates extremely strong, feisty, not to mention trail blazing female characters

Here, too my slight reservations. At times, I think the writer’s mid-twentieth century liberal values views are perhaps a little too universally given to her likeable group of heroic protagonists. This is particularly clear in their sexual attitudes and behaviours. I hate the term ‘woke’ as it has been tarred by the grimly unwoke as a term of abuse, but though there were always those who were far ahead of the thinking of their time, it is surely rare that every person of ‘goodness’, in earlier times, would have the more enlightened attitudes which one would hope many more of us would have, these days.

I noted this same reservation with The Gifts, but must also commend Hyder strongly in that though I knew it here, too, my analytical, critical faculties were suspended whilst I was actually reading, and have only arisen on reflection.

And my adoration of that tail end of the nineteeth expositions of the various wonderful acts of illusion, plus the excitement of the developing ‘moving picture’ story, was profound. This was a gorgeous, glorious, journey, and Hyder’s account, at the end of the book, on who and what were the springboards for her fabulous research and transforming imagination, was the cherry on the cake

I’ve emerged from a rich late Victorian magical submersion into a somewhat more mundane world

An incredible interesting and immersive historical read. I loved reading about illusionists and all the different tricks they do, I also found the characters to be incredibly well-written although I did feel slightly bombarded with the amount of people you are introduced to at the beginning. However once I learnt who was who and got into the story this felt like a really fun read with a cast of diverse characters and a unique premise. I haven't read anything about this before and really enjoyed this.

Firstly, I would like to thank the publisher for approving me to read a digital ARC of The Illusions by Liz Hyder. As always, the following views expressed are my own and honest opinions.

The Illusions by Liz Hyder is set in Bristol in 1896 and focuses on the farewell show of primo magician, The Professor. Preparations for the show bring together the main characters, Eadie Carlton, a projectionist and inventor, George Perris, a magician and successor to the Professor, Valentin, the Professor’s old friend and another magician, and finally, Cecily Marsden, an ex con-artist with a touch of magic about her.
This team along with their family and friends face many ups and downs along the way as they try to put on an outstanding show to celebrate the life and talent of The Professor. The biggest obstacle to overcome is the devious machinations of Roderick Skarrat, a jealous rival.

Thoughts:
The Illusions by Liz Hyder is historical fiction with a touch of whimsy and a dash of romance. From the very start I was pulled into this world of illusion and magic, and quite frankly I was loathe to leave it (so much so I spent several late nights reading). The author does a great job of building up the historical setting and capturing the wondrous world of performance magic.
I fell hard for the characters and became easily invested in each of their experiences and troubles. Each had their own talents and also flaws, which to me, made them feel more believable. Each had some secret or past that is gradually revealed as the story unfolds, rewarding the reader as they progress.
The book had a cosy feel-good vibe with fairly low stakes and yet still managed to build up momentum and tension as the day of the grand show drew near. The descriptions of the show itself did well to convey the awe of the audience and the adrenalin buzz of the performers.
I must admit I was concerned the ending would not live up to the rest of the book and I’m glad to report my worries were unfounded. The ending did well in tying up loose threads whilst also leaving the story open for us to imagine how the characters’ lives continued. I did predict a couple of the final reveals but in all honestly, I think I would have been more put out if I had been wrong.

I would highly recommend this book, especially to those who enjoy historical fiction. I enjoyed reading The Illusions so much that I have pre-ordered a physical copy, a rather nice Goldsboro Books edition to add to my bookshelves, as I know I’ll want to read it again. I’m also keen to read Liz Hyder’s other work, The Gifts.

A really fun historical novel, with some great magic thrown in for good measure! Some of the characters could do with a bit more fleshing out, but a great read.

An immersive, atmospheric, captivating read that is a solid follow up to Hyder's first book The Illusions. Highly recommended!