My Rating ~ Five Stars

RELEASE DATE: 11 May 2021

Format: E-ARC

Pages: 368

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Source: NetGalley

Blurb

For years, she was wielded as a weapon. Now it’s her time to fight back.

Reeling from betrayal at the hands of the Whispers, Renata Convida is a girl on the run. With few options and fewer allies, she’s reluctantly joined forces with none other than Prince Castian, her most infuriating and intriguing enemy. They’re united by a lofty goal: find the fabled Knife of Memory, kill the ruthless King Fernando, and bring peace to the nation. Together, Ren and Castian have a chance to save everything, if only they can set aside their complex and intense feelings for each other.

With the king’s forces on their heels at every turn, their quest across Puerto Leones and beyond leaves little room for mistakes. But the greatest danger is within Ren-the Gray, her fortress of stolen memories, has begun to crumble, threatening her grip on reality. She’ll have to control her magics-and her mind-to unlock her power and protect the Moria people once and for all.

Review

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a copy of Illusionary, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review!

I have been SO excited for this book! I loved Incendiary and we were left on such a cliffhanger that it’s felt like a long wait for Illusionary.

With the focus firmly on Ren and Cas in this book, their character development was perfect. From sworn enemies to fighting feelings, they’re both on the run and running towards a new future. One where King Fernando will no longer rule. The only way forward is to find and retrieve the knife of memory, but that’s easier said than done and could come at a cost too great.

Even though the developing feelings between Ren and Cas formed the backbone of this book, it somehow didn’t turn it into a romance first, plot second, sequel and I was so glad. There was still enough action, twists and intrigue to make this a brilliant conclusion to the duology. I loved that we got to venture into new parts of the world in Illusionary. The characters Ren and Cas met along the way were all interesting in their own ways, no matter how small a part they played in the overall story.

This is such a creative and thrilling series, I’m surprised it hasn’t received more hype. If you haven’t read Incendiary yet, go and find yourself a copy!