If you’re looking for a fantasy book full of action and plot twists, I have the book just for you. Cruel Illusions is a standalone book that was published on November 1, 2022.
The book revolves around a character named Ava. From a young age, Ava has despised the vampire species and made it her mission to destroy them all. Why, you may ask? Well, ten years prior to when the book was set, vampires had murdered her mother, leaving her to her own devices.
In the present setting of the book, Ava is known as a vampire hunter. According to classic vampire lore, if you stab one in the chest with a stake, then you will defeat the vampire. Ava always carries the stake with her, no matter what the situation is. She also carries around a special coin.
However, little did she know that her whole life would change in just one night. In the book, she stumbles upon a magic show, with tricks that seem impossible for an average magician. From then on out, her life was turned upside down.
After that night, she would become one of those performers. She would meet various people with different attributes compared to the normal person. Although, there is a dark side to these performances. It is a competition, and if she doesn’t win, she dies.
Ava would experience pain, trust, betrayal, and a blur of her reality. By the end of the book, her views have drastically changed from what they were. What could have happened to this girl, to have her stop seeking revenge on the one that orphaned her?
I really enjoyed this book because it went at a steady pace and didn’t jump too far, with little to no details behind the actions. The book also contains a bit of slow burn romance. When reading this book, I felt entrapped by the words. However, the book will leave you reeling, once you figure out the truth behind everything.
The book is around 500 pages long. Even though it is 500 pages, it doesn’t feel like you can get enough of the plot twists. There is no sequel to the book. I personally think the author could have extended the book a little bit more and focused on the ending, but the author did an amazing job writing this book.
The author of Cruel Illusions is Margie Fuston has written three other books. These books include, Vampires, Hearts, & Other dead things., The Revenant Games, and The Hallow Hunt. Vampires, Hearts & Other Dead Things is a standalone, similar to Cruel Illusions. On the other hand, The Revenant Games and The Hallow Hunt are a series. The Hallow Hunt was recently released in 2025.
I would definitely recommend this book to the readers out there that want to read a YA fantasy book. Not only is this book a standalone, but the author has other books on similar topics. I really enjoyed this book and I hope others will too.
