Lots of people ask questions they already know the answer to. It's much easier than asking something you don't know and having to guess if you'll like the answer or not” Friendly Neighborhood Vampire: Roman is a vampire, but doesn't prey on humans like others of his kind. He only takes blood that he buys from willing hosts and also hunts both vampires who hurt people and other magicians who are using their powers to abuse others. This was a story of two halves for me. The first half was a four star read and I really enjoyed it and loved the characters and the plot. Then the second half came and it lost its steam. I lost interest in the characters and just didn't care much in the end. 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.

Cruel Illusions (Literature) - TV Tropes Cruel Illusions (Literature) - TV Tropes

I always stop for lost-pet flyers. I can’t stand the thought of animals out on the street when they have a home and a family waiting for them. This one’s a cat, and even though the paper’s yellowed from the sun and the ink’s smeared from the rain, I memorize the gray stripes and the name: Suzy. The perfect sinisterly magical escape…full of longing, desperation, and betrayal.”—Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval trilogy and Once Upon a Broken HeartNonetheless, Cruel Illusions is worth a shot to satiate your next YA Vampire mood but want a little twist. And Bonus points for this being a Standalone! Riassumendo, Cruel Illusion è un libro che vi consiglio se siete nel mood di leggere un libro non troppo elaborato e abbastanza prevedibile ma pieno di magia, spettacoli circensi, vampiri e con un romance carino! 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. 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!

CRUEL ILLUSIONS | Kirkus Reviews CRUEL ILLUSIONS | Kirkus Reviews

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. Fueling your magic by performing in front of an audience is such a cool concept, and I loved the connection between Magicians and Vampires. 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. I focus on Dad anyway. It’s weird that the safer parent to think about is the one who died in a mugging gone bad, but I was so little that I don’t really remember that moment. I only remember the before and the after. Before, I would stand on the side of a small stage at a little club or community theater, holding the hand of a babysitter while I stared open-mouthed at Mom and Dad on the stage making rabbits and birds and cats appear from top hats or from behind sparkling curtains. Dad wore a red vest made of sequins over a billowy white shirt. Mom wore red silk over a rounded stomach that held Parker. She always wore fresh red roses in her hair. I don’t really remember anything else about Dad besides those nights on the side of a stage.The vampire slaying. Talking about how she was training to do it? With what? A bit of cardio and weights, I do just as much exercise. ‘I’ve been training for five years to slay vampires,’ girl you Super excited to dive into this one, I'd been stalking NetGalley waiting for it to drop and dived into it asap! The perfect sinisterly magical escape…full of longing, desperation, and betrayal.” —Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval trilogy and Once Upon a Broken Heart