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Illusion

3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 · rating details · 2,162 ratings · 375 reviews

Dane and Mandy, a popular magic act for forty years, are tragically separated by a car wreck that claims Mandy’s life—or so everyone thinks. Even as Dane mourns and tries to rebuild his life without her, Mandy, supposedly dead, awakes in the present as the nineteen-year-old she was in 1970. Distraught and disoriented in what to her is the future, she is confined to a menta...more

Hardcover, 498 pages

Published March 6th 2012 by Howard Books (first published January 1st 2012)

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Best Christian Suspense/SF Novels of 2012

7th out of 48 books — 52 voters

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Catholic Themed Speculative Fiction

64th out of 94 books — 22 voters

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Mar 17, 2012 Chance Maree rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

In one sense, books are like cakes--the recipe may be more enticing than the taste. Magic, time travel, mature love and teenage confusion (strange mix, but Peretti made it work without being too creepy), mad scientists, doves, etc. Decent writing for the most part, but too choppy and disjointed at times.

"Illusion" provides nothing too challenging to ponder. Even the villains were a bit bland. Yes, poor soul Mandy thrown for a loop, and then having to figure life out in a decadent and evil world...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have to start off by saying that the beginning chapters were a little disjointed as what was happening is definitely science fiction in nature. However, it didn’t take long to start putting the pieces together. And, honestly, it was less disjointed than some novels with inclusion of time travel or alternate time lines that I’ve read in the past.

Once the awkwardness was gone, the characters began to come to life and grab my attention. There is such a wonderful love story laced throughout the no...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Fern rated it 5 of 5 stars

Frank Peretti is one of my favorite authors. His writings are so compelling that you have to keep reading to the very end. This is a story about a man and wife who traveled the world over with their famous magic act. They are traveling in their car to their home in Idaho for a rest they much needed. They become involved in a fiery accident. A drunk driver broadsided them on the driver's side. Mandy the wife was driving and was unable to get out of the car when it burst into flames. Dane the husb...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Casey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Enticing. The summary alone had me very intrigued, the fact that Mr. Peretti hadn't written a novel in six years also had me excited. It was good, but was it good enough? I'm hoping this wasn't Mr. Peretti's last novel. The plot is extremely creative and original. I liked that there were the author's usual Christian themes throughout the book but I don't know if they were visible enough for a non-Christian to see them and be touched by them. The book is about a husband and wife magic act, the si...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Esteban rated it 3 of 5 stars

Peretti is no one new to complex and difficult plots. And in the past he has handled them well. Had i known before reading that this would be a time-travel romance thriller, I would not have been too concerned, because he's done crazy things before. However, though I enjoyed the concept of the book (magicians, and love, and time-travel, and some sort of vague government conspiracy), I reached the end feeling glad that Mandy survived, but mostly just glad it was over.

The ideas were good, but I fe...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Kerry Nietz rated it 5 of 5 stars

I set a bit of a challenge for myself with this book. I wanted to see if I could read it in a week’s time. I know for some book devourers that isn’t much of a challenge, but for me, at this stage of my life, it is. Usually it takes me a week and a half to two weeks for a 300-400 page book. Illusion is just shy of 500 pages long, and I have a lot going on right now…

Part of being able to meet the challenge, of course, depended on the book. I’ve enjoyed Mr. Peretti’s books in the past, but it has b...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Little rated it 3 of 5 stars

Frank Peretti still exists! I literally haven't read anything by him since Piercing the Darkness and This Present Darkness in high school. I picked up the book out of pure nostalgia, and it was good enough for all that.

This felt sort of like a Christian Michael Crichton. Which, please Mr. Crichton, don't be mad at me for the comparison. I know you're pretty anti-religion and all, but Peretti is sort of channeling your style in Illusion. Only with two noticeable differences. First off, I can't im...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Mark Vegh rated it 2 of 5 stars

"[You son of a ------" Yes. She really said it, loudly, and she meant it."

Given my Christian background, I've read a lot of Christian fiction, especially Frank Peretti. However, up to date, and many authors and styles later, the leaving out the swear words simply doesn't work for me anymore. How is it ok for Christian fiction to be full of violence, death, and revenge, yet "bitch" has to be blanked out? Is this just the contradictory state of Christian fiction or Christianity, or both? Whatever...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Faith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I really enjoyed this book overall. That said, it was not what I expected from Mr. Peretti. Mind you, I became a fan of his with "This Present Darkness", "Piercing The Darkness" and "The Oath".

Illusionis a love story. A beautiful one at that.

There is some hard reading in parts, but I believe that is more of an issue with Mr. Peretti wanting to make sure the description is "just so" or that the reader has a specific understanding. I myself like to let my imagination flow and picture things so wh...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Jennifer Short rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Although I don't read much fiction, I've been a fan of Frank Peretti since the late 1980s, so when I heard he had a new book out, I was very excited to read it.

Peretti's style changes. I never know what to expect. In Illusion, a government experiment and a couple magicians converge to create time travel. Mandy is wheeled away, presumably dead, but the story picks up as young Mandy goes from 1970 with her friends at the fair to present day.

The story seems to drag a little in places. We know she i...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Jo Rae rated it 5 of 5 stars

Could It Be Magic?

With a sleight of his talented hand, Frank Peretti has spun a magical tale of suspense, mystery and love. In his latest release, Illusion, Peretti combines a love story that surpasses time with a disappearing act unlike no other. There is something for everyone in this tale.

Mandy Whitaker is pronounced dead following a tragic car accident while her husband Dane is left to grieve the dual loss of wife and magic act partner. As he struggles to live without her, Mandy awakens as...more

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May 16, 2012 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Illusion
by Frank Peretti
The story concerns Dane, a man who meets Eloise, a young woman who reminds him more and more of the wife of 40 years he just recently lost in a car accident. The young woman appears to have basic talent as a magician. Having been part of a well renowned magician act with his wife, Mandy, Dane agrees to take on Eloise and train her. Eloise very quickly demonstrates amazing magical abilities which even she cannot explain. As similarities between Eloise and Mandy grow, Dane...more

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May 10, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Illusion is an engaging story of time travel, government science, and a love that lasts beyond time and space. When magician Dane Collins' wife dies in a car wreck, he heads to a quiet place to mourn his love of forty years. There he meets a young woman who is eerily like his late wife, so much so that he thinks he is seeing visions of her. As Dane begins to mentor her as a magician, he finds she is much more than a protegee. She is Mandy, his wife who was pronounced dead but at the hands of a g...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Cynthia Joyce rated it 3 of 5 stars

Happily, I recieved Illusion as a Goodreads firstreads giveaway. I would have had my review up sooner but I had a bad bout of the flu and then of tendonitus.

Illusion by Frank Peretti is a rollicking good yarn! While the language level of this novel is quite low, anyone with a junior high level education should be able to read it easily, the storytelling is fully mature and well-seasoned. "...hit a 'ta-da pose'" a phrased used regularly, is an example of the simple, clear but artless language le...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Suzanne Earley rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I can't decide if I want to give this 1 star or 4 stars. I think I'm going to go with 2, which is too bad.

I enjoyed about 75% of this book, the other 25% annoyed me greatly.

The premise was fascinating, and I was invested in the main characters.

At one time, I think I probably knew that Peretti was considered a Christian author, but I had forgotten it. If I had remembered I might not have even picked this up. But I did, and while I noticed the "it's a God thing" type comments throughout the first...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Christian Fiction Addiction rated it 5 of 5 stars

7 years is a long time to wait for a new book from an author. But in the case of Frank Peretti, I'll wait as long as necessary to be able to read what he writes!

Illusion is a masterpiece, a carefully crafted novel that grabbed me from the first page and held me spell-bound to the dramatic conclusion. I can confidently say that this is my favourite Frank Peretti book to date, a book that I not only found entertaining, but one that will long stay with me as I ponder the symbolism embedded in its p...more 7 years is a long time to wait for a new book from an author. But in the case of Frank Peretti, I'll wait as long as necessary to be able to read what he writes!

Illusion is a masterpiece, a carefully crafted novel that grabbed me from the first page and held me spell-bound to the dramatic conclusion. I can confidently say that this is my favourite Frank Peretti book to date, a book that I not only found entertaining, but one that will long stay with me as I ponder the symbolism embedded in its pages. The characters simply breathe with life and mystery, Dane as he wonders how to go on living without the love of his life of 40 years by his side, and young Mandy as she tries to reconcile the fact that one moment she was in the 1970’s, and the next she is in the present day dressed in a hospital gown, wondering if she’s going crazy. I loved that both Dane and Mandy are magicians, and Peretti brilliantly combines their love of magic with the mysterious powers that Mandy discovers she has, power to manipulate objects to her whim. The plot unfolds layer by layer, revealing a unique premise that the book is built upon, plot concepts that I won’t fully explore here for fear of revealing too much, but that I can state are well-executed and will have you speeding through the pages. While the book may seem light on spiritual aspects on the surface, as you ponder the book you will realize that the book is a profound exploration of our souls and the reality that the person God created us to be exists outside of time and the external trappings of who we seem to be. The profound love shared between Dane and Mandy is a perfect picture of the love God has for us, a love that survives trials and tragedies, a love that surpasses our understanding and is so much more than we could imagine.

Be prepared to be entertained and held captive by Peretti’s latest work, which is sure to please fans of old and will no doubt capture a new generation of fans who will be eagerly awaiting Peretti’s next book. I know I will.

I award this book 5 out of 5 stars and my highest recommendation.

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Howard Books, for the purposes of this unbiased review.(less)

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Apr 10, 2012 Andrew Shuping rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: not-amazon

Dane and Mandy were together for over 40 years and performed magic delighting fans around the globe. And then...an accident took Mandy away from Dane and his life is thrown off kilter. Dane tries to go on when strangely he encounters a young 19 year old magician...who is the spitting image of Mandy in every way. Dane attempts to mentor and help this young girl while she attempts to figure out why its no longer 1970 like it was when she woke up that morning. All the while they are watched by a my...more Dane and Mandy were together for over 40 years and performed magic delighting fans around the globe. And then...an accident took Mandy away from Dane and his life is thrown off kilter. Dane tries to go on when strangely he encounters a young 19 year old magician...who is the spitting image of Mandy in every way. Dane attempts to mentor and help this young girl while she attempts to figure out why its no longer 1970 like it was when she woke up that morning. All the while they are watched by a mysterious group...who has plans for Mandy’s powers.

I normally don’t read Christian fiction, just because I often feel like the author hits the reader over the head with the religious aspect of things. Frank however does a good job of not doing that, instead he has the characters behave in a realistic manner in how they go about their day and mention of prayer and Christ. And I really liked the description of the book, magic, a lost love returning as she was at 17, and a couple trying to reconnect. And for 3/4’s of the book I really wanted to give the book 5 stars. But there are some rather serious flaws with the other 1/4 of the book that prevent me from doing so.

The biggest problem that I had with this book is that it takes too many different elements and they don’t blend well together. Frank tries to blend magic, faith, and science fiction together and it doesn’t work well. The faith and magic portion is fine, but the science fiction aspect of the story, the machine that is at the center of the story, is often awkwardly written and seems ill at ease when it’s brought up. All of the characters directly related to that program, outside of Mandy and Dane, are flat and one dimensional. And these are supposed to be the villains of the story! It often feels like that entire aspect of the plot was thrown together at the last minute and pushes the story off course. Another issue is that he often leaves out details in the story, apparently so he doesn’t reveal the twist too early, but it creates akward reading. For example, when Mandy starts having horrible visions while performing the magic...that’s all we’re told. The scene is built up as one of great importance, but we aren’t told anything about these visions are even told that Many doesn’t want to discuss it. Later it’s revealed what these are, thus bringing about the twist to the story, but it’s awkwardly placed.

The story also felt like it was way too long. Frank seems to get overly fascinated with magic at times, often going on for pages at times about Mandy’s “tricks” with way too much detail that makes the story drag on far too long.

I think this a book that will interest some folks, but I can’t recommend it to fans of science fiction at all and I can’t think of anyone personally I’d recommend it to. I’ll give the book 3 out of 5 stars.(less)

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Apr 04, 2012 Cydnie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction, mystery, supernatural

I saw this book on Goodreads and thought the synopsis sounded interesting: Man's wife, and partner in a magic act, of 40 years dies; a few months later he meets a young woman on the street doing magic tricks and she reminds him of his wife. The girl thinks she has gone crazy because she "remembers" sitting under a tree at the fair in 1970, but all of a sudden it's 2010.

Things I liked:
1- Likeable characters. I thought that the main characters were well written and I could 'picture' them. We got t...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I loved the concept and mystery of the book. Mandy and Dane in a fiery car crash and Dane leaves the hospital alone. Mandy dies from extensive burn injury. Dane continues with the plan to move to Idaho, although he is lonely and grieving.

Mandy, in 1971 (I think) is at the fair, waiting for her friends to meet her at a tree when the scene changes before her eyes and she is in a nearly empty fairground and it's 40 years later. What happened? How does she get back? If she knows nobody, who does sh...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Starr Griggs rated it 5 of 5 stars

My first response after finishing Illusion was “Dude that was awesome!” What an amazing ride and great re-meeting with one of the most prolific writers of my time. Before I really get to my review, I have to make a confession. This review is completely biased because I am a huge Peretti fan and I will always read whatever he writes. Whatever he writes. He truly is a storytelling guru. I have been waiting –sometimes patiently and sometimes not - for his next book. When given the opportunity to re...more My first response after finishing Illusion was “Dude that was awesome!” What an amazing ride and great re-meeting with one of the most prolific writers of my time. Before I really get to my review, I have to make a confession. This review is completely biased because I am a huge Peretti fan and I will always read whatever he writes. Whatever he writes. He truly is a storytelling guru. I have been waiting –sometimes patiently and sometimes not - for his next book. When given the opportunity to review Illusion, I literally jumped for the chance. (No it wasn’t a requirement, but I couldn’t contain my excitement.) I danced a crazy jig when I came home to the package sitting on my porch. It was moved immediately to the top of my reading list. I am not trying to offend any other authors or anything, but Peretti has a special place in my heart. I was introduced to him at the beginning of my high school career, at a time when I could have given up on reading. Instead, Peretti pulled me into his world book after book, and I have not been the same since. Okay… moving on…
Illusion is not your typical Peretti book, and for me that makes it even better. Some fans will not appreciate the change, but I think it marks growth as a writer and that should be much appreciated. Going back to the beginning, Peretti has covered subjects such as spiritual warfare, false prophets and the myths of Bigfoot. In Illusion, he tackles the discoveries of science and the possibilities that will come from that. Dane and Mandy is a beautiful and tragic story. It is simultaneously a hurting man reaching out for one last glimpse of the love of his life and a scientist whose experiment spiraled out of control. There is always that unspoken question of is he crazy and grasping for the last hope or is it really happening. Science can be a beautiful thing, but as always, when man twists it for his own purposes something horrible happens.
I immensely enjoyed reading Illusion; there is nothing that I can say that will capture everything that I feel about this book, and about Peretti himself. He is an author that always amazes me and the only thing I can do is sit back in awe of the masterful piece that has sprung from his fingertips. I enjoyed the glimpse into the heart and soul of Dane and Mandy. I love the fact that even though what has happened was a grown man’s science experiment gone wrong, science is still respected. Sometimes humans go further than they should, challenging boundaries and the scope of their capabilities. Science tends to always lay any moral reservation until a fatal mistake is made. But it is the redeeming quality of Illusion that even in the most tense and dire situations, there is a way out. Yes, it is not your typical story, but it is still captivating and skillfully written. I can only hope that there will not be such a long wait for Peretti’s next book.

A copy of this book was given to me freeof charge, in exchange for my honest review.
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Mar 25, 2012 Annetta Alderman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Literary Analysis of Illusion

The illusory part of Frank Peretti's Illusion is that there is much more than what meets the eye with the novel. It may appear to be a simplistic love story about two magicians who love/lose/love again. It seems that Mandy, the heroine, has died in a fiery wreck but is finally discovered to be still alive. However, her appearance back into the realm of reality has her forty years younger than before she died.
Without ever being "preachy," F. Peretti presents his own...more Literary Analysis of Illusion

The illusory part of Frank Peretti's Illusion is that there is much more than what meets the eye with the novel. It may appear to be a simplistic love story about two magicians who love/lose/love again. It seems that Mandy, the heroine, has died in a fiery wreck but is finally discovered to be still alive. However, her appearance back into the realm of reality has her forty years younger than before she died.
Without ever being "preachy," F. Peretti presents his own beautiful case for marriage. He paints for us the soul-connection between husband and wife that cannot truly be broken no matter how rough the times. He compares it to the salmon swimming upstream, and there is an overriding theme of soul mates who are destined for each other. Peretti, though promotes marriage rather than bashing those who have been through divorces. Still, he makes his point numerous times about the commitment between husband and wife to see each other through the "ups and downs," for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, "till death do us part."
At different junctures throughout the novel, Peretti interjects the seriousness of these vows when he alludes to the fact that a man is supposed to encourage his wife to find herself and be a whole person who knows who she is and what she is about to the point that the detractors and clamoring of this world will not confuse her or cause her to change from who God intended her to be.
Peretti quietly inserts the fact that her husband is to be her place of safety and security and who she runs to when she is in distress because that is where her heart is safe. He writes about how the husband is to love his wife, but also, he is to honor her.
He delves into the emotional aspect of the woman's psyche when Dane tells Mandy to find herself and to find her way home again where he will be waiting. In the meantime, he does his part by helping as much as he can to assist her on her "journey/quest." This can be applied to any wife whose heart/spirit are wounded, fragmented, or just not whole. She finally comes to the understanding that she can rest in her husband's love and protection and finally be at peace within herself. She can trust her heart with the man God gave her.
Finally, because the marriage between a man and woman is an analogy of Christ with His bride, this story line is a beautiful analogy of the lost child of God who is finally winding her way back home, back to Christ, back to peace, joy, security, and completeness. At times, life, with all the junk that it throws at us, may cause us to lose our focus. Way too often, we are ensnared with the trappings of trying to attain what the world has deemed important. We are caught up in the murkiness and all the world's false hopes and illusions. Confusion as to who we are and whose we are may try to overtake us and suck us in. It takes Christ wooing His bride back to Him in order to escape the entrapment. He is a faithful husband who patiently waits for us to come back home.
The entire book is a wonderful analogy that is well worth the read. As Mandy finds herself in this story, her physical husband and her spiritual groom are both waiting with unfailing and unconditional commitment, love, and acceptance. Just as the doves carried Mandy under their wings and provided her peace and protection, the Holy Spirit also does the same for His child. He carries us and protects us through the hard times and brings us comfort. This book is a read that is sure to bring comfort, inspiration, and hope to marriages as well as inspire us to draw closer in our relationship to Christ.
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Mar 19, 2012 Ellen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction, from-publisher, fantasy

Magicians

Illusionists

Married

One horrific accident

Humans playing "god"

Dane and Mandy shared their love of all things magic! Having met during a carnival magic show in 1970, they knew they we meant for each other... both professionally and personally. After 40 years of marriage, a single life-changing car accident shatters their idyllic life.

The year: 2010. Mandy physically dies. Dane emotionally dies.

As Dane mourns the loss of his beloved wife, Mandy awakes in the present (2010) as the nineteen-y...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

What a book!!

Frank Peretti was one of the first Christian authors I read that really got me excited about the craft of fiction writing and also managed to wake up my spirit as well. When I heard he'd written a new book after a 9 year break I couldn't wait to read it.

This is a fantastic novel--well written and executed in a way that kept me wondering all day, "Is it bed time yet? I have to get back to reading!" Unlike many Christian novels, this was a story that had Christian characters rather th...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Glenajo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, suspense, science-fiction

Another Excellent Book from Peretti

A fiery care wreck causes the death of Mandy the female member of the magic team of Dane and Mandy, leaving Dane alone for the first time in 40 years. Eloise awakes on a fairground under a tree with memories of the 70s. After escaping from a mental ward, Eloise moves to Idaho where she meets Dane, who then hones her magician skills and starts her on the road to stardom. Eloise learns to manipulate time and space, rapidly increasing her magician skills. Dane and...more

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Mar 06, 2012 TC rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi, romance

The description of this novel had me intrigued and not having read any of the author's other books I wasn't entirely sure what to expect of this novel. What I got was part romance and part time travel come alternative dimension sci-fi from a Christian fiction author. I was a bit concerned when I realised Frank Peretti is primarily known for Christian fiction but in fact religion merits little more than a passing mention in the book, with occasional reference to God and faith. The author note at...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-action-adventure, chick-literature, christian-fiction, christian-suspense-fiction, christian-science-fiction, christian-teen-fiction, christian-fantasy-fiction, romance-fiction, supense-thriller-fiction, young-adult-fiction

My all time favorite author just released his latest book, so what do I do the moment it arrives? I inhale it, slowly like my all time favorite meal. Why? you ask would you read it slowly, because it may be a long time before another novel this great comes out again, so I want to savor it and make it last as long as I possibly can. So who is this great author that has inspired me to write in this same type of genre since reading his first book, This Present Darkness? Well that would be Frank Pe...more My all time favorite author just released his latest book, so what do I do the moment it arrives? I inhale it, slowly like my all time favorite meal. Why? you ask would you read it slowly, because it may be a long time before another novel this great comes out again, so I want to savor it and make it last as long as I possibly can. So who is this great author that has inspired me to write in this same type of genre since reading his first book, This Present Darkness? Well that would be Frank Peretti!!!

He's the Christian equivalent of Stephen King, master at words and being able to draw the reader in slowly and keeping them engaged until the final page is turned and you sigh. Not because you are finished but because it was that good and you want to read it again.

Illusion is the latest novel by Frank Peretti and it was just as great as anything he has ever written, after all this time, like fine wine, it's only gotten better.

Illusion is a story involving a couple of twisted but masterfully woven story lines, the foremost begins in the first chapter and Mandy Collins, the fifty-nine year old wife of Dane Collins and the second half of the magic act, Dane and Mandy, is in a horrible car accident. While the accident has left Dane battered and bruised, Mandy is burned to bad to recover and so he is making final preparations to say good bye to his partner and wife as she's about to be whisked away for organ donation. It is here that the story begins and starts to twist.

As Dane tries to understand how his life will go on without Mandy in it, she miraculously appears at a county fair only now she is nineteen. She believes the year is 1970 but in reality its 2010 and she has lost 40 years of her life. Disorientated and feeling lost and wearing only a hospital gown, she struggles with reality until she is picked up by concerned citizens at the fair who turn her over to the police. Not knowing what to tell them, she tries to explain what she knows but that only ends up making her more confused and the police believe she is a mental patient and thus put her in hospital to determine her mental condition. Trying to find a way out of the mental ward, she begins to see an image of a farm, with white picket fence and three aspen trees as though she can see through the walls. Upon walking toward that scene, she realizes that no one can see her and she slips quietly out of the hospital. It is then she realizes she has unusual powers and is drawn back into the world of magic where she feels she has lived a life before.

Dane is released from the hospital to make funeral arrangements from his wife along with the warning from Dr. Kessler that due to his post traumatic stress disorder after losing his wife, and being on strong pain medications and muscle relaxers, he should call her if he should find himself thinking he has seen his wife. However normal it might feel, she isn't real.

I received Illusion by Frank Peretti compliments of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review and can't tell you just how great it is. A combination of suspense, magic and romance, Frank Peretti could have ended this novel any number of ways and I am so thrilled he chose the ending he did. This one rates a permanent home in my personal library and give it the highest rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I have to tell you once this arrived in my home, it was a struggle to be the first to read it in my family, now I must regretfully turn it over to my daughter who will fall in love with this story within the first chapter and will be held captive in the world of mystery and wonder of magic. (less)

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Feb 27, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Title: ILLUSION
Author: Frank Peretti
Publisher: Howard Books
March 2012
ISBN 978-1-4391-9267-2
Genre: Fiction/Christian/General

Duane and Mandy were physically, emotionally, and professionally bound to one another for life. Until death appeared on the scene, snatching Mandy from Duane in the form of a traffic accident, which left Duane emotionally and spiritually shipwrecked. Mandy . . . gone.

Or is she? Mandy awakes in the present as the 19-year old, fair-going, fun-loving teenager that she had been...more Title: ILLUSION
Author: Frank Peretti
Publisher: Howard Books
March 2012
ISBN 978-1-4391-9267-2
Genre: Fiction/Christian/General

Duane and Mandy were physically, emotionally, and professionally bound to one another for life. Until death appeared on the scene, snatching Mandy from Duane in the form of a traffic accident, which left Duane emotionally and spiritually shipwrecked. Mandy . . . gone.

Or is she? Mandy awakes in the present as the 19-year old, fair-going, fun-loving teenager that she had been in 1970, possessing a unique ability to pass invisibly through time and space. And her illusions have improved. Word gets around and Duane is drawn to the coffee shop where Mandy is performing illusions that even he cannot figure out. What is most puzzling is that this fresh-faced young girl is in every respect identical to the young beauty he first met and married some forty years earlier.

As Duane and Mandy begin a furtive relationship as protégée and mentor, they are watched by secretive interests who not only understand Mandy’s ability, but also have the ability to decide what will become of her. Is life and love just an illusion? Or can Duane and Mandy find the reality behind it all?

This is your typical Frank Peretti novel. And that’s a good thing. All of the details that have made Peretti one of my favorite authors is in this novel. The tight story-line, the detailed characterization, the mind-boggling attention to detail that brings every scene, every emotion, every experience to life; it’s all there.

At the same time, this is not your typical Frank Peretti novel. As should be expected (and yet so often does not occur), even the best of writers improve with age and experience. The depths of emotion to which the author takes you is just a little deeper; the tensions to which one is exposed are just a little sharper; the nuances that make a good story great, they are just a shade subtler. The plot twists are sharper, and the rising action is fuller. Which makes for a far more explosive and unexpected climax. As is typical with Frank Peretti novels, have a full stock of drinks and snacks handy, and select your most comfortable reading chair. You’re not going to want to get up until you’ve reached the last page. 495 pages, hardback. $26.99.

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Feb 26, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Illusion by Frank Peretti is a unique work of fiction in the Christian market. He explores time travel through his fictional story in a way that makes it plausible!
When young Mandy, age 19 in 1970, is transported 40 years later, same age, she experiences believable consequences. Due to her unstable state, it would be a little confusing to be in the year 2010, dressed in a hospital gown, and everything around you the same but drastically different, she ends up in a mental institution. She escape...more

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Feb 03, 2012 Eustacia Tan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm not sure why, but all my posts seem to be very "gushing" lately. I think it's because I've been reading so many great books(: So get ready for another "gushing" post, because I'm going to review Frank Peretti's latest book: Illusion.

Illusion is a Christian-Science Fiction-Thriller-Romance kind of novel to me. It revolves around Dane and Mandy, a husband and wife magic duo, which was tragically cut short when Mandy died in a car accident. But to Dane's surprise, he sees a woman who resembles...more I'm not sure why, but all my posts seem to be very "gushing" lately. I think it's because I've been reading so many great books(: So get ready for another "gushing" post, because I'm going to review Frank Peretti's latest book: Illusion.

Illusion is a Christian-Science Fiction-Thriller-Romance kind of novel to me. It revolves around Dane and Mandy, a husband and wife magic duo, which was tragically cut short when Mandy died in a car accident. But to Dane's surprise, he sees a woman who resembles Mandy not long after, and this is the Mandy at 19. As for Mandy, she's very confused, having found herself in a disorienting future. Yup, this involves time travel.

I must say though, the science behind it is stretched beyond the limits, but I had some fun thinking about it. The use of a Machine to alter the timelines wasn't very novel, but Mandy's -mini spoiler alert!- ability to control was (I think. I don't read many Science Fiction books). But I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek humour when the characters commented that all these explanations were so confusing. Yes, that's exactly how I feel for quite a lot of books!

But what I liked about it most was how the characters maintained their faith. Mandy prays, Dane prays and it's so great to see them doing so. Plus, the fact that they maintain their integrity deserves respect. Let me explain; because Dane and Mandy were married, there's an attraction between the 60 year-old Dane and 19 year-old Mandy. But, Dane doesn't give in to temptation and I can happily say that this love story was kept clean at all times. Plus, it's a really touching love story.

The ending was great too. It was expected yet unexpected if that made sense. I knew there had to be a twist, but it wasn't quite what I expected, but it all turned out how I wanted it to be. Ok, that was confusing, no more talk about it.

Bottom line, this book is great. Although it has Christian themes, motifs and symbolism which I enjoyed reading, it's not "in-your-face" pushy (nothing spoils a book more than it being a sermon in disguise. Which explains the success of Narnia and Lord of The Rings). Plus, it's a very good alternative if you're looking for something other than the normal chick-lit romance, or even YA-romance (or for that matter, those thriller/chase-romances).

Disclaimer: I got this book free from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

(First published at http://allsortsofbooks.blogspot.com/2...)(less)

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Mar 30, 2012 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a mind bender of a novel.

Dane and Mandy are a famous magic act - until Mandy is killed in a fiery car accident. Or is she. As Dane mourns her loss Mandy finds herself - her 19 year old self - living in the present but with the memories of the teenager she was. Confused as to all of the changes in her world and as to the loss of all she knows Mandy also discovers some very exceptional magical abilities.

Dane moves to Idaho, Mandy's home state as they had planned to do before the accident....more

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About Frank Peretti

FROM HIS WEBSITE:
With more than 12 million novels in print, Frank Peretti is nothing short of a publishing phenomenon and has been called “America’s hottest Christian novelist.”

Peretti is a natural storyteller who, as a youngster in Seattle, regularly gathered the neighborhood children for animated storytelling sessions. After graduating from high school, he began playing banjo with a local blueg...more FROM HIS WEBSITE:
With more than 12 million novels in print, Frank Peretti is nothing short of a publishing phenomenon and has been called “America’s hottest Christian novelist.”

Peretti is a natural storyteller who, as a youngster in Seattle, regularly gathered the neighborhood children for animated storytelling sessions. After graduating from high school, he began playing banjo with a local bluegrass group. He and his wife were married in 1972, and Peretti soon moved from touring with a pop band to launching a modest Christian music ministry. Peretti later spent time studying English, screen writing and film at UCLA and then assisted his father in pastoring a small Assembly of God church. In 1983, he gave up his pastoring position and began taking construction jobs to make ends meet. While working at a local ski factory, he began writing This Present Darkness, the book that would catapult him into the public eye. After numerous rejections from publishers and a slow start in sales, word-of-mouth enthusiasm finally lifted This Present Darkness onto a tidal wave of interest in spiritual warfare. The book appeared on Bookstore Journal’s bestseller list every month for more than eight years. Peretti’s two spiritual warfare novels, This Present Darkness (1998) and Piercing the Darkness (1989), captivated readers, together selling more than 3.5 million copies. The Oath was awarded the 1996 Gold Medallion Award for best fiction.

For kids, Peretti wrote The Cooper Kids Adventure Series (Crossways and Tommy Nelson), which remains a best-selling series for children with sales exceeding 1 million copies. In August 2000, Peretti released the hilarious children’s audiocassette series titled Wild and Wacky Totally True Bible Stories, reprising his role as Mr. Henry, the offbeat substitute Sunday School teacher found in two Visual Bible for Kids videos.

Peretti released his first-ever non-fiction book, The Wounded Spirit in 2000, which quickly became a best-seller. The book addresses the pain of “wounded spirits” and was writted as a result of painful childhood experiences.

Frank Peretti and his wife, Barbara Jean, live in the Western U.S. In spite of sudden fame and notoriety, Frank still lives a simple, well-rounded life that includes carpentry, banjo making, sculpturing, bicycling and hiking. He is also an avid pilot.
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“Practice doesn’t make perfect. It makes better.” — 14 people liked it

“Don't worry about getting perfect, just keep getting better.” — 5 people liked it

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