One of fantasy's brightest new stars makes her Bantam debut with a colorful, sweeping high fantasy epic set against the fires of revolution. In the...
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Sep 20, 2011
Angie
rated it: 
Originally published here.
This cover. This cover remains one of my favorite covers ever! I had never heard of Paula Volsky before or read much historical fantasy at all when a copy of ILLUSION arrived at my house. I was fifteen and my Aunt Claudia sent it to me for my birthday. She's a great reader, my aunt, and she has flawless taste. When they were kids, she and my dad would ride their bikes to the library and each check out a stack of Nancy Drews and Hardy Boys, go home, read them, More...
This cover. This cover remains one of my favorite covers ever! I had never heard of Paula Volsky before or read much historical fantasy at all when a copy of ILLUSION arrived at my house. I was fifteen and my Aunt Claudia sent it to me for my birthday. She's a great reader, my aunt, and she has flawless taste. When they were kids, she and my dad would ride their bikes to the library and each check out a stack of Nancy Drews and Hardy Boys, go home, read them, More...
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Jan 16, 2008
Michelle
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Volsky's book is quite a bit top-heavy. it's a technical demerit, but the book holds you at a distance; i like it, but i'm not in love with it, so technical is what i end up with.
this tale is basically a slight fantasization of the french revolution, told through the eyes of a high-born lady of means on her wild ride through the terror of ill-conceived democracy. stationed in the high-fashion capital of sherreen (i.e., say paris with the french pronunciation), a noble-born girl w More...
this tale is basically a slight fantasization of the french revolution, told through the eyes of a high-born lady of means on her wild ride through the terror of ill-conceived democracy. stationed in the high-fashion capital of sherreen (i.e., say paris with the french pronunciation), a noble-born girl w More...
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Mar 25, 2009
Karen
rated it: 
This is the second time I've read this book. The first time was about 15 years ago.
Based on the French Revolution, the story is set in a fantasy world, but more specifically in a city called Sherreen. Eliste, a toffee nosed Exalted, travels to the city to be presented at court and become “maid” to the queen. We see exactly who Eliste is and how she thinks. We live inside her head for a number of months. It all makes perfect sense and we could almost believe things are just how they More...
Based on the French Revolution, the story is set in a fantasy world, but more specifically in a city called Sherreen. Eliste, a toffee nosed Exalted, travels to the city to be presented at court and become “maid” to the queen. We see exactly who Eliste is and how she thinks. We live inside her head for a number of months. It all makes perfect sense and we could almost believe things are just how they More...
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Jan 01, 2011
Karky
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 12, 2010
Lynn
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Loved this, absolutely, but I am the perfect target audience in many ways (female, long-term and fairly unconditional fantasy-of-manners fan).
Illusion is basically a secondary-world fantasy retelling of the French Revolution. Instead of the medieval Catholic worldview, it is magic, or rather the Exalted's claim to monopoly on it, that maintains the status quo. The story is told through the eyes of Eliste, a provincial Exalted sent to the capital to be maid-of-honour to the queen.
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Illusion is basically a secondary-world fantasy retelling of the French Revolution. Instead of the medieval Catholic worldview, it is magic, or rather the Exalted's claim to monopoly on it, that maintains the status quo. The story is told through the eyes of Eliste, a provincial Exalted sent to the capital to be maid-of-honour to the queen.
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Apr 11, 2010
Kristen
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Aug 18, 2010
Jamie
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Jul 17, 2009
Charles
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This book was rather lovingly written and I know people who loved it. It was recommended to me by a lovely young woman of my acquaintance. There were interesting ideas within. But the problem for me was that 1) there was almost no action anywhere in the first hundred or so pages, and 2) a huge amount of time was spent on such cultural issues as the clothes that people wore. I just could never get into it, and by the time any action did start I no longer cared.
I hate to suggest More...
I hate to suggest More...
Sep 22, 2010
Kate
rated it:
I like fantasy best when it has a solid underpinning of real history, and "Illusion" can be described as the French Revolution with magic. The story follows Eliste, an aristocratic beauty who serves as lady-in-waiting to the queen, and gets caught up in the storm of revolution as a corrupt aristocracy is toppled. The king and queen are openly modeled on Louix XVI and Marie Antoinette; the fanatical revolutionary villain is a good double for Robespierre; and the terrifying machine int
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Jan 29, 2012
Clara
rated it:
I. LOVE. this book. Read it many times throughout middle school and high school...just found a copy online a few weeks ago and read it again. Fabulous fantasy retelling of the French Revolution...mastery command of the English language (it's the kind of book where having a dictionary close at hand is helpful, but through her skillful storytelling, you can usually infer what the words mean)...incredible character development (especially the lead character, Eliste vo Derrivalle...her shallow beg
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May 20, 2011
Tracey
rated it:
Illusion. The cover comes first, because that was the reason I bought the book in the first place, and it was the first of PV's books that I read. Michael Whelan, bless his brushes, is still my hero. This is nothing short of magnificent, and I'm still proud that I had coffee with the man once.
Anyway... the book echoes the French Revolution (except that the Queen isn't exactly Marie Antoinette - hated like she was, though), and follows both Eliste - Exalted lady-in-waiting to the Que More...
Anyway... the book echoes the French Revolution (except that the Queen isn't exactly Marie Antoinette - hated like she was, though), and follows both Eliste - Exalted lady-in-waiting to the Que More...
May 20, 2008
Stephen
rated it:
I picked this book up purely because of th cover art, something about it intrigued me. The first time I read it I put it down shortly after starting because the begining didnt interest me at the time, however I went back to it after about a year and fell in love with it. I have now read it probably eight times.
The story follows a noble born girl named Eliste as she is about to go off to court as a maid of honor for the Queen. This is where the book take a bit to get interesting. Ther More...
The story follows a noble born girl named Eliste as she is about to go off to court as a maid of honor for the Queen. This is where the book take a bit to get interesting. Ther More...
Nov 15, 2011
Lillian
rated it:
It has been a long time since I have read this book but I have thought of it often and wanted to reread it. Since I read this book more then 20 years ago, I had no idea who the author was and it has taken me this long to find it. If this book can stay with me for 20 years it is definitely worth the read if you enjoy magic, history and high drama all rolled into one.
Oct 07, 2008
Jadewik
rated it:
Re-reading this novel for a 3rd (or so) time. I love it. The story depicts a fantasy society in the throes of revolution and follows the life of one Eliste vo Derrivale as she's swept up in the whirl-wind of evolving politics. This particular character's development is most enthralling to behold... and the author uses such intricate language that it sets all scenes and describes every situation beautifully.
The vocabulary in the novel is very extensive and takes a moment to get used t More...
The vocabulary in the novel is very extensive and takes a moment to get used t More...
Jan 01, 2011
Julian
rated it:
Most excellent novel. The French revolution in a universe set ever so slightly off from ours. Despite the dimensional shift, the story runs very close to our French revolution, complete with executions and its Madame Defarge like fan group, a scarlet pimpernel, and, of course, a megalomaniacal Robespierre. The story is told from the viewpoint of noble (Exalted, as they are known) as she falls from her lofty perch of haughty indifference into the gutter, struggling to understand what is happening
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Aug 02, 2010
Felicia
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I had forgotten about this book until I stumbled on it at a blog. This was truly one of my fave books years ago, I have a paperback on the way to re-read and add to my permanent bookshelf! :) It's French Revolution retelling with magic, or...I dunno, just check the blurb yourself, see if it's up your alley!
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Jan 18, 2011
Julia
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This had a great story line, but parts of it just seemed to drag on and on and on. BUT I don't want my rating to deter anyone from reading it, because it really was a great story. I just thought it could have been a quicker read. That's all. :-)
Mar 16, 2009
Jenny
rated it:
This is probably one of my top favorite books of all time. I always admired Volsky's vocabulary and able to capture her imagination on the page. Great characters, intriguing story with good momentum -- very satisfying (if you don't mind a little fantasy here and there...)
Aug 29, 2010
Shane
rated it:
This book was pretty bad it took me forever to read it. I only continued because I was certain there was a good story in there someplace. There was sort of. I'm not sure it was really worth the effort however.
Feb 23, 2012
Michael
rated it:
Bleak but unfailingly charming. An authentic if idiosyncratic voice. Absolutely love nearly everything by this author and pleased to see her return writing as Paula Brandon after a long absence.
Apr 19, 2009
MaryBliss
rated it:
I picked it up in the library one afternoon and read the second half of it. It kept me pleasantly occupied. Volsky does a nice job of recreating a fantasy on a French Revolution model.
Jun 18, 2010
Bought it for the cover, turned out to be one of my favorite books, The french revolution in a fantasy setting
Aug 11, 2008
Speed8ump
rated it:
I picked this book while perusing for something to read sometime in 1994. The cover art is fantastic, and that's initially what drew me to it. I rarely recommend this book simply because it is written from the perspective of a spoiled little girl.
Once you get past that (or learn to appreciate it, depending on your mood) you begin to notice the details. The character progression through the book is really what makes this one of my top ten books. Well conceived, well executed, but More...
Once you get past that (or learn to appreciate it, depending on your mood) you begin to notice the details. The character progression through the book is really what makes this one of my top ten books. Well conceived, well executed, but More...
Oct 06, 2010
re-reading, over ten years ago I enjoyed this book and am curious if it'll hold up as entertaining again.
Jan 21, 2010
I give this book ZERO stars. It is by far the most stupid book I have ever read. Sorry Brenda :)
Oct 28, 2011
Bookwyrm13
rated it:
great book , "tasted" alot like a fantasy rewrite of the russian revolution.
Dec 16, 2011
Janin
rated it:
Another of my favorites to re-read. Romance, war, intrigue, magic, decapitation-- and all very well written.
Dec 03, 2010
David
rated it:
I loved this book, which is basically the French Revolution with different names, set in a parallel universe where magic is real. Although it's not a "historical" novel, the rich details make it feel like one, and the characters in particular are wonderfully-drawn. Also, it has one of the few fantasy romances I've really enjoyed, as it shows just how hard it is for people of different social classes to break down their barriers, even amidst a revolution: it's not that easy to just say,
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