Erin's Reviews > Illusion

Illusion follows Eliste vo Derrivale, a member of the Exalted class, on the cusp of attending court in Sherreen to attend the Queen as a maid of honor. Sherreen is very clearly an analogue for Paris, and the events that follow are based on that of the French Revolution and - more specifically - the Reign of Terror.

It's really clear in reading this book that Paula Volsky did her research; she also cleverly weaves in magic, using it as the "justification' for the Exalted's status and the means by which they subordinate the lower classes. This magic, though never explained in great depth, is mostly based on illusions, and, rather than dominate the text,- instead flavors it in a way that feels realistic. The magical artifacts used to terrorize the citizens of Sherreen are unique, well conveyed, and are fantastical, without detracting from the grimness of the story.

Pacing wise, the story starts off a little slow, with the first quarter of the novel describing Eliste's journey to Sherreen, her duties as a maid of honor, and her experiences in court life. I think Eliste is an interesting enough character to pull this off, however, and I think there's enough fun world-building here that it's intriguing, regardless of "action". (That being said, I've also watched Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette like, ten times, mostly for the pretty cinematography, so descriptions of court life are totally up my alley.) The story really picks up as the Revolution takes off and Eliste's situation grows more desperate, shooting off to a satisfying and exciting conclusion.

The focal point of this novel is Eliste's character growth, which is absolutely fantastic. At Illusion's beginning, Eliste is a spoiled brat, who wholly believes she is entitled to her entitlements. I applaud Volsky for writing a main character who - at least initially - submits to the ideals of her time. Too often, aristocratic characters disdain the class system which privileges them in order to appeal to modern readers. That Eliste buys into her own prestige makes her arc and her growth far more rewarding and far more interesting to read about.

While the other characters don't see the same development as Eliste, they're well-drawn and portrayed with depth. The people who surround Eliste feel colorful and memorable, and even those who appear for only a short period are distinct, individual characters. I do think Dref could've been a bit more flawed, however; in comparison to the very human and very faulted people around him, he seemed a touch too clever and perfect.

Though Valour's descent into paranoia is done with skill, the sections from his perspective were by far my least favorite, and the reason I docked a star. Valour, unfortunately, has the tendency to pontificate, and his speeches were numerous, repetitive, and above all, boring. Particularly around the middle of the text, I think he pulled too much focus, and while I understand his perspective was necessary to fully conveying the Revolution, his story might've been done with greater brevity.

Overall, this is a really fun hidden gem - though it may be a bit difficult to locate, as I don't think this is in print anymore, it's very much worth the read for fans of awesome character growth and historical fantasy.