The Illusions

The Illusions

Hardback Published on: 22/06/2023
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Bookseller Reviews

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The Illusions
Enchanting!
Bristol, 1896. Used to scraping and bartering for an existence more than a living, as a young assistant to an aging and rather tiresome and unconvincing co... READ MORE
Dan - Clifton, Bristol.
The Illusions
Brilliant story of magicians, love & sinister plotting.
I adored Liz Hyder’s first adult novel The Gifts so much that when a chance for an ARC of her second came up I couldn’t resist. Set in Victorian Bristol at... READ MORE
Rachel Bagshaw

Synopsis

At a time of extraordinary change, two women must harness their talents to take control of their own destiny. Bristol, 1896. Used to scraping a living as the young assistant to an ageing con artist, Cecily Marsden's life is turned upside down when her master suddenly dies. Believing herself to blame, could young Cec somehow have powers she little understands? Meanwhile Eadie Carleton, a pioneering early film-maker, struggles for her talent to be taken seriously in a male-dominated world, and a brilliant young magician, George Perris, begins to see the potential in moving pictures. George believes that if he can harness this new technology, it will revolutionise the world of magic forever - but in order to achieve his dreams, he must first win over Miss Carleton. As a group of illusionists prepare for a grand spectacle, Cec, Eadie and George's worlds collide. But as Cec falls in love with the bustling realm of theatre and magic, she faces the fight of her life to save the performance from sabotage and harness the element of real magic held deep within her. The Illusions is the captivating new novel from the much-lauded author of The Gifts. Inspired by real-life illusionists and early film pioneers, this astonishing story of women and talent, magic and power, sweeps you into a world where anything is possible and nothing is quite as it seems.

  • Publisher: Bonnier Books Ltd
  • ISBN: 9781786581860
  • Number of pages: 448
  • Weight: 704g
  • Dimensions: 240 x 162 x 41 mm

Customer Reviews

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The Illusions
Magical tricks and delights!
Magical tricks and delights! March 1896 Bristol is where the book starts. Arter Evans and Cecily Marsden, Ces, are scraping a living, until tragic circums... READ MORE
Always Happiest Reading
The Illusions
Magic in all senses!
Bristol, 1896. Cecily Marsden (Cec) is the young assistant to an ageing con artist and her life is turned upside down when he suddenly dies. As she has pow... READ MORE
helen_t_reads
The Illusions
Theatres are truly magical places to behold and she’s really captured that awe and wonder.
I did make the mistake of starting this during a very busy weekend and so it took me longer to get into than it normally would have. I struggled with the ... READ MORE
Victoria Bucknell
The Illusions
Historical Fiction with a touch of whimsy & a dash of romance...
Firstly, I would like to thank the publisher for approving me to read a digital ARC of The Illusions by Liz Hyder. As always, the following views expressed... READ MORE
Mikaela  Walker
The Illusions
Captivating
Set in Bristol in the 1890s, .this is a story of magicians and the beginning of moving pictures, of rivalry leading to villainy and violence, of inventiven... READ MORE
Michael Cayley
The Illusions
Beguiling
This is a strange book in some ways. It’s quite slow at the beginning, with a host of characters and I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. But then I... READ MORE
Anita Wallas
The Illusions
Historical fiction with a touch of whimsy...
Firstly, I would like to thank the publisher for approving me to read a digital ARC of The Illusions by Liz Hyder. As always, the following views expressed... READ MORE
Mikaela  Walker
The Illusions
Thrilling
A thrilling novel. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Emma Renshaw
The Illusions
Magical novel set in BRISTOL
Oh this novel! What can I say? Just that it’s wonderful and magical in every way. It’s also set at a time and in a city noted for its importance in the pho... READ MORE
TheBookTrail
The Illusions
Historical detail, stagecraft and illusion
I loved the opening chapters of this book - it opened a new world with an 'other' worldly feel to it. The story begins in Bristol in 1896 on a dark, stormy... READ MORE
Alyson Hilbourne
The Illusions
Stunning
Another beautiful book by the author, I was completely transported into her world and the characters she has created. I also really enjoyed reading about h... READ MORE
Mrsbookburnee
The Illusions
Fun book about moving pictures, magic and seances
I really enjoyed "The Gifts" by Liz Hyder so I was looking forward to reading "The Illusions", however I didn't think it was as captivating. I mean, I enj... READ MORE
Mel Pretorius
The Illusions
Gorgeous!
Lots of fun, and the setting is beautifully drawn. The characters are many and varied, but I quickly got to grips with who was who, and it was easy to jump... READ MORE
Emily Prince
The Illusions
Spellbinding tale a tale of love, power, and endless possibilities
Liz Hyder intricately blends historical and fictional components, creating an extraordinary narrative that pays tribute to the art of magic and the emergen... READ MORE
Franko Figueiredo-Stow
The Illusions
A magical read!
This book was good fun and gave a slice of the period without being too serious or didactic. Its magic theme did not particularly attract me at first, but... READ MORE
Linda Burnett
The Illusions
I think Liz has actually achieved a very clever piece of writing here.
I did make the mistake of starting this during a very busy weekend and so it took me longer to get into than it normally would have. I struggled with the ... READ MORE
Victoria Bucknell
The Illusions
Magical and moving
The combination of magic shows, mysticism and early moving pictures makes for a fascinating slice of history in this delightful story. Set in Bristol, ther... READ MORE
David Barker
The Illusions
Beautifully crafted work of historical fiction set in the Victorian theatre
‘‘’Cecil,’ Valentin says, softly. ‘Magic only works if you believe in it too. I saw what you can do, I know what lies inside of you. You must believe in th... READ MORE
Vivienne O'Regan
The Illusions
Magical all round. Excellent writing and world building.
With a mixture of magic, burgeoning film making and Victorian illusions this immersive story switches point of view, following the lives of different young... READ MORE
Kate Walker
The Illusions
Underwhelming
I was looking forwards to reading this because I read The Gifts and enjoyed it. Overall I think I was underwhelmed by this story of magicians and early fil... READ MORE
kendrafortune