This was a fun whimsical, with a bit of danger story of what Clara might have done when she grew up, after spending all that time with her godfather Elias Thrushman (a man with quite a few secrets) as an apprentice before heading off to Paris to help with the construction of the 1900 World's Fair. The World Fairs always had so much wonder and magic but it is added to even more with this story in which Clara learns all about the anderwelt, accessible only through special keys. It is a fun intertwining between the two realms where the impossibly magical is possible. I loved all the creations found there and was quite impressed with Clara and her own inventions though you also get a possible love interest, new friends, and of course old enemies and a threat to creativity and the World's Fair even, just to keep it interesting. It is a fun journey and I really wish that I too could view the anderwelt and all its wonders!

So it is kind of a retelling of the Nutcracker but felt nicely fresh with it being adult Clara journeying into the strange new realm via the key sent by her godfather. I also really enjoyed the little stories from the notebook he sends her which also help connect threads in the story. Also, the cover is quite magical. I am glad I got to read this!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Rowenna Miller for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Palace of Illusions coming out June 10, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I enjoyed the setting. I think it was fantastical. It was a little long for me, but I enjoyed the characters. I’d check out more books by this author.

A unique and whimsical retelling of The Nutcracker set in Paris in the 1900s.
Overall, I enjoyed this, and felt fully immersed in this dazzling, dreamlike story.
However, the slower pacing might not be for everyone.
Perfect for fans of fairytale retellings, especially those who love historical and whimsical settings.

This book was not what I expected, it was a lot darker and more confusing in places. I found I did not understand the alternate world/its world building was not as clear as I would have liked it to be.

Paris, 1899: the City of Light prepares for the World’s Fair, dazzling with inventions, illusions, and artistic marvels. Clockworker Clara Ironwood is content to stay behind the curtain, building intricate mechanisms for the Palace of Illusions—a glittering hall of mirrors designed by her eccentric godfather. But when she receives a strange nutcracker that hides more than gears and springs, Clara stumbles into a secret Paris behind the glass—one where rivers sing, statues speak, and magic breathes in every invention.

This enchanted city ignites her imagination—and her craft. As Clara’s mechanical creations begin to blur the line between art and life, she draws the attention of powerful forces, both human and otherwise. Shadows stalk her steps, mysterious figures whisper of dangerous knowledge, and the boundary between the two Parises begins to crack.

With the fate of both worlds hanging in the balance, Clara must uncover the truth behind her godfather’s creations and decide just how much of herself she’s willing to give to preserve the magic—or prevent it from destroying everything.

Evocative, romantic, and utterly transportive, The Palace of Illusions is a spellbinding journey through a city of marvels, perfect for fans of The Night Circus, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, and Erin Morgenstern’s lush magical realism.

This is a neat steampunk-ish take on The Nutcracker, set in Paris in the early 1900s, enough for the background tides of the World Wars picking up and mysterious German spies coming after a girl's clockwork mechanic grandfather, combined with a mysterious otherworld parallel to Paris. When I describe it, it sounds absurd, but it's a fun ride, and a neat concept. Recommended read.

I’m a sucker for a Nutcracker retelling, and I thoroughly enjoyed the new world Rowena Miller thrust Clara in.

A good fairytale retelling, in my opinion, keeps the heart of a beloved story and reexamines themes and characters in new dimensions. Rowenna Miller takes the beloved nutcracker story and reimagines it as a blend of fantasy and feminism in the early 20th century.

Clara is an American who has landed an exciting contract to build clockwork creations in the lead up to the 1900 world fair in Paris, France. This is the first time she’s left her small town in the midwest behind, and she’s thrust into a whole new world at the turn of the century where men and women’s roles and lives are changing rapidly. As she builds an independent lift for herself, she is pulled back into her godfather’s mysterious world when he sends her a christmas gift.

Clara discovers there’s a whole other world that lives along ours. Called The Anderwelt, it’s our world, but influenced by the creation of makers. It’s a fascinating world that Clara rightly gets obsessed with. However, there’s danger there as well as beauty, and Clara begins to be followed in both worlds by danger.

Clara has a scientific mind, and is practical before all else. While she’s thrust into this other world, she’s reminded of her love of imagination as a child. Throughout her adventures, she is forced to meet new people and make friends, including her boss, the charming Fritz, her bohemian dancing neighbour Annabelle, Clara’s sister Louise and the mysterious Nathanael. This exploration in Clara’s identity is the root of the book. Can she be a serious woman, praised for her skills in a man’s world, and still be a woman, make time for fun and frivolity, and love? Clara’s exploration into living is because of her godfather’s mechanical creations and her own talent, and while those come to life, so does she. I loved the themes in this book and focus on Clara learning to let people in, both platonically and romantically.

The book is slower paced and a little heavy on world building details at times, but the whimsy and joy makes up for it. This is a book I think I would have also enjoyed more reading in the winter – it’s set at christmas and it felt odd reading it in June. Perhaps it’s because I think of the Nutcracker as such an essential part of my holiday experience?

If you want a delightful take on The Nutcracker, you should read The Palace of Illusions – but it’s best saved for when the snow falls.

This is my first read from Rowenna Miller and I love the world she created within this novel. I have never read a retelling of The Nutcracker, I loved the historical fiction elements of this novel in an alternative 1900s Paris filled with magic and engineering. A nutcracker changes everything. We follow Clara, a clock worker and god-daughter to a mechanical engineering prodigy, she unravels something hidden within her godfather's hall of mirrors called Palace of Illusions.

As a stand alone novel, I am both impressed with the world created and saddened that there is no sequel. The Anderwelt mirror-world that Clara finds herself in is filled with mysteries and initially whimsical differences between the two worlds. I was captivated by the world building through Clara's eyes, but what starts of fun and intriguing quickly turns dark with many side characters being introduced (some more trustworthy than others). Clara views the world from an engineer's perspective so she deciphers this new world of magical realism from a logical and analytical point of view. She felt like a real character. This is a fun fairy tale for readers who enjoy retellings, or honestly anyone who is a fan of historical fiction or fantasy. Maybe if we give it enough praise we can get a sequel! Here here!

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the copy of this book for review.

Clara is a creative and talented clockmaker working on an exhibition for the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris. After apprenticing for her godfather in America growing up, Clara is on her own for the first time. She’s thrown herself into her work when an unexpected gift from her godfather arrives – a nutcracker with a hidden compartment and a mysterious item that sends her into an alternative mirror world.

But what appears to be a fantastical otherworld hides dark secrets – and when something bad happens in the mirror world, it has ramifications on the “real” world. Clara will discover others who can access this world, and she’ll have to figure out who can help her and who is trying to destroy the magical land she’s just started to explore and love.
This story was so imaginative! The otherworld the author describes is pure magic and creativity. There is mystery, friendship, romance, fantasy…everything I could want in a book! This novel is for anyone who has ever dreamed of creating something new, who has struck out on their own to make their way in the world, who wants to leave their mark. This book will stick with you long after you put it down.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

For started, this book is perfect for any romantasy girly (or guy!) taking a summer trip to Paris. The atmosphere the author creates with the alternate universe of Paris/the world was one of pure magic and whimsy. I recently struggled to picture places and events in another romantasy book that I read and I feared that the magical movie theater in my mind was broken. But fear not! The Palace of Illusions restored my sight so to speak lol. Miller's writing is truly atmospheric and eloquent. I loved the fmc Clara and related to her quite a bit in that feels she is awkward in social situations, but excels at her work and enjoys working hard. Her growth throughout the story revealed her devotion to not only her craft, but to those she loves as well. Her relationship with her sister and Godfather felt very realistic and I enjoyed watching Clara work through the complicated feelings she had for both. The romantic subplot was perfectly done and did not overwhelm the story. My only issue with The Palace of Illusions is that it is a bit of slow start and took me awhile to get into the story, so much so that I almost abandoned ship, but I am so glad that I didn't. This is a story of personal growth and of finding magic in simple things. And while it takes place in 1900, I felt that the author was reminding me to put my phone down and just enjoy being.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I thought that The Palace of Illusions was an entertaining read, it's not a direct copy to the Nutcracker (which was my favorite story growing up, and the key reason why I requested this title), but it was more so... a reimagining with looser connections, which I had no problem with! It allowed for more creative freedom and made for an unpredictable and exciting story! It starts out with a slower pace, but once you're in the story, the reader stays hooked!

This one really hit the spot for me at the right time. I’m always looking for more fantasy standalones because I’m already in the middle of so many series so I was excited to get another one from Rowenna Miller after enjoying one of hers in the past.

Historical fiction is often hard for me to enjoy. I like having completely new worlds to get lost in (fantasy) or interesting technology to learn about (scifi). This book gave me a bit of both to some extent. The other world the MC discovered has the fantastical elements I love and while the technology used in this book wasn’t anywhere near the scifi tech I love, the characters’ own excitement over it filled in really well for that. It combined for a whimsical, awe-inspiring, and exciting mixture that kept me engaged throughout the entire book.

While the start of the book did feel a bit slow, overall the story had a steady pace throughout the entire book that matched the story well. The awe and the fear of the MC introduced exciting elements and while the darker aspects of the story took up more and more space the closer we got to the end, the book never lost its whimsical magic that made me fall in love with the world in the first place.

This was set in Paris so of course there was a little bit of romance. Spice-averse readers, have no fear though. While this was really sweet, it didn’t actually take up a lot of page time and the intimacy on page was emotional rather than physical. It worked well for this story, though the beginnings of their emotional involvement did feel a little rushed after their unconventional first interactions.

Is this a book for every reader? No. While the stakes were high for the characters, I do think the slower pace and whimsical feel of it won’t be for everyone. Did I enjoy it immensely myself and think it’ll work for many people anyways? Yes, definitely. The historical fiction, cozy whimsy, fantastical elements, and sweet romance should appeal to plenty of readers that can also get a taste of a genre they might not otherwise think to explore.

Rowena Miller’s The Palace of Illusions is a gorgeously imagined re-telling inspired by The Nutcracker—but it is so much more than a simple adaptation. With her signature elegance and depth, Miller creates a world that glitters with snow and stirs with emotion, perfect for readers craving a story that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly new.
Cozy, magical, perfect for a cold or rainy day- will be a major hitter during winter- will be recommending this to my book club!

I DNF’d at 40%. While I was intrigued by this parallel world and the steampunk vibes setting in 1900s France, I found the pacing to be very slow and drawn out. I had no connection to the characters and ultimately just wasn’t as invested in the story as I felt I should be. I scoped out other reviews and when I saw many that said it “picks up at 50%” but also that there’s a big, u explained changed in character, I decided it just wasn’t worth it for me to continue.

I hope this book finds its audience because I do think it’s set up to be very beautiful and unique, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

an interesting take on the nutcracker for sure! this one starts pretty slowly but picks up after the halfway mark. i had trouble getting attached to some of the side characters, but the 'other Paris' was very beautifully described + i enjoyed the prose!

i liked the 'fairytale' stories that were from Clara's godfather, the author is pretty good at writing fable-type stories that fit well with nutcracker canon :)

A dreamy waltz through turn-of-the-century Paris with a magical twist! ✨

The Palace of Illusions is a spellbinding blend of steampunk, fantasy, and historical fiction, with just the right touch of whimsy. Clara Ironwood is a heroine you’ll quietly root for: clever, grounded, and slowly discovering her own spark in a world where magic and machinery intertwine.

The mirror-world Paris is gorgeously imaginative (lemonade fountains, anyone?), and the undercurrent of mystery keeps the pages turning. While the pacing dips in places, the atmosphere and heart more than make up for it.

A charming tale of illusions, invention, and finding power in your own reflection.

Arc received from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Book review: 3.75/5 ⭐️
Genre: magical realism,
Themes: imagination, otherworldly, clockwork
📖 Read if you like: The Enchanted Lies of Celeste Artois, The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door, Ten Thousand Doors of January

This book lies somewhere between dreams and reality, that space where imagination takes hold and ideas can come to life. This loosely based reimagining of The Nutcracker was slower paced, but created an immersive story about the creative process, the cost of progress and an otherworld where artisans can discover magic and turn it into reality. It was creative and all the clockwork creations were so fascinating. It was decidedly atmospheric and I enjoyed bouncing between the anderwelt and Paris, which holds equal amounts of magic in my opinion.

Synopsis: The 1900s World’s Fair in Paris has brought innovation and creative energy to the city, as artisans and engineers from around the world put together pavilions to showcase new wonders to the people. Clara Ironwood is one such individual. A brilliant clockworker with an eye for mechanics, Clara moved from America to work on the Palace of Illusions for the fair. Tutored under her enigmatic and mercurial godfather with whom she has had a falling out, as a peace offering he send her a hideous nutcracker for the holidays. Clara is amazed to find this nutcracker holds the secret she could never have imagined. A literal key that unlocks a mirror-world where fountains sprout lemonade, the Seine is musical and automations move and think like humans. The anderwelt is a magical place of spun sugar and creation that can provide the seed of innovation in the real world. As Clara begins to explore this new world she also becomes the interest of several parties. Followed by shadows and strange men alike, she discovers a dark plot is underfoot to strip the anderwelt of its creations, thereby destroying the place itself. She must work in both worlds to uncover their secrets and stop the destruction before it is too late.

Having the Lumiere brothers moving pictures and Loie Fuller’s dance art feature in the plot kept the story rooted in historical realism, while highlighting the fantastical at the same time. It wasn’t so hard to believe that an otherworld could exist that would inspire the age of enlightenment in Paris. Things within the anderwelt aren’t truly alive, but they are imbued with the creative potential of the ideas and that breathes life into them. This concept was both intriguing and made for such a whimsical landscape. This version of Paris turned inside out is one I would love to explore. It had some pacing issues in the middle and I think there needed to be a bit more motivation and fear around the Sandmann, but it really allowed you to savour the place. It is a great read if you enjoy fairytales retold, historical fantasy and the art of creation.

Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for an early eARC of this book for review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Palace of Illusions!

This was ok. I was hoping for a bit more from the main character. I felt like the pacing was all over the p[ace, and some of the middle was a bit slow.

Thank you to Orbit Books and the author for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

This was fun! It's a little bit science/tech nerdy, it's a little bit artsy, it's a little bit magical, and the familiarity of the story with a twist that hit on all my favourite things just left me feeling very content. I loved the world building and hope the author revisits this setting!

I did feel like there were some pacing issues; the early-middle section dragged a bit and I lost interest for a few days. Then it rapidly sped up and abruptly ended, which left a little bit of disappointment lingering for me. I also didn't love the integration of Godfather's stories, which confused me and felt awkward or out of place, especially at the beginning.

Nonetheless I did enjoy this quite a bit and would recommend it to others! Overall I give it 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Palace of Illusions now.

Rowenna Miller wove together a stunning, enchanting world that blends fairytale and history in The Palace of Illusions. Taking place in early 1900s Paris, the story follows our protagonist Clara, a clockworker, who's tasked with helping build fantastical inventions for the world's fair. As she's working, she discovers a key from her Godfather that leads to a magical, alternate Paris matching the one in her Godfather's stories.

This book is for the girlies who live to sit and marinade in an atmospheric setting. It's much more character-driven than plot-driven, so I found it a bit slow and meandering at times. But if you live for immersive stories, you'll eat this one right up. It's got a little bit of romance, intrigue, danger, and tons of whimsical delight. Don't miss out!