Unexpected and utterly amazing,

I really don’t know where to start after reading Sarah Ready’s, My Dear Illusion, I can’t remember reading anything like it before and was captivated from the very first page to the last, it’s definitely one of my favourite books this year and I think probably just took a place in my top 10 books of all time,

The story follows Mari, who is a lockpick, a creature, a nine and in service to the rather unpleasant Jagger, in a world of illusion Mari has spent her entire life hiding from the conjurers when she is thrust in to their Hundred Year Games, a tournament that determines which conjuring family will rule the world for the next hundred years, whilst that little summary doesn’t explain the plot at all I really wouldn’t want to say much more in case I spoil anything but there is so much going on in this book!

I was drawn in because of the synopsis and I’d seen it tagged as a Romantasy, for me it isn’t like other books I’ve read that fall in that genre and it felt more like an urban, high fantasy, romance where the world building and plot come first with the romance being an undercurrent throughout but still a big part of the story.

This is a big book, crammed full of story, a lot of world building and lyrical, poetic descriptions and whilst some books that are heavy on the world building can bore me senseless, the combination of writing style, the plot, world, characters and the balance between everything was spot on for me, every time I picked it up I felt like I was pulled through a portal in to this magical world, and although it’s about conjurers and illusion it does feel like a magical world rather than being a world about magicians, there are also a lot of characters in this book and likeable or not I loved them all because of how well each one is written (and the wind ….❤️)

I think I spent most of this book with my brows drawn together in concentration purely trying to figure out what was going on, if you’re a fan of puzzling things out you’ll love this, I did manage to piece some of it together, many things I did not see coming or turning out the way they did, this is a book you need to pay attention to in case you miss something, it is unique and intriguing throughout beautiful and an emotional roller coaster at times. I can not wait for the next book.

Thank you to Sarah Ready, NetGalley and W.W Crown for an ARC in exchange for an honest review,

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sarah Ready has completely blown me away with My Dear Illusion. Darkly magical, razor-sharp, and utterly addictive, this book drops you headfirst into a world where nothing—and no one—can be trusted. Illusions twist reality at every turn, loyalties shift in a heartbeat, and the only rule is survival.

Mari Locke is one of the most compelling heroines I’ve read in a long time. Raised in Hell Gate and burdened with the rare power to unravel illusions, she’s tough, stubborn, and layered with vulnerability. Her seventh death launches her into the Hundred Year Games, a brutal, high-stakes competition where winning doesn’t just mean power—it means reshaping the world itself. The worldbuilding is breathtaking—shadowy conjurers, twisted illusions, and a Games arena that feels both mythic and terrifying.

And then there’s Finn. Half-human, half-conjurer, supposedly the weakest link in the Games—and yet he quickly proves to be so much more. The dynamic between Mari and Finn is riveting: enemies by design, allies by necessity, and drawn together by something neither of them fully understands. Their connection is slow-burning, tense, and heartbreakingly fragile because Mari’s mission is to betray him. That knife-edge balance of trust and deception had me flipping pages late into the night.

The writing itself is gorgeous—lyrical but sharp, with twists that truly shocked me. Just when I thought I knew what was real, another illusion shattered and left me questioning everything alongside the characters. This book doesn’t just play with fantasy—it plays with perception, morality, and the blurry line between truth and lies.

If you love The Hunger Games, Caraval, or stories where enemies-to-lovers tension simmers against a backdrop of danger and betrayal, My Dear Illusion is a must-read. Sarah Ready has created a masterpiece of fantasy romance that kept me spellbound from the very first line: “Life, my dear friend, is illusion.”

Unforgettable, haunting, and achingly romantic—easily one of my top reads of the year.

First, let me say that the romantasy books aren't usually my thing, even though a good story is a good story no matter what. I tried this huge book because I have loved everything I've read by Sarah Ready. This book shows exactly what she is capable of as a writer. The detail in describing this other world was incredible.

This wasn't an easy read for me. I usually read while watching TV and this book demands your entire attention, maybe even more so for me because I don't usually read this type of book. There are different family groups that have different abilities, lots of characters, and lots of twists and turns. There are also plenty of (uncomfortable for me) moments when a character is basically being tortured.

If you like romantic fantasy, long books, and not ever knowing what's going to happen, this book will be perfect. It's perfect if you just love really good writing.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the physical copy and the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

Have you ever read a book and wish you could write a review how well the author wrote the book, just to do the book justice? This is one of those books.

This book pulled me into this world and I didn't want to leave. It kept me guessing and I need book 2 now!!!

In a world where 4 families have the power of illusion and every 100 years, the families hold a competition to see who the new leader will be. And Mari is tasked to help Finn win, so she can steal the crown. But she has a secret, she can untangle illusions. And if anyone were to find out, it would mean her death.

This book made you question if you were predicting the next things to happen and who can and can not be trusted to the very end. And the ending left you with more questions. I can't wait to read book 2.

Okaaaaaaaaaay wow. This was unlike anything I’ve ever read!! The first 20% made me feel as though someone had spun me round blindfolded and then put me in this world, but it worked! I became attached to the characters and trying to work everything out. By the end I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and the ending!!!! I need book two immediately. I would absolutely recommend giving this world a go. The writing was descriptive and it is a big book, around 900 pages, but I could have read on longer and if I had book two now I would be starting right this minute.

As always, Sarah Ready grips you with her words and the stories she writes. Keep you reading wanting for more, for the truth to unravel while, at the same time, immersing you in the characters, their complexity, their inner fears, their hopes and so much more. This a powerful fantasy romance about conjurers, illusions, magic and tricks and a powerful love story. Mari, Finn and the side characters are key to the unfold even with the end, that keeps you looking forward to the second part. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy. This is my honest review.

My Dear Illusion is a beautifully crafted fantasy romance centred around a girl named Mari, who is a creature with nine lives and bound to serve Jagger in Hell Gate. Mari enters a hundred-year game, a task set by Jagger, alongside Finn, who is half human and half conjurer. Her task is to steal the crown from the winner of the game. This hundred-year game is organised by four conjurer families: the Smiths, Wards, Bards, and Clarks, who rule humans through the use of illusions. The outcome of the game will decide which conjurer family will rule the world for the next hundred years.

This book was such an exciting adventure. It’s packed with magic, action, secrets, betrayal and the right amount of tension to keep things interesting. It started a bit slow, so I needed some time to dive into the story. I loved that it was told from both Mari and Wind’s perspectives; Wind’s POV added a really powerful layer to the plot. I found myself totally invested in the storyline, especially the game and all the twists ahead. Mari and Finn’s chemistry was just delightful.

I really enjoyed how the author introduced the four conjurers’ families and described each character! The details in the plot were really clear, although I felt a few parts were a bit too detailed. Overall, I loved the magic system in the book.

The plot twist in the book, or it was not a twist, it was a tornado, it changed everything, it flipped the plot completely. The pacing was fast at the end, and the plot got even more intense, and the tension just kept rising. That cliffhanger at the end totally hooked me and left me eager for a sequel.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, can’t wait for book 2.

Wow! What a ride!
I enjoyed this book so much!. It did take me longer than usual to finish.

Be warned this book is huge!
So many pages! So many words! Don't even think you can rush this book because you might just miss some crucial detail.

I will not go into summarising the story because I may end up writing a novella.

I loved the un-understandable pull between Mari and Finn, how Finn's relationship with his half-brother Darin changed, the Wind..oh my gosh, sweet and sometimes naughty wind.
Jacob, Celia, Luvic, Justice, Griffin❤️
Did not care much for Ragnor or Last.

I will say, if you enjoy fantasy, active world building, questioning/guessing what will happen next, rooting for characters and training your persistence in attentive reading this book is for you!

I seriously can not wait for book two!!

Many thanks to Netgalley, author and W.W. Crown for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my thoughts.

Sarah Ready is my must read author and at this point, I am convinced that she can write just any genre expertly. For example, My Dear Illusion. It's a beautifully crafted fantasy romance with heavy philosophical vibes and packed with suspense and action. And she executed is as brilliantly as her rom com or contemporary romance or paranormal mixed contemporary romance. I have read them all and my obsession with her powerful writing only grows with each one.

It's hard to talk about this book without giving spoilers. But you have to patient with this one and you will know later why all the convoluted musing and threads of plans. It will all make sense, I promise. Well, may be not all as this ends with a massive heartbreaking cliffhanger that left me a sobbing mess. You will miss all the beauty if you don't go on till the end as its only beginning of the chaos in the world of the Conjurers.

Four Conjurer family( Smith, Bard, Clark and Ward) rule this world behind the curtains with their illusions Every 100 years, a new king is crowned from a new family by a game set by the families. Mari is a lockpick and a nine. A creature owned by Jagger, the Leggerock who is vicious and cruel. She is on her last life and after that she becomes mine. A creature without any choice Her last chance to freedom is to help Finn Alterra, a Solange addict and a bustard Smith, to win the game where he will participate as paladin for his brother Darin. But is Finn really the useless fumbling fool on edge of Free Fall? Why does he stir things in her those she cannot understand? What will be their fate?

It's a reminder of Hunger Games but here all the families are powerful and rich. Each has their unique power and strength. It's full of mind games as illusions control everything here. There are power plays, betrayal, sabotage, unlikely alliances and friends turning enemies. It has a big caste of characters and I was soaking everything up. The heirs are all very intriguing. The games are epic and out of this world. In every page, Mari unlocks some new secret but by the end,,its you who will be unraveling inside Finn comes across as this lazy unbothered dreamy addict but you can see he has layers. Like Mari unties the knots of the illusions, the author unties every plot twist she has put here and I was lost in the thrill and the glory. Mari and Finn seems impossible. But they also feel inevitable. You will feel the angst and heartache pouring out from the star crossed lovers but its not until the very end, the enormity will hit you and knock the breath out of you. I fell hard for Mari. For her pain , her heartache, her vulnerabilities, her strength, her resilience..And I fell hard for Finn. For his beauty, his cunningness, his determination, his devotion..And I fell harder for their fated love. I also became obsessed with this greedy dangerous fantastical world of cojurers. The brilliant thing about the story is I was equally invested in the secondary characters! Like Luvic Bard. Celia Bard. Jacob Ward. This story has my heart in an unbreakable grip and I will be dreaming about it for a long time. The writing is poetic and nostalgic and chilling at the same time. And you have to hold on to your dear life while you read it.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

Twenty-two-year-old Mari Locke grew up in Hell Gate, a place for lost souls in New York City. While many fear the darkness of Hell Gate, Mari has always believed the conjurers to be far worse. She herself is different: she possesses the rare ability to untie illusion, which makes her both powerful and hunted. Her life takes a dramatic turn on the night of her seventh death, when she is forced into the Hundred Year Games, a brutal, high-stakes competition that determines which conjurer will rule the world for the next century. Her entry ticket is Finn Alterra, a half-human, half-conjurer with little chance of winning. Mari’s mission is clear: get him to victory, steal the crown, and kill him. Yet, as the games unfold, Mari begins to question what is real, who can be trusted, and whether she can carry out her deadly task when her heart is on the line.
This was a dark, richly imagined fantasy that kept me turning pages. Sarah Ready has created a vivid world, full of atmosphere and danger, and I especially enjoyed how well the many characters were described. Despite the large cast, the pacing was strong and the Games themselves were gripping. That said, I did find the book a little long, and the ending felt somewhat simplified compared to the level of detail earlier in the story. While I loved Ready’s Ghosted series for its strong romance, I didn’t quite feel the same emotional pull between Mari and Finn here.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.75 ⭐'s rounded up….This book is so long. I literally spent time glued to my chair just digesting this book. I am not familiar with Sarah Ready's work as this was a first one for me. The world building is extensive and at times overshadowed the characters to where they almost got lost in the world. This was almost too much for me to continue but I really wanted to see where the characters went so I had to keep going. This took me about a month to finish because I had to take breaks and read other things.

Be prepared this book gives you some twists and turns at the end that honestly left me a little angry because now I have to wait for who knows how long to get the next one. I definitely need to get that 2nd book pronto.

The characters are intriguing and the politics keep you invested to understand the complexities of the world. It was a really good time. I think the most unusual but very informative character was the Wind which is strange but it just completely works in this world.

Thank you NetGalley and W.W. Crown, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for the advanced copy. All my opinions are my own.

Spoiler Free

My Dear Illusion by Sarah Ready
Fantasy Romance

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, and I did try to push through, but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me. The writing and worldbuilding were undeniably beautiful—at times even lush—but also occasionally excessive. While I appreciate rich, detailed settings, the pacing and plot never quite gripped me enough to keep going without frequent breaks.

This was my first Sarah Ready novel, and although this one wasn’t a match for me, I’m still interested in exploring her other works. By chapter 11, I found myself struggling. The prose often felt overly descriptive, almost as if every possible adjective had been pulled from a thesaurus, which sometimes pulled me out of the story rather than immersing me in it. The first few chapters could have easily been condensed, and I think the book would have been stronger if it had been trimmed to around 300 pages.

I also didn’t feel invested in the Hundred Year Games storyline, which made it harder to stay engaged. However, I really enjoyed the character of Mari Locke—she was by far my favourite part of the novel. If the story had focused more on her, I think I would have enjoyed it much more.

Overall Takeaway: A beautifully written fantasy romance with vivid worldbuilding, but weighed down by overly descriptive prose, slow pacing, and an underwhelming main plot. Worth considering if you love immersive settings and don’t mind a slower burn, especially if you’re curious to meet the standout character, Mari Locke. While this one didn’t fully work for me, I’m interested enough to read the next book in the series.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5 stars)

Thank you so much @ @ for my review copy. These are my thoughts:

Thank you Netgalley, the Publisher and Sarah Ready for my review copy. These are my thought:

This book was a complete surprise and also the longest book I’ve read this year.

This is not a light, straightforward fantasy. The writing is beautiful and expertly used to convey illusion. The atmosphere is dark and dangerous and the stakes are high. I had to power through the first 30% of the book. The worldbuilding is detailed but is also done throughout the story, as we learn more about each of the characters (and there are quite a lot of them) and what lies beneath the surface with each of them and their Conjurer families.

I was invested and curious to find out what was going to happen to Mari. I felt that the first 30% were very dense and “cloudy”. Nothing was as it seemed. Everyone was keeping secrets and held their cards close to their chests. They were all aiming to win the ultimate prize - complete power, so all was game. As each game progressed, I felt the “shadows lift” and the plot become, somewhat clearer. But of course, since illusions were the name of the game here, things could go south very quickly. And so they did. I was not expecting what I found in the last 20% of the book. The plot twists and the heartache. The story unraveled quickly and it was brilliant.

I was expecting Sarah to bring back her whimsical writing from her Ghosted series. But I found that this was more poetic than whimsical, since this world was dark, dangerous and deadly. I loved the passages that talk of love. In those instances, Sarah’s writing is gorgeous. The love story is simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking.

I don’t think this will be for everyone but it is an intriguing story that if you “vibe” with it, will suck you in and leave you wanting more.

I also think this series would work very well as an audiobook and in that case, I believe more readers would be likely to pick this up and enjoy it.

This is the sort of book that requires the reader to have time. I feel it should be read at a leisurely pace and not binged - unless you really can’t stop. It took me 11 days to finish.

I’m very curious to see how the story unfolds in book 2.

My Dear Illusion marks Sarah Ready’s first venture into romantic fantasy, and it is a striking departure from her previous works. This time, she takes us into a world where Mari Locke—a young woman with the rare ability to untie illusions—is paired with Finn, a half-conjurer and half-human, to compete in the deadly Hundred Year Game. The rules are brutal, the stakes are higher than life itself, and Mari faces an impossible choice: kill Finn to save herself and the world… or push past her convictions and the deceptive magic of the Games to decide what is real and what is illusion.

Where do I even begin?

The worldbuilding is one of the most intricate I’ve encountered in a while. From the very first pages, it is everywhere—front, back, and center—layered with detail upon detail. At first, I was awed by the sheer imagination and craft behind it. The illusion-based magic system, in particular, was wonderfully fresh, unique, and genuinely intriguing. I loved how it allowed the lines between reality and fantasy to blur in a way that made even the reader question what was true.

But as the chapters went on, the richness of the world began to overshadow the plot and characters. Every page was dense with description and lore, and while that will absolutely appeal to some fantasy readers, I found it difficult to stay anchored to the main narrative. There is a compelling plot in My Dear Illusion, but you have to be patient—and willing to dig through the thick layers of prose—to find it.

For me, the last 20% of the book was the most engaging. Things finally tightened up; the pacing sharpened, the tension heightened, and the stakes felt immediate. The twists that landed in those final chapters were enough to pique my interest for the sequel—and to make me curious about where Ready might take the story next.

When it came to the characters, I genuinely liked Mari, Finn, Celia, Jacob, and Jagger. Ready gives them distinctive personalities and solid arcs of growth. Mari and Finn’s connection is a slow burn, and while there are obvious signs of mutual respect and attraction as the book progresses, I personally didn’t feel the kind of spark I was expecting from a romantasy.

And that brings me to perhaps my biggest sticking point: the romance. This book is marketed as a romantasy, but it read far more like an urban fantasy to me. In a true romantasy, the romance is front and center, with the worldbuilding and overarching plot serving as the backdrop. Here, the reverse felt true—worldbuilding came first, then plot, with romance taking a distant third place. There was no meet-cute moment to hook me into Mari and Finn’s relationship early on. By the time the romantic tension started to build, it felt a little too late for me to buy into the emotional stakes.

In fact, I found more chemistry in the side dynamics—particularly the interactions between the Wind, Jacob, and Celia—which ended up being some of my favorite moments in the entire book.

That said, if you view My Dear Illusion purely as a fantasy novel, it absolutely works. The tone is lush, grim, and glamorous, with deadly trials, murderous creatures, glittering balls, and dangerous magical duels. It’s an atmospheric, high-stakes adventure that doesn’t shy away from danger or beauty.

Final thoughts: As a romantasy, My Dear Illusion didn’t fully land for me—the romance lacked the emotional immediacy and tension I wanted. But as a fantasy with a unique magic system, rich worldbuilding, and a slow-burn partnership at its core, it’s an ambitious and imaginative start to a series with plenty of room to grow. I’ll be watching to see how the next book balances the heart and the world.

3 - 3.5 Stars

Rating 3 - 3.5 Stars!

"I'll be your villain. I'll be your hero. But either way, I promise, I'll be yours."

My Dear Illusion is an intriguing and complex fantasy novel from author Sarah Ready. As a fan of her contemporary writing, I knew I had to jump at the chance to read a new genre from her.

My Dear Illusion is a unique and compelling story. The world-building is intense, complicated, and a little overwhelming at times. It kind of reminded me of the movie Inception, but with magical themes. The reader is left in a massive web of mystery, wondering what is real. What is an illusion? And just when you think you know what's happening, the rug gets pulled out from under you.

As far as pacing goes, for the most part, this book is on point. But at 900+ pages, it's a beast of a book. The page count definitely intimidated me, and there was definitely a lull between 50 - 70%, but the pacing does pick back up. The last 20% was a roller-coaster ride, filled with all kinds of emotion and twists. Definitely kept me on my toes.

Overall, I thought this book was an enjoyable read. It was intriguing, complex, and refreshing. There was even a bit of a slow-burning romance. This book does end on a cliffhanger, which leaves you wanting more. However, I do feel that the world-building, pacing, and length of the book will be intimidating to most readers.

I suppose it makes sense that this author has moved from rom-com to magical realism and now into full-blown romantasy. And it works: the result is a detailed and compelling world of conjurers and creatures cleverly integrated into human history, and two central characters in Mari and Finn that you want to root for even though you’re continually wondering where the next twist is going to take them. It took me a while to get into this - there’s a lot of explanatory world building up front, and then a lot to keep track of in what’s a very long book. (Could it have been shorter? Probably. Would the buildup and eventual payoff have been as effective? Probably not.) Everything is illusion, as Mari states from the beginning, and the third-person chapters from the wind’s point of view shows that there’s a lot going on beyond her ability to see and dismantle those illusions. Clues are delicately scattered throughout- some I correctly deciphered, some I didn’t, but they provide the foundation for a heartwrenching conclusion that has the feel of setting up the chess board for whatever comes next. Full of lush language, complicated characters and a variety of settings from grittily urban to richly rural, this is a book that’s well worth getting lost in. Just be aware that things are never as they seem…

I really wish this wasn't a DNF at 35% for me, and I tried so so so hard to push through. I think the writing and the worldbuilding were beautiful, albeit at times a little excessive, but the plot just wasn't something that was engaging enough for me to continue with, unfortunately. I've not read any of Sarah Ready's books prior to this one; however, it has not put me off and I am keen to go and explore some of her other works.

This book... it took forever for me to finish. It's not that it wasn't a good book. I really enjoyed it, but it was very long. I felt like the book could have been at least 300 pages shorter and still give me the full story and I likely would have given it 5 stars instead of 4.

The world building and history was so detailed it became a bit much even for me and I love love love good world building. A lot of the time it felt like the world building was more important than the characters and plot, which was disappointing because I absolutely loved the plot itself and the characters.

The plot is compelling and full of mystery if you can get past the lengthy world descriptions. I loved the illusion-based magic system and the idea of illusions made real. I loved the idea of the "underdog" having to compete against those with the magic in trials to see who would hold the crown and be in charge of all conjurers for the next 100 years. The trials themselves were interesting. The ending was absolutely perfect and has me on the edge of my seat! It had plot twists I didn't see coming and was full of tension and the ending has me wanting to read the next book despite the overwhelming world building in this one.

The characters were also varied and interesting. Each one is very different from the other and all of them are unreliable in their own ways which I thought was pretty neat. It's told from the perspective of Mari and "the wind" when telling the bits of the story Mari isn't present for. The idea of the wind being sentient was a cool concept and one I hadn't encountered before that I could appreciate. I loved how the wind kind of tied all the characters together and had it's own motivations and preferences for which of the characters it liked to be around the most.

If you're looking for a romance heavy romantasy, this is not that book. While it does have romance, it felt more like an Urban Fantasy than a romance. Which is fine for me because I like all kinds of fantasy, but if you're expecting a romance forward book, this will be a disappointment. I didn't feel the romantic tension between the main characters at all. If anything it gave me friends or found family vibes more than romance. However, it felt like a really good fantasy book. The overall vibes of the book were dark but full of glamour, magic, and mystery.

My many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this as an ARC! While I did receive an ARC copy, all thoughts and opinions are, as ever, my own.

Ready has created an absolute breathtaking book filled with illusion, trust, power & even love! Every emotion rolls through the reader & conjurers can capture your heart. I found myself becoming so invested in each character as they danced around each other in the Hundred Year Games. I spent just as much time trying to put all the connections together between the characters including the wind. Ready has an overwhelming talent of pulling the reader into a world so mysteriously complex and still so simple.
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Four conjuring families representing North, East, South or West. The Smiths, The Wards, The Clarks & The Bards. And something worse: Hell Gate. Jagger's prison if you live there. Each family has loyalty, secrets & special conjuring powers.

Mari, Finn, Jacob, Luvic & Darin appear to hold nothing but mystery, illusion & maybe darkness, but find their light. Last, Primus, Jagger bring nothing but evil. Justice rips at your soul. Celia, Ragnor & the conjurer families have you teetering back & forth. But the wind is special. Pay close attention to the wind; you will want to know the secrets it holds.

Ready has carefully constructed a world testing what we believe is real or illusion. "Trust no one. No one. Except. Trust me." I highly recommend reading this book to find out.

LOVE!
I read the description, requested it and then fell in love!
The storyline is so unique and I really love it!
There is such a depth to all of the characters, the world building and the plot. My Dear Illusion is fantastically written. It is emotive and eloquent and paints beautiful pictures in your mind as you read.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of descriptions and a lot of dialogue. But personally? I can get behind it because the concept and the characters are so well done. Also, the book is considered a Romantasy and I don’t think that is necessarily an accurate description. Yes it has romance and yes it has fantasy. But I would put it more firmly in a fantasy/paranormal category than Romantasy.
It is a long book, but so worth it!