After spending quite a while trying to decide where to start with this one, I'm going to try to split this review up two ways, based on the style and the content.

Stylistically, I find the prose in this collection absolutely decadent. Vanessa Fogg is unbearably talented; her sentences are tight and often spare, but with every single verb and adjective seemingly chosen to be as incisive and exquisite as possible. Her stories full of fragmented sentences that help to buoy along a sense of otherworldliness in both the Closer and Farther sections of the collection. I also often felt that her choice of language was tailored closely to the setting of each story, so that at no point was there a sense of disconnect between the world and the words being used to describe it.

Content-wise, I fear that I'm obsessed with every single story! Some of them were funny, some of them were tender, some of them were frightening ("Traces of Us" made me cry on the airplane; "Fanfiction for a Grimdark Universe" made me laugh out loud; "Sweetest" genuinely scared the crap out of me). And yet I think that at the core, all of them were bound together by this common thread of humanity.

The first half of the book, Closer Worlds, is dedicated mostly to stories that feel very firmly tethered to the world that we currently occupy. There are references to familiar places and people that give the stories a strong sense of being located somewhere in our timeline, not too far from us either in the future or the past. Even in the stories that don't name the setting (e.g. "Taiya"), the choice of words and the actions of the characters suggest something familiar even in its strangeness.

In contrast, the latter half of the book, Farther Worlds, is full of stories set in places totally outside the Earth we know, in fantastical worlds with demon kings and dolphin spirits and students of illusion. The language with which these stories are written make them feel rich with otherness, both in the descriptions of the magics and spirits and in the landscapes where the stories are taking place.

But whether or not the story is taking place in a distant world or a nearby one, the one thing that ties all of the stories together is this poignant exploration of the core desire to connect with each other and to find beauty even among the struggle and the suffering. I think at the end of the day if I were going to try to describe what this collection is about, that's what I would say. Each of the stories was a beautiful read on its own, but told together they really drive the message home.

If you, like me, are not usually a reader of short story collections, but you like speculative fiction and have an appreciation for well-crafted and beautifully-written prose, I would definitely recommend you give this collection a shot.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to read!

I was in desperate need for a good short story. This definitely hit the mark and I’m excited to have read my first book by this author. I love the world building and the character development and the stories were unique. Immediately at first, the plot had pulled me in and ended up reading it in one night. I enjoyed it :)

This book had a really cool idea with the world of magicians and secrets, but it didn’t quite pull me all the way in. The plot moved pretty slowly at times, and I found myself waiting for the story to pick up. The characters had potential but felt a bit flat, so I didn’t connect with them as much as I wanted to. Still, if you like magic and mystery, there are some fun moments here worth checking out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not usually a short story reader, as I tend to prefer long, immersive books that I can sink into. But The House of Illusionists surprised me. I picked it up because of the concept and cover, and I ended up reading the whole thing in a single sitting.

Some stories definitely resonated more than others, but even the ones that didn’t fully land still had something interesting going on. Vanessa Fogg’s writing has a kind of quiet beauty to it. Her prose is graceful and emotional without being showy, and there’s this steady undercurrent of feeling that pulls you along.

I read an ARC of this through NetGalley and went in without expectations. I left really impressed. If you enjoy speculative fiction that leans introspective and atmospheric rather than high-stakes or twist-heavy, this collection is worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC. 

This is a specilative fiction short story collection. The cover is really beautiful and was the reason I picked up this book. 

The stories in this have many different themes and writing styles so I think everyone will find something to love here. 

Some of the stories did leave me confused, but I did really like some of the other ones.

It is hard to review short story collections. Let me just sya that I typically read them over time. A story or two here and there until I've read the entire book. I did not do that with this one. I read story after story until I have finished the book. They are all good. Some are obviously going to be better than pothers but I think each person will have a different favorite. Mine is the second one. 4 Stars.

The House of Illusionist’s stories were such a delightful experience, filled with lush pros and rimming with magic. The characters we got to follow were so endearing and I appreciate how each story varies in themes while bringing something new to the table. They made me feel a range of emotions with tones of hopefulness, strength, and finding beauty in the messy parts of life. Each seamlessly mixed humanity and magic in ways that left me wanting to return to them. Definitely recommend!

These stories were written with such beautiful prose, the kind where you can feel the magic on the pages. The characters were a delight to follow. The stories ranged in themes and filled with atmospheric settings. There is a hopefulness throughout, of finding beauty in the dark and messy parts of life. The stories encompass strength, love, and humor in way that leaves you wanting more. This was beautifully done and something that you can return to again.
Thank you Netgalley and Interstellar flight press of this e-arc.