Published by: Greenwillow, May 19th 2015
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Steampunk, Alternative History (London)
Pages: 368
Format: Ebook
Source: Greenwillow, via Edelweiss
From the author of the acclaimed Entwined, a wholly original fantasy starring a dashing young apprentice scientist drawn into a world of adventure, fame, rebellion, and illusion. A dazzling journey that combines the evocative atmosphere of Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus with the sparkling wit of Gail Carriger’s Etiquette & Espionage.
Jonathan is perfectly ordinary. But then—those magic words at the beginning of every good adventure—the king swoops into port, and Jonathan and his father are enlisted to find the cure to a deadly plague. Jonathan discovers that he’s a prodigy at working with a new chemical called fantillium, which creates shared hallucinations—or illusions. And just like that, he’s knocked off his path. Through richly developed parallel worlds, vivid action, a healthy dose of humor, and gorgeous writing, Heather Dixon spins a story that is breathtaking and wholly original.
I LOVED this book, so much more than I ever expected to. The blurb on Goodreads doesn't give much away, the cover is lovely but could be about anything*, and I'd not read Heather Dixon's previous book. What Illusionarium delivered, to my utter surprise, was a complex, exquisitely original story of parallel universes, perilous time limits, and a desperate rush for one boy to save his family from certain death.
The characters in this book are brilliant and bright, and I loved them all in different ways. Jonathan, the main character, is a total dork - he's lovely, and lost, and utterly ordinary. I would have, admittedly, preferred the book to be from the POV of Lockwood because I absolutely adore him, but I did appreciate Jonathan. Lockwood though - he's kind of an asshole, brash, noble, driven, handsome, A KNIGHT; what's not to love? I was absolutely desperate for Jonathan/Lockwood to be canon, because they had such chemistry and a great relationship growth, but alas, no luck there. Still, a pretty perfect book.
Illusionarium is a wild, fun romp through an alternative, steam powered London with vivid characters and a dark, looming threat. (Also, a standalone that's actually a standalone, not a book tricking you into another series!!)
*speaking of the cover - it appears almost as a romance with the boy and girl, though the female must be the MC's sister, and if she's on the cover, Lockwood should be with them.
Characters ★★★★☆
Setting/world building ★★★★★
Writing ★★★★☆
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