Cruel Illusions

 “Being immortal doesn't let you grow. All it does is let you lose pieces of yourself.”
Synopsis Ava's mother, a talented magician, was killed by a vampire, leaving Ava with a burning desire for vengeance. One night she finds a hidden club where she witnesses magic tricks that are impossible. The magicians reveal they are part of a society of real magic users who hunt vampires. They offer to take her on as an apprentice, but to join the society she will have to compete in a series of games for one of the limited places available to this year's apprentices.
“I feel sick and powerful all at once - like I could explode and have everything I've ever wanted.”
Tropes & Themes

• Magic
• Vampires
• Found family
• Love triange
• Secret society

“My mind is a scattered mess of revenge and death and pain and lust and some kind of matching brokenness between us.”

Content & Trigger Warnings

• Death
• Blood

“Killing him wouldn't make me forget how much I wanted his lips against mine. If it would, I might actually do it.

My Thoughts

• Interesting cast of characters
• Interesting world building and magic system
• Plot was interesting but there was a lot going on in the latter part of the book, could have been a bit longer and explored some of the reveals and history of the magicians and vampires more.
• I appreciated Ava's character arc, especially as concerns her issues and trauma surrounding family and belonging.
• The romance aspect is there but is not a major theme. The society and it's secrets, and Ava's journey to mastering her magic and surviving the games, is far and away the focus of the narrative.

It makes my guilt a living thing that grows like thorned vines inside me.