Elusion

Elusion #1

by Claudia Gabel, Cheryl Klam

Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Mystery

382 pages, Hardcover

First published March 18, 2014

Reviews

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actual rating: 1.5

Even though I have way more important things to be concerned with than a kiss, that moment is replaying itself over and over again in my thoughts.

Oh, for fuck's sakes, girl. Get your head together.

This was not an outrageously terrible book, but it was completely insipid. At no point in the book did I ever find the main character to be anything other than incompetent and unreasonable. The plot leaves much to be desired, mainly because the main character's actions and thoughts make little sense, the main character has these wild suspicions, and naturally, the book is written in a way to make the events unfold to her advantage, but to the reader, it is completely improbable.

The main character is a girl who is helpless, who gets pulled in easily, who believes in mad conspiracy theories. Regan is a girl who would overthrow a lifetime of friendship and the bonds of family for a handsome stranger. Needless to say, there is insta-love and a love triangle, the most clichéd one in the world, between a handsome, golden-haired best friend and a dark, mysterious stranger whom she is determined to trust against all reason.

Is world building completely optional in YA dystopia these days? Whatever happened to weaving together an interesting, plausible background? You can't just throw terms at me and expect me to know what it is. You can't just tell me that this is how the futuristic US is without telling me how we got to this point. Where's the context?! The "hacking" is completely fucking dumb. The "future" is completely unexplained.

The Summary:

The rest of my fellow travelers are all someplace else—a world with no pain, no concerns, and no stress; an enchanting, make-believe world that exists solely in their minds.

The drug of the future is not cocaine, it's not heroin, it's not methamphetamine. It is Elusion. Elusion is a technology invented by Regan Welch's late father, a technology that transports the user to a virtual world, free of pain, full of bliss. Serotonin levels in the brain are enhanced. It creates a feeling of euphoria in an enchantingly beautiful world, all within one's mind. It can create numerous scenarios, from a Thai resort paradise, to outer space.

The planets, moons, and stars—is completely astounding. Luminous yellows, greens, and reds come together like large blotches of oil paint mixing together on a blue-black canvas. Pinpricks of glowing white light are scattered everywhere.

It is beautiful...and it is highly addictive.

Regan's childhood best friend, Patrick, is now in charge of developing the technology, and he is now prepared to launch the Elusion app to the entire United States. Not everyone is happy about this. There are rumors of its dangers, an outspoken vlogger has long spouted conspiracy theories about Elusion.

“She said that there’s an object or something inside the program that’s threatening users’ lives.”

And this vlogger is not alone. At a party, Regan meets a tall, handsome stranger.

His sandy-colored hair is cut close to his scalp, making his cheekbones stand out as much as his amber-tinted eyes.
Military academy. No doubt about it.

Josh isn't a stranger to Patrick. They clearly have a bad history together, Josh claims that Patrick is up to something bad. Patrick says Regan can't trust Josh. It's their words against each other.

Something strange is going on with Elusion technology, no doubt about that, and Patrick wants Regan to keep quiet about it until he figures it out.

And don’t tell anyone what happened until I figure things out—not even your mom. You have to promise me.”

Josh thinks Patrick is hiding a secret that could help him find his sister. He wants to know the secret.

[Josh] exhales and says, “Tell me everything.”
As the wind outside continues to howl, I tell him.

Who can Regan trust?!11!?!one! Is it her best friend, the one with whom she shared entire life, an entire childhood?

When Patrick and I were in elementary school, my father used to spoil us with treats from Mo’s every Friday. After our hands became sticky with frosting or glaze, Patrick would chase me around my house, trying to tickle me.

Or will she trust the handsome stranger, the one who almost killed a man?!

“He hit a guy and got sent to military school. I know. He told me.”
“Hit a guy?” Patrick says, sarcastically. “He almost killed someone, Ree. Beat up a kid so badly he was in the hospital for three days.”
I snort at the accusation. It seems so exaggerated.

Hit a guy. Killed someone. Same thing, really. The two words are like right next to each other on the keyboard.

What Setting?: There is absolutely no background in this book. The book takes place in Detroit. For those of you not living in the US, Detroit is like the toilet seat of America. It is a horribly broken city. It is filled with slums, gangs, there is a lot of racial tension. There are skyscrapers, yeah, but what you don't see is that most of the skyscrapers and business buildings are abandoned. The city is bankrupt. It currently looks like this.



And this.



So how the fuck did we get from that, to...this.

I gaze through the slight film of mildew covering the glass surface, looking out at Detroit’s industrial skyline on the other side of the channel. I can actually make out all the architectural details of the high-rises—the antiquated neo-Gothic and art deco designs mixed in with more modern cylinder-style layouts; the narrow spires and old Corinthian columns and pilasters.

This book takes place in the future. We don't know how far in the future. We don't know how we got here. We don't know what the fuck Florapetro is. Florapetro. Florapetro. Florapetro. The word is constantly mentioned throughout the book, yet there's not an entirely clear explanation to what it actually is. I'm tempted to think it's some kind of biofuel based on how it was presented, but dude, if you're going to constantly refer to something polluting the air and powering cars, I'd like a little fucking background. We have acid rain. The air quality is so bad that people are forced to wear O2 masks whenever they're outside.

It’s a negative ten, which means this area is a currently a red zone, so O2 shields are highly recommended.

HOW DID IT GET TO THIS POINT, WILL SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME SOME FUCKING BACKGROUND?

The H4X0RS: The futuristic technology is just implausible. So let's see, we have the Elusion technology broadcasted through a visor, which plugs into your brain waves and stimulates your brain chemistry so that you can be wholly immersed into a virtual world...and we still have some ancient-ass computing technology without much explanation on how it's updated? Motherboards, servers, firewalls. Awesome, but we have all that right NOW.

This book's technology is completely unimpressive. For one thing, people still watch movies through AVI files and music through WAVs. That's fine, these technology are like paper. They're essential. What should have made them realistic and feel believable in a futuristic setting such as this needs work. It's like paper, we will always use paper to write on, but 1000 years ago, did we have ballpoint pens with which to write on them? No! Give me some technology update. Make up something! Don't give me some ancient technology and expect me to believe that it's the future!

Oh, and a firewall? It's an actual fucking wall. That eats people.

I watch, helpless, frozen in place as he is taken away from me, sucked into the fuzzy gray wall as though he is being eaten alive by an insidious monster.

Hacking? Oh my god. This is the TV version of hacking. The completely unrealistic version of hacking when a few fucking commands of code will get you into a top-secret security system.

-Icon is up.
-Type in //reboot// then press //Alt+Command//

It worked.

A few seconds tick by; then Josh responds.
-Do generalized programming search, using this code //1r3c70rY5020//

-No luck.

-Try this advanced search //4DV4NC3D 534RC|-|5020//*

Suddenly rows and rows of file names start piling up on the screen.

I text Josh right away.
-Pay dirt.
-Shit yeah!

* because 1337 sp34k totally works for HACKING. I don't think so...

Regan: Regan isn't the type of person I want to be a friend, or a family member. For one thing, she has no fucking loyalty. She is fuckle as fuck. She is the type of person who will allow herself to be won over by a pretty face, by the flutterings of her own heart. This is insta-love at its mindless, between Regan and Josh.

I have the exact same stunned yet overstimulated feeling I had after the demonstration at Orexis yesterday. My fingers are hot and tingling, like I just burned them on a boiling kettle. I’m standing here, staring at him again, wondering why I find it so hard to say something, or even move.

Unlike the mysterious Josh, Regan has known Patrick her entire life. They grew up together, Patrick was her father's protegé. They have laughed together, they've shared secrets. They are best friends. Regan starts feelings...suspicious towards Patrick, and from then on, it's all downhill. Everything Patrick does is interpreted to be a sign of DOOM, no matter how innocuous. She is determined to find faults with everything Patrick does, she never listens to her instincts about him.

But I plant my feet firmly on the floor, refusing to give in to these feelings of doubt. As much as I care about Patrick I simply don’t think I can trust him to tell me what’s going on.

Whereas the beloved Josh, the stranger whom she barely knows, is to be trusted against all reason. His word is her command.

Josh reaches into his pocket and pulls out his tab, holding it firmly in his hand and gazing at me as if he’s standing by for an order. “I think I could track one down in a few hours.”
Without even thinking—about betraying Patrick, or breaking the law—I say, “Do it.”

She goes against her own instincts. Everything Josh does is interpreted in a good light. Nothing seems suspicious, Josh can explain away anything, and Regan will buy his word.

“He’s using your father’s computer.” Josh finishes my sentence, his eyes brightening. “A three-panel quantum with touch recognition. Am I right?”
I recoil from him a little bit, mostly because I’m freaked out by how precise his guess was. “How’d you know that?”
“Patrick likes to brag. Told me all about it at the party,” he explains.

Josh could be a killer. Regan refuses to believe it.

He pushes up his sleeves, and I take a nice, long look at his toned forearms and large hands. I see what he’s getting at, but again, it’s hard to picture Josh as a threat, even after what he’s told me about his past.

Regan is absolutely determined to paint Patrick in a bad light and I just can't see it. I can't see the evidence to distrust Patrick. Patrick's explanations make perfect sense to me, and yet Regan sees it as an attempt of his to turn her against Josh.

“Yeah, like the second he feels I’m not taking him seriously, he goes and befriends you. Don’t you think that’s a little suspicious?”
Patrick knows me so well. He’s aware of all my insecurities.

Everything Patrick does is viewed as a "blatant manipulation." Uh, not to me.

Regan's priorities are just fucked up. She and Josh mess up a mission because they kissed, and Regan is more concerned about his feelings towards the kiss than the fact that their mission failed.

The message of this book: it's fine to trust a stranger if he's good-looking.

Best of all, I have someone by my side. Someone who I really want to trust—and who looks amazing in a thick winter coat.

[Melanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads

1.5 stars

DNF

I had to DNF Elusion at 86%. Sure, there was only a tiny section of the book left but I just could not bear it any longer. Apart from a  refreshing idea, I can not wring out any other points which made Elusion an antithetically good book.

Elusion probably failed most in creating three-dimensional characters that were strong, thoughtful and likable. This book's main character, Regan, was neither strong, smart or a tolerable protagonist. Throughout this read, I kept on wondering whether this chick had a brain at all. She starts doubting her best friend that she's known since a small age and believes in a guy who knocked up a fellow school mate horribly and has only known her for a few days. Pray tell; where is the logic in this reasoning? Just because he's good looking doesn't  mean you can trust him and start going around questioning your best friend's motives. Sure, Patrick did a few fishy things but no way in hell does that mean you can flip your opinion on him so quickly. It is absolutely obscure.

My second criticism is the truancy of the world building. If you want to write a compelling dystopian, my number one piece of advice is to ensure you have some world building so we readers have a rough idea of what this world your writing about looks like, how it became the way it was and how things work. I loved the tech talk, that does cloud in with the world building but not enough for me to comprehend everything that was going on.

Furthermore, the romance. I just. No. There is instant love, a slight love triangle between her best friend, Patrick, and the new mysterious but hot guy, Josh. (TOTALLY did not see that coming.) I did not see the point of any of it. Why should there be a romance here? WHY. The idea the authors had would have perfectly sufficed. Mild spoiler ahead. Patrick nearly kisses Regan. Why does he decide to show his emotions to her now when she just met another guy. It is the same thing that happens in a lot of books and I never get the logic in it. Sure, the author(s) might want to create another plot line but it's like a freaking universal thing that all authors must abide to now. End spoiler. 

Lastly, this book contains the same tropes like most other YA books do. There's a love triangle, new, hot dude, best friend who might have share different feelings towards the MC, there's a glitch and a secret in the system, there's someone who you thought was dead but actually turns out to not be dead. The list goes on. It's saddening, as then I saw most of the twists coming before I even started this book. (Exaggeration, but you get what I mean.)

All in all, Elusion was a disappointing novel despite a once again gorgeous cover. Please use your time somewhere else.

~Thank you Katherine Tegen for sending me this copy!~

[Debby · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star

*sigh* *whimpers* Elusion, I wanted to love you so badly. I put you on my most anticipated reads list for 2014 and... it didn't work out. It just didn't. I did not get along with this book.

So Elusion is a science fiction semi-dystopia in which this new technology, Elusion, allows people to escape their daily reality and go into a virtual idyllic world to relax and find their literal happy place. Our main character, Regan, is the daughter of the inventor of Elusion - although her father has since died and passed the company on to her prodigy best friend, Patrick. As Elusion is taking off and more and more people are in love with the product, it becomes apparent that all is not as it seems. Elusion might be bad for people.

Basically what made me so excited for this book, aside from the beautiful cover, is this idea of virtual worlds. I know it's been toyed with in a lot of sci-fi, so it may not have been the most original story, but as long as it was done well, I would love it. Because, actually, I haven't found one that's done it well yet. Well... I obviously need to continue my search. Quickly it becomes clear that Elusion's science/technology side and the world building suffers from a lack of research. Terms from our world, what we already know today, are used out of context and incorrectly. I may not be a computer/internet wizard, but this is not how this stuff works. If you want to use contemporary tech and science terms, at least make sure it's well researched. The world building hinged on your suspension of disbelief, but I couldn't let it go. Especially not when, at one point, Regan is hacking into a computer and apparently can find the files she needs, which should be marked by the code 5020, by using the following commands:

//4DV4NC3D 534RC|-|5020//
//EyE Am ph33|1n6 |u(ky5020//



I'm sorry, WHAT?! The last one ACTUALLY WORKED and found the files she needed. You've got to be freaking kidding me. At that point, this whole book went down the toilet for me. Seriously. I briefly considered whether this was a placeholder that would be changed in the final copy, and I dearly hope so, but I doubt it and that pisses me off. No. Just no.

The rest of the plot didn't really help. Elusion's technology works as a kind of hypnosis that triggers your body to produce more endorphins than normal. And some people are smart enough to realize think that this means it is addictive! Wow. How surprising, right? But then the company and Regan vehemently deny this. Nooo way your body producing positive chemicals would be addictive. *headdesk* It was so obvious, seriously. Never surprising at all. Most of the plot hinges on people running away in the middle of conversations. Every time. They're talking about something, it gets to touchy subjects, they run away, Regan despairs about not getting all the answers. The ending continues this. It was the most stupid place to stop ever. Practically nothing is explained, and the story just ends. I am not amused.



And now you may thing, yeah, this technology sounds obviously addictive, so there would have to be some regulation about that, right? Right. Well. A lot of the struggles the company faces in the book is to get some "CIT" approval to be able to roll out Elusion to the whole of the US. But it's already out in three test cities. The whole novel I was wondering... how did they even get it to test markets? Seriously, this sounds horrifically addictive, how did THAT happen? Near the end of the book, it comes out that after the company first submitted the product for approval, within 24 hours the CIT reviewed the documents and let them do the test markets. I... no. No. NO. The world does not work like this.



But obviously, as indicated by the blurb, which I should have paid way more attention to, Elusion is also rather romance heavy. In fact, we get a LOVE TRIANGLE. WHEEEE. We all know how much I love those. This love triangle, however, is particularly stupid. It is devoid of all chemistry. On one side we have possessiveness, and on the other side we have instalove. Regan clearly falls on one side, so it was pretty pointless. But still the boys fight over her like she's the best thing since sliced bread. I don't get why, because she hardly displays any personality.

The main romance made me cringe. It was straight out of the chapter of how to get Debby to NOT ship your romance.

But there's something about Josh - with his slightly asymmetrical face and the small gap in his teeth and the barely there hair - that makes it impossible for me to get his image out of my mind. - Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam

That's... not attractive. Nope. Nope nope nope. I don't want to sound superficial and "all about the looks" but what the fuck is this? That is not a dreamy dream boat guy. And maybe it would be refreshing to have a romantic interest that's not a supermodel - but then it's hard to accept it when Regan raves like he's the most handsome guy in the history of ever.

The romance continues to be disgusting when they have one kiss that is rather devoid of all chemistry and literally talks about him sticking his tongue in her mouth. Wow. That sounds so desirable. No feels from this romance. What irritates me the most, however, is how the romance is the dominant part of the story at the most awkward of times. I mean, there's this whole running conspiracy theory about Elusion that Regan is investigating together with Josh, and Regan claims to be suspicious of a lot of people and events. At a certain point, she's discussing some theories with Josh, and in the middle of one of her aloud strains of thought about who they could trust and who's plotting what, the following happens:

"Nothing. Just forget it."
There's a brief moment where it seems like he's going to lean in and kiss me, but he reclines instead, slouching down so he can rest his head on the back of the sofa. I'm disappointed, but I can't really blame him for missing his cue. He's hanging on by a thread. - Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam

WHAT. THE. FUCK. GIRL. What cue? What signal? You were in the middle of a dark discussion about suspicions! Get your priorities straight! It would have been weird if he had kissed you! That was so NOT THE RIGHT TIME. This freaking romance. Ughhhhhh.



It's really hard to care about a story when you hate all of the characters. So indeed, after the worldbuilding, plot, and romance already struck out for me, the characters could not make up for it. There were hardly personalities to be noted, but I was all right with them, for the most part... Until, at around 70%, the story went completely to shit.

Avery, the tough girl bitch, bursts out in tears within two minutes. Patrick, who supposedly loves Regan, yells at her and acts like a right prick. Josh keeps things from her which she then forgives in about ten seconds because, what the hell, he's just so pretty. Her mother, who was in a near catatonic state at the beginning of the book, has miraculously recovered and gets on Regan's case for not communicating with her - as if she's the parent of the year. She admits to some faults, but seriously, overnight she went from near-comatose to full-time working, contributing member of society, and I'm not buying it. Regan herself completely manipulates Patrick's feelings for her and strings him along like a right bitch. And at a certain point, Regan gets injured and it reads as if it's a small scratch or something (no screaming in pain) and later it appears she's bleeding through her bandages, and Josh should leave her behind.

SO MANY INCONSISTENCIES. Maybe this is because of the two authors, that they weren't in sync enough, but the end result is that I just don't care about any of it.



Summing Up:

Clearly this book didn't work for me on any level. Nope. The best I can say for it is that I liked the beginning and how the virtual worlds were described. But that's about it. There were way too many flaws, and I could not suspend my disbelief. This romance can go to hell. And I'm going to go cry, because I was so ready to pre-order a copy and have this LOVELY cover on my shelves, but that's definitely not going to happen now.

GIF it to me straight!




*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect the rating or content of the review.... clearly.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought Elusion was a mind-blowing start to a series. I really on 't undersand all the negative reviews I've read about it. Did it have flaws? Yes. Did they keep me from really enjoying the story. No way!

What I loved about it?
-the plot.It's full of mystery and full of conspiracies. I couldn't stop reading. I just wanted to know what was going on and who I could trust.
-I wouldn't say I loved him but I was intrigued by Patrick.

What didn't work for me:
-there was information overload at times.
- the impression of dejà-vu I had many times while reading the book. A lot of things reminded of other books. The concept: Under the never sky by Veronica Rossi, Josh: Chase from Article 5 by Kristen Simmons, Patrick: Warner of Shatter me from Tahereh Mafi and I coup keep going. That being said, I thought the plot was quite original.
-The main characters( Egan, Patrick and Josh) weren't developed enough in my opinion. We do lear a lot about them but almost everything we learn is related to the plot of the books. And all the relationships( friends, romances, families, enemies) were built around the plot. Everthing in this book is connected to Elysion, it's almost like ever character of this book doesn't have a life outside Elusion( well, I guess it i the case for one of them but there is no way that Elusion is th only thing the characters think or talk about. I hope we will get to know the characters beter in the rest of the series.

Overall, Elusion is a exciting adventure, full of suspense and I can't wait to get back in this world.
Rating: 4.5 stars

[ally ¯\(ツ)/¯ · Rating 2 out of 5]

A visual demonstration of the story...



Ok.. After some thinking, I've revisited this review and rewritten it.

Full Review

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

It boggles my mind just how stupid some people can be over someone they find extremely attractive. People are willing to give up precious secrets for the sake of being 'cool' with someone hot. They don't care about the people they've grown up with nor do they care that this whole 'relationship' could be a fucking trap and you could get fucking killed for the sake of some fucking hot guy fucking looking at you for two fucking seconds like you're his everything. Is the risk of death  worth it though?



Regan seems to fucking think so!

The characters are annoying, especially Regan who just met this super hot guy and trusts him with a secret that her dad told her not to tell anyone! This is a typical insta-love and this was the first strike for me.  Just because he tells her something, which could be a lie. Also, she second guesses her best friend because the bad boy tells her some questioning info about him. I'll admit that Patrick does some sketchy stuff but this doesn't mean she should outright distrust him without speaking to him about it. She tries to, pathetically near the end of the novel but at that point, I couldn't care. When writing a dystopian novel, the world should be explained perfectly yet in Elusion the world is so half-assed. The adventurous destinations are flimsy at best and certainly didn't draw me in.

Although I hated just about everything about this story, I did love staring at the cover! It's absolutely beautiful and what initially  drew me in.

Elusion goes through what a lot of YA books are currently going through. It's not sure if it wants to be romance since the romance takes over the plot more than once, it's not sure if it wants to be a dystopian because of the cool gadgets and world. I wouldn't recommend this one to anyone because of how horrible the characters are, the sloppily done world, and the predictable ending. After I finishing Elusion, I feel like I should just stop reading Dystopian novels all together.

[i. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elusion describes a society in which life has become so unbearable for regular citizens that they only wish to escape from the harsh reality even if it is inside their minds.

If I could choose my own escapes I would like to :



Enjoy the beautiful view of a rice terrace in Bali



Do ice trekking in Argentina without breaking a leg.



Explore a rainforest in Costa Rica with friendly mosquitoes.




Eat lots of cupcakes.





Go on a cruise in Halong Bay and stay up at night to see the stars.





Sunbathe on a Thai beach,swim a little and sunbathe again.

Using some Equips and Apps designed by a company called Orexis,the people from Detroit are able to get away for an hour to idyllic landscapes where feelings are always positive. Wonderful beaches, high mountains and the possibility of enjoying kisses like you have never felt them before, just like in a pleasant dream. So far, so good, who wouldn't like to go to a trouble free place everyday for a while?

However for Reagan Welch going back to Elusion means having to come back again and return to the realisation that her father, the creator of the program is no longer with her.Not until she feels compelled to protect the reputation of her father does she go back , only to find that both her fears and hopes can come true at the same time.

Reagan is trying to live with the fact that her father is gone and her mother isn't doing well. No wonder she finds it all quite difficult ,keeps missing classes and getting demerits .Her only support is her childhood friend Patrick .

Patrick, a computer genius who worded with Regan's father, comes across, in my opinion , as a weak character. He may be incredibly talented in his area of expertise but he's a mess when it comes to relationships. His mother, the CEO of Orexis ,plays an important role in the way he behaves, I'm afraid.

Josh is almost as cute as most YA novels' hot guys.Mind you, he's not so perfect but when push comes to shove he stands by Regan's side .However, their affair is not as romantic as some readers may expect .

David Welch was before his disappearance an absent father and husband, working round the clock and mentoring Patrick . His relationship with Regan wasn't as good as it should have been.

Avery Leavenworth is Regan's sworn enemy .Her girlfriend Nora is gone and she is willing to do anything to bring Elusion down. She has quite a big mouth and a very peculiar style.

Both authors had something new to add to the vast collection of dystopian novels that abound nowadays.


Elusionary:

Aftershock : The symptoms people experience after having being inside Elusion. They include inability to move or speak and dizziness.

Acid rain: Another result of extreme pollution.If our rain gives us bad hair days imagine what their acid rain could do .

CIT: The organisation that has to approve Elusion.

Digital Photocubes: A cool gadget in the shape of a cube that you shake to see photographs.

Donor cycles: Some dangerous roads in Detroit.

E-fiend: Young people who are addicted to Elusion.

Equips and apps: The technology that allows people to enter the world of Elusion. A microlaser visor,audio buds, an acrylic wristband and an application.

Escapes: The different landscapes that you can visit inside Elusion.

ExSet: Exhilaration Settings which enable the user to control brain stimulation.

Florapetro: A modern version of our petrol which can be used as fuel and to make all sorts of things such as glasses.

Hypersoar: The vehicle aboard which David Welch allegedly had a fatal accident.

MealFreeze: A drink with the nutritional contents of a meal.It sounds quite disgusting to me!

Oxygen shield: A mask to protect people from the polluted air when they are outside.

Passcard: A card with credits to pay for everything.

Standard 7 cycle: Their timetable for work and school:seven a.m to seven p.m. seven days a week.

Tabs: Tablets, I guess much better than ours.

Traxx : Turbotrain . Like our train or underground system during rush-hour:crowded and with frequent delays.

Trypnosis: combination of hypnosis techniques needed to go into Elusion.

Walden by Hery Thoreau: David Welch's favourite book. Published in 1854 describes the period the author spent at Walden pond living a simple life .

Here is a list of laws that Thoreau mentions in his book:


One must love that of the wild just as much as one loves that of the good.

What men already know instinctively is true humanity.

The hunter is the greatest friend of the animal which is hunted.

No human older than an adolescent would wantonly murder any creature which reveres its own life as much as the killer.

If the day and the night make one joyful, one is successful.

The highest form of self-restraint is when one can subsist not on other animals, but of plants and crops cultivated from the earth.

www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com

[Nereyda (Nick & Nereyda's Infinite Booklist)]

Elusion by nereyda1003

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sci Fi and YA - one of which I've never been too into, and the other I've grown out of - so my rating doesn't surprise me too much 😅

[Savina M. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actual rating: 1.5 stars

For a book that's supposedly driven by mystery, Elusion was terribly bland.

It's full of cliches , and it was so boring I nearly DNF'ed it halfway. This book is supposed to be "Suspenseful, thrilling, and romantic", and I felt like I should have cared about it but...



The Summary
In a post-apocalyptic world where readers have no fucking idea why it's even post-apocalyptic in the first place, a program called Elusion is invented. The program takes you to a virtual fantasy, a place where you would only feel positive feelings.

A better world is inside your head.
Orexis will take you there!
It's never been so easy to get away.
Find the perfect destination with Elusion!

Regan Welch is Elusion's inventor's daughter, and the manager, Patrick's childhood best friend. People begin spreading rumors about Elusion, about it being addictive. Especially a girl called Avery at school who seems bent to bring Elusion down.

"What do you have to say about Elusion addiction? It's a big problem here in Detroit, especially with kids my age," [Avery] barks.

Hmm, a world where you can escape anywhere you want, addictive? Gasp! No shit!

We have people addicted to virtual realities like Sims 3 (namely Yours Truly), we have people addicted to video games. We also have people addicted to tapping a flying bird, for fuck's sake. It's so blatantly obvious that Elusion is addictive.

Regan stands by Partick's side and her father's invention...until Regan meets a hot guy.

His sandy-colored hair is cut close to his scalp, making his cheekbones stand out as much as his amber-tinted eyes.

Josh's eyes are amber; don't forget about that. Because Regan sure as hell won't let you.

Where Regan called Avery an "attention whore" for spreading rumors about Elusion, Regan believes everything Josh says about Elusion being dangerous.

Josh has amber eyes.

Regan believes Josh, a guy she barely knows, so much she would betray Patrick for him by stealing files from his computer.

-Try this advanced search //4DV4NC3D 534RC|-|5020//

-//EyE Am ph33l1n6 lu(cky5020//

Yeah, for a book based so heavily on computer programming and using so many words I don't understand, I would expect something a little more sophisticated than textspeak. It also rips off Google; that "I am feeling lucky 5020" at the bottom. -_-

Josh has amber eyes.

Then shit happens, some mystery is involved; but like I said, my fucks were all gone.

The Characters:

Regan

"What do you see in her? She's as dumb as a pile of rocks."

Not too nicely phrased, but yes, yes she is.

The only thing I remember about Regan is that this girl has no fucking priorities, and she's a moron.

What did [Patrick] mean by that? Was he really leaning in for a kiss, or did I completely misread him? Does he want to be more than just friends?

No shit, Regan.

Regan and Josh needed to find the firewall that causes addiction (still no fucking idea how that works) within an hour, and they spent the hour making out.-_-

I know we're here to examine the firewall—to see if we can find another connection to Dad or Nora—but the only thing I can think about is how I wish Josh's arms were wrapped around me.

Josh has amber eyes.

There's a scene where Patrick and Josh are fighting over Regan in an Escape, and Regan can only notice how beautiful the fucking butterflies are.

"You used Regan to get to me. Admit it!" Patrick shouts, as a small white butterfly flutters in front of me, winding its way through the air in tiny circles and landing right on my collarbone.

Josh's has amber eyes.

Regan is also way too honest. Yes, honesty is a great virtue, but she's honest to the point she'd admit something that would sabotage her plan. Dude, priorities.

Josh
Josh, a.k.a Moron #2.

"The firewall." Josh grits his teeth and punches an angry fist into the air. "It was there, in that cavern. But because of me... We missed our chance!"

Josh, who has devastatingly beautiful amber eyes, beat up someone once.

"He almost killed someone, Ress. Beat up a kid so badly he was in the hospital for three days."
I snort at the accusation. It seems so exaggerated.

But wait! Josh is immediately justified!

Turns out the guy he nearly killed once assaulted her sister! It all makes sense now!

But wait! Josh, who has devastatingly beautiful amber eyes, betrayed Regan by giving information to other people!

But wait! It's also justified in the book, except I can't really remember how! Doesn't matter—what Josh does is always good. Plus, he has amber eyes.

Patrick
If you're going to paint someone in a bad light, at least give him a few visible bad traits.

Patrick is supposedly power-hungry or something, but I never saw that in the book. All I saw was Patrick being a loyal friend to Regan. I have no idea why Regan doesn't want to trust him.

The Cliches

The Love Triangle
This book has the most cliched of love triangles. There's the beautiful, blond childhood best-friend, and the hot, mysterious new guy.

Never be someone's childhood best friend, guys, 100% of the time you'll be friendzoned.

There were pointless scenes like "Gasp, I might have feelings for Patrick! But I still love Josh!"

Josh has amber eyes.

The mother
Regan's mother has sunken into a deep depression after her dad died, leaving the daughter to take care of the mother.

Because another cliched reason to make the MC more lovable and sympathetic.

The writing:

The writing is not mind-numbingly bad, but still kinda bad. Examples:

My legs are like channels of water surging toward a dam, but my arms are like ribbons tied to an old fence post, flickering in the breeze.

This is an utter an complete mess.

And don't forget.

Josh's eyes are amber.

[Nafiza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elusion was a mixed bag of tricks for me. There were some aspects of it that I truly enjoyed and others that did not work for me at all. Unlike many other novels in the same genre, the creators of Elusion, the authors, knew exactly what the game was and how it worked and their know how translated clearly into the prose so it never felt as though they were just making things up as the novel progressed. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the game they envisioned has its basis in reality and is a viable option of her techno-loving society. So that was well done.

What didn’t work for me was everything else. Bear with me and I’ll explain why.

Regan is an interesting character but at the time she has no qualities within her that sets her up or even makes her entertainingly maudlin. There is no reason I would want to read about her were she not present in the story. She has no interesting thoughts/quirks/imagination. She simply reacts to whatever is happening around her or connects the dots until she moves in the direction the authors want her to go in. She is disappointingly lacking as a character. There are no layers or complexity to her or her relationships with the other characters in the novel. There are no female friendships worth mentioning in the novel apart from the requisite POC of colour who is reduced to her physical looks and position as the other woman in the love square.

Patrick is touted to be Regan’s best friend but there is no sincerity to the words when Regan’s actions continually prove otherwise. Their relationship is all about Regan and though ostensibly, she makes the effort to support him, he is not given the benefit of doubt and treated rather shabbily in the process. Josh, the love interest, is a pallid character with again, no depth (none of the characters do actually) and his backstory though compelling is superficial. There is another girl present who hates Regan and treats her badly creating the need for someone to defend Regan against her harsh words.

The progression of the story is in fits and spurts and while the potential is there for a look at how technology is affecting society and perhaps play with a future that is both damned and saved by technology, the discourse is again superficial and thin. Also infuriating for me is the abrupt ending of the novel as there is no overarching conflict that is resolved while the seeds for the continuation of the plot planted by at the end. It is as though someone took a hacking saw to one story and decided that it would end there while the reader is still looking around desperately for the next page.

Not that I was. I was pretty much done with the entire novel long before we reached the end. The novel had potential but unfortunately for me, the potential was not fulfilled.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received this book for free from (Katherine Tegen Books) via (Edelweiss ) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Genre* Young Adult, Science Fiction
*Rating* 3-3.5

*My Thoughts*

Elusion is the first book in the duology known as Elusion. Written by co-authors by Claudia Gabel, and Cheryl Klam, Elusion is a young adult, science fiction story featuring 16-year old Regan Welch as the narrator. The story is set in a futuristic Detroit where people live in an environment of grease clouds, and acid rain, while wearing air purifiers and umbrella's in order to survive. Elusion has a bit of mystery, suspense, and romance to keep the reader engaged in what's going on.

*Full Review Posted 04/16/2015 via Talk Supe*

http://www.talksupeblog.com/2015/04/s...

09/25/2013 Recvd via Edelweiss - Expected publication: March 18th 2014 by Katherine Tegen Books

[Jodi Meadows]

Lots of fun!

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: An amazing story that you devour like a chocolate cake, one that will leave you shocked and gaping at a cliffhanger. Well-paced, well-written . . . what isn’t to like?

Opening Sentence: “Don’t be scared, Regan,” My father says. “I’ll be next to you the whole time, I promise.”

The Review:

It is a different world than the present one — pollution has become a major conflict, and acid rains storm as citizens wear air purifiers with heavy-duty umbrellas. Elusion is a new technology invented by Regan’s father, a virtual world where pain, sadness, and anything other than bliss are nowhere to be found. Regan’s dad passed, leaving her mother and herself to deal with loss as rumors of Elusion’s “addictiveness” fly through the city. But Regan begins to wonder . . . could these claims be correct?

This is going to be the next big thing! Elusion is a mind-blowing start to a series. I was immediately hooked, from the second I started reading, and the cover was gorgeous so that helped convince me that I’d love it as well.

Elusion is both a mystery story and a sci-fi masterpiece, with dips and turns and constant action. The very idea of Elusion, a world that is perfect and beautiful, was a unique and fresh idea. The tone of the novel swings from enchanting and happy to morbid and dangerous, making for an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you breathless.

Everything, even the science aspect, is explained crystal clear. There was no problem with being bored, because everything about this was interesting and intriguing. I can find no plot holes. It seems that for the most part, this story is as close to perfect as it can be.

Regan has one main problem, the Elusion and how its faults are affecting people and two subplot sort of things — her life with her mom, who is struggling with the loss of her husband, and her choice between her two love interests. Does she choose the one that knows everything about her, that has been by her side for as long as she remembers? Or does she choose someone new that she wants to trust, someone she can’t help thinking is attractive in a different way? The love triangle is between Patrick (the first option), and Josh (the latter), and I must say that even though certain things happen, Patrick is still my favorite of the two.

And the author leaves you at a cliffhanger — an extremely heart-wrenching, particularly exciting cliffhanger. I’m checking the pages as I go, thinking, why are there so little left? And then it ends, on the next page, and the rest are acknowledgments and such. It took so much willpower to not throw my nook at the wall, because this book comes out in 2014 which can only mean the sequel will come out in 2015. Might as well slip into a coma and wait it out, or else I’ll die with anticipation.

In summary, this is a must-read for 2014. Pre-order it, get it on the release date, and read within a day. Those are the steps to success when it comes to Elusion. I’m so excited that I got the chance to read this and I’m so thankful to both authors for producing an effortless, amazing book.

Notable Scene:

I raise my head in awe as I watch the veil of white light float up from the ground like a fog and evaporate to reveal a glorious sapphire sky. Dad and I are perched on top of a rocky cliff, the remarkable landscape of Elusion stretched out in front of us. Down below there are miles and miles of dark green forest, but the view is so crisp I can almost see every leaf and needle jutting out from each spindling branch. Beyond in a chain of majestic mountains with snowcapped peaks, which borders a large body of water made up of shimmering swirls of turquoise and jade. Everything is traced with a translucent glittering substance, almost like fairy dust.

It’s the most incredible sight I’ve ever seen. And although I’ve never been a fan of heights, here I am, standing at the edge of a steep embankment, feeling that sweet electricity being absorbed by all my never endings.

FTC Advisory: Katherine Tegen Books/Harper Collins provided me with a copy of Elusion. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[LilyCat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this before I officially started reviewing books, so what follows may or may not be accurate, but I'm pretty sure it is.

The Gist: Regan's father, an inventor, created a virtual-reality program called Elusion, which creates beautiful exotic locations for people to explore, but since her father's death, she can't bear to use the technology, since waking up out of Elusion's ecstasy-like dream state means remembering her father's death all over again. Her childhood friend Patrick, her father's protege, and executive at an international tech corporation, plans to release Elusion to the public, although some people claim Elusion is addictive. Although she finds she may have feelings for Patrick, Regan begins to fall for bad-boy Josh, who constantly searches for his sister, who went missing, and believes her disappearance had something to do with Elusion. When Regan and Josh start looking for answers, they find secrets behind Elusion that could bring the whole company down-- or Regan and Josh.

Cleanness: Pretty PG. Some violence and some more intense language.
Genre: Scifi (dystopian, virtual reality)

Review: 2 stars. Readable, may be enjoyable to some people, but I have my complaints.
It's always the freaking pretty covers.

Basically, I saw this book at a bookstore, and I had instalove with the cover. (Yes, I complain about instalove, but since people are a lot more complicated than covers, it's excusable. Right?) But I was too cheap to buy it, so I got it from the library. And it was... well, not as good as I'd hoped. (I then remembered the old adage to "not judge a book by its cover." Sigh.)

I guess the plot was OK, but some of the things that happened in the book were either annoying, ridiculous, or annoyingly ridiculous. There were a few cliches, too, sprinkled throughout, and a bit of crappy, slightly disturbing romance.

1)The annoying.
-Regan is useless. You'd think, "Oh, her dad invented Elusion. She must understand it and be a smart, tech-savvy person! Right?"
THIS is Regan, folks.

Can she be a hacker or do anything remotely useful with tech? Of course not, because apparently only smart hotties can use technology. Now please excuse me before I start running around screaming, "SEXISMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!"

-The love triangle. Josh says Patrick is up to something. Patrick says Josh is untrustworthy. And poor Regan has to choose which one is right. And of course, Josh is the hunky bad boy with a motorcycle and a *tortured past,* while Patrick, whom she's BFFs with, is the nice-guy with a hatred for bad boys. *Sigh.* It's basically a rewrite of the love triangle in Matched, City of Bones, Blue Bloods and pretty much every other cliche teen book in existence.

2)The ridiculous.
Patrick basically traps Josh and Regan in Elusion because he was jealous! Or that's how I think it goes down.
Some of the romance stuff, besides being basically lifted straight out of any other book, was almost disturbing. For example, Josh beat up a guy at school so bad the other guy almost died. However, REGAN STILL TRUSTS HIM. Patrick warns Regan, like a good friend should, that Josh is dangerous.

“[Josh] hit a guy and got sent to military school. I know. He told me.”
“Hit a guy?” Patrick says, sarcastically. “He almost killed someone, Ree. Beat up a kid so badly he was in the hospital for three days.”
I snort at the accusation. It seems so exaggerated.

Come on guys! "Hit a guy" does not equal "almost killed a guy."


Also, for some reason, Regan is convinced Patrick, her best friend she's known her entire life, is evil, just because Josh says so. I mean, Josh himself has had a pretty shady past, and Regan still trusts him.

3)The annoyingly ridiculous.
Some of the "technology" crap they have is crazy. Ex. Regan needs to hack into Patrick's computer, and (since the feebleminded girls who would read something like this are apparently too stupid, like Regan, to understand technology), Regan's Josh-directed hacking is basically glorified keyboard smashing. Which means, OMG, my cat is a hacker!



The hacking scene basically goes like this.
Regan: Oh Joshie-poo, I can't hack the computer! Waaa!
Josh: Type "//1m r3@11y 5tup1d @nd p@th3t1c//"
Computer: *beep beep boop* Now activating "divulging all villainous plots" mode.

Also, there's a weird thing in the Elusion program called the Firewall. Except instead of being a program designed to protect your computer, it's a giant fuzzy barrier that eats people.


Conclusion: Although some people might enjoy this book, too many things were ridiculous or irritating for me to.

[Isamlq · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s the too easy way in which people come into the story. Need a random new hot guy? Here he is. Need a bloody bestie who sees the other in a different light?? Well, there’s one too. Or what of an unknown baddy off to the sides doing god knows what? Well there’s mentions of that as well. And what of a lead who’s too smart for her own good but not as smart as the rest of them most of the time? Well, we’ve got one of those too.

Frankly, I don’t see what the big deal is: almost every other element in this is something we’ve encountered in some shape or form before. The bestie you don’t know how you feel about. The new guy with grey pewter eyes. The smart girl but not smart enough. The parents who are gone but may be not.

Where it strives to make a mark is outside the players. It’s the world that’s different. Supposedly. I think. The world’s been destroyed because of something man has done. The people are trying to make do with what they have and what they remember. Enter the Big Bad making old meet new. There are unforeseen consequences. Or are they?
Unforeseen, I mean?

The virtual world with bad bad bad things lurking should have sounded new and exciting to me, but it didn’t… and I honestly can’t tell you why. I should have loved those vivid descriptions of old world seen anew… I should have loved how everything was possible… and that may have been it: everything was too easy, too possible, with too many obvious answers.

Plus, there’s how she manages to know just the right amount but always never enough, or how the right guy shows up at just the right time, or how things are moving forward with her always there at the right time (wrong time?) It should have all worked and had me excited… except I didn’t and I wasn’t.

Thank you, Edelweiss!

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was posted HERE (on The Eater of Books! blog), as well as HERE (The YA Bookcase blog)


***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam
Book One of the Elusion series
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: March 18, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.

What I Liked:

First, let us all take a really good look at that beautiful cover. Isn't it magnificent?! It has got to be one of my favorite Harper covers yet. Their design team is AMAZING, just saying. I marked this one as must-read when the cover was revealed only because of the cover. Then I read the synopsis, and I knew this book would be a winner for me. Lovely cover? Heavy on the science? Romance? Perfect for me.

The wonderful thing about foresight is that, with books, it rarely lets me down! I really, really enjoyed this book! I mean, I was totally sucked in by the pretty cover, and then the intriguing synopsis, but the actual book itself was great.

This book starts with a prologue that features Regan and her father testing out Elusion for the first time. When the story begins, with chapter one, we learn that Regan's father has been dead for months, and that Regan does not go to Elusion anymore. Regan's father protege (who is also Regan's friend) is now in charge of all things Elusion. This young man - Patrick - is responsible for the amazing escapist world that is Elusion - and the consequences of using Elusion.

Elusion isn't what it seems. Certain things were set into motion before Regan's father died. Regan doesn't trust Patrick to tell her the trust, because when she asks, she gets nothing from him. All the while, innocent users of the Elusion program are losing brain activity, getting addicted, or even dying. There is something seriously wrong with Elusion, and Regan will be the one to find the truth.

The plot moves fairly quickly in this book, once Regan realizes that there is a problem with Elusion. The beginning is a bit slow, but understandably so, because Gabel and Klam seem to want to show readers what this world is like when everyone is using Elusion. This made the beginning drag a little, but I suppose it was necessary, to show readers without telling readers how strange Elusion is, and how wrong it is.

Let me put Elusion into perspective for you. It's a program that you can connect to, and escape the real world. Like, virtual reality, or an alternate experience, or something. People can plug in and visit Elusion at any point, but they have a time limit every time they go to Elusion. So, the first scene of the book describes the way people are - hundreds of people are plugged in to Elusion, and they seem zoned out like zombies.

Gabel and Klam built up the plot (and climax) of the novel gradually, but for the most part, there was never a dull moment. I wouldn't say there were too many twists and turns and unexpected curveballs, but as I was reading, I was dying to see how things would be resolved. Would Regan find out the truth about her father's death? Was Patrick responsible for the addictions? Would Nora be found?

The ending was a little messy, in my opinion, but after reading it twice, it made sense. I can't believe Gabel and Klam would end things the way they did! It's not a cliffhanger, but let's just say I need book two in my hands right about... now.

Romance, did I mention anything about the romance? If you're like me (a hater of love triangles), put your mind at ease, because there isn't one (that I can see). I thought there would be one, as there is definitely potential for one, but I don't see the romance going in that direction. Regan and the male protagonist are together, and that doesn't seem like it will change. That being said, I like the romance! I like Regan and this male protagonist together. I won't say who it is though, so as not to spoil things.

At first, I wasn't really connecting with Regan, but eventually I started to connect and really like her. Her character is a little flat, in my opinion, but there are times when she has depth to her. I just wish there was more to her that made her more unique.

I mentioned this briefly, but this book is has a heavy science basis - which I loved! This book deals with brain chemistry and neuroscience and addictions... I really enjoyed seeing so much science in the book. There was also a good amount of technology and computer science, which was cool. The math/science nerd in me approves!

Overall, this is a highly enjoyable debut novel for these two authors (debut for the two paired; I know both authors have books out). It's not action-packed and extremely exciting, but the story is very interesting and the concept is relevant to today's society.

What I Did Not Like:

There was nothing specific that I didn't like - maybe a few pacing issues here and there. Sometimes, the plot dragged, other times, things were happening way too quickly. Like, at the very end, I had a hard time picking out what exactly was going on. I read the ending twice though, so I understood eventually.

In general, I didn't have any problems with this book. I just wouldn't consider it a five-star read from ME, because it doesn't feel like a five-star novel. It's not a new favorite, but I am very happy with this book. I will definitely be reading the sequel!

Would I Recommend It:

Yesyesyes! I'm sure the pretty cover will attract many readers (just stare at it for a few seconds. It's hypnotizing, isn't it?!). BUT, the content is just as amazing as the cover. I'm quite sure that science-y people like me will be all over this one, and even if you're not a science-y person, the concept will intrigue you. And the cover is gorgeous. Did I mention that already?

Rating:

4 stars. I really enjoyed this book! The science really appealed to my nerdy math/science side. Bring on book two!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elusion is one of those stories where the line between reality and illusion starts out crisp and oh-so clear, but with each chapter our faith in what we think we know gets a little more shaken until suddenly the trust we had in ourselves and the characters is nearly nonexistent. The deterioration of that trust is what makes Elusion such a fascinating read, the solid foundation we had beneath our feet in the opening chapters crumbling beneath us just as Regan’s world falls apart around her, and together we start questioning everything and everyone....

Full review available at: http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com...

[Angela]

16 March 2015: $1.99 on Kindle

[Kelsey van Dillen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was exactly what I wanted to read. A great and exciting futuristic story that'll leave you wanting more.

[Tina]

Blog | Pinterest | Twitter | Booktube | Booklikes | Instagram | Google+ | Tumblr

WHAAAAAAAAT. My brain feels like it's going to explode after that mindfuck of a climax and cliffhanger. Okay, first things first. This book seems to be very polarizing in the blogging community in the way that Mind Games was and that, to me, is because they're written in similar ways. First person present, sharp writing (except in Elusion, you get more description of the surrounding world, Escapes, etc. because it is more heavily world-building focused than MG is). Huge focus on the thriller aspects, so the plot has to move at a fast pace and there's not much focus on the characters. What backstory you're given for the characters is to provide their motivations in the plot - the only one whose character arc I discerned was Regan, who goes from never wanting to enter Elusion again after her father's death to looking into the very heart of the program so to speak. (Maybe the mom too who stops being as grief-stricken, but she doesn't get much focus). And yet, as with Mind Games, one character relationship is at the forefront: instead of the sister relationship, it is the relationship between father and daughter.

Where Elusion distinguishes itself from other thrillers is in its world-building. As the summary states, Elusion is basically a virtual reality program that Regan's father creates because the world is dying (e.g. acid rain, depletion of oxygen levels, etc.). First off, I really like this idea. Many dystopians focus on how we've destroyed the earth and that's why things are so terrible; there is some element of this in Elusion, but since the father/daughter relationship is at the forefront, it fits that this idea - creating a program to honor the Earth as it once was - runs parallel to Regan honoring her father's memory. This is also an unspecified future - it may even be like an alternate reality type of future, since some elements of the world (e.g. file extensions like WAV) and plot twists (e.g. world-is-addictive; this is easy to see in our lives now with iPhones and certain tech, etc.) are familiar to our every day lives. A future with an Aesop maybe? At any rate, there are a lot, a lot of tech and future oriented terms (e.g. instant communication via smart walls, the transportation, O2 masks, etc.). I was a bit overwhelmed in the beginning, though it got better, and it's obvious how much these authors have thought about this world. Well-researched too. It's a meld of programming and neuroscience, and I actually wasn't bothered by the neuroscience explanations because *science* itself was not portrayed as magical (despite the alternate reality aspect - the addiction aspect counteracts that & also the fact that the authors pinpoint *specific* mechanisms within the body like serotonin release, brain waves, etc. grounds it in a way that some other far-reaching science fiction tales I've read do not) or inherently evil. I don't know much about programming, so though some reviews have brought that up as an issue, I can't say that those elements bothered me. Though they weren't as future oriented as the rest of the world (would file extensions change? I have no idea.), that seemed to fit with Elusion's blend of alternate reality/addiction/future/reality.

As for the plot, there are some plot holes (e.g. we find out information from random people a lot. Like a couple on an elevator, a saleswoman, etc.). The timeline of the story is what confused me the most because at one point, a love interest says that it's only been a week since they've known each other and I literally startled when I read that. I'd been wondering how much time had elapsed but was going along with the story anyway, and the knowledge of only a week felt strange - how did everything happen all at once? I could have also done without the love triangle. There's minimal waffling between romantic interests, but it's always really hard for me to believe in the best-friend-lusting-for-more scenario. At least with regards to the MC not noticing. Just a personal preference. BUT the plot was suspenseful and unpredictable and full of tension in a good way, making me eager to turn the pages because I was actually curious about what would come next -- nothing, of course, like what I had thought, as things were turned on their head, especially in the climax.

If I were to describe the plot and premise, it'd be something akin to "Matched meets These Broken Stars meets Under the Never Sky meets Crewel." Do I think that this book is really like all of those comparisons? No, I am just trying to decide what audience fits this book. The cover designer seems to have been inspired by Matched, certainly, and some of the plot elements are similar. It's got the basic premise of the seemingly ordinary girl uncovering the illusions of her seemingly perfect society. You know how in Matched, it's obvious that there's something wrong with the society? Same thing here. And the love triangle dynamic is similar, though here there's less waffling. The comparison to These Broken Stars comes from the character backstories - the rich girl who's privileged thanks to her father and the poorer military-esque guy uncover a mystery together except privilege doesn't get addressed as much here as it does in TBS. Under the Never Sky: the dangerous effects of virtual reality realms, though here you get to explore the Escapes for yourself more in depth than you do in UtNS. Crewel because the climax and some of the elements about the MC's powers reminded me of this story, and I'm being vague about that reference so I don't spoil anything. So, if you enjoyed those aspects of those books, you may enjoy Elusion. And if you'd want something like Mind Games in a futuristic science fiction setting, you may also enjoy Elusion.

I've been in the mood to write mini reviews, but as always, my reviews never end up remaining as "mini" as I think they will be.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Katherine Tegen Books (Harper Teen) and Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and give an honest review. Receiving this book for free has in no way altered my opinion or review of this book.

Blurb from Goodreads:
Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.
A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.
Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.
Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.
Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.

First I have to say that just by looking at the cover of this book I wanted to read it! The colors, the way the girl is presented and just the overall feel really drew me into it. And since I have been on a bit of a sci-fi roll, I was ready to jump into this technology driven story for sure!

Regan is a great character. She's truly strong and snarky. I love how she's not afraid to do things, try things, find out why things are the way they are. Things don't seem to scare her as they should. Whether or not that's good or bad, well, I'll leave that to you to find out. She definitely stands up for what she believes in. And she doesn't like to go with the norm, she'd rather go against the grain and be her own person, even if it does make her a bit of an outcast. She extremely dedicated to finding the truth, and not necessarily believing what others tell her just because they think she should.
Josh and Patrick create a bit of a love triangle in the book. Pat is Regan's long time best friend. And, while she finds herself attacked to him, she also sees that a relationship between them might be a bit awkward. But is this how Pat feels? And I didn't know if Pat was trustworthy or not. He's a boy genius, running a company at the tender age of 18. But are there secrets that he's keeping? or secrets that are actually being kept from him? Josh, on the other hand, is someone new and intriguing. He's a bit dark and mysterious, and I wasn't sure if I could trust him in the story. He is an old friend of Patrick's, one who lost touch with him when an incident happened to send him off to military school. But now Josh is back, and he has a bone to pick with Orexis and their Elusion program. So is he in it for revenge or does he have some other agenda in mind?
The characters in the book are developed well and realistic. I was able to relate to them and felt a true connection with Regan.

The world building was a split for me with this one. When the characters are in Elusion and it's described I was totally immersed and able to picture what was going on. I understand what this alternate reality gave to the user and how it could become something the user might not be able to stay away from. And the technology behind it was described well, as is the creation of the program. The world building in regards to where Regan and her friends and family live is not so great. I have no idea why Detroit has become the way it is. The city is overrun with poor air quality, a testament, perhaps, to all the factories that are currently there now. But it is never explained how and why the air quality became so poor, or when this happened. And there are many technologies the residents of the city use which are not fully explained as well. I am also a bit baffled as to what is going on in other parts of the country and world. So I felt I bit in the dark and like perhaps this needed to be addressed a bit better.

The plot is really great. There are many twists and turns the reader will not see coming. There's a ton of mystery and even up until the end I wasn't sure who I could and could not trust. The authors did introduce romance, and a bit of a love triangle (which actually seemed more one sided than anything else). But the romance wasn't what pulled the story along, it was the mystery of what went on when the user went inside the Elusion program and what was going on with those who seemed to be addicted to the program that really kept me in the story.

I enjoyed the writing in this book. It was clean and clear and not full of information dumps. I was never bored, wanting to put the book down and come back at a different time when I thought I might be more into it. The mystery and suspense keep me intrigued and wanting more. And the authors decided to end the book on a bit of a cliffhanger, which has me wanting book #2 before the first book has even been published!

Readers who enjoy sci-fi with mystery and thrillers thrown on top of some action and adventure, will love this first installment of the Elusion series. I would recommend this read for sure!

[Completely Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. It was a random find on Book Outlet that I was drawn to by the pretty cover. I really enjoyed this. If you like the virtual reality aspect of Ready Player One or Warcross, then I think you would enjoy this book. It isn't centered around a game like those, but virtual escapes that some people believe may be dangerous and addictive especially when teenagers start going into comas after spending too much time in this virtual world.

[Lurva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read it two years ago and forgot anything that was in it

[Jessica (BookRockGoddess) Bolton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elusion is full of technology, suspense and a slight love triangle. I felt it took a little bit to get going but once it did you are on the edge of your sit trying to figure out what is true. I was so confused on what was the truth and what wasn't. This book really hits home for today's society with virtual reality and addiction issues for people who want to escape reality.
Elusion really takes all these concepts to a new level. Just once you think you have things figured out it turns it on its head. With the way this ended with a cliffhanger, I need the next book like yesterday.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

*NOTE: THIS IS A REVIEW Of THE ENTIRE DUOLOGY*

3.5 stars

Recently, I have decided that I want to try to listen to more audiobooks. Some authors are starting to release their books on Audible before ebook or print. Therefore, I would like to try to get used to audiobooks. I checked it what my library offered via Overdrive, their online audiobook and ebook service. I saw that they had the Elusion duology, which I've been wanting to read for a while, and decided to give it a try. I thought it was an enjoyable series to read.

The first book took a little while to get into. Elusion wasn't fully explained, which made everything a little confusing at first. However, once I got the gist of things, I found myself really loving the story. The way the plot of Elusion flowed, it was almost like listening to one of those old-time radio shows. It kept me on the edge of my seat. When I thought the series couldn't get any more exciting, Etherworld began and everything I thought I knew was flipped upside down. I loved all the twists and turns throughout the series. It was action-packed right up until the last few minutes of the book. I had no idea what was going to happen in the end, and I loved every second of it.

Maybe it's because I was listening to the duology on audiobook, but my biggest problem with the series was that I felt incredibly disconnected from the characters. I'm not used to listening to audiobooks though, so it could have been because of that instead of the writing. Either way, it kept taking me out of the storyline. The best way I can describe it is that it was like watching a play, where are the actors overact their characters. It felt very fake and forced. Once I would start really liking one of the characters, that feeling would come back again. It made it hard to fully immerse myself into the story, and get emotionally involved in the characters. By the end, there were a couple of characters that I really liked. However, for the most part, I didn't really care who lived or died.

Despite not liking the characters, I did find this book enjoyable to read. The plot was fast-paced, and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. I greatly enjoyed the futuristic setting in our world. I hope that the author continues to write dystopian books. I will gladly read anything else she releases in the future. Unfortunately, I can't find anything on Goodreads about her writing another series. If she does, now that she has more experience with writing, I'm sure I will love her next book even more.

[Stephanie • Ideally Inspired · Rating 3 out of 5]

an Advance Reader Copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The moment I saw this book's cover description, I knew I wanted to it. I was lucky enough to not only get a digital ARC of this book, but also an ARC audiobook copy as well. My review will be covering both the writing, and the narrator's performance.

Writing:

I loved the concept of this story. The idea of a virtual reality-type app that allows you to "escape" into new worlds sounds like something almost realistic to me. I feel like with the way that technology has been advancing, this could totally be feasible. This helped in keeping me engaged in the story. When the story begins, you follow Regan's POV as she is coming to terms with the death of her father, who was the creator of Elusion. Shortly after his death, Orexis, the company her father created Elusion for, is gearing up to have the technology for sale to the general public. This endeavor is being led by Regan's best friend (and her father's protege), Patrick. While Regan is trying to cope with the loss of her father, she finds herself leaning on Patrick for support. She in turn works to be supportive of Patrick in his efforts to successfully run a campaign to help get Elusion in the hands of consumers nationwide. That is, until she starts hearing rumors of Elusion users having dangerous side effects, which leads Regan to start questioning everyone, and everything. (AKA TRUST ISSUES!) As Regan is tries to make sense of the speculations and theories, she finds herself allying with Josh, who is also has his reasons for seeking the truth in the matter. This sets off a chain reaction of events that lead Regan on an action-packed journey filled with betrayal, and discovery. Regan soon realizes that things are not always what they seem, and there will be a price to be paid for it.

I found that even though I was interested in the story itself, I had a little bit of a hard time connecting with Regan. Sometimes her emotions were all over the place, and when it came to the love interest(s), I didn't feel emotionally invested in their connections either. However-- I will say that this may have been influenced by the narrator's performance in the audiobook (more about that later). I also found this book to be a little too predictable. I don't think that there were any revelations that I didn't see coming. BUT, regardless of that fact, I still enjoyed the story as a whole.

The Audiobook:

This narrator did NOTHING for me. It wasn't that she was monotone, but I found the transitions between characters were confusing. At times I couldn't follow which character was talking, and the emotion in her voice very rarely came through as genuine. There were parts where characters were in a scene that emotions were running high, and the narrator's performance fell flat. There were times I wish I could even "skim" by speeding up the narration speed, but I don't even think that that would've made things better for me in my eyes. Considering the fact that I read some of this book without audio (before I had access to the audio ARC), I think that is what helped me stay on course with continuing the story. If you're looking for a reread, I'd say you can get the audio to do that. However, if it is your first time reading the story, I'd physically read it first.

My ratings:
For the book itself: 3.5 Stars
For the audiobook: 2.5-3 Stars. The audio is DEFINITELY NOT recommended for a first-time read through.

[Genna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and entertaining read. Tends a little too steeply toward the usual tropes of this sort of YA novel (teen girl who is going to have to fight against seemingly invincible adults, two competing suitors who are both SUPER good looking, one rich, one not, one she's known since she was little, the other is new). I was disappointed that there wasn't really an ending and that it's just assumed I'm going to go find the next book in the series. That kind of thing is getting old.

Still, it was fun enough.

[Mitchii · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was part boredom and part frustration: these things made up my experience on reading Elusion by Claudia Gabel, Cheryl Klam. It was really underwhelming for me. I expected it to be this huge, engaging sci-fi/dystopia story about this futuristic society where people will rely on a pseudo-reality device. And perhaps along the way it will show that too much of it has also has it downsides (which is always the case, nothing is perfect as they say). Well, at least it tried to do deliver that, albeit with the very predictable conspiracy going on.

From the get-go, I already determined what the direction of the story will go through. And in some cases, I like that I can see clearly the path of the plot. But sometimes, it was too predictable for comfort. I know that there’s more to her father’s invention than she knew, than they knew. That maybe the opposing group has a point why they don’t like it. As to why people firmly claimed that it could be addictive; in which her father had explained how it really works. But how people used it and some shady business going on made it more than what it should be.

I have problem with Regan. She was bit confusing at times. She was mostly indecisive that made her character a little inept to me (think girl, think!). I reckon the problem was there wasn’t enough development in her character. She’s like a wallflower in this high-tech party. She was struggling to find her footing but ended up clumsily in her foot. But a lot of factors made her weak for me but the biggest one was the romance.

This book is guilty with few of those YA boys stereotypes. Well, I can tolerate it…at least in most cases I can, and if it was done in an unlikely and less eye-rolling way as possible, then I’m aboard with it. But the problem wasn’t with Josh—the guy. It was with Regan. She was flustered, tingling, boiling or whatever when she first saw him. Hey some people are very impressive in person, I get that, but get the hold of yourself sister, she’s just a guy! Also, there’s another boy, Patrick who I found a bit off at first and later found out that was because there was something going on with him. To be quite honest, I actually liked his character better than Regan and Josh or maybe even the two of ‘em combined. Something flawed but relatable that I get him more than I did with the two.

I’m not really that of a tech fan. I like gadgets just fine. I don’t upgrade my cellphone just to catch with the latest trend. That’s how content I am with the tools I have. The world they are living in has technological advances that are too pointed out as if trying to show me this is the future with their gadgets and gizmos a-plenty. But maybe I’m just being my unusual nitpicky self, nonetheless it was ok. It has potential but hardly riveting.

This review appeared first on Aeropapers.

[Rebecca (Unbound Pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is also on my blog, The Library Canary.


***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my open and honest opinion.***

First of all, this cover! Gorgeous isn’t it? I’m not going to lie; it’s what first drew me to this one. But this book is more than just a pretty cover. The story was intricate and filled with a massive mystery that I was completely unable to figure out.

The main character Regan’s father is the inventor of Elusion. But after he dies, Regan withdraws and is unable to use the program because it brings back painful memories. But when people start attacking his work, Regan wakes up. She won’t stand for that. She was fierce and I loved that she wanted to defend her father’s and family’s honor. It’s what I would have done in her situation. I didn’t have a close connection with Regan, but I did like her as a character. She was willing to (reluctantly) admit when she was wrong although at times she definitely had blinders on to avoid seeing what was going on around her.

The romance was okay. I didn’t not like it, but I wasn’t swooning over the guy or anything. I thought it was sweet, but there were a few times when it felt a little cheesy. But I was more interested in the other things that were going on in the book so it didn’t really bother me.

The technology and all the tech talk in this book were pretty cool. Not that I understood most of it because I am certainly not a coder nor am I a science person, but I found it so interesting to read about and the authors introduced it in such a way that it wasn’t boring and it was also pretty easy to follow. I loved learning about the Elusion program, how it worked and how her father created it. It was the perfect amount of detail. I never found it overwhelming, but it also gave the story real believability.

What I really loved about this book though was the fact that it kept me guessing the whole time. I had no idea who to believe or who to trust and I LOVED that. It kept me turning the pages, anxiously trying to figure out the truth. I haven’t read a book that had me in the dark (in a good way) as much as this one did in so long. It was refreshing to NOT be able to figure it out until the very end when it was being told to you.

This book was a quick read that I couldn’t put down. I HAD to keep reading to figure out what was really going on. The world-building was great and the characters were pretty good as well. If you like technology or books that can keep you guessing, Elusion is definitely for you! Happy reading all!