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The Grand Illusion
Historical fiction inspired by the War Office response to the Nazi obsession with the occult
Step forward Daphne Devine - you are about to change the course of the war
‘A breathtaking historical thriller.’ Erin Kelly , author of The Skeleton Key
'Vivid and thoroughly entertaining... More, please.' Guardian, best crime and thrillers
June 1940. As World War Two rages, Daphne Devine remains in London, performing each night as assistant to stage magician Jonty Trevelyan, aka the Grand Mystique.
Then the secret service call.
For, aware of Hitler’s belief in the occult, the war office has set up a hidden cohort to exploit this quirk in the enemy’s chain of command.
Daphne and Jonty find themselves far from the glitz and glamour of the theatre, deep inside the lower levels of Wormwood Scrubs prison. Here, they join secret ranks of occultists, surrealists, and other eccentrics co-opted to the war effort. There is one to avert invasion on British shores.
Soon Daphne realises she must risk everything if there is any chance of saving her country
'Quirky, clever and compelling.' Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl
'A rattling good read.' Barbara Nadel, author of Belshazzar's Daughter
Step forward Daphne Devine - you are about to change the course of the war
‘A breathtaking historical thriller.’ Erin Kelly , author of The Skeleton Key
'Vivid and thoroughly entertaining... More, please.' Guardian, best crime and thrillers
June 1940. As World War Two rages, Daphne Devine remains in London, performing each night as assistant to stage magician Jonty Trevelyan, aka the Grand Mystique.
Then the secret service call.
For, aware of Hitler’s belief in the occult, the war office has set up a hidden cohort to exploit this quirk in the enemy’s chain of command.
Daphne and Jonty find themselves far from the glitz and glamour of the theatre, deep inside the lower levels of Wormwood Scrubs prison. Here, they join secret ranks of occultists, surrealists, and other eccentrics co-opted to the war effort. There is one to avert invasion on British shores.
Soon Daphne realises she must risk everything if there is any chance of saving her country
'Quirky, clever and compelling.' Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl
'A rattling good read.' Barbara Nadel, author of Belshazzar's Daughter
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2024
45 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Syd Moore
16 books201 followersBefore embarking on a career in education, Syd worked extensively in the publishing industry, fronting Channel 4’s book programme, Pulp. She was the founding editor of Level 4, an arts and culture magazine, and is co-creator of Super Strumps, the game that reclaims female stereotypes.
Syd has also been a go go dancer, backing singer, subbuteo maker, children’s entertainer and performance poet, She now works for Metal Culture, an arts organisation, promoting arts and cultural events and developing literature programmes.
Syd is an out and proud Essex Girl and is lucky enough to live in that county where she spends her free time excavating old myths and listening out for things that go bump in the night.
Syd has also been a go go dancer, backing singer, subbuteo maker, children’s entertainer and performance poet, She now works for Metal Culture, an arts organisation, promoting arts and cultural events and developing literature programmes.
Syd is an out and proud Essex Girl and is lucky enough to live in that county where she spends her free time excavating old myths and listening out for things that go bump in the night.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
April 19, 2024
A few years ago I went to the cinema to watch Operation Mincemeat, based on the true story of Britain using a dead body on which they would plant a uniform and documents to fool invading forces that the Allies would invade Greece rather than Sicily. It was the use of deception that thrilled me and so I couldn’t wait to read a book that would turn to a magician and his assistant to use smoke and mirrors in the war effort.
I knew a little about Hitler and the Nazi’s obsession with the occult but the research that has gone into this expanded on that and like most obsessions they can often become your downfall.
I liked how it started on the stage and introduced Jonty and Daphne and how after their act they are driven away at speed only to find themselves in prison. Alongside others with special talents they are recruited by the secret service and become part of Section W. This is the section where you learn just how much went in to winning the war. How the women are treated differently, almost like secretaries and the skirt scene was just too good.
This is abundant with richly detailed illusions to the point even the reader is fooled. Daphne Devine is a wonderful character and I was aghast as the situation she finds herself becomes increasingly perilous but also not entirely shocked that as a civilian she is unsure who she can actually trust.
I’m beyond happy that there will be more to come from Daphne as it’s always a good sign when you finish a book wanting more. Do not expect a fast paced thriller as this is more a book to slowly take in so you don’t miss a trick.
I knew a little about Hitler and the Nazi’s obsession with the occult but the research that has gone into this expanded on that and like most obsessions they can often become your downfall.
I liked how it started on the stage and introduced Jonty and Daphne and how after their act they are driven away at speed only to find themselves in prison. Alongside others with special talents they are recruited by the secret service and become part of Section W. This is the section where you learn just how much went in to winning the war. How the women are treated differently, almost like secretaries and the skirt scene was just too good.
This is abundant with richly detailed illusions to the point even the reader is fooled. Daphne Devine is a wonderful character and I was aghast as the situation she finds herself becomes increasingly perilous but also not entirely shocked that as a civilian she is unsure who she can actually trust.
I’m beyond happy that there will be more to come from Daphne as it’s always a good sign when you finish a book wanting more. Do not expect a fast paced thriller as this is more a book to slowly take in so you don’t miss a trick.
July 12, 2025
Wanted something easy to read and this fulfilled it! Not sure I was gripped enough to seek out the next books in the series
November 13, 2025
can i simultaneously appreciate what a book is trying to convey but also have no idea what’s happening and also find it incredibly boring?
May 11, 2024
June 1940 & Daphne Devine is working as assistant to stage magician Jonty Trevelyan, aka the Grand Mystique. One evening they are called to a hush-hush meeting with the secret service who ask them to join the war effort. They wish to exploit Hitler's belief in the occult & halt his planned invasion of Britain (Operation Sea Lion) by means of deception & misdirection.
Loosely based on the planned but hastily called off invasion of Britain by the Germany army, this sounded really interesting. The first chapter was definitely intriguing as the reader is dropped headlong into the clandestine meeting between Jonty, Daphne, & the secret service. Unfortunately after that things slowed down a bit & for such an interesting subject, it took an age to actually get going again as Jonty & Daphne went from one place to another without much actually happening.
I liked the camaraderie between the different groups of women, i.e. the lumberjills & Daphne. The book also deftly showed the divide that still existed between the sexes where the women weren't allowed to be seated to eat before all the men had finished, & that they were still treated with disdain by some men. Even in the midst of war, women were expected to maintain a glamorous look as "beauty is your duty."
Overall, although the plot itself was nicely done, it was quite slow paced for most of the book & the ending was quite abrupt. It seems that there may be more books to come but I am undecided as to whether to read the next.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Oneworld Publishers/Magpie, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Loosely based on the planned but hastily called off invasion of Britain by the Germany army, this sounded really interesting. The first chapter was definitely intriguing as the reader is dropped headlong into the clandestine meeting between Jonty, Daphne, & the secret service. Unfortunately after that things slowed down a bit & for such an interesting subject, it took an age to actually get going again as Jonty & Daphne went from one place to another without much actually happening.
I liked the camaraderie between the different groups of women, i.e. the lumberjills & Daphne. The book also deftly showed the divide that still existed between the sexes where the women weren't allowed to be seated to eat before all the men had finished, & that they were still treated with disdain by some men. Even in the midst of war, women were expected to maintain a glamorous look as "beauty is your duty."
Overall, although the plot itself was nicely done, it was quite slow paced for most of the book & the ending was quite abrupt. It seems that there may be more books to come but I am undecided as to whether to read the next.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Oneworld Publishers/Magpie, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
April 9, 2024
3.5⭐️
An enjoyable introduction to what will be a three book series. I was getting a bit annoyed that there was a concentration on illusion and stage type magic and not enough on occultism but it certainly picks up towards the end and looks set to be further explored in book two. A definite page turner, fast-paced with interesting characters, written in Syd Moore's uncomplicated readable style, I look forward to continuing on with the series.
An enjoyable introduction to what will be a three book series. I was getting a bit annoyed that there was a concentration on illusion and stage type magic and not enough on occultism but it certainly picks up towards the end and looks set to be further explored in book two. A definite page turner, fast-paced with interesting characters, written in Syd Moore's uncomplicated readable style, I look forward to continuing on with the series.
March 24, 2025
Loved this “girl’s own” style Second World War story of plucky British volunteers from all walks of life being immersed into the spooky world of the occult in a bid to battle the third reichs dastardly plot to invade England . Great period detail and larger than life characters had me gripped from early on. . This is however the first of a trilogy so much of the tale has yet to be revealed. Book two hopefully sometime 2025 . Look forward to more of Daphne Divine and her bunch of cohorts
March 18, 2025
Loved this book, was rooting for Daphne from early on! Not going to spoil for future readers but you will thoroughly enjoy this ride! Can’t wait for Daphne’s next adventure
April 26, 2024
I would like to start this review by saying thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy of The Grand Illusion.
I love all of Syd’s books and this will be added to my collection upon its release.
The characters are interesting and Daphne is a brilliant strong female character.
The plot is well written and a lot of research has been done to bring us this book which is evident when reading because it gives us in my opinion one of the best insights into World War ll
I have always loved Syd’s writing style, I am always kept interested. I felt like I travelled back to the war while reading this. The writing itself was steadily paced throughout the book and was very descriptive and informative
I am looking forward to the next instalment
I love all of Syd’s books and this will be added to my collection upon its release.
The characters are interesting and Daphne is a brilliant strong female character.
The plot is well written and a lot of research has been done to bring us this book which is evident when reading because it gives us in my opinion one of the best insights into World War ll
I have always loved Syd’s writing style, I am always kept interested. I felt like I travelled back to the war while reading this. The writing itself was steadily paced throughout the book and was very descriptive and informative
I am looking forward to the next instalment
April 9, 2024
I’m a sucker for anything set in World War ll times and the premise of the story sounded really exciting however I was a little disappointed.
The story was a little slow to start although I understand the necessity to build the plot. We start off learning about Daphne Devine, the stage assistant to The Grand Mystique and their call from the Secret Service, which all sounds very exciting. At times I did feel intrigued but the feeling didn’t last long and I had to push through.
As they manoeuvre their way through the very unglamorous life as secret spies tasked with infiltrating occult obsession they meet and work with some of the British Secret Services best astrologers, illusionists and theatre performers you expect there to be some serious excitement but it just fell slightly short.
If you enjoy Historical Fiction that’s thrilling but a little more on the calmer side I would recommend this book.
The story was a little slow to start although I understand the necessity to build the plot. We start off learning about Daphne Devine, the stage assistant to The Grand Mystique and their call from the Secret Service, which all sounds very exciting. At times I did feel intrigued but the feeling didn’t last long and I had to push through.
As they manoeuvre their way through the very unglamorous life as secret spies tasked with infiltrating occult obsession they meet and work with some of the British Secret Services best astrologers, illusionists and theatre performers you expect there to be some serious excitement but it just fell slightly short.
If you enjoy Historical Fiction that’s thrilling but a little more on the calmer side I would recommend this book.
August 11, 2024
It's not for me, this book. I didn't like the style of writing. I didn't like the use of present tense. I didn't like the heroine. I didn't like the lack of plot. It took me ages to read it and I couldn't wait to finish it just to be done with it. The "climax" of the book left me rolling my eyes and cursing the stupidity of Daphne. This is apparently the first of three books, but I won't be picking up any of the subsequent books.
May 31, 2024
Tedious in the extreme, unconvincing with plot holes and and a number of non-sequiturs. Not sure what justifies the hype around this book, and I definitely won’t be reading more.
April 28, 2025
It's easy to mistake this book for a historical fiction/fantasy crossover, but apart from one small element, it is straightforward fiction in a historical setting. The military had shown an interest in camouflage in the First World War, when some ships were given disruptive or 'dazzle' paintwork that made it hard to see where the ship began and ended or what its direction of travel was. But the whole business was supercharged from 1939.
A rag-tag group of professionals including a zoologist, artists and a stage magician designed camouflage and fakery both to hide machinery and make fake airfields to distract bombers. Later guns and tanks would be disguised to look like trucks. Syd Moore sets her fictional team in this world, but faced with an even bigger challenge: trying to prevent the German invasion of Britain by playing on the occult leanings of Hitler's high ranking officers.
The central character, Daphne Devine is stage assistant to the illusionist Jonty Trevalyan. She is pulled into this plan, despite mixed feelings from the military about a woman's involvement. Devine is an appealing character, reminiscent of Amanda Fitton in Margery Allingham's 1933 novel Sweet Danger (later reappearing as Campion's wife). Where Trevalyan's role is primarily limited to devising a mechanism that will be used to give the appearance of a 'real' occult ceremony, Devine goes though much more and is central to the ceremony being pulled off.
It's a great setting for a story, and Moore makes the most of the clash between the army's inflexibility and the exotic nature of the team attempting to produce the grand illusion. She even slips in a passing reference to Dennis Wheatley for older readers. It was an enjoyable read, but is distinctly slow paced, apart from the action scenes. For example, we don't even get an inkling as to why Devine and Trevalyan have been recruited until around page 181. Part of the slowness was due to a lot of inner monologues - and the use of the present tense, often employed to give more of a sense of immediacy doesn't overcome this.
One entertaining point was the use of a variant of the Dan Simons and Christopher Chabris ball pass counting experiment as a way to establish the awareness of a series of recruits. The actual experiment wasn't undertaken until decades later, of course, and it's very unlikely that it would have worked with the static test used of counting skittles, rather than the dynamic ball passes in the modern experiment - but it's a fun addition to the storyline.
The element of fantasy comes in where there appears to be some doubt as to whether or not the ceremony had an actual effect - which felt a little out of place in what was working as a straightforward historical novel. There was also an oddity that it was clear that the deception would only work if the occult ceremony could be reported back to German high command (almost certainly with moving pictures). That this happens seems to be accidental, rather than being an essential that had to be arranged by the team, which is odd to say the least.
Overall, though, this is a really original use of one of the stranger developments of the Second World War and how it might have been taken to new heights.
A rag-tag group of professionals including a zoologist, artists and a stage magician designed camouflage and fakery both to hide machinery and make fake airfields to distract bombers. Later guns and tanks would be disguised to look like trucks. Syd Moore sets her fictional team in this world, but faced with an even bigger challenge: trying to prevent the German invasion of Britain by playing on the occult leanings of Hitler's high ranking officers.
The central character, Daphne Devine is stage assistant to the illusionist Jonty Trevalyan. She is pulled into this plan, despite mixed feelings from the military about a woman's involvement. Devine is an appealing character, reminiscent of Amanda Fitton in Margery Allingham's 1933 novel Sweet Danger (later reappearing as Campion's wife). Where Trevalyan's role is primarily limited to devising a mechanism that will be used to give the appearance of a 'real' occult ceremony, Devine goes though much more and is central to the ceremony being pulled off.
It's a great setting for a story, and Moore makes the most of the clash between the army's inflexibility and the exotic nature of the team attempting to produce the grand illusion. She even slips in a passing reference to Dennis Wheatley for older readers. It was an enjoyable read, but is distinctly slow paced, apart from the action scenes. For example, we don't even get an inkling as to why Devine and Trevalyan have been recruited until around page 181. Part of the slowness was due to a lot of inner monologues - and the use of the present tense, often employed to give more of a sense of immediacy doesn't overcome this.
One entertaining point was the use of a variant of the Dan Simons and Christopher Chabris ball pass counting experiment as a way to establish the awareness of a series of recruits. The actual experiment wasn't undertaken until decades later, of course, and it's very unlikely that it would have worked with the static test used of counting skittles, rather than the dynamic ball passes in the modern experiment - but it's a fun addition to the storyline.
The element of fantasy comes in where there appears to be some doubt as to whether or not the ceremony had an actual effect - which felt a little out of place in what was working as a straightforward historical novel. There was also an oddity that it was clear that the deception would only work if the occult ceremony could be reported back to German high command (almost certainly with moving pictures). That this happens seems to be accidental, rather than being an essential that had to be arranged by the team, which is odd to say the least.
Overall, though, this is a really original use of one of the stranger developments of the Second World War and how it might have been taken to new heights.
April 8, 2024
The Grand Illusion - set during the Second World War - takes place in the same world as Moore's Essex Witch mysteries (we meet Septimus!) It isn't I think a direct prequel - but this is the first of three, so who knows where things will go...
Daphne Devine is assistant to stage magician Jonty Trevelyan. Adept at being cut in half, tied up, and handling concealed doves, she's about to face a whole new scale of challenge as she and her boss are recruited to a shadowy branch of the UK's Security Service. In the first half of the book we're shown a bewildering number of different activities of Section W, with the two unclear exactly where they fit. I rather enjoyed this tour d'horizon, which creates an authentically wartime sense of barely-controlled chaos, of being sent from pillar to post and back again. Are they engaged in valuable work or is everyone just going round in circles?
It's a world where the brilliant and war-winning plan may sit on the same table as the bonkers and time-wasting one. Indeed, they may come from the same pen, on the same day. There is a sense of near panic, of a nation and Government which are, behind Churchill's stirring rhetoric, ready to try anything that may bring victory, or avert defeat.
So we see elaborate deceptions, suited to a stage illusionist. These are things it's known took place (although my understanding is that some of the details have never been revealed). We also see more troubling plans - ostensibly directed at a known weakness of the Third Reich, its obsession with occult ritual and pseudohistory. Playing on such a weakness might seem wise, and again, Jonty's and Daphne's talents in illusion and deception might boost the effect of that, but is there more going on here besides? We are in the Essex Witches universe, after all.
Gradually, and teasingly, Moore creates a setting filled with distortions and red herrings, one where it's not clear just who is manipulating who. What matters more, illusion or reality? Is the febrile wartime atmosphere perhaps fertile ground for thinkers who are normally marginalised? Might they use it to their advantage, even if ostensibly what's going on is simply psyops? Just who is falling victim the that "grand illusion"?
Questions, questions - with some answers, but many, teasingly, withheld.
Everything that has happened may have a rational explanation. Or there may be other stuff going on. As tempting as it may be to rush through this book to the conclusion, it bears careful attention though because I think there are some clues... and I'll be looking forward to future novels in this series for some of those answers.
Turning to the characters, I loved Daphne. Trapped by circumstances in a difficult corner - her family connections make her an objection of suspicion to some, and give the Government leverage over her so that in many respects she's not free to say "no" when the Ministry comes knocking - she plays a difficult hand well. Even though those around her frequently underestimate her capabilities (being female, they often don't seem to expect much of her) she continually steps up and sees the way through. Jonty and the others are perhaps a bit less-well defined, but as Daphne is the focus that works fine for me. What does come through, as external circumstances get more desperate, is a rising sense of internal tension in Daphne. She's clearly being swept to some major trial or crisis and she responds to that knowledge, but Moore gives little away and while there is a respite by the end of the book I didn't think that matters had come to a head. In a story with plenty of menace, threats and talk of spies, Fifth-columnists and collaborators it isn't clear whether the threat is of espionage or the supernatural, or both, and I suspect there is more of it to come.
I'm really looking forward to the next part of this series!
Daphne Devine is assistant to stage magician Jonty Trevelyan. Adept at being cut in half, tied up, and handling concealed doves, she's about to face a whole new scale of challenge as she and her boss are recruited to a shadowy branch of the UK's Security Service. In the first half of the book we're shown a bewildering number of different activities of Section W, with the two unclear exactly where they fit. I rather enjoyed this tour d'horizon, which creates an authentically wartime sense of barely-controlled chaos, of being sent from pillar to post and back again. Are they engaged in valuable work or is everyone just going round in circles?
It's a world where the brilliant and war-winning plan may sit on the same table as the bonkers and time-wasting one. Indeed, they may come from the same pen, on the same day. There is a sense of near panic, of a nation and Government which are, behind Churchill's stirring rhetoric, ready to try anything that may bring victory, or avert defeat.
So we see elaborate deceptions, suited to a stage illusionist. These are things it's known took place (although my understanding is that some of the details have never been revealed). We also see more troubling plans - ostensibly directed at a known weakness of the Third Reich, its obsession with occult ritual and pseudohistory. Playing on such a weakness might seem wise, and again, Jonty's and Daphne's talents in illusion and deception might boost the effect of that, but is there more going on here besides? We are in the Essex Witches universe, after all.
Gradually, and teasingly, Moore creates a setting filled with distortions and red herrings, one where it's not clear just who is manipulating who. What matters more, illusion or reality? Is the febrile wartime atmosphere perhaps fertile ground for thinkers who are normally marginalised? Might they use it to their advantage, even if ostensibly what's going on is simply psyops? Just who is falling victim the that "grand illusion"?
Questions, questions - with some answers, but many, teasingly, withheld.
Everything that has happened may have a rational explanation. Or there may be other stuff going on. As tempting as it may be to rush through this book to the conclusion, it bears careful attention though because I think there are some clues... and I'll be looking forward to future novels in this series for some of those answers.
Turning to the characters, I loved Daphne. Trapped by circumstances in a difficult corner - her family connections make her an objection of suspicion to some, and give the Government leverage over her so that in many respects she's not free to say "no" when the Ministry comes knocking - she plays a difficult hand well. Even though those around her frequently underestimate her capabilities (being female, they often don't seem to expect much of her) she continually steps up and sees the way through. Jonty and the others are perhaps a bit less-well defined, but as Daphne is the focus that works fine for me. What does come through, as external circumstances get more desperate, is a rising sense of internal tension in Daphne. She's clearly being swept to some major trial or crisis and she responds to that knowledge, but Moore gives little away and while there is a respite by the end of the book I didn't think that matters had come to a head. In a story with plenty of menace, threats and talk of spies, Fifth-columnists and collaborators it isn't clear whether the threat is of espionage or the supernatural, or both, and I suspect there is more of it to come.
I'm really looking forward to the next part of this series!
October 16, 2024
So, full disclosure, the cover of this book made me pick it up. The blurb inside the cover made me check it out of the library without hesitation. The British using the Nazi’s obsession with the occult against them? Sold.
After finishing it, I can’t decide if I liked it or not. If I could give it 2.5 stars, I probably would. There were times I just wanted to throw it across the room. To start with, to say that it is slow to get going is an understatement. In my opinion, nothing much really happens for the first 270 pages (of a 360 page book). I mean, there’s a LOT of exposition, but upon finishing the book, a lot of that exposition just felt superfluous. Characters were described in depth to often never appear again (or barely be mentioned in passing). Now I guess its possible some of the exposition was intended for subsequent books in what is apparently intended as a series (the author indicates as much in her acknowledgements). Also, after all that exposition, I found the denouement rather…underwhelming? After all that build up, I just felt like the end just didn’t deliver. Additionally, while I really liked how the main protagonist is written, I overall didn’t care for the author’s writing style.
Spoilers+++++++++
Finally, I felt like there was a big plot hole in that Daphne, our heroine, never seemed to question -for whom- they were performing the illusion at the end. Who was the audience? If she’d stopped to question that at all (because I did—they went to the trouble of creating the illusion in the midst of a very real, at least to the “occultists” involved, ritual). The whole time I was wondering who the audience was. Obviously German spies of some form, but was it double agents, fifth columnists, or hidden witnesses? If she ever wondered that, she never would have worried about stopping the German spy. And I just found it beyond believable that she never stopped to wonder who the illusion was intended for.
Overall, I’m not sure if I’d pick up the next book in this series or not.
After finishing it, I can’t decide if I liked it or not. If I could give it 2.5 stars, I probably would. There were times I just wanted to throw it across the room. To start with, to say that it is slow to get going is an understatement. In my opinion, nothing much really happens for the first 270 pages (of a 360 page book). I mean, there’s a LOT of exposition, but upon finishing the book, a lot of that exposition just felt superfluous. Characters were described in depth to often never appear again (or barely be mentioned in passing). Now I guess its possible some of the exposition was intended for subsequent books in what is apparently intended as a series (the author indicates as much in her acknowledgements). Also, after all that exposition, I found the denouement rather…underwhelming? After all that build up, I just felt like the end just didn’t deliver. Additionally, while I really liked how the main protagonist is written, I overall didn’t care for the author’s writing style.
Spoilers+++++++++
Finally, I felt like there was a big plot hole in that Daphne, our heroine, never seemed to question -for whom- they were performing the illusion at the end. Who was the audience? If she’d stopped to question that at all (because I did—they went to the trouble of creating the illusion in the midst of a very real, at least to the “occultists” involved, ritual). The whole time I was wondering who the audience was. Obviously German spies of some form, but was it double agents, fifth columnists, or hidden witnesses? If she ever wondered that, she never would have worried about stopping the German spy. And I just found it beyond believable that she never stopped to wonder who the illusion was intended for.
Overall, I’m not sure if I’d pick up the next book in this series or not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2025
The cover looked interesting and the blurb looked enticing. It looked like it could be educational, entertaining and fun and I was looking foward to reading more about Hitler and his obsession with the occult. To be honest, I had no other preconceptions but I was expecting a certain style given the background provided on Syd Moore.
I think she has done a good job of describing the way women were seen at that time, although Daphne is an accomplished performer, arguably the one who makes the magician set work and is seen as an equal to her magician partner, others seem incapable of thinking a woman can be nothing more than a secretary. Daphne soon puts this misconception right! I'm not sure I warmed to the emotional side of Daphne quite as much. Sure, she is entitled to have such feelings and even allow her common sense to be washed away by her errant heart but I didn't want her to have so much mush inside. Mind you, the story wouldn't have worked if she hadn't gone chasing after the silly Canadian.
Others have said it was a slow starter, and it certainly was. It was a bit turgid in the middle bit and I kept thinking it was a debut novel but when Syd got her teeth (or typewriter) into the occcult bit at the end it was obvious she was in more secure territory as the writing was fluid, expansive and addictive. I did lose my way in the fervour of the writing here and became rather confused about what was actually going on.
For all that, my question is there: did Hitler really put so much store by the occult and could something as described in this book have had such a major impact on his decsion making and turn the tide of the war? I guess they were (much) simpler times then.
I think she has done a good job of describing the way women were seen at that time, although Daphne is an accomplished performer, arguably the one who makes the magician set work and is seen as an equal to her magician partner, others seem incapable of thinking a woman can be nothing more than a secretary. Daphne soon puts this misconception right! I'm not sure I warmed to the emotional side of Daphne quite as much. Sure, she is entitled to have such feelings and even allow her common sense to be washed away by her errant heart but I didn't want her to have so much mush inside. Mind you, the story wouldn't have worked if she hadn't gone chasing after the silly Canadian.
Others have said it was a slow starter, and it certainly was. It was a bit turgid in the middle bit and I kept thinking it was a debut novel but when Syd got her teeth (or typewriter) into the occcult bit at the end it was obvious she was in more secure territory as the writing was fluid, expansive and addictive. I did lose my way in the fervour of the writing here and became rather confused about what was actually going on.
For all that, my question is there: did Hitler really put so much store by the occult and could something as described in this book have had such a major impact on his decsion making and turn the tide of the war? I guess they were (much) simpler times then.
March 28, 2024
I loved everything about this book, even the cover captures your imagination. This is a book where the quality of the writing and the storytelling combine with a compelling narrative to form an exquisitely told historical thriller. However, this not your usual WW2 thriller it takes a clever slant which makes for a different style of read it fires up your imagination and takes you into a murky world.
The plot is more than interesting and has an ingenuity about it that drew me in from the opening chapter, the plotting of the book is just one area where the book shines, it takes an unusual and interesting premise and weaves a magical story around it. I found the areas written around the world of the illusionist eluminating and fascinating to read
The story is based around an event that allegedly happened in 1940 with the ultimate goal of preventing the German invasion, the author has taken this and weaved a spellbinding narrative around it.
The book is rich with characters who are fully fleshed out and create a real sense of who they are, Daphne is a more than interesting person, on some level shy and due to her upbringing naive in the ways of the world, you see her change throughout the book with strong sense of independence and a daring do attitude more than able to find her way and stand her ground in what to some degree was a man’s world Awoman not averse to taking a risk. I also liked that her relationship with Jonty (the grand illusionist) is kept on professional level, it would have been so easy for it to have taken another direction, but then I think it would have lost something,
The story has a natural flow to it there is an urgency about the book as things are brought to a head, Jonty has to create a masterful illusion with time not on his side it becomes a race against time. The book is wonderfully paced and is peppered with intrigue throughout the book there is an atmosphere of mystery. You need to discover the subtleties of the plot for yourself
The writing gives you a real sense of place and time and brings the period to life
The ending of the book is perfectly set up left me wondering what will happen next
Overall this was a read which had me enraptured and caught in its spell, a book that I would highly recommend. This is a series I am eager to read more of.
The plot is more than interesting and has an ingenuity about it that drew me in from the opening chapter, the plotting of the book is just one area where the book shines, it takes an unusual and interesting premise and weaves a magical story around it. I found the areas written around the world of the illusionist eluminating and fascinating to read
The story is based around an event that allegedly happened in 1940 with the ultimate goal of preventing the German invasion, the author has taken this and weaved a spellbinding narrative around it.
The book is rich with characters who are fully fleshed out and create a real sense of who they are, Daphne is a more than interesting person, on some level shy and due to her upbringing naive in the ways of the world, you see her change throughout the book with strong sense of independence and a daring do attitude more than able to find her way and stand her ground in what to some degree was a man’s world Awoman not averse to taking a risk. I also liked that her relationship with Jonty (the grand illusionist) is kept on professional level, it would have been so easy for it to have taken another direction, but then I think it would have lost something,
The story has a natural flow to it there is an urgency about the book as things are brought to a head, Jonty has to create a masterful illusion with time not on his side it becomes a race against time. The book is wonderfully paced and is peppered with intrigue throughout the book there is an atmosphere of mystery. You need to discover the subtleties of the plot for yourself
The writing gives you a real sense of place and time and brings the period to life
The ending of the book is perfectly set up left me wondering what will happen next
Overall this was a read which had me enraptured and caught in its spell, a book that I would highly recommend. This is a series I am eager to read more of.
October 13, 2024
I have never dropped a book so quickly. I picked this up at the local library and was originally excited by the description of the plot, WWII espionage mixed with the occult? Yes please!
This book was absolutely disappointing. Literally only halfway through the first page of the first chapter I knew it was going to be terrible. The first sentence contains not just one or two, but THREE metaphors. Instead of saying a character crossed his arms, he’s a crow. He didn’t just take a deep breath he filled his lungs. A character literally strokes their mustache. The dialogue doesn’t even stand out on the page because every piece of 5 word sentences are then sandwiched between inane metaphors and overly dramatic descriptions of the characters reaching for cigarette cases and playing with string in their laps. I’m all for detailed descriptions, I like a good metaphor. But good god this reads horribly not just pretentious but overly dramatic, shallow characterization and just BAD BAD BAD. I kept reading for much longer than I wanted or needed to, trying to give this a chance and even did something I normally avoid like the plague and skipped ahead looking at future chapters to see if the writing improves. Some dialogue does become less ensconced in overly verbose descriptors, but god the metaphors never seem to stop. Three for every page at the very least I kid you not. I am absolutely convinced that if I keep reading this book at some point some character is going to look at the FL with their piercing blue orbs. Not even the most avid masochist could or should subject themselves to this torture. Absolutely not.
This book was absolutely disappointing. Literally only halfway through the first page of the first chapter I knew it was going to be terrible. The first sentence contains not just one or two, but THREE metaphors. Instead of saying a character crossed his arms, he’s a crow. He didn’t just take a deep breath he filled his lungs. A character literally strokes their mustache. The dialogue doesn’t even stand out on the page because every piece of 5 word sentences are then sandwiched between inane metaphors and overly dramatic descriptions of the characters reaching for cigarette cases and playing with string in their laps. I’m all for detailed descriptions, I like a good metaphor. But good god this reads horribly not just pretentious but overly dramatic, shallow characterization and just BAD BAD BAD. I kept reading for much longer than I wanted or needed to, trying to give this a chance and even did something I normally avoid like the plague and skipped ahead looking at future chapters to see if the writing improves. Some dialogue does become less ensconced in overly verbose descriptors, but god the metaphors never seem to stop. Three for every page at the very least I kid you not. I am absolutely convinced that if I keep reading this book at some point some character is going to look at the FL with their piercing blue orbs. Not even the most avid masochist could or should subject themselves to this torture. Absolutely not.
April 20, 2024
I was drawn to this book because of its strange inspiration. The author has based her story on an alleged event that took place during World War 2. The secret service- allegedly- staged amagical ritual called the ‘Cone Of Power’ to dissuade Hitler not to invade Britain.
Daphne, is the young Magicians assistant who becomes caught up in this operation and patriotic duty despite her mother being detained in an interment camp because of her heritage. Daphne is a strong ,funny capable women who rises up to the occasion despite her life being placed in danger a few times. I liked the interaction between Jonty and Daphne as well as their illusions which sound impressive.
Daphne and Jonty meet a range of interesting people both civilian and military in the bowels of Wormwood scrubs to plan their daring plan and the interactions between astrologers, theatre performers and the military was a highlight.The author captures the atmosphere of war time Britain, and you can feel the underlying tension as the story progresses.The tension builds as the story progresses to the final finale and I have to confess, the final event sounds magical even if it was staged!
I really enjoyed this book, especially as there were so many aspects of World War 2 , I was not aware of such as the British internment camps that tore families apart. But I loved how the author described Daphne’s mother dealing with this and the reaction of the people working in the camp.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion
Daphne, is the young Magicians assistant who becomes caught up in this operation and patriotic duty despite her mother being detained in an interment camp because of her heritage. Daphne is a strong ,funny capable women who rises up to the occasion despite her life being placed in danger a few times. I liked the interaction between Jonty and Daphne as well as their illusions which sound impressive.
Daphne and Jonty meet a range of interesting people both civilian and military in the bowels of Wormwood scrubs to plan their daring plan and the interactions between astrologers, theatre performers and the military was a highlight.The author captures the atmosphere of war time Britain, and you can feel the underlying tension as the story progresses.The tension builds as the story progresses to the final finale and I have to confess, the final event sounds magical even if it was staged!
I really enjoyed this book, especially as there were so many aspects of World War 2 , I was not aware of such as the British internment camps that tore families apart. But I loved how the author described Daphne’s mother dealing with this and the reaction of the people working in the camp.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion
April 8, 2024
Now normally when I see that a book is set during World War Two I avoid it, it's a period that I'm generally not a fan of reading about because of family history and it always brings forward strong emotions, But this blurb was too good and I stepped out of my comfort zone for it. And boy am I glad I did. Syd Moore's writing instantly draws you into the story, from the War Memos, propaganda and various typed sections that break up parts of the book from Daphne's point of view to hearing what she and Jonty get drawn into you are engulfed into that world. From the first chapter where you can feel the tension coming off the pages to the mild exasperation from Daphne when she is in the Section W meeting room for the first time, every emotion that Syd Moore writes comes off the page at you and brings you into that moment with the character.
I was completely hooked from pretty much the first page, but definitely after that first chapter, I sat reading and lost the day to it happily and I honestly can't wait to see what happens with the rest of this series. At least I'm crossing my fingers that this is the beginning of a series because I've really enjoyed stepping into this wartime world and it caused me to see what else Syd Moore has written so now I have a pile of her books to read through, Essex witches series here I come!
I was completely hooked from pretty much the first page, but definitely after that first chapter, I sat reading and lost the day to it happily and I honestly can't wait to see what happens with the rest of this series. At least I'm crossing my fingers that this is the beginning of a series because I've really enjoyed stepping into this wartime world and it caused me to see what else Syd Moore has written so now I have a pile of her books to read through, Essex witches series here I come!
May 6, 2024
Discover the locations in the novel here
When you come across a novel that is inspired by the Nazi’s interest in the occult, well, it’s a given read isn’t it. You have to read a novel inspired by this as it’s something that is so odd and unusual I can honestly say I have never read a novel based on it before.
The story unfolds at a nice pace and I was drawn into the world of magic and the occult from the start. I was very interested in keep in mind that this was happening in war time. What a mix! The true and very strange facts (further outlines in the author note) shows just what a fascinating history this was. We go from a theatre in London to Wormwood Scrubs prison and then off to Fareham Castle and the New Forest. Locations are key and reveal not just a good story but a fascinating hidden story of history!
The characters were strong, the story too but it’s the way the author weaved so many threads together that won me over. To include so many details and locations, yet still managed to create a fully-developed story with a nod to the fascinating yet dark past….just magical.
Recommended!
July 8, 2024
This book started off well introducing the characters of Daphne, a magician's assistant and her employer Jonty. It was an interesting premise, that during WWII, such desperate measures were needed that the government were willing to try all sorts of weird and wonderful schemes to fool the Germans and gain the upper hand. In this story, Jonty and Daphne create an illusion to fool the Germans and although it sounds far fetched, we all know now that things like Operation Mincemeat did actually happen so there's no reason why this story couldn't have some element of truth.
That said, although it starts well, and the character of Daphne is very likeable, I found the book overall didn't really work that well. It seemed to lose itself about half way through and the ending was disappointing. The ending left it open for further books staring Daphne Devine but it didn't make me want to read anymore of these.
There were some good themes around how women were treated by men, how men constantly underestimated Daphne (because she was a woman) but I felt the whole 'magic' and occult themes didn't really work and at times, were confusing.
So overall, a nice light read, funny in parts with a fun main character but overall the book pittered out towards the end and was not a great read.
That said, although it starts well, and the character of Daphne is very likeable, I found the book overall didn't really work that well. It seemed to lose itself about half way through and the ending was disappointing. The ending left it open for further books staring Daphne Devine but it didn't make me want to read anymore of these.
There were some good themes around how women were treated by men, how men constantly underestimated Daphne (because she was a woman) but I felt the whole 'magic' and occult themes didn't really work and at times, were confusing.
So overall, a nice light read, funny in parts with a fun main character but overall the book pittered out towards the end and was not a great read.
July 30, 2024
On starting this book I felt sure I would be awarding it more than 3 stars as it started it with so much promise. It was tense, intriguing and entertaining at first, and I was as eager as magician's assistant Daphne to learn more about the top-secret mission she and her employer, magician Jonty, had been selected for. Not to mention the wider subject around the mission, namely the belief in the power of the occult within the Nazi high command. However, I found the pace lagged in the middle, with the storyline becoming repetitive, and some of the blend of magic and the occult confusing.
It did pick up towards the end however, and many of the themes running through the book are as relevant today as they were so many decades ago, in particular the pervasive misogyny Daphne and her female counterparts endure.
As the book is the first in a trilogy, I appreciate that the rather abrupt ending, which seemed to leave more than a few loose ends, was no doubt an enticement to read the next book in the series. I would hope for slightly less time spent in the company of Daphne in the next book however, and more with Jonty, an intriguing character who I felt was disappointingly underdeveloped. Overall though, I did enjoy The Grand Illusion enough to look forward to reading the next book in the trilogy when it is released.
It did pick up towards the end however, and many of the themes running through the book are as relevant today as they were so many decades ago, in particular the pervasive misogyny Daphne and her female counterparts endure.
As the book is the first in a trilogy, I appreciate that the rather abrupt ending, which seemed to leave more than a few loose ends, was no doubt an enticement to read the next book in the series. I would hope for slightly less time spent in the company of Daphne in the next book however, and more with Jonty, an intriguing character who I felt was disappointingly underdeveloped. Overall though, I did enjoy The Grand Illusion enough to look forward to reading the next book in the trilogy when it is released.
October 2, 2025
An extremely pleasing start to a new 3 book series that centres around WW2 and the different forces that were used in the fight against the Nazi's. You can really see the extent of the research that the author has undertaken, and seeing how she was inspired to write this story based on real events.
At the heart of the story is a strong female lead, Daphne, who is a stage magicians assistant, so who is used to slight of hand and creating illusions with Jonty to put on a show to the adoring audiences. But both their lives are about to become a little different when the secret service get in touch to join the war effort as new ways are being looked at to fight the enemy, that are a little out of the ordinary - to say the least!
The story is told interspersed with the German propaganda, and you really see the extreme lengths, deadlines and secrecy that the English had to work under to fight the Germans on a different level. You really get a sense of the peril that they were all under, and how they had to commit intensely to the efforts. There's personal peril for Daphne too who is worried for her family and she had that real 'must do' attitude that made her a perfect candidate to be recruited. Can't wait to see what adventures she gets up to in the next book in the series!!
At the heart of the story is a strong female lead, Daphne, who is a stage magicians assistant, so who is used to slight of hand and creating illusions with Jonty to put on a show to the adoring audiences. But both their lives are about to become a little different when the secret service get in touch to join the war effort as new ways are being looked at to fight the enemy, that are a little out of the ordinary - to say the least!
The story is told interspersed with the German propaganda, and you really see the extreme lengths, deadlines and secrecy that the English had to work under to fight the Germans on a different level. You really get a sense of the peril that they were all under, and how they had to commit intensely to the efforts. There's personal peril for Daphne too who is worried for her family and she had that real 'must do' attitude that made her a perfect candidate to be recruited. Can't wait to see what adventures she gets up to in the next book in the series!!
October 9, 2025
I really loved this book. It’s set in 1940 and follows Daphne Devine, a magician’s assistant who ends up recruited into a secret wartime operation using illusion and a bit of the occult to mislead the Nazis. The mix of history, stagecraft, and secrecy is so original. It’s part spy story, part moral mystery, and totally gripping.
Daphne is such a great character, smart, funny, a bit unsure of herself but determined to make sense of what’s happening around her. I loved seeing the war from this angle, away from the front lines but still full of danger and uncertainty. Moore captures that feeling of fear and resilience so well.
The part that really hit me, though, was the mention of the Arandora Star tragedy. I’m so glad Moore included it. It’s one of those real historical moments that doesn’t get talked about enough: the sinking of a ship carrying Italian and German internees, so many of them innocent people caught up in the paranoia of war. The way she wove it into the story felt honest and respectful, and it really stopped me in my tracks. It gave the book an extra layer of humanity and sadness that made it all the more powerful.
Overall, I found The Grand Illusion beautifully written, thoughtful, and completely absorbing. It’s clever without ever feeling cold, and full of heart. Definitely one of Syd Moore’s best.
Daphne is such a great character, smart, funny, a bit unsure of herself but determined to make sense of what’s happening around her. I loved seeing the war from this angle, away from the front lines but still full of danger and uncertainty. Moore captures that feeling of fear and resilience so well.
The part that really hit me, though, was the mention of the Arandora Star tragedy. I’m so glad Moore included it. It’s one of those real historical moments that doesn’t get talked about enough: the sinking of a ship carrying Italian and German internees, so many of them innocent people caught up in the paranoia of war. The way she wove it into the story felt honest and respectful, and it really stopped me in my tracks. It gave the book an extra layer of humanity and sadness that made it all the more powerful.
Overall, I found The Grand Illusion beautifully written, thoughtful, and completely absorbing. It’s clever without ever feeling cold, and full of heart. Definitely one of Syd Moore’s best.
April 4, 2024
I believe this is the first in a new series, I certainly hope so. It is June 1940 and the German Forces have blitzed through Europe and are at the French beaches. Dunkirk has been and gone and Britain knows they are next in line. In London Daphne Devine is working as an assistant to magician Jonty Trevelyan, aka The Grande Mystique. Really well written with a spellbinding plot - pun intended!
Briefly, Daphne and Jonty find themselves, alongside a strange group of people all professing unusual gifts, summoned to a mysterious room under Wormwood Scrubs prison where they learn of a plan to thwart Hitler by using the forces of occultism. The British know the German High Command strongly believe in the occult and plan to use it against them. So Daphne finds herself on a strange and dangerous mission in Southern England. In the process she learns a lot about herself and her capabilities.
I loved how easily an illusion can appear to be something darker. The historical aspects of this were fascinating, clearly well researched and it was great how fact was interwoven with fiction to make a compelling read. Daphne is a great character, full of get up and go, courageous and determined and I’m looking forward to reading more about her. A very entertaining read.
Briefly, Daphne and Jonty find themselves, alongside a strange group of people all professing unusual gifts, summoned to a mysterious room under Wormwood Scrubs prison where they learn of a plan to thwart Hitler by using the forces of occultism. The British know the German High Command strongly believe in the occult and plan to use it against them. So Daphne finds herself on a strange and dangerous mission in Southern England. In the process she learns a lot about herself and her capabilities.
I loved how easily an illusion can appear to be something darker. The historical aspects of this were fascinating, clearly well researched and it was great how fact was interwoven with fiction to make a compelling read. Daphne is a great character, full of get up and go, courageous and determined and I’m looking forward to reading more about her. A very entertaining read.
March 4, 2024
I’m a sucker for a wartime themed story and one that’s shrouded in magic and espionage? Massive yes please, you have ticked my boxes.
And as I continued reading, they continued ticking my list - interesting characters, a compelling story and a great narrative. At times I did wonder where the story was going and what it was trying to achieve as I was a bit confused with the joining of the occult with the precise science of illusion but it still absolutely held me and I was hooked.
It had vibes of ‘The War Machine’ a non fiction book (that read like fiction) on illusionists and magicians during the war which deepened my interest seeing it in a fictional capacity as the main premise itself is just so interesting. You wouldn’t have thought illusionist tricks could have legitimately been used during wartime but it was, and it worked and it certainly makes for a great story. I need more!
It’s set foundations to be a great series and I can’t wait to see where it will go and how it’ll develop. After the ending, I’m intrigued.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
And as I continued reading, they continued ticking my list - interesting characters, a compelling story and a great narrative. At times I did wonder where the story was going and what it was trying to achieve as I was a bit confused with the joining of the occult with the precise science of illusion but it still absolutely held me and I was hooked.
It had vibes of ‘The War Machine’ a non fiction book (that read like fiction) on illusionists and magicians during the war which deepened my interest seeing it in a fictional capacity as the main premise itself is just so interesting. You wouldn’t have thought illusionist tricks could have legitimately been used during wartime but it was, and it worked and it certainly makes for a great story. I need more!
It’s set foundations to be a great series and I can’t wait to see where it will go and how it’ll develop. After the ending, I’m intrigued.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
April 10, 2024
3.5 stars
Thank you to One World publishing for my review copy.
This book was good fun to read. I loved the historical aspect of the world setting as I adore the aesthetics of the 1940s (I do swing dance, and loved the small scene in the book where people are dancing).
One issue I did have with this book was the time settings - it was split into sections, sometimes with a few days between each section, so I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of how much time had passed between the sections.
For the most part, the magic in this book was in the background, and we look at "magic" through the eye of a magician's stagehand, meaning that it was theatrical and grounded in a smoke-and-mirror, deception and illusion approach.
I also love the cover so much. I love how it gives a mysterious and occult vibe, whilst still showing that this is a historical fiction book.
I did read in another review that this is set in the same world as Moore's Essex Witch mysteries, so I may have to check them out.
Thank you to One World publishing for my review copy.
This book was good fun to read. I loved the historical aspect of the world setting as I adore the aesthetics of the 1940s (I do swing dance, and loved the small scene in the book where people are dancing).
One issue I did have with this book was the time settings - it was split into sections, sometimes with a few days between each section, so I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of how much time had passed between the sections.
For the most part, the magic in this book was in the background, and we look at "magic" through the eye of a magician's stagehand, meaning that it was theatrical and grounded in a smoke-and-mirror, deception and illusion approach.
I also love the cover so much. I love how it gives a mysterious and occult vibe, whilst still showing that this is a historical fiction book.
I did read in another review that this is set in the same world as Moore's Essex Witch mysteries, so I may have to check them out.
July 27, 2024
***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
Something of a disappointing read for me, although there are elements which are well done & quite interesting.
I enjoyed the details around camouflage and misdirection, which of course were used in the war, although the narrative felt like it picked up that thread and then parked it for ages before it became vaguely relevant again. I will say when it did become relevant to the story it was a highlight of the story.
I found the main character somewhat flat and not very well rounded, and the pace (and indeed plot) didn’t seem to pick up until well into the second half of the book. Whilst everything about her backstory is ultimately utilised - her contortion and magic trick background, her ancestry, all come into play at certain points - she felt a bit too specific to the plot to feel like a real person.
I also felt there were a number of questions left unanswered - some of this may be explained by this being the first of a trilogy, but some I think may simply be the result of poor plotting.
Something of a disappointing read for me, although there are elements which are well done & quite interesting.
I enjoyed the details around camouflage and misdirection, which of course were used in the war, although the narrative felt like it picked up that thread and then parked it for ages before it became vaguely relevant again. I will say when it did become relevant to the story it was a highlight of the story.
I found the main character somewhat flat and not very well rounded, and the pace (and indeed plot) didn’t seem to pick up until well into the second half of the book. Whilst everything about her backstory is ultimately utilised - her contortion and magic trick background, her ancestry, all come into play at certain points - she felt a bit too specific to the plot to feel like a real person.
I also felt there were a number of questions left unanswered - some of this may be explained by this being the first of a trilogy, but some I think may simply be the result of poor plotting.
April 4, 2024
The writing was rich in description and engaging.
The story opened with a page setting the scene, then went on to a typed message. The story then started and was split into numerous parts each with a date on. Within these parts were numbered chapters. There were then random letters/ information about the war from both sides interspersed throughout.
The dated parts gave you the timeline in which everything was happening. Whilst it grounded the story, it also made you share the concern that the characters were feeling as time was running out!
The chapters were a mix of lengths with some of them having spacing to split them. This gave an interesting pace to the book. A lot happened at the beginning right up to the middle of the story with lots of detail and context given.
The characters were great. The main character went through a lot and you felt for her. I enjoyed being on her journey. War has an effect on everyone and this story illustrated this well. The messages of support and bravery shone through.
As the reader you were kept as much in the dark about things as the main character, so you were discovering things at the same time that she was which was interesting.
Lastly the settings. I loved travelling around the UK, never quite knowing where we ended up. Again this helped convey to you how the character was feeling. The settings were an integral part to the story and they were described as well as possible, but still leaving that wartime air of mystery.
Overall a cleverly presented story blending fact and fiction well.
The story opened with a page setting the scene, then went on to a typed message. The story then started and was split into numerous parts each with a date on. Within these parts were numbered chapters. There were then random letters/ information about the war from both sides interspersed throughout.
The dated parts gave you the timeline in which everything was happening. Whilst it grounded the story, it also made you share the concern that the characters were feeling as time was running out!
The chapters were a mix of lengths with some of them having spacing to split them. This gave an interesting pace to the book. A lot happened at the beginning right up to the middle of the story with lots of detail and context given.
The characters were great. The main character went through a lot and you felt for her. I enjoyed being on her journey. War has an effect on everyone and this story illustrated this well. The messages of support and bravery shone through.
As the reader you were kept as much in the dark about things as the main character, so you were discovering things at the same time that she was which was interesting.
Lastly the settings. I loved travelling around the UK, never quite knowing where we ended up. Again this helped convey to you how the character was feeling. The settings were an integral part to the story and they were described as well as possible, but still leaving that wartime air of mystery.
Overall a cleverly presented story blending fact and fiction well.
June 20, 2024
I’m a huge fan of historical fiction set during WWII, so I was very excited when I found this book (in a lovely little bookstore in Belfast, I have to add). The magical aspects of the plot are completely different than what I’ve seen or read before, which was really intriguing, so of course I bought it and read it.
Now, I will say, I feel like the middle kind of trudged along a bit too slowly. It wasn’t really until that last third or maybe fourth where I felt like things had really picked up.
Originally I wasn’t a big fan of the ending, but then I read the author’s note and acknowledgments at the end- something I hardly do- and it actually made me feel better. I don’t really know how to explain it (spoiler free, at least) so I will say I recommend reading the last few pages.
Rating: 3.6/5
Recommend? Yes
Now, I will say, I feel like the middle kind of trudged along a bit too slowly. It wasn’t really until that last third or maybe fourth where I felt like things had really picked up.
Originally I wasn’t a big fan of the ending, but then I read the author’s note and acknowledgments at the end- something I hardly do- and it actually made me feel better. I don’t really know how to explain it (spoiler free, at least) so I will say I recommend reading the last few pages.
Rating: 3.6/5
Recommend? Yes
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