My Dear Illusion

My Dear Illusion #1

by Sarah Ready

Life, my dear friend, is illusion.

Life, my dear friend, is illusion. Some people will tell you different. Some will have you believe that everything you see and know is true. But I’m here to tell you, everything—everything—is illusion.
What can you trust? Nothing.
Who can you trust? No one.
No one.
Except me. Trust me.

Welcome to the dangerous and secret-laden world of the conjurers where friends are enemies, alliances are made and broken in a heartbeat, and you never know who to trust.

Twenty-two-year-old Mari Locke grew up in Hell Gate, a home for lost souls in New York City. While some consider Hell Gate evil, she’s always considered the conjurers worse. After all, their illusions plunge the world into wars, famines, and plagues. She’s spent her entire life hiding from the conjurers because of who and what she is—someone with the rare ability to untie illusion.

Everything changes on the night of her seventh death. Suddenly, Mari is thrust into the Hundred Year Games. A brutal, deadly event that decides which conjurer will rule the world for the next one hundred years.

Her ticket to the games is Finn Alterra, a half-conjurer, half-human with no chance of winning. Her get him to the winner’s podium by whatever means necessary, steal the crown off his head, and kill him. If she succeeds she’ll save the world and herself.

But in this world there are games within games and illusions on top of illusions. Nothing is as it seems and no one is who they claim to be. As Mari grows closer to Finn, the man she’s destined to kill, she begins to question what is illusion and what is real. And most importantly, if either she or Finn will leave the games alive.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Forced Proximity

906 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2025

About the author

Author Sarah Ready writes contemporary romance and romantic comedy.

Her books have been described as “euphoric”, “heartwarming” and “laugh out loud”. Her debut novel The Fall in Love Checklist was hailed as “the unicorn read of 2020”. She loves to write fast-paced, emotionally compelling romances about quirky, smart women and the men who love them.

Her works include Josh and Gemma Make a Baby, Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around, French Holiday and romcoms in the Soul Mates in Romeo series. Her debut novel The Fall in Love Checklist was hailed as “the unicorn read of 2020”. She lives in the Caribbean with her family and water-loving pup.

Find more books and interesting tidbits at www.sarahready.com.

Reviews

[Noi (in & out)]

HECK YEAH
A NEW SARAH BOOK

But why is it 900+ pages? A little scary.

[Jill (readinginpjs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

the more I think about this book, the more I fall in love with it 🥹

Thank you W.W. Crown for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

✦ tropes & stuff:
🖤 dark romantasy
💫 magic & illusions
🖤 powerful families
💫 high-stakes games
🖤 soulmates
💫 plot twists
🖤 multiple POVs

•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•

ebook | ⭐️: 5

When I saw Sarah Ready, one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, was writing romantasy, I HAD to read it!

I quickly grabbed it the second I saw it on NetGalley, then noticed it was 900ish pages 😳 AND DARK romantasy 🙃

I can’t say this is something I read often (or barely ever?, but I trust Sarah even though I was a little scared 😅

WELL LET ME TELL YOU THIS WAS ALL WELL WORTH IT!

I was IMMEDIATELY hooked on this story/these characters, though it did take me a little while to wrap my head around all the world building & adjust to the writing style.
I’ve definitely never read anything like this 🤯

This story is told from two POVs - Mari, retelling *someone* the whole story, and the Wind’s perspective
LIKE HOW DID I FALL IN LOVE WITH WIND?! 🥹

I LOVED all the characters, the main and SO MANY of the side characters as well 😍
Mari, Finn, Luvic, Darin, Jacob, even Celia… I just wanted to keep reading about all of them!

This is the kind of book you have to hang in there to “get” it - and then your mind will be blown and you’ll want to read it all over again🙃

Just going over my highlights had me sobbing, knowing what I know now, and I’m very much hoping this releases on audio before book 2 for a reread!

📖 My Dear Illusion by Sarah Ready
📚 book 1 of series
🖤: dark romantasy

*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
_______
just finished - I am BROKEN
(no surprise there, wouldn't be a Sarah Ready book if I walked out unharmed 😅)

initial thoughts:
this was LONG, took me almost 2 weeks to read
I immediately was hooked on the characters, which had me commit to seeing this one through, otherwise it might have been a DNF early on (I'm so glad it wasn't).

There's a LOT of world building & depth to this story, so I can definitely see that it won't be for everybody.

I LOVED it. I can't even fully understand my feelings right now... I just know I have deep ones for so many of these characters (including the wind 🥹), and I NEED to read book 2 ASAP - I have so many questions!

_____
Ok let’s do this! 906 pages is so scary 😅
I love Sarah Ready so I’m hopeful 💫

⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ➳❥ pre-read

5/21 - READ NOW currently on NetGalley 😍

I LOVE Sarah Ready & am so curious about this one!

Grabbed it so fast and then saw it’s 786 pages?! Or maybe 900+?! I’m scared 🙃

Thank you to W.W. Crown for the eARC

[eveonne ୨୧ ˚⟡˖ ࣪ - ia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you W.W. Crown, Netgalley, and IPBA for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own!

I really really wanted to love this book but unfortunately I just could not get into it. I love Sarah Ready so much as an author; her romance novels are some of my favorite books. However, this is her first dive into writing a fantasy and it’s completely different from her other books. I couldn’t get interested into the story and the writing style just wasn’t cutting it for me. I ended up DNFing. I’m sure this is a lovely book but it just wasn’t for me personally. I’ll stick to her romance novels instead!

[Munir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: My Dear Illusion
Author: Sarah Ready

First of all, this novel could have been 300 pages shorter and still pack the same punch.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Breakdown:
Worldbuilding
Where do I start?
The worldbuilding was so detailed that it became overwhelming. It was everywhere: front, back and center, which was great at first but it ended up overshadowing the plot and characters.
I loved the illusion-based magic system; it was fresh, unique and intriguing.

Plot
There was a compelling plot in My Dear Illusion if you’re patient enough to dig through the excessively verbose prose.
For me, I enjoyed the last 20% of the book because it was a bit rushed. Thus, the prose tightened and the tension and stakes heightened. All the twists at the end made me want to read the upcoming book.
Again, there was a diamond in this book; it was just too difficult to see.

Characterisation
I liked the author’s characterisation of Mari, Finn, Celia, Jacob and Jagger, but I wasn’t pulled into the romance between the main characters. The book was supposed to be a romantasy but it read like an urban fantasy (my opinion). In romantasy, the romance is first and foremost, then stuff like worldbuilding and plots sort of happen in the background; but in this book, worldbuilding comes first, then plot and romance. It lacked the hallmark of romantasy, which is the meet-cute; There was no spark when the female lead met the love interest for the first time (according to the linear plot), so by the time butterflies started fluttering in her tummy, the ship had sailed for me. It felt jarring rather than swoony.
And I liked the chemistry between the Wind, Jacob and Celia! My best moments!!

Prose and Use of Language
The writing style was purple with a high usage of stylistic language. I would appreciate this in lit-fic, but not so much in fantasy.

Pacing
I fear I’ll be repeating myself here, but… It could have been 300 pages shorter.

Theme
The theme centres around betrayal, duty, love, lies, and shifting alliances.

Tone
The tone didn’t quite hit the mark for a book marketed as romantasy: the romantic tension between the main characters was null; their chemistry leaned more towards friendship. However, it was spot on for a fantasy book. The atmosphere was grim and glamorous: deadly trials, murderous creatures, elegant balls and magical duels.

My Dear Illusion will appeal to the fans of Nevada Baylor series by Ilona Andrews, for its magic system and house politics.


Instagram

[Kell X · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhh, hell!
I don't think I can really explain how I feel right now. Confused (definitly), mad (for sure), anguished (no doubt), a little bit broken (very much, yeah).
Nothing, and I mean nothing was what it seemed in this story. I was trying to grab a thread to guide me and I managed to catch glimpses of clues that the author gave in tiny bits during the story and even if I managed to put some pieces together nothing, and I mean NOTHING could prepare me for those twists and that ending!

I still have so many questions!
This story was long and even so I spend all weekend glued to my book. I was glued to the screen and couldn't put my kobo down. I kept reading and needing answers, but the more I read more questions arised and I was reading like a mad woman to get to the ending where at last several things were explained and cliked into place.
And even after... come on!!!! That ending?!

I realy liked the world building and the story made perfect sense and all the characters were so detailed.. I liked the story telling vibe and also those chapters told by the Wind. TheY added a little bit of light amongst all the mess and doubts.
I like the side characters as well, and even if I never new who to trust I kept rooting for several of them. The illusions and betrayals were deeper than I thought and I can honestly say I was very surprised and now I'll be needing book two.. ASAP!

[Alicia López Montero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the early copy.

My rating:infinite ⭐. The limit does not exist.

What you can expect:
- Magical Realism / Fantasy
- Deadly competition
- Trust no one
- Unreliable narrators
- Illusions vs Reality

My thoughts:

That Sarah is one of my favourite authors comes as no surprise. However, I must admit even I had my doubts when confronted with 900 pages. I did fear.
But I should've known better. I shouldn't have strayed. Because of course she created magic. Of course she did it again.

My Dear Illusion reads like a classic. Despite the fantasy and the magic, it has that arcane feeling of those dusty, chunky tomes sitting on the oldest of libraries, waiting for unsuspecting souls to give them a chance. Sarah's writing is so romantic, so lyrical, it's almost poetic how even a deadly and tragic battle can move someone so deeply to the point of goosebumps.

I was hooked from the very first word and didn't catch my breath until the last page was turned. I screamed. I gasped. I laughed maniacally when the dominos started to fall. I so wanted to believe in the ideal that had been painted, I longed to trust so much, I forgot to heed the warning issued time and time again: trust no one. And look where that took me: pain, agony and heartbreak.

But boy, was it worth it.
Go read this book. Thank me later.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Dear Illusion by Sarah Ready is a 906-page (on the kindle) book that is as brilliant as it is maddening. If you are familiar with Ms. Ready’s other works, it is my understanding from a quick trip around the internet, that this book is not what you are used to and the odds of you enjoying it based on that prior work are very low. This is Ms. Ready’s first attempt at Romantacy, which is all the rage these days, and I’m here for it, but I want quality, and I want to have a good time, and I would like to occasionally have questions beyond the scope of the story to discuss with others. If a fantasy or romance book can make you think about your perceptions, your values, the way the world is vs how it could be (good or bad), I think it is a unique side effect, and I cherish those books. This book did not deliver on all of that, but it was a surprise, and the ending is going to have you screaming “what!?” while you sob uncontrollably.

In this story we are following Mari a girl who has been left by her parents in Hell’s Gate (or at the Hell Gate, I’m not entirely certain on that one but it did remind me of the hellmouth from Buffy the Vampire Slayer). She is taken in by an illusionist (I think that’s what he is, but he is very, very bad that’s for certain) named Jagger and he is kind of the strings that tie everything together, almost as much as wind is, even though he’s not around too much and there are other forces at play as well.

The story starts out well. Mari is explaining games of chance and cons. The 3 shell game we’re all vaguely familiar with. Then she starts talking about being a lockpick, which is simply explained as her ability to undo illusions – by unlocking them with a twist of her hands it seems. In this world the illusionists run everything; there are 4 or 5 families of conjurers and they are the “royalty” of this world (think warring kingdoms, opposing mafia families and you’ll get the idea). So they will set up an illusion to hide something, someplace maybe even somewhere, but Mari can undo those illusions and let people see what these families (or any other illusionist) does not want them to see. It’s a unique magic system and I find that VERY interesting. As I said, Mari is explaining games and cons, but she is also telling someone a story, because she tells us that too, but we have no idea who she is talking to and at other points in the story, the Wind is the narrator, and everything is through its eyes, and honestly I don’t know who it is talking to either. Mari? The mystery person? Is it talking to the reader? It’s very confusing.

I understand the desire to write Romantacy or Fantasy Romance. It’s all the rage right now and it’s something different. It is not for everyone though. Imagine if Freida McFadden, for example, suddenly wanted to write in this genre? I will assume it’s not going to go well. This book didn’t not go well, but for the love of God, please – an editor! A really good one because this book can easily loose 300-400+ pages and the story is still amazing. Let me explain.

The book is overly poetic and the language is too flowery. It is trying too hard to portray this world of illusion. There are so many paragraphs and pages explaining one thing or one small event or one feeling. It’s just too much. It’s not necessary. I had to work for it, like really work for it, but there is a great story hiding inside this book. Like a really great mind-blowing story. But you can’t find it if you don’t try and that’s not how books should be written. No one wants to do that, and as proof I will point you towards all the DNF reviews already on Goodreads just from ARC readers. These are people who read and review books all the time. The number of DNF’s was shocking but at the same time I understand it. There was a point where I wanted to give up. Picking through all the verbiage and odd characters and the Wind as a side character/narrator was just so hard to wade through.

I’m going to repeat myself again though, so that there is no misunderstanding, there is a phenomenal story hiding in this book!

I just think it could use another edit. And a lot of deleting. There’s one point where “the boy” is surrounded and going to be stabbed and quite possibly die. The wind gives us several examples of similar situations from nature and that are not needed. We were already told the boy is surrounded, what possible purpose does telling us about wolves and deer have? It doesn’t. That’s the problem. You must wade through all of this extra verbiage to find the story. I promise it’s there, it’s just not going to be easy. I don’t generally annotate but I literally had a notepad and was writing down plot points and character notes as needed because, as I said, they are well hidden. It was as if I were in college again working on a paper.

If my review seems a little scattered and perhaps a bit too long. I do apologize but given the size of the book and the way in which it was written, I think it gives me some wiggle room here.

This might be better as an audiobook, I read the eBook version, but I can’t say for sure.

I feel like I am repeating myself. I’m rating this book 3 stars, because it is a really good story, but the amount of work necessary to find the story was uncalled for.

I will happily read the next book, if the writing is more concise. I will probably read it even if I have to work for it because I need to know what happens!

Thank you to W.W. Crown and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. I truly appreciate it. As always, all opinions are my own. If I don’t like a book, you will definitely know it.

[buveurdencre · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Dear Illusion is Sarah Ready’s dive into romantic fantasy, and it is nothing like any of the previous works she’s written. The story follows Mari Locke, who has the ability to untie illusions. When Mari is partnered with Finn, a half-conjurer and half-human, to compete in the Hundred Year Game, she has a difficult decision to make, kill Finn in order to save herself and the world or see past her convictions and illusions that the games are projecting and differentiate between what is reality and fantasy.

Mari and Finn’s chemistry was a slow burn, yet there were obvious signs of their connection and attraction to each other. Their character development and growth were both gradual and definite as the story progressed.

This was a thick book and packed with extensive worldbuilding, fantastical elements, and a cohort of characters. My Dear Illusion was such a fascinating and exciting read, and the ending left me impatiently anticipating the next book. Truly a satisfactory read and a stellar beginning to a promising new series.

Thank you so much to W.W. Crown and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Lisa C22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected and utterly amazing,

I really don’t know where to start after reading Sarah Ready’s, My Dear Illusion, I can’t remember reading anything like it before and was captivated from the very first page to the last, it’s definitely one of my favourite books this year and I think probably just took a place in my top 10 books of all time,

The story follows Mari, who is a lockpick, a creature, a nine and in service to the rather unpleasant Jagger, in a world of illusion Mari has spent her entire life hiding from the conjurers when she is thrust in to their Hundred Year Games, a tournament that determines which conjuring family will rule the world for the next hundred years, whilst that little summary doesn’t explain the plot at all I really wouldn’t want to say much more in case I spoil anything but there is so much going on in this book!

I was drawn in because of the synopsis and I’d seen it tagged as a Romantasy, for me it isn’t like other books I’ve read that fall in that genre and it felt more like an urban, high fantasy, romance where the world building and plot come first with the romance being an undercurrent throughout but still a big part of the story.

This is a big book, crammed full of story, a lot of world building and lyrical, poetic descriptions and whilst some books that are heavy on the world building can bore me senseless, the combination of writing style, the plot, world, characters and the balance between everything was spot on for me, every time I picked it up I felt like I was pulled through a portal in to this magical world, and although it’s about conjurers and illusion it does feel like a magical world rather than being a world about magicians, there are also a lot of characters in this book and likeable or not I loved them all because of how well each one is written (and the wind ….)

I think I spent most of this book with my brows drawn together in concentration purely trying to figure out what was going on, if you’re a fan of puzzling things out you’ll love this, I did manage to piece some of it together, many things I did not see coming or turning out the way they did, this is a book you need to pay attention to in case you miss something, it is unique and intriguing throughout beautiful and an emotional roller coaster at times. I can not wait for the next book.

[iris [updating reviews] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hated it.

I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was quite lengthy—it took me over 2 weeks to finish. And I found it difficult to get into the story in the beginning. This was mostly because of the writing style. The writing is supposed to be poetic and paint the picture of—at least the way I see it—illusion. But once I settled in, it was a thrilling experience. Until it wasn't.

What on Earth were those last chapters??? Those plot twists were jaw-dropping, tear-jerking, and panic-inducing. I have soooo many questions and I don't know how much longer I can wait for them to be answered in the sequel [and this book hasn't even been published yet!]

I will be looking out for the sequel announcement and I will definitely want to get my hands on this book when it's out.

A big thank you to NetGalley and W.W. Crown for this ARC!

[ChellesOfBooks]

dnf @ 15%

As a big fan of Sarah Ready's romance stories, especially the ones laced with magical realism as I am a huge fantasy reader, I was eager to read this book when it was announced. Sadly, I found the writing style so painfully different from what I expect from this author. It was obvious Ready was attempting to be poetic with the writing and stylistic choices, but the initial world-building, outline to the stakes, and character foundations were too weak for me to find true interest in. I kept trying to read on, hoping it would spark some reason to invest into why this book was 900 pages long, but I was unsuccessful after 135 pages and realised this story just wasn't for me this time.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a review copy. These are my thoughts:

This book was a complete surprise and also the longest book I’ve read this year.

This is not a light, straightforward fantasy. The writing is beautiful and expertly used to convey illusion. The atmosphere is dark and dangerous and the stakes are high. I had to power through the first 30% of the book. The worldbuilding is detailed but is also done throughout the story, as we learn more about each of the characters (and there are quite a lot of them - I wish I’d had a roadmap to be able to keep tabs on all of them) and what lies beneath the surface with each of them and their Conjurer families.

I was invested and curious to find out what was going to happen to Mari. I felt that the first 30% were very dense and “cloudy”. Nothing was as it seemed. Everyone was keeping secrets and held their cards close to their chests. They were all aiming to win the ultimate prize - complete power, so all was game. As each game progressed, I felt the “shadows lift” and the plot become, somewhat clearer. But of course, since illusions were the name of the game here, things could go south very quickly. And so they did. I was not expecting what I found in the last 20% of the book. The plot twists and the heartache. The story unraveled quickly and it was brilliant.

I was expecting Sarah to bring back her whimsical writing from her Ghosted series. But I found that this was more poetic than whimsical, since this world was dark, dangerous and deadly. I loved the passages that talk of love. In those instances, Sarah’s writing is gorgeous. The love story is simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking.

I don’t think this will be for everyone but it is an intriguing story that if you “vibe” with it, will suck you in and leave you wanting more. I also think this series would work very well as an audiobook and in that case, I believe more readers would be likely to pick this up and enjoy it. This is the sort of book that requires the reader to have time. I feel it should be read at a leisurely pace and not binged - unless you really can’t stop. It took me 11 days to finish.

I’m very curious to see what comes next in book 2.

[Jessica Swan]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.

I'm DNFing this at 12% because I just can't handle the way the story is being told. I tried to give it some time to see if I could warm up to it and I just can't. I've definitely think this story could have been interesting if told in a different way.

[Heather Mynx · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book... it took forever for me to finish. It's not that it wasn't a good book. I really enjoyed it, but it was very long. I felt like the book could have been at least 300 pages shorter and still give me the full story and I likely would have given it 5 stars instead of 4.

The world building and history was so detailed it became a bit much even for me and I love love love good world building. A lot of the time it felt like the world building was more important than the characters and plot, which was disappointing because I absolutely loved the plot itself and the characters.

The plot is compelling and full of mystery if you can get past the lengthy world descriptions. I loved the illusion-based magic system and the idea of illusions made real. I loved the idea of the "underdog" having to compete against those with the magic in trials to see who would hold the crown and be in charge of all conjurers for the next 100 years. The trials themselves were interesting. The ending was absolutely perfect and has me on the edge of my seat! It had plot twists I didn't see coming and was full of tension and the ending has me wanting to read the next book despite the overwhelming world building in this one.

The characters were also varied and interesting. Each one is very different from the other and all of them are unreliable in their own ways which I thought was pretty neat. It's told from the perspective of Mari and "the wind" when telling the bits of the story Mari isn't present for. The idea of the wind being sentient was a cool concept and one I hadn't encountered before that I could appreciate. I loved how the wind kind of tied all the characters together and had it's own motivations and preferences for which of the characters it liked to be around the most.

If you're looking for a romance heavy romantasy, this is not that book. While it does have romance, it felt more like an Urban Fantasy than a romance. Which is fine for me because I like all kinds of fantasy, but if you're expecting a romance forward book, this will be a disappointment. I didn't feel the romantic tension between the main characters at all. If anything it gave me friends or found family vibes more than romance. However, it felt like a really good fantasy book. The overall vibes of the book were dark but full of glamour, magic, and mystery.

My many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this as an ARC! While I did receive an ARC copy, all thoughts and opinions are, as ever, my own.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I suppose it makes sense that this author has moved from rom-com to magical realism and now into full-blown romantasy. And it works: the result is a detailed and compelling world of conjurers and creatures cleverly integrated into human history, and two central characters in Mari and Finn that you want to root for even though you’re continually wondering where the next twist is going to take them. It took me a while to get into this - there’s a lot of explanatory world building up front, and then a lot to keep track of in what’s a very long book. (Could it have been shorter? Probably. Would the buildup and eventual payoff have been as effective? Probably not.) Everything is illusion, as Mari states from the beginning, and the third-person chapters from the wind’s point of view shows that there’s a lot going on beyond her ability to see and dismantle those illusions. Clues are delicately scattered throughout- some I correctly deciphered, some I didn’t, but they provide the foundation for a heartwrenching conclusion that has the feel of setting up the chess board for whatever comes next. Full of lush language, complicated characters and a variety of settings from grittily urban to richly rural, this is a book that’s well worth getting lost in. Just be aware that things are never as they seem…
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Gina Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ready has created an absolute breathtaking book filled with illusion, trust, power & even love! Every emotion rolls through the reader & conjurers can capture your heart. I found myself becoming so invested in each character as they danced around each other in the Hundred Year Games. I spent just as much time trying to put all the connections together between the characters including the wind. Ready has an overwhelming talent of pulling the reader into a world so mysteriously complex and still so simple.
____
Four conjuring families representing North, East, South or West. The Smiths, The Wards, The Clarks & The Bards. And something worse: Hell Gate. Jagger's prison if you live there. Each family has loyalty, secrets & special conjuring powers.

Mari, Finn, Jacob, Luvic & Darin appear to hold nothing but mystery, illusion & maybe darkness, but find their light. Last, Primus, Jagger bring nothing but evil. Justice rips at your soul. Celia, Ragnor & the conjurer families have you teetering back & forth. But the wind is special. Pay close attention to the wind; you will want to know the secrets it holds.

Ready has carefully constructed a world testing what we believe is real or illusion. "Trust no one. No one. Except. Trust me." I highly recommend reading this book to find out.

[Ari Talks Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

I very rarely DNF books — I’ll push through almost anything. But I couldn’t get past the third chapter of this one. The prose is overwritten and repetitive, with metaphors and imagery stacked on top of each other until the meaning gets buried.

Descriptions like “the alkaline taste of battery acid and blood” or the wind “dragging a cold finger across my cheek” are constant and while I understand the tone it’s trying to strike, the effect ends up feeling more theatrical than immersive. It almost feels like the author does not trust the reader to understand what is being said so everything is over explained.

The atmosphere is there, but it’s drowning in its own language. And for a book this long, it could’ve easily lost 100 pages with more focused editing. A different editorial approach might have helped this story shine because underneath all the overwriting, I think this story really had potential.

Just not something I could stick around 800 pages of this for.

[Ali's In Literature · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW
cw: death, mentions of torture, war, addiction

Twenty-two-year-old Mari Locke grew up in Hell Gate, a home for lost souls in New York City. While some consider Hell Gate evil, she’s always considered the conjurers to be worse. Their illusions plunge the world into wars, famines, and plagues. She’s spent her entire life hiding from the conjurers because she has the rare ability to untie illusion.
On the night of her seventh death, Mari is thrust into the Hundred Year Games. A brutal, deadly event that decides which conjurer will rule the world for the next one hundred years.
Her ticket to the games is Finn Alterra, a half-conjurer, half-human with no chance of winning. Her orders: get him to the winner’s podium by whatever means necessary, steal the crown off his head, and kill him. If she succeeds, she’ll save the world and herself. But there are games within games and illusions on top of illusions in this world. Nothing is as it seems, and no one is who they claim to be. As Mari grows closer to Finn, the man she’s destined to kill, she begins to question what is illusion and what is real. And most importantly, if either she or Finn will leave the games alive.

I will preface this review by saying I don't read much fantasy, and even less romantasy, so I can't really compare My Dear Illusion to its contemporaries, nor can I judge whether the characters, world-building, and magic system are completely unique. What I can say is I found them all fascinating, and I was gripped until the last page. I requested this ARC because I LOVE Sarah Ready's writing, and I would read the telephone book if she wrote it. This book is almost as long as one at 906 pages, but those pages were well plotted, and I loved that the author really took her time to develop this imaginary world that coexists with New York City. There were some especially lyrical qualities to her writing in this book.
The first third of the book focused on the magic system, the history of the Hundred Year Games, and introduced the four conjuring houses and main characters. And then we were off, with the preparation for each game, and all of the subterfuge and plotting behind the scenes. On the way, Mari gets to know various conjurers better (and there are a LOT), either by necessity or accident, and these scenes only add to the richness of the world. I will try not to spoil any of the intricacies in this story, which means most of this review probably won't make much sense, but just know I want to talk to anyone who reads this book because there is SO MUCH to talk about!
I found Mari's backstory fascinating, and I really enjoyed all of the elemental characterisations. The two POV's really worked well together to show us what was happening within the games and the events outside, and between. Mari was such an interesting character, and I really appreciated the conflict between her emotions and her orders. My heart broke for her when she explained how she became a nine, and her fears of what happened afterwards. Her friendships with Griff and Justice, the other orphans at Hells Gate, were sweet, and I liked how she could still see Justice's duality, even though she worried about him. My heart ached for him several times, but Mari's recollections about when he was young made my heart break
Though this book definitely sways heavily in the favour of fantasy with romantic elements, I enjoyed the yearning between Mari and Finn, and the teeny tiny hints of the possibility of something more, even though there was the omnipresent threat of death hanging over both of them.
Finn was such an enigma early on, but I found the descriptions of his addiction really well-written, and I loved his sense of humour. I also loved the way his friendship with both Mari and his half-brother, Darin, developed. Darin also really grew on me, and the pizza scene made me giggle.
It would be impossible for me to talk in detail about the conjurers without giving away a lot of the plot, but the illusions were inventive and intriguing. I loved the idea that world events were shaped by which family held the crown, and how everything from the Dark Ages to one of the Renaissances could be tied back to the conjurers in power. It felt especially relevant that the four houses that were to fight in the Hundred-Year Games mirrored the upheaval in our world at the moment. I enjoyed learning more about the notable members of each house, and in doing so, most of the offspring surprised me. On the surface, there was at least a suggestion of evil in each of them, but the more we discovered, the more was revealed about each of their weaknesses, which often mirrored human traits such as friendship, loneliness, fear, poor health, and family expectation. My heart ached when we discovered how isolated Jacob Ward felt, but I liked him a lot, and all of the chapters with his elemental sidekick were fun. The crown that Mari was made to wear was so well-written, and the various games and traps were often gruesomely ingenious. But there were also some lighter moments, and Luvic Bard was hilariously mischievous at times. I cackled at the scene in the closet. The beach day was also a fun interlude to the games
But all of the games and subterfuge were leading to an explosive ending. The final duel and aftermath were exhilarating, and, while I guessed a couple of the twists early on, their reveals were just as satisfying as I'd hoped. But chapter eighty-three made me SOB! Seriously.
While this book was lighter on the romance side than I expected, once everything slotted into place, it made PERFECT sense, and I was only left desperate for the next book!
A truly engaging read. I cannot wait for My Beautiful Reality.

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️.75
Heat Rating: 0.5

Favourite Quotes:

Like I said before, the wind can go places most of us can’t, and it knows more secrets than the worn wooden seat in a church confessional. I wouldn’t say the wind is always truthful or reliable. You can’t really trust something as fickle as the wind.

Sometimes people wonder if there’s someone behind the scenes, pulling the strings of all the events that happen on earth. Well, I can tell you, the answer is obvious. The only things pulling strings are thoughts made into reality. Illusions made real.

The world’s fate is decided in this game. If the winning conjurer is evil, you’ll get the Dark Ages (Ruithvain Clark) or the Black Death (Sicily Ward). If they’re a zealot, you’ll get a holy war (remember the Crusades? That was a Smith. All eight/ nine/ too many times). If they’re artistic or intellectual, you’ll get a renaissance (Owain Bard) or a time of enlightened philosophy (Arjuna Ward).

This new face had the sort of beauty that made men and women feel as if they were reliving their fondest memories— the ones they’d forgotten and wished they hadn’t. It was a face that made you yearn.
It was going to get me into trouble— I was sure of it.

Every time I die, I look the same but completely and entirely different.

"...It’s much easier to kill a fool than to keep him alive.”

“I don’t have much choice in my life, but I do still get to choose who I love. That, at least, can’t be taken from me.”

“Mari, don’t ever trust a conjurer.” Finn turned to me and waited until I nodded, even though, being half-conjurer, that sort of included him.

I’d said he was beautiful when he smiled. I was wrong. He was heartbreaking when he smiled.

“I would’ve been very lucky to have known you,” I said, my throat tight, “for longer than two weeks. I would’ve considered myself very lucky to be your friend.”

I used to wish, when I was younger and still had wishes left, that there was someone in the world who was thinking of me, who wanted me safe, who was wishing for me like I was wishing for them.

Do you remember when I wished there was someone out there who’d recognize me after I died without me having to tell them who I was? I felt it again in that moment. I desperately wanted Finn to recognize me. To know me.

“Why can’t I have someone like you?” I asked, my heart sore and heavy. “I think . . . I think I’d love you, Finn Alterra. If you let me.” I shook my head, and the world spun. “No. Not if you let me. I think I’d love you anyway. But I can’t. ’Cause I don’t know what love is. ’Cause I’m s’posed to kill you. And you’re not mine. And you’re going to die no matter what.”

I had to see my friend for at least one moment in the place we’d always dreamed of.

“Mari,” he said, his voice a soft rumble. “This a dream?” His hand brushed over my cheek; cupped my jaw. Then he quested his thumb over my lips and pressed closer. “I kiss you in my dreams?”

“You can care about something, even knowing you won’t see the result. Why do people plant seeds, knowing they might not see them sprout?”

I wanted him.
That was all there was to it. But I wanted him in a way I’d never wanted anything before. Not in an ownership kind of way, or an “I have to have you” kind of way. In a . . . “I want you to be happy, to be loved, to be okay” kind of way.

Last smiled sweetly. Well, if a carrion-eater opening its maw to eat a rotting corpse could be considered sweet.

"...I’ve spent my whole life waiting to meet you.”

“Are you still a hero if no one knows it?”
The steely-eyed one nodded. “Yes. You can still be a hero, even if no one knows it. Just like you’ll always be my best friend, even if no one knows it.”

“I wish I could’ve saved you instead of being the one you needed saving from.”

Life, my dear friend, is illusion. Some people will tell you different. Some will have you believe that everything you see and know is true. But I’m here to tell you, everything— everything—is illusion.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, WW Crown for providing me with the ARC of My Dear Illusion. 4.8 stars

Don’t let the 700+ pages scare you away. I like the fact that the chapters are short, but I would like to have chapter titles. The explanation/description of the characters is perfect and very detailed.

The story follows Mari and Finn through the 100-year games. Mari and Finn set out to compete with the 4 conjures family’s in search of winning the crown. If they win the crown, it could set Mari free from Jagger. Once you think you have everything figured out, you realize you don’t.

Slow burn, plot twist and turns and magic, everything a good fantasy book needs and much more.

What a cliffhanger! Can’t wait until book 2 is available!

[Bridget Book Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"As I held his hand, I asked, "Do you ever wish you could change the world?"
His eyelashes drifted down, and his smile widened. "All the time."
"And what do you do?"
He shrugged. "Change myself.""


I was hooked from the beginning and am wondering how I will make it until May 2026 to read the rest. I loved everything about this from the world building to the magic system to the games to the intrigue. I thought I could guess motives and who was friend or foe, but I did not see the ending coming at all. I love a book that does that to me!

I'm so glad I was approved for an ARC via NetGalley because this is one of my favorites books of the year so far.

[Becka · Rating 5 out of 5]

In My Dear Illusion, Sarah Ready delivers an ambitious, genre-bending fantasy that defies expectations and lingers long after the final page. The story follows Mari, a Nine—a human gifted (or cursed) with nine lives—who is bound in servitude to Jagger, a powerful and calculating Leggerock. Though Jagger is absent for much of the novel, his presence looms large. His sinister plans for world domination drive the plot, and his influence extends through nearly every thread of the story, casting a long shadow over Mari’s journey and the Hundred Year Games themselves.

As part of Jagger’s bid for power, he sends Mari to form an alliance with Finn, a participant in the Hundred Year Games—a brutal, once-a-century competition between conjurer families. The winning family earns the crown of illusion, a symbol of magical dominance for the next hundred years. This premise alone is enough to hook any fantasy reader, but what elevates My Dear Illusion is the complexity and richness Ready brings to every aspect of this world.

I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley, and as a long-time fan of Sarah Ready’s Ghosted series, I was intrigued—but also slightly wary—of such a sharp pivot in genre and tone. Let me say this upfront: if you’re familiar with Ready’s earlier works, be prepared for something entirely different. This is not a lighthearted romance or contemporary drama. It’s dark, dense, strange—and ultimately brilliant.

The opening is a slow burn, and it took me a while to find my footing. The narrative initially felt jarring, switching between Mari’s perspective and that of a sentient Wind. But as the story unfolded, I came to appreciate just how vital—and powerful—that Wind’s perspective is. Not only does it lend a poetic, almost mythic quality to the story, but it also reveals secrets and motivations that would remain hidden without it. The Wind knows things no character can see. It offers a higher, more ancient view of events that adds both gravity and mystery. Without this POV, the novel would be far less layered and emotionally resonant.

The conjurer families themselves are another highlight. Ready introduces them with clarity and intrigue, offering just enough detail to make their politics, rivalries, and magical dynamics fascinating, while still preserving a strong sense of mystery. These families feel like institutions with deep, complex histories—and part of the novel’s allure is in slowly uncovering the power structures and ancient grudges they operate within.

Mari is a compelling lead—resilient, conflicted, and brimming with questions of loyalty, freedom, and identity. Her connection with Finn is tense, heartfelt, and full of emotional complexity. Their alliance feels earned, rather than forced, and shifts in unpredictable ways. Even when things between them feel uncertain, their dynamic keeps the tension alive. Meanwhile, Jagger, though physically absent for much of the story, is a constant presence. His manipulation, cruelty, and ambition ripple across every chapter, reminding us that the true enemy is never far from reach.

As the plot unfolds, twists and turns abound. Some moments I anticipated in vague outline—but even those came in surprising, inventive ways. Others caught me completely off guard, leaving me breathless, teary-eyed, or laughing out loud. The emotional rollercoaster is intense in the best way.

Yes, the book is long. Yes, it requires patience. But My Dear Illusion is a masterclass in slow-burn storytelling, full of tension, heart, and originality. The writing is lyrical and immersive, the worldbuilding intricate without being overwhelming, and the characters unforgettable. It’s a book that rewards your attention—and one that begs to be discussed, reread, and obsessed over.

This is, without question, one of the best fantasy novels of 2025. It’s daring, imaginative, and wholly unlike anything I’ve read before. I don’t know how I’ll stop thinking about it until the next installment is in my hands.

Until then, I’ll be here—telling everyone I know to read it, and probably still screaming into the void.

[sere_s_reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Thanks to NetGalley and W.W.Crown for the ARC ✨

🇬🇧 ARC Review: “My Dear Illusion” by Sarah Ready – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

There are books that entertain you… and then there are books that transform you. “My Dear Illusion” does just that.
It isn’t just a story—it’s an experience. A storm that builds slowly, beautifully, until it sweeps you off your feet and leaves you breathless.

From the very first page, I was hooked by the vivid and haunting voice of Mari Locke (she’s telling a story to someone—but you’ll only find out who at the end). Mari is a thief bound to the will of the terrifying conjurer Jagger and thrown into a deadly game for stealing the Crown of Illusions. Her journey—from the desolate Hell Gate to the center of the Hundred Year Games—is riddled with illusions, betrayals, deadly traps, impossible choices, and aching humanity.

And at her side (sometimes stumbling) is Finn Alterra, the illegitimate son of one of the most powerful conjurers of the time. He volunteers to enter the Games in exchange for a rare drug, Solange, which allows him to destroy illusions—and to which he’s hopelessly addicted. Mari has to kill him at the end of the Games, but she feels an inexplicable pull toward the Solange-addict man and already knows she won’t be able to kill him at the end. She wants him to live—to return to the woman he claims to love, the same woman Mari envies so deeply.

Their chemistry is subtle but potent, developing with a slow, aching intensity that makes every word, every moment, matter.

The world Sarah Ready builds is one of the most imaginative I’ve encountered in a long time. Four ruling clans of conjurers, ancient magic, characters who feel utterly real in all their flaws and brilliance—this universe is expansive, unique, and completely immersive. The essence of this book lies in its depth: you feel like you're working for the story, like you’re earning every revelation. And that’s exactly what makes it great.

I adored the narrative choices, especially the use of the wind as an almost-omniscient observer—a little nosy, yes, but also tender and driven by a strong sense of justice. It adds a lyrical quality to the story that elevates every scene it touches.

The writing itself? Lush. Poetic. Sometimes almost too beautiful—there were moments when I had to pause just to absorb it. But it’s always worth it.

Yes, the book is long. Yes, I occasionally lost track of who was who (those clan names really blur together at first), and yes, some plot threads were left open (Last?? Cora??). But even when I was a little confused or overwhelmed, I NEVER wanted to stop reading. The pacing is impressively tight for such a sprawling epic, and every chapter adds meaning and weight.

I also completely fell for the side characters. Jacob—the soft boy hiding secrets and heartbreak—and Luvic, the wild, charming trickster, totally stole my heart.

And the ending? Not a twist—a Earthquake! Everything flips. Everything hurts.

The final chapters flip everything you thought you knew upside down. The truths established at the beginning collapse—and in their place, new revelations take root. Everything is painful, brilliant, and utterly unforgettable. I was stunned, moved, and immediately ready to reread from page one.

What I especially loved was how Sarah Ready explores the beauty of true friendship, the power of trust, and the raw vulnerability of giving your life into someone else's hands. She writes about LOVE—real, deep, soul-consuming love—in a way so moving that is uniquely hers.

And once again, she makes you believe that true love—unforgettable, indelible, immortal—is NOT an illusion.

No, this isn’t a standalone, and yes, as I mentioned, it ends on a note that will make you want to scream… but you know this isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of something huge.


For fans of:
❤️‍🔥 Epic, aching love
✨ Second Chances 
🌪 Complex magic systems
🖤 Emotional slow burns
🔮 Epic worldbuilding
 👁 Unreliable realities
🪢 Knots to untie
 🏹 High-stakes games
🤯 Plot twists that rewire your brain

I’ll be the first in line for Book #2.

[Jordan Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the concept and originality of this book, that’s what sucked me into it.

That being said, I think this book could’ve been shorter. The author does a really great job of giving detailed descriptions and history of this world she’s created, where it’s our current, modern world, but full of illusions and magic, but I personally feel like the amount of description wasn’t balanced well with the rest of the plot.

The plot itself is also intriguing, it’s a game of trials of a sort between warring families of conjurers to gain the ultimate power. Our protagonist, Mari, is thrust into this world of illusions and betrayals at every turn. I can easily say that I never truly knew what to expect while reading. I did think the twist for the main characters was predictable quite early on, but I still found myself intrigued at the “how” and the “why” of it all.

That being said, the pacing of this book felt all over the place, and I think it’s because of the amount of description or internal thoughts. I love getting into a characters head so that we see what they’re feeling, but there were big moments that happened and then it kind of seemed anticlimactic because then there would be a page or two of pausing and reflecting before getting back to it. It tended to take me out of the story and those tense moments.

The frame narrative did add a very interesting turn to the story, knowing that Mari was talking to someone, but never really knowing who. I did appreciate the bookends of the story both being in that frame narrative style, it was very unique.

I almost wish we’d gotten more hints at what was really going on throughout the book, instead of getting the pages of explanation in the last 100 or so pages of the book, if not less. With this book being over 600 pages, it started to feel like it was taking too long to get anywhere without anything truly happening to push the plot forward. I almost feel like I needed more hooks along the way to keep me going the same way I was hooked on the beginning.

I think the other, more omniscient, point of view threw me for a loop as well. I’m not sure if it’s just because I haven’t read anything for a while from this point of view, but I found myself not really enjoying those chapters. That’s when the description and the prose seemed really heavy and I lost interest quickly. It was an interesting addition to be able to get a look into the other characters and what they were up to when Mari wasn’t around, but the switching viewpoints seemed like they happened at really unfortunate moments. What would’ve been really big and dramatic moments between the main characters seemed to dim in this “outside” viewpoint, and I didn’t really understand the vision behind this.

I think some plot points got overlooked really easily, where Mari would discover something and then just get over it really quickly. Or something would be said or done in one chapter and then get ignored or the characters move on too easily from it after. It just felt very clunky and disjointed at some points.

Overall, I am intrigued in the story and the characters and the way the story ends and would like to read the next book. I just wish it hadn’t taken me 500 pages to understand what was happening. I’m okay with being confused at what’s going on in a book, it helps to build the anticipation, however this book made me confused for a good majority of it, which is what made it difficult for me to fly through it as easily as I wanted to.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read an ARC of this novel!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main problem I have with this is that it was meant to be a romance, and yet because of the way it's told, I only started caring about the main couple in the third chapter from the end. All the weirdness was explained, and I got hit in the feels, but the fact stands that for a book this long (too long, honestly), I should ship the main characters for at least half of it. A small sliver of blame I'm choosing to put on the fact that the MMC is basically my ex-boyfriend through most of it (appearance, a junkie, called me Mari, had a problem explaining things with words), and there was a much more charismatic choice available (Luvic, my baby).

There are things I've enjoyed and things I haven't, so let's start with the positives:
- I liked the narrative devices - Mari talking to a mysterious 'you' and the wind - both of them were interesting while remaining nicely limited, not being omniscient, and both of them felt different from each other. I particularly enjoyed the fact that the wind had favourites, and we learned a lot about Jacob because of it (also my baby, my pretty soft boi);
- the vividness of each of the characters - each of them really felt different to me and that helped me a lot when it came to distinguishing them (I struggle with too many characters at once and there's a lot of people here), and quickly deciding who's most interesting to me;
- the general lore - I don't know how well-detailed it was and if it made sense when looked at under a microscope, because I'm not usually a sci-fi/fantasy reader and I have slim-to-none experience/interest in dissecting it, but I personally did like it - the whole conjurers as self-proclaimed protectors of Earth turned evil throughout millennia was fun to read about;
- pacing - for being this long, I begrudgingly have to admit that the pacing was done well.

And so, the negatives:
- the ending - I'm not going to explain in detail, but the main thing I didn't like was quite simple - nowhere before I reached it, before I picked up the ARC in general, was it stated that this book is a first in a series. I don't like reading series of books which are not standalones, because I'm immensely pissed off whenever I get to the end and everything is not solved, and I have to wait for the next book to solve things. It's not fun for me and I actively avoid it. So would I have known, I probably wouldn't have picked up a book which was almost a thousand pages long, since it doesn't have a definite ending;
- Cora - I don't know what purpose she actually really served, and she was an obstacle in my brain which made it impossible to ship Mari with Finn,
- no explanations on some minor plot things, but I'm not going into details there (mostly stuff connected to Luvic),
- the length of the book - honestly it could have been a little shorter - some descriptions I didn't need, some repetitions were happening too often, sometimes the language was too flowery and made me lose focus and forget what was happening in the scene; it was unfortunately a little tedious to get through.

I'm sure there's more to both the list of good and bad things, but I don't have to divulge everything.

Overall - Luvic, Jacob, and Darin were my favourites; the book was good, but long, and the romance could've been done better from the start, so I actually cared more. I will probably want to read the second book when it comes out, though this was a bit exhausting, so I'm not sure how fast I'm going to run to get it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Books, Booze & Bon Voyage (Krista Webster) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Dear Illusion by Sarah Ready is a novel about illusions. The main character Mari leads the reader through a magical world of conjurers, where you can’t believe everything you see. This is a different type of story for Sarah as she writes her first romantic fantasy book. Be prepared because this is a very long story with lots of characters and a complex plot. An immersive experience and epic story. She has put a lot of effort into building a fantasy world which at times can be complicated and confusing. It is an unique concept and fascinating but there is a lot to keep track of and understand. Who is a hero and who is a villain? What happens when reality and illusion collide?

The imagery and atmosphere she creates helps the story along and the poetic writing makes it very mysterious. She has put so much detail into her characters and even the side characters bring an extra element and interest. There is a huge variety of magical and fantastical creatures, all very inventive, imaginative and original to bring the most to the story. You do need to concentrate to remember who and what everyone is. It does take awhile to get into the story due to so much information at the start as the author prepares you for what’s to come.

Mari Locke lives in Hell Gate and is the main narrator but you don’t know who she is telling the story to. She was told to tell the reader the truth and tell is the best she could. As a baby she was taken in by Jagger after her parents were murdered. He is a powerful leggerock, smart but wicked. He realises she is a lockpick, a rare person who can untie and break illusions so made her into his greatest weapon.

Her story begins the night of her seventh death and events suggest she has been betrayed by someone because she doesn’t succeed in her latest quest for Jagger. We find out what she has endured as Jagger trained her to be the best lockpick. She also tells us about the four main families: The Smiths, The Clarks, The Wards and The Bards. The families are all so different with intriguing histories and rivalries. We slowly learn about their magical abilities and the dynamics within each family. These four conjurer families compete in the Hundred Year Games for the crown of illusion which decides who rules the magical world for the next century. It’s due to start soon and Jagger has come up with a plan to win the game and needs her for his plot to work. She has to partner up with Finn to win and if successful, the rewards are great for her but not for him.

I did find the world building overtakes the romance, which is a slow burn. After her run in with the Clarks we get the first inkling there is something between her and Finn. The chemistry between them is subtle to begin with but grows as they work together. They both have secrets which leads to their relationship being emotional at times.

Betrayal is a big theme throughout as you don’t know who or what you can trust, especially when alliances are made and broken. Then you have all the illusions to try and work out - what’s real and what’s not. The wind plays a big part and gives the reader extra information over what is happening. I loved how it reveals secrets and gossip which enhances the story. The twists and turns are a mixture of surprising, shocking and unexpected. The tension builds which makes for an exciting ending with revelations that will astound you, however, it ends in a cliffhanger!! I have so many questions that need answering, I can’t wait for the next book.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overview & Physical Presence
Sarah Ready’s My Dear Illusion is an ambitious and immersive romantic fantasy, clocking in at a formidable 900 pages! For many readers, that length speaks volumes: it promises deep worldbuilding and complex character arcs—but it can also feel daunting at first glance.

Plot & Worldbuilding
The story introduces 22‑year‑old Mari Locke, born and raised amidst Hell Gate’s lost souls in New York City, who possesses the rare—and dangerous—gift to “untie illusion.” When she’s thrust into the lethal Hundred Year Games, her mission is to ensure Finn Alterra, a half‑conjurer, half‑human, wins, only to steal the crown and kill him—per her enigmatic handler’s orders.. The world is rich and layered, with conjurers weaving illusions that shape politics, plagues, and power. While a deeply immersive backdrop, certain corridors of the world, like the four conjurer families and the mechanics of the illusions, may feel dense, reflecting both the ambition and occasional overwhelm of such epic scope.

haracters & Relationships
Mari is a standout protagonist: tough, resourceful, yet deeply human—her limited lives, resurrecting after each death (“nines”), add both tension and emotional weight. Finn, her target-turned-complicated ally, is compellingly layered—torn by his half‑human psyche, a fiancée, and a dependency on a truth‑revealing drug called solange. Supporting cast members such as Jagger, Roumelade, Justice, and Griff furnish the story with depth and shades of moral ambiguity

Narrative Style & Pacing
The pace is deliberate—Ready takes her time establishing the arena, characters, and intricate stakes.
For readers craving immediate action, the early chapters might feel slow, though the payoff is palpable. The narrative employs a unique perspective through “the wind,” a mystical observer lending moments of eerie omniscience and atmospheric tension . The climax is frenetic and hard to put down, effectively setting up anticipation for the sequel.

Strengths

Protagonist Depth: Mari is a compelling heroine—flawed, determined, and emotionally complex.

Worldrichness: The conjurer realm is vividly imagined with political intrigue, magical mechanics, and layered mythology.

Emotional Stakes: The bond between Mari and Finn, set against betrayal, attraction, and survival, keeps emotional tension high.

Atmospheric POV: The “wind” vantage adds a refreshing and eerie narrative texture.

Challenges

Length & Density: At nearly 800 pages, the book’s weight can be intimidating; pacing may drag for some.

Complexity of Factions: The four conjurer clans share similar-sounding names and roles, which can muddy early understanding—some reviewers noted this as a small detraction

Narrative Balance: With so much worldbuilding and lore, scenes of the actual games or pacing acceleration sometimes take a backseat until later.

Verdict: Four Stars

My Dear Illusion is a bold, emotionally rich fantasy romance that doesn't skimp on worldbuilding or emotional complexity. Its strengths in character depth, imaginative magic, and atmospheric storytelling outweigh the challenges of its heft and early complexity. Readers who relish immersive, high-stakes fantasy with romantic tension will find much to love—though going in, be aware: it demands patience and attention.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Dear Illusion by Sarah Ready is a book that throws you in at the deep end, submerging you in a world filled with characters and chaos where nothing makes sense and there's no one you can trust, and while over time the chaos abates (a little) and the characters become more clear, knowing who to trust will never be easy and choosing incorrectly will probably break your heart.
Set in a city that somewhat resembles modern day New York, but with four ruling magical families who compete every hundred years for the power not just to rule the city but to reshape the world in any way they choose through their powers of illusion, the book follows Mari, a young woman who grew up in the bowels of the city. Hell Gate, the place she calls home since she was abandoned there as a baby, is controlled by Jagger, more monster than man and determined to use Mari for his own ends. Her secret ability to destroy illusion makes her the ultimate weapon in the Hundred Year Games and Jagger has a plan, one that will see her working with Finn Alterra, the half human illegitimate son of one of the ruling families, an addict with no magic of his own. If she can help Finn to win the games then kill him she will save herself from Jagger and finally be free while Jagger will get what he wants most of all, the end of magic in the city.
This is a vast story, layered and complicated with twists and turns that had my head spinning and kept me guessing. The author deliberately throws you into the story with little to no set up, and I was quite confused but decided to go with the flow, and I am so very glad that I did.
I loved Mari as a character, she was determined and tough but with a soft heart when it came to those she cared about. Finn is set up to be the charming rogue, but as the book progresses we learn that he is so much more than he first appears. Every character, and there are quite a few , with even the Wind being a character in its own right, adds another layer to the story, some are charming, several are terrifying and like Mari and Finn for most of the book you do know know for sure which are which, ally or enemy ? The trials that comprise the Hundred Year Games are clever and horrifying and made for compelling reading, I don't know how many times I told myself just one more chapter as I found myself completely sucked into this world. Did I guess some of the twists ? Yes I did, but there were many more I never saw coming, as you might expect in a book where truth and illusion collide ,and don't get me started on the ending, it was beautiful, it broke my heart and it made me desperate to get my hands on the second book in this duology. If you do not like unreliable narrators this might not be the book for you, but if you like complex morally ambiguous characters, lyrical writing with a strong voice and stories designed to keep you guessing this is a book I recommend picking up.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[PP's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Ready is my must read author and at this point, I am convinced that she can write just any genre expertly. For example, My Dear Illusion. It's a beautifully crafted fantasy romance with heavy philosophical vibes and packed with suspense and action. And she executed is as brilliantly as her rom com or contemporary romance or paranormal mixed contemporary romance. I have read them all and my obsession with her powerful writing only grows with each one.

It's hard to talk about this book without giving spoilers. But you have to patient with this one and you will know later why all the convoluted musing and threads of plans. It will all make sense, I promise. Well, may be not all as this ends with a massive heartbreaking cliffhanger that left me a sobbing mess. You will miss all the beauty if you don't go on till the end as its only beginning of the chaos in the world of the Conjurers.

Four Conjurer family( Smith, Bard, Clark and Ward) rule this world behind the curtains with their illusions Every 100 years, a new king is crowned from a new family by a game set by the families. Mari is a lockpick and a nine. A creature owned by Jagger, the Leggerock who is vicious and cruel. She is on her last life and after that she becomes mine. A creature without any choice Her last chance to freedom is to help Finn Alterra, a Solange addict and a bustard Smith, to win the game where he will participate as paladin for his brother Darin. But is Finn really the useless fumbling fool on edge of Free Fall? Why does he stir things in her those she cannot understand? What will be their fate?

It's a reminder of Hunger Games but here all the families are powerful and rich. Each has their unique power and strength. It's full of mind games as illusions control everything here. There are power plays, betrayal, sabotage, unlikely alliances and friends turning enemies. It has a big caste of characters and I was soaking everything up. The heirs are all very intriguing. The games are epic and out of this world. In every page, Mari unlocks some new secret but by the end,,its you who will be unraveling inside Finn comes across as this lazy unbothered dreamy addict but you can see he has layers. Like Mari unties the knots of the illusions, the author unties every plot twist she has put here and I was lost in the thrill and the glory. Mari and Finn seems impossible. But they also feel inevitable. You will feel the angst and heartache pouring out from the star crossed lovers but its not until the very end, the enormity will hit you and knock the breath out of you. I fell hard for Mari. For her pain , her heartache, her vulnerabilities, her strength, her resilience..And I fell hard for Finn. For his beauty, his cunningness, his determination, his devotion..And I fell harder for their fated love. I also became obsessed with this greedy dangerous fantastical world of cojurers. The brilliant thing about the story is I was equally invested in the secondary characters! Like Luvic Bard. Celia Bard. Jacob Ward. This story has my heart in an unbreakable grip and I will be dreaming about it for a long time. The writing is poetic and nostalgic and chilling at the same time. And you have to hold on to your dear life while you read it.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

[Jen (thatmamabooknook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Genre: Romantic Fantasy

Thank you to the author, Sarah Ready, for an eARC and finished copy. The below review and honest thoughts are my own.

Our main character, Mari Locke, lives in Hell Gate, a home for lost souls in New York City. Within Hell Gate live families of conjurers, who use their illusions to cause war, famine, etc., all the bad things history has experienced in the world. Mari has the ability to untie these illusions like a knot (her power is called a lockpick). After her seventh death, Mari is forced to take part in the Hundred Year Games, a competition that decides which conjurer will rule the world for the next one hundred years. She gets into these games with Finn Alterra, who is half-conjurer, half-human. Her plan is to get him to win and kill him to steal the crown and save the world. But in a world of illusions, it is much more complicated than that as "nothing is at it seems" and "you never know who to trust".

Wow, this book was so clever and unique. The world building was complicated, but in the best way. The magic system of illusions was so interesting and the way Mari could literally untie them was also really neat to read about. I loved the history about how the conjurers were established and getting to know each of these powerful families. Villains you love to hate for sure. The characters were all really well developed, not only Mari and Finn and the conjurers I just mentioned, but even characters like Jagger who weren't "on screen" a lot you still felt like you really knew. And we even get the POV of the wind and some fourth wall breaking, both of which were unexpected, but definitely added to the story. I love a trial, so the plot also immediately pulled me in and so many twists, especially toward the end. I will be grabbing book 2 as soon as I can. I think this will appeal to both fantasy readers who love politics, epic world building, and puzzles and romantasy readers who enjoy a slow-burn with deep emotions. Be patient it's worth it!

[DustyBookSniffers - Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Ready is an auto-read for me, and with My Dear Illusion, she delivers a richly imagined fantasy that had me hooked from page one all the way through to the final, heart-stopping twist. I didn't even glance at the page count before diving in (900 pages!), but honestly, it didn't matter.

Set in a world where illusions shape reality and trust is a dangerous gamble, this story drops you headfirst into a deadly power struggle among conjurers' families who can warp the senses and rewrite reality itself. At the centre is Mari Locke, a young woman with a rare gift: she can unravel illusions. Raised in the shadows and haunted by her past, Mari is thrust into the brutal Hundred Year Games with a single mission: to get Finn Alterra to the winner's podium, steal his crown, and kill him. Simple. Except nothing is what it seems in this world, and no one, not even Mari, is exactly who they appear to be.

One of the things I loved most was how deeply layered this world is. The conjurer families, the Smiths, Wards, Clarks, and Bards, each bring their own flavour of magic, ambition, and danger. And as the Games unfold, the betrayals, shifting alliances, and reveals keep coming. Some moments genuinely caught me off guard—in the best way.

Yes, the book is long. It's a commitment. But not once did I feel like I was slogging through filler. The book kept me entertained. There was twisted politics, the magic system was interesting, and the complex emotional lives of the characters. Speaking of characters: Mari is fierce but fragile, and her inner battles are just as gripping as the external ones. And then there is Finn's arc, which is equally compelling, especially as addiction, vulnerability, and trust all come into play. But my personal standout? The Wind. I won't spoil anything, but what a character indeed.

I can't wait for the second instalment in 2026.

Thank you to NetGalley and W.W. Crown | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.