The Illusion of Oblivion

Portrait of Lies #2

by Madi Gologranc

The twisting dark academia duet Portrait of Lies continues in this high-stakes, mind-bending follow up to The Art of Deception, for fans of Katabasis and The Atlas Six.

Our history, our art, our love. Our memory, our masterpiece, our blood.

Alexandria won the Invitational and the keys to Dreadmore Gallery. But at what cost?

The paintings grow restless as she tries to decipher who her enemies are. In a world where magic lingers in brushstrokes, Alexandria must decide what she’s willing to lose to secure her legacy.

She faces a new sequence of ordeals embedded within the Manor’s deepest design. Its true structure begins to reveal a network of concealed passageways and painted thresholds that function as gateways not merely between rooms, but between inconceivable realms.

Meanwhile, the secretive Society of Alchemy threaten the safety of Evander. Wil Alexandria sacrifice her prize for him, or will she battle to keep both?

Magic is embedded in pigment. Deception is encoded into every masterpiece. Memory is no longer reliable, history is no longer fixed, and love . . . Well, that may be the most dangerous illusion of all.

389 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 27, 2026

About the author

Madi Gologranc is an Aussie book lover turned debut author and aesthetic enthusiast who has wandered through one too many galleries—sometimes literally, often in her imagination.

She’ll be the first to admit her mind tends to run away with her, but she considers that a superpower. After all, it’s what fuels her love for stories, art, and the quiet magic hidden in museum halls and bookstore shelves.

She has spent countless hours drifting through galleries, wondering if she’d survive falling into the worlds they reveal. Spoiler alert: she absolutely wouldn’t—she’s far too attached to her vanilla lattes, cozy robe, and audiobooks.

Reviews

[Madi Gologranc]

Writing this on release day, perhaps it's a little silly but it's become a tradition... 🪷🫀✨

I’m giving this book five stars — not as its author, but as the girl who is really proud of herself for finishing this story. I announced on socials a year almost to the day ago that I was going to publish The Art of Deception independently whilst I queried another project that I assumed would be my debut. It's brought me so much joy to see people discover this book, some have loved it, others haven't and that is okay. A book cannot be for everyone. This duet is for the souls that see themselves in quiet rooms, those that know their own minds even if they express it softly and those that worry no one wants them because they are yet to experience that great, big, epic love. Alexandria does have a love story, one that she cannot see because she is concerned she isn't enough to be worthy of it. That is written from a piece of me.

I hope you enjoy my dark, twisty, artsy dark academia world. Perhaps you will see parts of yourself reflected on the pages.

After this, I’m stepping out of the review space. This corner of the internet belongs to readers — to your opinions, your feelings, your interpretations, your joy, your critiques, your chaos. I won’t rate or respond or sway the conversation. For those of you who hated the footnotes, there are less in book 2! But they still exist as they bring me joy lol

This review is simply a thank-you note to my younger self, and to anyone who picks up The Art of Deception & The Illusion of Oblivion and lets it live in their imagination for a little while.

With love,
Madi Gologranc

[Katja]

Thank you Madi Gologranc and the Berry Agency for the opportunity to review this e-ARC!

The Illusion of Oblivion took the best parts of The Art of Deception and made them even better! This was a really strong ending to the Portrait of Lies duology. I feel like the magic system was better explained and I had a clearer understanding of how ether works. I also enjoyed that we continued to uncover mysteries that were set up in the first book. It really shows how much thought Gologranc put into weaving these two stories together.

I loved Gologranc's reimagined version of Dante's circles of hell. I know there are a few dark academia books that have toyed with this concept but I still found this interpretation fresh. Exploring paintings as portals to other worlds was also really clever and the descriptions of Alexandria in the painted realm were some of my favourite parts. Gologranc does a great job capturing the feeling you might get after being absorbed in a beautiful painting.

Overall I enjoyed the Portrait of Lies duology, Gologranc's passion for art is really evident throughout and I have the sudden urge to visit an art gallery! I think readers who like dark academia, art and gothic novels with a twist of magic will appreciate this. Will definitely pick up whatever Gologranc decides to write next!

[Néea Stern]

I need another book now 😭

Actually, no. I need a minute first because WHY DID THEY HAVE TO SUFFER LIKE THAT???

I really enjoyed The Art of Deception, but somehow I think I loved this one even more

It has everything I liked about the first book:
the whimsical writing, the strange magic, the gothic atmosphere and that feeling that there is always something hiding just beneath the surface, but I thought the storytelling was stronger this time around.

Everything felt so much more fluid to me. The pacing was probably one of my favourite things because I never felt like the story was dragging, but I also never felt rushed through anything

There was always something happening, but there was still enough time to actually sit with the characters and their thoughts and feelings. And the revelations came at exactly the right moments.

Basically, I kept saying one more chapter and then wondering why it was suddenly 2am

There is so much art, history, mystery and deception woven into this world that reading it sometimes feels like walking through a maze.
You know there is an answer somewhere, but you have absolutely no idea which door is going to lead you there

And I think The Illusion of Oblivion really embraces that feeling

The world gets stranger, darker and somehow even more fascinating, and I loved that we got to learn more about Dreadmore, the gallery and all the history surrounding them.

The connection between art, ether and memory is such an interesting part of the magic system and I love how the magic never feels like it’s just there to make the world look pretty

Although it does make the world look very pretty.

The paintings, the gallery, the old secrets, the atmosphere…

I ate it all up

I also really loved the way memory is explored in this book. The idea of memory being tied so closely to identity, to who we are and how we understand ourselves, was probably one of my favourite things about the story

I always love when fantasy takes something magical and uses it to explore something very human (and this book does that really well!)

There were definitely moments where I had absolutely no idea what was going on, but in the best possible way 😂

The story can feel quite dreamlike and disorienting at times and I actually think that made it even more immersive.
Alexandria is trying to understand this world at the same time that we are, so sometimes I felt just as lost as she did

And I loved that

Because then I would find one tiny piece of information and suddenly think:

WAIT

And then another question would appear.

And another.

So obviously I had to keep reading.

Mostly, though, I was here for the characters.

They are just to die for (and to kiss…)

I was already attached to them after the first book, which was apparently my first mistake

Alexandria especially continued to be one of my favourite parts of the story.
I love that she isn’t strong because she can simply overpower everyone around her. Her strength comes from her intelligence, her compassion and the fact that she refuses to give up on the people she loves

And she really is carrying so much in this book!

There is so much expected of her, so much she has to figure out and so many things happening around her that she can’t simply walk away from.
I really liked seeing that pressure affect her while she was still trying to remain herself through all of it.

Her journey feels like so much more than simply finding answers. It’s also about understanding what those answers mean and deciding what kind of person she wants to be once she has them

And I really, really loved that.

Her relationship with Evander also remains one of my favourite parts of the series. I don’t even know how to talk about them without wanting to scream 😭

I love how complicated their relationship is. There is love there, obviously, but also uncertainty, trust, things left unsaid and all the little ways two people can hurt each other without necessarily meaning to

And somehow, despite everything else happening in this completely bizarre magical world, their relationship still feels incredibly real to me

Honestly, I think that’s something Madi does particularly well.

The relationships in this series are messy. People have history, they make mistakes and they don’t always know what to say. They care about each other in different ways

It all feels very human

Which makes it significantly easier to become attached to them.

Which is unfortunate

Because I also really loved meeting some of the new characters

And getting to see some familiar faces again.

And some of those reunions???

😭😭😭

I WAS NOT READY.

Also…

Dain


That’s it.

That’s the review


I love him.


I was also very invested in seeing how everything would unfold for certain characters, which meant I spent a good portion of this book emotionally stressed

Because apparently reading a magical gothic fantasy wasn’t enough.

We needed emotional damage too

Without getting into spoilers, I really enjoyed the darker elements introduced in this book and the way they added another layer to Alexandria’s journey.
I especially liked that, despite everything she encounters, she never feels like she has to become cruel or completely change who she is in order to survive

She stays true to herself.

And I think that is one of the reasons I became so attached to her in the first place


Overall, The Illusion of Oblivion was such a satisfying conclusion to the Portrait of Lies duology.

I really would have loved the characters to suffer a bit less…

Would I have preferred a few happier endings?
Absolutely for then I would, but also I did like the endings

But I also wouldn’t change the fact that I got to experience this story the way I did. There is something about this duology that feels so unusual and atmospheric - and I loved getting lost in it

I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for both The Art of Deception and The Illusion of Oblivion and it was honestly so lovely to see the story and the storytelling develop from one book to the next

I’m very grateful that I got to read these books early and I’m definitely curious to see what Madi writes next! <3

Also, this is such a rainy-day, cold-weather book, perfect for the time of the year it’ll be releasing in. With everyone craving an autumn read, here is one I can definitely recommend

Give me a blanket, a cup of tea, terrible weather outside and a gothic gallery full of secrets and I’m happy

If you love dark academia, gothic settings, unusual magic, magical art, (art in general), complicated relationships and characters who make you care about them far more than is emotionally sensible, I definitely recommend this duology

And yes, Madi Gologranc is absolutely an author I’ll be reading again

[Isabella]

(real rating 4.5 stars!)

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of being a beta reader for the sequel to a book I had loved very much. While I enjoyed “The Art of Deception”, I found this one even better. Though the writing style remains similar, with whimsical passages and overall magical vibes, the storytelling was much improved. In fact, the pacing was perfect, the story flowed seamlessly with the right amount of revelations, conversations between characters and inner dialogue.
As I was already invested in the story and most of all its characters, this book managed to deliver a lot of emotional pain, for one of our heroine’s main objectives is rescuing the man she loves. Though at the same time she must also deal with administering the sinister manor and keeping dangerous societies at bay. What I admired the most about Alexandria was her determination and strength, manifested for once not with fists and violence, but rather intelligence and kindness. I also appreciated getting to know new faces, in particular Dain, who became a fast favorite for me; and seeing some old friends again. Oh, how I cried during certain reunions! The various relationships are depicted masterfully, with many layers and complexities, as it is in real life. They all felt so tangible and real, while also exiting on the magical, dark-academiaesque world of Madi Gologranc’s duet.
In here, we do get to discover a lot more about the lore and magic of this universe, not to mention expose the secrets of the mystical manor and its past. It was a whole journey in itself, which I absolutely got lost into. I just wanted to find out more and more, I had trouble tearing myself away from the story knowing what could await me if I kept reading. Not to mention, I was very invested in finding out the fate of a certain MMC. Overall, “The Illusion of Oblivion” is the perfect conclusion to the Portrait of Lies duology: it had an extremely satisfying ending, for the author wrapped up everything nicely, so that everything made sense. Though I would have wanted some characters to suffer less and get a happier ending, I do understand why the author chose their path, and while I would always be open to read more about them, I also appreciate how it was concluded.
Absolutely recommended!

[Lilith's_Library_]

The Illusion of Oblivion?! Okay… that title alone sounds like someone is about to lie directly to my face and I'm going to believe them anyway. 😂🖤

Going into The Illusion of Oblivion, I was immediately intrigued by the mystery surrounding the story. There's something about a title like this that makes you feel like nothing is quite what it seems, and naturally my nosy little reader brain needed answers.

I really enjoyed the mysterious atmosphere and the feeling of uncertainty throughout the story. There were moments where I wasn't entirely sure who or what I could trust, and honestly? That is exactly the kind of chaos I enjoy. 👀🎭

The character dynamics were another highlight for me. There’s tension, secrets, complicated emotions, and plenty of moments that had me questioning everyone's motives. I definitely found myself trying to connect the dots and work out what was really happening before the story could reveal it.

I also liked the way the story plays with ideas of truth, memory, perception and deception. It gives the mystery a more psychological edge and made me think about how much of what we're seeing can actually be trusted.

There were a few moments where I wanted certain elements to be explored a little more, and I didn't connect with every part of the story equally, which is what kept this at four stars for me. But overall, I was invested enough to keep turning the pages because I needed to know what was actually going on. 😂🖤

And honestly, if a book makes me suspicious of literally everyone…

Congratulations. You have my attention. 😂🎭

✨ Tropes / Vibes ✨
🎭 Secrets & Deception
👀 Mystery & Intrigue
🖤 Dark Atmosphere
🧠 Psychological Tension
🔮 Illusions & Perception
🤫 Hidden Truths
🔥 Romantic Tension
💕 Complicated Relationships
🎭 Unreliable Energy
👁️ Questioning Reality
🖤 Emotional Angst
⚔️ Danger & Conflict
✨ Twists & Uncertainty

[Rebecca McKenzie]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Illusion of Oblivion was such a strong conclusion to the Portrait of Lies duology! I really loved how much this book built on everything we were introduced to in the first book, while making the world feel even bigger, darker and more complicated.

The magic system was probably one of my favourite parts of this book. I felt like I had a much better understanding of ether and how everything connected, and I loved continuing to uncover the mysteries that were set up in The Art of Deception. You can really see how much thought Madi put into weaving these two stories together.

I also absolutely loved the gothic, dark academia atmosphere. The idea of paintings becoming portals to other worlds was SO good, and I especially loved the descriptions of the painted realms. There was something really beautiful and eerie about being pulled into these paintings and seeing the world through Alexandria’s eyes.

The exploration of memory, identity and the connection between art and ether was another highlight for me. I love when a fantasy magic system is tied into something that feels really personal to the characters, and I thought that worked really well here. Alexandria has so much responsibility on her shoulders, and watching her navigate everything that comes with being the Keeper added so much emotional weight to the story.

And E V A N D E R. 👀 Their relationship continues to be one of my favourite parts of the series, especially with everything they’re forced to confront about trust, secrets and memories.

Overall, I really enjoyed the Portrait of Lies duology. Madi has created such a unique, atmospheric world filled with art, magic, gothic academia and plenty of mysteries to unravel. If you love dark academia, gothic fantasy and magical worlds with a slightly surreal twist, definitely give this duology a go!

I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever Madi writes next! 🖼️✨💙

Thank you to Madi Gologranc and The Berry Agency for the e-ARC!

[Monique Annalyss]

The Illusion of Oblivion expands on the world established in the first book and really leans into the stranger, darker side of Alexandria’s story. I especially enjoyed the continued focus on Dreadmore, the gallery and the connection between art, ether and memory. There’s something wonderfully atmospheric about a world where paintings and galleries can feel almost as alive and dangerous as the characters themselves.

Alexandria’s position as Keeper also gives this installment an interesting emotional weight. She’s carrying so much responsibility while simultaneously trying to understand everything that has changed around her, and I liked seeing that tension reflected throughout the story. Her relationship with Evander remains one of the more compelling parts of the series for me, particularly with everything they’re forced to confront about trust, memory and the things that have been kept from one another.

The ideas surrounding memory were probably my favourite aspect of this installment. I love when fantasy uses its magic system to explore something emotional and personal, and the way memories and identity are tied into the larger mythology gives the story some really interesting possibilities.

This is also a very atmospheric read. The gothic setting, magical art and mysterious Societies give the series such a distinctive identity, and I think readers who connected with those elements in the first book will especially enjoy seeing the world become more complicated here.

There are definitely moments where the story feels intentionally dreamlike and disorienting, but I think that fits the increasingly surreal nature of Alexandria’s world. Overall, this feels like a book that is setting up some really interesting possibilities for what comes next, and I’m excited to see where Madi goes next! 🖼️✨🩵


*ARC received by publisher* (yay - I am so grateful!)☺️

[TheSeasonedReader]

Strong 4 - 4.5 🌟 from Me

I was very lucky and honoured to receive a copy of this novel as an ARC, and I was not disappointed.

What initially appeared to be the ultimate prize in The Art of Deception—the inheritance of Dreadmore Manor—it definitely takes on a very different meaning in The Illusion of Oblivion. It is certainly no ordinary gift – Dreadmore is cruel, manipulative, demanding, and filled with secrets.

Whilst reading, I felt a constant sense of anxiety and trepidation for Alexandria as she fights to prove herself as the rightful Keeper of the Manor, whilst desperately trying to find and save her husband, Evander. Add to this the trials set by the Princes of Hell for Alexandria, I was kept me on the edge of my seat, never quite knowing what was going to happen next.

I loved how the connection between art, ether, and memory continues throughout the story, adding another layer of intrigue and magic. Madi's writing also has a wonderful way of placing you right in the heart of Dreadmore, almost as though you're an invisible, silent observer, watching the mysterious Societies come to life and feeling the magic vibrate through the Manor – very atmospheric!

The pacing was excellent, keeping me engaged and wanting to know what would happen next. And while the ending wasn't an immediate happy ending for everyone, I felt it was the perfect ending for the story that had unfolded.

I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Casey]

This is book 2 in The Portrait of Lies series, and I enjoyed this one so much more than the first. Book 2 follows Alexandria, the new Keeper of Dreadmore Manor. The Society of Alchemy has taken someone from her, and she’ll do everything in her power to get him back. While on her rescue mission, she also has to care for the manor and endure trials that will fully initiate her as Keeper. Along the way, she makes new allies, but the question is… who can she really trust? There was so much happening throughout this book that I genuinely never got bored. Almost every chapter had something going on that kept me invested and made it difficult to put down. A lot more information was also provided this time around, and I felt like I finally understood the different societies and Ether much better. I didn’t feel nearly as confused as I did in the first book, and there were significantly fewer footnotes, so my reading flow wasn’t interrupted quite as often. What I enjoyed most was learning more about everyone’s gifts and the concept of entering paintings and exploring the worlds within them. I thought this was such an interesting part of the story, and I loved seeing more of how it all worked. The characters also had a lot more depth in this book, and I definitely didn’t see the little twist towards the end coming. Overall, this was a really enjoyable and intense read. I’m definitely much more invested in this world now and I hope that there will be a continuation of the story.

[Starling]

ok im literally screaming crying throwing up because WHAT WAS THAT??? after The Art of Deception i knew my soul was on the line but this sequel completely shattered me 😭
first of all the VIBES??? dark academia perfection. the restless talking paintings, magic literally bleeding through brushstrokes, and secret gateways in painted thresholds like hello??? im obsessed. the gothic atmosphere was suffocating in the absolute best way possible.
and DO NOT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE YEARNING. Alexandria and Evander are driving me insane like the absolute obsession, the high stakes, her having to choose between her prize and his safety... i was hyperventilating the whole time. the betrayal, the mind-bending alchemy, the sheer tension... magic in pigment indeed because this book permanently altered my brain chemistry 💀
1000/10 if you love dark, twisted, yearning-filled dark academia you need this duet immediately.

[Sara Jesus]

This duology is such a fever dream. Portrait of lies is a world full of art, history and deception. It feels like we are in a maze and have to discover the right path for gain the knowledge. In "The ilusion of oblivison" Alexandria needs to prove herself to be the right keeper for the gallery and save Evander, the man she loves.

In this book is introduced the princes of hell that give some trials for Alexandria, each one is unique and capatle of everyting to be free. Alexandria journey is a path to knowledge and love, she stays true to herself and don't let power change her.

I was very lucky to recived an arc for the writer. It was a privilege to read your book. Really curious to see what you write next, Madi.

[Mikayla]

I had the pleasure of being gifted the first book in the Portrait of Lies to prepare for the ARC read of the Illusion of Oblivion. I found the foundations of the characters, the world building and the fundamentals of ether to be integral. Initially it took awhile to sink in and understand the world and its principles but once those were laid I found the series enthralling and enjoyable. The second book built upon these foundations and fundamentals and created and weaved layers into this world that made everything so much more gratifying and enlightening. The relationship between the characters was amplified in the setting of the circles of hell and the trials from the three brothers. The fluidity and balance of the gothic elements.

[Marie-Ève22]

3.5⭐️ This series is so unique. I loved the magic system and the setting so much. Art and music are a big part of this dark academia book. There are also good plot twists throughout the book. Some I saw coming but I was surprised by others. I am giving a 3.5 instead of a 4 because I felt like there was a lot of "tell" instead of "show" which provented me to really get attach to the story and all its emotions. This book is great for anyone who LOVES dark academia!

[Héloïse Van Gemerden]

I was an arc reader for the art of deception and this book as well. It was so nice to see the story telling grow!! I liked this book a lot. I understood Alexandria, her pain and her struggles.

It was so much fun getting to know new characters! Can we talk about Dain?? LOVE him.

This is the perfect book to read in the rainy and cold months. Madi has done an AMAZING job writing this!!

[Lila]

The second book is as good as the first one. I love how we learned more about the world and had a few new characters introduced. The philosophical thoughts made me think about how some of those phrases relate to the real world. The paintings were nice to look at!

[olivia]

"Love seems more painful than death."

♡ — thoughts
Madi has gone and done it again brilliantly with the second book in her debut duet, The Portrait of Lies.
I am seriously blown away by the caliber of Gologranc's writing and creativity - I genuinely think her writing is on par, if not better than some of the current fantasy/dark academia fiction writers.

Diving deeper into the world of Dreadmore bought more suspense, mystery and overall gothic vibes. It was an atmosphere to be absorbed into, and at times, I felt like I was watching a movie playing in my mind. Every time we stepped inside a new painting, I was transported to a new place. I fell in love with new characters (Dain!!!) and the intricate mysteries and plot twists were all revealed so well! I believe it to be a well thought out, wonderfully written ending, but with an openness that could bring a spin off series, or even novellas from other POVs.

I can't wait to read more of Gologranc's work in the future - she's made herself onto my automatic buy list!

Congratulations and thank you Madi and the Berry Agency for the opportunity to review this e-ARC, it was an honour and a privilege!

♡ — CAWPILE rating and breakdown: 8.79/10
Characters: 9
Atmosphere: 8.5
Writing Style: 9
Plot: 8
Intrigue: 10
Logic: 8
Enjoyment: 9

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