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Illusional Reality
Nobody expects to stare death in the face only to find out your entire life is a lie.
Rescued by Salco, marketing executive Becky finds herself in an unknown magical world filled with happy people that try to forget their land is on the brink of destruction.
Becky will soon learn none of this was an accident, and the council of Tsinia are certain her union with Darthorn's son, Kovon, will create peace. And although her future has been planned out, she gives her heart to another.
"llusional Reality was definitely one huge ride. The story is very unique, you won't find any stereotypical fantasy ploys in this novel! Karina Kantas has managed to do the almost impossible by weaving a thrilling story with romantic twists that will have you turning pages all night, and most probably give you quite a large book hangover.
S.H
Illusional Reality is filled with intrigue, deception, and danger. The story holds your attention as the events play out. I identified with the characters, loving the facets of their personalities. Well done. I loved the book. B.C
Rescued by Salco, marketing executive Becky finds herself in an unknown magical world filled with happy people that try to forget their land is on the brink of destruction.
Becky will soon learn none of this was an accident, and the council of Tsinia are certain her union with Darthorn's son, Kovon, will create peace. And although her future has been planned out, she gives her heart to another.
"llusional Reality was definitely one huge ride. The story is very unique, you won't find any stereotypical fantasy ploys in this novel! Karina Kantas has managed to do the almost impossible by weaving a thrilling story with romantic twists that will have you turning pages all night, and most probably give you quite a large book hangover.
S.H
Illusional Reality is filled with intrigue, deception, and danger. The story holds your attention as the events play out. I identified with the characters, loving the facets of their personalities. Well done. I loved the book. B.C
- GenresFantasy
182 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2016
26 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
Karina Kantas
25 books812 followersKarina Kantas originates from the UK but has lived in Greece most of her life.
Karina is a prolific author and publishes in the fiction genres of MC thrillers, fantasy, horror, comedy, romance, erotica, dystopian and thriller, dark romance, and mafia thrillers.
She writes thought-provoking/dark flash fiction when her imagination is working overtime.
Karina is the host of Behind The Pen TV show, which streams on platforms that cover over 100.000.000 homes.
She has her own radio show, Author Assist, on the Artist First Radio Network. She is a bookTuber, podcaster, and award-winning filmmaker.
Karina Kantas also runs Author Assist, which offers coaching, mentoring and exclusive packages to writers and publishers.
**coming soon**
IN TIMES OF VIOLENCE ADULT EDITION
Titles to date:
The OUTLAW series
In Times of Violence Urban thriller YA
Huntress Dark MC romance
Lawless Justice Vigilante MC thriller
Road Rage Dark MC Romance
Collections:
Heads & Tales Flash and short fiction.
Undressed Flash, poetry, prose
A Flash of Horror Flash fiction
Stone Cold YA horror
Toxic Dystopian sci-fi erotica
Broken Chains Dark mafia romance
Illusional Realityduology
Book 1 Illusional Reality YA fantasy/ PNR
Book 2 The Quest supernatural fantasy
Audiobooks
Stone Cold YA Horror
Illusional Reality YA fantasy PNR
Karina is a prolific author and publishes in the fiction genres of MC thrillers, fantasy, horror, comedy, romance, erotica, dystopian and thriller, dark romance, and mafia thrillers.
She writes thought-provoking/dark flash fiction when her imagination is working overtime.
Karina is the host of Behind The Pen TV show, which streams on platforms that cover over 100.000.000 homes.
She has her own radio show, Author Assist, on the Artist First Radio Network. She is a bookTuber, podcaster, and award-winning filmmaker.
Karina Kantas also runs Author Assist, which offers coaching, mentoring and exclusive packages to writers and publishers.
**coming soon**
IN TIMES OF VIOLENCE ADULT EDITION
Titles to date:
The OUTLAW series
In Times of Violence Urban thriller YA
Huntress Dark MC romance
Lawless Justice Vigilante MC thriller
Road Rage Dark MC Romance
Collections:
Heads & Tales Flash and short fiction.
Undressed Flash, poetry, prose
A Flash of Horror Flash fiction
Stone Cold YA horror
Toxic Dystopian sci-fi erotica
Broken Chains Dark mafia romance
Illusional Realityduology
Book 1 Illusional Reality YA fantasy/ PNR
Book 2 The Quest supernatural fantasy
Audiobooks
Stone Cold YA Horror
Illusional Reality YA fantasy PNR
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
April 7, 2016
Becky is quite content with her life, before she is stalked, injured, and dragged into another world. When she wakes up, people are calling her Princess Thya and expect her to be their saviour, to marry a dubious lord, and perform all sorts of miracles.
I received a free copy from the author as a birthday prezzie.
This was a fun little fantasy read.
It wastes the small amount of time on Earth, before jumping into Tsinia and all its drama.
Tsinia is a land of magic, grace and wisdom. Its people only want peaceful lives, which the live by a code that cannot be questioned. Unfortunately, they are under the constant threat from the neighbouring Senx, and feel only a political marriage will solve their problems.
I got the impression that the Tsinians were a little bit cowardly. Despite their own (very strong) magic, they would rather sit back in their tree homes and entrust that everything will go well; that a higher power will protect them. They are not a pro-active race at all.
Despite the fact that Becky/Thya grew up in a different world, they are happy to sell her off in marriage before she has even set foot in Tsinia. The Tsinians are content for Lord Kovon to rule over them by the law of marriage; rather than suffer a war and have the same result.
Thya is an interesting character, she enjoys being treated like a princess, and is keen to learn about the land they want her to rule. I thought at times she was... not exactly self-centred, but she did act without thought of consequence. I couldn't believe how she spoke to Kovon and Darthorn, without any attempt to mediate the situation.
She's the same with the Tsinians at first, making no concession or compromise, though her actions and choices could doom them. She has a detached air that everything will be alright, and only steps up to fight and defend her people when Alkazar kicks her into action (not literally).
The book took me a while to get into, mainly because of the language barrier.
Now, as I've said before (and even said to the author), if you have a Fantasy set in another world (and especially if it covers several countries in that world) I would be very disappointed if they all sounded like an American teenager.
There has to be something in the language, flow, syntax, phrases etc. that tells me This Is Elsewhere.
And all of the above has to be in balance with what is being expressed and how easy it is to understand.
Kantas makes a very good attempt at this. And... some bits were nice and poetic, but a lot of it looked like it had gone through Google Translate, or a thesaurus a few times.
The most common one was "sight" which solidly replaced every see, look, view, regard etc.
Then there were some word choices that quite simply...
English is too deeply ingrained, that the constant use of these words broke the flow.
I think I would have been more immersed if Kantas had created a different language, or explored the different influences on the English language.
That being said, I did still enjoy this story. I found the first half slow to build, but then I was hooked. I absolutely loved the ending, and how it gets there and everything. I don't want to say anything, because I don't want to spoil it.
There are so many books that tail off and finish weakly, taking the easiest path. Kantas gives an absolutely cracking ending.
I received a free copy from the author as a birthday prezzie.
This was a fun little fantasy read.
It wastes the small amount of time on Earth, before jumping into Tsinia and all its drama.
Tsinia is a land of magic, grace and wisdom. Its people only want peaceful lives, which the live by a code that cannot be questioned. Unfortunately, they are under the constant threat from the neighbouring Senx, and feel only a political marriage will solve their problems.
I got the impression that the Tsinians were a little bit cowardly. Despite their own (very strong) magic, they would rather sit back in their tree homes and entrust that everything will go well; that a higher power will protect them. They are not a pro-active race at all.
Despite the fact that Becky/Thya grew up in a different world, they are happy to sell her off in marriage before she has even set foot in Tsinia. The Tsinians are content for Lord Kovon to rule over them by the law of marriage; rather than suffer a war and have the same result.
Thya is an interesting character, she enjoys being treated like a princess, and is keen to learn about the land they want her to rule. I thought at times she was... not exactly self-centred, but she did act without thought of consequence. I couldn't believe how she spoke to Kovon and Darthorn, without any attempt to mediate the situation.
She's the same with the Tsinians at first, making no concession or compromise, though her actions and choices could doom them. She has a detached air that everything will be alright, and only steps up to fight and defend her people when Alkazar kicks her into action (not literally).
The book took me a while to get into, mainly because of the language barrier.
Now, as I've said before (and even said to the author), if you have a Fantasy set in another world (and especially if it covers several countries in that world) I would be very disappointed if they all sounded like an American teenager.
There has to be something in the language, flow, syntax, phrases etc. that tells me This Is Elsewhere.
And all of the above has to be in balance with what is being expressed and how easy it is to understand.
Kantas makes a very good attempt at this. And... some bits were nice and poetic, but a lot of it looked like it had gone through Google Translate, or a thesaurus a few times.
The most common one was "sight" which solidly replaced every see, look, view, regard etc.
Then there were some word choices that quite simply...
English is too deeply ingrained, that the constant use of these words broke the flow.
I think I would have been more immersed if Kantas had created a different language, or explored the different influences on the English language.
That being said, I did still enjoy this story. I found the first half slow to build, but then I was hooked. I absolutely loved the ending, and how it gets there and everything. I don't want to say anything, because I don't want to spoil it.
There are so many books that tail off and finish weakly, taking the easiest path. Kantas gives an absolutely cracking ending.
April 30, 2016
This was a very interesting book, we're taking to a whole other place where Becky learns she is actually Princess Thya of Tsinia and has unique gifts. The story moved along nicely, I did have a few gasps from time to time and enjoyed it from beginning to the very end. Was not expecting the final results at all.
May 29, 2020
Becky was content until everything fell apart. Loads of magic and everything else to keep you happy, absorbed and reading. Loved it.
September 4, 2016
Grabbed me in the first chapter! Though this started out as your typical, "Oh by the way, you are unique and have to save our people" fantasy, it quickly became a more interesting tale. Thya discovers her true identity and though she tries to take it all in stride, it's obviously still really hard for her to let go of her life on Earth.
Though the Tsinians strike me as pretty naive (They have been constantly attacked by their enemy for decades and all of a sudden decide he is trustworthy? Really?) Thya isn't and doesn't play around when it comes to people she doesn't trust. She basically tells the guy who killed her parents, and now wants to marry her as part of a peace treaty, to stick it where the sun doesn't shine. We see her character grow stronger of mind and more confident as the story progresses.
Full of action, a budding romance, betrayal, and some really cool yet terrifying magic, Illusional Reality was a fun read that I just had to finish in one sitting.
Though the Tsinians strike me as pretty naive (They have been constantly attacked by their enemy for decades and all of a sudden decide he is trustworthy? Really?) Thya isn't and doesn't play around when it comes to people she doesn't trust. She basically tells the guy who killed her parents, and now wants to marry her as part of a peace treaty, to stick it where the sun doesn't shine. We see her character grow stronger of mind and more confident as the story progresses.
Full of action, a budding romance, betrayal, and some really cool yet terrifying magic, Illusional Reality was a fun read that I just had to finish in one sitting.
February 20, 2019
Different story
This was a different type of story. The author completely made up a language and a whole new world. That’s pretty cool. Becky is just living her life. But one day she’s rescued and brought back to her home planet. Of course she thinks she’s just dreaming. But spoiler she’s not! When she was rescued she was on the brink of death but do to powers she don’t understand she’s saved. Let me stop before I ruin the book. Overall I liked it! It was definitely a different type of fantasy then I’m use to.
This was a different type of story. The author completely made up a language and a whole new world. That’s pretty cool. Becky is just living her life. But one day she’s rescued and brought back to her home planet. Of course she thinks she’s just dreaming. But spoiler she’s not! When she was rescued she was on the brink of death but do to powers she don’t understand she’s saved. Let me stop before I ruin the book. Overall I liked it! It was definitely a different type of fantasy then I’m use to.
August 20, 2016
I absolutely loved this story! Becky ends up in an alternate dimension and is the princess and didn't know about it and is faced with all kinds of obstacles to overcome and she adapts to her surroundings well for it all being thrown at her so suddenly. This was a lovely magical story that has a little bit of romance and heartache and fantasy all mixed in and a mostly clean YA read I give it 5 stars and truly enjoyed everything about it!
May 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It's been a while since I read in this genre. It had terrific world-building especially with the language style to help to keep you embedded in the novel.
The characters were good.
The ending was something I wasn't expecting. I loved it because it wasn't a cliche ending.
The characters were good.
The ending was something I wasn't expecting. I loved it because it wasn't a cliche ending.
September 8, 2018
Illusional Reality by Karina Kantas features Becky/Thya who learns that she is the heir of Tsinia. According to an oracle prophecy, she is supposed to save her people from slavery and domination by Darthon, the Warlord of Senx.
The Author has used her creative fantasy to introduce a unique and different plot that has been very well thought out and is set in an interesting alternate reality in a world that has unique magical elements.
It is a story of espionage, treachery, suspense, love, sacrifice, hope, courage and so much more.
All the characters, included the good and not so good, are well thought out, developed and well defined. This wonderful tale is very well written, with an unusual storyline, that takes place in an enchanting world just waiting for the reader to discover.
Very well written, the writing style is smooth and flowing. There are good detailed descriptions to scenes and settings that are so realistic they are easily envisioned.
Exciting and different I enjoyed reading the book.
Gifted with a copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
The Author has used her creative fantasy to introduce a unique and different plot that has been very well thought out and is set in an interesting alternate reality in a world that has unique magical elements.
It is a story of espionage, treachery, suspense, love, sacrifice, hope, courage and so much more.
All the characters, included the good and not so good, are well thought out, developed and well defined. This wonderful tale is very well written, with an unusual storyline, that takes place in an enchanting world just waiting for the reader to discover.
Very well written, the writing style is smooth and flowing. There are good detailed descriptions to scenes and settings that are so realistic they are easily envisioned.
Exciting and different I enjoyed reading the book.
Gifted with a copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
March 18, 2017
Ilusional Reality may not be the kind of paranormal book you are used to reading. However you are sure to Find a beautiful princess and a touching love story.
The enchanted land of Tsinia, the powers of its people and the struggle to win over evil bring the book the sweetness of fairy tales.
The vocabulary needs a little time for the enchanted landers also have a special way of speaking. Despite of that, the story flows with a good pace once you get used to it.
Some moments are sad and others are happy but it's the end that surprises the most. In fact, it seems to me that the story has no end and needs another book to find it. The last paragraph sounds like a cliffhanger to me yet a following book is not mentioned.
I do hope it continues! Come on Karina! Sit down and write!
The enchanted land of Tsinia, the powers of its people and the struggle to win over evil bring the book the sweetness of fairy tales.
The vocabulary needs a little time for the enchanted landers also have a special way of speaking. Despite of that, the story flows with a good pace once you get used to it.
Some moments are sad and others are happy but it's the end that surprises the most. In fact, it seems to me that the story has no end and needs another book to find it. The last paragraph sounds like a cliffhanger to me yet a following book is not mentioned.
I do hope it continues! Come on Karina! Sit down and write!
December 2, 2020
In Illusional Reality by Karina Kantas, Becky Jones just escaped someone trying to kill her, only to awake up as a princess in a different realm. She is enjoying all the perks of being royalty; beautiful clothing, servants waiting on her, and devoted subjects at her beck and call. She finds this all fascinating until she discovers she is betrothal to an evil prince who may have been the one who killed her parents, who sent her away. Known as Thya in the land of Tsinia, she discovers this alternative world is magical and directed by the mysterious oracles that gives vague predictions of the future. Can she rewrite her future and still save the people who look to her for salvation and guidance?
Illusional Reality is a mesmerizing novel that leaves its readers in awe. Karina Kantas is an author with a variety of genres under her belt. Her niche is mystique and suspense, with a dash of the unexpected. The plot appears simple as a lost princess returns to her home in time to save her subjects from despair, but this novel is far from simple as the author layers complex situations with characters that exhibit unusual gifts. The author’s well-developed characters rule their realm with trust and hope. A new twist comes just as you feel you know what is coming next. Overall, this novel displays creativity in this realm, flexibility in the characters’ lives as the code could change the direction of their life, and hope that love will prevail. I was so thrilled with the ending I ordered Illusional Reality: The Quest, to continue the story of Thya.
Review written by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite.
Illusional Reality is a mesmerizing novel that leaves its readers in awe. Karina Kantas is an author with a variety of genres under her belt. Her niche is mystique and suspense, with a dash of the unexpected. The plot appears simple as a lost princess returns to her home in time to save her subjects from despair, but this novel is far from simple as the author layers complex situations with characters that exhibit unusual gifts. The author’s well-developed characters rule their realm with trust and hope. A new twist comes just as you feel you know what is coming next. Overall, this novel displays creativity in this realm, flexibility in the characters’ lives as the code could change the direction of their life, and hope that love will prevail. I was so thrilled with the ending I ordered Illusional Reality: The Quest, to continue the story of Thya.
Review written by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite.
July 3, 2017
An enjoyable fantasy that took me less than a full day to read. A plot that captured my imagination; a page turner. I will post a more in-depth review at a later date.
I started reading this book last November and had not finished. So began at the beginning again and it became apparent to me why I had quit reading before. The use of an odd configuration of the English language to emulate a different language structure and usage made it difficult to relate to the characters and dialogue at the beginning. However, this time I stuck it out and as I read, the story developed nicely and it became easier for me to decipher the meanings of the strange turn of speech. I got used to it.
The characters were pretty well developed and the plot pulled together nicely. An ordinary young modern day business woman is pulled into an alternate reality where she is no longer an ordinary citizen. This fantasy clearly delineated good and evil. With a mild mannered people to represent a good, peace-loving people in need of a strong ruler. Evil portrayed by a dictatorial monarchy intent upon world conquest. Magic plays a essential role in the battle between good and evil in this story. By the conclusion of this adventure there is an unknown evil that afflicts the heroine. But this hint of what is to come will have to wait for another story taking place in this world. I have my suspicions as to it's source.
At first I was thinking of a mediocre review because I had a problem with the language though not the plot or the characters. As the plot developed and my comprehension of the language got better and I increased my regard for the story and my rating improved. The pace varied, some parts seemed a bit slow and others raced ahead. Overall, the slow parts were not extensive enough to become boring and the fast parts did not leave me behind or leave out essential details. I read it pretty much straight through (other than sleep cycles). I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more books by the author that take place in this world. It is an interesting world with much potential for more adventures. I would recommend for for ages 16 and older as there are a couple of sex scenes, though they are not graphic and were dealt with tastefully and modestly.
Illusional Reality is a great read for fantasy lovers! The author has created an alternate reality in a world with unique magical elements.
I started reading this book last November and had not finished. So began at the beginning again and it became apparent to me why I had quit reading before. The use of an odd configuration of the English language to emulate a different language structure and usage made it difficult to relate to the characters and dialogue at the beginning. However, this time I stuck it out and as I read, the story developed nicely and it became easier for me to decipher the meanings of the strange turn of speech. I got used to it.
The characters were pretty well developed and the plot pulled together nicely. An ordinary young modern day business woman is pulled into an alternate reality where she is no longer an ordinary citizen. This fantasy clearly delineated good and evil. With a mild mannered people to represent a good, peace-loving people in need of a strong ruler. Evil portrayed by a dictatorial monarchy intent upon world conquest. Magic plays a essential role in the battle between good and evil in this story. By the conclusion of this adventure there is an unknown evil that afflicts the heroine. But this hint of what is to come will have to wait for another story taking place in this world. I have my suspicions as to it's source.
At first I was thinking of a mediocre review because I had a problem with the language though not the plot or the characters. As the plot developed and my comprehension of the language got better and I increased my regard for the story and my rating improved. The pace varied, some parts seemed a bit slow and others raced ahead. Overall, the slow parts were not extensive enough to become boring and the fast parts did not leave me behind or leave out essential details. I read it pretty much straight through (other than sleep cycles). I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more books by the author that take place in this world. It is an interesting world with much potential for more adventures. I would recommend for for ages 16 and older as there are a couple of sex scenes, though they are not graphic and were dealt with tastefully and modestly.
Illusional Reality is a great read for fantasy lovers! The author has created an alternate reality in a world with unique magical elements.
October 20, 2016
This unique magical world took my breath away in the very beginning and I couldn't put the book aside until the last page.
Becky thinks she is an ordinary human being, an adopted child, when she suddenly wakes up in a fae realm called Tsinia. Not only she is one of those who possess extraordinary powers; she is the princess with the most outstanding gifts of power, destined to be the savior and defender of the land. Though offered to take the reign, she refuses to accept the crown repeatedly, only wishing to aid her kinsmen and protect the land. Becoming familiar with her former homeland, princess Thya falls in love with her tutor, Alkazar. Although they are destined to be together once, the time has not come yet and her victory over evil forces carries a bitter flavor.
Humble and noble characters full of emotions and temper drive the story forward, leaving the reader breathless in anticipation of their future actions and life situations they must endure. I loved Thya's warm heart and awareness of her duties and rights and admire her for the strong will she uses to guide the others and helps her surroundings. Her determination to fight for her love followed by the failure still causes ache in my heart. Alkazar is loyal, faithful and just, charming and likeable character who is bound between duty and desire.
I am still awed by the imaginative and spellbinding world the story is set into. Experiencing the world on my own would be an amazing sensation. I hope many will discover this book and enjoy the tale at least as I did.
Becky thinks she is an ordinary human being, an adopted child, when she suddenly wakes up in a fae realm called Tsinia. Not only she is one of those who possess extraordinary powers; she is the princess with the most outstanding gifts of power, destined to be the savior and defender of the land. Though offered to take the reign, she refuses to accept the crown repeatedly, only wishing to aid her kinsmen and protect the land. Becoming familiar with her former homeland, princess Thya falls in love with her tutor, Alkazar. Although they are destined to be together once, the time has not come yet and her victory over evil forces carries a bitter flavor.
Humble and noble characters full of emotions and temper drive the story forward, leaving the reader breathless in anticipation of their future actions and life situations they must endure. I loved Thya's warm heart and awareness of her duties and rights and admire her for the strong will she uses to guide the others and helps her surroundings. Her determination to fight for her love followed by the failure still causes ache in my heart. Alkazar is loyal, faithful and just, charming and likeable character who is bound between duty and desire.
I am still awed by the imaginative and spellbinding world the story is set into. Experiencing the world on my own would be an amazing sensation. I hope many will discover this book and enjoy the tale at least as I did.
March 18, 2016
An interesting and enjoyable read from Karina Kantas.
This well-written story clipped along at a good and steady pace.
The detailed descriptions let me see the magical land of Tsinia, with it's tree-top dwellings and it's friendly and peaceful inhabitants. Senx, the home of her 'intended', Kovon and his father, Darthorn, is a much darker and gloomier place.
The main characters are well fleshed out, and Thya/Becky runs through the whole spectrum of emotions, from disbelief to acceptance, anger to peace, and love to heartbreak, and I felt them along with her.
I am hopeful that Illusional Reality is the first book of a series!
This well-written story clipped along at a good and steady pace.
The detailed descriptions let me see the magical land of Tsinia, with it's tree-top dwellings and it's friendly and peaceful inhabitants. Senx, the home of her 'intended', Kovon and his father, Darthorn, is a much darker and gloomier place.
The main characters are well fleshed out, and Thya/Becky runs through the whole spectrum of emotions, from disbelief to acceptance, anger to peace, and love to heartbreak, and I felt them along with her.
I am hopeful that Illusional Reality is the first book of a series!
May 20, 2019
Karina Kantas is a talented author who has dabbled in various genres and has reached a wide variety of audiences through her multiple fiction series, short stories, and flash fiction. Illusional Reality is the first in her young adult romantic fantasy duology and provides a pleasantly alluring introduction to this unique series. While the premise may seem a bit cliché and perhaps even predictable, Kantas has used her creativity to take this common fantasy premise and make it her own.
After a long day working as a marketing executive, imagine getting kicked out of a taxi in an unknown neighborhood, following a strange man named Salco who said you would be killed if you didn’t follow him, then nearly being killed anyway by a couple of strange otherworldly beings known as Senxs. Now imagine waking up from this crazy nightmare only to discover that Tsinia, the fantastical dream world you wake up in, is indeed reality and not only that, but that you are the last living heir to the throne of Tsinia which is on the brink of being overruled by the warlord of Senx, Darthorn. And, to top everything off, in order to create order amidst the chaos and stop your people from becoming eternally enslaved, a peace treaty is believed to be created if you wed Kovon, the son of Darthorn, within a very short window of time. Poor seemingly normal Becky is subjected to this crazy adventure and must do all that she can to save a land she has never known by facing off against a warlord using powers she never believed she possessed, while at the same time, struggling to not fall for a man she never expected to meet and is forbidden to love.
Let us begin by focusing on one of the hardest challenges any author faces when it comes to writing fantasy and science fiction: worldbuilding. There is no doubt that Kantas has succeeded in creating a memorable and unique world filled with equally unique beings and cultures. The world itself is described almost like an elven city found in various fantasy stories and most certainly a world would wish to visit or live in. Other than the imminent threat of doom, the land of Tsinia is beautiful and peaceful. The Tsinians are the main beings Kantas focuses on in Illusional Realty and they make for an enjoyable new race. Along with the elven-like land they reside in, they have the beauty and elegance of elves (without the pointy ears), yet they also have unique abilities that almost resemble superpowers (very similar to the X-Men).
One of the main highlights, as well as surprises, about the Tsinians is the way they speak. Rather than speaking with slang, abbreviations, lingo, etc., they speak very properly and eloquently. Imagine how people must have spoken in the 1700s or 1800s in high end society and that is more or less how Tsinians speak. It is most certainly surprising to find this in a young adult book; however, it is refreshing to read and perhaps even the young readers of today can, hopefully, pick up on this speech so they can stop speaking in text lingo.
Another challenge authors face, especially when they have quite a few characters within a shorter story as well as a shorter series, is giving each of their characters his or her own unique personality. Once again, Kantas has succeeded in giving her many characters just that. While some could have perhaps been developed a bit more, readers will be able to differentiate each of the characters by how he or she acts and what he or she does. With so many characters introduced, we shall focus on the main character: Becky on Earth/ Thya in Tsinia. She is most certainly a powerhouse woman and does not take crap from anyone, making for an excellent role model figure for the younger female readers. What is definitely refreshing about Becky/ Thya is how she reacts to discovering that she is a princess. It is on par with Mia from The Princess Diaries where she grudgingly accepts the fact that she is a princess, but in all honesty, truly does not want to be and Kantas continues to surprise her readers with Becky/ Thya’s decision as the story continues. Perhaps the only thing readers may have difficulty following are the names of the characters. Kantas is to be commended for all of the original names she created for her fantasy beings; however, it can become a bit tricky to follow who some of the characters are at times.
The story itself is alluring, though with a concept that has been used time and time again within the fantasy genre, there are a few clichés readers will stumble upon. However, readers should not allow this to stop them from reading Illusional Realty. The “forbidden love” aspect of the story will seem both familiar and different for Kantas added additional surprises into the mix that readers will not expect. The feud between light and dark (Becky/ Thya and Darthorn/ Kovon) could have been expanded upon a bit more, but what is revealed to the readers is enjoyable and has its own unexpected twists as well.
The talented Kantas has created an alluring twist on a familiar concept with Illusional Realty. She has taken fantasy elements and put enticing new twists onto cliché plots. While it would have been wonderful to read even more about the history and culture behind this new fantasy world, readers will enjoy the new fantastical land of Tsinia and will love reading the eloquent dialog of the Tsinians. Readers will praise Becky/ Thya’s powerhouse character traits and will discover all of the other characters’ unique powers and personalities. Making for a quick read, readers will most certainly wish to pick up the second and final book in Kantas’ duology, The Quest, as soon as they have reached the last page to find out what happens next.
**Originally published on my blog Roll Out Reviews on May 19, 2019**
After a long day working as a marketing executive, imagine getting kicked out of a taxi in an unknown neighborhood, following a strange man named Salco who said you would be killed if you didn’t follow him, then nearly being killed anyway by a couple of strange otherworldly beings known as Senxs. Now imagine waking up from this crazy nightmare only to discover that Tsinia, the fantastical dream world you wake up in, is indeed reality and not only that, but that you are the last living heir to the throne of Tsinia which is on the brink of being overruled by the warlord of Senx, Darthorn. And, to top everything off, in order to create order amidst the chaos and stop your people from becoming eternally enslaved, a peace treaty is believed to be created if you wed Kovon, the son of Darthorn, within a very short window of time. Poor seemingly normal Becky is subjected to this crazy adventure and must do all that she can to save a land she has never known by facing off against a warlord using powers she never believed she possessed, while at the same time, struggling to not fall for a man she never expected to meet and is forbidden to love.
Let us begin by focusing on one of the hardest challenges any author faces when it comes to writing fantasy and science fiction: worldbuilding. There is no doubt that Kantas has succeeded in creating a memorable and unique world filled with equally unique beings and cultures. The world itself is described almost like an elven city found in various fantasy stories and most certainly a world would wish to visit or live in. Other than the imminent threat of doom, the land of Tsinia is beautiful and peaceful. The Tsinians are the main beings Kantas focuses on in Illusional Realty and they make for an enjoyable new race. Along with the elven-like land they reside in, they have the beauty and elegance of elves (without the pointy ears), yet they also have unique abilities that almost resemble superpowers (very similar to the X-Men).
One of the main highlights, as well as surprises, about the Tsinians is the way they speak. Rather than speaking with slang, abbreviations, lingo, etc., they speak very properly and eloquently. Imagine how people must have spoken in the 1700s or 1800s in high end society and that is more or less how Tsinians speak. It is most certainly surprising to find this in a young adult book; however, it is refreshing to read and perhaps even the young readers of today can, hopefully, pick up on this speech so they can stop speaking in text lingo.
Another challenge authors face, especially when they have quite a few characters within a shorter story as well as a shorter series, is giving each of their characters his or her own unique personality. Once again, Kantas has succeeded in giving her many characters just that. While some could have perhaps been developed a bit more, readers will be able to differentiate each of the characters by how he or she acts and what he or she does. With so many characters introduced, we shall focus on the main character: Becky on Earth/ Thya in Tsinia. She is most certainly a powerhouse woman and does not take crap from anyone, making for an excellent role model figure for the younger female readers. What is definitely refreshing about Becky/ Thya is how she reacts to discovering that she is a princess. It is on par with Mia from The Princess Diaries where she grudgingly accepts the fact that she is a princess, but in all honesty, truly does not want to be and Kantas continues to surprise her readers with Becky/ Thya’s decision as the story continues. Perhaps the only thing readers may have difficulty following are the names of the characters. Kantas is to be commended for all of the original names she created for her fantasy beings; however, it can become a bit tricky to follow who some of the characters are at times.
The story itself is alluring, though with a concept that has been used time and time again within the fantasy genre, there are a few clichés readers will stumble upon. However, readers should not allow this to stop them from reading Illusional Realty. The “forbidden love” aspect of the story will seem both familiar and different for Kantas added additional surprises into the mix that readers will not expect. The feud between light and dark (Becky/ Thya and Darthorn/ Kovon) could have been expanded upon a bit more, but what is revealed to the readers is enjoyable and has its own unexpected twists as well.
The talented Kantas has created an alluring twist on a familiar concept with Illusional Realty. She has taken fantasy elements and put enticing new twists onto cliché plots. While it would have been wonderful to read even more about the history and culture behind this new fantasy world, readers will enjoy the new fantastical land of Tsinia and will love reading the eloquent dialog of the Tsinians. Readers will praise Becky/ Thya’s powerhouse character traits and will discover all of the other characters’ unique powers and personalities. Making for a quick read, readers will most certainly wish to pick up the second and final book in Kantas’ duology, The Quest, as soon as they have reached the last page to find out what happens next.
**Originally published on my blog Roll Out Reviews on May 19, 2019**
September 18, 2016
Oh my, what a world Karina has designed here.
She has created her own planet, inhabitants, speech, dress, all unique and vivid.
Karina sets up some great and compelling characters. Thya, alkazar, Omad, kazer, kovon, siren are all intriguing for their own reasons. We love them, we hate them. I'll let you make your own opinions.
This truly is a fantastical world with magical gifts, a reluctant princess, an angry warlord and oracles, and contains lots of espionage, treachery, suspense with a bit of romance thrown in.
I love it when a book doesn't spoon feed the story to you and rather lets you discover things progressively and with an ending like this one, fair warning guys, "Cliffhanger ahead".
I really enjoyed this unique and interesting story and I'm sure you will as well.
She has created her own planet, inhabitants, speech, dress, all unique and vivid.
Karina sets up some great and compelling characters. Thya, alkazar, Omad, kazer, kovon, siren are all intriguing for their own reasons. We love them, we hate them. I'll let you make your own opinions.
This truly is a fantastical world with magical gifts, a reluctant princess, an angry warlord and oracles, and contains lots of espionage, treachery, suspense with a bit of romance thrown in.
I love it when a book doesn't spoon feed the story to you and rather lets you discover things progressively and with an ending like this one, fair warning guys, "Cliffhanger ahead".
I really enjoyed this unique and interesting story and I'm sure you will as well.
June 14, 2016
An Awesome Read!!
Karina Kantas does an exceptional job with Illusional Reality from start to finish. The action never stops. Karina brings to life the fictional world of Tsinia in such a way that you almost believe it is real. All of the characters are fully fleshed out and very interesting. Thya, or Becky, is the princess of this magical world and faces many trial and tribulations. She passes them with flying colors. She is a bold and strong female character, not afraid to stand up for what she believes, even if it means she loses her life. The ending was a big surprise. You don't want to let this one get away. I sure hope Karina has another one planned!! A must read!!
Karina Kantas does an exceptional job with Illusional Reality from start to finish. The action never stops. Karina brings to life the fictional world of Tsinia in such a way that you almost believe it is real. All of the characters are fully fleshed out and very interesting. Thya, or Becky, is the princess of this magical world and faces many trial and tribulations. She passes them with flying colors. She is a bold and strong female character, not afraid to stand up for what she believes, even if it means she loses her life. The ending was a big surprise. You don't want to let this one get away. I sure hope Karina has another one planned!! A must read!!
November 20, 2016
What happens when one day you are pulled from Earth and find out you are princess who is prophesied to save the gentle Tsinians from slavery and domination by Darthorn, the Warlord of Senx.
A wild ride happens. This is a fast acting story that is full of evil, good, mystical abilities and so much more. As Thya tries to deal with all she has learned she also tries to avoid war and save the Tsinians.
Ms. Kantas creates a magical world. However there is more than happiness, friendship, and love in that world. A darkness lurks in the background. Add a scorned lover to the mix and there is enough angst and action to keep you turning the pages.
A wild ride happens. This is a fast acting story that is full of evil, good, mystical abilities and so much more. As Thya tries to deal with all she has learned she also tries to avoid war and save the Tsinians.
Ms. Kantas creates a magical world. However there is more than happiness, friendship, and love in that world. A darkness lurks in the background. Add a scorned lover to the mix and there is enough angst and action to keep you turning the pages.
March 22, 2017
The author gave me a free copy for an honest review - Although this isn't the kind of book I often read, I fell in love with Becky straight away for me she was a well-rounded character that hooks the reader's attention straight away. The journey this character takes is unique in its own right if i was in the movie bizz, this would be one I'd option in a heart beat!
On the flip side of the good and evil mix I did near the end feel a bit of a soft spot for the books villain and would have loved to get to grips with his backstory alittle more and see how it led up to the events of this book.
All in All a surprising read WELL DONE,
On the flip side of the good and evil mix I did near the end feel a bit of a soft spot for the books villain and would have loved to get to grips with his backstory alittle more and see how it led up to the events of this book.
All in All a surprising read WELL DONE,
July 27, 2016
When I started reading Illusional Reality, I was instantly sucked in and couldn't put it down. I absolutely loved the story from start to finish. I could totally see this as a movie like The Hobbit or Lord of The Rings. What a great world the author created! I instantly connected with Thya (Becky) and felt for everything she went through. I respected her resolve to accept her fate. She is a strong and kind woman. The beautiful love story was intense and romantic leaving me wanting for them to work everything out. A great piece of writing and I highly recommend this book!
April 13, 2017
This is a great read. The characters are vivid, the world is believable. A definite must read. I was also able to pick up on some subtext about how women are treated in society in certain parts of the world. There are twists. Over all the flow is good, the story idea is great, the story arc is good. And this book is not one to rush through. You want to read it at a nice pace. Savor each page.
April 1, 2016
This was quite a ride...The characters were really fun...The personalities of the characters were well stated throughout the book...Well done... I enjoyed this book...Thanks to the Author for doing what you do for yourself and us readers...It's definitely appreciated...I definitely tried to put the book down it felt like it was glued to my hand...it was just like a morning cup of coffee good to the last drop
February 1, 2017
I read during my commute, so I get 20-40 minute snatches of time, and that's it. Having a book that is easy to read - and keep up with, is very important.
With most books, you have to back up a page or two. That is something I NEVER had to do with this one! It is well written and captures the imagination, guiding you into the new land and language with such easy grace that you hardly are aware of it.
Great read; great book!
With most books, you have to back up a page or two. That is something I NEVER had to do with this one! It is well written and captures the imagination, guiding you into the new land and language with such easy grace that you hardly are aware of it.
Great read; great book!
October 8, 2020
Great book! Becky finds herself torn from her world and brought to another magical one. There is intrigue, deception, and danger! There were twists and turns to this story and it was so well written.
Very detailed and you feel you are right there with Becky and her emotions. The story felt so real which made me feel like I was in her magical fantasy world. Great detail and descriptions of everything!
Very detailed and you feel you are right there with Becky and her emotions. The story felt so real which made me feel like I was in her magical fantasy world. Great detail and descriptions of everything!
October 23, 2016
An interesting read that captured my attention.
Kantas' descriptions gives the reader the ability to create a vision of her mythical world, pulling you into the story.
The main characters were suitably developed, meaning the reader was able to form a bond with them as the story progressed.
A pleasant story with all the right emotions.
Kantas' descriptions gives the reader the ability to create a vision of her mythical world, pulling you into the story.
The main characters were suitably developed, meaning the reader was able to form a bond with them as the story progressed.
A pleasant story with all the right emotions.
February 2, 2017
From the very first paragraph I was totally into this book. We meet Becky, whose life is in danger and then she is whisked away to another world where her name is Princess Thya. We learn about a whole new world, about magical powers, Thya's family history...oh and there is romance too. Looking forward to where the author will take us with the next book in this series.
August 24, 2016
A thrilling twist of fate book! Very original too! Thya a average girl gets a twist in her fate! Alkazar a dreamy teacher that helps guide her and teaches her new life! Just a fantastic story and I couldn't put it down can't wait for the next installment!
March 10, 2017
Touching
What a delightfully touching love story! Our author entwined our world with a fantasy one with action, magic and of course, love.
What a delightfully touching love story! Our author entwined our world with a fantasy one with action, magic and of course, love.
June 17, 2016
This book was a good one. I liked it. You just never know what your life holds.
May 31, 2021
Promising beginning and intriguing synopsis, but in the end not my cup of tea.
I really liked the concept of another realm with a whole new civilisation and different kinds of gifts. This made me very excited to getting to explore this world together with Thya, the main character of the story. Unfortunately, I was disappointed as Tsinia is not further explored and developed throughout the rest of the story. The same goes for the different characters. From the beginning you suddenly get introduced to a whole lot of them, which makes it hard to keep them apart at first. Luckily this gets better through the story.
Furthermore, both the Tsinians and Senxs have a special, rather archaic and formal way of speaking. In the beginning, this gives a bit more character to both populations, but as the book progressed, I couldn’t get used to it and it bothered me more than anything else. But like I said at the beginning, this probably has to do more with not being my kind of style. In addition, the narrative perspective really bothered me. It seems to change every few sentences, giving you the feeling of an omniscient narrator because all the switches in points of view. In itself, there is nothing wrong with that, except that in this book it is combined with a first-person perspective and the changes just happen within sentences of each other and in the same scene, without starting a new paragraph or such. This gives you consecutive sentences like (I deleted some words to prevent spoilers, but these were 3 consecutive sentences, all about the same character. In other cases it just switches to the POV of another character after one or two sentences): his father’s games … if I were warlord … he turned and left the hall.
Finally, the rest of the story also remains superficial. On the one hand, in terms of emotions, characters hardly know each other, yet they are already the best of friends and trust each other enormously. Even when emotions threaten to take the upper hand, everything is quickly sorted out and the characters remain almost completely in control of their emotions at all times. On the other hand, this also applies to events in the book. When a big event is about to happen, when the tension rises, the conflict is already resolved after two pages. This keeps the story little interesting because you know that in two pages everything will be fine again. As a result, everything feels very forced and fabricated.
So overall, I really had high hopes for this story, but it turned out not to be my kind of story(telling) even though I was really compelled by the synopsis.
Thank you for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the concept of another realm with a whole new civilisation and different kinds of gifts. This made me very excited to getting to explore this world together with Thya, the main character of the story. Unfortunately, I was disappointed as Tsinia is not further explored and developed throughout the rest of the story. The same goes for the different characters. From the beginning you suddenly get introduced to a whole lot of them, which makes it hard to keep them apart at first. Luckily this gets better through the story.
Furthermore, both the Tsinians and Senxs have a special, rather archaic and formal way of speaking. In the beginning, this gives a bit more character to both populations, but as the book progressed, I couldn’t get used to it and it bothered me more than anything else. But like I said at the beginning, this probably has to do more with not being my kind of style. In addition, the narrative perspective really bothered me. It seems to change every few sentences, giving you the feeling of an omniscient narrator because all the switches in points of view. In itself, there is nothing wrong with that, except that in this book it is combined with a first-person perspective and the changes just happen within sentences of each other and in the same scene, without starting a new paragraph or such. This gives you consecutive sentences like (I deleted some words to prevent spoilers, but these were 3 consecutive sentences, all about the same character. In other cases it just switches to the POV of another character after one or two sentences): his father’s games … if I were warlord … he turned and left the hall.
Finally, the rest of the story also remains superficial. On the one hand, in terms of emotions, characters hardly know each other, yet they are already the best of friends and trust each other enormously. Even when emotions threaten to take the upper hand, everything is quickly sorted out and the characters remain almost completely in control of their emotions at all times. On the other hand, this also applies to events in the book. When a big event is about to happen, when the tension rises, the conflict is already resolved after two pages. This keeps the story little interesting because you know that in two pages everything will be fine again. As a result, everything feels very forced and fabricated.
So overall, I really had high hopes for this story, but it turned out not to be my kind of story(telling) even though I was really compelled by the synopsis.
Thank you for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2017
The title of this book is perfect. What girl hasn’t, at one time in her life, dreamt of traveling to a foreign land and not only discovering she is a true princess, but also meeting her Prince Charming? But wait, he’s already promised to another! What’s a girl to do? She could use her powers to entrance him. (Yep, this girl has superpowers too!) But Thya wants to snag this guy on her own merit.
I enjoyed the fact that this author didn’t make it so easy for Thya and Alkazar to form a connection and be together right away. All sorts of elements stood in the way of their union, and just when you think they are finally going to have a happily ever after moment, another plot twist comes along.
Truth be told, this story didn’t jump out at me right away. The cover is remarkable and the title is memorable, but the story itself just didn’t pull me in at first.
There were a number of characters introduced quite quickly in this tale, which is probably what threw me off in the beginning. As well, it has a modern-turned-medieval feel to it that was a bit challenging to navigate at first.
With all of that said, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book once I did two things:
Imagined all of the characters with British accents, appearing like the characters in one of my favorite movies,The Princess Bride. In stories like that, a multitude of characters are often introduced simultaneously, as those from royalty typically have many servants and court members who perform various tasks. Immersed myself in the language and time period. Because I’ve been reading so many modern tales recently, it took a few chapters to get “into the groove” of this story, but once I did, it was a riveting tale. I particularly liked the names the author came up with for the cities and characters; they were true-to-form and believable. As I progressed through chapters, the characters’ roles were further brought to light and a tangled web of deceit, murder, betrayal, and malice was unveiled. I was drawn to each character, though some were more developed than others, and turned page after page to learn more about them.
And just when I thought the author was going to relieve some of my angst and allow Thy and Alkazar to be together, another plot twist was revealed—one that left room for a sequel.
If you want to find out what it was, you’ll simply have to pick up this story.
Full disclosure: There were a few grammatical errors and head-hopping issues which pulled me out of the story on occasion. With a light edit, this title could definitely garner a GOLD-worm rating based on the likability of the story.
I do look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next!
I enjoyed the fact that this author didn’t make it so easy for Thya and Alkazar to form a connection and be together right away. All sorts of elements stood in the way of their union, and just when you think they are finally going to have a happily ever after moment, another plot twist comes along.
Truth be told, this story didn’t jump out at me right away. The cover is remarkable and the title is memorable, but the story itself just didn’t pull me in at first.
There were a number of characters introduced quite quickly in this tale, which is probably what threw me off in the beginning. As well, it has a modern-turned-medieval feel to it that was a bit challenging to navigate at first.
With all of that said, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book once I did two things:
Imagined all of the characters with British accents, appearing like the characters in one of my favorite movies,The Princess Bride. In stories like that, a multitude of characters are often introduced simultaneously, as those from royalty typically have many servants and court members who perform various tasks. Immersed myself in the language and time period. Because I’ve been reading so many modern tales recently, it took a few chapters to get “into the groove” of this story, but once I did, it was a riveting tale. I particularly liked the names the author came up with for the cities and characters; they were true-to-form and believable. As I progressed through chapters, the characters’ roles were further brought to light and a tangled web of deceit, murder, betrayal, and malice was unveiled. I was drawn to each character, though some were more developed than others, and turned page after page to learn more about them.
And just when I thought the author was going to relieve some of my angst and allow Thy and Alkazar to be together, another plot twist was revealed—one that left room for a sequel.
If you want to find out what it was, you’ll simply have to pick up this story.
Full disclosure: There were a few grammatical errors and head-hopping issues which pulled me out of the story on occasion. With a light edit, this title could definitely garner a GOLD-worm rating based on the likability of the story.
I do look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next!
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