Rating: 
Summary: Buy it!
Review: I don't read much fantasy. It's often predictable and linear, or based on some contrived "Dungeons and Dragons" premise. This book thoroughly rejects the stereotype. It is thoroughly engrossing, and a hell of a lot of fun. Sure, it is broadly predictable, but the dense plot, and wild ride, well and truly make up for that. It doesn't, however, fall into the trap of giving every character what they deserve. You'll be gnashing your teeth over some things, but that's life, and it makes the book much more compelling. If you want a book with a strong female lead, and with excellent and believable character development, this book's a must. In other books, the characters are either too stupid or lucky to truly empathize with, or the author pulls on predictable emotional buttons that you can't help but feel, but which leave a bad taste in your mouth. This is a book that doesn't make you feel guilty about feeling great at the end, and it certainly doesn't need a sequel to tie up any loose ends. Thoroughly enjoyable, and highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Absorbing and simply a great read!
Review: I first fell in love with this book when my sister checked this book out from the library. After raving that it was now my favorite book, my sister brought me my own copy. Since then, I've read it three more times, and (even I can't believe this) I'm not sick of it yet. Its so well described that I feel like I am actually there experiencing the turmoil of events with the characters.I'm always sorry when I reach the last page. Sure, its predictable... but sometimes its nice just to read a book for the fun of it.
Rating:
Summary: I read this a while ago...
Review: I first read this book a few years ago, mostly because the cover art drew my attention. I'm not too well versed with fantasy; I didn't know what to expect. What I got was a thrilling story with genuine characters, so good that it's been in my memory since, and I'm now going to buy it. While there are certainly parallels with the french revolution, it's a story that only lightly touches on it... Instead of a bleak history lesson, this is a fresh, beautiful work. There are times when you can just about smell the food, feel the emotion, and become overtaken with despair. This is a *definite* must read!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book!
Review: I have read this book at least four times since I bought it! Illusion has it all: romance, magic, adventure, great characters. I was sad when I finally finished it.
Rating:
Summary: The best book I've read in a long time.
Review: I just finished reading Illusion and I'm so sorry it's over, because it's the best book I've read in the past couple of years. A great plot, very well-developed characters that I really cared about, and some meaning underneath it all. Eliste is one of the most memorable protagonists and to see what see goes through and how her world changes was just captivating. I highly recommend this to everyone, even people that might not like the fantasy genre, as that element is quite light.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. The wonderful spinning of the plot is amazing. Yes it's a retelling of the French Revolution but the retelling is amazing. Eliste an aristocrat daughter helps a serf she is friends with, named Dref, escape from her father's estate. She goes to live with her grandmother in the capital and experiences the magic of court. When the peasants revolt, her world comes crashing down and a long ago friend whome she did a favor for saves her life.
Rating: 
Summary: Am I the only one who just didn't get it?
Review: I must be an oddball, but this book really didn't grab me at all. It seemed like the author thought that by adding a few spells to the French Revolution, she would have a great story. But give me a real French Revolution novel any day - the characters didn't come to life for me in this one. Magic is great, but only if the characters have substance - it can't carry a novel. Go read some Mercedes Lackey or Marion Zimmer Bradley instead.
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: I read this book for the first time when I was 15, and I read it 5 times in 3 days. It is absolutely stunning, engrosing, wonderfull. I finally hunted it down again, and am on the 10th re-read. You will love this one
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: I was a little concerned before reading this- I'd studied some on the French Revolution and thought this just might be a little too close. In a way it was, but in a way it wasn't. It had the interest and flavor, but the story was thoroughly engrossing, the characters interesting, the writing excellent. The plot moves along swiftly. My only complaint is that the whole novel seems to be written with a probably unnecessarily upper-class air. Were a character the narrator it would have been more appropriate. Still, a wonderful read and highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: You MUST Read this book!
Review: I've read and re-read this book so many times the cover has fallen off. Quite literally. I had to buy another copy.
Paula Volsky draws you into a world where the characters seem tangible, and very human.
Some may scoff at the fact that Paula Volsky fashioned her book to resemble events from the French Revolution. I don't. I feel that she used a very common occurance (peasant revolution against the ruling aristocracy) and turned it into the great story it is, by adding her own special magic.
If you are a die-hard fantasy fan, you will want to read this book, even if you have to buy it used.
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