Illusions (Pike novel)
Encyclopedia
Illusions is the third book in the New York Times best-selling Wings series by Aprilynne Pike
. It follows Pike's #1 New York Times best-selling
debut, Wings
, which introduced readers to Laurel Sewell, a faerie sent among humans to guard the gateway to Avalon
, and the direct sequel, Spells.
, dating her boyfriend David and hanging out with her best friend Chelsea. Though she did return to Avalon
for training over the summer, she has not seen her usual guardian, Tamani, since sending him away. When he appears at Laurel's school posing as a transfer student from Scotland
, she is both surprised and relieved. But Tamani is not the only new student at Del Norte High School
, and Laurel soon discovers that Yuki, a Japanese exchange student, is also a faerie under the guardianship of Klea, a troll-hunter who has aided Laurel in the past.
As Laurel works to discover what kind of faerie Yuki is, the love triangle
involving Tamani, Laurel, and David is brought into the foreground of the series as the boys are forced to see one another every day. Laurel feels herself stretched thin as she pursues Yuki, mediates between the boys in her life, and attempts to help her friend Chelsea cope with a dissolving romantic relationship, and her worsening headaches soon lead to a fainting spell during a troll attack. Concerned for Laurel's safety, Tamani tracks
the trolls back to a cabin hidden by what appears to be faerie magic more powerful than anything Yuki should be capable of.
In re-examining what they know about Klea, Laurel and Tamani decide that she must also be a faerie, but they are uncertain how to prove it. When Tamani accompanies Yuki to a winter dance, his hands secrete pollen, which they only do when he is around a faerie in bloom. This reveals that Yuki is in fact the most powerful kind of faerie and has been concealing her nature from them all along. Feeling threatened, Tamani uses David and Chelsea to trap Yuki. They see the blossom on her back that is proof of her power and the book ends in a cliffhanger
.
provided a cover blurb, asking, "Who knew faeries could be this cool? Illusions has it all. It’s fascinating, rich, and romantic, and weaves a great new tapestry of thrilling fantasy." Booklist
wrote, "The Wings [series] continues with a twist. A dramatic conclusion will leave readers anxious for the next installment." Raven Haller of the Romantic Times said, "Pike has taken her already acclaimed series and turned the story up a notch. It’s full of plot twists and character development that keep the pages flying. You’ll love seeing Pike explore and develop her faerie world and its politics. I can hardly wait for the next book!"
Aprilynne Pike
Aprilynne Pike is an internationally best-selling American author best known for her debut novel Wings, which was released in English on May 5, 2009. Her first novel debuted as a New York Times best-seller, and reached the #1 spot on the Children's Best Seller list, making Pike the best-selling...
. It follows Pike's #1 New York Times best-selling
New York Times Best Seller list
The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is published weekly in The New York Times Book Review magazine, which is published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times and as a stand-alone publication...
debut, Wings
Wings (Aprilynne Pike)
Wings is the debut, young-adult faerie novel by author Aprilynne Pike. It is the first of four books about a fifteen-year-old girl who discovers she is a faerie sent among humans to guard the gateway to Avalon....
, which introduced readers to Laurel Sewell, a faerie sent among humans to guard the gateway to Avalon
Avalon
Avalon is a legendary island featured in the Arthurian legend. It first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 1136 pseudohistorical account Historia Regum Britanniae as the place where King Arthur's sword Excalibur was forged and later where Arthur was...
, and the direct sequel, Spells.
Plot summary
Following the events of Spells, Laurel has been living a relatively normal life in Crescent City, CaliforniaCrescent City, California
Crescent City is the county seat and only incorporated city in Del Norte County, California. Named for the crescent-shaped stretch of sandy beach south of the city, Crescent City had a total population of 7,643 in the 2010 census, up from 4,006 in the 2000 census...
, dating her boyfriend David and hanging out with her best friend Chelsea. Though she did return to Avalon
Avalon
Avalon is a legendary island featured in the Arthurian legend. It first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 1136 pseudohistorical account Historia Regum Britanniae as the place where King Arthur's sword Excalibur was forged and later where Arthur was...
for training over the summer, she has not seen her usual guardian, Tamani, since sending him away. When he appears at Laurel's school posing as a transfer student from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, she is both surprised and relieved. But Tamani is not the only new student at Del Norte High School
Del Norte High School (Crescent City, California)
Del Norte High School, located in Crescent City, California is a California public high school serving students from grades 9 through 12.It is accredited for six years by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges as of 2008....
, and Laurel soon discovers that Yuki, a Japanese exchange student, is also a faerie under the guardianship of Klea, a troll-hunter who has aided Laurel in the past.
As Laurel works to discover what kind of faerie Yuki is, the love triangle
Love triangle
A love triangle is usually a romantic relationship involving three people. While it can refer to two people independently romantically linked with a third, it usually implies that each of the three people has some kind of relationship to the other two...
involving Tamani, Laurel, and David is brought into the foreground of the series as the boys are forced to see one another every day. Laurel feels herself stretched thin as she pursues Yuki, mediates between the boys in her life, and attempts to help her friend Chelsea cope with a dissolving romantic relationship, and her worsening headaches soon lead to a fainting spell during a troll attack. Concerned for Laurel's safety, Tamani tracks
Tracking (hunting)
Tracking in hunting and ecology is the science and art of observing animal tracks and other signs, with the goal of gaining understanding of the landscape and the animal being tracked...
the trolls back to a cabin hidden by what appears to be faerie magic more powerful than anything Yuki should be capable of.
In re-examining what they know about Klea, Laurel and Tamani decide that she must also be a faerie, but they are uncertain how to prove it. When Tamani accompanies Yuki to a winter dance, his hands secrete pollen, which they only do when he is around a faerie in bloom. This reveals that Yuki is in fact the most powerful kind of faerie and has been concealing her nature from them all along. Feeling threatened, Tamani uses David and Chelsea to trap Yuki. They see the blossom on her back that is proof of her power and the book ends in a cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
.
Critical reception
Like prior books in the series, Illusions met with positive reviews prior to release. Lisa McMannLisa McMann
Lisa McMann is an American author.McMann was born in Holland, Michigan and now lives in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Her first novel, WAKE, debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list for children's chapter books...
provided a cover blurb, asking, "Who knew faeries could be this cool? Illusions has it all. It’s fascinating, rich, and romantic, and weaves a great new tapestry of thrilling fantasy." Booklist
Booklist
Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
wrote, "The Wings [series] continues with a twist. A dramatic conclusion will leave readers anxious for the next installment." Raven Haller of the Romantic Times said, "Pike has taken her already acclaimed series and turned the story up a notch. It’s full of plot twists and character development that keep the pages flying. You’ll love seeing Pike explore and develop her faerie world and its politics. I can hardly wait for the next book!"