CRUEL ILLUSIONS

A girl is determined to join a troupe of vampire-hunting magicians and avenge her mother’s death.

Ava Perry, 18, and Parker, her younger brother, have been in the foster system since their magician parents were killed. Their dad died so long ago that Ava barely remembers him. Ava never shared with Parker that a vampire was responsible for their mother’s death a decade earlier or that she has been training for years to kill one herself. Her mom always said magic wasn’t actually real, but when Ava learns this was a lie to protect her, she wants to know everything. A troupe of magicians reveal that they use their magic to hunt vampires, and they invite Ava to join them. However, to become immortal like them, she has to prove herself in a competition against other apprentices. As the competition gets underway, she realizes there is something more sinister at play, and the truths she held fast to may not be so true after all. This lush, stand-alone paranormal fantasy blends several beloved tropes into a fresh, enchanting tale. There’s a delicious love triangle, gory blood magic, fierce rivalries, and found family. It’s a bit slow to start as the worldbuilding is unveiled, but then the action accelerates and the romance heats up. The twisty reveals will keep readers captivated. Main characters are White; there is some racial diversity and a queer couple in Ava’s troupe.

Sure to dazzle those in the mood for something sensuous and sinister.