The Illusions: An astonishing story of women and talent, magic and power from the author of THE GIFTS

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At a time of extraordinary change, two women must harness their talents to take control of their own destiny . . .

Bristol, 1896. Used to scraping a living as the young assistant to an ageing con artist, Cecily Marsden's life is turned upside down when her master suddenly dies. Believing herself to blame, could young Cec somehow have powers she little understands

Meanwhile Eadie Carleton, a pioneering early film-maker, struggles for her talent to be taken seriously in a male-dominated world, and a brilliant young magician, George Perris, begins to see the potential in moving pictures. George believes that if he can harness this new technology, it will revolutionise the world of magic forever - but in order to achieve his dreams, he must first win over Miss Carleton . . .

As a group of illusionists prepare for a grand spectacle, Cec, Eadie and George's worlds collide. But while Cec falls in love with the bustling realm of theatre and magic, she faces the fight of her life to save the performance from sabotage and harness the element of real magic held deep within her.

THE ILLUSIONS is the captivating new novel from the much-lauded author of THE GIFTS. Inspired by real-life illusionists and early film pioneers, this astonishing story of women and talent, magic and power, sweeps you into a world where anything is possible and nothing is quite as it seems . . .

'Hyder is a wonderfully accomplished storyteller. The Illusions is a magical tale of innovation, darkness and delight. A book to disappear into - I devoured it greedily' Joanne Burn, author of THE HEMLOCK CURE

Praise for THE GIFTS by Liz Hyder

'Fierce and touching' Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne

'Haunting, thrilling, wonderful. I loved it' Stacey Halls

'Your next obsession. . . Unique and captivating' Cosmopolitan

'A boldly feminist novel that lingers long after the last page' Susan Stokes Chapman, Sunday Times bestselling author of Pandora

'Imaginative, extraordinary . . . Brimming with historical detail and beautifully written, the soulful prose soars. It's an insightful, mysterious read celebrating female friendship and solidarity' Daily Express

'A stirring tale of female empowerment, full of vivid imagery and evocative settings' Observer

'A glorious, evocative read, ripe for a movie adaptation. Victorian girl power You bet' Apple Books

'A beautiful, riveting novel suffused with luminous magic' Jenny Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne

'Extraordinary. For any who loved The Essex Serpent, this is one that will sing to your soul' Jackie Morris, The Lost Words

Reviews

After her glorious first novel, The Gifts, Hyder has returned with another beautiful slice of historical fiction. The Illusions is charming and intriguing, sparkling with magic and romance. * Jennifer Saint *
Spellbinding storytelling, wonderfully drawn characters and the thrill of the theatre make this book unputdownable. * Louise Hare *
For a truly immersive, can't-put-it-down read, The Illusions will whisk you to the late Victorian age with this story of two young women, Cecily, a con artist's assistant and Eadie, a photographer and early film maker trying to make it in a man's world. Cecily and Eadie's paths will soon collide in a kaleidoscope of magic, theatrics, illusion and love. * Red magazine *
Filled with wonders in all forms, in real life and in the theatre, this is a story that will mesmerise and cast its spell. I loved it. * Essie Fox *
Hyder is a wonderfully accomplished storyteller. The Illusions is a magical tale of innovation, darkness and delight. A book to disappear into - I devoured it greedily. * Joanne Burn, author of The Hemlock Cure *
With clever storytelling and a magpie's eye for shine and enchantment, Hyder takes us to a world where magic, moving pictures and illusion mix - and where all are made better by human kindness. * Annie Garthwaite, author of Cecily *
Enchanting in every sense. A seductive, glimmering tale of magic and movies. * Freya Berry, The Dictator's Wife *
Set in Victorian Bristol with a cast of characters that are a feast for the senses. It is in every way quite magical. * Julie Owen Moylan, author of That Green Eyed Girl *
Captivating and fascinating . . . A fabulous second novel (for adults), firmly cementing Liz Hyder as an author to watch. Beautifully crafted, The Illusions steps into a world of trickery and deception, while shining a light on the importance of friendship and love. * Lovereading Star Book *
An utter delight! The novel is an illusion in itself . . . it's such a page-turner and the building of the plot and the denouement is glorious. It is filled with light and optimism and joy and feels like a book we need right now. * Caryl Lewis *

Author Bio

Liz Hyder has been making up stories for as long she can remember. Bearmouth, her debut young adult novel, won a Waterstones Children's Book Prize, the Branford Boase Award and was chosen as the Children's Book of the Year by The Times. The Gifts, her acclaimed debut adult novel was published in 2022. She has a BA in drama from the University of Bristol and was, once upon a time, a member of the National Youth Theatre. Originally from London, she has lived in Shropshire for over a decade.