Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones –ADVISABLE

Lloyd-Jones, Emily Illusive 406 pgs, Little, Brown; 2015. $18.00  Content: Language: PG (0 swears); Mature Content: PG13 Violence: PG13
In a future where a virus had everyone scrambling for a treatment, there was one medication which worked, but had a side effect for a small portion of those who took it. They result was some extra-normal abilities. These people were not only shunned, but often jailed, or recruited to work as forced agents for a variety of government and criminal agencies. Ciere, a girl with the ability to create illusions, was able to get into a better situation, a thief with a decent boss.  Things in her life start to unravel when she robs a bank, setting off a series of events and unforeseen circumstances that lead her into the very heart of the formula that created her abilities, and more danger than she could have imagined.
This story has so many great components, especially the ending. I think teens will really like this dystopian crime magical thriller. Even though I didn’t care for the main character and thought she was really dull, I found some of the sub characters very interesting, but the action was so continuous that it pulled me along. There is still plenty more to explore and though the ending didn’t preclude a sequel I think the author could drum up any number of continuations, for example, getting to know people with some of the other “side effects”. Violence and references to a career as an escort make this better for High School. 
HS-ADVISABLE  Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

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