Illusionary: The unforgettable second installment of historical fantasy series, Hollow Crown

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They will make new enemies and friends as well as running into past ones, but in the end it will come down to how much Ren and Cas are willing to give up because the Knife of Memory requires a sacrifice, one that neither want to pay. I did not have much faith that I would enjoy the conclusion of this story just because the elements Cordova wove together and the consequences of bringing King Fernando to his knees did not give me much hope. If you’ve been brought up in a toxic environment, like Ren has, it can take a lot of time to unlearn negative thoughts and conceptions about yourself. We read from Renata’s perspective so we’re privy to all her closest thoughts, hopes, and fears, and we understand what motivates her. Initially, I found it difficult to connect with and understand Renata, however my response to her was a mirror to how she felt about herself.

Some of the most beautiful moments in the novel were when she grows in self-confidence and begins to believe in the good her power can do. I’m curious to read something else by Zoraida Córdova, but I think I am going to be very particular about what I choose. A few really interesting new characters popped up while Castian and Renata were making eyes at each other. In their travels, they will reencounter with old friends, enemies and make new ones, if they are to finish their quest. I find it interesting to see which random reels go unexpectedly viral, you can just never guess which ones will get the most views.

She is incredibly resilient, but we get to see her feel the pull of the two worlds more in this book, she may have hated Castian but that changes the more time she spends with him and the more of her memories of their past come back to her, but she also feels beholden to the Whispers, even after they betrayed her, and before long she will have to make the choice of who to put her faith in.

Her character development was beautifully executed in this books in terms of finally learning who she really is, as well as learning to control her power. However, I also appreciated the friendships forged and I was especially pleased that Leo, who was one of my favorites in Incendiary was such a big part of this story! They're united by lofty goals: find the fabled Knife of Memory, kill the ruthless King Fernando, and bring peace to the nation.but anyone who went within mere feet of them knew they were like comets burning through the sky toward each other. After everything they went through in book one, seeing them having rare moments of fun and safety in each other’s company made me so happy.

In Zoraida Córdova’s thrilling sequel to Incendiary, Renata embarks on a dangerous journey to bring justice to the kingdom — perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir and Sarah J. Illusionary is the sequel to Incendiary and the second book in Zoraida Córdova’s Hollow Crown duology. He tells her he loves her, she regrets never telling him back how much she loved him, they make love etc. Their backstory is revealed very slowly over the length of the novel in short flashbacks and memories, creating a deeper connection between the reader and the main characters.Over the last 8 years, the book has been revised, updated, expanded and is now J C's BIGGEST illusion book to date! Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him. But in Incendiary, Ren grapples with her choice to leave the Whispers and trust Castian wholeheartedly. The narrative and the plot itself were so well written and I loved how the pace held steady and the tension in every chapter. Thank you Zoraida Córdova and Little, Brown and Company for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.