My Review of ILLUSION by Frank Peretti

Photo Credit: Howard Books

In the wake of losing his wife of forty years, Dane Collins is trying to move on with life, devastated by the heartbreak he feels. For forty years Dane and Mandy Collins were one of the best magic acts in the world, and they loved each other deeply. But now the act and their love for one another has been cut short by Mandy's death.

Meanwhile, Mandy wakes up in the present as the nineteen-year-old she was forty years ago. For her the last forty years haven't happened, and she finds herself in a world that is totally foreign to her. After escaping from a mental health facility, Mandy discovers she has some remarkable supernatural abilities that allow her to begin making a living as an illusionist. Soon she meets Dane Collins, and he is struck by how much this girl who calls herself Eloise looks like his wife. He becomes her mentor, and they both discover that something profound is going on. They're connected somehow, buy Mandy doesn't know how.

As the source of Mandy's abilities, as well as where she came from, comes to light, a group of people heavily invested in Mandy's abilities wants her dead. Will Dane be able to save her, or will he lose this Mandy just like he lost wife in a car crash?

ILLUSION is Frank Peretti's first novel in seven years, so there was a lot of buzz built around this one. The story is incredible. I've always been a fan of Frank Peretti's novels, but this one went above and beyond my expectations. The premise was interesting and how it played out was surprising, fun, and at times gut-wrenching.

Dane and Mandy were two of the most likable and developed characters I've ever read, and I couldn't help but want everything to work out for them in the end. Dane clearly loves the wife he believes to be dead, and he's clearly in turmoil over meeting the nineteen-year-old version of the woman he loved and married. Mandy's journey of discovering herself in a futuristic world is compelling, and Peretti's descriptions of her magic acts really took me into the world of the story.

The suspense increases throughout the novel and especially toward the end as the stakes are raised for both Dane and Mandy. I found myself emotionally stirred as I realized the potential of where this story could end up.

ILLUSION is one of the best stories I've read. I can't wait to see what story Peretti gives us next.

I received this book free for review from Howard Books and was not required to give a positive review.