This was an amazing fast-paced fantasy romance book. The plot is engaging from the start, following Mari who has had to hide all her life because of her rare ability. However, Mari finds herself in a deadly event full of illusions, difficult alliances, and choices that will change the course of her life.
The slow burn romance had needing to keep reading. Along with the romance, the world building was done seamlessly with so many twists I didn’t see coming.

Thank you to Netgalley and W.W. Crown for this e-arc!

DNFed at 20% (157 pages).
This moved painfully slowly. Lots of info dumpy world building, I feel like the story barely progressed in the amount I read. There was also a whole paragraph that was just a list of different coats.
Disappointing because this world is actually intriguing but I just found myself incredibly bored and having to drag myself through.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eArc to review.

This story was so unique and different than her normal!

Mari has spent her life hiding from the conjurers, masters of illusion who thrive on chaos. But when she’s thrown into the deadly Hundred Year Games, she’s forced to team up with Finn, a half conjurer she’s meant to help win… then betray.

I loved this one!

The world building was so good. It felt different from her usual stories, but her writing still shined!

The slow burn romance absolutely delivered. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite love stories she’s written

If you’re into fantasy with layers,this one’s for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Sarah Ready for the ARC!

I can see why this book gets so many great ratings. This was a brilliant Romantic Fantasy and was my first Sarah Ready book - I really enjoyed it.

This is a big book and has in depth world building as well as really strong characters.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. :)

3.5 ⭐

Mari Locke es una joven de 22 años con una habilidad poco común: puede ver a través de las ilusiones. Abandonada al nacer con tan solo una nota, fue criada en un mundo clandestino de magia y engaños por el enigmático Jagger, quien la convirtió en una ganzúa, alguien capaz de deshacer los nudos mágicos de las ilusiones más complejas. Mari es descrita como físicamente olvidable, una cualidad que se vuelve su ventaja más poderosa en un mundo donde ser invisible es a veces lo único que puede salvarte la vida. Pero no solo eso, puede revivir, aunque esto se limita a 10 vidas y pasado eso no se sabe que le ocurrirá.

El conflicto central gira en torno a una lucha por el poder entre familias mágicas en un juego llamado Hundred Year Games, donde quien gane portará la Corona de las Ilusiones y dominará durante cien años. Jagger tiene un plan para ganar el juego, y Mari es pieza clave en esa estrategia, pero su propio viaje podría desviarla de lo que todos esperan de ella.





No sé qué calificación darle porque la historia me pareció interesante y el final me sorprendió (para bien). Sin embargo, el libro es muy largo y, al final, el narrador tiene que explicar todo lo que ocurrió, ya que hay demasiados secretos y solo la autora conoce la verdad. El lector permanece en la oscuridad durante casi toda la trama.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

My Dear Illusion is Sarah Ready’s dive into romantic fantasy, and it is nothing like any of the previous works she’s written. The story follows Mari Locke, who has the ability to untie illusions. When Mari is partnered with Finn, a half-conjurer and half-human, to compete in the Hundred Year Game, she has a difficult decision to make, kill Finn in order to save herself and the world or see past her convictions and illusions that the games are projecting and differentiate between what is reality and fantasy.

Mari and Finn’s chemistry was a slow burn, yet there were obvious signs of their connection and attraction to each other. Their character development and growth were both gradual and definite as the story progressed.

This was a thick book and packed with extensive worldbuilding, fantastical elements, and a cohort of characters. My Dear Illusion was such a fascinating and exciting read, and the ending left me impatiently anticipating the next book. Truly a satisfactory read and a stellar beginning to a promising new series.

Thank you so much to W.W. Crown and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

So My Dear Illusion totally pulled me in. It’s this fantasy romance where the main character, Mari, has this rare power to break through illusions, and she gets thrown into this intense competition called the Hundred Year Games. Think Hunger Games meets magic and royal politics.

She’s supposed to help this guy, Finn—who’s half-conjurer and kind of the underdog—win the whole thing… and then betray him. But of course, things get complicated because he’s not just charming, he’s actually a decent person, and their connection starts to feel real.

There’s so much going on—twists, betrayals, magical duels—and you’re constantly questioning what’s real and what’s not, which totally fits the theme. The romance is slow-burn but emotional, and the stakes just keep rising.

If you like fantasy with strong character dynamics and a little romantic tension, I’d definitely recommend this one.

I’m a huge Sarah Ready fan, so I knew I was going to love My Dear Illusion—but I didn’t expect to devour it in one sitting and then immediately want to reread it.

This story had everything I adore about her writing: witty banter, emotional depth, and characters that feel so real you want to text them when you're having a bad day. The romance was the perfect blend of slow burn and swoon-worthy moments, with just enough tension to keep me grinning (and maybe yelling at the pages a bit).

The characters had amazing chemistry, and even the quieter moments hit hard in the best way. Sarah just gets how to write messy, complicated people falling in love, and it’s never boring. I laughed, teared up, and finished the book with a full heart.

If you’re already a fan, this one absolutely delivers. And if you’re new to Sarah Ready—this is a perfect place to start. Loved it, loved it, loved it.


*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Mari grew up in Hell Gate hiding from conjurers because of her rare ability to untie illusions. She is thrusted into the hundred year games which decides who will rule the world. She is ordered to get Finn to win the crown and steal it afterwards by killing him.

More magical than the writer's Ghosted series. More romantic too. Love the twisty plot... the suspense.... Really enjoy Mari and Finn together.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

My Dear Illusion is the perfect blend of paranormal, romance and talented storytelling. The paranormal side keeps the reader guessing with it's twists and illusions of not knowing what is real. The romance is deep and builds until you don't want to let go. A new Romantsy that is highly addictive!

This story is a trap in the most beautiful way. I love how cleverly the story plays with perception. It’s layered and unpredictable, full of shifting truths, moral knots, and raw human emotion. The writing is tense and elegant, never letting you feel entirely safe; just the way I like it. And, the romance is aching and so angsty. I never wanted out. Loved it.