Deceptive by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Series: Illusive (bk. 2)

Genera(s): Near-Future/Dystopian Sci-fi/Thriller

Subjects: crime, criminals, thieves, abilities, superpowers, government agencies

Setting: Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, New Jersey

POV/Tense: 3rd person POV, present tense, rotating between Ciere, Devon and Daniel

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 420 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $18.00

Publisher: Hachette: Little, Brown

Summary/ product description: “Don't miss this thrilling, high-stakes sequel to Illusive.

You don’t belong with us. These are the words that echo through the minds of all immune Americans—those suffering the so-called adverse effects of an experimental vaccine, including perfect recall, body manipulation, telepathy, precognition, levitation, mind-control, and the ability to change one’s appearance at will.

When immune individuals begin to disappear—in great numbers, but seemingly at random—fear and tension mount, and unrest begins to brew across the country. Through separate channels, super-powered teenagers Ciere, Daniel, and Devon find themselves on the case; super criminals and government agents working side-by-side. It’s an effort that will ultimately define them all—for better or for worse.”

My Review:  Deceptive is a good sequel, but not a perfect sequel. It’s not as good as the first book. Maybe I didn’t enjoy it as much because I couldn’t remember certain things from the first book. I kind of good Devon and Daniel mixed up and didn’t know who’s Ciere’s love interest was, or if there was one. It took a while to get into the story. What I loved about the previous book (the awesome super powers) was less prominent. It’s still an interesting story, but just not as exciting.

I love the world building and the different abilities. There’s only seven different possibly powers for an immune to have: perfect recall, body manipulation, telepathy, precognition, levitation, mind-control, and illusions. There’s no other abilities. Ciere is an illusionist, Devon an eidos/perfect recall, and Alan is too. Daniel is an eludure, and can hear thing (preminitions/intuition). Alan and Ciere have a little romance, but most of the book lack romance. It’s mostly a sci-fi crime thriller.

You may enjoy the Illusive series if you enjoy books about super powered teens or supervillains like: Steelheart by Brander Sanderson, Black Out by Robison Wells, Transparent by Natalie Whipple, V is for Villan by Peter Moore, Powerless by Tera Lynn Child and Tracy Deebs, The Curse Workers Series (White Cat) by Holly Black, The Broken Hearted by Amelia Kahaney, Mind Games by Kiersten White, or books about thieves like The Heist Society by Ally Carter. Also, if you liked X-men and other superhero comics and movies and TV.

Cover Art Review: I love this cover more than the 1^st book’s. The colors are interesting. It’s a gradient overlay. The title looks like sky-scrapers and Ciere is standing on it.

Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Series: Illusive (bk. 1)

Genera(s): Near-Future/Dystopian Sci-fi/Thriller

Subjects: crime, criminals, thieves, abilities, superpowers, government agencies

Setting: Baltimore, Maryland, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New York

POV/Tense: 3^rd person POV, present tense, rotating between Ciere and Daniel

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 406 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $18.00

Publisher: Hachette: Little, Brown

Summary/ product description: “The X-Men meets Ocean's Eleven in this edge-of-your-seat sci-fi adventure about a band of "super" criminals.

When the MK virus swept across the planet, a vaccine was created to stop the epidemic, but it came with some unexpected side effects. A small percentage of the population developed superhero-like powers. Seventeen-year-old Ciere Giba has the handy ability to change her appearance at will. She's what's known as an illusionist...She's also a thief.

After a robbery goes awry, Ciere must team up with a group of fellow super-powered criminals on another job that most would consider too reckless. The formula for the vaccine that gave them their abilities was supposedly destroyed years ago. But what if it wasn't?

The lines between good and bad, us and them, and freedom and entrapment are blurred as Ciere and the rest of her crew become embroiled in a deadly race against the government that could cost them their lives.”

My Review:  I liked this way better than I thought it would. I’ve read bad reviews about it.  And the book just seemed so thick (but 406 pages is only half the length of the longest book I’ve read). It’s written in 3^rd person, present tense which seemed awkward. But you what? Niel Schusterman’s Unwind series in in 3^rd person present tense too and that series is a real page turner. Illusive it like other books I’ve read and loved and also unique in it’s own way.

This is not a super hero book. The main characters are criminals. Not killers, but thieves. Ciere (pronounced See-Air) is an illusionist. She can make you see what’s not there and not see what s actually there. Her power are not as strong as they were when she was a kid, but she’s still pretty awesome. She’s not that smart. A bit naïve despite her criminal actives, but ambitious. She’s got a friend named Devon who’s British and an eidos. He can memorize and recall anything. Daniel is another friend and he has the ability to elude danger. Kit, who’s Ciere’s mentor and handler can levitate himself.

There are also people who control their senses and body function, control other people, and read minds. They call the abilities immunities and the government considers these to be adverse effect since the abilities originated from a vaccine intended for a deadly virus. This epic world building is similar to Black Out by Robison Wells and Transparent by Natalie Whipple.

The plot was thrilling and non-stop action. The characters have to steal something. They work together. There’s other character they meet. The supposed good guys may not be that great and you can’t help but root for the antagonistic protagonists. Whether these criminals are just motivated by money or by the chance at freedom, they aren’t all bad. Ciere thinks of Kit, Devon and the others in her crew as family.

You may enjoy Illusive if you enjoy books about super powered teens or supervillains like: Steelheart by Brander Sanderson, Black Out by Robison Wells, Transparent by Natalie Whipple, V is for Villan by Peter Moore, The Curse Workers Series (White Cat) by Holly Black, The Broken Hearted by Amelia Kahaney, Mind Games by Kiersten White, or books about thieves like The Heist Society by Ally Carter. Also, if you liked X-men and other superhero comics and movies and TV.

Cover Art Review:  I love the 3D title and the shadow on it. The helicopter and the city. It’s a dynamic cover.