Illusionarium

Today's post is on Illusionarium by Heather Dixon. It is 361 pages long and is published by Greenwillow Books. The cover has the main character and his sister on it looking over a misted and ruined city. The intended reader is young adult but it is a very interesting story with very unusual magic so adults can enjoy it too. There is mild language, no sex, and violence in this book.  The story is told from the first person perspective of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Far, far north, in the cold aerial city of Fata Morgana, apprentice scientist Jonathan is preparing to leave for university.
He doesn't know about Fantillium, the newly discovered chemical that allows people to share hallucinations- sometimes wondrous ones, sometimes appalling.
He doesn't know he hold the rare skill to control the hallucinations- to become an illusionist.
He doesn't know that Fantillium can also open gateways to parallel worlds. Or that he will soon begin an epic journey, crossing cities and worlds, to save his family, his friends, and his very reality.
He doesn't know any of that... yet.
And when he does, will his compass continue to point true north? Or will it break apart?

Review- This blurb is not the story. Here is the story- There is a plague that only kills women and the queen is dying from it. Jonathan's father is a well-known scientist and he has been called on to help. Jonathan's mother and sister get the disease. The woman who trained his father wants Jonathan to help her save another world. From things get really complex but now you have a better idea about the story. One of the things that I liked best about this book is that there is no romance in it. The main relationship is between Jonathan and his sister.The magic is really interesting and very different. Only some people can do magic but it eats away at them. It makes them very deformed in body which changes the way that people interact with them. They are both desired and rejected by society. This is an interesting and unique young adult novel.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.