Book Review.....Illusions by Aprilyne Pike

Synopsis from Barnes & Noble

"I don't do patrols, I don't go hunting, I just stick close to you. You live your life. I'll keep you safe," Tamani said, sweeping a lock of hair from her face. "Or die trying."
Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.
But just as life returns to normal, Laurel realizes that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail.

As this is book three in a four part series, I recommend you read Wings and Spells as this story is not complete on its own.

Illusions takes place a year later in Laurel's life and is joined by her faerie protector, Tamani, at her high school in the human world. This creates a problem with her loving and loyal boyfriend David as Tamani interjects himself into their day to day lives. Laurel is forced to finally come to terms with her feelings towards the two of them while trying to decide if she wants to continue to college in the human world or return to the faerie realm in Avalon, her birth place.

In addition to her day to day struggles with her future, Laurel is confronted and asked for a favor by Klea. Klea was introduced in book two and we do not know if she can be trusted. Laurel is asked to keep an eye on Yuki; who Klea suspects is a dryad. Without revealing that she can sense Yuki is actually a faerie, Laurel accepts the request in efforts to find out more about this mysterious new comer.

This book was a delight to read. Tamani is a great character and we get plenty of him in this installment. The tension between him and David has risen to a new level and the romantic tension between Laurel and Tamani is escalated as well.

This tale does not come without it's down falls. Laurel was a little immature in some of her decision making and it made me feel like the author took the "easy way out" to forward the plot. The mystery surrounding the new character's was interjected well through out the whole book but left me with an unsatisfied feeling for the ending. The story continued on at an anti-climantic pace until the very end. About ten pages from the end we get the climax dropped in our laps and a cliff hanger for the next book.

The reason this upset me was because the climax and the cliff hanger are very good and I wanted it to be longer. But it comes out of no where then stops cold in its tracks.

Overall I still recommend the read but I think you should wait closer to the release of the next book.