Illusionarium

by Heather Dixon

Overview

What if the world holds more dangers—and more wonders—than we have ever known? And what if there is more than one world? From Heather Dixon, author of the acclaimed Entwined, comes a brilliantly conceived adventure that sweeps us from the inner workings of our souls to the far reaches of our imaginations.

Jonathan is perfectly ordinary. But then—as every good adventure begins—the king swoops into port, and Jonathan and his father are enlisted to find the cure to a deadly plague. Jonathan discovers that he's a prodigy at working with a new chemical called fantillium, which creates shared hallucinations—or illusions. And just like that, Jonathan is knocked off his path. Through richly developed parallel worlds, vivid action, a healthy dose of humor, and gorgeous writing, Heather Dixon spins a story that calls to mind The Night Circus and Pixar movies, but is wholly its own.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062001054
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/19/2015
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	600,748
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Heather Dixon is the author of the acclaimed Entwined. By day, she is a storyboard animator and artist. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Editorial Reviews

★ 03/23/2015
Dixon (Entwined) returns with a steampunk take on a holodeck—or possibly on LSD, depending on how one views the experience of fantillium, a mysterious compound that allows illusionists to imagine a reality that others can share. Jonathan Gouden, son and apprentice to the second-best medical scientist in the empire, discovers that he is just such an illusionist when the king himself demands Dr. Gouden’s services in researching a cure for the Venen plague, which the queen has contracted. The catch? Fantillium causes acedia, the withering of conscience, a process already far advanced in the only other researcher working on the Venen cure. When the amoral researcher, Lady Florel, flees into the alternate reality, it falls to Jonathan to follow in her footsteps as those he loves become ill. Dixon casts Jonathan not as a pinup daredevil but as an ordinary, decent person who does some extraordinary (and morally questionable) things along the way. Her steampunk world is vibrantly imagined, and the page-turning quality of Jonathan’s wry narration (complete with footnotes and sub-footnotes) will have readers fully invested in his story. Ages 13–up. Agent: Edward Necarsulmer IV, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner. (May)

Publishers Weekly

Steampunk fantasy set in a futuristic London features . . . fantasy elements, plot twists, and dramatic crescendos . . . The lovable characters and the story’s originality will appeal.” — School Library Journal

Praise for Entwined: “Full of mystery, lush settings, and fully orbed characters, Dixon’s debut is both suspenseful and rewarding.” — Booklist (starred review)

“Dixon balances the suspense with generous helpings of humor and sparkling dialogue…[A] charming, romantic story, told with a light touch.” — Kirkus Reviews

“This steampunk adventure catapults across two fascinating, dangerous worlds with mild horror, some humor, and suspense. …Jonathan’s first-person narration is compelling, candidly relating triumphs and missteps alike.” — The Horn Book

“The snappy dialogue, intriguing cast, and well-developed worlds make Dixon’s sophomore effort a lush and original story.” — Booklist

“Dixon casts Jonathan not as a pinup daredevil but as an ordinary, decent person who does some extraordinary things along the way. Her steampunk world is vibrantly imagined, and the page-turning quality of Jonathan’s wry narration will have readers fully invested in his story.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

From the Publisher

This steampunk adventure catapults across two fascinating, dangerous worlds with mild horror, some humor, and suspense. …Jonathan’s first-person narration is compelling, candidly relating triumphs and missteps alike.

The Horn Book

Praise for Entwined: “Full of mystery, lush settings, and fully orbed characters, Dixon’s debut is both suspenseful and rewarding.

Booklist (starred review)

The snappy dialogue, intriguing cast, and well-developed worlds make Dixon’s sophomore effort a lush and original story.

Booklist

The snappy dialogue, intriguing cast, and well-developed worlds make Dixon’s sophomore effort a lush and original story.

Booklist

02/01/2015
Gr 9 Up—Jonathan is a teenager apprenticed to his father, whose life is turned upside down when the King docks his airship at their port in Fata Morgana and insists that they work with the famed scientist Lady Florel to find the cure to a deadly new illness. The mysterious sickness, which kills women exactly six days after contraction, has attacked the Queen and threatens to spread through their whole civilization. A new drug, "fantillium," which allows certain individuals to create group hallucinations, may hold the key to their survival—or it could be Jonathan's ultimate downfall. As he uses his ability to create illusions to try to find the cure, Jonathan also finds a way to enter alternate realities and discovers that Lady Florel is not who she claims to be. Forced to fight in an lllusionarium battle (reminiscent of "The Hunger Games"), the protagonist makes unlikely allies and ultimately comes out victorious. This steampunk fantasy set in a futuristic London features so many fantasy elements, plot twists, and dramatic crescendos that it is easy to lose the thread of the story. Still, the lovable characters and the story's originality will appeal to some readers. VERDICT Recommended as an additional purchase for places looking to expand their steampunk offerings.—Sunnie Lovelace, Wallingford Public Library, CT

School Library Journal