Imperfect Illusions

Devastating Magic, Book 1

De: Vanora Lawless

Narrado por: Logan McAllister

A drafted empath. A dreamwalking poet. A world at war.

Chicago, 1917.

Idealistic, aspiring poet, Elliot Stone can make people feel euphoria or horror with a simple touch. But that's only part of his magical abilities. He can also wake in the dreams of people he cares deeply for.

Stubborn, fiercely independent Warren “Sully” Sullivan is an illusionist with a secret of his own: he feels the emotions of others as visceral sensations. That, and a lifetime of fending for himself, has left him guarded.

On their last night of freedom before shipping off to training—military and magic—Elliot and Sully indulge in an explosive, emotional night together. Elliot assumes it's a one night stand and nothing more, until he awakens in Sully’s nightmare. The urge to rescue Sully is impossible to resist. And when dream-Sully begs him to keep coming back, something Sully would never do while awake, Elliot can’t resist that either.

As real life draws them into battle, their shared dreams become a refuge that only Elliot recalls. So when Elliot has the opportunity to recruit Sully to the secret elite unit of magical soldiers he leads, he’s willing to risk everything for the man he’s fallen in love with in dreams. But being away from the front lines doesn’t mean Sully’s safe. Now they battle enemies with twisted magic where their secrets are a liability.

Can they bring their dreams—and love—to life? Or will the war cost them everything?

©2022 Andrea Lawless (P)2023 Andrea Lawless

A good start of a series

I enjoyed quite w bit the premise of magical people having a hand on what happened during WW2, very entertaining and Sully and Elliot were such kind thoughtful characters trying to do their best.
The narrator was very good!

compelling and touching read

I do like the characters quite a bit and the depth of empathy and compassion felt between the two main ones is about right for a story topic as heavy as war

Parts of the story dragged a bit, but thinking about it I think it helps convey the feeling of the passage of time of the story. While there is a background plot and events that happen, the story is the development of their relationship over time, both at a distance and then together. While some of the lesser issues were ones of just not having a conversation, the types of avoidance and assumption making felt true to the characters

looking forward to the second book!