Real Illusions: The Awakening

Name: Real Illusions: The Awakening
Price: 15.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781505245585

✍️ Tanya R Taylor

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$15.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Tanya Taylor intertwines two suspenseful stories about identity and supernatural threats in this collection.

This book merges two distinct narratives into one cohesive volume. The first section stands alone, focusing on Trent Matheson’s effort to hide his secret from loved ones. The loss of his protector forces him to deal with a destructive entity. The second part introduces hooded figures after the birth of his child. Matheson must decide between protecting his young, gifted son or saving innocent lives. The author uses her background in bestsellers to craft a tale where personal secrets collide with global jeopardy. The structure ensures that while the first story is complete, the second provides a deeper, more shocking conclusion for the reader.

Key Themes

hidden identity sinister forces parental sacrifice

Literary Context

Published in 2014 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, this work sits within the tradition of American independent horror publishing. It draws on the gothic and supernatural fiction genres, continuing the author's exploration of small town nightmares and personal infestations established in her prior bestsellers.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · Dean Koontz · Clive Barker · Poppy Z. Brite

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Paranormal

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2014 📖 308 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781505245585

📝 Description: Real Illusions: The Awakening

Tanya Taylor presents Real Illusions: The Awakening, a collection of two intertwined suspenseful narratives. She is known for her previous works, Cornelius and Infestation: A Small Town Nightmare. This volume combines separate stories into a single reading experience where the first book functions independently while the second continues the plot. The protagonist Trent Matheson struggles to conceal his true identity from everyone, including his partner. After losing the sole guardian of this secret, he faces a powerful sinister force aiming for his destruction. The narrative shifts when hooded figures appear following the birth of his child. Matheson uncovers the reason for their intrusion and confronts a choice that impacts his gifted offspring or numerous innocent people. The story asks whether he will bear the guilt of blood on his hands. Readers who enjoy supernatural fiction with high stakes and personal secrets will find this engaging. Those seeking lighthearted romance or pure horror without emotional weight may prefer other titles. Taylor structures the work to maintain tension across both sections, ensuring the continuing story delivers a significant impact for those who read through to the end.

💎 Our verdict on Real Illusions: The Awakening

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Tanya Taylor delivers a compelling volume by merging two distinct narratives into a cohesive whole. The first section stands alone as a tense exploration of identity and loss, while the second escalates stakes through the introduction of hooded figures and moral dilemmas regarding a gifted child. The author effectively uses her background to craft a tale where personal secrets trigger global jeopardy. While the structure ensures the first story is complete, the continuing plot provides a significant impact for those who read through. It suits readers who enjoy supernatural fiction with high stakes rather than pure horror without emotional weight, offering a balanced mix of suspense and character depth.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking intense supernatural fiction with high emotional stakes will find this collection engaging. It appeals to those who enjoy narratives where personal secrets collide with global jeopardy, offering a blend of psychological tension and otherworldly threat. The dual-narrative structure provides a complete standalone experience in the first half while building toward a shocking conclusion in the second. Fans of dark fantasy and ghost stories will appreciate the exploration of identity and protection against sinister forces. This book is ideal for audiences who prefer horror with emotional weight over lighthearted romance or pure gore, ensuring a impactful reading journey that balances suspense with character-driven conflict.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Tanya Taylor delivers a compelling volume by merging two distinct narratives into a cohesive whole. The first section stands alone as a tense exploration of identity and loss, while the second escalates stakes through the introduction of hooded figures and moral dilemmas regarding a gifted child. The author effectively uses her background to craft a tale where personal secrets trigger global jeopardy. While the structure ensures the first story is complete, the continuing plot provides a significant impact for those who read through. It suits readers who enjoy supernatural fiction with high stakes rather than pure horror without emotional weight, offering a balanced mix of suspense and character depth.