A tumble down the stairs lands Kamryn into a different world, the Land of Ur, where she meets a handsome storyteller who can bring stories to life. The storyteller takes Kamryn to the Oracle, who gives Kam a dangerous rescue mission to complete before she can get back home. But the mission proves to be much more than it appears to be in Illusionary, a novel by author Desiree Williams.

Awe. Some. Ness. I wasn't ready.

I mean, the book starts out cute and funny (and Kam is a pretty funny heroine throughout, by the way.) Then the parallel world escapades begin. I'll confess that it took me a while to catch up with the romance, as I didn't enter as quickly or deeply into "the feelings" as the heroine and hero did. And my overall interest waned a tad through some of the traveling and in-between parts.

But the story would stop me in my tracks in places, sometimes with a single, spoken word. "Heal." "Hope."

"But hope...now that's a mighty thing," Kamryn says. You've got that right, sister! And before and after a crucial twist, this story presents an assortment of other wonderfully woven themes: growing up and innocence, grief and illness and regret, finding out who you really are and what you're capable of. True bravery!

It's a fantasy tale like The Chronicles of Narnia in that it'll speak to you on multiple levels if you have the ears to hear it—but whether you go to those other levels or not, it's still a darn good adventure.

And I'll have you all know, I had to push past imminent tears to even write this review. Good grief, Desiree Williams...
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I received an advance review copy of this book from the author for an honest review. ( )