Review of "Princess of Illusion" by Ashley Chapman

Score: 95/100 (9.5 out of 10)
​
In this lovely fantasy novel, the courageous Lady Marceline poses as a decoy for Princess Emberline to protect the royal heir from a forced marriage to a volatile prince. Escorted by the honorable but stern General Kaden, Marceline travels through treacherous lands filled with mythical creatures like dragons, kelpies, and mermaids.

Throughout the journey, Marceline discovers that she possesses the Crown Emerald, a legendary gem capable of restoring life to blighted landscapes. As she navigates political tensions and physical dangers, a complicated romantic bond develops between her and Kaden despite their conflicting duties. Ultimately, Marceline chooses to flee her protectors to confront the mysterious Shadow Lord, hoping to save her companions from his dark pursuit.

What really stood out to us about Princess of Illusion was the chemistry between the characters enhanced by the beautifully-detailed world-building. This is further elevated by the eloquent writing of Ashley Chapman.

This might be Ashley Chapman's best-written novel, possibly her magnum opus.

Let's start with the characters, especially the two main protagonists, and why they work so well.

Marceline is a compelling lead. She has that perfect mix of courage, vulnerability, and common sense that you want in a heroine. We loved that she is not technically a princess or a chosen one. She is a decoy. A servant. Someone whose entire job is to be mistaken for someone more “important.” That gives her choices so much more weight. When she volunteers to ride out under dragon fire in Emberline's place, it is not because of destiny. It is because she refuses to watch her people burn while she sits safely behind palace walls. That is a very human, very grounded kind of bravery.

At the same time, Chapman does not write Marceline as a flawless martyr. She is stubborn. She second guesses herself. She has trauma in her past that affects how she reacts to men in power and to sudden touch. She constantly worries about what happens if someone discovers she is not truly royal. Those moments when her composure cracks and you see the scared girl beneath the borrowed crown are some of the most emotionally powerful in the book. The way her relationship with the Crown Emerald grows alongside her confidence is especially satisfying. The scene in which she channels the Stone to restore a scorched field and later to grow a tree as an escape route feels like a visual metaphor for her own rebirth.

Kaden, meanwhile, might be one of Chapman's best male leads. On paper, he is the classic stern, scarred general assigned to escort a royal bride. In practice, he becomes something deeper. He is honorable almost to a fault, constantly reminding himself that he is escorting a future queen to another man's side, that he has no right to want more. His inner code creates a tension that plays beautifully against Marceline's secrecy and self effacement. He wants her to claim a place in the light. She wants to disappear into her role so no one else gets hurt.

Their dynamic shines in the quieter scenes. The way he helps her down from the dragon, the way he watches for her flinches and adjusts, the way their arguments about duty and sacrifice turn into something almost like flirting. The moment when he essentially says he would tear down the wall between them brick by brick if it did not risk the peace is one of those lines that sticks with you. You feel the weight of what he is choosing not to do. It is a romance that smolders more than it sizzles, and that slower burn feels earned in a story where lives and kingdoms are on the line.

One of our favorite scenes is when Kaden entertains her conversations and feigns interest even when the topics are things he doesn't know or care much about. That shows courtesy and consideration. It also shows trust and chemistry.

The side characters add a lot of charm and texture. Captain Hortensio and Scrunge bring warmth and humor to the sea voyage. Rosie, Marceline's maid, quietly reflects the class tensions of the world when she is ignored or condescended to in Glenoui. Rava and the other soldiers feel like real comrades, not faceless background extras. Raven, King of the Kelpies, is a scene stealer with his eerie presence and unsettling insights. Hestiel the dragon and the mermaids of the breeding grounds might not speak, but their scenes are some of the most memorable in the book, especially when the ship flips and chaos erupts. These supporting players help the world feel lived in instead of like a stage set.

As a side note: it's nice to see some influences and intertextuality between Chapman's Kelpie series and this book. It maintains the same aquatic themes with kelpies, mermaids and such. In fact, it almost seems more aquatic. There's actually a lot of seafaring in this book, which can be great for those who are into seafaring adventures.

There's a particular action-scene at sea that made us laugh and smile in the best way (even though it was probably meant to be tense and dramatic). It was the battle with the Leviathan. The reason why it was funny to us is because we've read all of Chapman's husband's books and almost all of them feature battles with giant mythological beasts like this. It almost seemed like an homage or something. It's also proof that there's action dispersed here and there, which is a nice change of pace and tone considering the often-meandering and dialogue-heavy nature of this book.

This book also excels in writing quality. Some of the best parts of this book are just the author describing and detailing things. There's a scene in which Kaden's attraction is tactfully and creatively described as:

"He felt like an animal, intent only on continuing the human race, and he despised himself for it."

There's this magical description of the scenery:

"She passed through the trees unnoticed, then followed the stream,
letting the wind push her along. The eerie coldness was in the air, and it
nipped at her skin as she moved. To her delight, fireflies spun around her,
twirling and fluttering, guiding her through the dark wood. She appreciated their play but felt uncomfortable as her name was whispered again,
this time coming from the direction of what sounded to be a waterfall."

How about this description of the deck after a storm?

"The storm itself seemed to sense there was a great power in the air,
and it quieted. The lightning dulled to soft flickers. The thunder calmed
to a grumpy rumble. Rain sprinkled lightly, like a lover’s caress, across the
deck. The sea rested, lapping against the ship with gentle strokes, moving
it along with careful rolls and dips."

We loved this description too:

"The streets were paved with multicolored cobblestones, each
color light and hand-painted across the stones. This village was nothing
like Theoli, with its strong fish scent and somewhat gloomy aura. Here,
the air smelled of flowers. Beautiful banners flapped merrily in a gentle
breeze. Men and women wore fitted clothing, not indecent, but lacking
the flowing fabrics of Everleigh. Corsets were tight, jackets were pressed,
and every scrap of fabric was vibrant. Most of the gowns carried designs
of flowers and leaves upon them. Most of the suits were tailored with
gold or silver embroidery of plant life and trees. Gorgeous parasols and
large hats brimming with flowers obscured Marceline’s view of the palace
beyond the city. It rose several miles away, past Serefolle and its massive,
blossoming fields."

Similes and metaphors are effectively used like:

"I feel like a child, crying over something that was never truly mine
to cling to."

"Kaden stepped back, and whatever shadow had just fallen over him
disappeared like sea spray in the early morn."

If we have a minor complaint, it's that this book feels a lot longer than it is. Sometimes, it seems redundant. The mermaids, for example, are constantly and repeatedly described as a threat. There comes a point when showing is better than telling. The audience probably gets it already. There's also a lot of dialogue. A lot of will they or won't they. It can feel drawn out and tedious at times.

But all in all, this is one of Chapman's better-written works.

Check it out on Amazon!