City of Illusion

June 1, 2021

Gr 4-8-It has been three months since Ever Barnes and Hannah Morgan saved the capital city of Oskars in a battle with the rival city of Edmonda led by Vash, a dangerous assassin. Vash, now wanted for war crimes, has fled to neighboring Alexios to plan his revenge and take control of the three sister cities. To stop him, Hannah's family travels to Alexios to contact the secret society that runs intelligence there. When Hannah's father disappears, Ever and Hannah discover that Alexios has secret mechanical underground levels, just like their hometown of Oskars, and they discover a group of children who are in league with Vash. Hannah and Ever must gain the group's trust in order to vanquish Vash. Themes of friendship and unity run throughout Ying's follow-up to City of Secrets. This graphic novel is steampunk in all its glory; giant robots, ancient mythology, futuristic technology, and a healthy dose of fantasy. While the quick pacing and young children's abilities require a suspension of belief, the plot is engaging and middle grade readers will fall in love with Ying's expressive artwork. Alexios is like a puzzle, with detailed sketches of shifting walls and underground pathways that highlight the magical undercurrents that ground the graphic novel's mystery. Giant robots battle it out in manga-inspired action sequences that fill the panels with sweeping movement, falling away to complete the mythology that is shared between the three cities. Ever and Hannah appear to be Asian. VERDICT A delightful combination of Victorian-era steampunk with modern themes, Ying's conclusion to this graphic novel duology is a worthy addition to library collections serving middle grade readers.-Elise Martinez, Racine, WI

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Starred review from June 1, 2021
Is unity possible in a nation divided? In this follow-up to City of Secrets (2020), best friends Hannah and Ever are visiting the nearby city of Alexios, a place that "specializes in illusions." Each city in their world is rumored to have its own giant robot called a Megantic; Hannah and Ever found their city's Megantic, naming it Oskar after their home. While they must leave Oskar during their travels, Hannah brings along his voice-activated remote in case of emergency. While in Alexios, the pair have an encounter with a mysterious street magician named Chifa and her companion, Tanan, whom they learn are working for Vash, their power-hungry nemesis, who wants control of all the Megantics for his own nefarious doings. While Vash craves absolute power, Hannah and Ever know that working together may be their only hope; can they convince Chifa and her gang to align with them before it's too late? Ying's command of story and dazzling art come to life in this intricately woven tale that deftly incorporates secret societies, giant robot fights, spies, magic, and the power of acceptance without ever feeling bogged down. While the steampunk setting calls to a bygone era, the messaging is exceptionally contemporary. Her cast of characters is diverse; main characters Hannah and Ever present with Asian features. Important, engrossing, and altogether necessary. (Graphic fantasy. 7-12)

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