Abstract of the book "The Illusion Has Cracked"
I often felt that the world around me was an illusion. Everything seemed unreal: me, the people around me, the houses, nature. I liked my life, but the disturbing thought of the illusory nature of the world constantly gnawed at my consciousness, undermining my confidence. People laughed at me. But with each passing day, I believed more and more that one day I would wake up and find myself in a different world. I would become someone else. The world would be different. I would lose everything that was important to me. I would be left alone. Fear became my constant companion. I tried to get rid of my obsessive thoughts, but they won out time and time again. They consumed me. Fear won. It destroyed my illusory world on an unremarkable autumn morning.
13 comments
oliaka-olga13.10.2025, 20:32Quite an interesting story. Although it's not entirely clear why the main character decided to find her boyfriend from the illusion. Even if she didn't completely invent him and he actually exists, she didn't have a relationship with him, not even communication. And she's looking for a person she doesn't know and has never known. Secondly, since the romance with the main character was in HER illusions with this guy, he had some other, his own illusions. So, in fact, the main character didn't have any romantic relationships with anyone.
tatti-tata27.01.2025, 12:31Thank you for your work. Inspiration
did-sirko07.01.2025, 12:03Hello, interesting start and easy to read. But there is one drawback that constantly distracts. Almost every sentence contains the word "I". Sometimes such frequent use is justified (and even then in limited ranges), but here it greatly hinders full immersion in the story. Especially since at the beginning, only one character is involved, and there is no need to constantly emphasize them. I’ve come across works with this issue before, and some, despite being interesting, I stopped reading. However, this story hooks from the start, and perhaps I’ll manage to overcome this and there will be less use of that word further on. Sorry for my two cents.
iana03.01.2025, 21:12Very interesting story, I couldn't tear myself away from reading. Thank you very much)
andrei-krucenko09.11.2023, 20:27Nice plot. A lot of inner turmoil for the heroine, really a lot. Girls like that kind of thing, but I just skimmed through a quarter of the book because those emotions are something else) I'll wait for the continuation, the plot is nice)))
marina-titova16.09.2023, 01:30An impressive book! The world and its structure, the very idea of illusion — it evokes admiration) I liked it) There were tearful moments, like the meeting with the grandmother, the father, James's return to Grace, but... everyone found each other so easily, one after another, and the information that the rebels didn’t have for so long suddenly pops up because of Millie’s involvement) And the ending, with her courage to take responsibility and change the outcome of the negotiations — it turns the girl into a real superhero) This kind of fantasy effect raises doubts, because so many coincidences are simply impossible according to the theory of probability... But, one can still turn a blind eye to that) Throughout the entire book, I was bothered by another question. If half of the domestic animals were exposed to radiation, and the others to a mutagen — then where do so many eggs come from in this post-illusion world?))) Chickens are domestic birds too) Were they also stuffed into bunkers by the progressives, and now there are eggs everywhere, not just canned goods and pasta, left behind?)))
lyudmila-sokolova08.12.2022, 11:34I liked the idea with the illusion, interesting!
- lyudmila-sokolova08.12.2022, 11:31
The text is a bit unpolished with some Russianisms, if the author doesn't mind, I can offer a few tips))
- lyudmila-sokolova08.12.2022, 11:30
There is a lot of authorial work in this piece, no kidding - over 200 pages! Thank you, Anna, for your fruitful work)) At first, the plot was moving slowly, and I considered stopping reading, but then the events picked up, and it became truly interesting to see how the fates of the characters would unfold!))) I wish you inspiration and will be waiting for the continuation!
- lyudmila-sokolova08.12.2022, 11:26
Quite interesting, though the description of events is often schematic, and it affects the perception))) For example, the situation when the community leader finally saw her husband, and the author immediately sets far-reaching goals and conclusions about her caution and passivity. Come on, this is during their very first conversation, they just saw each other after a long separation! Usually, people need time to process the situation. And the conclusions made would be appropriate, well, in a few days, not during the first conversation. So, what I want to say is, using this situation as an example, time frames shouldn’t be compressed to avoid a schematic narrative, there’s no need to rush the time)) Overall, I liked the adventure plot, and I really, really liked Millie’s arguments in the conversation with the leader of the progressives!
iaroslav-kelman30.09.2022, 07:11Very interesting and captivating plot. The errors and Russianisms are a bit upsetting; it would be good to make some corrections. Overall, it's a great book, and I will be looking forward to the continuation. I am currently in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and this plot distracts me from the shots and explosions. Thank you!
lyudmila-sokolova08.12.2022, 11:19Yaroslav Kelman, God's protection to everyone on the front line! Strength and inspiration to you!
volodimir-ceiz11.11.2022, 15:24Interesting idea. Wishing you inspiration! Looking forward to the continuation.
sakuura17.08.2022, 14:43I'm hooked. You convey emotions beautifully.
The Illusion Has Cracked
About the book
I often felt that the world around me was an illusion. Everything seemed unreal: me, the people around me, the houses, nature. I liked my life, but the disturbing thought of the illusory nature of the world constantly gnawed at my consciousness, undermining my confidence. People laughed at me. But with each passing day, I believed more and more that one day I would wake up and find myself in a different world. I would become someone else. The world would be different. I would lose everything that was important to me. I would be left alone. Fear became my constant companion. I tried to get rid of my obsessive thoughts, but they won out time and time again. They consumed me. Fear won. It destroyed my illusory world on an unremarkable autumn morning.
13 comments
- oliaka-olga13.10.2025, 20:32
Quite an interesting story. Although it's not entirely clear why the main character decided to find her boyfriend from the illusion. Even if she didn't completely invent him and he actually exists, she didn't have a relationship with him, not even communication. And she's looking for a person she doesn't know and has never known. Secondly, since the romance with the main character was in HER illusions with this guy, he had some other, his own illusions. So, in fact, the main character didn't have any romantic relationships with anyone.
- tatti-tata27.01.2025, 12:31
Thank you for your work. Inspiration
- did-sirko07.01.2025, 12:03
Hello, interesting start and easy to read. But there is one drawback that constantly distracts. Almost every sentence contains the word "I". Sometimes such frequent use is justified (and even then in limited ranges), but here it greatly hinders full immersion in the story. Especially since at the beginning, only one character is involved, and there is no need to constantly emphasize them. I’ve come across works with this issue before, and some, despite being interesting, I stopped reading. However, this story hooks from the start, and perhaps I’ll manage to overcome this and there will be less use of that word further on. Sorry for my two cents.
- iana03.01.2025, 21:12
Very interesting story, I couldn't tear myself away from reading. Thank you very much)
- andrei-krucenko09.11.2023, 20:27
Nice plot. A lot of inner turmoil for the heroine, really a lot. Girls like that kind of thing, but I just skimmed through a quarter of the book because those emotions are something else) I'll wait for the continuation, the plot is nice)))
- marina-titova16.09.2023, 01:30
An impressive book! The world and its structure, the very idea of illusion — it evokes admiration) I liked it) There were tearful moments, like the meeting with the grandmother, the father, James's return to Grace, but... everyone found each other so easily, one after another, and the information that the rebels didn’t have for so long suddenly pops up because of Millie’s involvement) And the ending, with her courage to take responsibility and change the outcome of the negotiations — it turns the girl into a real superhero) This kind of fantasy effect raises doubts, because so many coincidences are simply impossible according to the theory of probability... But, one can still turn a blind eye to that) Throughout the entire book, I was bothered by another question. If half of the domestic animals were exposed to radiation, and the others to a mutagen — then where do so many eggs come from in this post-illusion world?))) Chickens are domestic birds too) Were they also stuffed into bunkers by the progressives, and now there are eggs everywhere, not just canned goods and pasta, left behind?)))
- lyudmila-sokolova08.12.2022, 11:34
I liked the idea with the illusion, interesting!
- lyudmila-sokolova08.12.2022, 11:31
The text is a bit unpolished with some Russianisms, if the author doesn't mind, I can offer a few tips))
- lyudmila-sokolova08.12.2022, 11:30
There is a lot of authorial work in this piece, no kidding - over 200 pages! Thank you, Anna, for your fruitful work)) At first, the plot was moving slowly, and I considered stopping reading, but then the events picked up, and it became truly interesting to see how the fates of the characters would unfold!))) I wish you inspiration and will be waiting for the continuation!
- lyudmila-sokolova08.12.2022, 11:26
Quite interesting, though the description of events is often schematic, and it affects the perception))) For example, the situation when the community leader finally saw her husband, and the author immediately sets far-reaching goals and conclusions about her caution and passivity. Come on, this is during their very first conversation, they just saw each other after a long separation! Usually, people need time to process the situation. And the conclusions made would be appropriate, well, in a few days, not during the first conversation. So, what I want to say is, using this situation as an example, time frames shouldn’t be compressed to avoid a schematic narrative, there’s no need to rush the time)) Overall, I liked the adventure plot, and I really, really liked Millie’s arguments in the conversation with the leader of the progressives!
- iaroslav-kelman30.09.2022, 07:11
Very interesting and captivating plot. The errors and Russianisms are a bit upsetting; it would be good to make some corrections. Overall, it's a great book, and I will be looking forward to the continuation. I am currently in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and this plot distracts me from the shots and explosions. Thank you!
lyudmila-sokolova08.12.2022, 11:19Yaroslav Kelman, God's protection to everyone on the front line! Strength and inspiration to you!
- volodimir-ceiz11.11.2022, 15:24
Interesting idea. Wishing you inspiration! Looking forward to the continuation.
- sakuura17.08.2022, 14:43
I'm hooked. You convey emotions beautifully.