Illuminarium by Truth Devour is an urban fantasy with a hint of thriller. The novel is about Harper, who is a forensic psychologist. She has not seen a pretty picture of life or humanity, which has made her a skeptic. But that does not deter her from finding something in life that brings her peace and serenity. It is in search of exactly that when she encounters an owl in a forest, which leads her to something that will change her life forever. She discovers a mysterious book which places her in the middle of the centuries-old fight between good and evil. Both sides want her and she needs to decide which side she must be on, or if she wants to be a part of it or not. Now on the run from both sides, she finds new people who become good friends and help her uncover the mysteries of life.

I usually love the mishmash of genres. I never thought I would come across a novel that is a mix of urban-fantasy and thriller. I am really glad that it worked because I had high expectations of the novel, especially after reading that thought provoking synopsis. The novel is well written; the characters are rounded and have so much potential. The plot of the novel is intriguing and grabs your attention right from the first chapter. You will, like me, love the intensity and the complexity of the novel and will want to read it again and again.

Unusually, Illuminarium: Book 1 - Soliloquy's Labyrinth Series by Truth Devour started with a hike in the redwood national forest looking for signs. I think Dystopian can be hard to read sometimes because it takes some time to get used to the new world, so starting the story in a world that is familiar to readers was really smart. I especially am into hiking right now (currently reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed) and see advertisements for walking 5Ks on every street corner. So this was a very interesting and smooth beginning.

Also, the forest is a great place to see signs and hear voices. Animals are great bearers of news and seem mystical to many people and deeply religious or symbolic to a lot of different people. So this was also very realistic, which is an important bond to create with the reader, especially in a dystopian book. Soon the world is going to change and I want to trust the author and believe that the world the author has created is real (or at least could be real), so starting the book in such a realistic is very, very smart.

I also love the author's name! I think the first name, Truth, is really awesome and, again, just another reason for the reader to believe everything that is being said in this book. Such a great job of making a dystopian story enjoyable and believable, which is not easy to do. Nice job!

In Illuminarium (Soliloquy's Labyrinth Series - Book 1) by Truth Devour, behavioral scientist Harper Perelle formed a deep connection with nature right from her childhood. As such, it was no surprise that it was on one of her treasured communes with nature that she would start the most profound journey of her life. While she was on a forest hike, Harper was led by an owl to an old book hidden inside the trunk of a tree. With an invisible whisperer urging her on, Harper retrieved and started reading the book. The words on its yellowing pages spoke directly to her soul, as if the book had been written for her. On these pages she found a story of York. A story of a life lived long ago, but one that filled her with deep sadness. So deep was the effect of the story that it set her on a search for answers, but the more she sought them the more questions and confusion came her way. This story of York led her to the most enlightening journey of her life as she learned about the battle between light and darkness, her higher purpose in life and her place in the battle.

Illuminarium (Soliloquy's Labyrinth Series - Book 1) by Truth Devour is a one of a kind compelling story. The story comes to life through a unique and gripping plot delivered through flawless writing. The book is built on some rather wildly outlandish themes, but Truth Devour made it all feel so real and completely believable. By the time I was done reading the story, ideas like past life, reincarnation, twin flames, and the existence of invisible evil spirits felt like very real possibilities. Truth Devour perfectly brought out the emotions of the story and left me with profound sadness and at times even had me in tears, but the same story also left me with a belief that all hope is not lost. Illuminarium is a two-in-one captivating read; the story of York and how it went on to change Harper's life are two tales perfectly blended into one. Illuminarium is the first part of what promises to be a thrillingly compelling series by Truth Devour and I cannot wait to read Book 2.

Wow! What a great read. Illuminarium, the first book in the Soliloquy's Labyrinth series by author Truth Devour, is an exciting, at times dark, and ultimately fantastic read. Follow the story of our protagonist, Harper, a forensic psychologist, as she finds and reads a mysterious book that she finds while on a walk through the woods one day. Written in a unique story within a story style, Harper reads the tale of York, a person from the past who was taken to a mental institution instead of an orphanage after his mother was unable to care for him and his siblings. When Harper's life begins to be affected by elements of York's life, she realizes that the book she found might be much more than just an ordinary read.

I very much enjoyed Illuminarium. It's a story that is easy to get sucked into and once you do, you simply will not want to put it down until you've read the whole thing. Author Truth Devour has done a masterful job at writing this story. The language is almost lyrical, but also very easy to follow, and the characters that have been developed so carefully are both interesting and relatable. I was thinking of both Harper and York long after I finished this novel, and if that is not a hallmark of a great read and a great author, I am not sure what is. Illuminarium would appeal to any reader who loves dystopian or urban fantasy, fantasy in general, or just a well-written read. I highly recommend Illuminarium and certainly hope that author Truth Devour is hard at work on the next book in the Soliloquy's Labyrinth series, as I, for one, will be eagerly waiting for its release.