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whiskeywoman79's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Story: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Narration: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Fantasy / Historical Fiction / Horror / Fiction / Historical/ Paranormal / African mysticism
Magical? Maybe, I guess. Keep in mind this is set right after the Great Depression and race plays a part in the story... A carnival run by a child-eating Demon. A young black woman who can communicate with animals, and who of course is the only one who can save them all. So many questionable characters, and events... It was a bit too much, I was confused many times. The ending was so lackluster, for the buildup. Overall, I'm left feeling very disappointed.
Narration: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Fantasy / Historical Fiction / Horror / Fiction / Historical/ Paranormal / African mysticism
Magical? Maybe, I guess. Keep in mind this is set right after the Great Depression and race plays a part in the story... A carnival run by a child-eating Demon. A young black woman who can communicate with animals, and who of course is the only one who can save them all. So many questionable characters, and events... It was a bit too much, I was confused many times. The ending was so lackluster, for the buildup. Overall, I'm left feeling very disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Child death, Abandonment, and Death
Moderate: Animal death and Hate crime
Minor: Grief, Murder, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Slavery, and Racial slurs
lizzie24601's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If you liked The Night Circus, you'll love this book. Honestly, I felt pretty much the same about this as I did The Night Circus - loved the worldbuilding, liked the cast of characters, wasn't thrilled with the plot.
Veronica Henry brings forth a fun cast of characters in the carnival and intricately weaves African mythology with American historical fiction. I liked the few times we switched to other characters' perspectives and got to know them a little more. I especially liked Malachi, Autumn, and Ishe.
Liza is a well-rounded character, with a power she doesn't quite understand, and needs some character growth before she can control it. I liked that Liza has a lot of negative qualities that others find irritating about her, but she finds her friends nonetheless. I enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the book and find a home with the carnival.
The book ends rather abruptlyand confusingly - Mico was the mom? Did that mean the old man was the dad? I don't understand but overall it's a fun read.
Additional thoughts on the ending:RIP Clay and Ishe... You didn't deserve to die in 2 sentences. And love that the whole book was about Liza finding a family and building up this cast of characters who support her and then the carnival ended and she never spoke to any of them again. Whatever.
Veronica Henry brings forth a fun cast of characters in the carnival and intricately weaves African mythology with American historical fiction. I liked the few times we switched to other characters' perspectives and got to know them a little more. I especially liked Malachi, Autumn, and Ishe.
Liza is a well-rounded character, with a power she doesn't quite understand, and needs some character growth before she can control it. I liked that Liza has a lot of negative qualities that others find irritating about her, but she finds her friends nonetheless. I enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the book and find a home with the carnival.
The book ends rather abruptly
Additional thoughts on the ending:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Abandonment, Racism, Child death, and Murder
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
emzhay's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, Gore, Hate crime, and Child death
Minor: Death of parent
lgarner8's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Hate crime, Murder, and Self harm
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