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failmaven's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
themanfromdelmonte's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this book and for the first three quarters of it, I did. I liked the Black perspective and the description of the Depression ravaged communites the Carnival operates amongst.
Then Liza goes to see Ago and it all goes a bit sideways. Everything's leading up to the confontation between Oya and Ahiku and I wondered why it had taken this long to come about, unless Oya was waiting for a suitable vessel through which to operate.
There doesn't seem to be any rationale for Liza or Twiggy or their abandonment by their parents. The meeting between the demons in the hotel in Oklahoma City stuck out like a sore thumb. What purpose, in the greater arc of the story, did it serve?
Lastly, the supernatural elements felt a bit bolted on. Suddenly Liza has powers! But she doesn't wield them, Oya does. And then the story just stops.
Then Liza goes to see Ago and it all goes a bit sideways. Everything's leading up to the confontation between Oya and Ahiku and I wondered why it had taken this long to come about, unless Oya was waiting for a suitable vessel through which to operate.
There doesn't seem to be any rationale for Liza or Twiggy or their abandonment by their parents. The meeting between the demons in the hotel in Oklahoma City stuck out like a sore thumb. What purpose, in the greater arc of the story, did it serve?
Lastly, the supernatural elements felt a bit bolted on. Suddenly Liza has powers! But she doesn't wield them, Oya does. And then the story just stops.
kaeteas's review against another edition
2.0
It feels like a first draft that needs to be looked over yet again. The concept is good and more entertaining than the Night Circus, but it did not hold my attention the way that I hoped it would.
chelsea_u's review against another edition
2.0
It was a good read. Brought back childhood fears though. The creepy parts were some of the best although I thought the story would do a lot better with just a bit more description.
ratleyreads's review
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.75
ninabest's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
goatsinspace's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
In this atmospheric novel set against the backdrop of the Depression-era South, a traveling carnival becomes the stage for a dark and fascinating story.
Eliza Meeks, a young woman with a unique gift for communicating with animals, finds solace and opportunity in the Bacchanal Carnival after having been abandoned by her family. She is trying to find and reunite with her baby sister and traveling with the carnival is a good opportunity to do so. As she becomes a part of this peculiar carnival, she discovers that many there have dark secrets.
Henry skillfully crafts the eerie and mysterious atmosphere of a carnival, with its fortune-tellers, barkers, and otherworldly performers. The Great Depression serves as a fitting backdrop, intensifying the desperation and struggles of the characters. Listen, this is dark. Lots of death, including children.
The pacing, seemingly deliberately slow, allows for a gradual immersion into the intricate relationships and backstories of the characters. The incorporation of African mythology adds depth to the story, creating a rich tapestry of folklore and supernatural elements.
While the romance really didn't do it for me, the overarching themes of identity, destiny, and the battle against primordial evil still offered a compelling narrative. I will say that I did not love the ending, but I can forgive it because I was really enraptured by the rest.
"Bacchanal" is a captivating read for those who appreciate atmospheric horror, historical settings, and stories woven with mystical threads.
Eliza Meeks, a young woman with a unique gift for communicating with animals, finds solace and opportunity in the Bacchanal Carnival after having been abandoned by her family. She is trying to find and reunite with her baby sister and traveling with the carnival is a good opportunity to do so. As she becomes a part of this peculiar carnival, she discovers that many there have dark secrets.
Henry skillfully crafts the eerie and mysterious atmosphere of a carnival, with its fortune-tellers, barkers, and otherworldly performers. The Great Depression serves as a fitting backdrop, intensifying the desperation and struggles of the characters. Listen, this is dark. Lots of death, including children.
The pacing, seemingly deliberately slow, allows for a gradual immersion into the intricate relationships and backstories of the characters. The incorporation of African mythology adds depth to the story, creating a rich tapestry of folklore and supernatural elements.
While the romance really didn't do it for me, the overarching themes of identity, destiny, and the battle against primordial evil still offered a compelling narrative. I will say that I did not love the ending, but I can forgive it because I was really enraptured by the rest.
"Bacchanal" is a captivating read for those who appreciate atmospheric horror, historical settings, and stories woven with mystical threads.
vanillestokje's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
kbro08's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.5
k80lew's review against another edition
2.0
There are really good bones here, really good stories. However, it was hard to follow. It could be that I am not the audience for this book. I am sad, there was a lot that I enjoyed, but too much that was oddly paced, not clear or strangely off beat.