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hjalmar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
serena_hien's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Confinement, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
bckibadreams's review against another edition
4.0
I really want to praise this book for it's 'subway'-like quality, first and foremost. It is SO easy to pick up this book and read just a few pages, and then do the same a few days later and remember exactly what's going on. It was a read I needed as my life's schedule had come to be uber-hectic as of late; I'm so glad I was able to follow along with what was happening easily without having to rack my brain for character names and backstories.
Levene is able to handle a sizeable cast of characters well - I enjoyed each unique personality and story that came my way, although if I really sat and thought about it some more, Nethmi's arc ended terribly. Unless the repurcussions of the things she did somehow come about in the sequel, I think there is a huge amount of wasted potential for her character. The other's, however, are fantastic. I ADORE Eric and Krish and warmed to Dae Hyo after a little bit of time. Olufemi remains a cool, mysterious enigma to me (what is Mirror Town!!!!) and Marvan is fascinating, if a little flat. I hope we see more about his past in future works.
Smiler's Fair does feel a little bit like Levene designed herself a beautiful fantasy world and struggled to find a solid plot to show it off. The sheer amount of POV characters somewhat prove this; they travel everywhere, stopping in locations just for a few seconds sometimes just so she can try and shove more of her planet down the reader's throat. It is written beautifully, though, and the world she made is fascinating, so it's hard to complain too much.
Overall, a solid read. I'm looking forward to finishing the triology.
Levene is able to handle a sizeable cast of characters well - I enjoyed each unique personality and story that came my way, although if I really sat and thought about it some more, Nethmi's arc ended terribly. Unless the repurcussions of the things she did somehow come about in the sequel, I think there is a huge amount of wasted potential for her character. The other's, however, are fantastic. I ADORE Eric and Krish and warmed to Dae Hyo after a little bit of time. Olufemi remains a cool, mysterious enigma to me (what is Mirror Town!!!!) and Marvan is fascinating, if a little flat. I hope we see more about his past in future works.
Smiler's Fair does feel a little bit like Levene designed herself a beautiful fantasy world and struggled to find a solid plot to show it off. The sheer amount of POV characters somewhat prove this; they travel everywhere, stopping in locations just for a few seconds sometimes just so she can try and shove more of her planet down the reader's throat. It is written beautifully, though, and the world she made is fascinating, so it's hard to complain too much.
Overall, a solid read. I'm looking forward to finishing the triology.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
3.0
This first part in a series of four contains all the usual components of modern epic fantasy: the prince whose destiny is to kill his father and reclaim his birthright, the master swordsman, the pretty noble girl married off to an old dude, the medieval setting with a few fantastical elements added, and the prostitution, good lord, the prostitution. Did you know, sex work is just a job like any other! Making the swordsman a serial killer and the prostitute male doesn't really subvert expectations, it just comes across as contrived. Maybe because the serial killer has no personality and only thinks about serial killing, and Eric, the young sellcock (yes, that is what you think it is) only pouts and thinks about cocks all the time, because that's what those frisky gays do.
Traditional gender roles are snugly in place (the pretty girl only gets shit done by accident, the tall blonde priestess types are more interested in meaningsless rule-obeying and sun worshipping than exercising power, or even amusing themselves with their harem of hotties).
In other words, I won't be reading the next book. I'll give it three stars though, because a lower rating wouldn't be fair. I'm not the intended audience - this is definitely a YA novel (the sex and violence don't make this adult fiction and we all know what kids get up to nowadays). It's really not that bad. There are giant bats and mammoths.
Traditional gender roles are snugly in place (the pretty girl only gets shit done by accident, the tall blonde priestess types are more interested in meaningsless rule-obeying and sun worshipping than exercising power, or even amusing themselves with their harem of hotties).
In other words, I won't be reading the next book. I'll give it three stars though, because a lower rating wouldn't be fair. I'm not the intended audience - this is definitely a YA novel (the sex and violence don't make this adult fiction and we all know what kids get up to nowadays). It's really not that bad. There are giant bats and mammoths.
meetmeinmalkovich's review against another edition
4.0
This book was the first book I ever added to my goodreads account back in 2016 when I first opened it. It then sat on my tbr for the next seven years and WOW am I upset at myself for sleeping on this book!
Smiler's Fair is a traveling city, but while it's the books namesake, it takes more of a symbolic meaning to the story than anything else. Yes, we get chapters with characters who live in it, so we do get to learn about it, but it's not necessarily the focus of the book. It's the tie that binds these characters more or less.
This story has multiple povs, each entrenched in their own trials and tribulations. It's violent at times, but I was enraptured by each story. There is a lot going on but each of these characters are woven together. There's murder, vice, cults, political intrigue, monsters and magical beings, an interesting mythology - all centered around a prophecy that was never prevented as it was hoped to be.
I think it unfairly gets compared to some other books like Night Circus (it's nothing like that, and I honestly don't understand the comparison) and Game of Thrones (but again, it's an unfair comparison because it's a high fantasy with a prophecy, and lots of murder, but that doesn't make it comparable in my opinion. They are not the same.) Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope to read the sequel soon.
Smiler's Fair is a traveling city, but while it's the books namesake, it takes more of a symbolic meaning to the story than anything else. Yes, we get chapters with characters who live in it, so we do get to learn about it, but it's not necessarily the focus of the book. It's the tie that binds these characters more or less.
This story has multiple povs, each entrenched in their own trials and tribulations. It's violent at times, but I was enraptured by each story. There is a lot going on but each of these characters are woven together. There's murder, vice, cults, political intrigue, monsters and magical beings, an interesting mythology - all centered around a prophecy that was never prevented as it was hoped to be.
I think it unfairly gets compared to some other books like Night Circus (it's nothing like that, and I honestly don't understand the comparison) and Game of Thrones (but again, it's an unfair comparison because it's a high fantasy with a prophecy, and lots of murder, but that doesn't make it comparable in my opinion. They are not the same.) Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope to read the sequel soon.
maitrey_d's review against another edition
4.0
I was hooked the minute when I realized many of the characters were brown-skinned and had Sanskrit names. Call me biased.
Smiler's Fair is hard to describe. It was a cross between grimdark and epic fantasy, a new genre if ever there was one. The characters are murky, and it's hard to pin down motive for most of them. There's a male prostitute, a serial killer who does't have a heart-of-gold, an orphaned noble-woman who shacks up with said serial killer, a perpetually drunk bad-ass tribesman; and oh, did I mention an avatar of the moon-god who is running for his life?
And yet, you want to read about every one of them. Levene has pulled off a great narrative trick.
I am really excited to see what happens next. The glimpses of the world we've seen look very promising. A nomadic fair where any vice can be purchased, mysterious long-lost tribes, ships that act as forts perennially anchored in lakes, the list goes on. Plus, there's a sun-god out for revenge.
Read it.
Smiler's Fair is hard to describe. It was a cross between grimdark and epic fantasy, a new genre if ever there was one. The characters are murky, and it's hard to pin down motive for most of them. There's a male prostitute, a serial killer who does't have a heart-of-gold, an orphaned noble-woman who shacks up with said serial killer, a perpetually drunk bad-ass tribesman; and oh, did I mention an avatar of the moon-god who is running for his life?
And yet, you want to read about every one of them. Levene has pulled off a great narrative trick.
I am really excited to see what happens next. The glimpses of the world we've seen look very promising. A nomadic fair where any vice can be purchased, mysterious long-lost tribes, ships that act as forts perennially anchored in lakes, the list goes on. Plus, there's a sun-god out for revenge.
Read it.
12pabroda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kitvaria_sarene's review against another edition
5.0
Argh, damn it! Another vanished review...
So again, though this time in less detail, as it's been a long while!
First off - this is Grimdark. This is not at all what the cover makes you expect. Not cute or fluffy or magical feel good.
This one is full of blood and gore and set in a rather bleak world.
I really loved the uniqueness of the world, where in some places you always have to keep moving. Stop and you might as well kill yourself! I loved how this shaped society and made for a fresh feel, while it was still handled in a way that didn't make it feel long winded or mired in too much descriptions or dry information.
The characters are grey and flawed and rough around the edges + and that exactly who I enjoyed them. Yes, they could have had a bit more depth around them at times, but I liked the more divers cast than in so many fantasy books, and I am always more happy to read about "people" than pure heroes or villains!
The plot was interesting, even though a bit meandering at times, and I was quickly immerged into the world instead of just reading it.
So again, though this time in less detail, as it's been a long while!
First off - this is Grimdark. This is not at all what the cover makes you expect. Not cute or fluffy or magical feel good.
This one is full of blood and gore and set in a rather bleak world.
I really loved the uniqueness of the world, where in some places you always have to keep moving. Stop and you might as well kill yourself! I loved how this shaped society and made for a fresh feel, while it was still handled in a way that didn't make it feel long winded or mired in too much descriptions or dry information.
The characters are grey and flawed and rough around the edges + and that exactly who I enjoyed them. Yes, they could have had a bit more depth around them at times, but I liked the more divers cast than in so many fantasy books, and I am always more happy to read about "people" than pure heroes or villains!
The plot was interesting, even though a bit meandering at times, and I was quickly immerged into the world instead of just reading it.
kimonawhim's review against another edition
4.0
”Rebecca Levene has written the most stunning first volume epic fantasy since Game of Thrones. It’s a little bit grim dark, a little bit epic, and a whole lot of incredible. If George R.R. Martin wrote The Night Circus, Smiler’s Fair would be the result.” - Cover Blurb.
Now I haven’t read The Night Circus (yet), but I don’t really understand the need to compare it to Game of Thrones. It’s probably a great eye catcher. And yes, there’s noble houses, there’s sex and crude violence, characters you grow to like get relentlessly killed.. but that doesn’t make it Game of Thrones, does it? It’s probably not a good vision to have of the book as you dive in.
What ’Smiler’s Fair’ is, however, is a great fantasy series opening novel with unique world building and diverse characters. It all starts at the equally named moving carnival Smiler’s Fair. It sounds pleasant at first, but turns out to be a gruesome place where your sins are forgotten, as long as you pay the price. There’s mention of duelling, gambling, prostitution and merciless killing. It gives the novel a very adult grim dark feel that I enjoy. Life isn’t all roses after all.
The Fair is where we meet our cast of characters, diverse in genders, roles, personalities and ancestry. The author makes clear that everyone is equal, something I truly admire. She makes no difference between genders. One character for example is a male prostitute, Eric. He’s thrown into situations that usually don’t fit characters of his type. It was very refreshing.
The characters seem far away from each other at first, plot wise. They have their own adventures, motives and stories that drive the novel forward. Allegiances towards characters change, and slowly the pieces of the puzzle come together, but never predictably so.
The first half tends to be a little slow at times, which was the reason ‘Smiler’s Fair’ took me a lot longer to read than I had hoped. The second half definitely picks up the pace, this is where I began to blast through the pages.
Rebecca Levene’s writing style turns this all into fantastic, original beginning of a series, making me look forward greatly towards part two.
Now I haven’t read The Night Circus (yet), but I don’t really understand the need to compare it to Game of Thrones. It’s probably a great eye catcher. And yes, there’s noble houses, there’s sex and crude violence, characters you grow to like get relentlessly killed.. but that doesn’t make it Game of Thrones, does it? It’s probably not a good vision to have of the book as you dive in.
What ’Smiler’s Fair’ is, however, is a great fantasy series opening novel with unique world building and diverse characters. It all starts at the equally named moving carnival Smiler’s Fair. It sounds pleasant at first, but turns out to be a gruesome place where your sins are forgotten, as long as you pay the price. There’s mention of duelling, gambling, prostitution and merciless killing. It gives the novel a very adult grim dark feel that I enjoy. Life isn’t all roses after all.
The Fair is where we meet our cast of characters, diverse in genders, roles, personalities and ancestry. The author makes clear that everyone is equal, something I truly admire. She makes no difference between genders. One character for example is a male prostitute, Eric. He’s thrown into situations that usually don’t fit characters of his type. It was very refreshing.
The characters seem far away from each other at first, plot wise. They have their own adventures, motives and stories that drive the novel forward. Allegiances towards characters change, and slowly the pieces of the puzzle come together, but never predictably so.
The first half tends to be a little slow at times, which was the reason ‘Smiler’s Fair’ took me a lot longer to read than I had hoped. The second half definitely picks up the pace, this is where I began to blast through the pages.
Rebecca Levene’s writing style turns this all into fantastic, original beginning of a series, making me look forward greatly towards part two.