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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
I’m so glad I read this one. It was well worth the wait!
This one definitely bored more on the darker side of dark romance with a circus theme and let’s be honest some creatively spicy scenes. Ember’s story though along with her men and the added individual stories made it into something compelling. It had trauma and triggers yes but from that it grew last just a trauma label which I love to see in any dark romance with a trigger list like this. There was the growth of strength for each character especially ember and this gets to sit happily next to the circus themed books as a must read.
This one definitely bored more on the darker side of dark romance with a circus theme and let’s be honest some creatively spicy scenes. Ember’s story though along with her men and the added individual stories made it into something compelling. It had trauma and triggers yes but from that it grew last just a trauma label which I love to see in any dark romance with a trigger list like this. There was the growth of strength for each character especially ember and this gets to sit happily next to the circus themed books as a must read.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ember is a great FMC. She was saved from a horrific situation with her abusive husband and made the most of her time with the Cirque. She gained power and grew to know herself and her strength. The book had a good balance of 🌶️ and plot. I loved the MMCs of this book. They were all unique and so lovable. This is a great empowering story for women and a nice spicy read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
arc review
omg i cant still believe i got an arc for this masterpiece
it took me a while to read it because work keeps me busy
but omg the writing the scenes so freaking good
im obsessed with this book
omg i cant still believe i got an arc for this masterpiece
it took me a while to read it because work keeps me busy
but omg the writing the scenes so freaking good
im obsessed with this book
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book started off kind of strong, but got cliche really fast. The scenes felt disjointed and a lot of the plot didn't make sense.
For example,There's a point where the MCs rescue orphans who are being imprisoned and starved. The reason is because the head woman is evil? I need better motivations than that, especially when hurting these kids does nothing to benefit the orphanage. Evil actions usually happen because there is some sort of goal involved. This just felt like a way for the morally grey MMCs to seem like good guys and it was kind of ham-fisted.
The worldbuilding was confusing. I couldn't figure out *when* this story was taking place. Gothic architecture is mentioned, a dodge van(I think?), but no electronics like cell phones. There's also a lot of mention of soldiers and war, so it feels like it should be set in the 1950s, but that doesn't seem right either. If it's supposed to be it's own world, it didn't really paint enough of a picture to be fleshed out.
The spice was fun and interesting, though. I'd recommend this book if you're mostly looking for unique spicy scenes in a circus setting.
For example,
The worldbuilding was confusing. I couldn't figure out *when* this story was taking place. Gothic architecture is mentioned, a dodge van(I think?), but no electronics like cell phones. There's also a lot of mention of soldiers and war, so it feels like it should be set in the 1950s, but that doesn't seem right either. If it's supposed to be it's own world, it didn't really paint enough of a picture to be fleshed out.
The spice was fun and interesting, though. I'd recommend this book if you're mostly looking for unique spicy scenes in a circus setting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
I liked the concept of this much more than the execution. The premise is what initially drew me in, it was intriguing and I'm all for anything dark, depraved and unusual, of which this seemed to have all three. That and this author is one that I'm usually all-over. Unfortunately whilst there was nothing overly wrong with this I just wasn't connecting and though I did enjoy parts of this I also found myself heavily skimming the further I read.
This has some real darkness especially the beginning when we join an abused Ember who has been at the mercy of her sadistic husband for years. When he finally takes things too far leaving her near death Ember calls for the the darkness to save her. A visit to Cirque Obscurum as a child provided her with a joker card and It's this card that calls Diamond, Spade, Club and Heart to her side ready and willing to avenge and reap hurt upon her husband.
Now faced with a choice Ember leaves her old self behind and becomes Queen and the Cirque Obscurum becomes her new family. The Cirque is a sentient entity and Ember is its newest acquisition so she now too must answer when they are called upon to avenge those that need saving from the true monsters.
So the concept of this was so good but I do wish much more had been made of the fact that the Cirque was sentient. I also wasn't sure about the time this was set in as a war was mentioned, so that confused me. It was very insta-love which isn't my favourite and I didn't think the connections Ember made with the men stood out separate in any way. Apart from Heart they all kind of merged and it all felt very surface-level superficial. There was also and i can't believe I'm saying this too much sex and not enough substance and some of the sexy talk was majorly cringy.
So now the bits that hit the mark for me, well the whole theme and the sense of found family was a plus. I also appreciated the dark themes and how vindictive and ruthless they all were when they hunted the monsters. Heart was especially adorable and I loved his brand of Cray Cray. I appreciated the creepy masks and how unhinged they all were. Finally, the beginning and the finale here were the strongest parts of this and had the most impact on me.
So yeah totally mixed bag, overall this was a middle-of-the-road read for me I liked it enough but probably won't revisit it in the future and it isn't my favourite by this author. Be aware this does have some very dark themes the beginning of this mostly, when Ember is being brutalised and abused at her husband's hands. There's also a lot of blood and gore and violence which didn't phase me but thought I'd give you the heads up.
This has some real darkness especially the beginning when we join an abused Ember who has been at the mercy of her sadistic husband for years. When he finally takes things too far leaving her near death Ember calls for the the darkness to save her. A visit to Cirque Obscurum as a child provided her with a joker card and It's this card that calls Diamond, Spade, Club and Heart to her side ready and willing to avenge and reap hurt upon her husband.
Now faced with a choice Ember leaves her old self behind and becomes Queen and the Cirque Obscurum becomes her new family. The Cirque is a sentient entity and Ember is its newest acquisition so she now too must answer when they are called upon to avenge those that need saving from the true monsters.
So the concept of this was so good but I do wish much more had been made of the fact that the Cirque was sentient. I also wasn't sure about the time this was set in as a war was mentioned, so that confused me. It was very insta-love which isn't my favourite and I didn't think the connections Ember made with the men stood out separate in any way. Apart from Heart they all kind of merged and it all felt very surface-level superficial. There was also and i can't believe I'm saying this too much sex and not enough substance and some of the sexy talk was majorly cringy.
So now the bits that hit the mark for me, well the whole theme and the sense of found family was a plus. I also appreciated the dark themes and how vindictive and ruthless they all were when they hunted the monsters. Heart was especially adorable and I loved his brand of Cray Cray. I appreciated the creepy masks and how unhinged they all were. Finally, the beginning and the finale here were the strongest parts of this and had the most impact on me.
So yeah totally mixed bag, overall this was a middle-of-the-road read for me I liked it enough but probably won't revisit it in the future and it isn't my favourite by this author. Be aware this does have some very dark themes the beginning of this mostly, when Ember is being brutalised and abused at her husband's hands. There's also a lot of blood and gore and violence which didn't phase me but thought I'd give you the heads up.
Freaks
I've just finished this and oh wow this book wow. Welcome to the circus with the freaks, the outcasts, the nightmares, the monsters and the darkness. I don't want to spoil anything but oh I loved it. Definitely being added to my physical bookshelf.
I've just finished this and oh wow this book wow. Welcome to the circus with the freaks, the outcasts, the nightmares, the monsters and the darkness. I don't want to spoil anything but oh I loved it. Definitely being added to my physical bookshelf.
I recently read a book that turned out to be exactly what I needed. I absolutely adored the characters and the writing style. It was so captivating that I couldn't put my Kindle down. I got the book for an ARC read and ended up staying up all night just to finish it. The characters Diamond, Spade, and Heart stole my heart, and Club added an intriguing and dangerous element to the story. Although the beginning was intense, it set the stage for the rest of the story. I was sad to say goodbye to the characters, but I'm also completely in love with the way their story unfolded. I wish I could experience reading it again for the first time.