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marisakucha's review
5.0
Great characters and story
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to think about this book after reading the blurb. However, the author hasn’t disappointed me yet so I knew I had to give it a shot. It did not disappoint. The book ended up being so much more than the blurb made it out to be. There was mystery, drama, love and a very intense dislike of a few characters. Then that ending… It has me hooked.
Firstly, this isn’t just a regular circus within our modern world. The circus and the world are more complex. The author was able to very simply create and describe this world and is able to bring you right into it. This circus travels around the different lands and it’s run by a very evil and powerful ringmaster. The performers aren’t working of their own accord, most are basically slaves to the circus and the ringmaster. Perfect setting for constant attention.
I think what I really liked about the story was that each of the characters, even the side characters, were so distinguishable. You knew who they were, their purpose and weren’t confused with their interactions.
This book was a surprise and I really enjoyed this read. I cannot wait to see the aftermath of the events from the finale of this book.
4.5/5
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to think about this book after reading the blurb. However, the author hasn’t disappointed me yet so I knew I had to give it a shot. It did not disappoint. The book ended up being so much more than the blurb made it out to be. There was mystery, drama, love and a very intense dislike of a few characters. Then that ending… It has me hooked.
Firstly, this isn’t just a regular circus within our modern world. The circus and the world are more complex. The author was able to very simply create and describe this world and is able to bring you right into it. This circus travels around the different lands and it’s run by a very evil and powerful ringmaster. The performers aren’t working of their own accord, most are basically slaves to the circus and the ringmaster. Perfect setting for constant attention.
I think what I really liked about the story was that each of the characters, even the side characters, were so distinguishable. You knew who they were, their purpose and weren’t confused with their interactions.
This book was a surprise and I really enjoyed this read. I cannot wait to see the aftermath of the events from the finale of this book.
4.5/5
mommabygrace's review
5.0
Pretty Broken Things is the carnival story you didn’t know you needed until after you read it. Also, Rory Miles broke my brain at the end and I spent the next few hours going “what just happened.” So yeah, you’re going to want to check out this book! It’s the first in the series, and I’m already itching for the next.
Sparrow gets taken from her life and sold to the Carnival of Freaks to settle a debt that of course had nothing to do with her. But such was life in Valador, nothing is sacred, not even your own life.
The Ringmaster is a depraved man, and everyone who works for him are bound to him and the circus, unable to leave. Performing every day, no matter what.
The Aerialist, The Freak, and The Seer - Liam, Koyote, and Malachi respectively. These three men are Sparrow’s anchors, even when she doesn’t realize it right away. They’ll do whatever they can for her. I can’t wait to see their relationships blossom.
The majority of the story takes place a year after Sparrow joins the carnival. Things start changing for her, but she doesn’t allow it to break her. She hadn’t yet, she’s not going to start now. Her spirit in the face of danger is admirable and even the few friends she’d managed to make there can see it. What’s Rory Miles got in store for us in book 2??
Sparrow gets taken from her life and sold to the Carnival of Freaks to settle a debt that of course had nothing to do with her. But such was life in Valador, nothing is sacred, not even your own life.
The Ringmaster is a depraved man, and everyone who works for him are bound to him and the circus, unable to leave. Performing every day, no matter what.
The Aerialist, The Freak, and The Seer - Liam, Koyote, and Malachi respectively. These three men are Sparrow’s anchors, even when she doesn’t realize it right away. They’ll do whatever they can for her. I can’t wait to see their relationships blossom.
The majority of the story takes place a year after Sparrow joins the carnival. Things start changing for her, but she doesn’t allow it to break her. She hadn’t yet, she’s not going to start now. Her spirit in the face of danger is admirable and even the few friends she’d managed to make there can see it. What’s Rory Miles got in store for us in book 2??
bookswithsamanthaj's review
4.0
A little magic, a little whimsy and a few strange people! Caravan of freaks is an excellent fantasy romance with a circus setting. While I’m still not a fan of reverse harem the storytelling and overall writing was very excellent and I would read something by Rory Miles again in a heart beat! I really loved the world building in this one! The spice was minimal which was fine as I was more interested in learning about the world we were diving in! I can’t wait to read the 2nd one!
book_lover_97's review
5.0
This is everything you never knew you needed or wanted in a circus RH romance. It is creative, unique, intriguing and captivating. I absolutely loved the world building, it is vivid, detailed and makes you want to fall into this book. This is a slower burn romance but there is no lack of chemistry. I am very excited for the next book!
belindaclemons_123's review
5.0
Wow this book had me thinking of it for days after I finished it. It was just addicting.
jreadsdarkromance's review
5.0
Holy $%&@*, you guys!!! THIS BOOK!! Seriously, just let me live in that world! The world building that has gone into this book is phenomenal. The Caravan of Freaks may seem mystical and magical, but it's all a manipulation and if you can see past that, you will see the haunting darkness that lies beneath.
I am in love with Sparrow, or Ro for short. She finds herself there, not of her own free will, but has adapted. She's defiant, loved by many, envied by a few, and does what she needs to do to survive.
Liam, her aerial partner, is a bit on the possessive side and a bit broody, but I just love him! Koyote is so sweet and I just want to bundle him up and fight off anyone who tries to hurt him (I'm looking at you, Rory
I am in love with Sparrow, or Ro for short. She finds herself there, not of her own free will, but has adapted. She's defiant, loved by many, envied by a few, and does what she needs to do to survive.
Liam, her aerial partner, is a bit on the possessive side and a bit broody, but I just love him! Koyote is so sweet and I just want to bundle him up and fight off anyone who tries to hurt him (I'm looking at you, Rory
xrae's review
5.0
AMAZING!!
Stop what you’re doing and run to read this! I was blown away by the plot, characters, and writing. I actually felt immersed in this world, as if I can actually visualize what is happening to the characters. The spice was getting soooo good, all three guys made me fall hard for them. And Ro was strong and brave, I truly felt for her, and I cannot wait until the next book is released!
Stop what you’re doing and run to read this! I was blown away by the plot, characters, and writing. I actually felt immersed in this world, as if I can actually visualize what is happening to the characters. The spice was getting soooo good, all three guys made me fall hard for them. And Ro was strong and brave, I truly felt for her, and I cannot wait until the next book is released!
acreatureofbooksandtea's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The setting was unique and interesting, and for the most part the initial impressions I got of the main characters were that they were all generally likable. But I wasn't prepared for just how bleak and hopeless the story was going to be, or the level of abuse that the characters would go through, and those things made it kind of tough to get through in some parts since I wasn't expecting a story that would make me feel depressed when I picked this one up.
becxreadz's review
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Liked
*Circus setting
*Characters were fleshed out and I cared cared all of them
*the relationships built between the characters
*this doesn't feel like a reverse harem even though I'm pretty sure it is and I really don't like RH but I liked all these characters
Disliked
*I wish the explanation about the world was at the beginning instead of the end.
*Circus setting
*Characters were fleshed out and I cared cared all of them
*the relationships built between the characters
*this doesn't feel like a reverse harem even though I'm pretty sure it is and I really don't like RH but I liked all these characters
Disliked
*I wish the explanation about the world was at the beginning instead of the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Slavery
mandy44's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
A solid start to this series that I am dying to get the rest of. Absolutely obsessed with the carnival/circus setting and the dark and gritty atmosphere.
Sparrow is such a good main character, I love how strong she is without erasing her vulnerability. She is super well rounded in both her personality and how she is navigating through her horrible reality.
As far as the romance aspect of this book, there is a distance between Sparrow and her men that results in a very slow start. Given their circumstances it makes sense and I can’t wait to see how everything develops with them though I wish we would have gotten a little bit more of them forming these initial connections. The guys are already obsessed with Sparrow but for then most part things are just stating to blossom from her pov.
The writing is decent, ultimately kind of simple (not necessarily in a bad way), but the author is very repetitive in their descriptors and scene setting. Just about every time a few of the side characters had a scene the author would re-describe them as if it was the first time meeting them. I mostly noticed this with Star and the constant descriptions of how well she maintains her beard. Similarly, this happens with describing the different areas of the caravan. Repetitive and unnecessary most of the time.
I also feel like we are getting things at a fairly surface level. I’m not quite connecting with the book and *feeling* any emotional depth where I can see that I should.
Other than that, nothing particularly stood out in either a negative or positive way.
This book ends with quite a doozy and I am wildly conflicted on how I feel about it. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!
Sparrow is such a good main character, I love how strong she is without erasing her vulnerability. She is super well rounded in both her personality and how she is navigating through her horrible reality.
As far as the romance aspect of this book, there is a distance between Sparrow and her men that results in a very slow start. Given their circumstances it makes sense and I can’t wait to see how everything develops with them though I wish we would have gotten a little bit more of them forming these initial connections. The guys are already obsessed with Sparrow but for then most part things are just stating to blossom from her pov.
The writing is decent, ultimately kind of simple (not necessarily in a bad way), but the author is very repetitive in their descriptors and scene setting. Just about every time a few of the side characters had a scene the author would re-describe them as if it was the first time meeting them. I mostly noticed this with Star and the constant descriptions of how well she maintains her beard. Similarly, this happens with describing the different areas of the caravan. Repetitive and unnecessary most of the time.
I also feel like we are getting things at a fairly surface level. I’m not quite connecting with the book and *feeling* any emotional depth where I can see that I should.
Other than that, nothing particularly stood out in either a negative or positive way.
This book ends with quite a doozy and I am wildly conflicted on how I feel about it. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!