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simonlorden's review against another edition
4.5
fascinating worldbuilding and really cute romance. Sorina is an illusionist whose illusion creations are her family - but they have their own personalities, likes and desires, just like real people, which is really interesting. the traveling city of the Gomorrah Festival has many other magic-makers, and also some deep secrets.
overall, the worldbuilding was nice, the romance was great, the characters were also nice (Luca my love) and the plot was... okay. it's also occasionally distressing, since the plot is Sorina's family being murdered, and half of her family is kids. ouch.
the main character Sorina is bisexual, although it's only mentioned a couple of times since she hasn't really dated much. the love interest Luca is demiromantic and asexual, although those words aren't used.
also Luca is the best.
overall, the worldbuilding was nice, the romance was great, the characters were also nice (Luca my love) and the plot was... okay. it's also occasionally distressing, since the plot is Sorina's family being murdered, and half of her family is kids. ouch.
the main character Sorina is bisexual, although it's only mentioned a couple of times since she hasn't really dated much. the love interest Luca is demiromantic and asexual, although those words aren't used.
also Luca is the best.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Child death
a_libraryghost's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Absolutely loved this! Loved the setting, the plot, and the characters! Serena is a great protagonist to follow and I found myself caring for the whole family. I also loved the environment of Gumora. Only reason I’m not giving it five stars is it loses half a star for kind of clunky pacing and I think introducing some elements at weird points in the story and maybe making it feel a bit longer than it needed to be, but in saying that I could not stop reading this cuz I wanted answers and was always worried for the characters’ safety so it did manage to keep some tension and mystery all the way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Slavery and Acephobia/Arophobia
itisnatal's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Xenophobia, and Blood
themoodreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Kidnapping, Torture, Murder, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Blood, and Child death
vaniavela's review
adventurous
mysterious
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
Sorina is a jynx-worker, daughter of the proprietor of a Freak Show. She can create illusions of people, with their own thoughts, feelings, and actions. Like a real person. These illusions are her family, but when a mysterious assassin begins to take them down one by one, she needs to do something.
There’s a lot to unpack here. First of all, I appreciate having a bisexual protagonist, as well as an asexual demiromantic love interest and a lesbian side character. We find racial, religious, and sexual diversity in this book, which improves it. I also loved the comments criticizing beauty standards.
When it comes to circus performances, I found the descriptions fascinating. I envisioned the setting, the characters, and the magic happening all at once. I would have loved to see more of them.
That said, I loved the drawings. At first I thought it was the victims and the order in which they were killed, but I was completely in love with them [I love drawings and maps in books.]
Overall, it’s a nice book.
TW: chronic/terminal illness, death (of family members), graphic murder (multiple), ableism, sex worker discrimination, aro/acephobia.
There’s a lot to unpack here. First of all, I appreciate having a bisexual protagonist, as well as an asexual demiromantic love interest and a lesbian side character. We find racial, religious, and sexual diversity in this book, which improves it. I also loved the comments criticizing beauty standards.
When it comes to circus performances, I found the descriptions fascinating. I envisioned the setting, the characters, and the magic happening all at once. I would have loved to see more of them.
That said, I loved the drawings. At first I thought it was the victims and the order in which they were killed, but I was completely in love with them [I love drawings and maps in books.]
Overall, it’s a nice book.
TW: chronic/terminal illness, death (of family members), graphic murder (multiple), ableism, sex worker discrimination, aro/acephobia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Torture and Murder
kassidyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Murder, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child death and Torture
minbyrnes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Can’t decide between a 3.5 and a 4 but I really enjoyed it. There were some parts that mildly annoyed me though so I’m leaning more towards a 3.5.
Amazing atmosphere. Loved the family.
The romance was a bit cringe-y at times (but understandably so!! It was actually pretty cute) and it felt a little too fast? But I understand why the characters had that connection and I like them together. I also liked/appreciated the demi rep.
I’m not sure how I feel about Sorina suddenly being so powerful at the end when she had to deal with the king. It felt quite sudden. I don’t understand how her illusions work tbh, sometimes it seems to be very hard for her to do but sometimes it feels too easy?? Loved the story regardless. It was a lot of fun.
Amazing atmosphere. Loved the family.
The romance was a bit cringe-y at times (but understandably so!! It was actually pretty cute) and it felt a little too fast? But I understand why the characters had that connection and I like them together. I also liked/appreciated the demi rep.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child death
charlouise's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I picked this book up and started it multiple times before I finally finished it. So it’s really slow to start off with and definitely not one to go with if your combatting a reading slump. However I really loved the world building and would love to see more stories set at the Gomorrah carnival. The characters were all different and many of them were infuriating at points if not through out but that added to the family feel of the whole book. I’d say that where the plot ends up is shocking and unexpected when you compare the end to the beginning and middle. But that you could often guess the big twist just before it occurred e.g. the princesses death being linked to Venera and Villiam being the bad guy.
Overall I’d say I enjoyed the book especially towards the late middle and end! And I’d like to reread it to see any Easter eggs relating to the plot twists throughout.
Overall I’d say I enjoyed the book especially towards the late middle and end! And I’d like to reread it to see any Easter eggs relating to the plot twists throughout.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
thatsssorachael's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
2.5
2.5 stars
Disclaimer: I don't like fantasy, I bought this book on a complete whim 3 years ago because a booktuber recommended it.
I was honestly considering DNFing this book for the first 200 pages. Around page 200 things to do start picking up, but I wouldn't say I actually enjoyed it until about page 250ish. It's a slow burn, and I don't typically do well with that type of novel. I also need to ask, why does everyone in a fantasy novel need a slightly weird name? Why couldn't he have been William?
Anyways, this book was kind of a miss for me. It took me basically until the end to realize I cared for any of the characters, I guessed the villain plot line very early on (although I did like the love interest twist), and I found huge chunks were overwritten.
Someone who likes fantasy might find it better than I did, but I don't recommend.
TW death of a child
Disclaimer: I don't like fantasy, I bought this book on a complete whim 3 years ago because a booktuber recommended it.
I was honestly considering DNFing this book for the first 200 pages. Around page 200 things to do start picking up, but I wouldn't say I actually enjoyed it until about page 250ish. It's a slow burn, and I don't typically do well with that type of novel. I also need to ask, why does everyone in a fantasy novel need a slightly weird name? Why couldn't he have been William?
Anyways, this book was kind of a miss for me. It took me basically until the end to realize I cared for any of the characters, I guessed the villain plot line very early on (although I did like the love interest twist), and I found huge chunks were overwritten.
Someone who likes fantasy might find it better than I did, but I don't recommend.
TW death of a child
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child death and Murder
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