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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
tanadeet's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
A very different story indeed. Lots of Night Circus and Caraval vibes, a murder or two to be solved, interesting characters and magic. It was quick and entertaining and I would love a spinoff story from this world with more character and world building, showing more of the magical travelling circus and it's marvels 🎪🎡🛕 There's definitely a lot of potential for a most magical journey!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Grief
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
fictionaladventures's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
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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