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A review by kairosdreaming
Bacchanal by Veronica G. Henry
4.0
*This book was received through Amazon's First Reads program.
A carnival set in the early 1900's, full of intrigue, history, and some dark terror; Sign me up! I definitely was intrigued by the premise of this novel.
The Bacchanal carnival definitely isn't your typical carnival. And don't call it a circus, they're very different. Eliza happens upon the carnival by chance, they're in her town when she uses her special talent to save someone (she has an affinity for animals). While the townspeople hate her, the carnival thinks she'll fit right in. Little does she know that the carnival itself holds something dark and evil.
Eliza is an interesting character. She clearly is independent, wants to make a better life for herself (and her sister if she can find her), but also is a bit hesitant because she can't control her power thoroughly. As a black woman in the early 1900's, she's had to fight for every bit of that independence, as the odds are stacked heavily against her. But she's strong enough to be up to the challenge. In the carnival, she is supported by a varied cast of characters, some good, some friends, and some who would do anything to destroy her.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and its detail. Drawing heavily from lore and history, it wove a story about a carnival and a fight against evil that isn't your typical hero story. While I did find the ending a bit rushed (and as such got confused by some of the details), Eliza had charm that drew me in and meant I was rooting for her. The premise of magic, or inherited power, that Eliza got to work with also took a non-typical turn and made it compelling.
Great book, definitely worth a read if you enjoy supernatural or historical elements.
Review by M. Reynard 2021
A carnival set in the early 1900's, full of intrigue, history, and some dark terror; Sign me up! I definitely was intrigued by the premise of this novel.
The Bacchanal carnival definitely isn't your typical carnival. And don't call it a circus, they're very different. Eliza happens upon the carnival by chance, they're in her town when she uses her special talent to save someone (she has an affinity for animals). While the townspeople hate her, the carnival thinks she'll fit right in. Little does she know that the carnival itself holds something dark and evil.
Eliza is an interesting character. She clearly is independent, wants to make a better life for herself (and her sister if she can find her), but also is a bit hesitant because she can't control her power thoroughly. As a black woman in the early 1900's, she's had to fight for every bit of that independence, as the odds are stacked heavily against her. But she's strong enough to be up to the challenge. In the carnival, she is supported by a varied cast of characters, some good, some friends, and some who would do anything to destroy her.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and its detail. Drawing heavily from lore and history, it wove a story about a carnival and a fight against evil that isn't your typical hero story. While I did find the ending a bit rushed (and as such got confused by some of the details), Eliza had charm that drew me in and meant I was rooting for her. The premise of magic, or inherited power, that Eliza got to work with also took a non-typical turn and made it compelling.
Great book, definitely worth a read if you enjoy supernatural or historical elements.
Review by M. Reynard 2021