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potatq's reviews
246 reviews
Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco
3.0
I guess I’m really bothered by the fact that Houdini was barely in it. He was a minor character in a book named after him. A few name drops, and a few escape tricks here and there and that was it. I expected that his role in this book would be far greater than just being a love interest to Wadsworth’s cousin and a part of the carnival.
I’m disappointed because it was anticlimactic for me. And there are a number of cheap shots in the plot (*ehem* the love triangle *cough*) I ignored all the flaws hoping for the identity of the killer to surprise as the first two books of the series did. Stalking Jack the Ripper and Hunting Prince Dracula both had its flaws especially when in regards to Audrey Rose’s behaviour but I always found the ending to make up for it.
Come on, Andreas because of Liesel? I figured who the killer was and what his motives were the minute he stole Audrey’s brooch. That gaveaway a big detail, he was a thief. Which would give great suspicion towards him in regards to who’s been stealing the fabrics. And his brief story about Liesel already shone as the motive the minute that piece of information clicked in my head. Liesel, his betrothed who is no longer alive; then a pretty girl who Lady Crenshaw was jealous of and did something horrible to. It made sense that it would have been Liesel pointing more towards Andreas as the murderer. I guess I was just looking for a more of a twist and fleshed out story as to why the murderer was doing what he was doing like with the first two books.
Going in to the book, I was so excited of what I’ll get. Maybe murders because of Houdini’s escape traps like maybe people dying because they were being forced to escape Houdini’s traps as some sick joke? I don’t know, I guess I expected the plot to be focused on Houdini than Mephistopheles. And I think that the only reason Mephistopheles was given light was to serve purpose to a love triangle. But come on, if you’re going to make a love triangle, why make the second love interest an exact copy of the main love interest? MEPHISTOPHELESE IS JUST BASICALLY THOMAS CRESWELL IN FLASHIER CLOTHING AND IN A MASK. And Audrey has so much character growth but only to throw it all away for a guy she barely knows. Or maybe she does? BECAUSE MEPHISTOPHELES IS BASICALLY CRESWELL WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN THE ATTRACTION. However, I can’t deny that I did hold my breath when they were about to kiss. I did fall for that cheap love triange and silently rooted for Audrey to do something stupid.
The storyline had lots of potential but I think it was sacrificed to give light to Audrey’s brewing romance with Mephistopheles. The murders were kind of unorganized when it was being discovered and the information hastily summarized in a conclusion when all was revealed. I would have really really loved it if Houdini played a greater importance to the plot.
Overall, I still enjoyed this book and that’s why I gave it 3 stars. I read it in a day and I can say that it didn’t have dull moments for me. The murders were great, and although unorganized, were original and bone-chilling. I find that in this book, it kept me turning the pages. It wasn’t difficult to read and the plot didn’t have slow moments. Yes, there were cheap shots used in the plot but I did find myself keep rooting for Audrey to do something stupid. Yes, I found myself sometimes rolling my eyes at Audrey’s choices but I still kept reading. It also has some good points about life. Like what it said about hope and dreaming.
The moonlight carnival was also entertaining to read. I did hope midway through, that the author revealed more about Mephistopheles’s background and dwelled more deeper into his character. I mean if you’re gonna add another love interest, at least say something more about his character right? But I am really intrigued about his character. I think his character is one that can still go a lot of ways and I really hope that he’s in the next book and we get to know more of his past because although he was a cheap addition to become a love triangle, I am really intrigued of his history, his family, how he came to be a ringmaster. His pain growing up as a second son. I am really intrigued by him.
Here are my final thoughts:
The plot will hook you and you will be unable to put it down even if you wanted to throw the book at some points. It had its flaws but overall, it was still a really easy and enjoyable to read book.
I was disappointed and found it to be anticlimactic but overall, it had an intriguing storyline and didn’t make me want to put it down.
Even though I was quite disappointed, I’d still anticipate the release of the next book and buy it.
I’m disappointed because it was anticlimactic for me. And there are a number of cheap shots in the plot (*ehem* the love triangle *cough*) I ignored all the flaws hoping for the identity of the killer to surprise as the first two books of the series did. Stalking Jack the Ripper and Hunting Prince Dracula both had its flaws especially when in regards to Audrey Rose’s behaviour but I always found the ending to make up for it.
Come on, Andreas because of Liesel? I figured who the killer was and what his motives were the minute he stole Audrey’s brooch. That gaveaway a big detail, he was a thief. Which would give great suspicion towards him in regards to who’s been stealing the fabrics. And his brief story about Liesel already shone as the motive the minute that piece of information clicked in my head. Liesel, his betrothed who is no longer alive; then a pretty girl who Lady Crenshaw was jealous of and did something horrible to. It made sense that it would have been Liesel pointing more towards Andreas as the murderer. I guess I was just looking for a more of a twist and fleshed out story as to why the murderer was doing what he was doing like with the first two books.
Going in to the book, I was so excited of what I’ll get. Maybe murders because of Houdini’s escape traps like maybe people dying because they were being forced to escape Houdini’s traps as some sick joke? I don’t know, I guess I expected the plot to be focused on Houdini than Mephistopheles. And I think that the only reason Mephistopheles was given light was to serve purpose to a love triangle. But come on, if you’re going to make a love triangle, why make the second love interest an exact copy of the main love interest? MEPHISTOPHELESE IS JUST BASICALLY THOMAS CRESWELL IN FLASHIER CLOTHING AND IN A MASK. And Audrey has so much character growth but only to throw it all away for a guy she barely knows. Or maybe she does? BECAUSE MEPHISTOPHELES IS BASICALLY CRESWELL WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN THE ATTRACTION. However, I can’t deny that I did hold my breath when they were about to kiss. I did fall for that cheap love triange and silently rooted for Audrey to do something stupid.
The storyline had lots of potential but I think it was sacrificed to give light to Audrey’s brewing romance with Mephistopheles. The murders were kind of unorganized when it was being discovered and the information hastily summarized in a conclusion when all was revealed. I would have really really loved it if Houdini played a greater importance to the plot.
Overall, I still enjoyed this book and that’s why I gave it 3 stars. I read it in a day and I can say that it didn’t have dull moments for me. The murders were great, and although unorganized, were original and bone-chilling. I find that in this book, it kept me turning the pages. It wasn’t difficult to read and the plot didn’t have slow moments. Yes, there were cheap shots used in the plot but I did find myself keep rooting for Audrey to do something stupid. Yes, I found myself sometimes rolling my eyes at Audrey’s choices but I still kept reading. It also has some good points about life. Like what it said about hope and dreaming.
The moonlight carnival was also entertaining to read. I did hope midway through, that the author revealed more about Mephistopheles’s background and dwelled more deeper into his character. I mean if you’re gonna add another love interest, at least say something more about his character right? But I am really intrigued about his character. I think his character is one that can still go a lot of ways and I really hope that he’s in the next book and we get to know more of his past because although he was a cheap addition to become a love triangle, I am really intrigued of his history, his family, how he came to be a ringmaster. His pain growing up as a second son. I am really intrigued by him.
Here are my final thoughts:
The plot will hook you and you will be unable to put it down even if you wanted to throw the book at some points. It had its flaws but overall, it was still a really easy and enjoyable to read book.
I was disappointed and found it to be anticlimactic but overall, it had an intriguing storyline and didn’t make me want to put it down.
Even though I was quite disappointed, I’d still anticipate the release of the next book and buy it.
The Lost Saint by Bree Despain
2.0
Read this and I was so confused. Had no idea this was already a 2nd book HAHAHA