Carousel

by Jennifer Renson

After living in the countryside for years, Princio returns to his homeland, the tiny yet prosperous kingdom of Lucca, upon the orders of his dying grandfather. Living alone in the annexed building next to the palace, he is discovered by the kingdom's chief doll maker, Feletti, who purposely withholds his knowledge of Princio's past in order to gain his trust and friendship. Princio believes Feletti to be a true friend until he meets Marian, a girl with a penchant for baking and a natural curiosity. Their chance meeting in the kingdom's carousel sets off a series of events with the potential to change everything. As Princio, Marian, and Feletti's dark secrets begin to unfurl, their lives slowly come to light - as love hangs delicately in the balance…

102 pages, Paperback

Published September 22, 2022

Reviews

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I was graciously gifted this book by the author.

This was a fun little short story. It was very fast paced and such an easy read. Perfect for when you're looking for something quick to read.

This was a fun little story about a creepy doll maker, and two people that don't know who they really are until they start to uncover secrets upon meeting each other.

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carousel by Jennifer Renson held me captive from the beginning to end. The pages were filled with an intriguing plotline that kept me hooked. The enchanting story sucked me into its depth. Once upon a story, there was a kingdom, called Lucca. A kingdom whose who people liked the King and Queen. Well, soon, one day...they received a carousel after their son was born. On that very carousel lurks something so hidden and so dark...that it's creepy knowing it's there yet no one pays any attention to it...

Soon, a plague comes forcing the King and Queen as well as their son and all to flee. Afraid that the plaque will come for them...that's where the story begins...a young prince raised as a commoner by his grandfather. He's not aware that the stories his grandfather tells are true stories of their Kingdom Lucca. Once the grandfather dies...he tells the prince to go back to the Kingdom but to keep his face hidden. The prince with no knowledge of their real truth sets out on a journey as promised. There he meets Feletti. The evil thing that resided on the carousel...is now live and causes trouble for the prince and his new friend Marien.

Carousel is full of darkness, danger, and suspense. I wasn't sure what would happen next until it did. The mystery of Feletti and Marien's sense of fear of him come out in the open and that's where I held my breath...waiting. What came next surprised me and had me rooting for both the prince and Marien...but until the dilemma was gone all would be chaotic. Jennifer Renson is indeed a talented writer. Her words lured me into her world of fiction instantly. I fell in love with the characters and was on the edge of my seat waiting out the outcome of the story. Overall, it was well-written and well-developed. I was enchanted with this enticing fantasy. Readers will get lost from their worlds and buried deeply into this one. I highly recommend the Carousel to readers everywhere.


I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a pretty quick read, and I liked some of the elements that this book offers. The setting drew me in initially. I love Italy and the Italian renaissance, and the story presented me with some elements of that. There's also two different doll makers (one of them is evil), a prince named Princio, and a girl named Marian who has cold hands.

I also really enjoyed some of the imagery. Some of the locations were whimsical and mysterious. The abandoned castle was especially intriguing.

Unfortunately, this felt like the second draft of the story. There were a lot of errors, basically on every page. There was at least one paragraph that repeated the same word in 8-9 sentences. Sometimes two different POVs would be presented within the same paragraph between Princio and Marian. The dialogue definitely could have been worked on more. It felt like there was barely any editing after the first or second draft. This made the characters, and their desires, feel a bit weak. For example, Princio finds out that he's a prince...it's in his name, and that revelation felt ridiculous.

Overall, I liked some elements of this story. The whimsical setting and the doll-making magic system kept me reading. I really wanted to like this story more, but it felt like it needed more time in the drafting and editing phase. Beta readers and constructive critiques would have done wonders for this book, and I really wish it had gone through more of that.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @jenniferrenson for the opportunity to read Carousel for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

My thoughts:
Carousel was a captivating story with a magical engaging plot.
The main characters meet accidentally one day at a carousel. Is the carousel magical????
This fantasy story has us following Princio and Marian as they figure out what Feletti has in store for them.
What are Feletti’s intentions? After all, he is just a simple doll marker….or, is he a very terrifying and sinister doll maker?
Will Princio and Marian figure out the secrets surrounding them?
I enjoyed reading this story…it’s a fast, short read that would be a perfect book for young readers to read.
#shortbookthyme
@shortbookthyme

[Ashley Schilling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carousel, is not my typical go to book, however, I was generously gifted a copy from the author. I enjoy branching out, you often find diamonds in the rocks when you do. That was the case with Carousel, not only does it have a gorgeous cover that draws you in it has an enchanting storyline.

Are you a fan of dolls? Feletti, is what my childhood nightmares are made of, what secrets does he hold? Do you dare take a chance with Carousel? It is a fast paced short story with a cohesive storyline. If you enjoy a light suspenseful fantasy read, I think you’ll enjoy Princio and Marian’s twisted tale.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such an engaging quick read that I became completely immersed in. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys fairy tale style books or is looking for an easy relaxing read. I’m so happy I just happened to be in Ocean City when this author was doing a signing. Not only was Carousel a great book to come from the happenstance, but it was a pleasure to speak to and so passionate about her work.

[Alinar Den · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating...
Such a unique and beautiful story! I was able to imagine every small detail, even heard the melody in my head while reading it. Magical, breathtaking!
This book kept me on my toes... the last few chapters were really intense! I loved it!