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Black Cat Circus #4

The Ringmaster

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The last thing half-fae, half-demon Ringmaster Seven needs is to hold someone captive in his bedroom, no matter how attractive he finds the young man. It’s been ten years since Seven fled the fae courts and found sanctuary in the human realm. He will do anything to protect his circus and found family. So, when Seven wakes up to find a beautiful yet feral creature straddling him and reeking of faerie magic, his only option is to bind the little minx and deal with him later.

Time is running out for Indy. It’s been almost ten years since Indy was cursed. His only hope of breaking the magic is to find his fated mate or lose his human form forever. Seeing no other choice, Indy travels with a magical circus of paranormal creatures. Only, when Indy momentarily gets his human form back, he’s more concerned about getting revenge on the Ringmaster rather than finding love.

Can Sev help Indy break this curse before it’s too late, or will he die trying?

The Ringmaster is an enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, paranormal MM romance. It is part of the Black Cat Circus multi-author series that features found family and a magical cast of characters. Each book can be read as a standalone but is better enjoyed as a series.

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 27, 2023

30 people are currently reading
154 people want to read

About the author

Kota Quinn

39 books131 followers

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5 stars
142 (49%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
Profile Image for Kati *☆・゚.
1,305 reviews700 followers
February 24, 2024
4.25**** stars


From the book’s I’ve read by Kota Quinn there wasn’t one I didn’t like and this paranormal, magical one was no exception.


There is a black cat playing matchmaker with the members of the Black Cat Circus. But Bri, the aerialist, is sure that his Peanut is more than just a cat. And he’s right. When Indy was a 22y old college graduate he was cursed by a fae prince to live as a cat for ten years and only finding his fated mate would break the curse.

And would you look at that. The ringmaster of the Black Cat Circus would just look like the fae prince who cursed him. So, for a decade, Indy avoids getting seen by that evil bastard until one night he suddenly shifts back into his human form and his chance for revenge has finally come.

Only Indy discovers that the beautiful ringmaster, no matter the significant similarities, is, in fact, not the evil prince.

[…] as if fate wanted to laugh in my face, I of course instantly shifted.

Landing on Seven’s lap. Seven blinked, rapidly taking in my black fur, pointed ears, and angry tail that whipped back and forth.

Guess the cat’s out of the bag. If I could facepalm at this moment, I totally would.



This book was such a delight to read. Funny, sexy and with all the fuzzy feels. There is a lot to discover along the way and it felt like a much shorter story than it actually was.



I only read this one book in the series but from what I’ve gathered they all seem to be worth a try. I probably won’t because this last book was spoilery as hell so I practically know everything about the other couples already. *lol

And with all the great characters in the Black Cat Circus left unmatched I’m stoked to learn there will be a second season coming this spring.


**************
Black Cat Circus multi-author series
Season one

Book 1 - The Daredevil
Book 2 - The Firedancer
Book 3 - The Aerialist
Book 4 - The Ringmaster - 4.25 stars


⇢ Take a look at season two - Black Cat Circus: Pearl of Fate Series
Profile Image for Kaity.
2,007 reviews24 followers
September 9, 2024
Audio: 4.5 stars for Zachary Zaba, I do enjoy his narrations!

Book: 3 stars

Can be read as a standalone.

I do think that if I read the other books before this that I would have enjoyed this one more, but it’s not necessary.

I wished for more backstory for both characters but it was a good quick read that kept me engaged the whole time. I will definitely pick up more Kota Quinn books in the future!
Profile Image for ⭐Toonasa⭐ •Romance Book Lovers' Haven•.
1,595 reviews299 followers
May 20, 2023
I've been anticipating this ARC so f'ing hard, I read it in almost 1 seating (you know, if hadn't needed to eat 😅), DEVOURED this in around 4hrs!!

This story is intense & made me tear up, Loved it so much! Definitely one of my favs!! This is an #EnemiesToLovers MM #ParanormalRomance b/w our #tattooed, suit-wearing, purple haired, Charming & romantic- Seven (circus ring master!) And the cursed not-human who's blonde, lithe & a total spitfire- Indy (circus #matchmaker!).

This story was such a fun ride. The dom-sub & rope play is hot. Solving mystery (Peanut 😏), seeing all the gang friendships & finding more of this world. Sev+Indy tugged at my heartstrings & am so happy they got their HEA!! They DESERVE it so much!
But I want so more from BCC 😭. I don't wanna say goodbye.
Full Review to come!

Story ratings:

1) Main Character(s) likeness: 5/5
2) Side characters: 5/5
3) Top 3 feels in story: Emotional, happy tears, swoon
4) Kept me hooked / Story flow: 5+/5
5) Satisfaction / Enjoyment: 5/5 (I WANT MORE)
6) Creativity / twists: 4.7/5
7) World development: 4.8/5
8) Relationship: 5/5
9) Problems+Resolution: 4.5/5
10) Sexy / steamy scenes: 3/5
11) Cuteness level: 4/5
12) Angst level: 3.2/5 (emotional 😢)
13) Darkness level: 2/5
14) POV / Writing style: 1st person DUAL POV, 4.7/5
15) Grammar: 4.9/5
Profile Image for Natalie.
575 reviews145 followers
July 26, 2024
Indy "Peanut" & Seven "Sev"
Rating: 3.5 ⭐
Narrators: Zachary Zaba

- Paranormal
- Enemies-to-Lovers
- Fated Mates
- Found Family
- Shibari
- Fae/Demon x Magical Cat
- Age Gap
- Size Difference
- Tail Play

This is the fourth book in the Black Cat Circus series, last of the first season. We finally get Peanut the cat's story and learn all about his curse 10 year prior. Also, we get to learn more about the ringmaster, Seven and how he started the circus.

Peanut "Indy" has been with the circus for ten years now, playing matchmaker and protecting Bri, the aerialist. Bri is also the only one that knows Peanut is more than just a cat. Indy was cursed by a fae ten years ago, who looks a lot like the ringmaster. Indy is determined to keep Bri safe from the man and stay out of sight, which is why Seven has never seen him. Shortly after Seven finally sees him, Indy shifts back to a human for the first time in ten years. His first mission is to get revenge for his curse. Only Indy discovers quickly that Seven and the fae that cursed him are not the same, once he got a look at Seven with his human eyes and better range of colors.

Seven has always longed for his forever person. Ever since he was banished from his home and sent to the human realm. He has built the circus and created a family of his own in the process. When he wakes up from a nap with a beautiful naked man on top of him holding a knife to his throat, he's intrigued. As he tries to interrogate Indy, the man keeps getting the slip on him and causing his demon form to burst free.

Once these two finally talk it out, their attraction flares and they work to try and break Indy's curse. Seven has finally found his mate in Indy and he will do anything possible to break the curse since it would keep him as a cat permanently if they run out of time.

The narrator was pleasant to listen to and had two distinct voices for the MCs, so I never got confused about who was talking. The voices also seem to match the characters well, which is always a plus when listening to a book on audio. I hate when the voice doesn't match the character at all, it can just kill the whole experience.

Content Warnings:
- Graphic sexual content between consenting adults
- Mild exhibitionism
- Stuck in cat form for a decade
- Intimacy in demon form
- Interrogations while restrained
- Mentions of parental rejection and banishment
- Mentions of parental death (past, off-page)

Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Dual
Breakup: No
Cheating: No
OM/OW Drama: No
Ages: 32 & Late 40's (human years)
Profile Image for Audi♡.
764 reviews78 followers
April 12, 2024
"One of his fangs elongated and popped out of his mouth, looking like the cutest little tooth boner."
HAHA
Such a fun lil series. I think this was my favorite. I loved Peanut and Bris friendship 🤍
Profile Image for Ellie.
790 reviews78 followers
January 26, 2025
2.5 stars

Underwhelming.

All the interesting bits happen off page, such as the MC's reunion with his brother after 10 years apart .

The resolution to the curse is also horribly anticlimactic.

Every time the MCs consider maybe talking about what's going on or communicating like adults, they seem to decide to have sex instead.

While I've enjoyed Zachary Zaba's narration on other stories, I wasn't the biggest fan here and I found the tone a bit whiny. This may also be partly due to the fact that I didn't love the story, so take this with a grain of salt.
Profile Image for Rin (indefinite hiatus).
594 reviews28 followers
August 11, 2023
These authors were smart to have Duckie Mack open this series, because otherwise I wouldn’t haven continued. Unfortunately my enjoyment ended there. Duckie should have written all of them.

I expected the mysterious Seven’s book to be intense and interesting and fun but it ended up just being… silly. And since his story has a much more in depth paranormal aspect, it just felt.. like it was written by a teenager. 😬
Profile Image for Jamie Lee Zonneveld.
1,685 reviews51 followers
May 6, 2024
The Ringmaster by Kota Quinn is part of the Black Cat Circus multi-author series. This book is about Sev and Indy. Sev is half-fae/half demon. Indy is cursed......

I loved their story. It was sweet, sexy, full of feels and very well written.
Profile Image for Evan.
120 reviews1 follower
May 18, 2023
I have no words.none.like this series had captured me in ways I can’t describe.it’s filed my heart with so much joy and I loved every second of it.

This book was one I was waiting for the moment I read about Seven in the first book. I knew I’d love his story. And I hd my suspicions about how it would go. And some of it was right. Like his love interest. But other stuff was wrong. And that’s what I loved about this book. It brought that sense of adventure that sense of wonder. It was amazing just like the others in the series.

The characters back stories the emotion that brought to the table. All of it just made it amazing. I cried, I laughed, I enjoyed every part of this book. I’m so grateful I stumbled upon them. I can’t wait to read more by theses talented authors! Thank you for taking me to the Black Cat Circus!
Profile Image for Janet Hunt.
3,538 reviews46 followers
May 28, 2023
The Ringmaster is the fourth book in the Black Cat Circus. I’ve been anxiously waiting for Sevens story. Seven is half fae and the Ringmaster of the Circus. He was cursed and kicked out of the fae courts. Indy was cursed ten years ago and time is running out for him. He always hides from Seven, but when they accidentally touch it triggers something within the curse. I knew Peanut wasn’t quite a cat and was so happy with the way his story was written, Sev was the perfect mate for him. I’m also hoping some of the characters we met in this one eventually get a story?? Overall, a fantastic finale to the Black Cat Circus!! Overall, Fantastic!! Addicting and well written.
Profile Image for Kristi.
438 reviews
May 30, 2023
I was very much looking forward to Seven’s book, and it did not disappoint! Seven and Indy were so sweet together. I read it so fast, but still didn’t want it to end. The things both MCs had to go through were rough, but it made them so deserving of each other’s love. This book had low angst and a heartwarming HEA celebration. Binge the whole series! You will not regret it.
Profile Image for Jacqueleen the Reading Queen♡.
1,553 reviews104 followers
May 29, 2023
My favorite of the series, but The Aerialist came pretty close. Honestly I loved the whole concept of a Paranormal Circus. The found family aspect was lovely. There are still so many characters we met who's stories I still want. I hope the authors decide to add a second series for the Black Cat Circus. Total win for me!
Profile Image for LC.
776 reviews9 followers
May 19, 2023
A stunning conclusion to a great series!! I know I can’t be the only one who doesn’t want this series to be over. In fact, my ever hopeful heart sees the possibility that this ending may in fact not be an ending but just the beginning of new stories for the Black Cat Circus. 😍

Seven is a half-fae, half-demon Prince who has been banished from Faerie by his horrible father. Instead of languishing, he has thrived. He has built his own family by finding paranormal beings in need of help no matter if they are misfits, half bloods, or outcasts. These beings and Seven have become the Black Cat Circus, a family that looks out for each other, and respects one another. Peanut is a member as well. He’s Brighton’s best friend and a cat. Or is he? Bri believes he is other and one day he proves it by turning back into his human self Indy. He can’t sustain this change though. He flips back and forth between Peanut and Indy, but Bri catches him and so does the Ringmaster. What’s going to happen next? Will Indy stay Indy? Can Seven find a way to save him?

On my goodness!! This book!! My husband actually told me I was giggling TOO loudly!! I needed this book so badly. I wanted Seven’s story because there has always been a thread of sadness in him. I just wondered if that sadness would ever be cured. I have to stop, I don’t want to give spoilers. 🫢 I think everyone needs to experience this book and HOPE for more of the BCC. This story is magical. It is kind of story you hope for when you have a favorite character or series. Even thinking about certain scenes today makes me go mmmmmm. It’s an amazing ending but not an ending that you crave. Does that make sense? I want so badly for there to be more of the Black Cat Circus that I swear I see hints of more. I LOVE THE RINGMASTER. I will re-read this book, this series over and over again. It is the perfect hit of magic, love, and family that makes my heart happy. ❤️
Profile Image for Melissa Polk.
Author 11 books70 followers
May 28, 2023
Ehhhh. Okay, look. Seven's story was the one I was most looking forward to, so maybe my expectations were too high. First: enemies to lovers is a stretch. Like, if you squint and suspend your disbelief and.. yeah. Peanut/Indy and Seven were never enemies. That said, I enjoyed the story. And by that I mean the plot. The execution left a lot to be desired for me, though. I'm having trouble pinpointing or articulating exactly what bothered me. Maybe it was all the tell and none of the show? Or how things were just glossed over? Everything was too easy. But we didn't even get to see the ease. It was almost like hand-waving explanations of magic, except not just with magic. Yeah, so even though I enjoyed the plot, I was disappointed. I don't regret reading it, I just wish it had been *more*
Profile Image for Pixie.
207 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2025
In this book, Indy is cursed to be a cat by a fae in an effort to keep Indy from finding his fated mate. He can only break the curse if he ends up finding his fated mate. For 10 years, he follows the Black Cat Circus and his newfound best friend, Brighton. The Ringmaster of the circus, Seven, is a half fae/half demon banished from Faerie for his heritage. Indy avoids Seven at all costs because he believes him to the fae that curse him. This is a pretty good book, and I will be reading the others and more from Kota Quinn.
Profile Image for DLB2572.
3,261 reviews26 followers
May 22, 2023
From Enemies to Mates

I've been waiting for both Seven and Peanut's story. They have both been very interesting throughout this series. This one didn't disappoint. I didn't want to put it down and it connected extremely well to all of the other stories. This entire series has been great.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
Profile Image for Tosha.
225 reviews6 followers
May 28, 2023
“You’re my miracle… Being part demon, I didn’t think fate would even bother giving me someone to love, let alone the other half of my soul. But now that you’re in my life, I will not let you go. I will not stop fighting for you.”

I absolutely adore this book. What an amazing conclusion to a fabulous collaboration. I cannot say it enough, the found family in this series was so beautiful, it often had me misty. Let’s face it, none of it would have been possible without The Ringmaster himself. Seven who was forsaken by his family and lives in fear that people will find out that that he is a half demon, even by his closest friends, spends his life searching for other paranormals who are alone and gives them a home, purpose and love. Are you crying yet… cause I am.

And then we have Indy, I mean Peanut, wink, wink, who was one of my favourite characters in the series. His friendship with Bri alone is goals. Regardless of what form he is in, from the beginning he took care of his "family" and let's face it, so many owe their HEA to him. Then we have Sev & Indy whose chemistry is off the charts. Indy is exactly what Sev needs to overcome his fears, even with that perfectly murderous meetcute.

The Ringmaster is low/medium heat that will make you feel all gooey inside with hearts in your eyes, whether it is focused on our MC’s or the myriad of equally spectacular side characters.
Profile Image for Book Lover.
85 reviews17 followers
December 19, 2024
꓄ꁝꏂ ꋪ꒐ꋊꍌꂵꋬꇙ꓄ꏂꋪ// Black Cat Circus 4 // 𝒦ℴ𝓉𝒶 𝒬𝓊𝒾𝓃𝓃

🐈‍⬛ Edit // Review 🐈‍⬛

First let’s start by saying I read this book back in 2023 right before it was released. When I say I loved it then and I love it now.

Difference is that now u love it even more now that’s Zachary Zaba has brought out Seven and Indy/Peanut to life for me. Y’all know I am a sucker for a good audio and even more when it’s a book I already love.

I loved Peanut from the moment he showed up in book 1 of this series and I was so excited to get to his story. I just knew peanut was special. Indy/Peanut has been cursed for about 10 years and he is about to stay cursed if he doesn’t find his dared mate. Then you have Seven who never thought he would find a fated mate.

These 2 are just so special in the best way. When I say Indy & Seven are just meant to be together. This may be a slow burn but when it does get 🥵 it really is 🥵. Kota did her thing and Zachary definitely brought these 2 to life in the best way.

Please ✔️ TRIGGER WARNINGS before jumping in. If you have none then just jump in 😉.

What to expect // Trope
🏳️‍🌈 MM Paranormal Romance
😒 Enemies to Lovers
🫶🏻 Fated Mates
☺️ A half Demon & half Fae x A Cursed not-human (cat names Peanut)
😉 Age Gap
🪢 Little Bondage/Role Play (with horns and tail) 🤭
🌑 Bonding under a Faerie Moon
😍 Found Family
🪄 Magical Cast of Characters
👀 10 years of Searching
🔝 Strict Top // ⬇️ Strict Bottom

Find Edit 👇🏼
🦄 IG: @love.2.readallmmromance
Profile Image for Morgan (youarethelibrarian).
1,018 reviews17 followers
June 1, 2023
I love this so much! The Circus, the found family, Sev finding people would love him no matter what. My heart broke for him with learning about his family, and how he was always holding himself back from fully being seen and known by his circus family, but Indy helped him see he would be loved for who he is. I definitely loved Indy and Sev’s dynamic, and would love to see River and Akira get a story, too!
Profile Image for Molly Otto.
1,486 reviews31 followers
August 10, 2024
Audio update
Zachary zaba just has a gift of making stories better. His Indy voice has a sweet innocence and sass that just makes him more Indy. Then his Sev voice has a commanding tone that draws you in and holds on. A great way to conclude this first season of Black Cat Circus..

Let's start off by saying Indy & Bri are bestie goals for life. Those two have an irreplaceable bond that I dare anyone to try to get between.
Anyway, back to the story🤣 Seven has been searching for his fated mate for years, sensing them near yet never seeing. Then you have poor kitty fogged Indy who has been avoiding all fae for years, not knowing he can trust our beloved Ringmaster. Then, fate steps in the way and time for these two to open their eyes and see what has always been there and not at the same time. These two are so dang fun together that it was fun to see their bond mature to become what it was.
Another fantastic addition to the black cat Circus series is loved every single minute. No joking started, and I couldn't put this series down til completed. It was good and just kept you held from start to finish! This series is truly what found family is all about so happy to see these men find their mates.
Profile Image for BrittReadsALot.
342 reviews9 followers
August 7, 2023
This book is so good! I was so happy to learn about peanut and the history of the black cat circus. I loved how everything came together and many things were answered. I can honestly say I would love to have more stories. Possibly about the "brothers", security, and the goblin market and definitely about the kitsune(maybe with river and his BFF?)!
I loved seven and indys communication once they finally got to that point. I definitely would of loved more spice but I also understand why it was more plot to me. The whole series really is amazing!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Zoë Miranda.
616 reviews10 followers
October 12, 2024
1st person, past tense, dual POV
Indy (32), cursed human / (Peanut the cat in the BCC)
Seven, half-fae, half-demon Ringmaster of the BCC

Audio, narrated by Zachary Zaba - 4.5 Stars
After listening to The Aerialist I just had to roll right into Peanut's story and Whispersynced the audiobook right away.
Usually I'm not the biggest fan of a single narrator (or the same narrators) doing an entire series and then listening to them back-to-back as I have a difficult time getting into the new characters and not hearing them as the MCs of the previous book. I did not have that issue here at all. Once I hit play on The Ringmaster Indy and Sev came to life and I never even caught echoes of Bri and/or Zander (unless they were talking). The narrator absolutely imbued each character with their own distinct voice, making it extremely easy to get sucked into the story and keep track of events and POVs. As I've said before, it usually takes me a chapter to get into this narrator's style, but once I'm there I enjoy the narration immensely.

Story - 3.5 stars
While the books in this series CAN be read as standalones, they do feature a core group of characters that appear in each others stories and Peanut (Indy) and Bri's stories are intertwined more closely than the rest of the series so I would recommend reading them together at the very least if you aren't going to read the rest of the series. For my part I listened to The Daredevil a few months ago, ARC read all of season 2, skipped The Firedancer (for the moment), and just listened to The Aerialist and The Ringmaster back-to-back so I've done some bouncing around and had fun doing so, I'm usually more methodical with my reading.

While I did enjoy this story a great deal, it felt like the author got distracted with irrelevant worldbuilding and side characters then rushed the actual story and relationship building, which ruined my enjoyment. As if setting up more of the BCC for future romance wasn't enough, the whole war in Faerie and the Goblin Market and their respective cast of characters got page time that would, in my opinion, have been better served by further exploring Indy and Sev's connection, and figuring out how to fully lift Indy's curse and reunite him with the brother he hasn't seen in the past decade. By the time these areas are brought into focus, their resolutions felt a little slap dash and suffered from a whole lot of telling rather than showing with a lot of missing context that would have made for a richer story.

Still, I enjoyed the story, I loved the continued relationship between Bri and Peanut, seeing glimpses of the previous couples, seeing Indy and Sev dance around each other a bit trying to decide whether to trust one another as their hearts and minds warred with one another. The hints of shibari, praise kink, etc were fun and it would have been fun to have seen it be more developed. Sev's charater arc in coming to terms with his demon side was particularly well done and I adored Indy's role in that.
No regrets in buying and listening to it.
1,058 reviews13 followers
May 27, 2023
I don't think I've been this sad to have a series end. I honestly have loved every single book in this series. If you didn't know they were written by different authors, I honestly don't think you would be able to tell. All of these books were so beautiful and was connected and weaved together so beautifully. Where one book ended, the other would pick up right where the previous book left off. It's a true depiction of how hard these authors worked and how much time they put into making these beautiful stories fit together so wonderfully.

Each book has been filled with love, friendships, family, mystical beings, magic, and of course carnival rides and shows! All of these authors jam packed theur stories full of well written details, characters with well thought out backgrounds and had such fantastic personalities. Along with the place setting.. I mean are you kidding? It was written so well! And was so believable! Seven, can I please join your circus? Please?

In this addition we got to know more about Seven, we got to see things from his point of view and how he felt about the events that were happening around him. How he longed for a mate, and how when he watched his family find their partners he just wanted the same thing. And when he finally found his mate, he never expected he would try to kill him!

Peanut was cursed 10 years ago by a cruel fae creature, ever since then he's been trapped in a cat body. Despite missing his human form, he's grown used to his feline form, and his best friend Bri makes sure he's taken care of. But when he finally has human legs again he's determined to confront the fae that cursed him all those years ago, except the person he thought was the guilty party turned out not to be the person he thought it was... Turns out.. Seven is his mate.

I loved these stories so much and this was was no exception. I have adored Peanut ever since the first book. His character is just so cute and oh so sweet! His relationship with Brighton is so endearing, and we got to see even more glimpses of their relationship in this book. And Seven and Indy's relationship had such good progression. Things didn't get rushed or hurried, or get too drawn out. Ut just flowed so beautifully.

I really hope there will be more books to come in this series. I mean we got Soo many more side characters in this book! I mean there's so many possibilities! Sorren, Conall, August, Aaron, Akira.. River! So many stories that could happen. Oh! And Farren!

If you want to read not just one book, but a whole series that'll make you smile and laugh, and cry with the characters then you NEED to get all of these books... Today!!!

"I don't know why fate has paired us up, but I wanted you to know, even if you weren't my fated mate, I would've fallen in love with you, no matter what. I know you have the circus, but Sev, you will always have my heart."

*I received an early copy of this book and this is my honest review.*
Profile Image for Kitty.
783 reviews16 followers
May 24, 2023
This was a great finale* to the Black Cat Circus multi-author series. There were some really fantastic aspects to it, I really loved the characters, and the chemistry was fantastic. Brighton and Zander were in this book a lot, and that was AMAZING. The relationship between Bri and Indy is brilliant, and I love seeing really close friendships in books.

There was a lot of plot to this book, and a lot of random side plots that didn't seem to be going anywhere. Everything was brought together in the end, and more-or-less made sense, but it was still frustrating to have these little plotlets that weren't properly explored. I think the main issue was length-- if it was a longer book there would be more scope to bring in the extra characters and pay attention to the subplots. As it was, unfortunately some of the scenes felt rushed, some were simply skipped over altogether, especially at the end, and I just wanted a bit more. It's great that it had a more complex plot, but it was a bit too complex for the length of the book. I also had some issues with the writing, it was clumsy in places, but I've definitely read worse.

Despite the issues, I still have to rate this book highly. Seven and Indy were great characters and Brighton was beautifully represented. I loved the chemistry and the sensuality, even before they got together, shibari and praise kink are a fantastic combo. I admired the ambition of the plot, and I definitely liked it as a book. Sometimes books aren't the best technically, but you end up enjoying them anyway.

*Although this was a fitting finale, I'm not wholly convinced it will actually be the last book. There's plenty of scope for extra pairings and books, and plenty of characters still looking for their forever love. I enjoyed this series, and would be delighted if the Black Cat Circus came back to town!
Profile Image for Xanthe.
2,538 reviews46 followers
May 26, 2023
**4.5**
What a perfect way to end this brilliant series, with Seven and Peanut, the elusive black cat, getting their own HEA. A story full of fun, heat and a hurt/comfort aspect for both men.
Even though the circus has been going for ten years , Seven is yet to even catch a glimpse of the cat it's named after, often thinking people are just winding him up. Peanut/Indy has a good reason to be hiding from the ringmaster, as a Faerie was the one who cursed him to be a cat. It's a momentous first meeting that doesn't exactly go to plan and has both scrabbling to find out what everything means for them both.
Both men have heartbreak in their pasts. Indy from being cursed and taken away from his life, and Seven was banished from his homeland by his father for being half demon, which was, if anything, his father's fault for being with a demon! Once their misunderstandings are sorted, these two are such fun together. There is a reason Indy and Brighton are so close, their personalities are just alike. I think that's needed though as it brings light and laughter to Seven's world that had been missing, even as he has this amazing found family of the circus around him. There is the bit of drama that comes with Indy's curse and trying to break it before things become permanent but they get help from an unlikely source, and of course always have the love and support of everyone at the Black Cat Circus.
We've gotten to know these two through the series and I'm so happy they got their story and their HEA. Though, I'm sure there are more people from the BCC that are in need of their own stories..... Just saying :-) It can be read as a standalone but I think to get full enjoyment, you should read all of the books as you get to know all of the characters and how the family grows as people meet their mates.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Profile Image for Angel.
580 reviews8 followers
May 27, 2023
This is the final book in The Black Cat Circus series. It can be read as a stand alone but highly recommend reading the series in order to fully enjoy it since the characters from each book are woven into each story. And each book has been a great read, each starting off where the other has ended. Props to the multi authors for being able to each provide their own intriguing story but still giving the reader the same magical vibe of The Black Cat Circus.
Now on to this book which is based on The Ringmaster, the center of The Black Cat Circus. Seven build this circus from scratch, collecting lost souls who needed a safe place to belong and have a family. And he was successful except for himself. He broke my heart, he felt so alone and unloved. I wish I could get my hands on his family....ugh. But little did he know that his fated mate was so close. His mate was just a little stubborn with memories that he kinda muddled, lol. Indy's sole focus was on his survival and maybe getting a little revenge, lol. And when they finally meet, the chemistry just explodes, completely taking both by surprise. A special bond instantly forming but not feeling rushed; it was not smooth sailing for Seven and Indy. The curse was still very much in effect. And it wouldn't be The Black Cat Circus without the little magical twist, taking a slightly different path than was expected. There was humor, suspense, some action, steam, hidden gems, and love of all kinds. Seven was finally able to be himself and realize he was truly blessed with so much love and true acceptance.
I'm really hoping we get more stories from this world. There are still so many more interesting and loveable characters I want to know more of and need their stories.
Profile Image for Debra.
70 reviews4 followers
May 27, 2023
*Arc Read*

Our Final act in the series. Brings us the Story of Both Sev And Indy. But wait, it also leads us to discover the truth about Peanut, and Yes, he is as magical as the Circus named after him, Black Cat Circus.

Sev-Seven is a simple number and a simple place in line but a very unloving name for a son. Disowned by his rule family, except for one brother, and cursed and ousted from his home, our leader finds a way to make and finds his family and brings them into the fold of his Circus. The circus mascot, who all but our leader have seen, is loved by all, including a young Raven who says Peanut is not just a run-of-the-mill average cat, but no one believes him, least of all Sev.

Indy-a cursed human. Peanut- a cat that magically is tied to follow the Circus but hides or runs whenever he sees the Ringmaster. Indy/peanut-one and the same. A Fairy cursed him, though we find out badly, to remain as a cat until he finds his fated mate because the fairy feared the foretelling of a dream. He fears and hates the Ringmaster because of this curse, fears that he will kill him if he finds him.

Ten years of traveling "together" comes to a change when somehow our young cat starts to shift into a young man. What is his first plan of action to rid himself and the world of the danger of his curser? But something stops him. When the Ringmaster sees the would-be blundering assassin, he also thinks he has discovered a thief. Luckily, both truths come to light, but the dangers and fears still lurk in the shadow of the big top.

Finding love and acceptance in the found family and some of the lost family. Can this hybrid fae demon and his forced shifting mate find a HEA? Will the curse be fulfilled? Or will true fated mates find the love they richly deserve?

Come run away with us and Join Black Cat Circus.

I can't wait for this talented author's other stories in the future. Kudos.
Profile Image for Sheena.
814 reviews14 followers
May 23, 2023
This is the final in the multi-author Black Cat Circus series, and the story I've been waiting for since the start. Seven is the Ringmaster of the title, the owner of the circus and the one who brought everyone together in the first place. I've been waiting to find out his story, find out what he is and meet his fated mate.

I knew Peanut the cat wasn't quite what he appeared to be either, I loved spending a little more time with him in Brighton's book and wanted his story too. His story is so tightly tied together with Seven's (that's not a pun on the rope play 😉), I really enjoyed finding out more about these two. Seven is fae, but a little more than that too, he was an interesting character and it was good seeing him come to terms with both sides of his heritage and finally embracing that.

Indy/Peanut too I liked, I did feel more than a little sorry for him at the start when he was cursed through no fault of his own, but perhaps in the long run it was for the best, getting away from the situation with his Uncle and finding his own soul mate, best friend, and home with the circus in the process. This is fated mates so it does move fast but not unbelievably so, it's been a long time coming for both Seven and Indy. I really enjoyed this story and it was good to see all the Black Cat Circus members coming together for the final story in this series.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
510 reviews5 followers
June 7, 2023
Finally Seven (and Peanut’s) story is here! Sev has been the backbone of the entire Black Cat Circus - he’s the one that everyone relies on. He’s such a supportive character to everyone in the circus through the prior three books that I was so happy to see he got his own HEA and someone for his own.

I have to say the authors who wrote this series did a fantastic job of making the four books so cohesive. The story and the characters flowed from one book to the next and such a great effort by the four authors involved in this collaboration. It was a unified voice for character development and storyline.

Seven and Indy (Peanut) were a fated mates pairing that had such an interesting backstory. Indy has been cursed for the past 10 years by a fae and has been avoiding Seven for all this time because he assumes he’s somehow involved. And Sev has been having these dreams and visions all this time feeling like his mate is always close by but can never find him. It was a different spin on a paranormal fated mate story and I enjoyed seeing all the characters again especially rally around Seven.

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again - I hope these authors come back to the circus cause there are definitely some side characters I’m curious about and would love to read their story one of these days. This was a great low angst, light hearted read and a great conclusion to this series. Absolutely read all four - they are a perfect summertime relaxing read.
Profile Image for Kristy Lynn.
398 reviews10 followers
May 22, 2023
📖📖 Review 📖📖

Come one, come all!! Come close and listen to my tale. This is a tale of a cursed human and the half fae/half demon who falls in love with him.

Indy is a human man in his early twenties. After getting exceedingly drunk one night at a party he is cursed by an evil fae prince. Indy will spend 10 years as a cat needing to find his true mate. If he is able to find him and create the bond then he will be free of the curse and return to his human form. If he is not successful then will be spend the rest of his life as a cat.

Seven is a half fae prince/half demon who is banished from his home by his father. For 10 years he has sought out supernaturals that need him, a found family, love and created The Black Cat Circus. Indy has avoided Seven at all costs because he believes him to be the creator of his curse. But, one day they meet. And fate intervenes. Now, they must work together to break Indy’s curse and stop resisting each other and their bond.

Like, I just want to tell you to flat out go read this book! The mystery, the lust, the hot sexy k!nk, the love, and the bond formed not only with their true mate but with their found family is everything you need in one excellent book. The Ringmaster by @dakotaquinn is book 4 and the final story of the Black Cat Circus series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

#mmnovels #mmromance #queerromance #queerbooks #pnrnovel #pnrseries #arc #arcreview #blackcatcircusseries #blackcatcircus #bookstagram #bookstagrammer
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