Empty Cradle: Shiloh in the Circle

by Emmy Jackson

Shiloh is a star, a headlining performer with Gallamore's Traveling Extravaganza. She's afforded luxuries that aren't often seen in the communities and walled cities that pepper what was once North America, and as such she's largely isolated from the dangers of life "out in the dirt." Embroiled in circus politics and in denial of her shapeshifter heritage, Shiloh's about to discover that the enigmatic queen of the felids wants an audience with her--and it's not a request. Soon she finds that a scavenger named Ivy and a persistent shifter named Kissel may be all that stands between her and a diva's worst fear--disappearing without a trace.

384 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 2013

About the author

Emmy Jackson is a novelist and self-syndicated freelance automotive writer, an avid reader with interests in multiple genres and a long-time player of tabletop RPGs. The second book in his "Empty Cradle" post-apocalyptic urban-fantasy series, Shiloh in the Circle expands the world readers were introduced to in The Untimely Death of Corey Sanderson. During the fifteen years he spent building the world of Empty Cradle, he often lived like one of the scavengers from his stories, rescuing and repurposing forgotten items. He even spent three years living a nomadic life in an RV. Emmy lives outside of Detroit, Michigan, with a dumb but adorable cat and frequently annoys his neighbors by dragging home misguided automotive projects.

Reviews

[Lori Alden Holuta]

Most of the books I've read that deal with shapeshifters present their shifters as uniformly confident, enigmatic, powerful, near-perfect creatures. And of course they're more at home in their animal form than as a human, right? If you're about to read Shiloh in the Circle, do yourself a favor and toss those preconceived shifter-notions out the window.

Meet Shiloh, the star of Gallamore's Traveling Extravaganza. She hasn't shifted since she was a kitten. She never learned the Felid language. She prefers her food to be cooked, her bed to be soft and sheet-clad, and the men she frequently brings to that bed to be quite human.

Meet Kissel. Everything that Shiloh is? He's the opposite. But for reasons that will become clear (I love saying that phrase), where ever Shiloh goes, Kissel follows.

Hopefully you've already read book one in the Empty Cradle series, The Untimely Death of Corey Sanderson. If you have, you'll be in familiar territory, but with the new experience of joining up with the circus as it travels around the country.

I'm not going to attempt a simplistic summing up of the plot, since that's impossible. Emmy Jackson's stories take twisty turning paths that are as complex as his characters. Just come along for the ride and let it all unfold.

I have to point out that I love Emmy's attention to details. This story is an escape from my daily life *because* of those details. I can see, hear, feel, and smell what's happening. Confrontations are real, urgent, and with consequences. Each character is well-defined. You'll hate some of them and adore others, but you won't forget any of them.

Now climb into a rig, we're hitting the road. Five Hoops Up for this one. I'll soon be reading the third book in this series!

[Gwen]

Sequel - follows the story of Ivy and the Gallamore traveling circus and a felid named Shiloh - excellent story! More please!

[Airsucker]

Another great novel follows the first

[Jennifer Jamieson]

The excellent follow-up to Untimely Death of Corey Sanderson introduces new characters and adds ever more depth to the EC world. Keeping the pace steadily rolling, we learn more about the creatures that inhabit this strange earth, and continue along the journey with Ivy and her odd collection of friends.

[Helena]

Shiloh is my spirit animal. Or, would be my best friend. Or possibly my frantic threesome partner. Basically, I think we'd get along. <3

Long story short, I fucking love these books. You. Go. Buy them now. Read them now. DO IT.

[Elaine]

Vivid world, incredible characters. This book will suck you in and leave you laughing, worried, scared, relieved and sympathetic.

[Becky]

I can't wait for the next one!