You Can Do Magic

Carnival of Mysteries

by R.L. Merrill

From the author of Foreword Indies Finalist Summer of Hush and BookLife Prize Quarterfinalist Brains and Brawn comes a new installment in the series, a contemporary gay romance with a side of time travel and magic.

Musical prodigy Kallos Alexandrou has played his calliope for countless visitors at Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, but his one-year residency has come to an end. Scars from a terrible tragedy in his past are the only explanation he has for his loss of speech and memory, but it’s time to move on, so when a music festival sets up next to the carnival, Mr. Ame sends him off with identification, a bottomless billfold, and a set of new clothes. Outside the carnival’s perimeter, Kal finds himself in an unfamiliar world surrounded by strange instruments and vibrant people like nothing he’s ever seen.

Ryan Wells is the troubled and celebrated lead singer of the metal band Backdrop Silhouette. He’s brought more than his share of baggage on the last cross-country Warped Tour, including harsh restrictions placed on him by his parole officer and the band’s label, but it’s the treatment from his bandmates that have him feeling unsettled. After a tough morning, he spots a strange young man playing carnival music on a keyboard backstage, and the sound takes him back to a particularly vulnerable time in his youth. Intrigued, Ryan asks the young man’s name, but he flees only to appear later as a replacement stagehand for the tour.

An invitation from the band Hush to ride on their bus gives Ryan and Kal a welcome distraction. They find the camaraderie and support they’ve both been craving…as well as a little magic and a fresh new romance. But the music business makes personal relationships difficult to maintain, and when the tour ends, Ryan and Kal will have to make a move forward together on an uncertain path, or let fear keep them from trusting that sometimes you really can have everything you desire.

You Can Do Magic is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains a Depression-era calliaphone, a Ouija board with a purpose, and tour bus hijinks that will warm your heart and make you gigglesnort. Reading Summer of Hush and Brains and Brawn before this book will give you the full Warped Tour experience, but You Can Do Magic can be read as a standalone as well as the other books in the shared universe. Recommended 18+

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M M Romance, Paranormal, Time Travel, Magic, Contemporary

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 27, 2023

About the author

Whether she’s writing contemporary romance featuring quirky, queer, and relatable characters or diving deep into the supernatural to give readers a shiver, R.L. Merrill loves creating compelling stories that will stay with readers long after closing the book. Ro writes inclusive romance for the Happily Ever After collective, contributes paranormal hilarity to Robyn Peterman’s Magic and Mayhem Universe, and pens horror-inspired tales and music reviews for HorrorAddicts.net. A mom, wife, daughter, and former educator, you can find her rocking out in her Bronco with Great Dane pup Velma, being terrorized by feline twins Dracula and Frankenstein, or headbanging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area! Stay Tuned for more…

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down once I started reading. This is a wonderful story of finding your one when you thought all was lost. The love that blossoms between Ryan and Kal is both sweet and hot and exactly what the men need to overcome their pasts and to move on to a future that is meant to be. I loved their story, and America’s You Can Do Magic has been playing in my head as I mowed and weeded the garden this week. I highly recommend this beautiful story because it will make your heart melt through the entire story. There’s a twist at the end that I can’t wait to find out what or who next. Want to escape into a wonderful book filled with love and found family? You really need to read this beautiful story of enduring pain and moving passed to find happiness. Loved it and want more …. please?

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an intriguing mystery and love story, but the farther in I got, the less tight the prose was, and twice I lost track of which point of view I was in because they both have past damage and current struggles in the same location. I put this down to middling editing. That's usually to blame. On the whole, the character arcs were satisfying, and the resolution was fine if underplayed.

Ultimately, I give this one 4.5 stars, rounded down, due to the author's wordiness (not my favorite) and tendency to over-explain.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Very strong "magic" here - what with a man who spent a year in the Carnival (but actually the real time has passed for 70+ years) and witches and just the aura surrounding this story. Felt magical. I adored the Hush band members as well, although I also felt like I needed to read the two books featuring them. Might not be too happy with the very quick timeline.

I liked Merril's writing. I would like to check the second book...

[Taylin Clavelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.75 hearts.
Born during the depression, Kallos remembers little of his time before joining the carnival – even how to speak aloud. Then again, he’d been in a magical bubble and knew the carnival saved him from a terrible fate. It was time to see what path life held. Upon leaving, Kallos finds himself in 1997 at a rock festival with the knowledge, money, and experience to be a stage technician. Ryan is having an existential crisis and is recovering from more than the traditional trappings of fame in the music industry. But when he hears the musical tones of Kallos, he is drawn to the man. Fate throws them together again and again as if leaving a message. The question is whether fate has brought them together at the right time to save each other.
I have enjoyed Every book I’ve read of RL Merrill’s, and this was no different. From the first paragraph of the first chapter, I was intrigued. The story sucked me in and kept me there till the end.
The story is told in the first person from the viewpoints of Ryan and Kallos. Technically, the story was on the money, too. Worldbuilding revolves around life on the road – stuck on a bus in close quarters to others, stage performances, personal interactions, and the histories that brought them all together. The imagery provided was superb and perfect for my reading tastes.
Quiet, hard-working Kallos came from a world of Wurlitzers, an evil uncle and a self-made calliaphone (a type of organ). His backstory from the depression is - is – is – totally engaging, but it is a tale that slowly emerges as Kallos regains his memories. Thanks to the carnival, he is ready to walk his new path and defend those that matter to him.
Among other things, Ryan is surrounded by a world that tests his sobriety and the terms of his parole. What keeps him going is performing on stage and the fans' reaction. But even that emotional high is growing ragged - until he meets Kallos. Before Kal, people threw Ryan under the bus instead of defending him. Nevertheless, Ryan weathered the put-downs as he believed he deserved them.
The more expansive cast contains a range of personalities from nice to assholes, and the crafty. Ryan’s aunties only have a short amount of airtime, but they are complete scene stealers. The band Hush are a riot, too.
You Can Do Magic is so much more than the words above. It is a kaleidoscope of people, places, events, and images. It includes past hurt, loss of friends, making amends, assault, cathartic music, sunset on the beach, a mole, Ouija board, finding family, and more. My only niggles in this superb woodpile concern mole identification, the final resting place of a particularly large item and the lack of reintroduction to its creator – maybe those parts are in the spin-off story coming at Christmas.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.

[Denise GremoryKohta · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional journey. Between the world building and character backstories it takes a bit to really get in but once you do it’s deep. I love when an author gives you something you can truly imagine and feel. So much more I want to say but it’s so good I don’t want to risk even the smallest bit of spoilers. I was given an arc from GRR and am leaving an honest review.

[Staci Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love comes in it's own time.

One can never pin down an exact date when their perfect love will arrive. The journey traveled is often the only path to where we belong. Despite our mistakes along the way magic will happen.

[DLB2572 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic

This one took me a little bit to get into but I did wind up enjoying it very much.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[AshPenny37 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we are with another great addition to the Carnival Of Mysteries multi author series. Each book is independent of the rest in this shared world, but You Can Do Magic is part of the author's Summer Of Hush universe. You don't have to have read the previous books, but I think a deeper understanding of some of Ryan's trials and tribulations enhances the reader experience.


So, why do I love this book? We'll, I love the musical world it's set in with the bands in the last Warped tour and glimpses of life on the road. There's also that found family vibe with some of the other guys. I love the paranormal angle and seeing how Kal navigates his entry into a time where most things are so unfamiliar to him. I love the instant connection between Ryan and Kal and the development into a delightfully sweet relationship, which sees both men's confidence and self-worth grow the closer they become.


Yes, I adore Kal and Ryan and I hope we see more of them in the future. 4.5* rounded up 


An ARC was provided by GRR. This is my honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story and fabulous use of the series theme

Rating: 4.5🌈

I wasn’t aware that You Can Do Magic was a part of author Merrill’s Summer of Hush series when I began reading but it’s not required knowledge for enjoying the story. Much of the background information is offered up throughout the book on the characters and relationships between the series couples that I wasn’t even familiar with the fact this was tied to another universe until the end notes.

You Can Do Magic has so much to offer on own as a standalone book. That starts with how fabulously Merrill uses the central theme of the Carnival of Mysteries. With its cast of circus characters and sideshows as a major part of the narrative here, time and again, it’s woven into the narrative pulling all the plot threads together. Starting with the power of the Carnival to protect and provide shelter to those in need, until the mysterious Ames feels it’s time for them to move on.

Kallos Alexandrou, the Carnival’s magical calliope player, is being told he’s healed and his time with the Carnival is over. What a beginning! It’s haunting, shrouded in secrecy and pain, with a young man who can’t remember, being told he’s got a new life ahead of him. How incredibly scary.

Music is the key for Kallos. To his past and his new journey forward as well. Merrill does a fantastic job in creating in Kal a person who feels like an innocent out of time , yet someone we can still emotionally connect with.

Dumped with a wallet and the ability to have within what he needs (read the book), it’s a music festival that starts his journey. And a couple of bands.

One Ryan Wells, lead singer in the metal band Backdrop Silhouette. He’s also released from prison and in recovery from substance abuse, facts that are well documented and a source of contention within the band. Especially since the cause is a serious accident which tragically changed their lives.

Merrill gets us into the head and emotions of Ryan in the tough moments back when it’s obvious he’s not going to be able to retrieve the friendships and relationships he had with the band before the accident and prison time occurred.

We get a mixture of emotional distress, connections, a sense of wonder at new things from Kal and puzzlement from Ryan and deeply moving shared experiences that build their relationship.

All while keeping an otherworldly sense that something or someone is helping to guide these events.

The closure for Kal on his past history was emotional as far as his family but a tad lacking when it came down to that which caused his pain and suffering. I thought that could have been more a more fully resolved or explained element. I was left with more questions than answers.

As for Ryan, the Carnival left him with some very serious thoughts about his future life. As the story ends on a HFN, I wonder if the author intends to do something further with this couple in mind. I’d be interested in reading more about them.

You Can Do Magic (Carnival of Mysteries) by R. J. Merrill is one of the highlights of this series. Merrill does an excellent job in incorporating the series theme into the storyline all the way through to the end. The characters are extremely well executed and the relationships are easy to connect with. Just marvelous!

And one more great cover in a group of beautiful images.

Don’t forget to check out the music link for the author’s playlist for the book. Absolutely amazing.

If you haven’t already guessed, it’s a yes recommendation.

Carnival of Mysteries series:
- [x] Crow's Fate by Kim Fielding❤️
- [x] Step Right Up by L.A. Witt
- [x] Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️
- [x] Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr
- [x] Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️
- [x] Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️
- [x] Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️
- [x] Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️
- [x] The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky
- [x] Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver
- [x] You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill♥️
- [ ] Sting in the Tail by TA Moore - October 4
- [ ] Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella - October 25

[Kassu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-⭐

There were interesting elements here like addiction and organ music, and this couple is nice, but I didn't really enjoy the story overall.

This was my first book about the Carnival series as well as the first book from the author. The carnival intrigued me a little bit, though I felt the whole time travel and fantasy aspects here were rather inconsequential, the potential unutilised. I don't think this author caters to my tastes.

The drama of the book was largely about some band members being dicks, which also didn't really grab me. I'd rather have more relationship angst or a real mystery or adventure. It didn't really help that the people are quite clearly divided into good and bad people. And while one of the protagonists had managed to do something bad while being a good person, that's really the only thing not completely black and white about these characters.

Both protagonists had lots of flashbacks and regrets, and with the first person narrative it was sometimes hard to follow which one was currently narrating. I also grew bored, and towards the end even the parts that worked earlier kind of started to fall apart. For the nice moments and the musical connection here I'm just barely leaving it to round towards 3 stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Caz · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars for the narration, 3 for the story

The dual narration by Lance West (Ryan) and Victor Quixabas (Kal) was decent, but didn't really do anything to elevate the story. (Also, when I first typed this review, I wrote Kol because that's how the name is pronounced, only discovering it's Kal after re-reading the synopsis. I have no idea why it's pronounced incorrectly.)

I've read/listened to a number of the books in the Carnival of Magic series, so I'm familiar with the idea; here we have Kol, a young man who was rescued by the enigmatic Errante Ame in the 1930s, and is sent out into the world almost a hundred years later because it's time.

His love interest is Ryan Wells, a bad-boy rock star who is now working hard to keep himself on the straight and narrow and out of trouble. Both characters are dealing with significant trauma, but their romance is pretty insta and the drama in the story comes from the dickish behaviour of Ryan's bandmates; there's not much plot or story here and overall, it's a tad dull.

[Elizabeth D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a mysterious read filled with tense moments, laughter, and strong feelings. Both Kal and Ryan were on complicated journeys, Kal suffering from selective mutism and remembering almost nothing about his life and Ryan trying to figure out his life as he works in his sobriety amidst a toxic work environment.

The magic here was understated, weaving through the stories in subtle ways that helped Kal and Ryan. I’m so glad that Ryan had the Hush band members, because his own band members went from awful to worse. (Is it wrong to wish bad things upon them?) I liked seeing how Ryan and Kal could support one another as well as figure out how to support themselves. It was so nice to see them work their way to better circumstances that could make them happy.

I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Can Do Magic is a great addition to the Carnival of Magic multi-author series.

While most other books include a short visit to the Carnival, we open on Kal learning that his time traveling with the Carnival is at an end. It’s time for him to move on and find his path. But he can’t remember his past, so how can he find his future?

Enter Ryan, lead singer of Backdrop Silhouette. With a past his band members won’t let him forget, something needs to change before he winds up miserable and losing everything.

Staying with the band Hush gives both Ryan and Kal a respite from the world, and brings them together in more ways than one.

If you enjoy magical world building, broken men finding comfort with one another and forgiveness within themselves, fun side characters and a few magical aunties, this is for you!

[Suzanne Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very wonderfully magical story

I am enjoying reading all of the books in this series and this one was no exception. R. L. Merrill does a great job of combining the different stories with the troubles Ryan is having with his band and the time traveling Kal and his reintroduction into the world. One of the things that I really appreciated is how skillfully Ms. Merrill shows that Kal doesn’t know about the modern world and is naive and selectively mute without ever making it seem like he is stupid. It’s a delicate balance and she does it well.

[T Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this book began. Wait, I loved how it began, I loved the middle and I adored the ending. This series is pretty great. This one, so far, has kept me immersed from beginning to end. I enjoyed them all but there’s something about these characters that grabbed me. The story is enchanting and, again, I throughly enjoyed it. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

His time is almost done at this place and he is about to be sent out into the wide world. He will find himself all alone and lost, he has no idea where to go next even though he has a chance somewhere else. How will he get on? Will he find his voice? Will he find his way? See just what is going to happen next

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. An excellent addition to a good series. I haven't read the other books about Hush, but that hasn't been a problem. Lovely complicated characters and really good world building. I loved how the MCs were both rather broken in different ways but became so good for each other.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am happy to leave a voluntary review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its the day that Kal leaves the carnival after being there for 1 year and he meets Ryan a popstar who is playing a local festival.
We meet a huge cast of secondary characters, most of them members of rock bands. Both Kal and Ryan are damaged but fins the way forward by being together.
As the story progresses we learn Kal's backstory and the trials of Ryans life.

[Leonie Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very clever story. The characters are all super well written. The blurb is quite a good descriptive of what happens, however, the journey Kall and Ryan are on is more than just miles. My interest was taken and kept the whole way through! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Natasha Lynn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book

Another highly entertaining addition to this fantastical multi-author series. Kal and Ryan were wonderful together, the characters are extremely well executed and the relationships are easy to connect with.

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryan and Kal ❤️

Another great addition to this series, Carnival of mysteries. From the moment these two meet it's an instant connection and from there it turns into the sweetest adventure to love, it's an absolutely fantastic story. I 100% recommend especially for fans of this universe, it doesn't disappoint.

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars
I'm still interested in reading Silas and Krish's book and Brains and Paul's, but it's a little nice knowing already that each pair will work out their relationships. And I'm interested in the follow-up to this one, which is coming out in August.

[Readingbks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've found this entire series to be very intriguing! They are not necessarily "easy reads" but they are enjoyable! I read an advanced copy of this book and this is my unbiased review!

[Brit_ta_ny · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This book took me a minute to warm up to, it felt a bit slow at the beginning and I didn’t really connect with the characters at first. Fortunately, I kept reading and proceeded to absolutely fall in love with the same characters I was on the fence about.

The story follows a man literally out of time and the lead singer of a hard rock band, and at first it feels like there’s no way that they could work out together. BUT they somehow do and they give each other exactly the support and love the other needs.

I enjoyed the supporting characters in this book a lot, I hadn’t read any of the other books in the Warped Tour series but I’m thinking I may go back and read them now for some more of the guys from Hush. I’ve read a few of the other Carnival of Mysteries books from the series and I feel like this one fit in perfectly. I do wish we could’ve seen Kal’s reaction to seeing the caliaphone again. 🤷

And the aunties with their witchy ways were perfect. I love how they loved Ryan and Kal unconditionally, exactly what those cuties needed 🥰

[Mark Lucas-Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Can Do Magic.

A bittersweet romance between two men each broken in their own way. Ryan a gifted lead singer with a rock band and Kal also a talented instrumentalist and a man out of time who come together in finding the path to healing.

[Jada Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book through Reedsy Discovery in exchange for a review.

You Can Do Magic: Carnival of Mysteries is a romance with fantastical elements. It stars Kallos Alexandrou, an ex-carny musician who finds himself lost after his residency ends at the only home he’d ever known, or at least remembered, Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries. He has no memory of his past and struggles with using his voice, presumably from past tragedies that are locked away just out of reach in his mind. It also stars Ryan Wells, a metal singer who previously did jail time and struggles to get along with his bandmates. Both men have secrets and a mysterious nature that makes them feel a magnetic pull towards each other, only strengthened once Kallos finds himself filling in for a stagehand on Ryan’s tour.

Despite the fast attraction and connection between the leads, the story had a very engaging, believable romance. It was a delight to read their interactions and see the development of their relationship throughout the book, especially as they learned more about each other. They learned to open up and lean on one another in a healthy and supportive way without veering into codependency. Kallos did not fall into the role of the helpless ingenue as nonverbal characters, and disabled characters in general, are often portrayed. The writing made clear that he was strong in body, mind, and personality and very protective over Ryan rather than needing to be protected. Despite his rough-around-the-edges personality, Ryan was a very sympathetic portrayal of an ex-prisoner in a world with a large stigma around former inmates. He’s standoffish, sarcastic, and sometimes aggressive, though he often owns up to his shortcomings and is actively trying to improve himself. The supporting cast for the book was also really good, with even the more minor characters feeling realistic and fleshed out in how they interacted with each other and the leads. It never felt like they only lived to be the cheerleaders for the leads, and no one felt one-dimensional.

Next to the characterizations, the descriptions and scene setting are where the book’s great writing shines best. It’s never overwhelming, able to get across the feeling of being at a music festival or carnival, even in brief sensory descriptions of the scenery. It can be difficult to convey music in text, but the novel creatively expresses the heart behind the music in any scene with a performance.

Overall, I loved this book for its well-written relationships, unique concepts, and positive representations. I would recommend this to anyone interested in deep, passionate romances with multi-dimensional characters, the hurt/comfort trope, and a delicate handling of serious topics. As a content warning, it contains mentions of violence, alcoholism, child abuse, and cancer.

[Mari Cardenas · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

You Can Do Magic is the third book in R.L. Merrill's Summer of Hush series and it's also part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries series, I haven't read the first series, but it stands alone pretty well.

I will admit I wasn't too sure what I had gotten into when I started reading this book, however, once Kal joined the tour and met Ryan and the rest of the guys, it quickly grabbed my attention. 

This book combines contemporary and paranormal in a seamless way. The Carnival element with Mr. Ame always there in the background and the mystery surrounding Kal and how he got both to the Carnival and later back into the "real world", so to speak, were especially well done. I also enjoyed seeing Kal come into his own and find his place on the tour and with Ryan and his friends. 

My heart broke for Ryan and the things he had to go through and was still enduring with his band. I hated Oscar with a passion and wasn't happy he didn't get more of a comeuppance after what he did. 

I loved seeing Ryan and Kal fall for each other, it was fast, but they were great for each other and had amazing chemistry. 

Overall, this was a really good contemporary romance with an intriguing paranormal twist that kept my interest throughout the story. Very recommendable! 

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last. I loved Ryan and Kal’s story, with both of them recovering from their pasts with help from friends who are more like family, and a touch of magic.

I loved the set up of this story with Kal being a man out of time and adjusting to the modern world. I liked how the mystery of his past unfolded a little at a time and the heartwarming closure with this family. Poor Ryan’s been through a lot because of one bad decision. I felt for him struggling to move forward despite his guilt, and how he and Kal are exactly what each other needs. Their slow burn romance is sweet. I loved their shared love of music, and how Ryan is finally able to be his real self again.

Hush is family and it shows. I loved how caring and inclusive they are, and how they welcome Kal into their family. I need to read their stories now. Ryan’s band are in stark contrast, with Oscar and TJ being nasty individuals.

Gavin’s aunts are wonderful. I love the Ouija board and its part in bringing Ryan and Kal together. The last scene leaves me wanting to know more about it, and wishing I could have met Gavin.

A very satisfying read that had me turning pages, and invested in both men from the moment they appeared on the page.

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryan and Kal’s story is a mixture of music, magic, and plenty of intense emotions: there are lighter moments and darker ones, and lots of feeling along the way. The story is part of a shared world with an interesting premise (mysterious, magical carnival for the win) as well as cameos from characters in other works by the author, but the central romance and the characters’ respective journeys can easily stand on their own. To say both Ryan and Kal have some challenges to face is to understate it, and it’s lovely to see that they can be the sources of support and care for themselves and each other that they both need, an deserve, in their lives: Ryan’s bandmates are…not good people, and living and working in the environment they create is no easy, or desirable, task. Kal has his mysterious history, lack of memories, and selective mutism, as well as dealing with an unfamiliar world, to navigate. All in all, these are easy characters to like and care about, and their journey is one that’s easy to get caught up in.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[L H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both Ryan and Kal were creative men who needed something and each was in his own way honing his craft while languishing for lack of direction and support. Kal is in the midst of rejoining the outside world after he spent time with the Carnival healing. He is literally in search of his purpose when he joins up with the Warped Tour. His timing could not have been better. Ryan, lead singer with Backdrop Silhouette, is the draw that keeps the band interesting but he is not really feeling a part of it all in the same way anymore. He needs something and someone who is truly there for him. Both of these men are dealing with past pain and the need to move past past mistakes and embrace the possibilities of what can be next. These two were a good fit for one another. They see one another and care for one another. And it was so cool that they end up with one another and offers a feeling that the magic is seeing that life can be more than what you have settled into.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.