Cirque Obscurum

by K.A. Knight, Kendra Moreno

Tell me your nightmares. . .

One night changes everything.

Ember doesn’t know how, but on the brink of death, she calls to them. They come in the darkness, like phantoms in masks, and rescue her from her pain. But that rescue comes with a price. Her soul. She must give all she is to the Cirque, where it doesn’t only house you, it owns you.

Nothing is ever as it seems and the truth behind the striped curtain is no small matter. Can Ember keep her vow? Can she embrace the madness the Cirque demands?

After all, the Cirque isn’t just a home for freaks and runaways, but also for those who will kill to protect it. They’ll carve a bloody path through the world, preying on the predators no one else dares to. When the Cirque calls, they answer.

The Cirque demands blood.

It demands payment.

And pay Ember must, with her soul or theirs. . .

Welcome to Cirque Obscurum, where the cards never lie. . .

*Cirque Obscurum is intended for audiences over eighteen and features adult situations, please check the TW list before reading*

Genres: Dark Romance, Why Choose, Dark, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, BDSM

380 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 2024

About the author

K.A Knight is a Romance author from a little town in England. She writes the monsters you love to hate. The crazier the better.

She loves her fur babies, coffee and a good book. Katie also has an obsession with monster flicks, and plans to re-watch them all!

Facebook Reader Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/Katie...

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/KatieKnightA...

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katieknight...

http://eepurl.com/drLLoj

Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY REVIEW AND OTHERS can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS

'C𝐈R𝐐U𝐄 𝐎B𝐒C𝐔R𝐔M' Is a full length dark romance by co written by K.A. Knight & Kendra Moreno. Spoken in multiple pov's

My hopes were high for this one, K.A. Knight wrote one of my favorite books and I've only just recently encountered Kendra Moreno, so I knew by combining these two together they were going to f%ck sh%t up and I was definitely along for the ride..

I knew this was going to be a crazy ride, I just didn’t know how crazy it was going to be. These two definitely upped the ante with this, I’ve not read anything like it before! Straight away I was pulled in.

Everything seemed to be normal when a little girl visits the circus for the first time with her parents, a mother reluctantly, a father who would do anything for his daughter, the wee girl feels the magical lure of the place, a feeling of finally belonging, like the circus was calling to her, and before leaving she gets her cards read and is handed the card of the joker.

The card plays a huge pival part within the story.



Years later that wee girl is all grown up, left all alone in the world other than with an abusive husband..But just when she's given up all hope of surviving this cruel life she's been thrust into, she clutches onto that joker card like her life depends on it and her call is answered and this is where four men charge into her life Diamond, Heart, Spade, and Club who run the Cirque Obscurum and take her back home with them.

And this is where things start changing within the story, it’s like a light was switched and these two authors let their crazy out.

It became a magical, dark journey where four men claimed their Queen answering calls all over the countryside as they hunted down demons trying to destroy the light of goodness.

Crazy in a good though..And I'm crossing everything that these two co write something together again because this was unique in every way possible.

* Teaser used is off the authors facebook page *

Email ಇ Twitter ಇ Instagram ಇ Blog ಇ Facebook ಇ Amazon 
ಇ Pinterest 

[Ash Graff · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m editing this to say it makes no sense why there are so many 5 star reviews. And when you look they are all arc readers. This is why you seriously can’t trust reviews on here lmfao

I wanted to love this. I loved the idea of this but it was so cringey. The writing was not good and I just could not get past the cringe. I tried so hard.

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept of this much more than the execution. The premise is what initially drew me in, it was intriguing and I'm all for anything dark, depraved and unusual, of which this seemed to have all three. That and this author is one that I'm usually all-over. Unfortunately whilst there was nothing overly wrong with this I just wasn't connecting and though I did enjoy parts of this I also found myself heavily skimming the further I read. 

This has some real darkness especially the beginning when we join an abused Ember who has been at the mercy of her sadistic husband for years. When he finally takes things too far leaving her near death Ember calls for the the darkness to save her. A visit to Cirque Obscurum as a child provided her with a joker card and It's this card that calls Diamond, Spade, Club and Heart to her side ready and willing to avenge and reap hurt upon her husband.

Now faced with a choice Ember leaves her old self behind and becomes Queen and the Cirque Obscurum becomes her new family. The Cirque is a sentient entity and Ember is its newest acquisition so she now too must answer when they are called upon to avenge those that need saving from the true monsters.

So the concept of this was so good but I do wish much more had been made of the fact that the Cirque was sentient. I also wasn't sure about the time this was set in as a war was mentioned, so that confused me. It was very insta-love which isn't my favourite and I didn't think the connections Ember made with the men stood out separate in any way. Apart from Heart they all kind of merged and it all felt very surface-level superficial. There was also and i can't believe I'm saying this too much sex and not enough substance and some of the sexy talk was majorly cringy.

So now the bits that hit the mark for me, well the whole theme and the sense of found family was a plus. I also appreciated the dark themes and how vindictive and ruthless they all were when they hunted the monsters. Heart was especially adorable and I loved his brand of Cray Cray. I appreciated the creepy masks and how unhinged they all were. Finally, the beginning and the finale here were the strongest parts of this and had the most impact on me.

So yeah totally mixed bag, overall this was a middle-of-the-road read for me I liked it enough but probably won't revisit it in the future and it isn't my favourite by this author. Be aware this does have some very dark themes the beginning of this mostly, when Ember is being brutalised and abused at her husband's hands. There's also a lot of blood and gore and violence which didn't phase me but thought I'd give you the heads up.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm

[Poppy Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

A very good dark romance that doesn’t just focus on insta lust and overly possessive mmc’s

This book follows Ember, who gets a calling card as a young girl one day at a circus, years later whilst escaping an abusive relationship she uses the joker card, and Spade, Club & Heart come and rescue her and she joins the circus, where you can be as free as you want and dark as you want

There is also a magical realism element to the book where the cards contain magic, and the circus herself collects souls and can give you power which I really liked

It’s a VERY dark and VERY spicy story, but I loved how much it focuses on the actual circus and performances etc I felt really engrossed in this dark spicy circus life, I loved the mmc’s and their distinct personalities (Heart was my favourite haha) and watching them develop relationships with Ember as this is a why choose. Spicy scenes with circus equipment are my new favourite scenes to read 😂

And also Embers character development was amazing, I just wished that were a bit more plot to the one we had but still enjoyed it!

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ember Ember, this girl went through it all!! She had an okay childhood until her father died, the only man who understood her. Took her to the carnival, and that's when she gets her first taste of magic and darkness. And a card to call them if anything happens.
She was easy picking for her husband. He treated her like a queen until his true mask fell off. Abused her raped her made her have a Miscarriage this guy was evil. And it wad the last straw he beat her almost to death and did some horrible things (on page) she uses the card and calls out to be helped saved and that's who saves her. Club, Diamond, heart, and Spade who take care of the husband almost kill him. But Ember still has a soft heart asked them to let him bleed and die slowly.

Now that she's with her guys, they show her what it means to be a strong woman and killing 😈😈😈 they have to give blood and sacrifice. I loved each guy they all blended really well. I don't think I hated anyone.

Heart- the adrenaline acrobat psycho 💗
Dimond- the leaderish aka ring master
Spade- animal trainer or tiger master
Club- swords and knife type of guy.

🥰🥰🥰 hehe, we see all 5 of them bond and kill for the circus. They bring back ppls who's have been abused and needed saving. We also have an enemy who is trying to take back what's his. (You can already guess the bad guy).
Low angst, om drama (ex husband), no cheatingish, drama, sexy times, no virgins

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶.5



Prologue
MF MFMM MFMMM
19h/idk
Non con
dubious consent
sexual violence
Praise kink
No condom
sexual assault
Rape (h is raped by her husband)
Mentions of a Miscarriage
physical violence
abuse
child abuse
Imprisonment
violence
murder/torture
depression
PTSD
Gore
Hea
Epilogue

[Crystal (Crystalreads2) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Cirque Obscurum over a week ago and can’t stop thinking about it! I absolutely love this book. It’s a dark, why choose with a circus background theme.

Ember has been drawn to circuses and Halloween since she was a child. The book starts with Ember at the circus, when she visits the fortune teller, who tells her her fortune and hands her a Joker card for when she needs it.

Fast-forward years, and let's just say Ember has not had the best life. In time, if needed, she holds the joker card. Now enters Heart, Diamond, Spade, and Club. I can't forget the Tiger, Freedom.

Each man brings something equal to their relationship with Ember. I always end up liking one more than all; at first, it was Heart. But then Diamond stole the show. By the end, I loved them all equally.

The storytelling in this book is fantastic, and I love the unique twist of the circus. The author paints a virtual, vivid world. It’s a must read.

[Britney ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh look four men who help heal the woman they love through bloody revenge and spice 👀

And they have a tiger. Enough said honestly.

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not for the weak minded, there is a lot to take in, some will undoubtedly make you cringe, some clap with glee and you may shout for the monsters but who are the real monsters. The cards have been placed on the table who deals them surely knows the outcome or do they?

Ensure you read the content warning if you don’t want nightmares 💀

The smut is intense because why wouldn’t it be in a world of freaks’, the cirque wants blood and its mystique is at every turn. 🎪🩸🔪 The pull is strong with this one 😈 Not giving you anymore than that, the writing was great drawing you in and keeping you enthralled, the storyline was good, parts maybe a little predictable though you still need to continue 🫣🤭 and damn our Queen is one of a kind 🖤❤️♣️♦️♠️

[Lulu · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF, extremely cringey!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

5★!!!!! 5★!!!!! 5★!!!!!! 🎠🍿🩸🎪 I cannot form into words how much fun and different this book was - at least I haven’t read anything like it but I LOOOOOOOOVED IT OMG - imagine AHS freak show…now written by KA Knight & Kendra Moreno..YEP EXACTLY 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙌🏼🙌🏼👹👹👹
now these two….oh the authors that they are…Ember is so heartbreakingly relatable…everything she went through, the feelings and experiences in the first 20% had me sobbing and by the end, Ember admittedly joins Reign (from Revolt) in my top 2 favorite FMCs🫡
(the part where she changes her name & what she changes it to??? good. f****** bye)
i seriously want to skip away into a mysterious circus now 🎪

[Elizabeth Hailwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favourite unfortunately. I usually love her stuff but it just seemed so rushed with a pretty predictable ending. The jumps from being strangers to being madly in love and from a housewife to a killer were too sudden for me, I’m sure there’s people who love that but it’s not really for me. I do think I could’ve loved it if there was more of a build up and I loved the premise and the characters were interesting.

[Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing, especially emotionally.

I love creepy horror circuses, so I really wanted to love this.

Too bad

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

❝ The darkness will always come when you call. Cirque Obscurum's door will always be open to you should you wish for it. ❞

Omg!!! As always, Katie and Kendra delivered!!! Another amazing RH dark romance by these two and I could not have loved it any more! It was a dark, delicious, and thrilling read! I loved every second of it and I'd definitely read a series of these characters. Cirque Obscurum is a dark reverse harem paranormal romance set in the 50s about a special cirque that houses the darkest nightmares and freaks of the world.

❝ Cirque is here. Cirque is everywhere. We freaks play the cards and we are the cards. ❞

Ember was always fascinated with the circus and when she finally convinced her dad to take her to the Cirque in town, Cirque Obscurum, she knew she had found her home. As soon as she stepped in, she felt like she was where she belonged and she spent years after that trying and chasing after that feeling but what she found was the opposite.

Being stuck in an abusive marriage, Ember sees no way out and on the worst days of her life, she's ready to give up. Until she finds the one thing she kept from that day at the Cirque. The Joker card. Having nothing else to do but wait and hope for death, she holds on to that card as a lifeline, remembering happier times, but little did she know, she called upon the darkness and the nightmares answered her call. She just never expected to be a part of those nightmares and to become one of her own. Diamond, Spade, Club, and Heart will show Ember the power of embracing her dark nightmares and the rewards of accepting herself and joining Cirque with her life and soul.

❝ Our nightmares are what make us who we are. They brought us together. ❞

This book was absolutely amazing! Gritty and hot in all the right parts, I couldn't put it down. I was hooked from the start and seeing the characters' development made the whole story. Ember, Diamond, Spade, Club, and Heart were delicious to read, the way these men allowed her to finally be free, to be anything she wanted while they had her back was amazing. I loved it, another amazing read by Katie and Kendra! I'm really hoping they make this into a duet or series, I know I'd definitely read it.

❝ "You want all of us, Queen? Can you handle that?"
"Yes, I want all of you."
"Your wants are ours to fulfill." ❞

🎪 Dark Why Choose MFMMM
🎪 Touch her/him and d!e
🎪 Kn!fe, blood, rôugh play
🎪 Found family
🎪 Self-discovery
🎪 Empowerment
🎪 Revenge
🎪 Psychô mmc
🎪 DubCôn
🎪 Tôrture
🎪 Improper use of a sledgehammer

[BookmarkedbyKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Be careful where you dare to tread. The ground is littered with the dead. Ones insane and ones devout, I’ll knock you all the fuck out”

Okayyy… whaaat!? I went into this blind (because, hello, KA Knight, am I right?!) as this isn’t a typical kind of read for me.

It was dark and twisted and I was here for it.
✅ Traumatized FMC turned badass? Always a yes.
✅ Slightly unhinged guy in the group? Of course.

Why it wasn’t a 5/5:
- I don’t care for instalove and this love definitely felt rushed.
- I felt like there wasn’t a lot of distinction between the guys aside from Heart (who was easily my fave!)
- Lastly.. Noah, what happened to him? I felt like he was going to integrate into the story deeper, but she says she’ll be back and he’s never mentioned again.


Overall, it was a good standalone. I’ll say the prologue and first chapter had me on not wanting to blink because it had my full attention. I do feel like it was also the best part of the whole book 🤷🏻‍♀️

[s a r a h ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Words cannot explained how happy I was to receive this arc, it started with a bang and just got better and better. Four males and their queen, the characters were built perfectly. I haven’t slept in days as I couldn’t put this book down.

[Cat H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
Loved the bloodlust, and magic of it all.
Relationships could’ve been a bit stronger, but the smut and all of that were so much fun.
Plus. Freedom? So cool.
I really liked that ending honestly, but I wish there was at least one more epilogue.🤷🏻‍♀️

[Juju · Rating 3 out of 5]

.
"Here, we are the historians, the readers, and the keepers. We are the soul of cirque. Without us, there is no home or family." ..
🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪

Throw in some Harry Potter, Harley Quinn & Den of Vipers vibes into a dark & magical world of the Circus and you have Cirque Obscurum. It was a really interesting combination of themes & unique mix of vibes. I enjoyed the story but the insta love and insta stabby stabby from the Heroine not so much. 🤷‍♀️

Cast of Characters:
👑Queen / Ember
♦️Diamond - The Ringmaster
♥️Heart - Trapeze Artist
♠️Spade - Animal Handler
♣️Club - Sword Swallower

🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪

Couple issues:

TIME PERIOD
The book did not indicate an actual time period. Mention of war but not which battle. 🤷‍♀️

HEROES BACKGROUND / NAME REVEAL
It did cover the background of each hero including revealing there real names. Maybe I blinked and missed it but did not see revealed as much on Heart or 'Heart's" real name.

🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪

VIBES

Harley Quinn vibe
Heroine went from meek sweet /victim to bloodthirsty/ stabby stabby

DOV Vibe
Heart was a bit like Diesel 2.0 / Sweet/jokey jokey yet completely insane

Harry Potter vibe!!!
I swear I heard Professor Dumbledore's voice in my head when I read this line. 😆
..
“The darkness will always come when you call. Cirque Obscurum’s doors will always be open to you should you wish for it.”..

[christinac_reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

was hyped to read this cause i usually enjoy circus anything but this was so so so unfortunately mid. didn’t know much about her backstory 30% to care about her as a character. not much distinction between all the men. it also wasn’t atmospheric enough for a dark romance circus. i wanted to feel anything but cringe and meh. not gonna push through cause it’ll put me in an even bigger slump so im dnfing at 30%

tw: lots of rape the first few chapters

[Natalya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed it this book! I love the concept of it and felt like it was very empowering. Woman taking back control of her life and I love that.

But.. I also found it a little repetitive, especially when it came to them getting calls all the time and it seemed to be the same thing.

But overall, I really liked it! Not usually something I’d read, but I’m glad I did!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Bethany · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh

If Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy were wrapped into one character, to star in a reverse harem/why choose, with four jokers, where the mayor from the dark knight is the bad guy.

Was it Dr. Louis or Dr. Louie? He goes by both in this book that was poorly edited for mistakes.

What is the timeline here? Who knows! Post war, with electricity, where women don't have careers, they're JUST (*insert eye roll*) homemakers and baby makers, but they wear pants, and men can skip the draft for enough money.

What do the four MMCs look like. Couldn't tell you. The info was fed too quickly to be able to distinguish between them.

Ember or Queen because she uses both names and answers to both while simultaneously saying Ember is gone.

[Rachel #mrs.zerofoxgvn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review and I absolutely loved this book!

“Where brutal things linger and nightmares thrive”

If I didn’t have a normal job I probably would have burned through this even faster. Dark, delicious , nightmares that you will drool over! I love the theme, the dark romance bad ass fmc and her journey finding herself with the help of some unexpected morally grey hero’s . Each mc has his own journey of their past stories and how they ended up at cirque . The “freaks” are my favorite people in this book. I didn’t want to put this book down. Giving this review without spoilers is so hard! What’s in the cards….. the twists and the revenge is dark and glorious, the men ….. 🤤 drool worthy touch her and die , my queen vibes for life. And they have a tiger ! Yes please! I wanted even more of diamond ♦️! The spice ——- whooo 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced and gripping from the get go, Cirque Obscurum has you in its clutches. There is some magic towards the end though it’s more the pulsing soul of the Cirque that drives the characters.

This gave a new meaning to “girl power”

Be warned. This is an extremely dark book. Read at your own risk.

[Zen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this book, and I was more than pleasantly surprised. It was dark. The FMC goes through so much in the beginning, but she truly embraces her darker side and who she wants to be.

[ampère 🫐 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5⭐️
immensely, darkly satisfying 🤭🤌🏻 trust Knight to never disappoint.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌶

Oh, how I loved this! I did find it confusing with the MMCs - who's who type thing, but I got there in the end, lol

[The Pastel Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ I am OBSESSED!!!

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each time I spot a collaboration between K.A. Knight and Kendra Moreno, I’m instantly sold. Add in a healthy dose of dark circus/carnival vibes, some serious unaliving and delicious why choose dynamics and I’m foaming at the mouth. The concept of Cirque Obscurum ticked all the right boxes for me, and now that I’ve turned the final page, any and all expectations were met with fervor.

A tale of found family and finding one’s self, Cirque Obscurum is a story that brutally showcases the horrors humans are capable of committing, but also the light and love that come from kindred souls. After a brief introduction, we’re immediately delivered into despair as a woman suffers at the hands of her abusive husband. On the brink of death, she sends a call into the void and fate answers in the form of four masked men on a crusade for retribution. And then the fun really begins.

One of my favorite things about the stories these two write together is that there’s always a generally large cast, but each is gifted a unique voice that makes falling in love with them too easy. Ember and her mysterious quartet of circus freaks, conveniently named Diamond, Heart, Club and Spade, have all been dealt a bad hand (pun probably intended), but each plays a role in helping the others heal, and it’s truly beautiful to witness.

I won’t be talking about the plot, because this is a story you need to ingest properly without any spoilers. I will, however, tell you that this book is INTENSE, emotional and just one wild ride. As they work together to answer the calls of pain and suffering, their family grows, and the Cirque becomes a place for all monsters to find solace.

This book is not one for the faint of heart, so check those warnings— it’s HEAVY with all sorts of horrendous ongoings. And that doesn’t even account for the sweet sweet vengeance that follows. For all of you with dark hearts who love exploring the shadows, this is one for you. Loved it.

[alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ Cirque Obscurum☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★

⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´

🎶 Places, places, get in your places. Throw on your dress and put on your doll faces 🎶

─── .¸✿¸.•❤•.❀• THOUGHTS¸•❀.•❤•.¸✿¸.⋆ ───

“We’re coming, baby,” I murmur, stepping out of the tent to meet the others. “It’s time to bring her home.”

I feel like I’m about to go down a full circus romance book path because this book was so entertaining from beginning to end. 🎪 I’m so glad Queen got the ending she deserved. She wholeheartedly allowed herself to grow into a different version of who she was—and she became such a strong character. I loved that the others supported her and were ready to help if she needed it, but at the end of the day, they knew this was her story, her path, and she was going to get her revenge on her own. She’s a total badass!!! I love her. I also loved the blend of realism with the magic of the circus—it was so interesting because even though it took place in the real world, it still felt like they were in their own little bubble under the big top. 🎠✨

[Diamond]

“I was going to let you go, but then you ran. Don’t you know you should never run from predators, Ember? It makes us want to chase. It makes us hungry, and in the dark, all alone, you are too tempting to pass up.”

He never hides who he is, and I love that Queen saw that and didn’t try to fix or change him. She just got him. She knew how to handle him without shrinking herself, and together, they were the perfect balance of fire and control. He came in hard—no hesitation—but he warned her first. It was never just about intensity for him, it was a test. He needed to know if she could handle all of him, because he wasn’t going to hold back. And she did. She met him where he was, every time. One thing about Diamond: he was always going to challenge her—not to break her, but to make sure she was choosing this life for herself. He had to know if she really wanted to be with the circus, or if deep down, she was still waiting for a way out. He was never going to make that decision for her. Because the one thing her husband took from her was choice—and Diamond refused to do the same. 🎪 He gave her the space to be free, and that’s what made him loveable. He didn’t want to save her. He wanted to see her choose herself (as the others)🖤💌

[Heart]

“You hurt what’s mine,” I say, licking the blade like I’ve seen Club do a hundred times, christening it with my blood. “If it had just been me, I’d have let things go, but because you hurt Heart, I’m going to carve out yours and give it to him.”

He’s wild, unpredictable, and so unserious in the most chaotic way, but that’s exactly why he works. His energy is off the charts, and somehow, it still makes sense. It’s hilarious and a little unhinged when Queen literally gives him her husband’s heart—and he’s just over there smiling like a kid on his birthday because he got a gift. Like??? That’s so sweet of him in his own twisted way. 🖤🫀But underneath all the chaos, Heart cares. Not in a traditional way, but in a deep, intentional one. He doesn’t try to save Queen—because he knows she doesn’t need saving. He knows she’s capable, even when she doubts herself. He wants her to choose herself. He wants her to fight for her own story, not because someone pulled her out, but because she climbed her way up and took what was hers. And that’s love to him 💌🩸Heart is absolutely unhinged, but his games and untamed nature are exactly what make him stand out. He’s playful and violent, soft and sharp all at once—and somehow, it works. I adore how strange he is, how honest he is in his own weird language. He might let her fall, but only because he knows she’ll rise—and when she does, he’ll be right there, clapping the loudest. 🎪🖤✨

[Club]

“Pick up your knife,” I say. He does so without hesitation. I grab his hand and guide it to my collarbone where he already cut. “Here,” I encourage. “Carve a club.”

Okay, Club and his knives? THIS GUY!!!!. The scene where he’s throwing knives at Queen? BARK BARK. The tension was UNREAL. He’s possessive and definitely obsessed—but honestly, that’s what makes him so interesting. Queen totally knows what she’s getting into with him. What I really love about Club is how real he is beneath all that tough exterior. When he drops his guard and talks about his past—no last name, growing up surrounded by pain and danger. And then he shows those scars like they’re badges of survival, not something to hide. The way he wears his history, it’s like he’s owning every piece of who he is. That raw honesty makes him so much more than just the intense, possessive guy. He made her less afraid and I love him for that.

[Spade]

“You named her Freedom,” I remark, “didn’t you?”

“I did. I tried to set her free after we were safe, but she refused to go. She’s been with me ever since. She knew the boy named Roman, and now she knows the man name Spade. I’m both.”

I really love Spade and his connection to Freedom. There’s something so genuine about him—the fact that he has a tiger as a companion is honestly adorable. 🐅 And when he calls Queen and Freedom his girls? Yeah, SWOON. I love his wild, untamed energy—he’s reckless but also protective. He’d do anything for the people he cares about, no questions asked. He knows what it’s like to feel trapped, and all
he really wants is freedom for himself and the people he loves.

─── .¸✿¸.•❤•.❀• OVERALL¸•❀.•❤•.¸✿¸.⋆ ───

I don’t even care that they fell for each other so fast —especially with all the magical elements 🎠✨. It just made sense for them to connect 🎭, especially because they showed up when she needed them the most. They protected her, gave her a choice and I feel like she didn’t really have that her whole life. So I’m really glad they gave her that and respected it all the way to the end , even though they knew it would be risky 🔮. But at the end of the day, they let her figure it out on her own 🎡🎠🎆.

[Charley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because of how much I loved Den of Vipers by the same author, sadly it didn’t quite meet my expectations. The plot of this book was phenomenal and I was gripped at every turn. However, the romance is where it fell short. Unlike Den of Vipers where there is hatred and a need to build trust, this main character, Ember, just immediately starts sleeping with the men from the circus and says she is in love with them like a week after meeting them. But that’s just on me I hate insta love because I think it takes away some of the authenticity of a romance.

My other problem was the scene when she finally sleeps with Diamond. Him getting her to give blanket consent when he doesn’t tell her what he’s going to do and then proceeding to try CNC honestly made me soooo uncomfortable. Like the only way to do CNC is by actually having consent. Especially given Ember’s past this scene just felt horrible to me. It was a shame cause he was my favourite up until that point.

Overall though I did like the book and if you are into dark romance or reverse harem then you will love this one. Just make sure you check the trigger warnings :)

[Teela (bookdragontee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Cirque is more than a haven for the beaten and the damned. It’s solace. It’s home. It’s a promise and an oath. It’s everything, and it’s our lives. Once you sell your soul to cirque, you will belong to it. You can never leave because your life will be tied to its life. Where it goes, we go. Its wants and desires will become your own. There are things in the dark, Ember, you can’t even begin to understand, but you will.”

Diamond steps forward.

“We have all given our souls to cirque. We uphold its wishes and desires. We answer the calls of the lost and forsaken, and we protect those who have no one else. Cirque is here. Cirque is everywhere. We freaks play the cards and we are the cards.” He stops before the table across from me. “You’re to be one of us. If you wish to stay, you must swear an oath to Cirque Obscurum and hand over your soul. You must become a nightmare that preys on other nightmares. Ember, will you do so? Will you give your soul to this place?”

I freaking loved this book, I don't even know how to organize my thoughts so I can adequately articulate just how much.

There's something so thrilling and downright cathartic about stories where the FMC starts out battered and broken, seeming beyond repair, but by the end, not only has she mended, she has embraced her own inner darkness and exacts revenge on those that have wronged her. She takes back her life - her body, her soul, her voice - emerging from the ashes and rubble a queen, and I don't care if people think it's cliché, that shit slaps every time.

While Cirque Obscurum reminded me of Mindf*ck in a way (mostly with the FMC surviving the worst kind of abuse/assault a person can endure and eventually exacting revenge on the ones that tormented them), it's also it's own thing and - in my opinion - it stands beautifully and confidently on it's own... just like Ember.

Tell me your nightmares.

I trace the raised wording on a random card before flipping it over. My heart skips a beat at the queen facing me. My fingers run over her cool, collected face, her mocking smile making one bloom on my lips. The power I feel within the card seems to echo a desire inside my heart. I want to be that strong. I want to be worthy of a name like that.

Then, I realize I can be.

Queen. I like it.

They asked me to choose a name, and I have. Diamond, Spade, Club, Heart, and Queen. It seems they were right. Our fates are tied to the cards. We answer to them, and now, so do I.

This story is dark and the trigger and content warnings should not be taken lightly. We see what Ember endures on the page during the first part of the book and it isn't until she's literally at death's door, that her dark saviors come to rescue her.

Choosing to spare her abusive husband's life in an effort to be the bigger person, her four villainous heroes - Diamond, Spade, Club, and Heart - take her back to their home and the one place that she felt the most free as a child, Cirque Obscurum.

It is here that she heals - both physically and emotionally - but she also ends up surrendering her soul to the Cirque. It's an easy choice for her to make, considering that this place has felt like home from the moment she first visited as a little girl, but it's also the first place in a long time that she's felt truly safe.

But giving your soul to the Cirque comes with certain obligations - she has to embrace her own inner darkness in order to be the savior others need, just as her four men were for her. It will require her to give in to the monster within.

I’ve seen the worst this world has to offer. Do I truly wish to go back and pretend I haven’t. Can I? Or do I become a monster, a nightmare like them? Do I take back my power that was stolen, or do I fade into this world?

No. I don’t want to be a victim anymore.

I lived my entire life for the whims and wants of others. I want to live for me now, even if that darkness scares me and makes me feel like a bad person. I turn back to cirque, my decision made. I want to be the queen I was named after. I want to save those who need us like they saved me. I want to make them all pay for hurting weaker people.

I know this time, my choice is final. I’ll hand my soul over and become what the cirque wants.

As I take a stumbling step toward the bright lights, those four masks morph into welcoming smiles, all of their hands rising to welcome me home.

Ember's entire arc is absolutely fantastic. I found her growth to be believable, and her occasional surrender to what others would deem as "insanity", but is really just freedom, to be not only entertaining, but deeply fascinating.

Her relationship with each of the men that saved her life is swelteringly hot - of course - but they also each offer her something unique that she requires. All four of them are pieces that end up fitting the jagged puzzle that is Queen.

And the more Ember faces - and seeks retribution - against the evils of the world, the more Queen comes out to play. And it's quite the thing to witness.

“You’re so beautiful when you’re like this,” he muses, leaning up to get a better look at me.

“Like what?” I ask breathlessly, needing more.

His eyes meet mine. “Full of darkness... You are not her,” he rasps. “Not anymore. You are not afraid. You do not fear the darkness. You are the darkness. Just as I am, just as Spade, Diamond, and Heart are.”

His fingers tighten on my knees.

“You’re not alone.”

“I’m not alone,” I repeat, my eyes on his, afraid to look away and see the ghosts surrounding us.

He nods.

“Never again.”

While many will no doubt come into this story for the why choose romance and group activities (I should note that this is an RH without swords crossing, so keep that in mind), I found that this book offered so much more than just some titillating spicy scenes. I should probably point out that a lot of the spice in this book is definitely on the rougher/more violent side of the spectrum. But to me, considering Ember's trauma and her desperate need to reclaim herself, it makes sense psychologically.

In fact, I found it rather rewarding watching her reclaim her own body, voice, and sense of choice after living for years under the fist of her husband. It's a good reminder that everyone heals differently and no one has the right to judge how a person heals or at what pace.

Ember's journey to self-actualization also comes with her being a support for others, which I found really nice. Especially since her whole life up until this point, she's been isolated and made to feel like an outcast by everyone and everything, from her family to society. The Cirque is the first place she's felt safe enough to not only be herself, but to explore what that looks like, and we fucking stan a Queen that overcomes her fears and relishes in her own power.

“Look at where you are, Queen. Look at how far you’ve come.” I glance back, my eyes widening when I realize I’ve traveled over half of the tiny wire hanging in the air, and we stand hand in hand in the middle.

I know I shouldn’t, I know it’s stupid, but my head turns, and I look at the ground below. The distance from here to there sinks in. The way I’m taunting death sends me off balance. Fear freezes me, and I start to fall.

He releases my hand, letting me.

In slow motion, my feet slip from the wire and I free-fall, my scream erupting from my throat as my heart and stomach plummet.

I catch the wire with one hand at the last second. My entire body screams as my weight hangs on that one limb. My other floats below me as my feet kick, my screams filling the air.

He crouches above my hand, peering down at me.

“Help me,” I beg.

“Help yourself, Queen,” he orders darkly. “I’m not your savior. You are your own ruler. Take it. Save yourself.”

“I can’t,” I rasp. I turn my gaze back to the ground below and my certain death.

“You can and you will. You’re strong enough, Ember. It’s time you realize that. Come to me, Queen. Come to me in all your glory. Look death in the eye once more and tell it you aren’t his, that your soul is yours and yours alone. Your life is yours to lead.” I drag my gaze back to his, tears squeezing from my eyes as my heart pumps triple time, my fingers starting to slip.

I’m going to fall.

I was such a fool.

“Do it, Ember,” he roars. “Save yourself or fall. If you can’t be strong enough to grasp your life, then you haven’t changed from the woman we met all those nights ago and you might be better in death’s embrace.” He straightens, moving back over the wire, making it clear he’ll watch no matter what happens.

He won’t save me.

It’s up to me.

He’s right. It’s time I fight for this life. They saved me all those nights ago and have protected me ever since. If I can’t save myself now, then am I truly any stronger than I was?

Yes, I know I am.

That Ember is dead, and this new one is a fucking queen. She won't die here, not like this.

I yank my other arm up and grip the wire, gritting my teeth as I try to lift myself, but my muscles burn, and I drop back down. The wire bounces, almost causing me to let go, but I hold on tighter. Sweat trickles down my temples, and I bite my tongue until I taste blood before I swing. My bottom half moves like a pendulum. I can’t rely on my upper-body strength alone, so this is the only way. I swing until I come up and over the wire, wrapping my leg around it, gripping it as it continues to bounce.

It’s not pretty or elegant at all, but I’m on it, and when it finally slows, I sit up, panting. Blood drips from my lips, and my heart is pounding, but I grin. Heart watches me with pride and hunger in his gaze.

"There you are, my beautiful Queen." He drops to his chest, sliding along the wire until he's before me. "I knew you could do it."

TL;DR - I loved this book. Outside of a few minor typos or grammatical errors that were missed during editing, I have no real notes. This book is absolutely solid, the vibes are immaculate, and it celebrates/relishes in its own darkness, and I love it.

Officially adding this one to the favorites list!

“Tell me your nightmares, Queen.”

I smile and lace my fingers with his, but I don’t answer.

I am the nightmare. I am the queen.

And the darkness?

The darkness is home.