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Carnival of Mysteries
Airs Above the Ground
As a member of the Flying Galliers in the Carnival of Mysteries, Mario Gallier has remained an eternally young and carefree teenager for over a hundred years. When the Carnival stops for a time on a magic-sparse world, Mario finally meets a man for whom he wants to grow up. Unfortunately aging takes time, and the Carnival doesn’t linger anywhere for long.
Ilya Mirov was part of the greatest aerial straps duo in the world, but after losing his husband and partner Derek to cancer, he retired from performing to take a role as coach for the next great Circo Del Artes show, Capriccio. Yet men who are strong enough for the demands of the aerial straps are few and far between, and Ilya despairs of finding anyone who can handle his choreography.
Fate -- and the Carnival -- bring Mario back to Ilya’s world and to Circo Del Artes. Ilya is blown away by Mario’s talent and offers him a job. Elated, Mario believes he’ll have the chance to make Ilya see him as a man, not a child, and win Ilya’s heart at last.
Yet overcoming Ilya’s grief is only one hurdle in Mario’s way. Someone is preying on Circo’s paranormals, and Mario’s own hidden nature begins to surface. Ilya doesn’t believe in magic, and he doesn’t understand why Mario is driven to protect those who came from the Carnival. Dark forces press in from all sides, putting both Mario’s and Ilya’s lives at risk. Yet Mario knows that he alone can stop whoever is taking his friends, as well as find the killer who will stop at nothing to destroy both Mario and the man he loves.
Ilya Mirov was part of the greatest aerial straps duo in the world, but after losing his husband and partner Derek to cancer, he retired from performing to take a role as coach for the next great Circo Del Artes show, Capriccio. Yet men who are strong enough for the demands of the aerial straps are few and far between, and Ilya despairs of finding anyone who can handle his choreography.
Fate -- and the Carnival -- bring Mario back to Ilya’s world and to Circo Del Artes. Ilya is blown away by Mario’s talent and offers him a job. Elated, Mario believes he’ll have the chance to make Ilya see him as a man, not a child, and win Ilya’s heart at last.
Yet overcoming Ilya’s grief is only one hurdle in Mario’s way. Someone is preying on Circo’s paranormals, and Mario’s own hidden nature begins to surface. Ilya doesn’t believe in magic, and he doesn’t understand why Mario is driven to protect those who came from the Carnival. Dark forces press in from all sides, putting both Mario’s and Ilya’s lives at risk. Yet Mario knows that he alone can stop whoever is taking his friends, as well as find the killer who will stop at nothing to destroy both Mario and the man he loves.
- GenresM M RomanceFantasy
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2024
4 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 29, 2024
Loved it. Loved the aura of the circus - the way Mario and Ilya worked together for their performance. I loved that this was a slow-burn relationship (Ilya was in the second year of being without his husband) - they didn't even kissed until about 3/4 of the book. Also loved the touch of paranormal beings in here, including who Mario really was (he is a ).
Wish it had an epilogue to show how , but that was just me wanting this story to last a bit longer.
Wish it had an epilogue to show how , but that was just me wanting this story to last a bit longer.
October 21, 2024
B+ / 4.5 stars
Rachel Langella is a new-to-me author, and I picked up Airs Above the Ground, her second entry in the Carnival of Mysteries series, because the premise intrugued me. It’s the story of someone who has lived much of his life in the Carnival and performs there as part of a family trapeze act, and who decides that it’s time for him to experience what life has to offer on the outside. There’s a slow-burn romance with an intriguing suspense plot simmering along in the backgtround, and the descriptions of the amazing feats of agility and strength performed by the aerialists in the story are vivid and detailed.
Mario Gallier has been with the Carnival ever since his family fled persecution on their home world and took refuge with Errante Ame. In Earth years, he’s about one hundred and twenty, but as those who live and work at the Carnival don’t age, he looks about fifteen. When his brother Paul takes him to see the Circo Del Artes (in Las Vegas), Mario is captivated by the utterly thrilling performance on the aerial straps, and when Paul suggests that they could incorporate the straps into their routine, he’s completely on board with the idea. He’s excited when Paul tells him their ticket includes getting to meet the starts of the show, and when he gets to meet straps artists Derek and Ilya, Mario is instantly drawn to the dark, intensely charismatic Ilya, who is kind and encouraging about his ambitions to perform on the straps - but who talks to Mario as though he’s a kid. Which really bugs him.
Mario doesn’t quite recognise the feelings Ilya had evoked in him, but meeting him makes Mario realise that it’s time for him to grow up. The omniscient carnival owner Errante lifts the magic that has stopped Mario from physically ageing, and tells him to trust that his Path will lead him to where he needs to be. Mario doesn’t know what that means – but after over a century with the Carnival, he’s not surprised by Errante’s cryptic pronouncements.
Six years later, Paul tells Mario that they have returned to the same world where they saw the Circo Del Artes, and Mario (now aged twenty-two) heads out to see if it’s still around. He’s disappointed to see that Ilya Mostov is no longer listed among the performers, but an internet search shows that Ilya now works at Circo as a coach – and turns up an announcement that they’re auditioning for new acts.
Ilya Mostov retired from performing on the straps when his husband Derek died from brain cancer two years earlier. After losing the man who had been the other half of his life, Ilya lost the desire to perform and now focuses on coaching and training, and is working on the Circo’s new show, Capriccio, which is due to premiere in six months. He’s on the panel auditioning potential new performers, hoping to find someone strong enough to cope with the physical demands of the straps and agile enough to be able to handle his intricate choreography. A few auditions in, Ilya sits up and takes notice when a young man named Mario Gallier flawlessly performs a very exacting routine on the rings, and Ilya knows, right away, that he’s found what he’s looking for.
Mario is a little disappointed that Ilya no longer performs, but is happy to be partnered with Patrick, an experienced silks artist, who, while not quite as able as Mario – who is able to do everything Ilya demands and more without any problems – is prepared to work hard to be the best partner he can be. I really liked this part of the story; the friendship between Mario and Patrick is well-done, and the practice scenes really come to life as the author describes the various exercises and manoeuvres undertaken by the two men in their practice sessions. Mario’s crush on Ilya hasn’t gone away and he longs for Ilya to see him as a man rather than as a performer, but learning that Ilya and Derek had been married (which he hadn’t known before) comes as a bit of a shock – and he realises that Ilya must still be in mourning and that he never really had a chance with him.
But everything changes suddenly when Patrick has an accident during practice. The show is weeks away from opening, and there’s no way Ilya is going to be able to find someone to replace him at this stage. If the straps act in Capriccio is to go ahead, he’ll have to partner Mario himself. As the days pass and the practice sessions become more detailed and intense, so Ilya rediscovers his love of ‘flying’, realising that by giving it up, he’s denied himself the one thing that could have helped him to heal. And at the same time, he and Mario are getting to know each other better off stage as well as on; somehow, as performers, they just clicked from their very first practice sessions, and they’re discovering that their affinity for one another is as strong personally as it is professionally. Ilya has to admit, at last, that no matter how hard he’s tried to distance himself, he’s falling hard for Mario.
As the rehearsals continue and Mario and Ilya become closer, Mario makes friends among the troupe, making the surprising discovery that a number of the other performers and crew of Circo also come from the Carnival of Mysteries and are supernatural beings, like him. Things are going well and Mario is enjoying life – until a number of unexplained disappearances and accidents with stage equipment point to there being something sinister happening at the Circo Del Artes.
Airs Above the Ground is an entertaining mix of paranormal romance and mystery that keeps the central couple at the forefront of the action. The first part of the novel concentrates on setting the scene and developing the characters and their relationships – and the tension really ramps up in the second as Mario and his friends realise they’re being targeted, building to a high-stakes finale when all is revealed. I admit that the identity of the person behind the attacks is fairly easy to work out, but that’s not the whole story so I remained invested in finding out exactly who and why-dunnit.
The romance between Mario and Ilya is very much a slow-burn, with Mario trying to settle for the friendship he thinks is all he can have of Ilya while Ilya is working hard to suppress and deny his attraction to Mario. There are some lovely scenes between them while they’re working on their routine that engender a real sense of intimacy and longing, and I appreciated how honest they are with each other and how well they communicate.
This is perhaps an odd thing to say, but the thing I struggled with is something I actually liked about the story. The aerobatics are superbly described and it’s clear the author has done their research and carefully choreographed those sequences – but sometimes they were too much; there’s a lot of minute detail and I admit that I occasionally glazed over a bit and skimmed to the next bit of action or dialogue. But maybe that’s a ‘me’ thing; on the whole those parts are very well done, and some are used beautifully to show the growing trust and intimacy between the two leads.
Airs Above the Ground is an entertaining paranormal romance featuring engaging protagonists, an incredibly well-realised setting and an intriguing mystery. It’s one of the strongest entries I've read in the Carnival of Mysteries series, and I’m happy to recommend it.
Rachel Langella is a new-to-me author, and I picked up Airs Above the Ground, her second entry in the Carnival of Mysteries series, because the premise intrugued me. It’s the story of someone who has lived much of his life in the Carnival and performs there as part of a family trapeze act, and who decides that it’s time for him to experience what life has to offer on the outside. There’s a slow-burn romance with an intriguing suspense plot simmering along in the backgtround, and the descriptions of the amazing feats of agility and strength performed by the aerialists in the story are vivid and detailed.
Mario Gallier has been with the Carnival ever since his family fled persecution on their home world and took refuge with Errante Ame. In Earth years, he’s about one hundred and twenty, but as those who live and work at the Carnival don’t age, he looks about fifteen. When his brother Paul takes him to see the Circo Del Artes (in Las Vegas), Mario is captivated by the utterly thrilling performance on the aerial straps, and when Paul suggests that they could incorporate the straps into their routine, he’s completely on board with the idea. He’s excited when Paul tells him their ticket includes getting to meet the starts of the show, and when he gets to meet straps artists Derek and Ilya, Mario is instantly drawn to the dark, intensely charismatic Ilya, who is kind and encouraging about his ambitions to perform on the straps - but who talks to Mario as though he’s a kid. Which really bugs him.
Mario doesn’t quite recognise the feelings Ilya had evoked in him, but meeting him makes Mario realise that it’s time for him to grow up. The omniscient carnival owner Errante lifts the magic that has stopped Mario from physically ageing, and tells him to trust that his Path will lead him to where he needs to be. Mario doesn’t know what that means – but after over a century with the Carnival, he’s not surprised by Errante’s cryptic pronouncements.
Six years later, Paul tells Mario that they have returned to the same world where they saw the Circo Del Artes, and Mario (now aged twenty-two) heads out to see if it’s still around. He’s disappointed to see that Ilya Mostov is no longer listed among the performers, but an internet search shows that Ilya now works at Circo as a coach – and turns up an announcement that they’re auditioning for new acts.
Ilya Mostov retired from performing on the straps when his husband Derek died from brain cancer two years earlier. After losing the man who had been the other half of his life, Ilya lost the desire to perform and now focuses on coaching and training, and is working on the Circo’s new show, Capriccio, which is due to premiere in six months. He’s on the panel auditioning potential new performers, hoping to find someone strong enough to cope with the physical demands of the straps and agile enough to be able to handle his intricate choreography. A few auditions in, Ilya sits up and takes notice when a young man named Mario Gallier flawlessly performs a very exacting routine on the rings, and Ilya knows, right away, that he’s found what he’s looking for.
Mario is a little disappointed that Ilya no longer performs, but is happy to be partnered with Patrick, an experienced silks artist, who, while not quite as able as Mario – who is able to do everything Ilya demands and more without any problems – is prepared to work hard to be the best partner he can be. I really liked this part of the story; the friendship between Mario and Patrick is well-done, and the practice scenes really come to life as the author describes the various exercises and manoeuvres undertaken by the two men in their practice sessions. Mario’s crush on Ilya hasn’t gone away and he longs for Ilya to see him as a man rather than as a performer, but learning that Ilya and Derek had been married (which he hadn’t known before) comes as a bit of a shock – and he realises that Ilya must still be in mourning and that he never really had a chance with him.
But everything changes suddenly when Patrick has an accident during practice. The show is weeks away from opening, and there’s no way Ilya is going to be able to find someone to replace him at this stage. If the straps act in Capriccio is to go ahead, he’ll have to partner Mario himself. As the days pass and the practice sessions become more detailed and intense, so Ilya rediscovers his love of ‘flying’, realising that by giving it up, he’s denied himself the one thing that could have helped him to heal. And at the same time, he and Mario are getting to know each other better off stage as well as on; somehow, as performers, they just clicked from their very first practice sessions, and they’re discovering that their affinity for one another is as strong personally as it is professionally. Ilya has to admit, at last, that no matter how hard he’s tried to distance himself, he’s falling hard for Mario.
As the rehearsals continue and Mario and Ilya become closer, Mario makes friends among the troupe, making the surprising discovery that a number of the other performers and crew of Circo also come from the Carnival of Mysteries and are supernatural beings, like him. Things are going well and Mario is enjoying life – until a number of unexplained disappearances and accidents with stage equipment point to there being something sinister happening at the Circo Del Artes.
Airs Above the Ground is an entertaining mix of paranormal romance and mystery that keeps the central couple at the forefront of the action. The first part of the novel concentrates on setting the scene and developing the characters and their relationships – and the tension really ramps up in the second as Mario and his friends realise they’re being targeted, building to a high-stakes finale when all is revealed. I admit that the identity of the person behind the attacks is fairly easy to work out, but that’s not the whole story so I remained invested in finding out exactly who and why-dunnit.
The romance between Mario and Ilya is very much a slow-burn, with Mario trying to settle for the friendship he thinks is all he can have of Ilya while Ilya is working hard to suppress and deny his attraction to Mario. There are some lovely scenes between them while they’re working on their routine that engender a real sense of intimacy and longing, and I appreciated how honest they are with each other and how well they communicate.
This is perhaps an odd thing to say, but the thing I struggled with is something I actually liked about the story. The aerobatics are superbly described and it’s clear the author has done their research and carefully choreographed those sequences – but sometimes they were too much; there’s a lot of minute detail and I admit that I occasionally glazed over a bit and skimmed to the next bit of action or dialogue. But maybe that’s a ‘me’ thing; on the whole those parts are very well done, and some are used beautifully to show the growing trust and intimacy between the two leads.
Airs Above the Ground is an entertaining paranormal romance featuring engaging protagonists, an incredibly well-realised setting and an intriguing mystery. It’s one of the strongest entries I've read in the Carnival of Mysteries series, and I’m happy to recommend it.
December 5, 2024
Intermittently interesting on the technical details of aerial artistes, but slow & unconvincing plot dragged this back to earth.
Characterisation & writing style both ho-hum.
Characterisation & writing style both ho-hum.
September 10, 2024
This is another good addition to the multi author series The Carnival of Mysteries and is linked by the world building and characters to the author’s previous book in series Gods and Monsters but it can be read as a standalone, this is Mario’s story he is the youngest of the flying Gallier’s and when he meets Ilya he knows he wants to grow up for him. We get a great mix of magic, mystery, suspense and romance well written into a great story that kept my interest from the beginning of the story right upto the end. Looking forward to what comes next from both the author and the series.
September 23, 2024
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 4.75 hearts.
As a teenager, Mario witnessed the aerial strap artistry at the Big Top in Vegas. He also fell hard for one half of the act, Ilya. As a result, he went back to the carnival and told Errante Ame that he wanted to grow up. Years later, the carnival returned to Vegas. Ilya retired from flying after the death of his husband, who was the other half of their aerial strap act. All he wants to do is coach, but the emergence of a talented artist from the carnival awakens something in Ilya that he feels guilty about, and he tries to ignore it. But when people begin to go missing, the prospect of loss has further reached effects.
If you like Cirque Du Soleil, you will love this. The carnival is akin to a paranormal life train – some get on and stay on, others get off and stay off, while a few get on, off, and on again, depending on where it stops. The tale is not fast-paced, but while reading, I felt like I was in a beautiful bubble of characters, story, and me – it was a lovely place to be, and I didn’t want to stop reading.
The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Ilya and Mario. I will happily admit that I didn’t notice anything technical because I got lost in the imagery, ambiance, and emotions created. Each turn in the straps, strength movements, flying, costumes, and colors are all there. Then there’s the mystery of the missing – all good stuff.
Ilya is a taciturn man who, under a blank façade, is a storm of thoughts and emotions. He knows what he wants, but the guilt over having such feelings gnaws at him. Then there’s choreographing the straps routine, showing his imagination and taskmaster side.
Mario may look young, but he wears an old head and comes from an interesting heritage. He is only somewhat naive about the world outside the carnival. Even then, there are friends of the carnival who band together. Also, there is more to Mario than the body of a man in his twenties. Mario knows his strengths, abilities, and what to do in the face of adversity.
Airs Above the Ground is an enchanting tale with an enigmatic feel. The characters navigate grief, upheaval, new surroundings, and circumstances. Emotions run high, and when sabotage and missing persons enter the fray, protectiveness and the will to survive show that carnival people are a force to be reckoned with.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.
As a teenager, Mario witnessed the aerial strap artistry at the Big Top in Vegas. He also fell hard for one half of the act, Ilya. As a result, he went back to the carnival and told Errante Ame that he wanted to grow up. Years later, the carnival returned to Vegas. Ilya retired from flying after the death of his husband, who was the other half of their aerial strap act. All he wants to do is coach, but the emergence of a talented artist from the carnival awakens something in Ilya that he feels guilty about, and he tries to ignore it. But when people begin to go missing, the prospect of loss has further reached effects.
If you like Cirque Du Soleil, you will love this. The carnival is akin to a paranormal life train – some get on and stay on, others get off and stay off, while a few get on, off, and on again, depending on where it stops. The tale is not fast-paced, but while reading, I felt like I was in a beautiful bubble of characters, story, and me – it was a lovely place to be, and I didn’t want to stop reading.
The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Ilya and Mario. I will happily admit that I didn’t notice anything technical because I got lost in the imagery, ambiance, and emotions created. Each turn in the straps, strength movements, flying, costumes, and colors are all there. Then there’s the mystery of the missing – all good stuff.
Ilya is a taciturn man who, under a blank façade, is a storm of thoughts and emotions. He knows what he wants, but the guilt over having such feelings gnaws at him. Then there’s choreographing the straps routine, showing his imagination and taskmaster side.
Mario may look young, but he wears an old head and comes from an interesting heritage. He is only somewhat naive about the world outside the carnival. Even then, there are friends of the carnival who band together. Also, there is more to Mario than the body of a man in his twenties. Mario knows his strengths, abilities, and what to do in the face of adversity.
Airs Above the Ground is an enchanting tale with an enigmatic feel. The characters navigate grief, upheaval, new surroundings, and circumstances. Emotions run high, and when sabotage and missing persons enter the fray, protectiveness and the will to survive show that carnival people are a force to be reckoned with.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.
July 23, 2024
Mario has been 15 in body for a long time. When he gets the chance to visit Las Vegas he meets a man that makes him want to grow up. Years later when he's 22 in body, he gets the chance to go back to Vegas and meet the man he's had a crush on for years. He realizes that that man isn't the same as he was. His reality has changed and now he's in Vegas, for who knows how long, without a hope that he'll get his man. Things start to look up when a fellow aerialist is injured and Ilya takes his place. This has Mario and Ilya spending a lot of time together and things are looking up. Now Mario and Ilya are noticing some strange things happening around Circo. Will they be able to perform or will danger come for them?
Ilya is still grieving the loss of his husband after 2 years. Now he's retired performing and is the coach of the next aerialist team. All he has to do is find a team and train them in time for the next performance. In walks Mario with all his natural talent and Ilya starts to believe it just might be possible. He's also starting to notice Mario as a man and that he isn't quite normal. When Mario's partner is injured, Ilya decides to take his place and realizes what he has given up. Mario and Ilya make a perfect couple on and off the ropes. Now all they have to do is survive the strange happenings at Circo.
There's missing performers, mishaps with stage equipment and a boss that's acting even more strange than usual. Mario has formed a family of friends and they are determined to help find out what's going on at Circo. Between long, grueling days of practice Mario and Ilya find time to get to know each other and find they have more in common than just flying.
This is a really good fantasy/paranormal/romance with a mystery involved. The world and character building is really good and builds on the previous book Gods and Monsters. We get to see some of the characters from the previous book and find our love for new ones as well. There's love and sadness as well as some fun and all the feels involved. I really liked the mystery part as it built up tension and had a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend this book and the whole series as well. I would definitely like to read more books in this world.
Ilya is still grieving the loss of his husband after 2 years. Now he's retired performing and is the coach of the next aerialist team. All he has to do is find a team and train them in time for the next performance. In walks Mario with all his natural talent and Ilya starts to believe it just might be possible. He's also starting to notice Mario as a man and that he isn't quite normal. When Mario's partner is injured, Ilya decides to take his place and realizes what he has given up. Mario and Ilya make a perfect couple on and off the ropes. Now all they have to do is survive the strange happenings at Circo.
There's missing performers, mishaps with stage equipment and a boss that's acting even more strange than usual. Mario has formed a family of friends and they are determined to help find out what's going on at Circo. Between long, grueling days of practice Mario and Ilya find time to get to know each other and find they have more in common than just flying.
This is a really good fantasy/paranormal/romance with a mystery involved. The world and character building is really good and builds on the previous book Gods and Monsters. We get to see some of the characters from the previous book and find our love for new ones as well. There's love and sadness as well as some fun and all the feels involved. I really liked the mystery part as it built up tension and had a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend this book and the whole series as well. I would definitely like to read more books in this world.
September 9, 2024
I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Ooooh this was soooo good! I'm really enjoying this series a whole lot! It's been an intense, whimsical, slow burn sweet romance kind of ride, and i just can't get enough of this vibe! The mystery of Mario was done really well, and while i thought his romance with Ilya was precious, there was just so much happening in this installment that captured my attention, and i loved that so much! It's always great when the plot is exciting and gripping, because it invigorates the romance with intrigue and dynamism instead of melodramatic tantrums and theatrics! I definitely prefer everything THIS was 100%!
I especially loved the found family of Carnival expats who populated this marvelous installment! And even though i knew it was coming, i very much squealed when Errante and Rafe showed up at the very end for like, a sentence, to handle business!! I'm only a handful of titles into this series (and not even their book tbh), but i'm already in awe of whatever super powerful magic they must have, in order to be/provide a safe haven for so many amazing, supernatural folk, just trying to live their lives!
So happy i got a chance to dip into this series, because it's been some of the most interesting, and sweet, and enchanting stories i've read in quite a while, and i'm very much loving this ride!
Looking forward to whatever i stumble upon next, because no matter where i end up in the Carnival of Mysteries, it's sure to be an awesome time that leaves me exhilarated and craving another of these fantastic installments, because i am hooked on this series!
Ooooh this was soooo good! I'm really enjoying this series a whole lot! It's been an intense, whimsical, slow burn sweet romance kind of ride, and i just can't get enough of this vibe! The mystery of Mario was done really well, and while i thought his romance with Ilya was precious, there was just so much happening in this installment that captured my attention, and i loved that so much! It's always great when the plot is exciting and gripping, because it invigorates the romance with intrigue and dynamism instead of melodramatic tantrums and theatrics! I definitely prefer everything THIS was 100%!
I especially loved the found family of Carnival expats who populated this marvelous installment! And even though i knew it was coming, i very much squealed when Errante and Rafe showed up at the very end for like, a sentence, to handle business!! I'm only a handful of titles into this series (and not even their book tbh), but i'm already in awe of whatever super powerful magic they must have, in order to be/provide a safe haven for so many amazing, supernatural folk, just trying to live their lives!
So happy i got a chance to dip into this series, because it's been some of the most interesting, and sweet, and enchanting stories i've read in quite a while, and i'm very much loving this ride!
Looking forward to whatever i stumble upon next, because no matter where i end up in the Carnival of Mysteries, it's sure to be an awesome time that leaves me exhilarated and craving another of these fantastic installments, because i am hooked on this series!
September 12, 2024
Airs is Rachel Langella's addition to the multi author series The Carnival of Mysteries. I've really been enjoying this year's Carnival, but the reason I downloaded the book was the title. As a teen, I read Mary Stewart's story of the same name. It was a romantic mystery about the Austrian Riding School stallions, who did a routine which made it look like they were 'dancing' on the air.
This Airs is also about air dancing, of the aerial straps variety. It takes place in Langella's Gods and Monsters world which introduced last year's Carnival series. It's a standalone story in that world. Mario Gallier is a member of the Carnival's famous aerial act. He meets mundane, Ilya Mirov, once part of a famous Earthen aerial straps duo. Ilya lost his act partner, his husband, to cancer and now does air choreography.
It's a little bit angsty sad. Ilya is still in mourning. And there's a little bit of mystery, as Ilya's paranormal performers are being targeted by a killer. The romance between Ilya and Mario is a nice slow burn with just the right amount of steam. They are magic together. Secondaries include some from the first book. Great worldbuilding.
A sweet, enjoyable read. When Ilya and Mario become air partners, it really is just magic.
I received an advance copy from GRR and this is my review.
This Airs is also about air dancing, of the aerial straps variety. It takes place in Langella's Gods and Monsters world which introduced last year's Carnival series. It's a standalone story in that world. Mario Gallier is a member of the Carnival's famous aerial act. He meets mundane, Ilya Mirov, once part of a famous Earthen aerial straps duo. Ilya lost his act partner, his husband, to cancer and now does air choreography.
It's a little bit angsty sad. Ilya is still in mourning. And there's a little bit of mystery, as Ilya's paranormal performers are being targeted by a killer. The romance between Ilya and Mario is a nice slow burn with just the right amount of steam. They are magic together. Secondaries include some from the first book. Great worldbuilding.
A sweet, enjoyable read. When Ilya and Mario become air partners, it really is just magic.
I received an advance copy from GRR and this is my review.
September 13, 2024
Mario and Ilya fly high
More age difference, but not the way you think in this series about a cosmically traveling carnival. This entry is from Rachel Langella and it’s great as she describes the love developing between two aerial artists, Ilya from earth and Mario who is definitely not. I don’t know if either of the writers that make up this pen name have done any aerial work but they do a marvelous job of describing it and making me feel as if I was flying along with them. There is the obligatory mystery and danger of circus performers going missing but the best thing about this book for me was the slowly building relationship between the two men. I’m not a huge fan of slow build but it’s ok when there are real reasons for the slow timeline, which there are in this story.
I also appreciate that the relationship that Ilya had with his deceased husband was worked into the story and it was shown that love is not finite and Ilya could love Mario without having to give up the love and memories that he had for Derek. This is something that has been worked into a number of the stories in this series and I don’t know if it’s deliberate or just because The Carnival of Mysteries has love enough for everyone.
More age difference, but not the way you think in this series about a cosmically traveling carnival. This entry is from Rachel Langella and it’s great as she describes the love developing between two aerial artists, Ilya from earth and Mario who is definitely not. I don’t know if either of the writers that make up this pen name have done any aerial work but they do a marvelous job of describing it and making me feel as if I was flying along with them. There is the obligatory mystery and danger of circus performers going missing but the best thing about this book for me was the slowly building relationship between the two men. I’m not a huge fan of slow build but it’s ok when there are real reasons for the slow timeline, which there are in this story.
I also appreciate that the relationship that Ilya had with his deceased husband was worked into the story and it was shown that love is not finite and Ilya could love Mario without having to give up the love and memories that he had for Derek. This is something that has been worked into a number of the stories in this series and I don’t know if it’s deliberate or just because The Carnival of Mysteries has love enough for everyone.
September 13, 2024
Airs Above the Ground - Strap In
‘And then their reaching hands grasped, their fingers entwining as they slowed. Their bodies mimicked the straps above, torsos pressed together, then legs engaging as the music faded and Maxime lowered the rigging until their feet touched the ground. They were still pressed together, both of them breathing in sync that had nothing to do with practice and everything, Mario thought, to do with the resonance between them. He’d never felt the pure connection that he did now, as they looked at one another from only inches apart, and Mario longed to close that gap, to press his lips to Ilya’s and know that, if only for a moment, Ilya was his.’
An intricate story of paranormal MM romance, Rachel Langella has authored a lovely addition to the Carnival of Mysteries series.
We know that Mario has fallen for the famous aerialist, so much so that he makes choices that change his appearance and drive him to stay on Earth to be near Ilya.
Ilya finds himself drawn to the young man who can make his Vegas show a success, but feels the need to keep him at arm’s length while he still grieves his loss.
A sweet, and sometimes spicy, story that draws you in!
‘And then their reaching hands grasped, their fingers entwining as they slowed. Their bodies mimicked the straps above, torsos pressed together, then legs engaging as the music faded and Maxime lowered the rigging until their feet touched the ground. They were still pressed together, both of them breathing in sync that had nothing to do with practice and everything, Mario thought, to do with the resonance between them. He’d never felt the pure connection that he did now, as they looked at one another from only inches apart, and Mario longed to close that gap, to press his lips to Ilya’s and know that, if only for a moment, Ilya was his.’
An intricate story of paranormal MM romance, Rachel Langella has authored a lovely addition to the Carnival of Mysteries series.
We know that Mario has fallen for the famous aerialist, so much so that he makes choices that change his appearance and drive him to stay on Earth to be near Ilya.
Ilya finds himself drawn to the young man who can make his Vegas show a success, but feels the need to keep him at arm’s length while he still grieves his loss.
A sweet, and sometimes spicy, story that draws you in!
August 29, 2024
The Flying Galliers are a top loved act in the Carnival of Mysteries. The entire family is blessed with amazing skills to fly through the air seemingly without the need for safety precautions. The Carnival is a magical place, but just who are the Galliers?
This is the story of Mario, the youngest in the family and an aerial extraordinaire. He's been 15 for a long time, but an encounter with Ilya, an aerial artist on one of the worlds they visit, leaves him wanting to grow up. Some years later, Mario's line of fate brings the two men back together, and they embark on a journey of healing, relationship building, found family, and bringing down some bad guys.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The mysteries were well done (Mario's heritage, evil machinations) and the relationship development was beautiful.
Airs Above the Ground can be read as a stand-alone, but to fully enjoy the background I recommend at least reading Gods and Monsters first. The Flying Galliers make several prior appearances, which built up my anticipation to learn more about them, making this book all the more enjoyable for me.
This is the story of Mario, the youngest in the family and an aerial extraordinaire. He's been 15 for a long time, but an encounter with Ilya, an aerial artist on one of the worlds they visit, leaves him wanting to grow up. Some years later, Mario's line of fate brings the two men back together, and they embark on a journey of healing, relationship building, found family, and bringing down some bad guys.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The mysteries were well done (Mario's heritage, evil machinations) and the relationship development was beautiful.
Airs Above the Ground can be read as a stand-alone, but to fully enjoy the background I recommend at least reading Gods and Monsters first. The Flying Galliers make several prior appearances, which built up my anticipation to learn more about them, making this book all the more enjoyable for me.
September 11, 2024
4.5/5 This was a fun adventure. I liked learning more about circus arts and the straps that Mario and Ilya use. (I Googled a bit to get more visuals—pretty awesome!) We don’t spent too much time in the carnival, but we get to see a few old friends briefly, and we spent plenty of time prepping for the circus performances in Vegas.
I was entertained by the mystery of what exactly Mario was and what was going on with the Travellers. I really enjoyed the slow burn between Ilya and Mario, and I appreciated that the relationship with Derek continued to be valued. It was a nice reminder that love isn’t finite and love definitely doesn’t have to be ranked. There was a nice dynamic between Mario and Ilya because Mario’s reality cuts through a bunch of the expected “age difference, possible power imbalance” issues. Mario is intense and single-minded in what he wants, but also super respectful and thoughtful, which was a nice combination. It was lovely to see Ilya “fly” again and open up after the worst of his grief. I liked both of them a lot, and I’m glad they got their HEA.
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
I was entertained by the mystery of what exactly Mario was and what was going on with the Travellers. I really enjoyed the slow burn between Ilya and Mario, and I appreciated that the relationship with Derek continued to be valued. It was a nice reminder that love isn’t finite and love definitely doesn’t have to be ranked. There was a nice dynamic between Mario and Ilya because Mario’s reality cuts through a bunch of the expected “age difference, possible power imbalance” issues. Mario is intense and single-minded in what he wants, but also super respectful and thoughtful, which was a nice combination. It was lovely to see Ilya “fly” again and open up after the worst of his grief. I liked both of them a lot, and I’m glad they got their HEA.
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
September 18, 2024
I’m loving the 2nd series of Carnival of Mysteries as much as the first. I’d already ‘met’ Mario and his family in previous books, and loved getting to know him more. As well as Mario and Illy’s growing relationship, friendship and family are very much a part of the story.
I got sucked into this story as soon as I picked it up and didn’t want to put it down. I loved how Mario and Illy slowly move from colleagues to friends, and then more, and how Ilya finally finds what, or rather who, he needs to move forward from his loss.
The banter between Mario and his brother is great, as is the closeness between him and his family. I loved that he finds others who were Travellers with the carnival and how they support each other, and work together to take down the bad guy.
The action scenes are tense and full on. I loved how Mario’s abilities come to the forefront, and I didn’t figure out his secret until he revealed it to Ilya. Nicely done. I also loved the part the Carnival play in the story, with advice and protection at just the right moments without taking away from Mario and Ilya’s strength of character and abilities.
I got sucked into this story as soon as I picked it up and didn’t want to put it down. I loved how Mario and Illy slowly move from colleagues to friends, and then more, and how Ilya finally finds what, or rather who, he needs to move forward from his loss.
The banter between Mario and his brother is great, as is the closeness between him and his family. I loved that he finds others who were Travellers with the carnival and how they support each other, and work together to take down the bad guy.
The action scenes are tense and full on. I loved how Mario’s abilities come to the forefront, and I didn’t figure out his secret until he revealed it to Ilya. Nicely done. I also loved the part the Carnival play in the story, with advice and protection at just the right moments without taking away from Mario and Ilya’s strength of character and abilities.
September 14, 2024
Absolutely stunning. Mario, is a member of the Flying Galliers in the Carnival and is perpetually a teenager since he doesn't age. He has lived like this for over a hundred years. Ilya, is a retired widower from a straps duo team. He coaches but despairs of finding men who are strong enough for the craft. When he meets Mario, he believes he finds his star. Ilya, is still grieving his dead husband, Derek so his heart is a bit atrophied. Mario, believes Ilya is for him and hopes to get him to see him as a man and not a child. As Ilya works with Mario and is enthralled with his skill and their synchronicity, his heart starts coming alive. There is danger and a sinester stalker lurking around the paranormals, and Mario's friends. Mario, gains his magic and is determined to protect his family. Ilya, is exposed to a new normal, is he ready for it. Their courtship is full of romance, adventure and a bit of intrigue. Delightful story, fits in well with the series. The bar is high for this series and Rachel, met the challenge. Well done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 8, 2024
4.5 stars.
I came across Mario when I read the Gods and Monsters series and the Carnival of Mysteries, he interested me then, so I was chuffed that in this story I got to see him all grown up. Mario has become a charismatic and experienced flyer, known for his daring stunts and unwavering confidence. When he meets Ilya, he is instantly smitten, and knows somehow that their lives will become entwined. What follows is a well written story, with elements of romance, drama, and suspense. I loved the vivid descriptions of the circus atmosphere and the breathtaking aerial performances, which added a sense of excitement to the story. The book's fast moving, the suspense element is interesting, the baddies are bad. I enjoyed the way in which Ilya and Mario's story came together, and how their relationship developed. The ending is perfect, Ilya becomes part of the Carnival family, and doors are left open for future stories.
I came across Mario when I read the Gods and Monsters series and the Carnival of Mysteries, he interested me then, so I was chuffed that in this story I got to see him all grown up. Mario has become a charismatic and experienced flyer, known for his daring stunts and unwavering confidence. When he meets Ilya, he is instantly smitten, and knows somehow that their lives will become entwined. What follows is a well written story, with elements of romance, drama, and suspense. I loved the vivid descriptions of the circus atmosphere and the breathtaking aerial performances, which added a sense of excitement to the story. The book's fast moving, the suspense element is interesting, the baddies are bad. I enjoyed the way in which Ilya and Mario's story came together, and how their relationship developed. The ending is perfect, Ilya becomes part of the Carnival family, and doors are left open for future stories.
September 14, 2024
Flying high
I quite enjoyed the storyline here, flowing into the shared Carnival of Mysteries multiverse. As a longtime resident of the Carnival, Mario was frozen in young adulthood until he caught a glimpse of Ilya during a stopover near Vegas and was fascinated enough to “grow up”. Fast forward a few years and the Carnival lands nearby again, leading Mario to search Ilya out again and trade his life out for joining an upcoming show. The relationship between the two is definitely slow burn and I liked how Ilya’s prior love for his deceased husband Derek was still respected even as they grew closer. The mystery of just what has befallen several other Travelers adds some darkness and drama to the story. I wasn’t expecting the ending, but it works with what little I know about the Carnival.
While this was my first experience with the Carnival, I’m intrigued enough now that I’ll definitely be going back to see what other books set around this place catch my fancy.
I quite enjoyed the storyline here, flowing into the shared Carnival of Mysteries multiverse. As a longtime resident of the Carnival, Mario was frozen in young adulthood until he caught a glimpse of Ilya during a stopover near Vegas and was fascinated enough to “grow up”. Fast forward a few years and the Carnival lands nearby again, leading Mario to search Ilya out again and trade his life out for joining an upcoming show. The relationship between the two is definitely slow burn and I liked how Ilya’s prior love for his deceased husband Derek was still respected even as they grew closer. The mystery of just what has befallen several other Travelers adds some darkness and drama to the story. I wasn’t expecting the ending, but it works with what little I know about the Carnival.
While this was my first experience with the Carnival, I’m intrigued enough now that I’ll definitely be going back to see what other books set around this place catch my fancy.
September 13, 2024
I love the mystery, pageantry, and romance of the Carnival of Mysteries. The characters are intriguing and there is always a bit of danger and drama. Here, Mario is eternally young-looking, even as he hones his craft. Then he meets Ilya and discovers there is more to life than the air and the carnival. Ilya is still grieving his late husband, but he is amazed by Mario's innate talent. Danger lurks, preying on the supernaturals. Can Mario protect them and find his HEA with Ilya? I loved this captivating story, and if you love mystery, magic, and romance, I think you would enjoy it, too.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
September 16, 2024
Welcome back to the world of Carival of Mysteries !!!
Just beautiful !! I was totally immersed into this story - the world building, characters, the plot - everything ! Very much a slow burn....but that anticipation was endearing....and I loved how we got to see how they became more to each other. And once they did connect, the story seemed to ramp up even more - I love the balance between them.....one is quite stoic and the other quite loving and naive but practical as well....and the sub-plot gave the story that nice suspense filled edge as well. Overall, I found this story to be very intense, passionate and enthralling !!
Just beautiful !! I was totally immersed into this story - the world building, characters, the plot - everything ! Very much a slow burn....but that anticipation was endearing....and I loved how we got to see how they became more to each other. And once they did connect, the story seemed to ramp up even more - I love the balance between them.....one is quite stoic and the other quite loving and naive but practical as well....and the sub-plot gave the story that nice suspense filled edge as well. Overall, I found this story to be very intense, passionate and enthralling !!
September 10, 2024
I can honestly say I have not read a book with this particular plot ever and I was entranced. Mario being stuck in a youthful state but still growing and becoming a strong and successful performer is wonderful. By the time Ilya is back in his life, Mario is more than ready to win the man of his affections and lift him from his grief. I really enjoyed the Circus atmosphere and all the strange going Ons. I am a totally romantic reader, and I will say the mysterious feel had me completely engaged even more.
September 13, 2024
This is such a brilliant multi author series and I loved this. Though each book in the The Carnival of Mysteries series is supposed to be a standalone I would recommend reading the author’s previous book as there is some character integration. In this book we follow Mario’s story who is the youngest of the flying Galliger’s. Loved the relationship development between him and Ilya. The plot had plenty of suspense, mystery and of course, romance and was exceptionally well written. Highly recommend
I received a free arc copy from GRR and this is my honest review.
I received a free arc copy from GRR and this is my honest review.
September 21, 2024
This is the story of Mario, one of the Gallier brothers from the Carnival of Mysteries.
When he and his brother have some time off in Vegas they go to see a show and Mario gets a crush on one of the aerialists.
He then makes the decision he wants to start aging and goes back to Vegas and meets his crush when he decides to audition for a new show there and to leave the Carnival.
A sweet story of Ilya coming to terms with his husband's death and also the 2 solving the mystery of why ex Carnival people were being kidnapped. We also learn what Mario is.
When he and his brother have some time off in Vegas they go to see a show and Mario gets a crush on one of the aerialists.
He then makes the decision he wants to start aging and goes back to Vegas and meets his crush when he decides to audition for a new show there and to leave the Carnival.
A sweet story of Ilya coming to terms with his husband's death and also the 2 solving the mystery of why ex Carnival people were being kidnapped. We also learn what Mario is.
September 8, 2024
Ilya is an aerialist who lost his partner and is now a trainer with a show in Las Vegas. He is looking for a new team for the show. Mario an aerialist has left the Carnival of Mysteries to discover what is out in the world. He attends an audition with the Vegas show and is hired. There are more mysteries with this show than the carnival, people go missing. This story is full of danger, paranormals, drama, adventure, friendship and love. It’s a book that is hard to put down until the end.
September 11, 2024
This was quite a unique and interesting story! This really kept me captivated with such wonderful characters and a very interesting storyline. This was a very well written story that really kept me engaged from beginning to end. I loved the relationship between Mario and Ilya! I’m loving these carnival mysteries and this was a fantastic addition! Very highly recommend! This is my honest opinion of this complimentary copy of this book
September 12, 2024
The premise of the overarching series this book belongs to is a fabulous one: it’s hard not to love (and be intrigued by) a carnival of mysteries. This is Mario and Ilya’s story, and their romance is interwoven with plenty of mystery, magic, and enough suspense to keep things interesting as well as sweet. It’s easy to get drawn into this story, and hard to let go when it ends.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
September 13, 2024
He has remained young for a 100 years as he is part of a circus. They will end on a magic sparse world where he met a young man. He begins aging and he is really worried what will happen to him. Will he die? Will he fall in love? Will they move places again? Will he realize love is good for him? Will the aging stop? See how he gets on
September 14, 2024
I loved this addition to this wonderful multi-authored series! The cover was stunning! I loved the amazing story and the characters were beautifully written. I cant wait for the next story! I read an advanced copy of this book and this is my unbiased review!
December 27, 2025
MM paranormal romance in a multi-author series. Two acrobats form an attachment and investigate mysterious disappearances of Carnival alumni.
Typos: Missing words and letters, misplaced end quote punctuation, laid for lay.
Typos: Missing words and letters, misplaced end quote punctuation, laid for lay.
September 15, 2024
Really Good Read
This was a really fun refreshing read. This is a really good fantasy/paranormal/romance with a mystery involved, Mario and Ilya were wonderful characters
This was a really fun refreshing read. This is a really good fantasy/paranormal/romance with a mystery involved, Mario and Ilya were wonderful characters
August 12, 2024
I loved this book! A great story that unfolds like an onion. I REALLY enjoyed my time spent with Ilya and Mario!
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