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Deal with a Devil
The Circus of the Damned
Magician Gilbert Blake has spent his entire life conning drunkards in the seediest pubs in the darkest towns, careful to hide the true depths of his power. But when he spends a little too much time in Shadowsea and the infamous slumlord Count Reuben gets wind of his abilities, hiding within the Circus of the Damned may be Gilbert’s only chance at survival.
But there’s more to the Circus than meets the eye. Every time a performer dies, a new one must take his place, or the entire circus suffers the consequences. And while the handsome ringmaster Jesse isn’t one to coerce unwilling performers into giving up their souls to the devil, a recent death in their ranks makes Gilbert exactly what they need.
Yet the longer Gilbert stays with the Circus, the more danger he seems to bring them. Being with Jesse is more than Gilbert could have hoped for, but as Count Reuben’s men continue to search for Gilbert and the Circus loses another performer, they all face running out of time long before the Devil claims his due.
But there’s more to the Circus than meets the eye. Every time a performer dies, a new one must take his place, or the entire circus suffers the consequences. And while the handsome ringmaster Jesse isn’t one to coerce unwilling performers into giving up their souls to the devil, a recent death in their ranks makes Gilbert exactly what they need.
Yet the longer Gilbert stays with the Circus, the more danger he seems to bring them. Being with Jesse is more than Gilbert could have hoped for, but as Count Reuben’s men continue to search for Gilbert and the Circus loses another performer, they all face running out of time long before the Devil claims his due.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2014
4 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
About the author
Cornelia Grey
15 books106 followersCornelia Grey is a creative writing student fresh out of university, with a penchant for fine arts and the blues. Born and raised in the hills of Northern Italy, where she collected her share of poetry and narrative prizes, she is now based in London, and she is thoroughly enjoying the cultural melting pot that is the City.
Her interests vary from painting to photography, from sewing to acting; when writing, she favors curious, surreal poems and short stories involving handsome young men seducing each other.
After graduating with top grades, she is now busy with internships - literary agencies, publishing houses, and creative departments handling book series, among others. She also works as a freelance translator.
You can contact Cornelia at corneliagrey@yahoo.com.
Her interests vary from painting to photography, from sewing to acting; when writing, she favors curious, surreal poems and short stories involving handsome young men seducing each other.
After graduating with top grades, she is now busy with internships - literary agencies, publishing houses, and creative departments handling book series, among others. She also works as a freelance translator.
You can contact Cornelia at corneliagrey@yahoo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 23, 2015
holy god, was this annoying.
if it wasn't the MC refusing to accept his circumstances for the first third, it was continuity stuff like the fortune teller "shutting her eyes" when she supposedly never opened them in the first place.
the voice was all over the place—everyone talked like american teenagers—and the writing was...
the writing was...
...see, it's complicated, because there's some good stuff here, some nice flashes of imagination—but it's ruined every time by poor choices, repetition, or just plain poor execution.
and the editing, as evidenced by the repetition and continuity errors, was straight-up garbage.
and i about shat my eyeballs out when i got to the "ebony fingers."
if it wasn't the MC refusing to accept his circumstances for the first third, it was continuity stuff like the fortune teller "shutting her eyes" when she supposedly never opened them in the first place.
the voice was all over the place—everyone talked like american teenagers—and the writing was...
the writing was...
...see, it's complicated, because there's some good stuff here, some nice flashes of imagination—but it's ruined every time by poor choices, repetition, or just plain poor execution.
and the editing, as evidenced by the repetition and continuity errors, was straight-up garbage.
and i about shat my eyeballs out when i got to the "ebony fingers."
October 12, 2014
4 Devilishly Good Stars
Yes I've been on the bottle again...the one that say's DRINK ME!!
That there shit is sooooo good....it takes you to places beyond your wildest dreams.
Your mind goes into sensory overdrive...
This time I ran into a charming rouge.... by the name of Gilbert Blake 'magician'
Gilbert finds himself in a spot of bother whilst conning some good folkor shall we say.... not so good
out of their money .....chased thru the wonderfully colourful streets of Shadowsea ....with nowhere left to run, he is offered help by a rather strange bunch of individuals whom belong to a
travelling circus
.....but it comes at a cost!!
But there's more to the Circus than meets the eye!!
This story is such a visual treat, with characters with names such as Bristlesprout, Skunktoungue *Ewww* and mechanical elephants, and Octopus men.....and...... beautiful red haired Ringmasters.
Yes Gilbert, and that Red Haired Ringmaster by the name of Jesse were hot together.... let me tell you.
But lurking in the moonlight......the devilishly handsome Devil himself Farfarello holds lots of the answers to Gilbert's questions.
Would you make a deal with the devil, that's exactly what the Young Ringmaster of the Circus Of Damned did!!!!
This the my 1st Conelia Grey novel I've had the pleasure of reading...and I'm sure it won't be my last.
*ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Riptide in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much*
Yes I've been on the bottle again...the one that say's DRINK ME!!
That there shit is sooooo good....it takes you to places beyond your wildest dreams.
Your mind goes into sensory overdrive...
This time I ran into a charming rouge.... by the name of Gilbert Blake 'magician'
Gilbert finds himself in a spot of bother whilst conning some good folk
But there's more to the Circus than meets the eye!!
This story is such a visual treat, with characters with names such as Bristlesprout, Skunktoungue *Ewww* and mechanical elephants, and Octopus men.....and...... beautiful red haired Ringmasters.
Yes Gilbert, and that Red Haired Ringmaster by the name of Jesse were hot together.... let me tell you.
But lurking in the moonlight......the devilishly handsome Devil himself Farfarello holds lots of the answers to Gilbert's questions.
Would you make a deal with the devil, that's exactly what the Young Ringmaster of the Circus Of Damned did!!!!
This the my 1st Conelia Grey novel I've had the pleasure of reading...and I'm sure it won't be my last.
*ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Riptide in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much*
November 28, 2014
Oooh, this was interesting. Beautiful writing and wonderfully vivid description. The opening scenes with crappy selfish card cheat Gilbert running from retribution, finding himself trapped in a hell circus, and having hot hostility with sexy ringmaster were terrific.
I rather felt I'd have liked to see the author carry on her convictions more. I could believe in Gilbert's deep-down decency coming to the surface, but I wasn't entirely sure I fully bought into the romance element. Love comes very quickly, Jesse seems awfully naive for his lifespan, and the history between him and Farfarello the devil was unavoidably more interesting because, devil. I felt that this book secretly wanted to be a fabulous dark fantasy with erotic elements but without a HEA. Maybe that's just me. (Also the whole 'souls to Satan' aspect seemed a little glossed over in the happy ending, unless I missed something?)
I would definitely recommend this - very well written, great creepiness and head and shoulders above most. And if you have not had your fill of damned carnivals, try the non-romance The Necromancer, terrific dark comedy about a totally unrepentant bastard who is actually perfectly happy about gathering souls for perdition.
I rather felt I'd have liked to see the author carry on her convictions more. I could believe in Gilbert's deep-down decency coming to the surface, but I wasn't entirely sure I fully bought into the romance element. Love comes very quickly, Jesse seems awfully naive for his lifespan, and the history between him and Farfarello the devil was unavoidably more interesting because, devil. I felt that this book secretly wanted to be a fabulous dark fantasy with erotic elements but without a HEA. Maybe that's just me. (Also the whole 'souls to Satan' aspect seemed a little glossed over in the happy ending, unless I missed something?)
I would definitely recommend this - very well written, great creepiness and head and shoulders above most. And if you have not had your fill of damned carnivals, try the non-romance The Necromancer, terrific dark comedy about a totally unrepentant bastard who is actually perfectly happy about gathering souls for perdition.
January 12, 2017
*** 3,5 Steampunk stars ***
-----------Spoilerish review! Major spoiler in spoilers, though---------
I wish this could have been... more.
I liked it, but I didn't love it. I was reading it with my brow furrowed. Instead of enjoying the story I was more focused on figuring the story out. There was Gilbert and the Circus of the Damned. And a curse. And the devil. A bad guy named Reuben, who was the bad guy, not the devil. The devil had had an . And there were .
I had trouble differentiating the different characters of the circus too. Who was Hugo again? What did he do? And there was a bear, named Matilda? The characters kinda blurred. There was little about them that made them stand out, heh.. despite tentacles and all. I would have liked to know more about them, to let me know them better and remember them.
Gilbert was an okay character. I really liked his magic! Jesse was a character difficult to get a grasp of. At first he seems like the the demanding, strong, tough Ringmaster, but he wasn't. It's not often, maybe for the first time for me, but it actually threw me for a loop that . And I couldn't get them to work. I feel there was a lack of sexual tension between them too. I didn't feel the connection between Gilbert and Jesse. Yes, the sex was hot, but I didn't feel it, you know?
I did love the steampunk theme, though!
Gilbert, the magician.
Jesse, the Ringmaster.
Clown.
Herbert, the elephant.
The Black Wagon.
Long time since you've seen a paperback? This is the backside of the paperback of Circus of the Damned.
-----------Spoilerish review! Major spoiler in spoilers, though---------
I wish this could have been... more.
I liked it, but I didn't love it. I was reading it with my brow furrowed. Instead of enjoying the story I was more focused on figuring the story out. There was Gilbert and the Circus of the Damned. And a curse. And the devil. A bad guy named Reuben, who was the bad guy, not the devil. The devil had had an . And there were .
I had trouble differentiating the different characters of the circus too. Who was Hugo again? What did he do? And there was a bear, named Matilda? The characters kinda blurred. There was little about them that made them stand out, heh.. despite tentacles and all. I would have liked to know more about them, to let me know them better and remember them.
Gilbert was an okay character. I really liked his magic! Jesse was a character difficult to get a grasp of. At first he seems like the the demanding, strong, tough Ringmaster, but he wasn't. It's not often, maybe for the first time for me, but it actually threw me for a loop that . And I couldn't get them to work. I feel there was a lack of sexual tension between them too. I didn't feel the connection between Gilbert and Jesse. Yes, the sex was hot, but I didn't feel it, you know?
I did love the steampunk theme, though!
Gilbert, the magician.
Jesse, the Ringmaster.
Clown.
Herbert, the elephant.
The Black Wagon.
Long time since you've seen a paperback? This is the backside of the paperback of Circus of the Damned.
August 21, 2014
...This story was a true visual spectacle, from start to finish.
OMG, everything about it was perfect, literately EVERYTHING! Why the hell did I wait so long to pop my Steampunk cherry?! *slaps myself upside the head*.
I especially loved the descriptive word Cornelia penned; it seriously brought the story to life for me and not many books can do that. And as for Gilbert and Jesse, well, they were just so intense and hot. My new favourite M/M pairing, I'd do practically anything for more of them. Not that the story needs it, I'm just greedy for more. So, so greedy for more.
Highly Recommended.
*ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much*
November 17, 2016
I’m giving this one 3 stars. I liked it but it was hard for me to get through and I found it far too easy to put down when I finished a short chapter. I know that probably makes no sense at all so I’ll try to explain.
Gilbert finds himself in a bind when he’s caught using magic to bilk some sucker out of his money. Now he has a hoard of angry fellows chasing after him. He lands in a most unusual place called the “Circus of the Damned” and begs them to allow him to hide. The ringmaster says something like, “Sure you handsome scoundrel you, but now you are stuck with us FOREVER! And when you die, your soul belongs to the devil. Mwahaha!” Gilbert agrees. I guess it’s better than getting your head bashed in, right? Also, the ringmaster is hot and Gilbert has a thing for hot guys. Truth be told, were I Gilbert, I would've said yes too.
Sounds like a fun, exciting, possibly sexy little read, hmmm? Well, it almost is. I’m not sure where it went wrong but it kept losing me. I guess there are too many characters in the sideshow that are there just to be there to round out the cast. I wanted to know them better. If you’re going to pop into a scene and make me scour my brain trying to remember who you are, what you look like and what your “talent” was all about, the least you can do is let me get to know your personality for all the effort. But that wasn’t really the case. The main focus was placed on building the atmosphere surrounding the story and creating the back-story that brought about the circus and though it was beautifully done, I wish the book had been longer and included better character interaction. In a book like this, I am looking for emotional intensity, or funny banter and something more than fabulous atmosphere.
So that’s what slowed me down. What kept me reading were, interestingly enough, the unique characters and the sense of family they all found with each other. I kept hoping for that emotional connection to take over and though there were glimpses (enough to keep me reading), in the end, I wasn’t satisfied. The main romance feels a bit rushed and squeezed into the plot. The sexy times were sexy enough but would’ve been so much better had I felt like the two were deeply in love or even deeply in lust. I just wasn’t feeling it 100%.
Dead inside? Perhaps.
There’s so much promise in the writing that I will try the next book in the series despite all of my whining. I have a feeling that once the author gets the pacing and character issues sorted out she is going to write something that will be unforgettable and I can't wait to read it.
Gilbert finds himself in a bind when he’s caught using magic to bilk some sucker out of his money. Now he has a hoard of angry fellows chasing after him. He lands in a most unusual place called the “Circus of the Damned” and begs them to allow him to hide. The ringmaster says something like, “Sure you handsome scoundrel you, but now you are stuck with us FOREVER! And when you die, your soul belongs to the devil. Mwahaha!” Gilbert agrees. I guess it’s better than getting your head bashed in, right? Also, the ringmaster is hot and Gilbert has a thing for hot guys. Truth be told, were I Gilbert, I would've said yes too.
Sounds like a fun, exciting, possibly sexy little read, hmmm? Well, it almost is. I’m not sure where it went wrong but it kept losing me. I guess there are too many characters in the sideshow that are there just to be there to round out the cast. I wanted to know them better. If you’re going to pop into a scene and make me scour my brain trying to remember who you are, what you look like and what your “talent” was all about, the least you can do is let me get to know your personality for all the effort. But that wasn’t really the case. The main focus was placed on building the atmosphere surrounding the story and creating the back-story that brought about the circus and though it was beautifully done, I wish the book had been longer and included better character interaction. In a book like this, I am looking for emotional intensity, or funny banter and something more than fabulous atmosphere.
So that’s what slowed me down. What kept me reading were, interestingly enough, the unique characters and the sense of family they all found with each other. I kept hoping for that emotional connection to take over and though there were glimpses (enough to keep me reading), in the end, I wasn’t satisfied. The main romance feels a bit rushed and squeezed into the plot. The sexy times were sexy enough but would’ve been so much better had I felt like the two were deeply in love or even deeply in lust. I just wasn’t feeling it 100%.
Dead inside? Perhaps.
There’s so much promise in the writing that I will try the next book in the series despite all of my whining. I have a feeling that once the author gets the pacing and character issues sorted out she is going to write something that will be unforgettable and I can't wait to read it.
November 20, 2014
I am SO excited!
***
4.75
Almost brilliant.
Love, love, love, hate.
AMAZING and frustrating.
A favorite author now for sure.
This would have been perfect but for the romance, which had promise. Which could have been more. Which almost was...
And then wasn't.
The fault starts at 40ish% where the spark between him and Jesse fizzles. Why does it fizzle? Because out of the blue Gilbert switches into this nice, considerate, please-and-sorry guy (which jarred from his rough and cheeky intro--and the awesome hate-want tension we first get with Gilbert and Jesse). Anyway, the tension bleeds out and I was left all 'but-but-but...'
Because it didn't have to be like that. A few wee tweaks and the tension could have rocked.
There is this scene that comes later with their first kiss. Dynamite (more of this, plreeeeease). If only that lull hadn't happened before it.
And then the blah after it. So much conflict is inherent in this book. But it needed drawing out to increase stakes of romance!!!
In the end, it feels like Gilbert's story is only an intermediary one. Farferello and Jesse seemed to have more history and spark.
But listen to me nag on! I swear I only do it because I LOVED the story so much and I greedily wanted more!
This is a wonderful compelling story with such a colorful and unique heart!
It's delicious.
I'll be reading more and more from this author. My betvis she'll get better and better and blow us all away!
:-)
***
4.75
Almost brilliant.
Love, love, love, hate.
AMAZING and frustrating.
A favorite author now for sure.
This would have been perfect but for the romance, which had promise. Which could have been more. Which almost was...
And then wasn't.
The fault starts at 40ish% where the spark between him and Jesse fizzles. Why does it fizzle? Because out of the blue Gilbert switches into this nice, considerate, please-and-sorry guy (which jarred from his rough and cheeky intro--and the awesome hate-want tension we first get with Gilbert and Jesse). Anyway, the tension bleeds out and I was left all 'but-but-but...'
Because it didn't have to be like that. A few wee tweaks and the tension could have rocked.
There is this scene that comes later with their first kiss. Dynamite (more of this, plreeeeease). If only that lull hadn't happened before it.
And then the blah after it. So much conflict is inherent in this book. But it needed drawing out to increase stakes of romance!!!
In the end, it feels like Gilbert's story is only an intermediary one. Farferello and Jesse seemed to have more history and spark.
But listen to me nag on! I swear I only do it because I LOVED the story so much and I greedily wanted more!
This is a wonderful compelling story with such a colorful and unique heart!
It's delicious.
I'll be reading more and more from this author. My betvis she'll get better and better and blow us all away!
:-)
October 24, 2014
When I first found out that Cornelia Grey – one of my most beloved underrated authors – was finally releasing her first NOVEL, I was absolutely excited. Especially when the story is part of her paranormal romance series, Deal with a Devil, which includes book 1 Devil at the Crossroads released last year.
While Farfarello, the devil that starred in Devil at the Crossroads, makes an appearance in this novel, this is not his story. This is a story of Gilbert Blake, a magician who uses his power to con drunkards and then finds himself being saved from the men of crime lord, Count Reuben, by joining Circus of the Damned only to realize that by joining, he has signed away his soul and he cannot run away.
For me, The Circus of the Damned was a personal journey of Gilbert Blake – and less of a romance (which I’ll explain later). See, despite his magic, Gilbert never sees himself as one of the freaks. In fact, he hates the word. There is nothing physically wrong with him, Gilbert is an actual magician, so thinks of himself above these sideshow people.
Until Gilbert learns about the people in the circus – and befriends them and he realizes that for the first time in his life, he belongs. He has his family right here, among the freaks. He doesn’t have to be afraid of his magic anymore. And Gilbert starts to care for these people. For me, this journey of personal growth is the core of the story. Apart from the magic and the threat from the crime lord and the paranormal steampunk-ish aspect, this is a story of someone who learns about himself and his priorities in life and how he comes to appreciate people who are, well, different.
The secondary characters are charming. We have an octopus man, a muscled-lady, joined-at-the-hip twins, a ginger-bearded dwarf, a deathly pale girl, a wooden toy that speak, a mechanical clock-work elephant, a bear, and of course, the ringmaster himself, Jesse, who is also a master of fire. They round-up this ragtag circus family and I found myself caring for each and every one of them as well.
Then we have the circus performances!! Oh wow, those were mesmerizing as well!! I actually held my breath when I read them because I could see it with my mind’s eye, how those performances felt otherworldly, especially when Gilbert was performing his magic. I wished there were more of those in the book – alas, these circus people must also fight for their lives from the threat of Count Reuben *pout*.
The romance, however, was a little underwhelming. I neither felt nor believed that Gilbert’s feeling towards Jesse was love. The emotional connection wasn’t there, even if the two men struck friendship and shared their deepest fear and had erotic moments. In fact, I felt that Jesse had better emotional turmoil with Farfarello – as lovers who didn’t exactly part ways on good terms. For me, what Gilbert and Jesse were experiencing felt like lust at best, which made me question whether Gilbert was making the right decision in the end.
Underwhelming romance aside, The Circus of the Damned is a story filled with magical moments, colorful characters, and gripping action. Cornelia Grey once again made a satisfied reader out of me and I cannot wait for the third story from this series.
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
While Farfarello, the devil that starred in Devil at the Crossroads, makes an appearance in this novel, this is not his story. This is a story of Gilbert Blake, a magician who uses his power to con drunkards and then finds himself being saved from the men of crime lord, Count Reuben, by joining Circus of the Damned only to realize that by joining, he has signed away his soul and he cannot run away.
For me, The Circus of the Damned was a personal journey of Gilbert Blake – and less of a romance (which I’ll explain later). See, despite his magic, Gilbert never sees himself as one of the freaks. In fact, he hates the word. There is nothing physically wrong with him, Gilbert is an actual magician, so thinks of himself above these sideshow people.
It wasn’t like he couldn’t appear perfectly normal if he wanted to. Live a perfectly ordinary life. Walk on the street without anyone looking at him twice. People didn’t stare at him in horror, didn’t recoil from him, didn’t laugh. He could stop doing magic and forget about it and be just like everybody else, if he’d so choose.
“It’s different,” he managed to say, his throat closing.
Until Gilbert learns about the people in the circus – and befriends them and he realizes that for the first time in his life, he belongs. He has his family right here, among the freaks. He doesn’t have to be afraid of his magic anymore. And Gilbert starts to care for these people. For me, this journey of personal growth is the core of the story. Apart from the magic and the threat from the crime lord and the paranormal steampunk-ish aspect, this is a story of someone who learns about himself and his priorities in life and how he comes to appreciate people who are, well, different.
The secondary characters are charming. We have an octopus man, a muscled-lady, joined-at-the-hip twins, a ginger-bearded dwarf, a deathly pale girl, a wooden toy that speak, a mechanical clock-work elephant, a bear, and of course, the ringmaster himself, Jesse, who is also a master of fire. They round-up this ragtag circus family and I found myself caring for each and every one of them as well.
Then we have the circus performances!! Oh wow, those were mesmerizing as well!! I actually held my breath when I read them because I could see it with my mind’s eye, how those performances felt otherworldly, especially when Gilbert was performing his magic. I wished there were more of those in the book – alas, these circus people must also fight for their lives from the threat of Count Reuben *pout*.
The romance, however, was a little underwhelming. I neither felt nor believed that Gilbert’s feeling towards Jesse was love. The emotional connection wasn’t there, even if the two men struck friendship and shared their deepest fear and had erotic moments. In fact, I felt that Jesse had better emotional turmoil with Farfarello – as lovers who didn’t exactly part ways on good terms. For me, what Gilbert and Jesse were experiencing felt like lust at best, which made me question whether Gilbert was making the right decision in the end.
Underwhelming romance aside, The Circus of the Damned is a story filled with magical moments, colorful characters, and gripping action. Cornelia Grey once again made a satisfied reader out of me and I cannot wait for the third story from this series.
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
November 7, 2014
3.5 Stars
First, let’s talk about this cover. By a show of hands, who else thinks that dude on the cover looks like Gandy?
Bad Gandy?
Naughty Gandy?
*groans*
The cover alone was enough to make me pick this up.
Honestly, I’ve surprised myself with my recent run on circus reads. Who knew I’d take to this setting? I don’t do clowns. I don’t understand why people like them. Clowns are freaky. I skimmed the few clown segments in this one. Thankfully, he is not the main character.
My first experience with this author was Benjamin Pepperwhistle which knocked my socks clean off. Circus of the Damned is quieter than Benjamin. It’s also what I would characterize as a slow burn. Ordinarily, slow burns are not my thing. I like my pages set on FIRE! But, if you give me an entertaining story I’m usually appeased which is what happened here.
I can’t say enough good things about the way Ms. Grey builds a story, the imagery she evokes and the way she uses language. I find her writing to be extremely creative and her stories flow easily. The Circus of the Damned was no exception. True, it didn’t grab me the way Benjamin did, but it’s still a solid read.
When we first meet Gilbert he’s in a sticky situation and it quickly becomes clear that this is par for his course. He’s been fending for himself for a very long time and his backstory is tragic. That backstory coupled with his abilities has made him a lone wolf until he stumbles headfirst into a band of… odd individuals who offer him a deal he can’t or won’t refuse with an angry mob on his tail out for his blood.
Aside: I swear I could not get Devil Went Down to Georgia by The Charlie Daniels Band out of my head. Over and over!
He agrees to join the circus of the damned in the heat of the moment and soon regrets it. This circus is comprised of a ragtag family of “freaks”, as they refer to themselves, including a tentacle man, a dwarf, a dancing bear, a freakishly strong woman, a clown *shudders*, a mechanical elephant, conjoined twins, a fortune teller and the ringmaster, Jesse. WHO’S A GINGER!
A ginger with tattoos! Even better. Jesse is mysterious and beautiful and Gilbert is attracted to him instantly. He and Gilbert dance around each other for quite some time while Gilbert keeps trying to escape the circus only to find himself back there again and again. I found Gilbert’s actions and reactions to be authentic and, at times, humorous. Once he stops running he and Jesse make a nice couple and did have one especially sexy scene involving magic.
The story is predicated on this conflict between Farfarello (the devil), Count Reuben (a crime boss of sorts in Shadowsea), Jesse and Gilbert. Without going into spoiler-land, I found the motivation behind Count Reuben’s obsession lackluster. I was looking for something more convoluted or elaborate. What I got was ‘he’s the bad guy! (insert evil cackle and/or stroking a cat weirdly)’. I also found the backstory of the deal struck between Farfarello and Jesse anticlimactic. The world building is difficult for me to pin down. At times it reads historical (turn of the century) and others it reads AU, but I’ve not read all the books in this series so perhaps it was addressed in an earlier work.
On a positive note, the buildup to the showdown and the actual showdown were both exciting and the conclusion was gratifying. I would recommend The Circus of the Damned mainly for the writing and imagery. Ms. Grey can tell a tale and I’ll certainly read other offerings from her. Maybe even more circus stories.
First, let’s talk about this cover. By a show of hands, who else thinks that dude on the cover looks like Gandy?
Bad Gandy?
Naughty Gandy?
*groans*
The cover alone was enough to make me pick this up.
Honestly, I’ve surprised myself with my recent run on circus reads. Who knew I’d take to this setting? I don’t do clowns. I don’t understand why people like them. Clowns are freaky. I skimmed the few clown segments in this one. Thankfully, he is not the main character.
My first experience with this author was Benjamin Pepperwhistle which knocked my socks clean off. Circus of the Damned is quieter than Benjamin. It’s also what I would characterize as a slow burn. Ordinarily, slow burns are not my thing. I like my pages set on FIRE! But, if you give me an entertaining story I’m usually appeased which is what happened here.
I can’t say enough good things about the way Ms. Grey builds a story, the imagery she evokes and the way she uses language. I find her writing to be extremely creative and her stories flow easily. The Circus of the Damned was no exception. True, it didn’t grab me the way Benjamin did, but it’s still a solid read.
When we first meet Gilbert he’s in a sticky situation and it quickly becomes clear that this is par for his course. He’s been fending for himself for a very long time and his backstory is tragic. That backstory coupled with his abilities has made him a lone wolf until he stumbles headfirst into a band of… odd individuals who offer him a deal he can’t or won’t refuse with an angry mob on his tail out for his blood.
Aside: I swear I could not get Devil Went Down to Georgia by The Charlie Daniels Band out of my head. Over and over!
He agrees to join the circus of the damned in the heat of the moment and soon regrets it. This circus is comprised of a ragtag family of “freaks”, as they refer to themselves, including a tentacle man, a dwarf, a dancing bear, a freakishly strong woman, a clown *shudders*, a mechanical elephant, conjoined twins, a fortune teller and the ringmaster, Jesse. WHO’S A GINGER!
DOUBLE FINGER GUN BONUS POINTS THERE! GANDY AND A GINGER!
A ginger with tattoos! Even better. Jesse is mysterious and beautiful and Gilbert is attracted to him instantly. He and Gilbert dance around each other for quite some time while Gilbert keeps trying to escape the circus only to find himself back there again and again. I found Gilbert’s actions and reactions to be authentic and, at times, humorous. Once he stops running he and Jesse make a nice couple and did have one especially sexy scene involving magic.
The story is predicated on this conflict between Farfarello (the devil), Count Reuben (a crime boss of sorts in Shadowsea), Jesse and Gilbert. Without going into spoiler-land, I found the motivation behind Count Reuben’s obsession lackluster. I was looking for something more convoluted or elaborate. What I got was ‘he’s the bad guy! (insert evil cackle and/or stroking a cat weirdly)’. I also found the backstory of the deal struck between Farfarello and Jesse anticlimactic. The world building is difficult for me to pin down. At times it reads historical (turn of the century) and others it reads AU, but I’ve not read all the books in this series so perhaps it was addressed in an earlier work.
On a positive note, the buildup to the showdown and the actual showdown were both exciting and the conclusion was gratifying. I would recommend The Circus of the Damned mainly for the writing and imagery. Ms. Grey can tell a tale and I’ll certainly read other offerings from her. Maybe even more circus stories.
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August 14, 2014'The Circus of the Damned' inspiration board on Pinterest:
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Spot the characters!
October 6, 2014
CUTE! Just so stinking cute. This is the first Cornelia Grey book I've had the pleasure of reading, but you can bet your last flimsy dollar I'll be on the lookout for more. Thumbs up.
Gilbert's open appreciation of Jesse was a pleasure to read and Jesse wasn't anything like I expected. I expected him to be the heavy, creepy circus master, but none of it worked out quite like I expected and I'm not complaining. Actually, I expected the whole thing to be dark, but it isn't. It's almost light and fluffy in a YA sort of way if you overlook the cursing and sex. But again, I'm not complaining. I enjoyed the heck out of it.
There was a quietly bisexual lead falling in love with a beautiful man, a cast containing a satisfying variety of age, gender, color, even species (I think), a few yummy, but in no way smutty sex scenes, some evocative writing, interesting side characters (though there are a lot of them), some light steampunk elements and a HEA ending. Plenty to recommend this novel to any number of readers.
My only complaint is that I never really felt like I got to know the characters in any depth. I got to know what was happening around them and what they did, but not them and I really wanted to. But that's a relatively small criticism for something I enjoyed as much as I did this one.
Note: I received a free ARC from Netgalley.
Gilbert's open appreciation of Jesse was a pleasure to read and Jesse wasn't anything like I expected. I expected him to be the heavy, creepy circus master, but none of it worked out quite like I expected and I'm not complaining. Actually, I expected the whole thing to be dark, but it isn't. It's almost light and fluffy in a YA sort of way if you overlook the cursing and sex. But again, I'm not complaining. I enjoyed the heck out of it.
There was a quietly bisexual lead falling in love with a beautiful man, a cast containing a satisfying variety of age, gender, color, even species (I think), a few yummy, but in no way smutty sex scenes, some evocative writing, interesting side characters (though there are a lot of them), some light steampunk elements and a HEA ending. Plenty to recommend this novel to any number of readers.
My only complaint is that I never really felt like I got to know the characters in any depth. I got to know what was happening around them and what they did, but not them and I really wanted to. But that's a relatively small criticism for something I enjoyed as much as I did this one.
Note: I received a free ARC from Netgalley.
October 9, 2014
4.25 marbles
Last time we saw Farfarello, he had his hands full with a dissipated blues guitarist. He’s back, again not as the POV character, but as a mover and shaker offscreen. You don’t need to read Devil at the Crossroads to understand this book, but your enjoyment at Gilbert’s consternation will be that much greater.
Gilbert, who’s fended for himself on the streets since he was a youngster, has a heart full of ache and a head full of bravado. He reads younger and far less world-wise than his situation would indicate, since he hasn’t mastered keeping his head down very well. He’s confident enough to make his bets and win them, and foolhardy enough to show off at the wrong moment and before the wrong audience. But hey, Saturday night is livelier if you’re running for your life, right?
His magical abilities make him a perfect fit for the circus, and if he doesn’t understand what he’s agreed to nor how tightly it would bind him, he’s not alone. All of the other performers were there once, and their amusement and eyerolling at the newbie is funny.
Gilbert has little experience in caring about others or acting for anyone’s good save his own, aside from his constant companion. The mouse named Emilia seemed underutilized as a character (and very well pocket-broken). We get to watch him learn to think outside of himself, a slow process, and while he’s hot for Jesse from the beginning, he has to expand his thinking to become a worthy sex partner and finally to be a worthy lover. We’re in Gilbert’s head the whole time, and have to follow Jesse’s arc from outside. Jesse’s tired, and he has a history, and maybe it’s time to put this cup down. Farfarello has his own reasons for keeping the circus going, and has little tolerance for sudden changes of mind.
The intensity of the story takes some of the sting out of the enormous size of the piece, but it could have been tighter in sections and occasionally did make me mutter, “Get the hint already!” Still, we come to care about the denizens of the circus and their fate, and if Emilia never gets her moment to shine, a lot of other folks do. Gilbert’s love affair is almost more with the circus and a place to belong than it is with Jesse.
It’s a lovely, if longish, journey for young and impulsive Gilbert and the more jaded Jesse to come together and then more effort to stay together, but since it’s in Cornelia Grey’s trademarked atmospheric prose, the gambling dens’ fug and tattered tents’ flapping are thick on the page. Be prepared to get sucked completely into this magical, Edwardian world.
Copy provided from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Last time we saw Farfarello, he had his hands full with a dissipated blues guitarist. He’s back, again not as the POV character, but as a mover and shaker offscreen. You don’t need to read Devil at the Crossroads to understand this book, but your enjoyment at Gilbert’s consternation will be that much greater.
Gilbert, who’s fended for himself on the streets since he was a youngster, has a heart full of ache and a head full of bravado. He reads younger and far less world-wise than his situation would indicate, since he hasn’t mastered keeping his head down very well. He’s confident enough to make his bets and win them, and foolhardy enough to show off at the wrong moment and before the wrong audience. But hey, Saturday night is livelier if you’re running for your life, right?
His magical abilities make him a perfect fit for the circus, and if he doesn’t understand what he’s agreed to nor how tightly it would bind him, he’s not alone. All of the other performers were there once, and their amusement and eyerolling at the newbie is funny.
Gilbert has little experience in caring about others or acting for anyone’s good save his own, aside from his constant companion. The mouse named Emilia seemed underutilized as a character (and very well pocket-broken). We get to watch him learn to think outside of himself, a slow process, and while he’s hot for Jesse from the beginning, he has to expand his thinking to become a worthy sex partner and finally to be a worthy lover. We’re in Gilbert’s head the whole time, and have to follow Jesse’s arc from outside. Jesse’s tired, and he has a history, and maybe it’s time to put this cup down. Farfarello has his own reasons for keeping the circus going, and has little tolerance for sudden changes of mind.
The intensity of the story takes some of the sting out of the enormous size of the piece, but it could have been tighter in sections and occasionally did make me mutter, “Get the hint already!” Still, we come to care about the denizens of the circus and their fate, and if Emilia never gets her moment to shine, a lot of other folks do. Gilbert’s love affair is almost more with the circus and a place to belong than it is with Jesse.
It’s a lovely, if longish, journey for young and impulsive Gilbert and the more jaded Jesse to come together and then more effort to stay together, but since it’s in Cornelia Grey’s trademarked atmospheric prose, the gambling dens’ fug and tattered tents’ flapping are thick on the page. Be prepared to get sucked completely into this magical, Edwardian world.
Copy provided from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2014
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
I was initially drawn to the title because I have such a weakness for circuses. Then I saw it was a bit steampunk (big plus!) and m/m to boot (major plus)! So, basically, I had equally high expectations, and a lot of dread that it wouldn't be done well at all.
It turns out that I had nothing to worry about.
There were some nitpicky things that bothered me, the biggest being that there were SO many minor characters that weren't fleshed out enough for me to differentiate between them. By the end, I was pretty sure on who was who, but some of the very minor characters in the circus blended together. I wish they would have all felt a bit more real.
But minor things aside, I found myself enjoying this book for the most part. There's a book before this one, Farfarello's story, I think, that I hadn't read before this one. I'm quite interested to go back and read that one, but having not read it made no difference in reading this book, which was a relief.
Most of the time, this felt like a YA novel, and Gilbert felt like a teen to me. But that didn't bother me. There was a good amount of action, some very nice romantic themes going on, and it was a pretty unique read. The relationship between Gilbert and Jesse was refreshing to read, because there was never any shame. Maybe that’s due to this alternate steampunkish world, but I’m used to reading some type of But-this-is-wrong,we-can’t internal dialogue. There was none of that, and it was lovely. With that said, I felt like their relationship could have been…deeper? I think I felt more emotion behind the backstory between Farfarello and Jesse than I did about Gilbert and Jesse. It just felt very surface-level, like the rest of the characters. Even still, I liked it.
It didn't blow my mind with its amazingness, but it's a fun circus read, and they're one of my guilty pleasures.
Glad I had the chance to read this one.
I was initially drawn to the title because I have such a weakness for circuses. Then I saw it was a bit steampunk (big plus!) and m/m to boot (major plus)! So, basically, I had equally high expectations, and a lot of dread that it wouldn't be done well at all.
It turns out that I had nothing to worry about.
There were some nitpicky things that bothered me, the biggest being that there were SO many minor characters that weren't fleshed out enough for me to differentiate between them. By the end, I was pretty sure on who was who, but some of the very minor characters in the circus blended together. I wish they would have all felt a bit more real.
But minor things aside, I found myself enjoying this book for the most part. There's a book before this one, Farfarello's story, I think, that I hadn't read before this one. I'm quite interested to go back and read that one, but having not read it made no difference in reading this book, which was a relief.
Most of the time, this felt like a YA novel, and Gilbert felt like a teen to me. But that didn't bother me. There was a good amount of action, some very nice romantic themes going on, and it was a pretty unique read. The relationship between Gilbert and Jesse was refreshing to read, because there was never any shame. Maybe that’s due to this alternate steampunkish world, but I’m used to reading some type of But-this-is-wrong,we-can’t internal dialogue. There was none of that, and it was lovely. With that said, I felt like their relationship could have been…deeper? I think I felt more emotion behind the backstory between Farfarello and Jesse than I did about Gilbert and Jesse. It just felt very surface-level, like the rest of the characters. Even still, I liked it.
It didn't blow my mind with its amazingness, but it's a fun circus read, and they're one of my guilty pleasures.
Glad I had the chance to read this one.
November 6, 2014
Buddy Read!
Thanks to my fellow buddy readers, I have serious Circus issues and was afraid to read this alone, but with you guys its like watching with the lights on! So Thanks!
I don't want to spoil, so I will be very careful to stay general.
I like the writing, I really do, I will definitely be reading more from Cornelia Grey, but I have to be honest as well, the first 40% was just not...enough. I guess as far as setting the scene, the first 40% did that, it was dark and damp and creepy and we get an idea of the life Gilbert is living and all that, but I found myself being like--"Let's get to it."
I felt like there were maybe some lost opportunity where things could have been developing between Jesse and Gilbert.
I think that things really hit their stride once we got to see the show. It was amazing, vivid, scary and still...exhilarating, even though I was scared. Ugh...creeeeeepy. But the show really gave us insight into not only the characters, but how Gilbert thought about and saw the characters.
When we get Jesse and Gilbert, I love it. Wish their was more! I feel their connection only in those moments, or when Gilbert is tormenting himself in his head.
The ending wasn't what I thought either, and at first I was looking for a "Wait, what?" gif to post, but then I thought, ya know, I think I'm okay with it. Maybe it was the only way it could end really.
So I did enjoy, just wish it was a little heavier on the romance and connection between the characters, maybe even less overall description of stuff and scenery and more building the relationships between everyone. But seriously, I really liked it, definitely would read more from this author and love all my fellow BR-ers for putting up with my crazy updates. Love you guys!
Thanks to my fellow buddy readers, I have serious Circus issues and was afraid to read this alone, but with you guys its like watching with the lights on! So Thanks!
I don't want to spoil, so I will be very careful to stay general.
I like the writing, I really do, I will definitely be reading more from Cornelia Grey, but I have to be honest as well, the first 40% was just not...enough. I guess as far as setting the scene, the first 40% did that, it was dark and damp and creepy and we get an idea of the life Gilbert is living and all that, but I found myself being like--"Let's get to it."
I felt like there were maybe some lost opportunity where things could have been developing between Jesse and Gilbert.
I think that things really hit their stride once we got to see the show. It was amazing, vivid, scary and still...exhilarating, even though I was scared. Ugh...creeeeeepy. But the show really gave us insight into not only the characters, but how Gilbert thought about and saw the characters.
When we get Jesse and Gilbert, I love it. Wish their was more! I feel their connection only in those moments, or when Gilbert is tormenting himself in his head.
The ending wasn't what I thought either, and at first I was looking for a "Wait, what?" gif to post, but then I thought, ya know, I think I'm okay with it. Maybe it was the only way it could end really.
So I did enjoy, just wish it was a little heavier on the romance and connection between the characters, maybe even less overall description of stuff and scenery and more building the relationships between everyone. But seriously, I really liked it, definitely would read more from this author and love all my fellow BR-ers for putting up with my crazy updates. Love you guys!
November 15, 2014
Wow..this book was really good. I had never read this author before but was so intrigued with the concept of the book that I had to try it. I am now a huge fan of this author and have already read two more of her books since this one.
This story is a mild steampunk setting. Gilbert is a magician who makes a living as a street/pub scam artist. He runs afoul of a very powerful bad guy and in making a run for it runs into Jesse and his group of "freaks". Jessie is the powerful ringmaster for the Circus of the Damned. Jesse tells Gilbert they will help him but he has to join their circus. The catch? Gilbert will never be able to leave and if they don't meet the requirements of the circus their souls will all be sent to Hell. Gilbert joins, thinking he can escape at a later time but he soon finds out he can not.
There is a lot of adventure in this story and a lot of interesting and quirky characters. There's magic and circus freaks and a very interesting devil. The best part of the story to me was the love story between Gilbert and Jessie and the complicated and kind of sad history between the devil Farfarello and Jessie. If you're looking for a unque plot with a bit of everything in it this is definitely a book to try.
This story is a mild steampunk setting. Gilbert is a magician who makes a living as a street/pub scam artist. He runs afoul of a very powerful bad guy and in making a run for it runs into Jesse and his group of "freaks". Jessie is the powerful ringmaster for the Circus of the Damned. Jesse tells Gilbert they will help him but he has to join their circus. The catch? Gilbert will never be able to leave and if they don't meet the requirements of the circus their souls will all be sent to Hell. Gilbert joins, thinking he can escape at a later time but he soon finds out he can not.
There is a lot of adventure in this story and a lot of interesting and quirky characters. There's magic and circus freaks and a very interesting devil. The best part of the story to me was the love story between Gilbert and Jessie and the complicated and kind of sad history between the devil Farfarello and Jessie. If you're looking for a unque plot with a bit of everything in it this is definitely a book to try.
honestly-ill-never-get-around-to-it
July 27, 2014Squee!
Cornelia Grey novel *happy dance*
Cornelia Grey novel *happy dance*
November 3, 2014
4 1/2.... this was a good one ;)
I received Circus of the Damned in exchange for a fair and honest review.
It’s been a year since I read the first book in Cornelia Grey’s Deal with a Devil series, Devil at the Crossroads. I liked it, but it wasn’t quite long enough to get to know the characters. Circus of the Damned more than made up for that introduction. I might even go back and read the first book. Yeah, you could say I’m hooked.
I’m not sure what I liked most about this book. I loved Gilbert. He was talented and broken in so many ways. Besides that, how could you not love a character whose best friend was a mouse that he doted over? Jesse was mysterious and amazing as well. The more layers that were revealed about these two men, the more I wanted them to be together.
This was a book full of misunderstood, lovable, beautiful characters with an interesting Devil thrown into the mix. The world saw them as freaks, but together they were family and depended on not only the Circus but each other. Gilbert fought that connection as long as he could but once he gave in he embraced it. This book made me feel, and I’ve said more than once, those are my favorite.
Circus of the Damned was full of magic, danger, mystery, suspense and a surprisingly sweet romance that I didn’t really expect but totally enjoyed. I’m kind of hoping that there’s more to come with this series.
I received Circus of the Damned in exchange for a fair and honest review.
It’s been a year since I read the first book in Cornelia Grey’s Deal with a Devil series, Devil at the Crossroads. I liked it, but it wasn’t quite long enough to get to know the characters. Circus of the Damned more than made up for that introduction. I might even go back and read the first book. Yeah, you could say I’m hooked.
I’m not sure what I liked most about this book. I loved Gilbert. He was talented and broken in so many ways. Besides that, how could you not love a character whose best friend was a mouse that he doted over? Jesse was mysterious and amazing as well. The more layers that were revealed about these two men, the more I wanted them to be together.
This was a book full of misunderstood, lovable, beautiful characters with an interesting Devil thrown into the mix. The world saw them as freaks, but together they were family and depended on not only the Circus but each other. Gilbert fought that connection as long as he could but once he gave in he embraced it. This book made me feel, and I’ve said more than once, those are my favorite.
Circus of the Damned was full of magic, danger, mystery, suspense and a surprisingly sweet romance that I didn’t really expect but totally enjoyed. I’m kind of hoping that there’s more to come with this series.
December 4, 2014
3.5 stars.
I liked this book, overall, but didn't love it. I appreciated the writing - it was solid.. The story was mildly entertaining, what with all the circus routine, magic and some suspense thrown in.
I didn't feel the chemistry between the heroes. Gilbert was definitely fascinated by Jesse and falling for him, but Jesse remained a mystery till the end. It didn't seem like he was really invested in his relationship with Gilbert. The only time he truly opened up was in the scene with Farfarello. Maybe there will be a sequel, where we'll get to know more of Jesse. Meanwhile, I remain lukewarm toward him.
I liked the steampunk, AU setting of the novel, and the Circus of the Damned was an interesting place, with lots of quirky characters. It was hard to keep track of all of them, though.
I have issues with the villains, one of whom turned out to be quite a softie for a devil, and the other was cartoonish to the point of funny.
Overall, this was a definitely unique, well-written novel, if a bit underwhelming.
I'll probably check out this author's other works.
**ARC provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley.**
I liked this book, overall, but didn't love it. I appreciated the writing - it was solid.. The story was mildly entertaining, what with all the circus routine, magic and some suspense thrown in.
I didn't feel the chemistry between the heroes. Gilbert was definitely fascinated by Jesse and falling for him, but Jesse remained a mystery till the end. It didn't seem like he was really invested in his relationship with Gilbert. The only time he truly opened up was in the scene with Farfarello. Maybe there will be a sequel, where we'll get to know more of Jesse. Meanwhile, I remain lukewarm toward him.
I liked the steampunk, AU setting of the novel, and the Circus of the Damned was an interesting place, with lots of quirky characters. It was hard to keep track of all of them, though.
I have issues with the villains, one of whom turned out to be quite a softie for a devil, and the other was cartoonish to the point of funny.
Overall, this was a definitely unique, well-written novel, if a bit underwhelming.
I'll probably check out this author's other works.
**ARC provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley.**
June 12, 2016
Spoiler free!
So do you ever get to the end of a book and want so badly to give it 5 stars and just can't?? Well...it's a damn shame. I really enjoyed this one...to the point that I think I mentally wrote this review 5 times in my head while reading it. Now granted the ratings and the review fluctuated throughout...but still.
The premise, the freaks, the magic, the creepiness, the circus, the writing, our MC's...it's all so brilliantly done.
Now...if I could only...
*insert gif of Robin Williams from Dead Poets Society saying "rip, gentleman, rip"
I know...I know...if you've followed my updates I am clearly...
But damn. The scene midway through this book for me was rushed and not in keeping with the rest of the book at all...who even were these two guys??? but I digress...
*reinsert gif of Robin Williams from Dead Poets Society saying "rip, gentleman, rip"
And so while of late, I have harped upon the lengths of books pushing the 600 page mark as clearly needing an editor...this one could also have taken some advise. IT NEEDED MORE! At roughly 250 pages, this is one I would have easily wanted another 100 pages. So what's missing??
Firstly...Character development of our freaks for one. I would love more back story on these characters, especially our MC, Jesse.
Secondly...Relationship building. I felt I missed out on some key scenes between our two MCs and desperately want to search the cutting room floor for more. This book lacked in sexual tension and buildup...which had this held out until later in the book...wow...I clearly think my kindle would have burst into flames from the heat on the screen, as it was already smoking hot. *stares off in distance longingly*
Oh yeah...where was I???
Biggest surprise of the book for me...the Devil...
I see there is a shortie by Cornelia that includes our infamous devil...so this just got bumped up on the list. *rubs hands together*
Overall...this one is definitely worth the price of admission!
Release day BR with Momo, Marco and Marte
Oh and if ole Magic Marco can make these gifs appear that I can't seem to find, that would be oh so lovely. ;)
And yes...ole Magic Marco came through.
Status Updates:
1% done with Circus of the Damned: Please be good!
7% done with Circus of the Damned: So far so good. I think I'm gonna like this magician.
13% done with Circus of the Damned: He wasn’t sure what he expected from a circus, but it wasn’t this silent parade of ruined, faded wagons. He’d expected color, lights, music, and dancing performers. This was eerie.
19% done with Circus of the Damned: “From Hell, are you now?” Gilbert snorted. “So you’re telling me, what, that you’re the devil?”
“A devil. Hell is pretty big and with a thriving population, I should add,” the man specified.
21% done with Circus of the Damned: Quick little pinpricks began running up Gilbert’s leg, and he lowered his gaze to see that the silver spider from the silver cane knob was now crawling over him, sticking its metallic legs into the fabric of his clothes hard enough to bite into his flesh.
30% done with Circus of the Damned: Wow...that "clause" regarding the replacement of a circus member is quite the motivation.
34% done with Circus of the Damned: Maybe it wasn't shield at all, but a cage.
37% done with Circus of the Damned: “Trust me. Soon you’ll be grateful to be in a place where you don’t need to hide who you are. And at the end of the day, other freaks are the only ones who will ever look out for you. Don’t you forget that.”
40% done with Circus of the Damned: two centuries????
41% done with Circus of the Damned: “A silver dancing spider. The devil wants something that you want. You want something that belongs to the devil. You want what the devil owns, and he will come, soon, to try to take it away. The devil in love. And you— Are you willing to fight for what your own heart desires?”
This certainly complicates matters.
42% done with Circus of the Damned: “Beware the purple cloud,” she said. “It’s close. And it’s coming for you.”
44% done with Circus of the Damned: So yes...Clowns are creepy...but dolls and puppets are right up there. GAAWH!
55% done with Circus of the Damned: So I am approaching 57% and really feel nothing for these two. Kinda sad about that. I expected some sexual tension or something...I sure hope I get excited over these two. ;/
60% done with Circus of the Damned: Is this not a magician and a flame thrower??? WTF? This could have been any two random guys, as hot as that scene (was not). *pouts*
75% done with Circus of the Damned: So torn over how I am feeling about these two...hmmmm
76% done with Circus of the Damned: Then, the birds came.
83% done with Circus of the Damned: Holy Hell...can we just forget that the scene at 58% even happened...this was HAWT!!!
93% done with Circus of the Damned: The desperate screams of Reuben’s men were quickly cut off as the roaches devoured the flesh off their bodies.
Damn! I want so badly to give this 5 stars but that damn stumbling block at 58% will prevent it. :(
January 14, 2015
The Circus of the Damned is the second book in Cornelia Grey’s Deal With the Devil series. You do not need to read the first book to read this one though fans will recognise the devil, Farfarello, from book one. An M/M romance fantasy with a healthy dose of historical and steampunk attributes. A bold and interesting premise speaks of a damned circus whose unusual performers promise their soul to the devil in exchange for a safe place to exist. A circus made up of people whose extraordinary gifts and peculiarities make them suspect in the world. Gray attempts to paint a dark fantasy with vivid imaginary as flavors of unscrupulous deeds and acts set the base for her world. There is so much promise here it’s almost unbearable.
Unfortunately, the premise is far more ambitious than the story itself. Beautifully written with a flair for the dramatic, the purple prose and an overabundance of descriptive terms becomes suffocating and drags the story down on more than one occasion. It also doesn’t allow for an in-depth examination of any one particular subplot. In Grey’s efforts to create the perfect atmosphere for her creations, the storyline itself suffers.
The story starts meeting Gilbert Blake. Gilbert Blake is a con man. He uses his gifts of magic to swindle people but only so that he and his pet mouse, Emilia, can survive. Abandoned as a child due to his gifts, he has a layer of vulnerability that speaks of his need to be accepted for who he is though that same need scares him. Temperamental and prone to fits of anger, Gilbert tries very hard to maintain his illusion of normality. When his latest con lands him in hot water, he makes his deal with the circus ringmaster, Jesse, believing that it is just one more con and he can get out of it anytime. Of course, when you make a deal with the devil, the devil is in the details. He tries multiple times to leave only to find himself right back at the circus the moment he falls asleep. When he finally accepts his fate, he begins to see that this maybe his chance to have the family, love, and acceptance he’s always secretly wanted.
Jesse, the ringmaster of the circus, is a bit of an enigma. He made the original deal with a devil that put The Circus of the Damned in motion. In the beginning, we see a mercurial hard man who gives the impression he doesn’t suffer fools lightly. As the story progresses, Jesse loses his hard edges and we see a submissive man who regrets the deal he made so many years ago. Heartfelt and melancholy, he struggles to keep his family safe while dealing with the fact that everyone he loves dies around him.
A cast of eccentric and dramatic secondary characters gives some sense of depth and continuance to the story though Grey doesn’t really dig down to the meat of them. Well developed descriptions give us the physical aspects of the cast but we aren’t given any emotional details. What are their stories? What made them take the deal? How did they come to find Jesse or vice versa? The one personal story we do get was from a character that we have very minimal interaction with. The antagonists of the story do not present as well as the rest. The crime lord’s intentions are established but the resolution is anti climatic. He remains a caricature who never achieves the status of evil we are made to think he is. Same for the devil, Farfarello, who made the original deal with Jesse. His status remains up in the air as hints are made to an old love affair between the devil and Jesse. We are given only enough to wonder at their relationship but not any concrete answers to how or why this original deal came into play. Their history is left in the dark even though the base of the story is built upon it.
The romance is low key. Its evolution attempts to allow Gilbert and Jesse to reveal the hidden aspects of themselves to the reader and each other though. Sexy, steamy, and very lush in terms of sexuality, this couple blazes in bed. Chemistry wise they are well matched but the connection was just not made for me. I could see the attraction clearly but I never felt the shift from lust to love. It’s more of an affair than an actual romance. Their copulation happens rather fast. There is one particular scene involving magic “hands” that will leave you feeling a little breathless, proving that no matter what issues Grey has in the mechanics of the story, she certainly doesn’t lack any imagination in the romance department. WHEW.
A happy for now ending leads us to believe there will be more told from this world in the future. While I enjoyed aspects of the book, I wasn’t to keen on the overall execution. There were just too many loose ties left blowing in the wind with too many unanswered questions.
RATING: C-
Unfortunately, the premise is far more ambitious than the story itself. Beautifully written with a flair for the dramatic, the purple prose and an overabundance of descriptive terms becomes suffocating and drags the story down on more than one occasion. It also doesn’t allow for an in-depth examination of any one particular subplot. In Grey’s efforts to create the perfect atmosphere for her creations, the storyline itself suffers.
The story starts meeting Gilbert Blake. Gilbert Blake is a con man. He uses his gifts of magic to swindle people but only so that he and his pet mouse, Emilia, can survive. Abandoned as a child due to his gifts, he has a layer of vulnerability that speaks of his need to be accepted for who he is though that same need scares him. Temperamental and prone to fits of anger, Gilbert tries very hard to maintain his illusion of normality. When his latest con lands him in hot water, he makes his deal with the circus ringmaster, Jesse, believing that it is just one more con and he can get out of it anytime. Of course, when you make a deal with the devil, the devil is in the details. He tries multiple times to leave only to find himself right back at the circus the moment he falls asleep. When he finally accepts his fate, he begins to see that this maybe his chance to have the family, love, and acceptance he’s always secretly wanted.
Jesse, the ringmaster of the circus, is a bit of an enigma. He made the original deal with a devil that put The Circus of the Damned in motion. In the beginning, we see a mercurial hard man who gives the impression he doesn’t suffer fools lightly. As the story progresses, Jesse loses his hard edges and we see a submissive man who regrets the deal he made so many years ago. Heartfelt and melancholy, he struggles to keep his family safe while dealing with the fact that everyone he loves dies around him.
A cast of eccentric and dramatic secondary characters gives some sense of depth and continuance to the story though Grey doesn’t really dig down to the meat of them. Well developed descriptions give us the physical aspects of the cast but we aren’t given any emotional details. What are their stories? What made them take the deal? How did they come to find Jesse or vice versa? The one personal story we do get was from a character that we have very minimal interaction with. The antagonists of the story do not present as well as the rest. The crime lord’s intentions are established but the resolution is anti climatic. He remains a caricature who never achieves the status of evil we are made to think he is. Same for the devil, Farfarello, who made the original deal with Jesse. His status remains up in the air as hints are made to an old love affair between the devil and Jesse. We are given only enough to wonder at their relationship but not any concrete answers to how or why this original deal came into play. Their history is left in the dark even though the base of the story is built upon it.
The romance is low key. Its evolution attempts to allow Gilbert and Jesse to reveal the hidden aspects of themselves to the reader and each other though. Sexy, steamy, and very lush in terms of sexuality, this couple blazes in bed. Chemistry wise they are well matched but the connection was just not made for me. I could see the attraction clearly but I never felt the shift from lust to love. It’s more of an affair than an actual romance. Their copulation happens rather fast. There is one particular scene involving magic “hands” that will leave you feeling a little breathless, proving that no matter what issues Grey has in the mechanics of the story, she certainly doesn’t lack any imagination in the romance department. WHEW.
A happy for now ending leads us to believe there will be more told from this world in the future. While I enjoyed aspects of the book, I wasn’t to keen on the overall execution. There were just too many loose ties left blowing in the wind with too many unanswered questions.
RATING: C-
December 6, 2014
3.5 stars
This title was a mixed bag of a story with mixed results. It had a circus, a freakshow, steampunk, fantasy, deal with a devil, romance, some action and adventure, conspiracy and science experiments, and a showdown between circus and the bad guys. There are plenty of interesting elements to add to the premise of a circus ringmaster who made a deal with a devil who must keep recruiting new members to avoid damning the souls of all current and previous members of the circus to hell, but the execution, pacing, and story kind of falters, making it an okay read. Some stories stand out for the writing, the characters, the story, and/or the world, where you can forgive flaws if something stands out but not others, and this one did not really have any of those.
The setting was sort of vague, especially for a steampunk and fantasy world. It's set in an imaginary place called Shadowsea. Descriptions were generic Victorian, though there was a mechanical elephant for the steampunk side of the story. I didn't get a sense of the world, which made it a little odd when a character noticed someone had an Italian accent (so would that make it some version of this world?). Then, the freaks and how they work was also a bit odd. Okay, they can be literal freaks of nature, fits with the idea that some kind of deformity can lead to unusual features and abilities etc etc, but then the freaks all have an aversion to iron (so would that indicate a fey connection?, which was a convenient catch-all weakness for the villain to use to his advantage when he captured freaks to experiment on them).
The story could have shone with the characters, especially since they are all freaks. The ringmaster, Jesse, and the main character, Gilbert, get the most development, but all the other characters were two dimensional names. I could not remember or tell the freaks apart. The villain was cardboard bad guy all the way, just evil to create tension, suspense, conflict, and lead to the final showdown. The devil was a bit more interesting for a devil, charming and surprisingly not typical evil or villain of the story. Too bad, he was more of a bogeyman, his bargain casting a shadow on the story. He appeared in Grey's Devil at the Crossroads novella and had more of a role, though he seems a different character. The story does have a nice bit of sentiment, with the idea of looking for home and family.
This book is 300+ pages long, which would seem long enough for a story to develop its plot, characters, and world. The pacing dragged. It was some 30 pages before the circus came into the story, and then Gilbert freaks out and tries to run away for the next 50 pages, and then spends most of the time trying to figure out the bargain the circus made and figuring out what's going on between the devil and Jesse. Granted, the freaking out would be a natural reaction, but it seems it could have been condensed some. The ending was a little deux ex machina, with help coming from a surprising and not-so-surprising character that conveniently moved the story along. Gilbert gets to confront one of his biggest fears, and his final confrontation with the villain felt a bit uncharacteristic, even given that he is supposedly a survivor (would that make him ruthless enough to kill, though he was a not exactly a nice man and was a conman certainly?). The solution for Jesse's technical immortality and Gilbert's mortality seemed just as problematic as the problem itself--how will that really work out, but it's romance-focused, so I guess it's not supposed to be a big deal and gives readers a HEA, or HFN at least.
I read this title as an ARC through Netgalley.
This title was a mixed bag of a story with mixed results. It had a circus, a freakshow, steampunk, fantasy, deal with a devil, romance, some action and adventure, conspiracy and science experiments, and a showdown between circus and the bad guys. There are plenty of interesting elements to add to the premise of a circus ringmaster who made a deal with a devil who must keep recruiting new members to avoid damning the souls of all current and previous members of the circus to hell, but the execution, pacing, and story kind of falters, making it an okay read. Some stories stand out for the writing, the characters, the story, and/or the world, where you can forgive flaws if something stands out but not others, and this one did not really have any of those.
The setting was sort of vague, especially for a steampunk and fantasy world. It's set in an imaginary place called Shadowsea. Descriptions were generic Victorian, though there was a mechanical elephant for the steampunk side of the story. I didn't get a sense of the world, which made it a little odd when a character noticed someone had an Italian accent (so would that make it some version of this world?). Then, the freaks and how they work was also a bit odd. Okay, they can be literal freaks of nature, fits with the idea that some kind of deformity can lead to unusual features and abilities etc etc, but then the freaks all have an aversion to iron (so would that indicate a fey connection?, which was a convenient catch-all weakness for the villain to use to his advantage when he captured freaks to experiment on them).
The story could have shone with the characters, especially since they are all freaks. The ringmaster, Jesse, and the main character, Gilbert, get the most development, but all the other characters were two dimensional names. I could not remember or tell the freaks apart. The villain was cardboard bad guy all the way, just evil to create tension, suspense, conflict, and lead to the final showdown. The devil was a bit more interesting for a devil, charming and surprisingly not typical evil or villain of the story. Too bad, he was more of a bogeyman, his bargain casting a shadow on the story. He appeared in Grey's Devil at the Crossroads novella and had more of a role, though he seems a different character. The story does have a nice bit of sentiment, with the idea of looking for home and family.
This book is 300+ pages long, which would seem long enough for a story to develop its plot, characters, and world. The pacing dragged. It was some 30 pages before the circus came into the story, and then Gilbert freaks out and tries to run away for the next 50 pages, and then spends most of the time trying to figure out the bargain the circus made and figuring out what's going on between the devil and Jesse. Granted, the freaking out would be a natural reaction, but it seems it could have been condensed some. The ending was a little deux ex machina, with help coming from a surprising and not-so-surprising character that conveniently moved the story along. Gilbert gets to confront one of his biggest fears, and his final confrontation with the villain felt a bit uncharacteristic, even given that he is supposedly a survivor (would that make him ruthless enough to kill, though he was a not exactly a nice man and was a conman certainly?). The solution for Jesse's technical immortality and Gilbert's mortality seemed just as problematic as the problem itself--how will that really work out, but it's romance-focused, so I guess it's not supposed to be a big deal and gives readers a HEA, or HFN at least.
I read this title as an ARC through Netgalley.
November 1, 2014
Gilbert Blake is a man on the run from Count Reuben, a vicious crime lord, who finds solace in the Circus of the Damned. He makes a deal with the evil Farfarello, selling his soul with no hope for escape. Now trapped within the Circus, surrounded by others he deems as freaks, Gilbert will have to learn to accept himself as one of them and embrace his magic if he hopes to survive and keep his soul.
Jesse is the alluring Ringmaster of the Circus who can wield fire that is as bright and radiant as his long, flowing red hair. Jesse is the protector of what Gilbert calls the freaks, the ragtag group of misfits that encompass the Circus. The octopus man, the bearded dwarf, a super muscled gal, conjoined twins, elephants, bears and so many more. It takes some time, but not only does Gilbert start to accept these people as his family, he learns how to accept his gift as well and falls in love with the sexy Ringmaster Jesse.
When the time comes, what choice will Gilbert make? Will he try to win back his soul from Farfarello, or will he stay with Circus, with the man who sets his heart on fire.
While I loved the passion and the way Gilbert used his magic so seductively on Jesse, I think the heart of this story was Gilbert finding his way as an individual. He always thought of himself as only a magician, thought he didn’t belong in the Circus with the other freaks. Somewhere along the way he figures out he is just as much a freak as the rest of them, and more so, it’s where he belongs. And while Jesse is alluring and tempting with his appearance and in absolute control of his fire, his reason for staying, for being the Ringmaster, is to protect his family within the Circus.
This story is wildly imaginative and very creative. The world that Grey has built is so intricate and detailed, I’m seriously shocked this is her first full length novel, the writing and depth of the story and characters was so precise. There is a little bit of American Horror Story Freak Show, mixed with The Night Circus but written for the MM genre of fans in mind. If you are a fan of magic, steampunk, paranormal, unlikely romance or just a very well written story, then you are going to love this one.
* I received a copy of this book through NetGalley from Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Jesse is the alluring Ringmaster of the Circus who can wield fire that is as bright and radiant as his long, flowing red hair. Jesse is the protector of what Gilbert calls the freaks, the ragtag group of misfits that encompass the Circus. The octopus man, the bearded dwarf, a super muscled gal, conjoined twins, elephants, bears and so many more. It takes some time, but not only does Gilbert start to accept these people as his family, he learns how to accept his gift as well and falls in love with the sexy Ringmaster Jesse.
When the time comes, what choice will Gilbert make? Will he try to win back his soul from Farfarello, or will he stay with Circus, with the man who sets his heart on fire.
While I loved the passion and the way Gilbert used his magic so seductively on Jesse, I think the heart of this story was Gilbert finding his way as an individual. He always thought of himself as only a magician, thought he didn’t belong in the Circus with the other freaks. Somewhere along the way he figures out he is just as much a freak as the rest of them, and more so, it’s where he belongs. And while Jesse is alluring and tempting with his appearance and in absolute control of his fire, his reason for staying, for being the Ringmaster, is to protect his family within the Circus.
This story is wildly imaginative and very creative. The world that Grey has built is so intricate and detailed, I’m seriously shocked this is her first full length novel, the writing and depth of the story and characters was so precise. There is a little bit of American Horror Story Freak Show, mixed with The Night Circus but written for the MM genre of fans in mind. If you are a fan of magic, steampunk, paranormal, unlikely romance or just a very well written story, then you are going to love this one.
* I received a copy of this book through NetGalley from Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
April 11, 2015
I do have a soft spot for those turn of the century traveling circus stories. Not sure why, but something about running away and joining the circus works for me. I loved that it took him a while to accept his fate in the circus but then saw the upside to maybe being there with others like him. I also liked the twist with the devil and maybe he's not quite so bad... for a devil. :-) It was nice to see him have more depth than just the evil guy waiting for the souls to come his way.
I did keep thinking "god, they must be so filthy" all the time, but I just tried not to think about it too much, especially when in the throws of passion. LOL
I do enjoy this author's style so I think her fans will love this. I did not read the first one as I'm not a fan of musician stories but a quick glance shows me that it's the same devil. Not sure that would have made a difference to my reading or not, knowing who he was, but I enjoyed it anyway.
I did keep thinking "god, they must be so filthy" all the time, but I just tried not to think about it too much, especially when in the throws of passion. LOL
I do enjoy this author's style so I think her fans will love this. I did not read the first one as I'm not a fan of musician stories but a quick glance shows me that it's the same devil. Not sure that would have made a difference to my reading or not, knowing who he was, but I enjoyed it anyway.
October 30, 2018
I bought all three books in this series at the same time about a year ago. I read the first, but then the others kept getting shifted down my pile as more urgent reads came in. I thought it was finally time to rectify that and finish them.
The Circus of the Damned was a fun read. I enjoyed the premise, and I liked the interaction between Gilbert and Jesse. Overall, the pacing was good, and I appreciated the steampunk elements. Once or twice I was left scratching my head. For example, Gilbert has a pet mouse who is important at the start but then all but disappears from the story. So there were some plotting issues, but they were minor ones that I was willing to overlook for all the good stuff. I'm giving this four stars. It's not perfect but it has plenty going for it.
The Circus of the Damned was a fun read. I enjoyed the premise, and I liked the interaction between Gilbert and Jesse. Overall, the pacing was good, and I appreciated the steampunk elements. Once or twice I was left scratching my head. For example, Gilbert has a pet mouse who is important at the start but then all but disappears from the story. So there were some plotting issues, but they were minor ones that I was willing to overlook for all the good stuff. I'm giving this four stars. It's not perfect but it has plenty going for it.
October 20, 2020
That was wonderful and mildly horrid at the same time, in the all best of ways for October. The world was grungy, nasty, and rather hopeless, and the circus itself, while being creepy as all get out, was sort of wonderful in an icky way. Jesse was utterly lovely and captivating, and Gilbert was certainly drawn to him like a moth to the flame (heh heh heh). Fantastic supporting characters, both in the circus and in Shadowsea, and most of them wonderfully detailed, no matter how little page time they actually have. Excellent climactic battle, and a good ending despite the threat of eternal damnation. I really need to read more by this author -- guess I'll start the 3rd Deal with a Devil book right now!
November 4, 2014
Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5
for the full review, visit http://wp.me/p220KL-3nA
From that review: "..Cornelia Grey's marvelous execution of this premise and the complex,haunting universe she has created for The Circus of the Damned exceeded all my expectations and then stomped them into the dust. Part steampunk , part hellmouth, always fascinating, from the miserable town of Shadowsea to the encircled caravans of the Circus of the Damned, no little detail goes unnoticed or fails to enchance Grey's tale of magic, devilry, and romance…"
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October 11, 2014
Supernatural steampunky, magical Faustian reworking.
Rats, mechanical elephants and beautiful freaks.
Gilbert and Jesse a great pair of MC's with good stories well told.
The supporting characters got a little confusing, and slightly 1 dimensional - but hopefully more to follow.
Full review at http://www.scuttlebuttreviews.com/
I came across this https:www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXERyJrsrXs which kind of reminds me of this book.
Rats, mechanical elephants and beautiful freaks.
Gilbert and Jesse a great pair of MC's with good stories well told.
The supporting characters got a little confusing, and slightly 1 dimensional - but hopefully more to follow.
Full review at http://www.scuttlebuttreviews.com/
I came across this https:www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXERyJrsrXs which kind of reminds me of this book.
November 11, 2014
BR with Julie and Momo on LM :-).
November 24, 2014
Amazing. American Horror Story: Coven + Freakshow. YES PLEASE.
December 16, 2014
A magical read ;D Deeply satisfying and imaginative. Can't wait for more from Cornelia Grey!
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