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The Opening Act is Death
She built the carnival from corpses. He came to make her feel again.
In a forgotten corner of the world, the Carnival of the Damned opens only for the broken.
Madame Noir dances on knives and commands the stage with blood on her hands and ice in her chest. She feels nothing by choice. Once a prima ballerina, now a blade-wielding ringmaster, Visha carved her circus from the bones of betrayal, trading her heart for vengeance.
Enter The Escapist, who is a haunted illusionist with a death wish and a past soaked in sleight-of-hand sins. Corvan doesn’t want to be saved. But the moment he steps into her ring of rot and roses, he sees her, truly sees her and Visha hates that she starts to feel again.
Their love is not gentle.
It’s blood-soaked sheets and whispered apologies.
It’s survival disguised as seduction.
But someone must pay for the magic. And in the Carnival of the Damned, every act ends in death.
In a forgotten corner of the world, the Carnival of the Damned opens only for the broken.
Madame Noir dances on knives and commands the stage with blood on her hands and ice in her chest. She feels nothing by choice. Once a prima ballerina, now a blade-wielding ringmaster, Visha carved her circus from the bones of betrayal, trading her heart for vengeance.
Enter The Escapist, who is a haunted illusionist with a death wish and a past soaked in sleight-of-hand sins. Corvan doesn’t want to be saved. But the moment he steps into her ring of rot and roses, he sees her, truly sees her and Visha hates that she starts to feel again.
Their love is not gentle.
It’s blood-soaked sheets and whispered apologies.
It’s survival disguised as seduction.
But someone must pay for the magic. And in the Carnival of the Damned, every act ends in death.
- GenresDarkRomanceDark Romance
185 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2025
12 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Visha Graves
7 books25 followersVisha Graves writes blood-soaked love stories where desire turns deadly and every emotion demands a price. A dark romance and horror author, her books straddle the line between passion and perdition—infusing haunted carnivals, twisted obsession, and theatrical vengeance into every page. Off the stage, Visha is a devoted wife, proud boy mom, and dog mama who finds magic in the mundane. Whether she’s baking in a storm-lit kitchen or sketching nightmares beneath the stars, her life is a balancing act of beauty and brutality.
Every book is a ritual.
Every scene is a stage. Every ending is a sacrifice.
Every book is a ritual.
Every scene is a stage. Every ending is a sacrifice.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 16, 2025
Possibly the most chilling love story I have ever had the luxury of reading! This one is pretty hard for me to summarize. It’s one of those where no synopsis will do it justice, you just need to read it to get what it’s about. Although it isn’t written in prose, it’s the most poetic story I’ve gotten my hands on by far! It’s romantic, but not cutesy. It’s dark, but not sinister. I would really love to come back to the Carnival in the future at there are other characters I need back stories on!
September 10, 2025
This book felt like walking through fog—confusing, disorienting, but in a way that created the exact haunting atmosphere I think the author was aiming for with unreliable narrators and a sentient carnival. It worked, even if it left me unsettled.
The only thing I wished for was a bit more expansion in some chapters. A little extra depth would have made certain moments hit even harder. I also wish the reference tables would have been in the back of the book or built more into the story so it wouldn’t have been needed.
Overall though, it’s eerie, memorable, and unlike anything else I’ve read lately.
The only thing I wished for was a bit more expansion in some chapters. A little extra depth would have made certain moments hit even harder. I also wish the reference tables would have been in the back of the book or built more into the story so it wouldn’t have been needed.
Overall though, it’s eerie, memorable, and unlike anything else I’ve read lately.
September 8, 2025
The Opening Act by Visha Graves
This is definitely a quick weekend read that will have you hooked! I absolutely devoured this one in one sitting I did not move ! This book makes you feel like you’re right there alongside the characters feeling all sorts of different types of emotions! This book is dark dark and will leave you absolutely wondering what you just read in the best way possible!
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 20, 2025
I have been anticipating this since I first came across it, and it did not disappoint. This is so much more than a dark romance, this is a poetic bleeding heart. You are part of the show, you bleed with it. Every word holds meaning and power. The whole concept is amazing to begin with, it draws you in and keeps you in your place. The illusions are so well done. The characters are unique. I am left needing MORE! Like asap, I need the next part. Yesterday.
October 1, 2025
The graphics were amazing and the atmosphere was richly detailed. I could picture this “carnival” as if I were there!! The scenes are sinister and depicted painfully clear.
However, I didn’t really connect with the story line. Conversations and banter seemed repetitive.
I was a bit confused for most of the story about the clarity of how this carnival came to be and where it actually existed. But that’s just my experience.
Read Reaponsibly.
This is an ARC review.
However, I didn’t really connect with the story line. Conversations and banter seemed repetitive.
I was a bit confused for most of the story about the clarity of how this carnival came to be and where it actually existed. But that’s just my experience.
Read Reaponsibly.
This is an ARC review.
September 12, 2025
I liked the concept of the book but I found all the information in the bringing overwhelming.
September 16, 2025
I’ve learned The Carnival’s rules are written in blood and shadows. There is no mercy. Only survival.
Visha Graves shows no mercy in this poetically written story full of symbolism that will take you on a ride like no other story has. Laced in blood and darkness, this is truly nothing like you've read before! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For this fantastically told tale!
Visha Graves shows no mercy in this poetically written story full of symbolism that will take you on a ride like no other story has. Laced in blood and darkness, this is truly nothing like you've read before! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For this fantastically told tale!
October 10, 2025
3🌟 0🌶️ format-ebook 📱
Beautifully written, with epic imagery. It just wasn't for me, definitely a me thing and not the book!
I found it sometimes confusing and hard to follow and I had to keep checking whose pov I was reading as there wasn't much difference in tone or voice between Visha and Corvan. I loved that the carnival itself was sentient, and that it had a few chapters for it's pov.
Beautifully written, with epic imagery. It just wasn't for me, definitely a me thing and not the book!
I found it sometimes confusing and hard to follow and I had to keep checking whose pov I was reading as there wasn't much difference in tone or voice between Visha and Corvan. I loved that the carnival itself was sentient, and that it had a few chapters for it's pov.
October 2, 2025
Step right up..where passion is peril, and the curtain always falls in crimson. 🎪
The Opening Act is Death- by Visha Graves
🥀Blurb🥀
She built the carnival from corpses. He came to make her feel again. In a forgotten corner of the world, the Carnival of the Damned opens only for the broken.
Madame Noir dances on knives and commands the stage with blood on her hands and ice in her chest. She feels nothing by choice. Once a prima ballerina, now a blade-wielding ringmaster, Visha carved her circus from the bones of betrayal, trading her heart for vengeance.
Enter The Escapist, who is a haunted illusionist with a death wish and a past soaked in sleight-of-hand sins.
Corvan doesn't want to be saved. But the moment he steps into her ring of rot and roses, he sees her, truly sees her and Visha hates that she starts to feel again.
Their love is not gentle. It's blood-soaked sheets and whispered apologies. It's survival disguised as seduction. But someone must pay for the magic. And in the Carnival of the Damned, every act ends in death.
🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪
Welcome to the Carnival of the Damned..where every heartbeat is a ticket, and every ticket is paid in blood.
From the moment you start reading this novel you are pulled into a dark, deeply twisted and purely macabre fantasy.
Madame Noir (Visha) is a broken, beautiful and tragically dangerous as she transcends from a hauntingly beautiful ballerina to the ever more terrifying and powerful blade wielding ringmaster.
And then comes Corvan..The Escapist. A Haunted Illusionist who comes in and sweeps you off your feet, and shows he was always meant to be on the stage.
Together in the Carnival of the Damned their intense and visceral chemistry unfolds like a dark, feral, fractured tale of lust, love and everything in between.
The Opening Act of Death is a hauntingly raw, gothic, dark, deep and deathly tale that will haunt you for days to come.
A twisted romance written in blood and bone.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you for trusting me with your story. I loved every dark, twisted, thrilling moment.
The Opening Act is Death- by Visha Graves
🥀Blurb🥀
She built the carnival from corpses. He came to make her feel again. In a forgotten corner of the world, the Carnival of the Damned opens only for the broken.
Madame Noir dances on knives and commands the stage with blood on her hands and ice in her chest. She feels nothing by choice. Once a prima ballerina, now a blade-wielding ringmaster, Visha carved her circus from the bones of betrayal, trading her heart for vengeance.
Enter The Escapist, who is a haunted illusionist with a death wish and a past soaked in sleight-of-hand sins.
Corvan doesn't want to be saved. But the moment he steps into her ring of rot and roses, he sees her, truly sees her and Visha hates that she starts to feel again.
Their love is not gentle. It's blood-soaked sheets and whispered apologies. It's survival disguised as seduction. But someone must pay for the magic. And in the Carnival of the Damned, every act ends in death.
🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪🎪
Welcome to the Carnival of the Damned..where every heartbeat is a ticket, and every ticket is paid in blood.
From the moment you start reading this novel you are pulled into a dark, deeply twisted and purely macabre fantasy.
Madame Noir (Visha) is a broken, beautiful and tragically dangerous as she transcends from a hauntingly beautiful ballerina to the ever more terrifying and powerful blade wielding ringmaster.
And then comes Corvan..The Escapist. A Haunted Illusionist who comes in and sweeps you off your feet, and shows he was always meant to be on the stage.
Together in the Carnival of the Damned their intense and visceral chemistry unfolds like a dark, feral, fractured tale of lust, love and everything in between.
The Opening Act of Death is a hauntingly raw, gothic, dark, deep and deathly tale that will haunt you for days to come.
A twisted romance written in blood and bone.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you for trusting me with your story. I loved every dark, twisted, thrilling moment.
October 10, 2025
The Opening Act is Death by Visha Graves is a book and a story that is not meant for everyone. It is dark, savage, and visceral. The story focuses not just on the viciously dangerous and beautiful Madame Noir but an illusionist that finds his way into The Carnival of the Damned.
From the moment the pages turn you know as a reader you are not reading just a normal every day sort of story. The book draws you in and captivates as much as the Carnival beckons to the lost. The Opening Act is Death left me in a chokehold as it ensnared me in the cruel truth and twisted seduction of it's tents and stage.
The story is another that was discovered from a debut author and the story did not disappoint. I devoured the story of the Ringmaster and the Illusionist and it left me wanting more. The Carnival felt like home. It is a place where hope does not always reside but the dark, wicked corners are not shamed or viewed as a secret. Instead romance comes in the shape of revenge and redemption. Truth is painted on the edge of a knife and spilled on the stage as macabre confessions.
While the story could play out as a horror story, instead it is a wicked beast that torments and tantalizes. The Carnival is alive and it is hungry. The Carnival may feed but in turn for your offering it provides safe housing... to become all that you need to be without judgement or ridicule.
Admist this all The Opening Act is Death is a slow burn love story where hope is fed and feelings awakened when one comes to realize that in the Carnival there is freedom and understanding... a place where even the rules can be broken and the story can be changed... if not to test the Carnival but also yourself.
If you wish to find a story that will claim you by the throat and drag you deep into your darkest feelings then I highly recommend The Opening Act is Death. I eagerly await for when the curtain to the next Act is brought open... until next time... happy reading!
From the moment the pages turn you know as a reader you are not reading just a normal every day sort of story. The book draws you in and captivates as much as the Carnival beckons to the lost. The Opening Act is Death left me in a chokehold as it ensnared me in the cruel truth and twisted seduction of it's tents and stage.
The story is another that was discovered from a debut author and the story did not disappoint. I devoured the story of the Ringmaster and the Illusionist and it left me wanting more. The Carnival felt like home. It is a place where hope does not always reside but the dark, wicked corners are not shamed or viewed as a secret. Instead romance comes in the shape of revenge and redemption. Truth is painted on the edge of a knife and spilled on the stage as macabre confessions.
While the story could play out as a horror story, instead it is a wicked beast that torments and tantalizes. The Carnival is alive and it is hungry. The Carnival may feed but in turn for your offering it provides safe housing... to become all that you need to be without judgement or ridicule.
Admist this all The Opening Act is Death is a slow burn love story where hope is fed and feelings awakened when one comes to realize that in the Carnival there is freedom and understanding... a place where even the rules can be broken and the story can be changed... if not to test the Carnival but also yourself.
If you wish to find a story that will claim you by the throat and drag you deep into your darkest feelings then I highly recommend The Opening Act is Death. I eagerly await for when the curtain to the next Act is brought open... until next time... happy reading!
August 23, 2025
Utterly Spellbinding. I’m Still Reeling.
This book is not just dark—it’s deliciously, unapologetically macabre. The author takes you by the throat from the first page and drags you straight into the Carnival of the Damned, where blood is currency and pain is performance. Madame Noir (Visha) is everything I want in a heroine—sharp, tragic, beautifully broken, and dangerous in ways that made my chest ache and my skin crawl in equal measure. Her transformation from ballerina to blade-wielding ringmaster was executed with surgical precision—I felt every cut of her grief and every crack in her icy façade.
And then there’s Corvan. The Escapist. A haunted illusionist who walks onto the stage like he was born for it. The chemistry between him and Visha? Absolutely electric. This isn’t your soft, slow-burn romance. It’s knives pressed to throats, lips stained red, and a connection so visceral it hurts. Their love is feral and fractured, stitched together with rage and ruin, yet somehow it makes you believe in the possibility of healing—even in hell.
The atmosphere is dripping with gothic beauty. The Carnival itself feels alive—grotesque and gorgeous, filled with spectacles that thrill and terrify in the same breath. The prose is lyrical, cinematic, and so sharp it cuts. And that ending? I am destroyed, rebuilt, and begging for more.
If you love stories that make you bleed right alongside the characters, that blur the line between love and devastation, this book will consume you whole. I don’t just recommend it—I urge you to step into the Carnival of the Damned. Just know you may not come out the same.
🖤 This is my favorite read of the year. Five stars, no hesitation.
This book is not just dark—it’s deliciously, unapologetically macabre. The author takes you by the throat from the first page and drags you straight into the Carnival of the Damned, where blood is currency and pain is performance. Madame Noir (Visha) is everything I want in a heroine—sharp, tragic, beautifully broken, and dangerous in ways that made my chest ache and my skin crawl in equal measure. Her transformation from ballerina to blade-wielding ringmaster was executed with surgical precision—I felt every cut of her grief and every crack in her icy façade.
And then there’s Corvan. The Escapist. A haunted illusionist who walks onto the stage like he was born for it. The chemistry between him and Visha? Absolutely electric. This isn’t your soft, slow-burn romance. It’s knives pressed to throats, lips stained red, and a connection so visceral it hurts. Their love is feral and fractured, stitched together with rage and ruin, yet somehow it makes you believe in the possibility of healing—even in hell.
The atmosphere is dripping with gothic beauty. The Carnival itself feels alive—grotesque and gorgeous, filled with spectacles that thrill and terrify in the same breath. The prose is lyrical, cinematic, and so sharp it cuts. And that ending? I am destroyed, rebuilt, and begging for more.
If you love stories that make you bleed right alongside the characters, that blur the line between love and devastation, this book will consume you whole. I don’t just recommend it—I urge you to step into the Carnival of the Damned. Just know you may not come out the same.
🖤 This is my favorite read of the year. Five stars, no hesitation.
September 6, 2025
The Opening Act is Death by Visha Graves
Book 1 of the Carnival of the Damned
Estimated read time
[Kindle] 2 hours
Favorite quote
I didn’t realize until it was too late that some people want you to chase them, not save them. Sometimes love is a cage and sometimes it’s a knife.
Overall reactions.
Not something I really enjoyed. The concept of the story was sooo good, but the writing style wasn't. The index at the front made me think that I had stumbled on someone's rough draft or dungeons and dragon notes. If you want to add a reference sheet to your story to help your reader put it in the back.
Each chapter did not flow. Corvan for example each of the scenes of him coming to the Carnival seemed rushed. You could have easily added a lot more depth to the story with making the background chapters at the beginning have more context.
I really don't have a favorite part with this one.
My over all suggestion to the author is to go back and read it as if you didnt know what is coming and see if you smooth it out.
Book 1 of the Carnival of the Damned
Estimated read time
[Kindle] 2 hours
Favorite quote
I didn’t realize until it was too late that some people want you to chase them, not save them. Sometimes love is a cage and sometimes it’s a knife.
Overall reactions.
Not something I really enjoyed. The concept of the story was sooo good, but the writing style wasn't. The index at the front made me think that I had stumbled on someone's rough draft or dungeons and dragon notes. If you want to add a reference sheet to your story to help your reader put it in the back.
Each chapter did not flow. Corvan for example each of the scenes of him coming to the Carnival seemed rushed. You could have easily added a lot more depth to the story with making the background chapters at the beginning have more context.
I really don't have a favorite part with this one.
My over all suggestion to the author is to go back and read it as if you didnt know what is coming and see if you smooth it out.
October 5, 2025
The Opening Act Is Death is dark, poetic, and a little mind-bending; one of those books that blows your brain and leaves you wondering if you really understood what just happened.
Reading it felt like stepping into a Tim Burton film: I could easily picture Johnny Depp as Corven and Helena Bonham Carter as Visha, wandering through a haunting carnival drenched in shadows and sorrow. The writing is gorgeously melancholic, lyrical, and immersive, you don’t just read it, you walk through it.
That said, I agree with some readers who felt certain chapters lacked depth. I would have loved to explore more of Visha and Corven’s past - their pain, their motives, their connection. Still, the atmosphere and tone are so beautifully crafted that it lingers in your mind long after you close the book.
This novel is definitely not for everyone, because of how it’s written, its concept, and the darkness that runs through it. Make sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in.
Reading it felt like stepping into a Tim Burton film: I could easily picture Johnny Depp as Corven and Helena Bonham Carter as Visha, wandering through a haunting carnival drenched in shadows and sorrow. The writing is gorgeously melancholic, lyrical, and immersive, you don’t just read it, you walk through it.
That said, I agree with some readers who felt certain chapters lacked depth. I would have loved to explore more of Visha and Corven’s past - their pain, their motives, their connection. Still, the atmosphere and tone are so beautifully crafted that it lingers in your mind long after you close the book.
This novel is definitely not for everyone, because of how it’s written, its concept, and the darkness that runs through it. Make sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in.
September 4, 2025
Welcome to The Carnival, you don’t find it, it finds you. Visha, Madame Noir, was once a prima ballerina, now she’s the ringmaster, dancing with knifes and building The Carnival with the corpses of the Damned. The Escapist, Corvan, enters the ring, shattering the illusion Visha has hidden behind, making her feel again. But this isn’t your typical love story. This is magic, survival and repentance. And every act always ends in death.
I don’t even know how to begin to talk about this book. It’s an intricate dance, a maze draped in velvet waiting to be unraveled. The world building in this book is incredible and while I was reading I felt like I was actually there, in The Carnival, living and breathing it all. I’m so excited about what is to come with this series because it’s going to be breathtaking
I don’t even know how to begin to talk about this book. It’s an intricate dance, a maze draped in velvet waiting to be unraveled. The world building in this book is incredible and while I was reading I felt like I was actually there, in The Carnival, living and breathing it all. I’m so excited about what is to come with this series because it’s going to be breathtaking
September 6, 2025
There is beauty in darkness.
This book is beauty within and had me gripped from the first page. The illusions, the characters, spellbinding gothic beauty, the world building which made you feel you were actually there.
The Carnival just appears. It finds you.
The Carnival of the damned.
Betray the Carnival, and you will bleed for it.
Visha sees everything so does the Carnival. Once a ballerina now dances with blades at her ankles. She is the Warden of the Damned, the ringmaster.
She builds the carnival with the corpses of the damned.
Corvan is the escapist, the illusionist. He enters and makes Visha feel again.
Twisted chemistry, broken lovers.
The Carnival survives by betrayal. It’s how it thrives. Every wound betrayal is a wound and it must be cleansed.
Twist in the story that I did not see coming.
Leaves you begging for more.
This book is beauty within and had me gripped from the first page. The illusions, the characters, spellbinding gothic beauty, the world building which made you feel you were actually there.
The Carnival just appears. It finds you.
The Carnival of the damned.
Betray the Carnival, and you will bleed for it.
Visha sees everything so does the Carnival. Once a ballerina now dances with blades at her ankles. She is the Warden of the Damned, the ringmaster.
She builds the carnival with the corpses of the damned.
Corvan is the escapist, the illusionist. He enters and makes Visha feel again.
Twisted chemistry, broken lovers.
The Carnival survives by betrayal. It’s how it thrives. Every wound betrayal is a wound and it must be cleansed.
Twist in the story that I did not see coming.
Leaves you begging for more.
September 6, 2025
This is something else! A dark book but not the typical way, no, this book wants you to bleed with it for the carnival and that i did!
Love the carnival vibes! But this isn’t just any carnival, this wants blood and suffering. This is written so unique way that i am speechless.
A fast read but not a single boring minutes, you live with the characters and the carnival of course
And yes, i read this at one sitting but with my brains i forgot to review it, maybe that carnival got to me
Honestly can’t wait what Visha is coming up next!
You just can’t stop when you start with this book, so be ready to just sit and be part of a great story
Love the carnival vibes! But this isn’t just any carnival, this wants blood and suffering. This is written so unique way that i am speechless.
A fast read but not a single boring minutes, you live with the characters and the carnival of course
And yes, i read this at one sitting but with my brains i forgot to review it, maybe that carnival got to me
Honestly can’t wait what Visha is coming up next!
You just can’t stop when you start with this book, so be ready to just sit and be part of a great story
October 2, 2025
Right!! Sorry for the late review… this is an arc book review
I got this as arc!! I manage to get half way through… purely as life got in the Damn way of things!! Not because I couldn’t finish it as it was a horrible book… THAT IS NOT THE CASE!!!
It’s not your ‘normal’ way of book, it’s hard to describe!! You get told things before the book even starts, like descriptions of characters, certain other things. I don’t want to go into TOO MUCH DETAIL. I had the arc so I don’t know if it the same for the fully published book…the author may of changed how it is…
The book/storyline is very dark, can be triggering for some, it’s my type of book from start to finish (well where I’m up to at the moment) as I love cirque books, especially when they are dark horror cirque books…
I will update my review once I have fully finished it. Which will hopefully be soon… as long as life stops ‘lifing’ its spooky season, let me be and read 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
I got this as arc!! I manage to get half way through… purely as life got in the Damn way of things!! Not because I couldn’t finish it as it was a horrible book… THAT IS NOT THE CASE!!!
It’s not your ‘normal’ way of book, it’s hard to describe!! You get told things before the book even starts, like descriptions of characters, certain other things. I don’t want to go into TOO MUCH DETAIL. I had the arc so I don’t know if it the same for the fully published book…the author may of changed how it is…
The book/storyline is very dark, can be triggering for some, it’s my type of book from start to finish (well where I’m up to at the moment) as I love cirque books, especially when they are dark horror cirque books…
I will update my review once I have fully finished it. Which will hopefully be soon… as long as life stops ‘lifing’ its spooky season, let me be and read 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2025
This was my debut foray into dark and macabre mind that is Visha Graves and I am here for it.
First off, this is by no stretch of the imagination a dark romance. This is a psychological horror with zero romance.
Now, with that out of the way, I can honestly say I was pleasantly surprised at how much this pulled me in. There is so much depth to the goings on that is the Carnival. The twists and turns regarding Visha and Corvan lead us one way and then swing us another in the next moment.
There are no moments of stagnation in this story. Like a beautiful choreographed ballet, the scenes flow smoothly from one to another, leaving The Carnival sated...until it's not.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and am very pleased to find out this will be the first of many surrounding The Carnival.
First off, this is by no stretch of the imagination a dark romance. This is a psychological horror with zero romance.
Now, with that out of the way, I can honestly say I was pleasantly surprised at how much this pulled me in. There is so much depth to the goings on that is the Carnival. The twists and turns regarding Visha and Corvan lead us one way and then swing us another in the next moment.
There are no moments of stagnation in this story. Like a beautiful choreographed ballet, the scenes flow smoothly from one to another, leaving The Carnival sated...until it's not.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and am very pleased to find out this will be the first of many surrounding The Carnival.
September 16, 2025
The Opening Act is Death is more an experience than just a mere book. It breathes, sentient like The Carnival it’s written about...or maybe, for.
Visha, the main female character, is The Carnival’s weapon, its ringmaster. She is the blade that makes the damned bleed.
And then Corvan arrives, and the girl in Visha begins to emerge. He dares her to, but he’s playing a dangerous game. Will he be devoured by The Carnival, or will he break them both free from its clutches…to discover love?
Haunting imagery paired with an
emotionally charged, dark love story sealed with blood and pain make this novel a mysteriously magical and poetic quick read.
Visha, the main female character, is The Carnival’s weapon, its ringmaster. She is the blade that makes the damned bleed.
And then Corvan arrives, and the girl in Visha begins to emerge. He dares her to, but he’s playing a dangerous game. Will he be devoured by The Carnival, or will he break them both free from its clutches…to discover love?
Haunting imagery paired with an
emotionally charged, dark love story sealed with blood and pain make this novel a mysteriously magical and poetic quick read.
September 4, 2025
**Arc review **
Gothic romance / fantasy
“I became the stage they left me bleeding on” gave me goosebumps just by this one single line alone I was hooked on the book and i absolutely enjoyed it.
I absolutely loved the characters and the plot of the story and I love the way on how well it was written and it had me on the edge of my seat I can’t wait to for more books by this author I’m obsessed 😍
Just in time for spooky season absolutely recommend reading this
Gothic romance / fantasy
“I became the stage they left me bleeding on” gave me goosebumps just by this one single line alone I was hooked on the book and i absolutely enjoyed it.
I absolutely loved the characters and the plot of the story and I love the way on how well it was written and it had me on the edge of my seat I can’t wait to for more books by this author I’m obsessed 😍
Just in time for spooky season absolutely recommend reading this
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2025
The Opening Act is Death by Visha Graves is the first in the Carnival of the Damned series. This book is unlike anything I have ever read, although dark and haunting it is in a way, poetic.
I can’t wait to continue this series and see how it progresses as I need more! I love the carnival world, especially when there is added darkness.
Please make sure you check the trigger warnings before reading! I recommend this one if you are looking for a quick, dark and thought provoking read.
I got this as an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
I can’t wait to continue this series and see how it progresses as I need more! I love the carnival world, especially when there is added darkness.
Please make sure you check the trigger warnings before reading! I recommend this one if you are looking for a quick, dark and thought provoking read.
I got this as an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 13, 2025
I absolutely don't want to spoil this for anyone. I read this amazing book in two days, it's perfect Halloween vibe and beautiful writing. It is dark so look up triggers if you need to, I can't wait to read more in the series. And also now I want to read all the carnival themed books! You can't really describe this to anyone it's one of those books you have to read for yourself to see how good it is
October 1, 2025
Omg, I don’t even know where to start with this book. Once I read the line, “I became the stage they left me bleeding on,” I knew ish was about to get real and boy did it! I’m trying not to give away anything in the book, but it was 100% other worldly and I just adore the gothic feel! You legit feel like you’re there with each character, watching the show go on and emotionally encased in all their feelings! Beautiful read and beautiful work!
Thank you for letting me ARC this!!
Thank you for letting me ARC this!!
August 10, 2025
This book is so good, I love the carnival vibe. I love how it messed with me and made me want more and more. It keeps you guessing and wondering what’s going to happen. It talks about bleeding for the carnival and I so would. I can’t wait to read more in the series ❤️❤️❤️ definitely should check it out. It’s not like your normal carnival. This one seeks blood
October 2, 2025
A sharp, suspenseful mystery that hooked me from the first chapter. Visha Graves weaves intrigue, layered characters, and plenty of twists into a story that keeps you guessing until the end. I especially loved the unforgettable image of the ballerina with blades on her shoes—dark, haunting, and brilliant. Perfect for fans of character-driven suspense.
September 5, 2025
This is truely a 5 ⭐️ book ! I literally could not put this book down ! It is most definitely written differently if that makes since ! Not what I was expecting but pleasantly surprised page after page ! Kept my mind and my curiosity on edge the whole time . Not your typical carnival book .
Great writing !
Great writing !
September 7, 2025
I just finished this as an ARC reader. While I truly enjoyed the concept and story line, it wasn't one I would read a second time. It was very poetic and melodically written, and my brain just had a hard time following. But.. The over all storyline was a great story!
October 19, 2025
I honestly don't know how to review this book; nothing I can write comes even close to how much I loved reading this from the very first page.
This book was beautifully written, poetic with gorgeous gothic undertones. A chilling, haunting love story that seems doomed from the beginning, each page drowned in blood and darkness. The tragic telling of a twisted soul, of love, lust, and loss.
Even the chapter headings are just perfect! "Rotting Roses and Bone Dust," "When Blood Blooms"—everything about this book is stunning!
"The Carnival doesn’t sleep. It seethes and sighs, breathing through the bone-chimes and blood-slick wood."
"The Carnival watches, waits, and whispers. The stage is set. The final act has begun."
"ADMIT ONE TO The Carnival OF THE DAMNED. No returns. No rescues. No refunds."
This book was beautifully written, poetic with gorgeous gothic undertones. A chilling, haunting love story that seems doomed from the beginning, each page drowned in blood and darkness. The tragic telling of a twisted soul, of love, lust, and loss.
Even the chapter headings are just perfect! "Rotting Roses and Bone Dust," "When Blood Blooms"—everything about this book is stunning!
"The Carnival doesn’t sleep. It seethes and sighs, breathing through the bone-chimes and blood-slick wood."
"The Carnival watches, waits, and whispers. The stage is set. The final act has begun."
"ADMIT ONE TO The Carnival OF THE DAMNED. No returns. No rescues. No refunds."
September 4, 2025
⭐️Star’s - 5/5
The Opening Act is Death is a must-read for fans of dark gothic romance, delivering a unique and captivating experience that lingers long after the book is finished. The narrative is masterfully woven, drawing the reader in and eliciting strong emotions.
I'm eagerly anticipating the opportunity to delve further into the next installment of the Carnival of the Damned Series.🖤🖤
The Opening Act is Death is a must-read for fans of dark gothic romance, delivering a unique and captivating experience that lingers long after the book is finished. The narrative is masterfully woven, drawing the reader in and eliciting strong emotions.
I'm eagerly anticipating the opportunity to delve further into the next installment of the Carnival of the Damned Series.🖤🖤
September 8, 2025
was a interesting read wish I got more of a back stories on the two main characters and some of the side characters to explain some of it but it was enjoyable and can't wait for the second book
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