Exalt: The Colony Carnivale

The Colony Carnivale #1

by K.D. Cureton

Open the tents.
Draw back the curtains and prepare yourselves for one hell of a show.
Meet Dario Alcazar, your esteemed Showmaster. The one pulling all of the strings.
He is loved, hated, and feared.
He doesn't age.
Doesn't concede.
And most crucially, he never lets anyone leave the Carnivale.
Far longer than anyone knows, our most exalted Showmaster has kept the Colony Carnivale alive and thriving, but over the last few months, he's been in a bit of a rut.
Drunk on Delirium and a menace to his Colony, he’s only grown more restless.
The Carnivale is changing; his freaks are running amok, and his zeal for his illustrious show has waned.
With everything falling apart, he seeks a new toy to play with.
A talent so sweet, his jowls can't help but salivate.
Luckily for him, he finds it.
Now, he need only take it.
Open the tents.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Series Synopsis


They say The Colony Carnivale appears without warning—rolling into forgotten towns under blood-red skies, offering laughter, lights, and salvation for the bored and broken. But beneath the painted tents hides a different sin, each act a different obsession. Lust. Power. Revenge. Fear. The Carnivale feeds on it all—and so do the souls trapped inside...

The games are rigged, the prizes are cursed, and the performers aren’t quite human. So buy your ticket, brave the insanity, and pray the lights go out after you do. Because once you enter, the show owns you.

Welcome to The Colony Carnivale—where the fun never dies, it just screams louder.

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 29, 2026

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

A carnival or circus is make or break by one person, the ringmaster. This carnivale is no exception to the rule. Dario is slick and devious and pitch black. He controls through manipulation and persuasion and will met out a punishment for those who fall short. He's sexy and cruel and singularly minded.

Kennedy is a shell of herself due to the accident. She's forced back home to her small town from NYC, no longer able to pursue her dance career.

These two main characters are well written. I love that this author used a version of a time loop, it adds to the unreliable narrator. This story is dark and dirty and a perfect starting point. I can't wait to continue my exploration of the carnivale, bring it on.

Tropes and triggers: circus, clowns, demonic creatures, dual POV, first time, Halloween, time loop, unreliable narrator, grief, dubcon, murder.

I was given an advanced copy and this is my honest review.

[Villanerareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ARC Disclaimer ✨

Yes, this was an ARC.

No, my standards didn't magically disappear.

As always, these thoughts are completely my own, whether I'm screaming, crying, or side-eyeing the book. 📚🖤

Now this is how you kick off a series.

Dark, depraved, and all kinds of fucked up... my absolute favourite. 😌

I was just as confused as the FMC at the beginning, but that only made the story more enjoyable. Slowly piecing everything together while watching the descent into madness unfold was such a fun experience.

I'm keeping this spoiler-free because I think this is one of those books that's best experienced blind.

If the rest of the series is anything like this, getting through all 31 books is going to be an absolute breeze.

An easy 5 ⭐ from me.

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

First one down only another 30 to go in this shared world of Colony Carnivale 🎪

I’m still trying to work out if I like Dario and his controlling mind games 🤣 Kennedy’s life took a turn for the worse and to be fair I can’t say whether it gets any better for her given she is thrust into (literally 🤭) the Carnivale and all its weirdness but for her the time loop threatens insanity.

It’s a quick couple of hours read, drawing you into a paranormal, erotic horror though some may disagree 🌶️

Suicide attempts | Depression | Violence & Gore | Kidnapping & Captivity | Degradation & Humiliation | Power Imbalance | Substance Abuse | Dub Con | Spice

[Katie P · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a good way to start this shared world. Dario is everything I hoped for. The way he played Kennedy and her sense of deja vu was a very unique concept. Her never ending agony was exciting. I cannot wait to read about the rest of the freaks

[sycokittykat - Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to the Colony Carnival

Step right up the show has begun. Reality will bend and time will have no meaning. The ringleader has you in his sights and he isn't going to let you go.

I loved being with Kennedy as she tried to understand what in the world was happening to her. I was just as confused as she was until we started putting the pieces together.

Once Dario had decided he wanted Kennedy there was no escape. Every time you think you have escaped you are dragged back in.

I love how the Carnival itself almost felt like it's own living and breathing character.

If you need something dark, delicious, devious and delightfully depraved then step right up as act 1 has now begun.

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one in the shared world of the Colony Carnivale. A book a day all throughout October.

I have just finished and I’m wondering what I’ve just read. It is a super introduction to the series and the characters.

It is written in such a brilliant descriptive way that I could envision it unfolding in front of me.

I’m so looking forward to reading more :)

[sugarnsass_reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry, after much consideration I decided that I cannot consciously say I enjoyed this. The writing is great. The topic, not the horror I like.

[Marci Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I am reading these books as a set of ARCS. Notethey are dark and come with quite a bit of trigger warnings.
This was Book 1 of The Colony Carnivale. Exalt by KD Cureton was amazing as an introduction to The Carnivale. It introduced us to many different characters, even though it was primarily about Dario, the show master and Kennedy, someone he wants to bring into The Carnivale.
We were able to see how three of fate once decided cannot be manipulated or broken without consequences.

I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Erin A. {midnight_rosepetals} Thorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I knew what I was getting myself into but I did not!!!

Unholy carnival gods/goddesses what a mind fůck! I am HERE FOR IT!


Rating: ♡5🥀♡5🌶️♡

[Patricia Clifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎪ARC review🎪

Exalt by @authorkdcureton
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Wow oh wow. This book made me feel like I was being crazy. Having to relive that moment over and over again and something bad happens ever time. Man that was a mind trip. This was dark and disturbing but in the best way. Once this band of freaks gets their claws in you, they never let you go. No matter how much you try to get out. If this was just the beginning, I can’t even imagine what the rest of the series will be like 💥

[Thatgirlthere · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those books that just kept getting better the longer you read it.

It was dark, twisted and completely unhinged. Just what I love. Dario brings new meaning to the term morally black MMC, and the FMC just never stood a chance. Poor girl 🤭

This is not one for the pearl clutchers, please check your trigger warnings.

[D.3.b.0.r.a.h]

Okay… I’m honestly not sure how I feel about this one.

There were definitely things I liked! The whole carnival setting was creepy and weird in the best way, and the idea behind the story really pulled me in. Cassidy was probably my favorite character, and I found myself wanting to know more about her. There were also a few moments where I was genuinely intrigued and just needed to know what the hell was going on.

But then there were also quite a few moments where I was sitting there thinking… wait, what?

The constant jumping between timelines made this one pretty difficult for me to follow. Sometimes I genuinely wasn’t sure how we had gotten from one thing to another or how everything was supposed to connect. Maybe that was the point, but it definitely made the reading experience a little confusing for me.

I also struggled with the repetitive parts. I understood why things were repeating, but after a while I started feeling like we weren’t really getting anywhere. Which was a shame, because whenever the story finally moved forward and started giving me more pieces of the puzzle, I was completely invested again.

I do think there’s a really interesting story hiding in here, and the atmosphere was definitely one of my favorite things about it. I just wish the execution had been a little smoother, because I feel like I would have enjoyed this so much more if I hadn’t been confused half the time.

Merged review:

Okay… I’m honestly not sure how I feel about this one.

There were definitely things I liked! The whole carnival setting was creepy and weird in the best way, and the idea behind the story really pulled me in. Cassidy was probably my favorite character, and I found myself wanting to know more about her. There were also a few moments where I was genuinely intrigued and just needed to know what the hell was going on.

But then there were also quite a few moments where I was sitting there thinking… wait, what?

The constant jumping between timelines made this one pretty difficult for me to follow. Sometimes I genuinely wasn’t sure how we had gotten from one thing to another or how everything was supposed to connect. Maybe that was the point, but it definitely made the reading experience a little confusing for me.

I also struggled with the repetitive parts. I understood why things were repeating, but after a while I started feeling like we weren’t really getting anywhere. Which was a shame, because whenever the story finally moved forward and started giving me more pieces of the puzzle, I was completely invested again.

I do think there’s a really interesting story hiding in here, and the atmosphere was definitely one of my favorite things about it. I just wish the execution had been a little smoother, because I feel like I would have enjoyed this so much more if I hadn’t been confused half the time.

[Spicy_Horror_Guy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this book and the rest of the series as ARCs. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a freaking trip. I do not say this lightly, please read the trigger and content warnings for it. This is dark and gory at times, and deals with some really difficult themes. You have been warned.

Seriously, this book goes some pretty dark places and does not hold back, which I really, really appreciated. I am fighting so much with how I would even start to label this book. On one hand, I would say horror for sure. Come on, the setting is this demented freaking carnival that drags you in and refuses to let you go. There are definitely dark romance elements as well, but this is very much not the standard morally gray/villain-goes-after-the-girl sort of dark romance. I would say it is more dark obsession than romance.

The MMC, Dario, is a pitch-black villain. He is an asshole in every sense of the word. He is controlling and beyond manipulative, to the point that he does some terrible shit to the MFC and to other characters in this and does not give a damn who gets hurt in the process. He is also very overtly sexual in how he uses and controls the other characters in this book. OMG, is it sexual. I will say the sex scenes are a mix of scenes that are very, very hot and some that are written in a way that makes you deeply uncomfortable. Various moments of this sit very much in the dubious-consent range.

I feel horrified by him, but also, he was just such a fun character to read about and be in his head during his POV chapters. I mean, I like some messed-up characters, and he very much ticked that box. Seriously, I loved the way he was written.

I very much enjoyed Kennedy's chapters too, though her sections are deeply uncomfortable to read at some points. She is flawed and broken in a lot of ways when it comes to life in general, and her thoughts go some very dark places. There is also very much this time-warp/nonlinear thing going on in her chapters. That really warps how you read her sections and makes you question what exactly is going on. It all makes sense, though, when you get to the end of the book.

Finally, this book kept me guessing what was going to happen all the way to the end. This did not even begin to end where I thought it was going to, and I am so happy about that.

Overall, I thought this was a great first entry and a great introduction to this dark and gory world!

[Cassandra Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: The Carnivale


There’s something wonderfully unsettling about a story that invites you to step inside before you realize the doors may never open again.


At the center of The Carnivale is Dario Alcazar, the enigmatic and deeply disturbing Showmaster who has ruled over his strange little Colony for longer than anyone can remember. Loved, hated, and feared in equal measure, Dario is the kind of character who commands attention the moment he enters the page. He doesn’t age, he doesn’t surrender control, and most importantly, he doesn’t allow anyone to leave.


The Carnivale itself is every bit as captivating as its master. Beneath the spectacle and theatricality is a world that feels increasingly unstable, with its “freaks” running wild and the carefully constructed illusion of order beginning to crumble. Dario, once seemingly devoted to his magnificent show, has grown restless and increasingly intoxicated by Delirium. His growing discontent gives the story an eerie sense that something terrible is inevitable.


What makes the premise particularly compelling is Dario’s search for a new obsession. When he discovers a talent that captures his attention, the dynamic shifts. It’s no longer simply about maintaining the Carnivale—it becomes about possession, control, and what happens when the Showmaster decides that something belongs to him.


The atmosphere is easily one of the story’s greatest strengths. There’s a decadent, gothic quality to the Carnivale, where beauty and menace exist side by side. Everything feels theatrical, but beneath the spectacle is something much darker. Dario, in particular, gives the story its sinister heartbeat: charismatic enough to be fascinating, yet unpredictable enough to make every interaction feel dangerous.


The Carnivale promises a dark, twisted ride filled with obsession, power, and spectacle. It feels like the kind of story where you willingly step beneath the big top knowing full well that you may regret it—and that, somehow, is exactly what makes you want to stay.


Open the tents. Draw back the curtains. The Showmaster is waiting.

[Dani-Lynn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤EXALT: The Colony Carnivale🖤
By KD Cureton

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸- 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮

🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Kennedy & Dario

🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕suicidal ideation
📕mental distress
📕graphic violence & gore
📕kidnapping & captivity
📕psychological manipulation

🖤𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼🖤
“Now that’s what I call, a standing ovation.”
“Thank you…for coming to the show, and welcome to the Colony Carnivale.”
“YOU’RE IN FOR ONE HELL OF A SHOW.”

🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
What a way to open the series! The way Cureton provided flashbacks to really get to know Kennedy. But damn was this a bit of a mind trip! It was deep dark and disturbing in literally all the right ways. The ‘Groundhog Day’ aspect was trippy and nicely done. The atmosphere is a perfect blend of seduction and terror. The characters are lovable and it’s one that you won’t easily forget after the experience.

*spoilers*
Kennedy has survived a tragedy that left her convinced there is nothing worth living for. Haunted by her past and dangerously close to surrendering to the darkness inside her, she becomes an easy target for something far more sinister. Because Kennedy has caught the attention of Dario Alcazar, the immortal Showmaster of the Colony Carnivale.

For centuries, Dario has ruled his traveling carnival with an iron grip, collecting souls and transforming those who enter into part of his ever-growing spectacle. But the Carnivale is changing. His freaks are becoming unruly, his control is slipping, and even the Showmaster himself has grown restless. Until he discovers Kennedy.

There is something about her pain that draws him in—something broken, desperate, and deliciously vulnerable. To Dario, she isn’t simply another victim. She’s his new obsession. As Kennedy is pulled deeper beneath the blood-red tents of the carnival, she begins to realize that the greatest danger isn’t escaping the carnival, it’s that she just may be becoming exactly what the Showmaster wants her to be.

🖤𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵🖤
Cureton set the bar high with the start of the Colony Carnivale, as this gives the readers a delightful start to this ominous series centered on one carnival. The story is paced perfectly. Kennedy is a strong and enduring main female lead, as Dario is likable ‘carnie’ that has a likable aura to him. Light on the gore, heavy on the plot. Overall, pure enjoyment that you could finish in one sitting, but you’ll want to take your time to fully embrace the experience. Welcome to the Colony Carnivale.

**no AI was used to generate any part of this review**

[Stephanie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

🪄🎩 ARC READ REVIEW 🎩🪄

W-O-W!! What an INCREDIBLE opener to The Colony Carnivale!!
This book was BEYOND AMAZING!!

🪄🎩🖤🎡🖤🎩🪄

A dancer with a broken dream and the heartbreak of never being able to dance again after a knee injury, Kennedy Winters is forced to leave the big city of New York and return to her hometown of Haven, Connecticut...letting the only thing she ever wanted to do with her life become just a memory...

...but someone else has been watching...listening...

On a random invite, Kennedy soon finds herself entering the gates of The Colony Carnivale...it's there that she meets The Showmaster himself, Dario Alcazar...the voice that's been whispering in her ear and the one who is invading her mind.

Drawn to her immediately and set on making her part of his macabre show, Dario tortures Kennedy through his powers of mind control and erotic horror; persuading her to end her own life and forcing her to relive the scenes of it over and over while also keeping her trapped and returning to his show and to his stage where he makes a public display of claiming her ruthlessly and relentlessly...

Living in a horror show of déja vú and having no way to escape leaves Kennedy wondering what's real and what isn’t...
...though one thing is for certain, her only chance for survival is to beat Dario...even if it means burning his entire show down around him and him with it...

...but perhaps beating a handsome and powerful eternal demon is all just an illusion...especially when the demon is the one in control...

Absolutely phenomenal and beyond ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+!! I was hooked and glued to my e-reader from beginning to end!!

Be sure to check out Book #1 in The Colony Carnivale, "EXALT," by KD Cureton...coming soon!!

Don't miss it...Dario will be waiting...and stay tuned for the carnival's next stop... 😉

🪄🎩🖤🎡🖤🎩🪄

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exalt was absolutely unhinged in the BEST possible way and I could not put it down!! This was dark, twisted, disturbing, sexy and completely addictive. My brain is still somewhere inside The Colony Carnivale and I’m not sure it’s ever getting out 😂

Kennedy 😭💔 I felt for her so much. Having her entire dream of dancing ripped away because of her injury and then somehow ending up in Dario’s absolutely NIGHTMARE world?! GIRL RUN. Except… where exactly do you run when the freaking Showmaster is inside your head?! 😭

AND DARIO ALCAZAR. SIR. 🚩🚩🚩
That man is not a red flag, he is the entire demonic carnival tent on fire and apparently I’m just buying a ticket anyway. 😂🔥 The mind control, the obsession, the possessiveness, the way he completely toys with Kennedy and makes her question what is real… absolutely INSANE.

The déjà vu aspect had me questioning EVERYTHING. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, NOPE. Back into the nightmare we go. The erotic horror mixed with the carnival setting was creepy as hell but so freaking good. It felt like being trapped in a fever dream where everything is beautiful, terrifying and completely wrong.

And Kennedy fighting back?! YESSS. 👏🏻 I loved that she wasn’t just going to quietly become another piece in Dario’s show. Their entire dynamic was toxic, terrifying, obsessive and ridiculously addictive.

This book is DARK dark, completely chaotic and definitely check those triggers because Dario does not understand the meaning of boundaries 😳😂 But if you love obsessive demons, mind games, horror, morally nonexistent men and a romance that makes you wonder WTF you’re reading while simultaneously refusing to stop…

WELCOME TO THE CARNIVALE 🎪🔥🖤

I need MORE because apparently

[Sheree Birchall · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT A WAY TO BE INTRODUCED TO THE COLONY CARNIVALE. 🎪🩸

Wow. Just… WOW.

This was a deliciously dark, twisted little fever dream and I ate up every second of it. 🤌🏻 The writing was SO good and I was hooked from the very beginning. There was absolutely no chance of me casually putting this one down.

I LOVE a book that makes me feel just as confused as the FMC because WHAT THE ACTUAL FUDGE IS GOING ON?! And our girl was put THROUGH IT.

THE LOOP?! 👏🏻 PERFECT.

She was broken. She was looking for death. She had every reason to give up… and yet she fought tooth and nail to survive. And when I tell you the way she won?! 👀🔥

BUT IN THE END… she made it exactly where she was always meant to be.

And then there’s Dario.

Do I need to say more? Probably not.

But I will. 😂

This man is BAD to the bone. Like, genuinely gets off on other people’s anxiety, fear, pleasure and pain. And there are no limits this man won’t go to to have his Ken-ne-dy, his Mon ange brisé.

The centre of the show. The mastermind. The entertainer. The absolute menace running the whole damn circus. 🎪

Dario really said sit down, relax and let me psychologically destroy you and honestly… he delivered on EVERY. SINGLE. FRONT. 😂🫠

I loved the mind games.
I loved the gore.
I loved the chaos.
I loved ALL the characters.

There was something so ridiculously fun about this whole fucked-up carnival of madness and I was absolutely along for the ride.

Deliciously dark, wonderfully twisted and exactly the kind of unhinged shit I clearly need more of in my life.

Consider me officially introduced to the Colony Carnivale… and apparently I survived. 🩸🎪

[Rhiannon Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exalt - KD Cureton

This was a very interesting story, and I liked how time loops and reliving the same day over and over again was done in the story. I thought the characters Kennedy and Dario but also other ones like Caz were very interesting. I think this was a great way to start off this series and I hope to see them in other books in this series as well. I knew I was gonna love this story and the writing because of the previous work written by this author, and I can’t wait to see what else they write.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️

🔥 / Spice Rating ☀️

# of Pages 🌙 164 Pages

Reading Dates ✨ 9/15/26 - 9/15/26

Release Date 🌟 10/1/26

Format 💫 Gifted Digital Copy

Series 🌙 The Colony Carnival, #1

Genre/Tropes ✨ Body horror, erotic horror, stalking, mind control

Content Warning/Triggers ⭐️ Suicide and multiple suicide attempts, Suicidal ideation, On-page attempted drowning, Grief and loss, Depression / severe emotional distress, Death and discussion of death, Graphic violence and gore, Heavy blood and bleeding, Severe physical injury, Body horror, Choking, Blood consumption, Death threats, Kidnapping and Captivity, Stalking and obsessive behavior, Psychological manipulation, Mind control, Forced participation / inability to escape, Hallucination, Dubious consent / coerced sexual situations, Sexual activity involving manipulation, BDSM / power imbalance, Degradation and humiliation, Exhibitionism, Voyeurism, Group sexual activity, Graphic sexual content, Rough sex, Pain during sexual acts, Blood during sexual acts, Possessive / obsessive MMC behavior, Alcohol use, Drug/substance use and altered states, FMC’s injury/disability and chronic pain, Past domestic violence mentioned, Car crash, Religious imagery

Representation 🌙 unlabeled

Favorite Character ☀️ Kennedy

Favorite Line 🌟 “Now that’s what I call, a standing ovation.”

“C’mon, Kennedy. We’ll be fine. We’re bad-ass bitches, and bad-ass bitches don’t scare easily.”

Vibes 💫 unlabeled

Moods ⭐️ unlabeled

[Crystal Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was dark, depraved, completely unhinged, disturbing and I devoured it. From the moment Kennedy and Cassidy stepped into the Colony Carnivale, I knew I was in for one heck of a ride, but nothing prepared me for what I was about to read. K.D. Cureton does such an amazing job giving vivid details where I felt like I was in the stands witnessing everything happen.

Dario, let’s just say this Ringmaster was unhinged, cruel, obsessive, but also has a bit of a charming side. Any time he entered, I just know something completely unhinged was about to happen.

Kennedy was determined to hang on. We witness her pain, determination, and the strength she has. Her experiences gave off “Groundhog Day” vibes, just so much darker. Carnivale has twisted her reality to the point where it became heartbreaking.

The endless time loop will have you questioning everything. Do I know what’s going on? What is real? Is she dreaming? You have to stick around to find out. There were so many “what the heck” movements, but I couldn’t look away. I needed to know what was next.

Was I disturbed? Yes.
Was I questioning everything? Definitely.
Did I look away? Absolutely not.

This book is not for the faint of heart, so check trigger warnings before diving in.

[Cassandra Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Welcome to the Carnivale

There are some books that invite you into their world gently. This one throws back the curtains, lights the lanterns, and dares you to step inside.

At the center of the Carnivale is Dario Alcazar, the enigmatic Showmaster who has ruled his Colony for longer than anyone can remember. Loved, hated, and feared in equal measure, Dario is the kind of character who commands attention the moment he enters a scene. He is immortal, unpredictable, and utterly unwilling to let anyone escape the world he has created.

But beneath the spectacle, something is beginning to unravel.

Dario has grown restless. Drunk on Delirium and increasingly frustrated by the chaos spreading throughout his Carnivale, his fascination with the show is beginning to fade. His performers are becoming unruly, the Colony is changing, and the man who once seemed to have complete control is suddenly searching for something—or someone—to reignite his interest.

Enter his newest obsession.

What follows is a deliciously sinister setup filled with dark intrigue, dangerous power dynamics, and the intoxicating atmosphere of a carnival where nothing is quite what it seems. The Carnivale itself feels almost like a character: beautiful, grotesque, seductive, and deeply unsettling.

Dario is undoubtedly the star of the show. There is something magnetic about a villainous Showmaster who knows exactly how much power he holds and has absolutely no intention of giving it up. His obsession with his newest “toy” promises a story where attraction and danger are impossible to separate.

If you enjoy gothic settings, morally questionable characters, dark romance, twisted power dynamics, and stories that make you feel as though you’ve wandered into a beautiful nightmare, this Carnivale is one you may not want to leave.

Just remember:

Once you enter, the Showmaster decides when the show is over.

[Kelsey Thomason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Exalt. This was definitely different from what I normally read, but in a good way. It’s dark, twisted, and honestly a little strange at times 😂 The whole circus/carnivale setting gave the book such a creepy atmosphere, and Dario is definitely a character that stands out.
I’ll admit there were times I was a little confused and trying to figure out what was actually going on, but as things started coming together, it made the story even more interesting. I liked that it wasn’t completely predictable and that there were things I had to piece together as I went.
The writing was really good and I thought the characters were well written. There’s definitely a lot going on with the carnivale, the characters, and the darker elements of the story, so this one is definitely out there and not going to be for everyone.
And seriously, READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS before going into this one. There are quite a few dark and disturbing themes that some readers may not be comfortable with.
Overall, I thought this was a really good and unique read. Definitely gives creepy circus vibes and leaves you wondering what the heck you just walked into 😂 I’m definitely curious to see where this story goes next.

[LittleBatsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beginning 🎃🎪
Um hello?! This was one wild ride and I was captivated from the start!! An absolute 10/10 and I'm really excited for the rest of this series.
“Worry not, mon ange brisé. You shall fly again very soon.”~Dario
"We’re all moths. And he’s the flame."~Kennedy
I know this wasn't supposed to be a romance book but it definitely has the beginning of a dark romance 🤭🤭.
I admire Kennedy and how she fights Dario and his Carnivale as much as possible before giving in. I was just as confused as her at the beginning before everything started to make sense.
Dario is definitely one of the more darker of men I've read about but I absolutely love him and his hilarious ways. Not sure Kennedy would agree with me there but I digress 🤭🤭. I love how obsessed he is with Kennedy and how he does everything in his powers to keep her from deaths grasps.. He definitely doesn't like death 🤭🤭.
I love Cassidy (Caz) as well but that was a plot twist that I didn't see coming!!!
This was the best way to start this series off, starting with the showmaster. This is going to be such an amazing series. I can already tell.

[Books, Cats and Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot of different elements that worked surprisingly well together. The main character(s) are a lost young woman and a psychotic Showmaster from hell. If that doesn't already intrigue you then hang on.

Dario is a literal demon in this tale of woe and misery. The Carnivale that he runs doesn't obey the laws of the world, and everyone in it is either controlled by him or succumbs to his power. If he wants you, he gets you. And he'll break you as many times as it takes.

Kennedy is coming off a tragic accident, and "happens" upon the Carnivale due to running into an old friend. But all is not as it seems as she slowly realizes that there is no escaping this life, even when you try again, and again.

Overall, this was an interesting read. I'm not a huge fan of multiple POV, but it didn't detract too much from the main story, and it did help relay things you wouldn't necessarily understand. The horror and dread was palpable and well done. It was definitely an interesting introduction to the larger world and the multitude of freaks that are contained within the Carnivale.

[Bob Fendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

#thecolonycarnivale
Exalt
by KD Cureton

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book one in The Colony Carnnivale collection of horror stories

What an incredible start to a twisted erotic horror series! Exalt is a deeply shocking chiller. An addictive and gripping roller coaster of a ride. Yes, I was a bit confused going into this story, and that kept me intrigued as it all untangle and became clearer as the story progressed.
Kennedy returns to her home town and bumps into an old friend Caz, who drags her off to The Colony Carnnivale, where beyond all the glitz, lights fun and laughter hides the darker sides of the acts, lust, power pain and fear.
As the show and the games begin showmaster Darius wants a volunteer, Caz is the chosen one, now she finds herself under his control, owned by him, his to do with her as he pleases. Caz is trapped with no escape.
I am really looking forward to reading more of this exciting Colony Carnnivale series.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

🚨HEAVY TRIGGER WARNING🚨 This book does discuss heavy topics (self-deleting attempts, death, mental distress, mentions of DV, etc.) just to name some of the heavier topics...PLEASE check the triggers before starting this one! Let me summerize this as best I can; a total mind fuck! I swear reading Kennedy's pov, watching her relive the same day in a loop shows different things that slowly became clear. But still a mind fuck 😂. And Dario, this guy, he's literally psycho at its finest! You'll just have to decide for yourself if you can handle the show. That's it, that's the review, leave me to finish wrapping my head around this so I can start the next in the Colony Carnivale series 😅. Consider this the kick off for the series and spooky season. Buckle up buttercups, we're going to the carnivale! Thank you @authorkdcureton for the privilage to be part of your ARC team!

[Theresa Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exalt was such a fun and completely unhinged way to kick off The Colony Carnivale. The déjà vu element pulled me in immediately, and watching the pieces slowly start falling into place kept me curious about exactly what I had wandered into. It gets dark, weird, depraved, and increasingly chaotic, which feels exactly right for a world full of supernatural madness and questionable decisions.

This was a great introduction to the world because it gave me enough of the larger vibe to make me very curious about what the rest of these stories are going to bring without feeling like I needed all the answers immediately. If Exalt is our welcome sign, I have some serious concerns about what I’ve gotten myself into. Apparently I’ve bought a ticket to crazy, and there’s no getting off the ride now. Come meet the Show Master!

[Brittany Molebash · Rating 5 out of 5]

KD starts us off with book one in our Colony Carnival series with Exalt. And what a start it was. To be honest, I was pretty excited KD's book was first as I have ARC read for her twice before and LOVED her style of writing.

Exalt is definitely a mind f*ck. Right when I thought I had it figured out.... boom back to the beginning to try again. And again. And again. The amount of times this had me questioning where it was going to end just shows how amazing KD is at what she does.

Kennedy is a dancer who, after an accident, has to go home to figure out life. She has some serious thoughts on where she sees her life going and somehow ends up going to visit a carnival with an old high school friend/acquaintance. There she finds herself in this repeating chaos of choices that always brings her right back to the beginning. What she decides in the end will be the biggest plot twist.

[TheCaffeinatedTBR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Smut: 🌶️🌶️.5

Looking for your next dark, mind-bending spooky read? The Colony Carnivale is a massive collection of novellas, and it kicks off with Exalt.

Classified as erotic horror, this series definitely deals with much darker subjects so be sure to check the trigger warnings!

To be honest, it took me a while to get into this one. The writing style was unfamiliar, which left me a bit confused, and I probably focused too much on minor details. Because of that, it took me much longer to finish than usual.

However, the plot itself is fantastic. The concept of a showmaster who is also a master mind controller is brilliant. You can truly feel the madness through the pages, especially as the FMC breaks and just accepts her fate.

If you love dark, psychological horror and unique storytelling, it's definitely worth checking out.

[Alicia Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, KD Cureton , for the ARC opportunity. This honest review has been left voluntarily.

Exalt is book one in The Colony Carnivale. This book definitely had my mind going in a circle! The psychological elements had me in a chokehold. It was such a fantastic start to this series!

We meet Kennedy as she debates ending her life. Standing near a train debating on ending it all. Returning home after her career has ended. She runs into an old Cassidy who offers to take her out for the night. Kennedy agrees to go but the feelings of deja vu are all around her. The smell of cotton candy, sounds of carnival music. Little does Kennedy know that going out that night with Cassidy will change her future forever......

I can't wait to see how all these stories tie together. On to book two Coax!