Circus of Horrors

by Carole Gill

What exactly is wrong with this circus?
There are demonic, flesh-eating clowns, murderous midgets, there is a fat lady with some peculiar tastes and there is an old man with one hell of a secret. Old Pa keeps a trunk with some very special souvenirs. When a stranger joins up who has second sight (among other talents) the old man's son gets nervous.
If that isn't enough, there

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Fiction

152 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 18, 2015

About the author

I am the author of the acclaimed Blackstone Vampires Series.
THE BLACKSTONE VAMPIRES OMNIBUS:
2014 - Amazon Bestseller in Dark Fantasy
2015 - Amazon Bestseller in Vampire Horror
AWARDS:
eBook Festival of Words 2014
Best Horror: The House on Blackstone Moor and
Best Villain: Eco
Top 10 Books - 2013 - The House on Blackstone Moor
Aoife Marie Sheridan - ALL THINGS FANTASY
Publisher, Ultimate Fantasy Books
'92 Horror authors you need to read right now,
Carole Gill - The Blackstone Vampires Series. ~Charlotte Books Examiner,

Justine: Into The Blood Book One - Blood and Passion Series has just been released. There is a second novel following that and a third.

I am a member of the Horror Writer's Association.

I live in Yorkshire.I love history and reading. That is why much of my fiction is historically based. Most days you will find me writing or planning what I am going to write next.

I am published by Creativia http://www.ctivia.com/

Reviews

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I forgot how gruesome this book was; sex, cannibals, gore and the circus in between! Oh, and clowns!

It's also on kindle unlimited if you're interested!



**OLD REVIEW**

Holy Circus!!!!!! Talk about a book going in a direction that I certainly didn't see coming. I mean I knew something was off, but it was more off than I was thinking.

You first meet the crew from Fred Dodger's Circus, really they just travel around in a van and try to work wherever they can. They live off the land in the beginning, among other things that I'm not even going to tell you!

So there is Fred Dodger and his dad who goes by Old Pa, Fred takes care of his dad and his little group of misfits as best he can. There are the three clowns, Happy, Danny and Noble. The two midgets, Hank and Al and the fat lady, Baby Alice.

These are not your NORMAL people, and I'm not talking about them being characters in a circus! They all have some freaky stuff going on!

Then one night out of the blue this hobo named Joe wanders into their camp telling them stories of a circus they can join and never have to move again. Well, of course, this makes everyone happy. They soooo want a place that is home.

I'm going to put it mildly here, that circus is not a place you want to call home and if you read this book you will see all of the freak show (no pun intended) that is really going on! I think all horror fans would like this or just someone interested in crazy stuff.

*Graphic violence, Gore, Sexual Situations* Just wanted to add that for the kiddie's, this isn't for the kiddie's :)

I really liked the book because it was so odd and the cover is so awesomely creepy!!!!!!



Happy Reading! 🎃

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

::3.5 Bizarre Stars ::

This is certainly a dark and disturbing read. I originally picked this book up because of the creepy cover and thought it would be an awesome book to read right before Halloween but I have to say I found it quite bizarre. Although I really like the premise and I felt bad for some of the characters a lot of the book just dragged for me. I also didn't find it to be too original- kind of reminded me of other horror books and movies that I had read/seen in the past. Don't get me wrong though, there were some really good parts to the story too. Enter cruel and cannibalistic clowns, demon spawns, and some real character twists. Overall the book was a "good" read. Fans of gruesome horror may get a real kick out of this one. But those with a weak stomach this one may not be for you.

To see my full review, check out my blog: www.prettylittlebookreviews.com

[Mya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting. Imaginative. Chilling. Fantastical. From the first few pages, I knew I would love this book. I love the circus, am fascinated by it and yet am always slightly suspicious of its magical environ. Ms. Gill takes the idea of the circus as a haven for the unusual and dynamic and turns it into a wild ride into damnation. A place of wonder to the outside world and a refuge to the spectacles that operate in its world, the characters were vibrant and complex in their sins from the start. When it first began, I saw the main characters:Fred and Old Pa as the guardians of their small, misfit entertainment troupe but as the book went along so many secrets unfolded that darker suspicions began to stir. Enter Joe, the carny with a mysterious air who offers them them an opportunity to be apart of a real circus! Like the protagonist, I was wary of Joe and his too good to be true offer. By the end, even I was surprised how much such apprehension was really warranted! Ms. Gill pulls no punches and the horror presented within the pages is both stark and unforgiving as the story unfolded. She captures the magic of the circus and what it means to work within such an environment extremely well. There is a fat lady, midgets, clowns and more, detailed with tragic pasts and horrendous futures. Deception, betrayal and tragedy outline each character to such a point that I even at the end of the book, I was wondering if anyone ever had a shot at redemption. If you are looking for a well written, imaginative yarn that will put a chill in your spine, definitely check this one out. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to checking out more of this author's work!

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: CIRCUS OF HORRORS by Carole Gill

Don't be fooled into thinking this is a routine, run-of-the-mill, carnival scary. Nothing routine here: CIRCUS OF HORRORS is a very special story, and I'm glad it introduced me to author Carole Gill, an exceptionally talented writer.

Reading this yanked me on an emotional roller coaster. This past year, I've read so much horror, extreme horror, and weird. I've remarked on great plots, unexpected plot twists, good characterization. CIRCUS OF HORRORS certainly brings all that, and additionally, it inspired me to CARE about its characters: the broken, sad, lost, disfigured inside and out. Early along I adopted the "good guys" [by no means are they perfect] as MY family. Fred, his father, and the performers who comprise his family became my family too, and when the evil ones began to plot to entrap and destroy them, I became like a mother bear with a flamethrower. How DARE these evil ones? Leave my adopted folks alone!!

[Laura Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

My stomach turned and I was horrified by this read which I completely LOVED!!! The author entrapped me in her fun house and didn't let go until the bitter end.

Outstanding story line and strong characters. I felt like I was right there and a part of the side show.

This book is not intended for young readers or for those with a weak stomach.

Kudos to the author!!!

[Ken B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 STARS

[Mark Tilbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a circus unlike any other you've heard about. It has clowns, lion tamers and trapeze artists mixed up with pure evil. Fred, His 'Old Pa' and his small band of circus acts meet Joe, who promises a better life. One filled with a big top, making big bucks. But at what price?

This is a dark and disturbing tale. The author's writing and vivid imagination grab hold of you from the first page. Some scenes are very graphic but needed due to the nature of the story.

Some horrors end up being clichéd and/or 'tacky'. Not Circus of Horrors. This is an excellently written book with a great collection of characters. I especially liked the ending. I didn't see it coming but it was very well done and explains why certain things happened earlier on in the story.

This was the first book by this author that I've read. I'll be adding more to my kindle. A highly recommended horror.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating: 1.5 stars

I honestly don't know how to review this.

It started out okay, but somewhere along the way something changed for me, and I can't quite put my finger on when or exactly what changed. It became less about reading to find out what happened next, and more about, "WTF am I reading here?"

It just got really bizarre, and not in a good way. By the end, it seemed that things were being thrown in just to be as shocking as possible.

And on that note, I should mention that if you have a trigger, there's a pretty good chance that it is featured in this book.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't often read horror stories but I've come across that scary clown face so often on twitter that I had to try it. Boy was I on for a rough ride. Fred seemed a nice enough guy, with his vulnerable old father, but the casual way in which murder, revenge and cannibalism were introduced in the first chapter was a baptism of fire. Then there is a succubus that has her wicked ways with him in some rather explicit scenes and much more - it just keeps on coming. Well written and highly imaginative this is rather good.
If you like an original horror story then this is for you.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy

I knew clowns were evil! I loved this book! You know if it involves clowns or a circus atmosphere, it's going to be creepy. And this book did not disappoint!

[Greg Kerestan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book can be objectively bad, and still be enjoyable, just like the worst zero-budget fast food can still scratch an itch. After seeing "IT," having read the book several times before, I was in the mood for more evil clowns, so the cover of this book caught my eye. It's pleasantly lurid pulp, though the prose is fairly shoddy. Though much of the book is clichés- evil clowns, sinister circuses, demonic ringleaders and seductive dancing girls- it throws in enough twists of its own, like shapeshifters, cannibals, vampires and the like, to keep things interesting. And there's something to be said for the audacity of a book that contains all of these, AND Jack the Ripper! Though it may read like an uneasy mashup of Stephen King, Ray Bradbury and Clive Barker shoved into one season of "American Horror Story," "Circus of Horrors" made for a decent evening's junk food.

[Doug Lamoreux · Rating 5 out of 5]

The midget clowns, the fat lady, Fred the circus owner, and his dear old dad; they're murderers and monsters all (some are even cannibals), but they just want to be loved. Read the title. That's what it is, a Circus of Horrors. If you don't like scary, eye-popping, and even a little disgusting, do yourself a favor and stay away! But if you enjoy a terrifying thrill ride from the safety of your comfy reading chair, take a gander - and I dare you to try and remain comfy. Carole Gill does dark as well as anyone out there. Enjoy.

[Trina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know what everyone liked about this book...besides the demented actions, this book just didn't flow for me. Sometimes, there wasn't enough details and it felt choppy. I wanted to stop reading this book so many times but with the other reviews I kept thinking it would get better...it didn't.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to stick with this one, kept waiting for it to get better, but it just never grabbed me. More porn and gore than anything else, but has a lot of twists and turns. Maybe if the writer had written down her ideas first then organized them better it would have been a better book. Not for me tho.

[Sahara Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

PLZ SEE MY REVIEW ON MY GR BLOG. THNXS

[Irina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book yesterday and it wasn't bad at all. I'm a hardcore horror junky so very few plots get my attention. This one did although I didn't give it 5 stars.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Supposedly horror

This book sucked from start to finish. I wouldn't consider it horror I would consider it pornography. I am sorry I read it.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so bizarre... in a good way. Lots of twists and turns. I liked it.

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat predictable, somewhat surprising. Descent writing style, but not really my cup of tea.

[Johnny Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird and intriguing. Full of odd characters, depraved and sick.
Fred with a few, very strange carny folk and his old dad who is mostly lost to old go from one place to the other until they meet the enigmatic Joe, who comes into their lives offering a stable yet permanent residence with his old circus; which they build up to a 'magical' show.
However Fred and his old Pa have secrets, a box full of secrets. Joe knows, Joe knows everything. The clowns who like to eat, the midgets and the fat lady-all once a happy family, now offered their wildest dreams for a price.

[Sarah Maleficent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book by the cover. I hate clowns, but love scaring myself so I had high hopes.
If I'm honest,the title pretty much days it all. What you see is what you get. A ragtag bunch of waifs and strays who have come together over a period of time and made a sort of travelling freak show/circus set in 1930's America. The show is failing and is at a point where they don't know what to do for the best.
Fred,the owner, feels wholly responsible for them all. He's taken them under his wing and protected them for years.
Cannibal clowns, midgets, the obligatory fat lady, this has it all. Enter a stranger who offers them an answer to all their prayers.
But don't be fooled, nothing is what it seems.
The story it takes us on is full of murder, gore, explicit pornography and all round shocking gruesome behaviour.
Personally, I felt like it was quite a superficial storyline. I kept reading hoping for something meaty and gripping to come along and grab me. I feel with a bit more depth to it, it could have been great. As it is, it's a good horror story, more gruesome than scary. I would however read more from this author.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book comes with a warning that is contains graphic violence. It does.
Well written, it starts off with a traveling circus which picks up a performer who is more than he seems. It ends up in hell.

[David Burnham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry Carole, I did not enjoy this book.

I love clown horror and the cover image enticed me to buy. I found some of the writing a little flat. I also found it difficult to keep up with the ever-growing list of characters. At one point I spent more time turning pages to remember who everyone was. I'm disappointed I didn't enjoy this title more considering the subject matter.

[Michael Brookes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book a bit of a mixed bag. It starts well with a trio of cannibal clowns, but loses it's way a bit. The scene is set well with a failing troupe of circus performers who have the fortune to meet a charismatic man who turns their fortunes around. Quite naturally things are not what they seem and this man interferes in their lives in a dramatic fashion. It's here that the book needed more work. This character should have felt more sinister than it did, and indeed to an extent this issues covers the whole story.

The elements are certainly there, and there are some intense horror moments, but they are an exception. These tended to be more limited to the more physical shock horror, but the story cried out for something more insidious. I feel that it needed more of an undercurrent to make the shocking moments a bit more fitting.

There's an interesting array of characters, but apart from a few exceptions they lacked depth, and some more development with them would have helped strengthen the plot. In some ways the number on offer fights against some of the more personal conflicts at play.

The biggest issues for me were the reveals. First you learn the secrets of two of the main characters, and they come out of the blue and make a big claims. To be honest they felt a little forced, and would have enjoyed greater impact as acts in themselves, rather than trying to force them to certain historical events.

Beyond this was the end reveal, and a change in circumstances. Again it felt too much, and wasn't really needed. With some more development the circus itself had all the horror the story needed, and the ramp up at the end could have been something more meaningful. That being said I did enjoy the choice at the end, although it didn't really fit with the characters behaviour throughout the book.

It's true that I had issues with the story, but the writing was solid, and it's a fast paced read. It has some bizarre moments, and I did enjoy it overall. Worth a look if you're searching for something a bit different. I should warn you that it's not for the squamish!

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freaking Terrible!

This is horrific in the best way! It is extreme ... and disturbing. If you like that sort of thing and an author who can write it and make you a bit uncomfy ... Gill will likely make you smile ... even if you don't admit that part.

[Enid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disturbing.

It has a lot of blood and gore but the story just had too many "sick" scenes for me to find it enjoyable.

[Don Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dreadful

I almost deleted this book after the first chapter, and I really should have. Absolutely dreadful, and not in a good way.