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The Spark Form Chronicles #2
Carnival
The Spark Form Chronicles duology reaches its exciting conclusion!
As day two of the tournament begins, the top four competitors are readying themselves for the battles that lay ahead. But will their toughest battles take place in the arena, or will they be forced to focus on goals other than the championship?
With Carnival’s existence hanging in the balance, how hard each player is willing to fight has never been more important …
As day two of the tournament begins, the top four competitors are readying themselves for the battles that lay ahead. But will their toughest battles take place in the arena, or will they be forced to focus on goals other than the championship?
With Carnival’s existence hanging in the balance, how hard each player is willing to fight has never been more important …
280 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2016
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Matt Doyle
30 books128 followersMatt Doyle is a pansexual/nonbinary author, voice actor, and pop culture blogger from the UK. Matt specializes in horror and sci-fi fiction, sometimes in an unusual or experimental form.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 11, 2016
Who is Carnival? What is Carnival? Is this her time to win the Spark Form fight, again? Has she found humanity in the maze of 1s and 0s of computer coding? Step back into Matt Doyle’s world of Artificial Intelligence, holograms and the lust for blood from the masses who find death, contrived or real, entertainment in an increasingly restless dystopia world. Prepare for what could be the final round of the final battle for Carnival and John Forester as John weakens while Carnival must decide between continued existence or “death” only to be re-born a more powerful being or a spare part vessel.
Everyone has an agenda, a bone to pick, an axe to grind, a legend to take down and there will be times when you wonder who is the human and who is the creation of the mega-intelligent. Get ready for a cast of personalities that come to life under the skill of Matt Doyle’s pen. Combining card games with battle strategies and personal quests, the deadly games are played, rather like watching the Gladiators of ancient times, proving that no mater how advanced the world becomes, how distorted life is, there is always a feral animal within humanity that seeks the brutality of battle without getting ones hand dirty. And that is entertainment at any price, with little thought to the lives involved.
Matt Doyle’s tale might seem to be gaming in prose, but I do NOT believe Carnival belongs in a niche type genre. Good writing that is filled with tension and continual action and interaction deserves to be read, enjoyed, thought about and shared. Take a walk into a fresh read and discover another talented author.
I received this copy from the author, Matt Doyle in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Spark Form Chronicles Duology - Book 2
Publisher: Matt Doyle
Publication Date: March 1, 2016
Genre: Fantasy | Scifi | Dystopian
Print Length: 250 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Everyone has an agenda, a bone to pick, an axe to grind, a legend to take down and there will be times when you wonder who is the human and who is the creation of the mega-intelligent. Get ready for a cast of personalities that come to life under the skill of Matt Doyle’s pen. Combining card games with battle strategies and personal quests, the deadly games are played, rather like watching the Gladiators of ancient times, proving that no mater how advanced the world becomes, how distorted life is, there is always a feral animal within humanity that seeks the brutality of battle without getting ones hand dirty. And that is entertainment at any price, with little thought to the lives involved.
Matt Doyle’s tale might seem to be gaming in prose, but I do NOT believe Carnival belongs in a niche type genre. Good writing that is filled with tension and continual action and interaction deserves to be read, enjoyed, thought about and shared. Take a walk into a fresh read and discover another talented author.
I received this copy from the author, Matt Doyle in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Spark Form Chronicles Duology - Book 2
Publisher: Matt Doyle
Publication Date: March 1, 2016
Genre: Fantasy | Scifi | Dystopian
Print Length: 250 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
October 22, 2016
Matt Doyle's Carnival echoes the prospect of a tech world over an organic; a possibility of an immortal world with human-like inhabitants, perhaps not too far into the future. It is a book both thrilling and frightening, as it sets off an alarm of creating the perfect Frankenstein capable of many things - including turning against its creator. Whether or not this character Carnival is human enough is the dilemma. And ironically, research is underway to make a perfect prototype of an imperfect original - humans. This is what I found most intriguing. That the protagonist should be out on a quest to seek how well this art could be perfected. A futuristic notion which sits at the very heart of the novel.
May 5, 2016
I was provided a copy in exchange for an honest review. Having read Wick, I was thrilled he offered and jumped on it! I loved Wick; and now, I absolutely love Carnival too!
Sometimes in life, things just get overwhelmingly busy and I need a break. Matt Doyle has created the perfect place for respite. I love this dystopian world he has created; the holographic characters fighting to the death, while providing the type of entertainment everyone can relate to. I highly recommend both books! I rate CARNIVAL with 5 HUGE Boundless Stars! Doyle has exceeded my expectations with this book! Thank you!...Beth
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
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Sometimes in life, things just get overwhelmingly busy and I need a break. Matt Doyle has created the perfect place for respite. I love this dystopian world he has created; the holographic characters fighting to the death, while providing the type of entertainment everyone can relate to. I highly recommend both books! I rate CARNIVAL with 5 HUGE Boundless Stars! Doyle has exceeded my expectations with this book! Thank you!...Beth
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
March 5, 2016
I admittedly marked out for nearly every chapter of this book!
I normally balance out each and every one of my reviews with both positives and negatives. Here though, for this book, I didn't find anything that I didn't like. This book perfectly suited my tastes for deep multi-layered characters, fast paced and detailed action sequences, comedy, quick wit, and a multi-layered plot that actually forced me to use my own wits to follow it. There were also a lot of callbacks to the things I loved as a kid, mostly from anime. The card battles felt even more intense than those episodes of Yugioh from so long ago, the Spark Forms shared a lot of heart with their trainers just like Digimon, and the over-the-top promos and in ring action had the feel of a wrestling show. In the review below you'll find nothing but praises for this book. Just a heads up.
The Writing
Crisp, witty, and filled with humor and character. I was never bored while reading Carnival. The narration was easy to understand and I was instantly immersed into the world of Spark Forming and never left it until the word END showed up. I hope all my 2016 reads are this smooth. The dialogue was natural and engaging. Each character felt and sounded distinct. It was absurdly easy to keep them separate in my head and even visualize them. What really takes this book to the next level is how it takes a closer look at all sorts of details, mainly body language. Doyle makes great use of body language to describe characters. It’s a very effective method.
The Characters
Easily my favorite part of the book. Matt Doyle has a talent for creating multi-layered characters, who are likeable even when you hate them (read Conner Ford). There is also not a single character wasted in this book. Even the quiet makeup artist guy gets a nice little subplot. This goes to that attention to detail that I was talking about earlier. Tertiary characters are never used as props here. What I most loved about the characterizations in Carnival is that they were so well rounded and heightened different emotions at different times. John Forrester was the main source of witty humor in the book, just like in Wick. Lana stepped up in that category as well to pretty much equal John. But those two characters brought in so much more as well. From John there was worry, paranoia, fatigue, and even a sense of danger as his wit was shown to be razor sharp and exacting. Lana herself gave a paradoxical sense of being both sinister and kind, which made her a wildcard. Then there was Fahrn's spells of anger and melancholy, and the sadness of what she and Meera were going through. And there's of course Meera herself and Connor Ford who had some of the most emotionally gripping chapters of them all along with the eponymous Carnival. I was engaged at every turn from the emotionally (and logically) driven characters and their goals. The book would probably not work as well for me if the characterization was not as strong as it was.
The Plot
I'll keep this short. Each character brought something of their own that drove his or her (or its) own story forward, a goal if you will. Not only did those goals affect them but they affected the tournament as a whole and even other characters. Each POV is a piece in a larger puzzle and once you get through all those tales, you get the main plot which ends spectacularly. Each chapter has something to look forward to, but when all was finished and the overall aims of the bad guys were finally revealed, it was a huge moment and I hope this series continues on since I look forward to where it can go next...which is anywhere.
The Spark Forms
I really really wanted to do this section to demonstrate how absolutely cool Spark Forming is. I'll try to be quick here. Spark Forming is an international card battling eSport using holographic data forms that attack each other depending on the attack combinations played by the players. There are standard rules to the game including limitations on the types of cards that can be used with each distinct Spark Form as well as the size of each card deck. Familiar stuff to fans of card battle games. The Spark Forms themselves have lore to them and have various humanoid/bestial or 100% bestial designs as well as unique stats, strengths, and weakness. The eponymous Carnival is a Lopine Spark Form, a mixture of bunny, wolf, and human. She is special in that she can even outside of the Holo-dome where the Spark Form battles take place. Each player can also pick one "special move" called a Data Fragment which allows them to do cool things like dodge attacks, do a powerful special attack, attack without impunity, counter attack, and many more things. It's all about strategy when it comes to these battles and I loved that, especially since much of what each card does is explained ahead of time in this book. This time around the strategies are much more diverse with a larger emphasis on strategies that use status inflicting effects like poison. There are now even new types of matches introduced which blew me away. It was serious sensation overload for me while reading this book.
Beyond the combat, I really enjoyed the Spark Form entrances. Here's one of my favorites:
"It ripples gently in the air,
Hairs bristling like a million tiny fingers.
Grasping.
Reaching.
They are fine, sensitive things, that gather the scents of the world around them,
The eyeless demon knowing its land by no more than shifts in the air.
But take heed dear friends and do not wander too close,
Lest you wish to see those self-same hairs harden like needles,
To feel your flesh shredded,
As the damnable thing contracts and expands around you.
Blood.
The membranous backing to its body craves blood,
The hungry, wet tupping of its holes drowning out the screams of its prey.
This is not a time to be foolhardy.
Leave now.
Leave and never return,
For this is a death that cannot see,
A death that cannot hear.
Yet it feels you,
Starving,
Craving,
Fool, it knows you are here still.
Mott, the devourer of all, Demands to be fed."
Now tell me that that’s not amazing!
What sets Carnival apart?
Just about everything in my opinion. This is a book unlike any I've ever read and it successfully builds upon the first one, making it even better. It's a book that takes much of what I loved from childhood and presents it in a serious and adult package that I can enjoy nowadays. In many respects it is a counterculture book. It takes a collection of fairly niche things and bits from those niche cultures such as pro wrestling, anime, card games, and esports and blends them together along with a very strong narrative. I must admit that half the fun is to be found in the spectacle, so if you're not a fan of those things I mentioned then your enjoyment won't come close to mine. But I think that this book is a 20 out of 10 book so I think you still have some wiggle room to enjoy it :-). But just from its attention to detail and the way its characters treated as more than props give this book a feel unlike most others. Just like the characters question whether Spark Forms are alive, you will question if these are real living breathing people. I also like the emphasis that Matt Doyle puts on intellect with his various protagonists and antagonists. This is a book filled with smart characters. And the conflicts are solved with intelligence (mostly). Throughout there is a multi-layered chess game going on between all the super smart people, and those who aren't super smart are using their own intellect to evade their schemes and fulfill their own goals and desires.
Now I'll end this before it gets super omega hyper max long, since it's already super omega long. Below I just have a list of the notes I took while reading.
+Well written
+Natural and engaging dialogue
+totally immersive
+Lana de la Cruz had more presence this time and was a completely enjoyable intelligent character
+Connor Ford/John Forrester pre match promo, and John's followup was even more brilliant (PROMO CITY)
+wide range of characters, enjoyable wit, charm, and sympathy
+It's the little details that make this book stand out above the rest. The reason a character talks in grunts and body language,
+player psychology between Forrester and Ford was entertaining to see
+I marked out over the Pre-show Video
+the effects of the surge
+Awesome in-depth strategies and explanations of the cards
+there is nothing quite like this book
+Shocking turn
=Like my childhood come to life, except I can enjoy it as its written for adults
+Crazy twists and turns
+John Forrester has a dangerous quick wit, quite the enjoyable character, Lana as well
+New exciting types of matches
+Detailed descriptions of the rules
+Lantern the bad*** Lopine
+Interesting Spark Form lore thrown in
+Tag Team Finishers
+Ridiculously Bad*** Spark Form fight at the end
+Easy to read
+The plot thickens, more of the Wick universe can be explored
-Well, one thing I didn't like. The abbreviation OTT which I believe means over-the-top. Just say it!
I normally balance out each and every one of my reviews with both positives and negatives. Here though, for this book, I didn't find anything that I didn't like. This book perfectly suited my tastes for deep multi-layered characters, fast paced and detailed action sequences, comedy, quick wit, and a multi-layered plot that actually forced me to use my own wits to follow it. There were also a lot of callbacks to the things I loved as a kid, mostly from anime. The card battles felt even more intense than those episodes of Yugioh from so long ago, the Spark Forms shared a lot of heart with their trainers just like Digimon, and the over-the-top promos and in ring action had the feel of a wrestling show. In the review below you'll find nothing but praises for this book. Just a heads up.
The Writing
Crisp, witty, and filled with humor and character. I was never bored while reading Carnival. The narration was easy to understand and I was instantly immersed into the world of Spark Forming and never left it until the word END showed up. I hope all my 2016 reads are this smooth. The dialogue was natural and engaging. Each character felt and sounded distinct. It was absurdly easy to keep them separate in my head and even visualize them. What really takes this book to the next level is how it takes a closer look at all sorts of details, mainly body language. Doyle makes great use of body language to describe characters. It’s a very effective method.
The Characters
Easily my favorite part of the book. Matt Doyle has a talent for creating multi-layered characters, who are likeable even when you hate them (read Conner Ford). There is also not a single character wasted in this book. Even the quiet makeup artist guy gets a nice little subplot. This goes to that attention to detail that I was talking about earlier. Tertiary characters are never used as props here. What I most loved about the characterizations in Carnival is that they were so well rounded and heightened different emotions at different times. John Forrester was the main source of witty humor in the book, just like in Wick. Lana stepped up in that category as well to pretty much equal John. But those two characters brought in so much more as well. From John there was worry, paranoia, fatigue, and even a sense of danger as his wit was shown to be razor sharp and exacting. Lana herself gave a paradoxical sense of being both sinister and kind, which made her a wildcard. Then there was Fahrn's spells of anger and melancholy, and the sadness of what she and Meera were going through. And there's of course Meera herself and Connor Ford who had some of the most emotionally gripping chapters of them all along with the eponymous Carnival. I was engaged at every turn from the emotionally (and logically) driven characters and their goals. The book would probably not work as well for me if the characterization was not as strong as it was.
The Plot
I'll keep this short. Each character brought something of their own that drove his or her (or its) own story forward, a goal if you will. Not only did those goals affect them but they affected the tournament as a whole and even other characters. Each POV is a piece in a larger puzzle and once you get through all those tales, you get the main plot which ends spectacularly. Each chapter has something to look forward to, but when all was finished and the overall aims of the bad guys were finally revealed, it was a huge moment and I hope this series continues on since I look forward to where it can go next...which is anywhere.
The Spark Forms
I really really wanted to do this section to demonstrate how absolutely cool Spark Forming is. I'll try to be quick here. Spark Forming is an international card battling eSport using holographic data forms that attack each other depending on the attack combinations played by the players. There are standard rules to the game including limitations on the types of cards that can be used with each distinct Spark Form as well as the size of each card deck. Familiar stuff to fans of card battle games. The Spark Forms themselves have lore to them and have various humanoid/bestial or 100% bestial designs as well as unique stats, strengths, and weakness. The eponymous Carnival is a Lopine Spark Form, a mixture of bunny, wolf, and human. She is special in that she can even outside of the Holo-dome where the Spark Form battles take place. Each player can also pick one "special move" called a Data Fragment which allows them to do cool things like dodge attacks, do a powerful special attack, attack without impunity, counter attack, and many more things. It's all about strategy when it comes to these battles and I loved that, especially since much of what each card does is explained ahead of time in this book. This time around the strategies are much more diverse with a larger emphasis on strategies that use status inflicting effects like poison. There are now even new types of matches introduced which blew me away. It was serious sensation overload for me while reading this book.
Beyond the combat, I really enjoyed the Spark Form entrances. Here's one of my favorites:
"It ripples gently in the air,
Hairs bristling like a million tiny fingers.
Grasping.
Reaching.
They are fine, sensitive things, that gather the scents of the world around them,
The eyeless demon knowing its land by no more than shifts in the air.
But take heed dear friends and do not wander too close,
Lest you wish to see those self-same hairs harden like needles,
To feel your flesh shredded,
As the damnable thing contracts and expands around you.
Blood.
The membranous backing to its body craves blood,
The hungry, wet tupping of its holes drowning out the screams of its prey.
This is not a time to be foolhardy.
Leave now.
Leave and never return,
For this is a death that cannot see,
A death that cannot hear.
Yet it feels you,
Starving,
Craving,
Fool, it knows you are here still.
Mott, the devourer of all, Demands to be fed."
Now tell me that that’s not amazing!
What sets Carnival apart?
Just about everything in my opinion. This is a book unlike any I've ever read and it successfully builds upon the first one, making it even better. It's a book that takes much of what I loved from childhood and presents it in a serious and adult package that I can enjoy nowadays. In many respects it is a counterculture book. It takes a collection of fairly niche things and bits from those niche cultures such as pro wrestling, anime, card games, and esports and blends them together along with a very strong narrative. I must admit that half the fun is to be found in the spectacle, so if you're not a fan of those things I mentioned then your enjoyment won't come close to mine. But I think that this book is a 20 out of 10 book so I think you still have some wiggle room to enjoy it :-). But just from its attention to detail and the way its characters treated as more than props give this book a feel unlike most others. Just like the characters question whether Spark Forms are alive, you will question if these are real living breathing people. I also like the emphasis that Matt Doyle puts on intellect with his various protagonists and antagonists. This is a book filled with smart characters. And the conflicts are solved with intelligence (mostly). Throughout there is a multi-layered chess game going on between all the super smart people, and those who aren't super smart are using their own intellect to evade their schemes and fulfill their own goals and desires.
Now I'll end this before it gets super omega hyper max long, since it's already super omega long. Below I just have a list of the notes I took while reading.
+Well written
+Natural and engaging dialogue
+totally immersive
+Lana de la Cruz had more presence this time and was a completely enjoyable intelligent character
+Connor Ford/John Forrester pre match promo, and John's followup was even more brilliant (PROMO CITY)
+wide range of characters, enjoyable wit, charm, and sympathy
+It's the little details that make this book stand out above the rest. The reason a character talks in grunts and body language,
+player psychology between Forrester and Ford was entertaining to see
+I marked out over the Pre-show Video
+the effects of the surge
+Awesome in-depth strategies and explanations of the cards
+there is nothing quite like this book
+Shocking turn
=Like my childhood come to life, except I can enjoy it as its written for adults
+Crazy twists and turns
+John Forrester has a dangerous quick wit, quite the enjoyable character, Lana as well
+New exciting types of matches
+Detailed descriptions of the rules
+Lantern the bad*** Lopine
+Interesting Spark Form lore thrown in
+Tag Team Finishers
+Ridiculously Bad*** Spark Form fight at the end
+Easy to read
+The plot thickens, more of the Wick universe can be explored
-Well, one thing I didn't like. The abbreviation OTT which I believe means over-the-top. Just say it!
August 14, 2020
For some reason, I do not think this is the last book we'll see of Carnival or Fahrn Starchaser. It was nice coming back to these characters again, all of whom I enjoy, even the less theatrical ones like Sean Carlston. Although a lot happened in what I suddenly realized was only two days (the entire duology takes place over a single weekend, which is impressive!), there was a lot left hanging at the end, I feel like, a lot of threads left to tie up. Which is why I'm choosing to be hopeful that, instead of leaving an unfinished narrative, Matt Doyle will come back to the Spark Form world for another full book (although I'm aware Gifts exists). While I enjoy reading, I couldn't stop fantasizing about how much better this series would be as a comic or an animated show or something, something that would make those battles really come to life. It feels worthier of a visual medium.
All that said, I'm ready for more! Particularly for Fahrn Starchaser. Not that I'm biased or anything.
All that said, I'm ready for more! Particularly for Fahrn Starchaser. Not that I'm biased or anything.
March 26, 2016
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review, and let me tell you, I was so excited the author offered! Wick made me a big Doyle fan, so you can imagine my anticipation for the conclusion to the duology. Now, let's get into this.
Carnival picks up right where Wick left off, with Carnival trying to talk to Lana, and there were some interesting tidbits revealed about Carnival as well as Ms. De La Cruz. Carnival and John Forrester continued to be my favorite characters in the story, though I'd be lying if I said the rest of the characters weren't interesting, because they were. Each chapter had something that caught the eye; I didn't read one boring or "filler" chapter. Each one progressed either the story or a character's development. And I want to point out just how effective tackling the story from the different character's POVs was; it allowed for a more intimate relationship with the characters and their respective struggles/arcs.
Once again, the humor is a strong point, with every major character having their moment to let their comedic chops shine. John/Carnival and Connor were definitely the big hitters in this regard for me.
On another note entirely though, Doyle continues to delve into what it means for one to be alive. Is it flesh and blood that determines whether or not one lives, or is it something else entirely? Carnival effortlessly explores that theme of life and living.
I can't express how much I enjoyed this sequel/conclusion. The battles were just as interesting presented as they were in Wick, the characters that I came to love in Wick were just as endearing (Carnival), irritating (Connor) and complex (Fahrn) as I remembered them to be. One thing that I think Matt did better in this book (apart from the fewer number of grammatical errors and the like) is the way that some of these character's stories hit harder emotionally this go round. Didn't expect to feel the way I did reading this book (in a good way). Carnival is a definite step up from Wick, in most, if not all regards.
All things considered, I would definitely recommend this one to fans if Wick or just fans of a good story dealing with sci-fi, complex relationships and card battle games.
Carnival picks up right where Wick left off, with Carnival trying to talk to Lana, and there were some interesting tidbits revealed about Carnival as well as Ms. De La Cruz. Carnival and John Forrester continued to be my favorite characters in the story, though I'd be lying if I said the rest of the characters weren't interesting, because they were. Each chapter had something that caught the eye; I didn't read one boring or "filler" chapter. Each one progressed either the story or a character's development. And I want to point out just how effective tackling the story from the different character's POVs was; it allowed for a more intimate relationship with the characters and their respective struggles/arcs.
Once again, the humor is a strong point, with every major character having their moment to let their comedic chops shine. John/Carnival and Connor were definitely the big hitters in this regard for me.
On another note entirely though, Doyle continues to delve into what it means for one to be alive. Is it flesh and blood that determines whether or not one lives, or is it something else entirely? Carnival effortlessly explores that theme of life and living.
I can't express how much I enjoyed this sequel/conclusion. The battles were just as interesting presented as they were in Wick, the characters that I came to love in Wick were just as endearing (Carnival), irritating (Connor) and complex (Fahrn) as I remembered them to be. One thing that I think Matt did better in this book (apart from the fewer number of grammatical errors and the like) is the way that some of these character's stories hit harder emotionally this go round. Didn't expect to feel the way I did reading this book (in a good way). Carnival is a definite step up from Wick, in most, if not all regards.
All things considered, I would definitely recommend this one to fans if Wick or just fans of a good story dealing with sci-fi, complex relationships and card battle games.
November 14, 2017
Carnival is book two of the Spark Form Chronicles. The story picks up from where it left off, and it is the second day of the spark Forming World Championships. John, Fahrn, Maria, Meera, Lana, and Connor remain as enticing characters in the storyline and the top four competitors in the game are in the final stages of their battles. Artificial intelligence is at its peak with holograms and many epic battles consisting of blood and death. Carnival has a big choice to make, should she decide to die only to re-appear as a more powerful being or should she continue existing.
Card games have never sounded this exciting. The characters and plot were yet again multi-layered, and filled with action battles. The pace of the story was fast and justified. Each character had its own agenda, path, fate, and personality. I personally enjoyed this aspect of the story. The science fiction and content was filled with highly thought out, plausible reasoning which gave the tale a solid foundation to its grounds.
I believe that if I had not read the first book, this one would not have made any sense. If you are interested in reading this book, then I would start from the beginning.
The international card battling uses holographic data, and that is how the competitors choose to battle it out depending on the combinations of the played cards. As each character’s agenda was pursued, they all came together for the big finale which made this story to be extremely appealing to read. I recommend this book to science fiction fantasy readers.
Card games have never sounded this exciting. The characters and plot were yet again multi-layered, and filled with action battles. The pace of the story was fast and justified. Each character had its own agenda, path, fate, and personality. I personally enjoyed this aspect of the story. The science fiction and content was filled with highly thought out, plausible reasoning which gave the tale a solid foundation to its grounds.
I believe that if I had not read the first book, this one would not have made any sense. If you are interested in reading this book, then I would start from the beginning.
The international card battling uses holographic data, and that is how the competitors choose to battle it out depending on the combinations of the played cards. As each character’s agenda was pursued, they all came together for the big finale which made this story to be extremely appealing to read. I recommend this book to science fiction fantasy readers.
December 2, 2016
I really enjoy this series! I think Matt is a great author. I can't wait to read more from him. I love a good Carnival so the title of the book caught me right away. This book never let me go until the end. It was a great book! It took off right were book 1 (WICK) left off. I loved it so much I didn't take good notes for a review on this one. *I received this book from the author---this is my honest review*
July 30, 2016
Full Disclosure – I was provided with a copy of this book free from the Author in exchange for my honest review
The following review may not necessarily contain spoilers but could contain musings and other statements that may be considered spoileresque … consider yourself warned.
Carnival picks up almost immediately were WICK leaves off and continues to focus on Carnival and Emblem’s interest in her retrieval for further research. As we enter the second day of the Spark Forming World Championships the action again is depicted with all the vividness of attending a live event, complete with a few unexpected turns of events that leave the crowd, announcers and the reader reeling. For as much as certain angles end a few are left hanging and a few more are introduced that aren’t quite concluded at the end of Carnival. I did love the ending. I definitely left you on a warm and cozy footing in spite of everything else.
Overall, a fabulous follow up and an ending that left you wanting more. Highly recommend this series for many reasons and I hope that there are more to come.
****Spoileresque content below, you can stop reading here if you’re not interested in any of my further rants and musings*****
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I, for one am curious about the future of John and Carnival and Fahrn and Maria. What exactly was the operation that John had and how does it relate to Carnival and her wanting them to “die together”? I’m thinking from the nature of the scars and it being in the general area of his chest that this may have and something to do with his heart; but what? Are they sharing the organ now in a weird Sci Fi sort of way? (Could explain why he can no longer play live matches if they’re sharing the same heart the added stress of both of them on this organ would definitely cause major problems)
I had two possible theories playing out with regards to either John becoming a Spark Form (sort of like Meera/Laqueta) or that he already was one created by his Grandad but those ideas didn’t pan out so I’m still a bit in the dark as to what the whole big stipulation was in Carnival’s contract with Emblem.
Also, is Fahrn only being used as an elaborate pawn to sway public opinion for to Offlanders to increase a weird manipulated patriotism for induction into the military or was her recruitment in the Offland Civil Rights movement for a more noble purpose? I mean, the implications of Fahrn and the revelations Lana learned from Finn could easily fill another book as long as it doesn’t get to “Hunger Games-y” because I can also definitely see a potential there for that happening. Also will Maria ever come clean and tell Fahrn the truth about what actually happened to Meera? How could the truth affect Fahrn’s mindset and cooperation with the OCVM if she knew? Could it throw a major wrench into events or would she use the information as leverage for her benefit? The angle with the Djorkiev family could also play further into Fahrn’s story. It seems that Djorikev’s influence on the sport of Spark Forming and possible politics could make them the McMahon family 2916. I mean there’s a wrestling family that you either Love or Hate, but there’s always the one family dissenter (Dorian?) to throw some drama and excitement in the mix.
Does Connor Ford die as he intended – going out in a blaze of glory doing what he loved the most like Mickey Rourke’s character in the Wrestler or does Emblem get him treatment to prolong his life and his misery? I mean, it did appear that he was revived in Sean Carlston’s dressing room and was none too happy about it. What happened after that?
And while I’m on the wrestling references and being a lifelong wrestling fan I have a few more similarly themed thoughts that provided a few vivid images for the characters and a chuckle now and then. Okay so first, the obvious
Slade Fury – Loud, brash, hairy and jolly. Doesn’t win much but the fans love him… It’s Hacksaw Jim Duggan all the way.
Connor Ford – Veteran, Old School with a chip on his shoulder the size of Montana. Can’t stand the youth and the progression of the sport and just wants things to remain the same. Oh and let’s not forget the big furry ring entrance robe. Ric Flair anyone? Woooooo!
John Forrester and Carnival also tugged at something with me, particularly their entrances into the battle zone. Coming out as a team to flashing lights and music, dancing their way to their opponents without a care in the world. Okay yeah Carnival being a Lopine and a Spark Form shouldn’t be able to be equated to a wrestling personality right? Wrong - the more I read about her show gear and also picturing her in my mind I kept thinking that if she were human than she would look a ton like Taya Valkyrie which then of course would make her partner Johnny Mundo (John Morrison for those of you not acquainted with Lucha Underground or Lucha Libre in general)
****End Spoileresque content If you made it this far, thanks for reading! You must have liked this book as much as I did. If you haven’t yet read it, hopefully I’ve given you a little extra intrigue to pick them up.****
The following review may not necessarily contain spoilers but could contain musings and other statements that may be considered spoileresque … consider yourself warned.
Carnival picks up almost immediately were WICK leaves off and continues to focus on Carnival and Emblem’s interest in her retrieval for further research. As we enter the second day of the Spark Forming World Championships the action again is depicted with all the vividness of attending a live event, complete with a few unexpected turns of events that leave the crowd, announcers and the reader reeling. For as much as certain angles end a few are left hanging and a few more are introduced that aren’t quite concluded at the end of Carnival. I did love the ending. I definitely left you on a warm and cozy footing in spite of everything else.
Overall, a fabulous follow up and an ending that left you wanting more. Highly recommend this series for many reasons and I hope that there are more to come.
****Spoileresque content below, you can stop reading here if you’re not interested in any of my further rants and musings*****
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I, for one am curious about the future of John and Carnival and Fahrn and Maria. What exactly was the operation that John had and how does it relate to Carnival and her wanting them to “die together”? I’m thinking from the nature of the scars and it being in the general area of his chest that this may have and something to do with his heart; but what? Are they sharing the organ now in a weird Sci Fi sort of way? (Could explain why he can no longer play live matches if they’re sharing the same heart the added stress of both of them on this organ would definitely cause major problems)
I had two possible theories playing out with regards to either John becoming a Spark Form (sort of like Meera/Laqueta) or that he already was one created by his Grandad but those ideas didn’t pan out so I’m still a bit in the dark as to what the whole big stipulation was in Carnival’s contract with Emblem.
Also, is Fahrn only being used as an elaborate pawn to sway public opinion for to Offlanders to increase a weird manipulated patriotism for induction into the military or was her recruitment in the Offland Civil Rights movement for a more noble purpose? I mean, the implications of Fahrn and the revelations Lana learned from Finn could easily fill another book as long as it doesn’t get to “Hunger Games-y” because I can also definitely see a potential there for that happening. Also will Maria ever come clean and tell Fahrn the truth about what actually happened to Meera? How could the truth affect Fahrn’s mindset and cooperation with the OCVM if she knew? Could it throw a major wrench into events or would she use the information as leverage for her benefit? The angle with the Djorkiev family could also play further into Fahrn’s story. It seems that Djorikev’s influence on the sport of Spark Forming and possible politics could make them the McMahon family 2916. I mean there’s a wrestling family that you either Love or Hate, but there’s always the one family dissenter (Dorian?) to throw some drama and excitement in the mix.
Does Connor Ford die as he intended – going out in a blaze of glory doing what he loved the most like Mickey Rourke’s character in the Wrestler or does Emblem get him treatment to prolong his life and his misery? I mean, it did appear that he was revived in Sean Carlston’s dressing room and was none too happy about it. What happened after that?
And while I’m on the wrestling references and being a lifelong wrestling fan I have a few more similarly themed thoughts that provided a few vivid images for the characters and a chuckle now and then. Okay so first, the obvious
Slade Fury – Loud, brash, hairy and jolly. Doesn’t win much but the fans love him… It’s Hacksaw Jim Duggan all the way.
Connor Ford – Veteran, Old School with a chip on his shoulder the size of Montana. Can’t stand the youth and the progression of the sport and just wants things to remain the same. Oh and let’s not forget the big furry ring entrance robe. Ric Flair anyone? Woooooo!
John Forrester and Carnival also tugged at something with me, particularly their entrances into the battle zone. Coming out as a team to flashing lights and music, dancing their way to their opponents without a care in the world. Okay yeah Carnival being a Lopine and a Spark Form shouldn’t be able to be equated to a wrestling personality right? Wrong - the more I read about her show gear and also picturing her in my mind I kept thinking that if she were human than she would look a ton like Taya Valkyrie which then of course would make her partner Johnny Mundo (John Morrison for those of you not acquainted with Lucha Underground or Lucha Libre in general)
****End Spoileresque content If you made it this far, thanks for reading! You must have liked this book as much as I did. If you haven’t yet read it, hopefully I’ve given you a little extra intrigue to pick them up.****
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June 2, 2016Review to come.
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