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AVRA-K #1
Sleight
Delia smiles at the shadow only she sees—
Something slams into her. The lyra whirls like a half-dollar spinning on its edge.
My mother is thrown backward.
And she falls.
Growing up in the Cinzio Traveling Players Company, Genevieve Flannery is accustomed to a life most teenagers could never imagine: daily workouts of extravagant acrobatics; an extended family of clowns; wild animals for pets; and her mother, Delia, whose mind has always been tortured by visions—but whose love Geni never questions. In a world of performers who astonish and amaze on a daily basis, Delia’s ghostly hallucinations never seemed all that strange . . . until the evening Geni and her mother are performing an aerial routine they’ve done hundreds of times, and Delia falls to her death.
That night, a dark curtain in Geni’s life opens. Everything has changed.
Still reeling from the tragedy, the Cinzio Traveling Players are also adjusting to the circus’s new owner: a generous, mysterious man whose connection to the circus—Geni suspects—has a dark and dangerous history. And suddenly Geni is stumbling into a new reality of her own, her life interrupted daily by the terrors only Delia used to be able to see.
As the visions around her grow stronger, Geni isn’t sure who she can trust. Even worse, she’s starting to question whether she can trust her own mind.
Something slams into her. The lyra whirls like a half-dollar spinning on its edge.
My mother is thrown backward.
And she falls.
Growing up in the Cinzio Traveling Players Company, Genevieve Flannery is accustomed to a life most teenagers could never imagine: daily workouts of extravagant acrobatics; an extended family of clowns; wild animals for pets; and her mother, Delia, whose mind has always been tortured by visions—but whose love Geni never questions. In a world of performers who astonish and amaze on a daily basis, Delia’s ghostly hallucinations never seemed all that strange . . . until the evening Geni and her mother are performing an aerial routine they’ve done hundreds of times, and Delia falls to her death.
That night, a dark curtain in Geni’s life opens. Everything has changed.
Still reeling from the tragedy, the Cinzio Traveling Players are also adjusting to the circus’s new owner: a generous, mysterious man whose connection to the circus—Geni suspects—has a dark and dangerous history. And suddenly Geni is stumbling into a new reality of her own, her life interrupted daily by the terrors only Delia used to be able to see.
As the visions around her grow stronger, Geni isn’t sure who she can trust. Even worse, she’s starting to question whether she can trust her own mind.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published March 23, 2011
36 people are currently reading
2517 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Sommersby
5 books318 followersI am a writer, copy/line editor, bibliophile, and mom of four living in the Great White North.
Represented by Stacey Kondla of The Rights Factory.
Romantic comedies under Eliza Gordon.
Website: www.jennsommersby.com
Facebook: Jennifer Sommersby
Instagram: @jennsommersbyauthor
Twitter: @JennSommersby
Represented by Stacey Kondla of The Rights Factory.
Romantic comedies under Eliza Gordon.
Website: www.jennsommersby.com
Facebook: Jennifer Sommersby
Instagram: @jennsommersbyauthor
Twitter: @JennSommersby
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
March 21, 2018
What a book! Sleight captivated me from its first page, with a fairy tale-like prologue that introduces a unique mythology which, of course, proves to be essential to the plot of the story. Genevieve is a strong and relatable seventeen-year-old, and her witty repartee is refreshing. I wish all teenagers were this eloquent.
I absolutely adore the setting of this novel. I’m sure nearly everyone had a point in their childhood where they wanted to run away to join the circus. This book makes me wonder what I missed out on by staying home. The atmosphere is mysterious, with just a splash of magic, but it’s still our world. It feels foreign and ethereal. At the first mention of modern technology I was taken aback.
I particularly love how Sommersby handles the delicacy of animal rights issues. Not only are the animals in this circus well treated, but Sommersby takes this opportunity to show how a teenager can be a leader in activism. Genevieve starts her own charity called Loxodonta, where she demonstrates transparency about the circus’s treatment of their elephants, and she donates the money she earns through this venture to relevant charities.
Sleight does an excellent job of introducing tiny elements that prove to be critical plot points later in the book. There are some genuinely surprising twists, and they’re the best kind—the ones that you feel you should have seen coming, because the clues were all in place.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the mystical surrealness of books like The Night Circus with some modern-day teenage romance thrown in the mix.
I can’t wait for the next installment in this series, and this book hasn’t even come out yet!
5 stars.
*I received a free copy of this ARC from the publisher*
I absolutely adore the setting of this novel. I’m sure nearly everyone had a point in their childhood where they wanted to run away to join the circus. This book makes me wonder what I missed out on by staying home. The atmosphere is mysterious, with just a splash of magic, but it’s still our world. It feels foreign and ethereal. At the first mention of modern technology I was taken aback.
I particularly love how Sommersby handles the delicacy of animal rights issues. Not only are the animals in this circus well treated, but Sommersby takes this opportunity to show how a teenager can be a leader in activism. Genevieve starts her own charity called Loxodonta, where she demonstrates transparency about the circus’s treatment of their elephants, and she donates the money she earns through this venture to relevant charities.
Sleight does an excellent job of introducing tiny elements that prove to be critical plot points later in the book. There are some genuinely surprising twists, and they’re the best kind—the ones that you feel you should have seen coming, because the clues were all in place.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the mystical surrealness of books like The Night Circus with some modern-day teenage romance thrown in the mix.
I can’t wait for the next installment in this series, and this book hasn’t even come out yet!
5 stars.
*I received a free copy of this ARC from the publisher*
March 26, 2018
3.5 Stars
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via Edelweiss. This has not influenced my review.*
I enjoyed this book. It was slow-paced without much action until the end, but it had a good mystery and some likeable characters.
I really liked the main character, Geni. She was intelligent, mature, and just imperfect enough to be realistic. Her first thoughts in regards to the magical, dangerous book was that she wanted nothing to do with it (which was smart). When she realized that wasn't an option, she wanted to find it so she could destroy it, and she continued to handle things as best as she could. Even at the dinner party when Henry started flirting with her, she considered the possibility that he might've been sent by his father to find out more about her and what she knew, so she didn't let her guard down. She made a decision near the end that didn't quite make sense, but it wasn't so bad as to ruin the book.
Henry was likeable too, in a sweet way. He's the type of person I'd love to have around in real life because he was so kind.
As for the plot, as I said, it was kind of slow with not a whole lot happening for a while since Geni was trying to figure out the mystery. It was frustrating and didn't really make sense that Geni's mother would've kept Geni in the dark about everything the way she did though (one of those, if we're being honest, seemingly forced plot things that had to happen in order for there to be a story). But that issue was offset some by the fact that Geni also thought it was the wrong move on her mother's part and was equally frustrated. It was also offset some by the fact that Baby (a nickname, he's basically her dad, though not by blood) told her everything he knew and was there to help her with all this. That's something you don't see often in YA books where the protagonist has to figure out some sort of mystery---the character actually getting information and help from an adult. I liked that Baby really did play such a big part in things and was always there to help and tell her what he knew.
Last but not least, there was the setting. I had hoped, when I saw the protag was an aerialist in a circus, there would be some actual circus stuff, especially about performing, but there wasn't much, other than the elephants and the fact that they lived in trailers on the circus grounds. And I can't see the next one having much circus either. That disappointment is on me though for having certain expectations. And I'll admit the elephants were adorable (they were rescues, treated well, and I think they were eventually going to go to a sanctuary).
So overall, while this wasn't as circus-y as I wanted it to be, it had mystery, a bit of romance, some supernatural abilities, and a main character who was easy to root for!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes mystery, slow-paced stories, mature and intelligent protags, and YA books in which teens and adults actually work together.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
A little slow, but enjoyable with some mystery and a main character I liked. Full review soon!
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via Edelweiss. This has not influenced my review.*
I enjoyed this book. It was slow-paced without much action until the end, but it had a good mystery and some likeable characters.
I really liked the main character, Geni. She was intelligent, mature, and just imperfect enough to be realistic. Her first thoughts in regards to the magical, dangerous book was that she wanted nothing to do with it (which was smart). When she realized that wasn't an option, she wanted to find it so she could destroy it, and she continued to handle things as best as she could. Even at the dinner party when Henry started flirting with her, she considered the possibility that he might've been sent by his father to find out more about her and what she knew, so she didn't let her guard down. She made a decision near the end that didn't quite make sense, but it wasn't so bad as to ruin the book.
Henry was likeable too, in a sweet way. He's the type of person I'd love to have around in real life because he was so kind.
As for the plot, as I said, it was kind of slow with not a whole lot happening for a while since Geni was trying to figure out the mystery. It was frustrating and didn't really make sense that Geni's mother would've kept Geni in the dark about everything the way she did though (one of those, if we're being honest, seemingly forced plot things that had to happen in order for there to be a story). But that issue was offset some by the fact that Geni also thought it was the wrong move on her mother's part and was equally frustrated. It was also offset some by the fact that Baby (a nickname, he's basically her dad, though not by blood) told her everything he knew and was there to help her with all this. That's something you don't see often in YA books where the protagonist has to figure out some sort of mystery---the character actually getting information and help from an adult. I liked that Baby really did play such a big part in things and was always there to help and tell her what he knew.
Last but not least, there was the setting. I had hoped, when I saw the protag was an aerialist in a circus, there would be some actual circus stuff, especially about performing, but there wasn't much, other than the elephants and the fact that they lived in trailers on the circus grounds. And I can't see the next one having much circus either. That disappointment is on me though for having certain expectations. And I'll admit the elephants were adorable (they were rescues, treated well, and I think they were eventually going to go to a sanctuary).
So overall, while this wasn't as circus-y as I wanted it to be, it had mystery, a bit of romance, some supernatural abilities, and a main character who was easy to root for!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes mystery, slow-paced stories, mature and intelligent protags, and YA books in which teens and adults actually work together.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
A little slow, but enjoyable with some mystery and a main character I liked. Full review soon!
October 15, 2019
Sommersby is a fabulous storyteller, roping in the reader in the very beginning through her pristine use of prose and characterization. I was enamored by both the characters and the writing as I read. Sommersby has a wonderful gift with words, and she captures the true nature of humanity as she creates life-like characters right on the page. Each character in the novel was created with love and care and, as you read, they become extremely real. Sommersby develops her characters so magnificently that you will fall in love with them and truly feel like you know them. All the characters are given true attributes of human nature, making it hard to draw an exact line between good and evil, though it blatantly exists.
As the story progresses, Sommersby does a phenomenal job explaining all the intricate details within the novel and keeping the reading informed, leaving few questions unanswered. A mastermind storyteller, Sommersby will have you on the edge of your seat as your turn through the pages. I was hooked from page one as the mystery, deception, and tension took hold, and I was amazed by the touching love story that will have all female readers jealous; Henry is magnificent!
To read my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
As the story progresses, Sommersby does a phenomenal job explaining all the intricate details within the novel and keeping the reading informed, leaving few questions unanswered. A mastermind storyteller, Sommersby will have you on the edge of your seat as your turn through the pages. I was hooked from page one as the mystery, deception, and tension took hold, and I was amazed by the touching love story that will have all female readers jealous; Henry is magnificent!
To read my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
May 11, 2011
Gemma Flannery is used to living a life on the road. Traveling with the Cinzio Traveling Players Company involved just that. Traveling. But for the first time in Gemma’s life the show has decided not to leave town.
Staying in one place and attending a regular high school is enough of a hurdle to overcome. Being gawked at or labeled a freak by the locals is nothing new for circus performers. But if her secret ever got out that she had the ability to see the dead, she would become a freak on a whole new level. Always being on the go helped to keep her secret safe.
And it also meant she never had to worry about losing her heart to someone. Moving from town to town, city to city, back and forth across the country, she never stayed long enough to fall in love. Until now.
From the moment she saw Henry Dmitri, he caused her cheeks to flush and her heart to skip a beat. Not only was he drop-dead gorgeous, but he was the son of the richest man in town. The man who convinced the Cinzio’s to stay. But unlike with Ash, her childhood crush, Henry seemed interested in her.
But when she discovers secrets about Henry and his family, Gemma doesn’t know what to believe. And when bad things start happening, not only is Gemma’s heart on the line but her life is, too.
***
Sleight is a beautifully written and imaginative story brimming with dark secrets and powerful magic hidden away beneath the big top. The story flows easily as the mysteries behind the AVRAKEDAVRA and its long history are revealed.
The story captivates from its first line, “The last funeral I went to was for a lion.” And readers will be drawn deeper into Gemma’s story with each turn of the page. The storyline is intricate, but not complicated, with plenty of room to delve further into the magical elements and learn more about the rich history of the AVRA-K in future books in this series.
Sleight is suffused with wonderfully descriptive and gracefully written passages that will transport readers into the elaborate world the author created, only to be returned as it reaches its cliffhanger ending.
While the story is longer than many in the genre, it doesn’t feel like it. The story moves along very smoothly and the end comes up very quickly.
Author Jennifer Sommersby has written a story that is a must read for those looking for something truly different, but with all the aspects readers come to expect from their favorite paranormal/urban fantasy stories – action, adventure, romance, magic, evil, a damsel in stress and a hero.
On a personal note:
Yay for this new series!
Sleight is one of those books that I wish I had time to read again. Sometimes I finish a book and just want to go back in to re-discover the characters and become completely submerged in the world once more. I know there were a million little details I missed on first pass and I so wished I had the time to re-read this book.
I love the author’s writing. It flowed so beautifully and the passages were so descriptive, I was able to visualize everything as it was happening. I was at the circus with Gemma, Junie, Ash, Ted, Marlene and Irwin.
I haven’t read many stories, if any, about old magic stemming from a powerful book, and in my lifetime only read one book about a circus, so these ideas were very new and different for me. And I’m glad that although the setting was in large part at a circus, it wasn’t the whole story. I didn’t feel like I was learning circus 101.
I love Henry, although I’m still waiting for him to let me down. I just don’t trust those nice boys.
The jury is still out on Ash, for me. He seems like a redeemable character that has just gone astray, but time will tell. I like that the good guys and bad guys, at least in this first book, are clearly identifiable. And that the bad guys are really, really, really bad guys.
There is a great variety in personalities among the characters, which I also liked. And I feel like I got to know each of them really well, though I’m still trying to figure Gemma out. I think she may be trying to figure herself out. She’s that mix of confident and not, outgoing and shy, brave and in need of protection that makes it difficult to put a label on her – but I liked that about her. It’s very real. She’s very real.
The action really picks up toward the end, and the ending is definitely a cliffhanger. Fortunately the wait isn’t too long as the next book is out this fall. But I was so sure that things would wrap up, or at least we’d just be left midway through their journey at a happy stopping point, so was totally caught off guard about that cliff. Didn’t see that ending coming!
***
A partial excerpt from my favorite passage:
I knew that within the sealed framework that was my heart, Henry would be my undoing, my last and only love until I exhaled my dying breath. I just hoped that when I finally did die, at the hands of Lucian or some other unseen entity, that Henry’s face would be the last I would see, that his lips would be the last I would taste, before moving onto the in-between.
Staying in one place and attending a regular high school is enough of a hurdle to overcome. Being gawked at or labeled a freak by the locals is nothing new for circus performers. But if her secret ever got out that she had the ability to see the dead, she would become a freak on a whole new level. Always being on the go helped to keep her secret safe.
And it also meant she never had to worry about losing her heart to someone. Moving from town to town, city to city, back and forth across the country, she never stayed long enough to fall in love. Until now.
From the moment she saw Henry Dmitri, he caused her cheeks to flush and her heart to skip a beat. Not only was he drop-dead gorgeous, but he was the son of the richest man in town. The man who convinced the Cinzio’s to stay. But unlike with Ash, her childhood crush, Henry seemed interested in her.
But when she discovers secrets about Henry and his family, Gemma doesn’t know what to believe. And when bad things start happening, not only is Gemma’s heart on the line but her life is, too.
***
Sleight is a beautifully written and imaginative story brimming with dark secrets and powerful magic hidden away beneath the big top. The story flows easily as the mysteries behind the AVRAKEDAVRA and its long history are revealed.
The story captivates from its first line, “The last funeral I went to was for a lion.” And readers will be drawn deeper into Gemma’s story with each turn of the page. The storyline is intricate, but not complicated, with plenty of room to delve further into the magical elements and learn more about the rich history of the AVRA-K in future books in this series.
Sleight is suffused with wonderfully descriptive and gracefully written passages that will transport readers into the elaborate world the author created, only to be returned as it reaches its cliffhanger ending.
While the story is longer than many in the genre, it doesn’t feel like it. The story moves along very smoothly and the end comes up very quickly.
Author Jennifer Sommersby has written a story that is a must read for those looking for something truly different, but with all the aspects readers come to expect from their favorite paranormal/urban fantasy stories – action, adventure, romance, magic, evil, a damsel in stress and a hero.
On a personal note:
Yay for this new series!
Sleight is one of those books that I wish I had time to read again. Sometimes I finish a book and just want to go back in to re-discover the characters and become completely submerged in the world once more. I know there were a million little details I missed on first pass and I so wished I had the time to re-read this book.
I love the author’s writing. It flowed so beautifully and the passages were so descriptive, I was able to visualize everything as it was happening. I was at the circus with Gemma, Junie, Ash, Ted, Marlene and Irwin.
I haven’t read many stories, if any, about old magic stemming from a powerful book, and in my lifetime only read one book about a circus, so these ideas were very new and different for me. And I’m glad that although the setting was in large part at a circus, it wasn’t the whole story. I didn’t feel like I was learning circus 101.
I love Henry, although I’m still waiting for him to let me down. I just don’t trust those nice boys.
The jury is still out on Ash, for me. He seems like a redeemable character that has just gone astray, but time will tell. I like that the good guys and bad guys, at least in this first book, are clearly identifiable. And that the bad guys are really, really, really bad guys.
There is a great variety in personalities among the characters, which I also liked. And I feel like I got to know each of them really well, though I’m still trying to figure Gemma out. I think she may be trying to figure herself out. She’s that mix of confident and not, outgoing and shy, brave and in need of protection that makes it difficult to put a label on her – but I liked that about her. It’s very real. She’s very real.
The action really picks up toward the end, and the ending is definitely a cliffhanger. Fortunately the wait isn’t too long as the next book is out this fall. But I was so sure that things would wrap up, or at least we’d just be left midway through their journey at a happy stopping point, so was totally caught off guard about that cliff. Didn’t see that ending coming!
***
A partial excerpt from my favorite passage:
I knew that within the sealed framework that was my heart, Henry would be my undoing, my last and only love until I exhaled my dying breath. I just hoped that when I finally did die, at the hands of Lucian or some other unseen entity, that Henry’s face would be the last I would see, that his lips would be the last I would taste, before moving onto the in-between.
September 7, 2018
This was actually a pretty decent book.
I say decent because it really didn't surprise me or get my heart-rate up. But it was still a very enjoyable story that was refreshingly well-written and only bored me for a few pages in the middle.
And now, some bullet points:
- Genevieve was a very decent MC. She wasn't too annoying or too tough . . . nor was she somewhat realistic, either. Which is honestly okay because this is one of those books where you KNOW everything isn't going to be realistic, and if it was realistic, it would ruin the magic of the story.
- Henry was a dear and I would have liked more of him
- There was A LOT of telling backstory rather than gradual reveals, which is my preference so that was just a matter of personal differences instead of bad writing.
- Baby deserves an award. It was so nice to read a book where the teenage MC trusts adult(s) and they work together with them towards the plot, rather than the teenager just doing everything themselves.
- THE ELEPHANTS OKAY I love them
- It was neat to have Mesopotamian mythology and culture as the "mystic/magic" part of this. Please give more spotlight time to mythologies like this. It's great.
- Sadly, despite many modern references and the frequent use of the name AVRAKEDVRA there were zero Harry Potter references and I feel cheated okay
BASICALLY:
This wasn't terrible, and while a bit slower than I prefer my fantastical stories and a saddening lack of actual circus time and Harry Potter references, I actually liked this book. Probably won't re-read it, but I wouldn't turn down a chance to read the sequel.
I say decent because it really didn't surprise me or get my heart-rate up. But it was still a very enjoyable story that was refreshingly well-written and only bored me for a few pages in the middle.
And now, some bullet points:
- Genevieve was a very decent MC. She wasn't too annoying or too tough . . . nor was she somewhat realistic, either. Which is honestly okay because this is one of those books where you KNOW everything isn't going to be realistic, and if it was realistic, it would ruin the magic of the story.
- Henry was a dear and I would have liked more of him
- There was A LOT of telling backstory rather than gradual reveals, which is my preference so that was just a matter of personal differences instead of bad writing.
- Baby deserves an award. It was so nice to read a book where the teenage MC trusts adult(s) and they work together with them towards the plot, rather than the teenager just doing everything themselves.
- THE ELEPHANTS OKAY I love them
- It was neat to have Mesopotamian mythology and culture as the "mystic/magic" part of this. Please give more spotlight time to mythologies like this. It's great.
- Sadly, despite many modern references and the frequent use of the name AVRAKEDVRA there were zero Harry Potter references and I feel cheated okay
BASICALLY:
This wasn't terrible, and while a bit slower than I prefer my fantastical stories and a saddening lack of actual circus time and Harry Potter references, I actually liked this book. Probably won't re-read it, but I wouldn't turn down a chance to read the sequel.
April 16, 2018
rtc ♡
June 20, 2011
Originally posted at http://baffledbooks.com
While Jenn sent me a copy of Sleight for (the now cancelled) Indie Author Month, I will admit that I’d already bought a copy and was just waiting for an excuse to read and review it. After finishing Sleight, I don’t know why the hell I waited so long because it is perfect. There is so much to love and I don’t know what my favorite part is so I’m going to break it down:
Characters: I loved how we are introduced to the characters and their worlds. While there is an obvious instant connection thing happening, the relationship between Gemma and Henry is given time and space to grow nicely, at a pace that makes sense. I loved the connection that the families have, both good and bad, which offer the most intriguing balance of support and danger from all sides. I really liked how the families were so intertwined and how everything kept being turned inside out. This made perfect sense because, along with Gemma and Henry, the first half of the book carefully introduces (and connects) the reader to an amazing cast of characters who brought the book to life… before pulling everything apart in the second half. There were just so many layers of awesome that I just have to stop before this paragraph is any longer…
Plot: Oh my gosh. This was the most convoluted, amazing plot ever. I loved how so many bits and pieces of other peoples stories came together to make Gemma and Henry’s own personal one. I loved the pieces of circus lore and magical history that made everything that little bit more special. I loved the twists and turns, and turns of the pages that literally had me gasping (the bf kept looking at me funny). I loved how just as the story seemed to be making sense, something new was thrown in there, and yet the author knew just when to stop before it became overdone and annoying. And I hated the end for leaving me on the edge of my seat without knowing what happens next!
Writing: As you can see from the first two sections, the writing was fantastic. None of that could have been accomplished without a perfect backbone. There were no typos or weird grammatical things to make me cringe. Without being overdramatic, the language allowed the plot to come off of the pages (or Kindle screen, that’s what I was reading on).
My one quibble: While I loved the characters themselves, it occurred to me (after finishing) that Gemma and Henry sometimes acted strangely for their age. While they are often portrayed as very mature teenagers, with a very mature bond between them, this is contrasted by some very young teen behavior (running away and getting drunk when something really bad happens). I can’t really complain about this too much though because they are both older teens (17 and 18) and the situations they have been in have forced them to grow too fast. So basically… I’m complaining about nothing. Hmmm….
Overall: A perfect read and one I would very highly recommend. Sleight is the perfect balance of interesting history, betrayal, drama and swoon. I loved it and cannot wait for the sequel (Jenn tells me fall, maybe?). I hope you go and pick up a copy and love it as much as I do!
While Jenn sent me a copy of Sleight for (the now cancelled) Indie Author Month, I will admit that I’d already bought a copy and was just waiting for an excuse to read and review it. After finishing Sleight, I don’t know why the hell I waited so long because it is perfect. There is so much to love and I don’t know what my favorite part is so I’m going to break it down:
Characters: I loved how we are introduced to the characters and their worlds. While there is an obvious instant connection thing happening, the relationship between Gemma and Henry is given time and space to grow nicely, at a pace that makes sense. I loved the connection that the families have, both good and bad, which offer the most intriguing balance of support and danger from all sides. I really liked how the families were so intertwined and how everything kept being turned inside out. This made perfect sense because, along with Gemma and Henry, the first half of the book carefully introduces (and connects) the reader to an amazing cast of characters who brought the book to life… before pulling everything apart in the second half. There were just so many layers of awesome that I just have to stop before this paragraph is any longer…
Plot: Oh my gosh. This was the most convoluted, amazing plot ever. I loved how so many bits and pieces of other peoples stories came together to make Gemma and Henry’s own personal one. I loved the pieces of circus lore and magical history that made everything that little bit more special. I loved the twists and turns, and turns of the pages that literally had me gasping (the bf kept looking at me funny). I loved how just as the story seemed to be making sense, something new was thrown in there, and yet the author knew just when to stop before it became overdone and annoying. And I hated the end for leaving me on the edge of my seat without knowing what happens next!
Writing: As you can see from the first two sections, the writing was fantastic. None of that could have been accomplished without a perfect backbone. There were no typos or weird grammatical things to make me cringe. Without being overdramatic, the language allowed the plot to come off of the pages (or Kindle screen, that’s what I was reading on).
My one quibble: While I loved the characters themselves, it occurred to me (after finishing) that Gemma and Henry sometimes acted strangely for their age. While they are often portrayed as very mature teenagers, with a very mature bond between them, this is contrasted by some very young teen behavior (running away and getting drunk when something really bad happens). I can’t really complain about this too much though because they are both older teens (17 and 18) and the situations they have been in have forced them to grow too fast. So basically… I’m complaining about nothing. Hmmm….
Overall: A perfect read and one I would very highly recommend. Sleight is the perfect balance of interesting history, betrayal, drama and swoon. I loved it and cannot wait for the sequel (Jenn tells me fall, maybe?). I hope you go and pick up a copy and love it as much as I do!
April 7, 2011
I received an advance copy of Sleight to review from the author Jennifer Sommersby and was very excited to dig into this book. I love stories that have magic in them and I also love the circus setting.
In a nutshell Gemma is grieving her mother's death when her whole life us upended. She soon comes to learn that her travelling circus life will stop that she has to attend a real high school and deal with all that comes with it. She is a very strong character and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty if she has to but, she is reluctant to deal with the ghosts (or "Shades" as they're called in the book) or her destiny to save the world.
Enter Henri Dmitri gorgeous and smart. Gemma and he are instantly drawn towards each other although everyone else wants to keep them apart. They must figure out their strange connection and why Henry's dad Lucien wants them dead over a book called the AVARA-K. Their story of love and loss will have you reading late into the night.
I loved this book! Gemma's character reminded me of myself when I was younger. I did have a bit of a hard time with Henri at first he is just too nice but, throughout the book I found myself falling in love with him just like Gemma. There's also a boy named Ash who I really really like. Jenn I think I'll keep Ash for myself. I loved the characters in this book Marlene, Ted, Junie, Ash, Gemma, Henri, and uncle Irwin he was an awesome uncle who made me laugh. I also liked how the circus was used as a main part of this first book seeing as we'll be haeded somewhere else for book 2. Jenn's writing is so easy to read you just melt into the story and you actually feel for all the characters. I could smell the circus, taste the Jack Daniels, and feel their genuine pain. I am anxiously waiting for book 2. So if you like a good love story with twists, turns, and magic go buy this book! Thank you again Jenn for the Advance copy!
http://www.amazon.com/Sleight-Book-On...
In a nutshell Gemma is grieving her mother's death when her whole life us upended. She soon comes to learn that her travelling circus life will stop that she has to attend a real high school and deal with all that comes with it. She is a very strong character and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty if she has to but, she is reluctant to deal with the ghosts (or "Shades" as they're called in the book) or her destiny to save the world.
Enter Henri Dmitri gorgeous and smart. Gemma and he are instantly drawn towards each other although everyone else wants to keep them apart. They must figure out their strange connection and why Henry's dad Lucien wants them dead over a book called the AVARA-K. Their story of love and loss will have you reading late into the night.
I loved this book! Gemma's character reminded me of myself when I was younger. I did have a bit of a hard time with Henri at first he is just too nice but, throughout the book I found myself falling in love with him just like Gemma. There's also a boy named Ash who I really really like. Jenn I think I'll keep Ash for myself. I loved the characters in this book Marlene, Ted, Junie, Ash, Gemma, Henri, and uncle Irwin he was an awesome uncle who made me laugh. I also liked how the circus was used as a main part of this first book seeing as we'll be haeded somewhere else for book 2. Jenn's writing is so easy to read you just melt into the story and you actually feel for all the characters. I could smell the circus, taste the Jack Daniels, and feel their genuine pain. I am anxiously waiting for book 2. So if you like a good love story with twists, turns, and magic go buy this book! Thank you again Jenn for the Advance copy!
http://www.amazon.com/Sleight-Book-On...
April 24, 2018
4.5*
Sleight is a slightly different genre than what has been my go-to lately and it made me realize I really need to step out of what has been my “comfort zone” more often, and get back to reading a little bit of everything like I used to. And it reignited my love of the circus and memories of wanting to become a clown and join Ringling Bros! Although, as fun as it sounds, I don’t think I was really cut out for life on the road, but it was a nice dream.
This was such an entertaining and captivating, and unique, tale! While a little slow to start, Ms. Sommersby truly brought life in the circus to life, with her descriptions and detail. Add in the magical/paranormal elements and I was transported into the world of Geni, Baby, Henry, and the rest of the Cinzio Traveling Players Company. Throw in a little danger and intrigue and call me hooked!
I loved how this story built up to its exciting and thrilling end, which left me hanging on for more. I was torn up for Geni and all that she was going through-from her mother’s death, to learning about her history, to the evil lurking, just waiting to pounce. She wasn’t afraid though, determined to face things head on, much to Baby’s dismay. I loved that she didn’t shy away from her heritage, instead making it a priority to learn everything she could about it.
I wasn’t sure about Henry at first. I was leery he was being used as a means to an end. But there turned out to be more to Henry than expected and I ended up falling in love with his character.
I really enjoyed this story and I will be anxiously awaiting book 2, wondering what Ms. Sommersby has in store for Geni and her friends. Whatever it is, I have a feeling it will be just as compelling as Sleight has been! If that ending is any indication, we'll be in for quite a ride.
***Copy received courtesy of Edelweiss
Sleight is a slightly different genre than what has been my go-to lately and it made me realize I really need to step out of what has been my “comfort zone” more often, and get back to reading a little bit of everything like I used to. And it reignited my love of the circus and memories of wanting to become a clown and join Ringling Bros! Although, as fun as it sounds, I don’t think I was really cut out for life on the road, but it was a nice dream.
This was such an entertaining and captivating, and unique, tale! While a little slow to start, Ms. Sommersby truly brought life in the circus to life, with her descriptions and detail. Add in the magical/paranormal elements and I was transported into the world of Geni, Baby, Henry, and the rest of the Cinzio Traveling Players Company. Throw in a little danger and intrigue and call me hooked!
I loved how this story built up to its exciting and thrilling end, which left me hanging on for more. I was torn up for Geni and all that she was going through-from her mother’s death, to learning about her history, to the evil lurking, just waiting to pounce. She wasn’t afraid though, determined to face things head on, much to Baby’s dismay. I loved that she didn’t shy away from her heritage, instead making it a priority to learn everything she could about it.
I wasn’t sure about Henry at first. I was leery he was being used as a means to an end. But there turned out to be more to Henry than expected and I ended up falling in love with his character.
I really enjoyed this story and I will be anxiously awaiting book 2, wondering what Ms. Sommersby has in store for Geni and her friends. Whatever it is, I have a feeling it will be just as compelling as Sleight has been! If that ending is any indication, we'll be in for quite a ride.
***Copy received courtesy of Edelweiss
April 28, 2020
I adored this book. It had everything that I love to read about--paranormal, romance, adventure, and strong female characters with great writing.
A girl who grows up in the circus? And can see ghosts? I'm all in! At first I wasn't sure what to expect because I've never read a book that had a circus setting (even though people keep telling me I need to read Water for Elephants) and ghost stories can either work really well or not well at all. Sleight worked amazingly well! Jennifer Sommersby knows how to make the unbelievable believable. From the very beginning there is action and mystery. I mean, check out that first line! Attention grabbing and quirky enough to make you have to keep reading.
I loved Gemma, Henry, and the myriad of characters. They all were perfectly fleshed out and I could see each of them and grew to love or despise them, just as Gemma did. Think Harry Potter and feeling as though you were friends with Ron and Hermione, just like Harry. Although Gemma had more people in her life that I wanted to throttle than befriend, I loved being able to feel like I was immersed in Sleight. The only character I was left feeling as though I couldn't figure out was Ash. But, since this is a spoiler-free review, I can't discuss why I have mixed feelings on him. So read it so we can discuss it! (Pretty please.)
And Henry! Talk about literary crush-worthy! *swoons and drools*
The writing style was amazing, as well. I loved the pacing and how the story developed. I was a little hesitant about the magic book aspect but it worked! The only complaint I have is that I want the sequel. Badly.
I'd suggest this book to those who love fantasy and/or paranormal YA with a strong female protagonist and adorable romance.
(www.ieatwords.com)
A girl who grows up in the circus? And can see ghosts? I'm all in! At first I wasn't sure what to expect because I've never read a book that had a circus setting (even though people keep telling me I need to read Water for Elephants) and ghost stories can either work really well or not well at all. Sleight worked amazingly well! Jennifer Sommersby knows how to make the unbelievable believable. From the very beginning there is action and mystery. I mean, check out that first line! Attention grabbing and quirky enough to make you have to keep reading.
I loved Gemma, Henry, and the myriad of characters. They all were perfectly fleshed out and I could see each of them and grew to love or despise them, just as Gemma did. Think Harry Potter and feeling as though you were friends with Ron and Hermione, just like Harry. Although Gemma had more people in her life that I wanted to throttle than befriend, I loved being able to feel like I was immersed in Sleight. The only character I was left feeling as though I couldn't figure out was Ash. But, since this is a spoiler-free review, I can't discuss why I have mixed feelings on him. So read it so we can discuss it! (Pretty please.)
And Henry! Talk about literary crush-worthy! *swoons and drools*
The writing style was amazing, as well. I loved the pacing and how the story developed. I was a little hesitant about the magic book aspect but it worked! The only complaint I have is that I want the sequel. Badly.
I'd suggest this book to those who love fantasy and/or paranormal YA with a strong female protagonist and adorable romance.
(www.ieatwords.com)
April 25, 2018
I do my reviews in the form of questions, makes it easier to get my thoughts together. So here goes.
What made me pick this book up:
I saw it on either Netgalley or Edelweiss and the cover immediately caught my attention.
What did I like about the cover:
Everything. Literally. It looks like an old circus poster. I would totally have this hanging up in my room. The colors are beautiful.
What made me read this book:
I got it as an ARC to review. The synopsis sounded great and like I said, the cover is amazing.
What did I like the most:
I love the story of it. It's all very unique.
I love reading about being in the circus, and circus life. Anything that has the circus in it is good for me.
I'm so jealous of her being able to interact with not only elephants but also tigers
The characters are well written, I really like Henry. He's my favorite. And Baby, I loved Baby. All he wanted to do was protect Geni.
What didn't I like:
I can't really put my finger on anything I didn't like. The story was good and the characters were good, but for some reason it just wasn't spectacular to me. I feel like it could have been so much more that grabbed me.
Also it ends in a cliffhanger. Just a heads up.
Would I read the rest of the series/more from this author?
Hmm, I'm not sure. I think I would read more.
Overall it was a well written unique story, with great characters. But it didn't awe me like I had hope it would.
What made me pick this book up:
I saw it on either Netgalley or Edelweiss and the cover immediately caught my attention.
What did I like about the cover:
Everything. Literally. It looks like an old circus poster. I would totally have this hanging up in my room. The colors are beautiful.
What made me read this book:
I got it as an ARC to review. The synopsis sounded great and like I said, the cover is amazing.
What did I like the most:
I love the story of it. It's all very unique.
I love reading about being in the circus, and circus life. Anything that has the circus in it is good for me.
I'm so jealous of her being able to interact with not only elephants but also tigers
The characters are well written, I really like Henry. He's my favorite. And Baby, I loved Baby. All he wanted to do was protect Geni.
What didn't I like:
I can't really put my finger on anything I didn't like. The story was good and the characters were good, but for some reason it just wasn't spectacular to me. I feel like it could have been so much more that grabbed me.
Also it ends in a cliffhanger. Just a heads up.
Would I read the rest of the series/more from this author?
Hmm, I'm not sure. I think I would read more.
Overall it was a well written unique story, with great characters. But it didn't awe me like I had hope it would.
March 28, 2011
Oh. Wow. This book, Jenn's way with words, the descriptions, the story-line, Gemma's snarky sarcasm, Henry's devotion, Lucian's deviousness... ALL of it is 5 stars. I picked it up to support Jenn and then I couldn't put it down because it was awesome!! I cannot wait for Book 2, and Sleight has officially crept into my list of top 10 favorite books of all time! Go and read it. Now.
The story is fresh and original and a new twist on "I see dead people". Gemma is likeable and relatable from chapter one, and intriguing and interesting from PAGE one. "The last funeral I went to was for a lion..."
All of the characters are quirky and original - who wouldn't be, working for a circus? - and the evil reaches a whole new level. (To be specific would be a spoiler!) I can't say enough good things about the book, and the writing. Go see for yourself.
The story is fresh and original and a new twist on "I see dead people". Gemma is likeable and relatable from chapter one, and intriguing and interesting from PAGE one. "The last funeral I went to was for a lion..."
All of the characters are quirky and original - who wouldn't be, working for a circus? - and the evil reaches a whole new level. (To be specific would be a spoiler!) I can't say enough good things about the book, and the writing. Go see for yourself.
August 29, 2018
I absolutely loved this book! Ever since I read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, I have been craving circus/magic related books. This book did not disappoint - the description hardly did it justice. I recommend this book to any fans of Caraval, The Immortal Circus series, or just Circus/magic books in general ❤️ happy reading.
September 5, 2018
Cyrkowe sztuczki, starożytne kultury, tajemnicze księgi, sekretne kluczyki, sporo magii i maoryskich wierzeń – to nietuzinkowa mieszanka nawet je��li weźmiemy pod uwagę natężenie tematów poruszanych w powieściach młodzieżowych. Warto również zwrócić uwagę, że „Prawda i Iluzja” to dopiero początek przygody głównej bohaterki, jedynie preludium do – jak się zapowiada – mroczniejszej i o wiele bardziej niebezpiecznej opowieści, która nadejdzie w kontynuacji. Jennifer Sommersby udowadnia, że jeszcze nie wszystko zostało powiedziane w gatunku young adult. Wykorzystuje co prawda ograne już motywy, tempo samej fabuły nie pędzi spektakularnie na łeb na szyję, a mimo wszystko czytelnik czuje się wciągnięty w tę nietuzinkową przygodę, której serce to serce cyrkowej areny.
Warto czekać na więcej!
Warto czekać na więcej!
August 20, 2018
An incredible book from an incredible talent. Not a wasted word.
April 17, 2018
“The Cinzio Traveling Players, a well-oiled machine, has plans for all contingencies. Almost all. Delia falling three stories to her death was not among those plans.”
Genevieve Flannery grew up in the Cinzio Traveling Players circus. It’s the only life she’s ever known. Watching her best friends throw each other around in the sky, spending large amounts of time with elephants and lions, and playing the violin upside down from a length of silk is all normal for her. Even her mother being afflicted by visions doesn’t seem strange to her. Well, no stranger than the other secrets she and her mother keep.
But then everything changes.
Delia falls during one of their performances, doing a routine they’ve done countless times before. Suddenly, Gen finds herself following a mysterious trail left by her mother to recover an item that she doesn’t fully understand. Worse, the visions that assaulted her mother are now being seen by Genevieve. She has to solve the puzzle her mother left her without knowing who to trust. Including her own mind.
“It’s the creepiest feeling, that someone is watching you, even creepier when you know exactly what that something could be, and what it could do to you.”
Sleight is stunning and magical! Seriously, there is so much to love in this book. First, I adore the characters. Genevieve, the acrobatic twins, Ash and Viv, Baby, Henry, they all are well developed characters with personalities as big as the big top they work in. Each of them felt vivid and alive, and I would love to be friends with all of them. Even the villains are exactly the way I like them. Tragic, flawed, entirely despicable despite all the flawed tragicness. Especially surprise villain number two. That was a delicious twist!
Speaking of big personalities, wait until you meet Houdini. I don’t know how a baby elephant can come to life on the page, but Sommersby does exactly that. He’s one of my favorite characters in this book. He may actually BE my favorite! Every scene with him is delightful!
“I attempt to nudge him out of the way, but there is no nudging a five-hundred-pound baby elephant who is enamored with his own flailing trunk.”
There is something for everyone in this book! Danger, mystery, a touch of romance. It’s whimsical and funny but also has moments of intensity and heartbreak. I love the pace that everything unfolds. Even though Genevieve isn’t exactly a normal teenager, and hasn’t lived a normal life, the way she reacts to the events around her feel very typical and normal. Or as typical and normal as you’d expect anyway.
I really enjoyed how creative and unique this story was. Everything from being set in the circus, to the type of magic being used, to the history of the hidden item, and literally everything in between. It all felt so original and fresh! Sommersby does such a fantastic job with the details and intricacies of these characters and what circus life must feel like, you’d think she actually did grow up in a circus!
“But that’s the thing about growing up in a circus — if the bones aren’t sticking out or your flesh isn’t on fire, you’re pretty much expected to work.”
Sleight is the first in a series, though I’m not sure how many are planned. What I am sure about is that I intend on reading every single one! I need to know how Gen handles the next obstacles that come her way, and I have a feeling a certain villain isn’t going to be content letting her go. Actually, neither of them will. And I can’t wait to see more of their story develop.
In all, if you love magic in normal places, a unique story, feisty characters full of heart, and an action packed mystery with tons of twists and turns, you’ll fall in love with Sleight!
Thank you Rockstar Book Tours for including me on this tour! I am in love with this novel!
Genevieve Flannery grew up in the Cinzio Traveling Players circus. It’s the only life she’s ever known. Watching her best friends throw each other around in the sky, spending large amounts of time with elephants and lions, and playing the violin upside down from a length of silk is all normal for her. Even her mother being afflicted by visions doesn’t seem strange to her. Well, no stranger than the other secrets she and her mother keep.
But then everything changes.
Delia falls during one of their performances, doing a routine they’ve done countless times before. Suddenly, Gen finds herself following a mysterious trail left by her mother to recover an item that she doesn’t fully understand. Worse, the visions that assaulted her mother are now being seen by Genevieve. She has to solve the puzzle her mother left her without knowing who to trust. Including her own mind.
“It’s the creepiest feeling, that someone is watching you, even creepier when you know exactly what that something could be, and what it could do to you.”
Sleight is stunning and magical! Seriously, there is so much to love in this book. First, I adore the characters. Genevieve, the acrobatic twins, Ash and Viv, Baby, Henry, they all are well developed characters with personalities as big as the big top they work in. Each of them felt vivid and alive, and I would love to be friends with all of them. Even the villains are exactly the way I like them. Tragic, flawed, entirely despicable despite all the flawed tragicness. Especially surprise villain number two. That was a delicious twist!
Speaking of big personalities, wait until you meet Houdini. I don’t know how a baby elephant can come to life on the page, but Sommersby does exactly that. He’s one of my favorite characters in this book. He may actually BE my favorite! Every scene with him is delightful!
“I attempt to nudge him out of the way, but there is no nudging a five-hundred-pound baby elephant who is enamored with his own flailing trunk.”
There is something for everyone in this book! Danger, mystery, a touch of romance. It’s whimsical and funny but also has moments of intensity and heartbreak. I love the pace that everything unfolds. Even though Genevieve isn’t exactly a normal teenager, and hasn’t lived a normal life, the way she reacts to the events around her feel very typical and normal. Or as typical and normal as you’d expect anyway.
I really enjoyed how creative and unique this story was. Everything from being set in the circus, to the type of magic being used, to the history of the hidden item, and literally everything in between. It all felt so original and fresh! Sommersby does such a fantastic job with the details and intricacies of these characters and what circus life must feel like, you’d think she actually did grow up in a circus!
“But that’s the thing about growing up in a circus — if the bones aren’t sticking out or your flesh isn’t on fire, you’re pretty much expected to work.”
Sleight is the first in a series, though I’m not sure how many are planned. What I am sure about is that I intend on reading every single one! I need to know how Gen handles the next obstacles that come her way, and I have a feeling a certain villain isn’t going to be content letting her go. Actually, neither of them will. And I can’t wait to see more of their story develop.
In all, if you love magic in normal places, a unique story, feisty characters full of heart, and an action packed mystery with tons of twists and turns, you’ll fall in love with Sleight!
Thank you Rockstar Book Tours for including me on this tour! I am in love with this novel!
July 13, 2011
Warning: This book is very addictive and you will not be able to put it down!
My Rating:5 Elephants!
I absolutely loved the cover of this book. There is this beautiful girl with long red curly hair lying with her eyes closed relaxing on the green grass.
Let me start out by saying this was a wonderful read from what I had been reading. This is a story set in the circus. I have never read a book that had that scenery so it caught my eye. I absolutely loved the book.This is a story that takes you through so many adventures in such a short time you will not be able to put the book down. It makes you want to go out and see The Barnamun Bailey Circus!
Characters in this book were great and you got to see the dynamics of a true family not blood related but bonded together by the circus. You saw how they loved and trusted one another. Ted was the circus owner and he was married to Marlene who was Gemma surrogate mother. Then you had fun loving blind uncle Irwin who despite losing his eye sight in an accident still worked ion the circus. Then there is loveable, cocky Ash and his twin sister Junie who is Gemma’s best friend. Then there is Gemma who is the center of the story because she is left an orphan because her mother killed herself and left her to live with Ted and Marlene. Then enter the man of the hour Henry Dmitri loveable and HOT HOT HOT! He and Gemma have this instant bond and begin this journey of theirs together. As you all know there is always a villain in every good story and we have drum roll please! Lucian Dmitri, he is charming and cunning and loveable oh and also very very very rich! And OMG he is bad bad bad…… He wants Gemma and will stop at nothing to get her.
This story is filled with ghosts, magic both good and evil and love. You will be pulled into the story from the very beginning.You will be caught up in the adventure of a lifetime with Gemma and Henry as they try to get to their destination in one piece. They are trying to save mankind from the evil Lucian but Lucian has many hired hands that rea ready at the drop of a hat to prevent Gemma and Henry to leave and fullfill their destinies. High school has nothing on this drama as it unfolds!
I will give you all a special treat the first few opening sentences are the last funeral I went to was for a lion. Sarah. She was mauled to death by her lover. There was no casket. Just a canvas tarp and some very thick plastic….
Go out and get the book to read more you will not be disappointed!
I loved this book and I loved how Jennifer gave us a backdrop of the circus life. Jennifer is the next J.K. Rowling with this series! Congrats Jen on such a wonderful book.
Memorable Quotes: Page 287 Gemma and Henry are on the train and they are in their room getting ready to fall asleep.
Henry bent over and kissed my forehead, but I grabbed the back of his neck and pressed my lips against his. He kissed me, too, gentle at first but with more vigor when I refused to release his head. He tasted so good. His hair felt soft in my fingers. I loved his smell, the feel of his face so close to mine.
“Sleep now,” he said.
I smiled at him, my cheeks flushed but not from embarrassment.
“Stay close. Don’t leave me,” I whispered.
“Never, G.” He stroked my forehead as I succumbed to blissful, perfect sleep, safe in the arms of my future.
Advice: This is a summer MUST READ!!!!!!!!!
My Rating:5 Elephants!
I absolutely loved the cover of this book. There is this beautiful girl with long red curly hair lying with her eyes closed relaxing on the green grass.
Let me start out by saying this was a wonderful read from what I had been reading. This is a story set in the circus. I have never read a book that had that scenery so it caught my eye. I absolutely loved the book.This is a story that takes you through so many adventures in such a short time you will not be able to put the book down. It makes you want to go out and see The Barnamun Bailey Circus!
Characters in this book were great and you got to see the dynamics of a true family not blood related but bonded together by the circus. You saw how they loved and trusted one another. Ted was the circus owner and he was married to Marlene who was Gemma surrogate mother. Then you had fun loving blind uncle Irwin who despite losing his eye sight in an accident still worked ion the circus. Then there is loveable, cocky Ash and his twin sister Junie who is Gemma’s best friend. Then there is Gemma who is the center of the story because she is left an orphan because her mother killed herself and left her to live with Ted and Marlene. Then enter the man of the hour Henry Dmitri loveable and HOT HOT HOT! He and Gemma have this instant bond and begin this journey of theirs together. As you all know there is always a villain in every good story and we have drum roll please! Lucian Dmitri, he is charming and cunning and loveable oh and also very very very rich! And OMG he is bad bad bad…… He wants Gemma and will stop at nothing to get her.
This story is filled with ghosts, magic both good and evil and love. You will be pulled into the story from the very beginning.You will be caught up in the adventure of a lifetime with Gemma and Henry as they try to get to their destination in one piece. They are trying to save mankind from the evil Lucian but Lucian has many hired hands that rea ready at the drop of a hat to prevent Gemma and Henry to leave and fullfill their destinies. High school has nothing on this drama as it unfolds!
I will give you all a special treat the first few opening sentences are the last funeral I went to was for a lion. Sarah. She was mauled to death by her lover. There was no casket. Just a canvas tarp and some very thick plastic….
Go out and get the book to read more you will not be disappointed!
I loved this book and I loved how Jennifer gave us a backdrop of the circus life. Jennifer is the next J.K. Rowling with this series! Congrats Jen on such a wonderful book.
Memorable Quotes: Page 287 Gemma and Henry are on the train and they are in their room getting ready to fall asleep.
Henry bent over and kissed my forehead, but I grabbed the back of his neck and pressed my lips against his. He kissed me, too, gentle at first but with more vigor when I refused to release his head. He tasted so good. His hair felt soft in my fingers. I loved his smell, the feel of his face so close to mine.
“Sleep now,” he said.
I smiled at him, my cheeks flushed but not from embarrassment.
“Stay close. Don’t leave me,” I whispered.
“Never, G.” He stroked my forehead as I succumbed to blissful, perfect sleep, safe in the arms of my future.
Advice: This is a summer MUST READ!!!!!!!!!
February 7, 2018
Goodreads Synopsis:
Delia smiles at the shadow only she sees—
Something slams into her. The lyra whirls like a half-dollar spinning on its edge.
My mother is thrown backward.
And she falls.
Growing up in the Cinzio Traveling Players Company, Genevieve Flannery is accustomed to a life most teenagers could never imagine: daily workouts of extravagant acrobatics; an extended family of clowns; wild animals for pets; and her mother, Delia, whose mind has always been tortured by visions—but whose love Geni never questions. In a world of performers who astonish and amaze on a daily basis, Delia’s ghostly hallucinations never seemed all that strange . . . until the evening Geni and her mother are performing an aerial routine they’ve done hundreds of times, and Delia falls to her death.
That night, a dark curtain in Geni’s life opens. Everything has changed.
Still reeling from the tragedy, the Cinzio Traveling Players are also adjusting to the circus’s new owner: a generous, mysterious man whose connection to the circus—Geni suspects—has a dark and dangerous history. And suddenly Geni is stumbling into a new reality of her own, her life interrupted daily by the terrors only Delia used to be able to see.
As the visions around her grow stronger, Geni isn’t sure who she can trust. Even worse, she’s starting to question whether she can trust her own mind.
A thrilling and mysterious novel that captures the magic of the big top itself, Sleight is a high-flying fantasy adventure sure to dazzle and delight.
Jennifer Sommersby lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where she works as a copy editor. Visit her online at jennsommersby.com.
My Review:
I received a copy of Sleight from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly this book is completely different than anything else i've read lately. Geni is a circus performer who also happens to have healing powers, unlike everyone around her. She plays the violin almost upside down hanging by her ankle while her mother, above her, does various acrobatics and flips. This is all she's ever known, and has been doing it since the age of seven. All she wants is to do her set and maybe get Ash, another performer, to fall in love with her rather than think of her as a kind of sister. But this time is different. Her mother gives her, her good luck key and that worries her. Her mom is tortured by things only she can see. And that night, something slams into her while she's doing her act, and she falls from the air. That night she dies, despite everyone's best efforts. And whatever plagued her is now appearing for Genevieve.
From the moment I read the description of this book, I knew I would love it. The characters, although a bit supernatural, are super lifelike and easy to get to know. The world is really well thought out, and everything about the book is interesting. I definitely recommend checking it out, and it might even be one of my new favourites.
Here's a link to the book on Amazon, and another link to the authors twitter.
https://www.amazon.ca/Sleight-Jennife...
https://twitter.com/JennSommersby
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
Delia smiles at the shadow only she sees—
Something slams into her. The lyra whirls like a half-dollar spinning on its edge.
My mother is thrown backward.
And she falls.
Growing up in the Cinzio Traveling Players Company, Genevieve Flannery is accustomed to a life most teenagers could never imagine: daily workouts of extravagant acrobatics; an extended family of clowns; wild animals for pets; and her mother, Delia, whose mind has always been tortured by visions—but whose love Geni never questions. In a world of performers who astonish and amaze on a daily basis, Delia’s ghostly hallucinations never seemed all that strange . . . until the evening Geni and her mother are performing an aerial routine they’ve done hundreds of times, and Delia falls to her death.
That night, a dark curtain in Geni’s life opens. Everything has changed.
Still reeling from the tragedy, the Cinzio Traveling Players are also adjusting to the circus’s new owner: a generous, mysterious man whose connection to the circus—Geni suspects—has a dark and dangerous history. And suddenly Geni is stumbling into a new reality of her own, her life interrupted daily by the terrors only Delia used to be able to see.
As the visions around her grow stronger, Geni isn’t sure who she can trust. Even worse, she’s starting to question whether she can trust her own mind.
A thrilling and mysterious novel that captures the magic of the big top itself, Sleight is a high-flying fantasy adventure sure to dazzle and delight.
Jennifer Sommersby lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where she works as a copy editor. Visit her online at jennsommersby.com.
My Review:
I received a copy of Sleight from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly this book is completely different than anything else i've read lately. Geni is a circus performer who also happens to have healing powers, unlike everyone around her. She plays the violin almost upside down hanging by her ankle while her mother, above her, does various acrobatics and flips. This is all she's ever known, and has been doing it since the age of seven. All she wants is to do her set and maybe get Ash, another performer, to fall in love with her rather than think of her as a kind of sister. But this time is different. Her mother gives her, her good luck key and that worries her. Her mom is tortured by things only she can see. And that night, something slams into her while she's doing her act, and she falls from the air. That night she dies, despite everyone's best efforts. And whatever plagued her is now appearing for Genevieve.
From the moment I read the description of this book, I knew I would love it. The characters, although a bit supernatural, are super lifelike and easy to get to know. The world is really well thought out, and everything about the book is interesting. I definitely recommend checking it out, and it might even be one of my new favourites.
Here's a link to the book on Amazon, and another link to the authors twitter.
https://www.amazon.ca/Sleight-Jennife...
https://twitter.com/JennSommersby
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
June 23, 2011
I LOVE this book! I want to join the circus! WOW! When I first read the Blurb I was like .. "My best friend is an elephant?" Weird! But nope not at all! At least not when you grow up in the circus!!
This book is an awesome PNR for YA (or my age :)
The book starts off as we meet Gemma and her unfortunate bad luck - seems like this poor girl can't get a single break. Her mother just died. She didn't know her that well. She was sick - seriously sick. Like Gem, her mom was able to see Shades (Spirit/Ghosts, whatever) But they've never bothered Gem, didn't try to talk to her, just sort of .. hung out in their own place - but her mom claimed that they attacked her, they told her to do things. Hospitals couldn't help her, so she ended up killing herself.
Gem is kind of loner - she prefers to be alone with her thoughts (and her elephants) She has friends, happy go lucky girly girly Junie, and her twin brother Ash (whom Gem has had a crush on for a long time) But life is how she likes it. She is happy with the way things are...
Until ONE DAY - Ted , her circus "uncle" Guardian decided it's time to settle the circus down. They have a benefactor who wants the circus to settle down in their town. Which is what Ted has always wanted.
Which meant Public high school for the kids??? Gem wasn't too thrilled with that idea at all! But being the good sport she is, she will do what she needs to do to make Ted and his wife Marlene happy.
First day of public school. The school is anxious to have all the circus "freaks" attend their new high school. Well some of them .
Since Gem seems to have all the bad luck, everyone who checked in at the school got a first day of school buddy to help them through their first day , that is, except Gem - The principal seemed to over look her...
Luckily - Henry Demitri was late for school that early Monday morning. And his good looks, sweet talking charm, (and daddy's money being thrown around town) his tardy was overlooked with the promise to be Gem's Buddy for the day.
Henry is the son of Lucian Demitri - he is the one that is financing the cirrus to stay in town. So Gem figures that Henry is a spoiled stuck up guy that throws his daddy's money around to get what he wants.
She couldn't be more wrong ...
This book is awesome - throws a LOT of twists and curves at you. I was surprised at how much I really enjoyed this book. Henry plays a big role in Gem's life. But no matter how much things get thrown at Gem, she really deals with it. She grows up fast and takes on a lot. I really liked reading the ending - without giving it away, she is forced to take on a LOT of supernatural things with only Henry's help. He seems to have a lot more information than she does about everything, but she has the protection, the ability - she doesn't just say ... "ok I have to do it myself let's get this over with" She is a true 17 year old girl who doesn't know what to do! She has her little break down and Henry does everything he can to help her through it.
I wish it was a good 50 - 100 pages longer. it didn't leave off in a good way.. well except it's all set up for AVRA-K book 2 - which I have no idea when it comes out - but I want to be one of the first in line to get it :)
This book is an awesome PNR for YA (or my age :)
The book starts off as we meet Gemma and her unfortunate bad luck - seems like this poor girl can't get a single break. Her mother just died. She didn't know her that well. She was sick - seriously sick. Like Gem, her mom was able to see Shades (Spirit/Ghosts, whatever) But they've never bothered Gem, didn't try to talk to her, just sort of .. hung out in their own place - but her mom claimed that they attacked her, they told her to do things. Hospitals couldn't help her, so she ended up killing herself.
Gem is kind of loner - she prefers to be alone with her thoughts (and her elephants) She has friends, happy go lucky girly girly Junie, and her twin brother Ash (whom Gem has had a crush on for a long time) But life is how she likes it. She is happy with the way things are...
Until ONE DAY - Ted , her circus "uncle" Guardian decided it's time to settle the circus down. They have a benefactor who wants the circus to settle down in their town. Which is what Ted has always wanted.
Which meant Public high school for the kids??? Gem wasn't too thrilled with that idea at all! But being the good sport she is, she will do what she needs to do to make Ted and his wife Marlene happy.
First day of public school. The school is anxious to have all the circus "freaks" attend their new high school. Well some of them .
Since Gem seems to have all the bad luck, everyone who checked in at the school got a first day of school buddy to help them through their first day , that is, except Gem - The principal seemed to over look her...
Luckily - Henry Demitri was late for school that early Monday morning. And his good looks, sweet talking charm, (and daddy's money being thrown around town) his tardy was overlooked with the promise to be Gem's Buddy for the day.
Henry is the son of Lucian Demitri - he is the one that is financing the cirrus to stay in town. So Gem figures that Henry is a spoiled stuck up guy that throws his daddy's money around to get what he wants.
She couldn't be more wrong ...
This book is awesome - throws a LOT of twists and curves at you. I was surprised at how much I really enjoyed this book. Henry plays a big role in Gem's life. But no matter how much things get thrown at Gem, she really deals with it. She grows up fast and takes on a lot. I really liked reading the ending - without giving it away, she is forced to take on a LOT of supernatural things with only Henry's help. He seems to have a lot more information than she does about everything, but she has the protection, the ability - she doesn't just say ... "ok I have to do it myself let's get this over with" She is a true 17 year old girl who doesn't know what to do! She has her little break down and Henry does everything he can to help her through it.
I wish it was a good 50 - 100 pages longer. it didn't leave off in a good way.. well except it's all set up for AVRA-K book 2 - which I have no idea when it comes out - but I want to be one of the first in line to get it :)
April 22, 2011
Sleight was unlike anything that I have ever read before. The story line, characters, basically everything was completely unique to me. Have you ever read something that you loved so much you didn't even know how to describe your love for it? Well it's kinda like that with for me with this one.
Let me start with the characters. First and foremost we have Gemma. She is troubled from the start considering, as the story begins, her mother, Delia has just committed suicide. Delia has been in and out of mental institutions for as long as Gemma can remember. Gemma can also she "shades". Shades are dead people, but they do not talk to her. They just show up in random place like part of the scenery. This is something that is kept between her and her guardians because she is afraid everyone else with think that she is crazy like Delia was. Gemma lives with Ted and Marlene who she considers her aunt and uncle. They are all part of a traveling circus.
The circus is one of my favorite aspects of the book. I have never read a book before when the circus has played such an intricate part in a story. It was really interesting to hear some of the behind the scenes things about it.
I fell in absolute love with the other chararcters too! Ted, Marlene, Uncle Irwin, Ash, Janie, Henry and Lucian. I love the name Lucian! What a perfect bad guy name right? Anyway they all played into the story and were all fabulous in the roles that they played. Jenn wrote each character so believably. She made me fall in love with just about every single one of them! I wanted Irwin to be my uncle too!
After some odd circumstances arise, the traveling circus ends up coming to a stop because of Lucian Dimitri. For the first time in her life Gemma will have to go to public school to finish out her last 4 months of her senior year. She is very unhappy about it. She loves the secluded life that she has been living with her circus family. It is at the high school that she meets Henry, the son of Lucian. She instantly has a connection with him and he, like her, has a special ability.
It's through Henry that all sorts of revelations come about and Gemma finds out who she really is, why she has the ability she does and who her "real" family is. This puts Gemma and her circus family in great danger.
I LOVED this book. Actually love is probably putting it lightly. I am slightly obsessed with the story. It was absolutely fascinating. We are left with quite a cliffhanger and I don't know how I am going to wait until this fall to find out what happens. I might have to Twitter stalk Jenn until she tells me all about it!
Overall I HIGHLY recommend this book to people who are interested in YA paranormal. It was a fantastic and quick read. Jenn is a fabulous author and I can't wait for the next installment
This is another one of those books that kept me up late into the night and then followed me to work the next day. There was no way that I could wait a whole 8 hour shift before picking it back up again. Shhhh don't tell my boss! :)
Let me start with the characters. First and foremost we have Gemma. She is troubled from the start considering, as the story begins, her mother, Delia has just committed suicide. Delia has been in and out of mental institutions for as long as Gemma can remember. Gemma can also she "shades". Shades are dead people, but they do not talk to her. They just show up in random place like part of the scenery. This is something that is kept between her and her guardians because she is afraid everyone else with think that she is crazy like Delia was. Gemma lives with Ted and Marlene who she considers her aunt and uncle. They are all part of a traveling circus.
The circus is one of my favorite aspects of the book. I have never read a book before when the circus has played such an intricate part in a story. It was really interesting to hear some of the behind the scenes things about it.
I fell in absolute love with the other chararcters too! Ted, Marlene, Uncle Irwin, Ash, Janie, Henry and Lucian. I love the name Lucian! What a perfect bad guy name right? Anyway they all played into the story and were all fabulous in the roles that they played. Jenn wrote each character so believably. She made me fall in love with just about every single one of them! I wanted Irwin to be my uncle too!
After some odd circumstances arise, the traveling circus ends up coming to a stop because of Lucian Dimitri. For the first time in her life Gemma will have to go to public school to finish out her last 4 months of her senior year. She is very unhappy about it. She loves the secluded life that she has been living with her circus family. It is at the high school that she meets Henry, the son of Lucian. She instantly has a connection with him and he, like her, has a special ability.
It's through Henry that all sorts of revelations come about and Gemma finds out who she really is, why she has the ability she does and who her "real" family is. This puts Gemma and her circus family in great danger.
I LOVED this book. Actually love is probably putting it lightly. I am slightly obsessed with the story. It was absolutely fascinating. We are left with quite a cliffhanger and I don't know how I am going to wait until this fall to find out what happens. I might have to Twitter stalk Jenn until she tells me all about it!
Overall I HIGHLY recommend this book to people who are interested in YA paranormal. It was a fantastic and quick read. Jenn is a fabulous author and I can't wait for the next installment
This is another one of those books that kept me up late into the night and then followed me to work the next day. There was no way that I could wait a whole 8 hour shift before picking it back up again. Shhhh don't tell my boss! :)
May 3, 2011
Well that was a ride! This is the story of Gemma and Henry. Gemma lives with a circus and this setting alone is unique and fresh since I cannot recall any other book that is set around a circus. I was however skeptical in the beginning, but I turned out to absolutely love this story and world building. Gemma just lost her mom and never knew her father. She lives with her Aunt and Uncle at the circus and never knew something else. The kids were of course home schooled since the circus moves to new places ever so often...
After her mom died, the circus decided to stay at one place for a longer time which also gives the kids a chance to enroll at the local high school. The circus found a wealthy business men who founded this stay. Gemma was afraid of a normal high school with normal kids.
Also.. Gemma is not truly normal and never has been. She can see Shades, or Ghosts. They don't talk to her but she always sees them around. Nobody apart from her closed family knows about this, so of course she's also afraid someone might find out her secret.
First day at school, she meets this gorgeous boy: Henry, who is the son of Lucian Dmitri, the men that finance the circus. But not just the circus, she nearly owns the whole town. Lucian is an enigmatic man and Gemma is slightly afraid of him... There is a secret lingering around this men and the boy, something dark and mysterious which makes Gemma truly weary.
But Henry is so much different from his father and it doesn't take long for them to fall for each other. But there is more, a secret Henry is dying to share with Gemma and that will turn everything she ever knew upside down and that will change her life forever.
The plot is thick and full of mystery. You barley have time to breath since the plot moves forward so fast! I love thick and layered plots that is full of secrets for me to discover. Sleight definitely has such a plot. The world building is fantastic and the characters wonderful, deep and genuine. Even the secondary characters clearly were loved when developed and not just side objects in a novel around two main characters. Also, Jennifer Sommersby doesn't spare the reader big emotions which I always welcome, as hard as it might be.
Sleight is a magical book, the magic atmosphere of the circus only helps to underline the the mystery around Gemma and Henry. The book is so full of happenings and could have easily split in two books already, which makes me bounce with excitement about what is coming in the next book. This is a 3 book series and guessing from this one, the next books will be truly amazing and will leave you breathless.
Mystery, magic, love, romance, loss and an amazing world and plot makes Sleight a page turner par excellence. I can't wait to follow Gemma's and Henry's journey and I'm waiting impatiently to hear what will happen next and afraid about what is more to come!
After her mom died, the circus decided to stay at one place for a longer time which also gives the kids a chance to enroll at the local high school. The circus found a wealthy business men who founded this stay. Gemma was afraid of a normal high school with normal kids.
Also.. Gemma is not truly normal and never has been. She can see Shades, or Ghosts. They don't talk to her but she always sees them around. Nobody apart from her closed family knows about this, so of course she's also afraid someone might find out her secret.
First day at school, she meets this gorgeous boy: Henry, who is the son of Lucian Dmitri, the men that finance the circus. But not just the circus, she nearly owns the whole town. Lucian is an enigmatic man and Gemma is slightly afraid of him... There is a secret lingering around this men and the boy, something dark and mysterious which makes Gemma truly weary.
But Henry is so much different from his father and it doesn't take long for them to fall for each other. But there is more, a secret Henry is dying to share with Gemma and that will turn everything she ever knew upside down and that will change her life forever.
The plot is thick and full of mystery. You barley have time to breath since the plot moves forward so fast! I love thick and layered plots that is full of secrets for me to discover. Sleight definitely has such a plot. The world building is fantastic and the characters wonderful, deep and genuine. Even the secondary characters clearly were loved when developed and not just side objects in a novel around two main characters. Also, Jennifer Sommersby doesn't spare the reader big emotions which I always welcome, as hard as it might be.
Sleight is a magical book, the magic atmosphere of the circus only helps to underline the the mystery around Gemma and Henry. The book is so full of happenings and could have easily split in two books already, which makes me bounce with excitement about what is coming in the next book. This is a 3 book series and guessing from this one, the next books will be truly amazing and will leave you breathless.
Mystery, magic, love, romance, loss and an amazing world and plot makes Sleight a page turner par excellence. I can't wait to follow Gemma's and Henry's journey and I'm waiting impatiently to hear what will happen next and afraid about what is more to come!
April 25, 2011
This is a truly great story, the idea is superb and the execution is clean and bright. I loved every minute and couldn't wait to get back to reading whenever I had to put it down to face reality. We are treated to the sometimes snarky but often vulnerable inner thoughts of Gemma as she faces first the ordeal of not fitting in at her new school and then a whole spectrum of catastrophes and new experiences that are thrown her way. And let me just say it was refreshing to read this often told story with the twist of it not being the popular girl(s) who torment the protagonist but someone else.
In a circus I would have expected no less than brilliantly colorful characters and Ms. Sommersby does not disappoint! They come in every shape and size and are all unique and well-rounded. Every character in this story is a complex individual -- even the ones who seemed periphery had backstory and were well-developed. Right down to the silent, ghostly whittler who occupies the corner of the mess tent. I was pleased to see real people living and breathing on the pages of this book. The emotions rung true with every new scene and the relationships progressed so naturally even in spite of the limited time frame.
I was so impressed with the realistic treatment of Gemma and Henry's interactions. There was an authenticity to them that helped me stay comfortably in the story with them, living it alongside them. I especially enjoyed the fact that, while Gemma faces things she's not sure how to handle, she may want to run away but does so only when it felt appropriate that a girl her age would do so. There was no huge and unnecessary melodramatic displays of emotion that I've noticed in other YA novels. Gemma is grounded and may do silly things sometimes, but what teenager doesn't? The same goes for Henry and Ash as well.
The one thing I would have liked to have seen better developed perhaps is the relationship between Gemma and Junie. I felt that due to the constraints of the timeline in the story that we didn't get to see that fleshed out to the point that I felt we were looking at two girls who counted each other as sisters even though they both expressed that feeling toward the other at some point.
One of the best surprises is a secondary ability that Gemma develops. I've never read anything like that before and I felt it was very original, unexpected, and fun! Though the overall surprise with this book is that with its length, there is absolutely no fluff -- no extraneous scenes written just to make the book seem longer. Every scene has a purpose and furthers the plot or character development. Well done, Ms. Sommersby!
In a circus I would have expected no less than brilliantly colorful characters and Ms. Sommersby does not disappoint! They come in every shape and size and are all unique and well-rounded. Every character in this story is a complex individual -- even the ones who seemed periphery had backstory and were well-developed. Right down to the silent, ghostly whittler who occupies the corner of the mess tent. I was pleased to see real people living and breathing on the pages of this book. The emotions rung true with every new scene and the relationships progressed so naturally even in spite of the limited time frame.
I was so impressed with the realistic treatment of Gemma and Henry's interactions. There was an authenticity to them that helped me stay comfortably in the story with them, living it alongside them. I especially enjoyed the fact that, while Gemma faces things she's not sure how to handle, she may want to run away but does so only when it felt appropriate that a girl her age would do so. There was no huge and unnecessary melodramatic displays of emotion that I've noticed in other YA novels. Gemma is grounded and may do silly things sometimes, but what teenager doesn't? The same goes for Henry and Ash as well.
The one thing I would have liked to have seen better developed perhaps is the relationship between Gemma and Junie. I felt that due to the constraints of the timeline in the story that we didn't get to see that fleshed out to the point that I felt we were looking at two girls who counted each other as sisters even though they both expressed that feeling toward the other at some point.
One of the best surprises is a secondary ability that Gemma develops. I've never read anything like that before and I felt it was very original, unexpected, and fun! Though the overall surprise with this book is that with its length, there is absolutely no fluff -- no extraneous scenes written just to make the book seem longer. Every scene has a purpose and furthers the plot or character development. Well done, Ms. Sommersby!
June 24, 2011
Sleight was a wonderful, unique tale and I can't wait to see where it goes with the next book. It is about Gemma, a young girl who knows no life beyond what she has while traveling around with circus. They have become her family and that is more important than ever since her mother just passed away. But things are more complicated for Gemma because she can see ghosts.
Soon Gemma learns that the circus will be settling somewhere for a while, which means Gemma has to go to school. Fitting in isn't easy when people know you are with a traveling circus. I have to say that this setting was wonderful because I've never read a book about a circus. I was fascinated with how Gemma lived and what experiences she had while working there. Perfect setting for this story!
Henry is the son of the man investing in the circus and he is immediately interested in Gemma. But the gorgeous Henry isn't exactly the "player" people may think he is. He typically avoids everyone and that makes many of the high school girls angry. People know his father Lucian pretty much owns the town and although he is super hot, no one grabs his attention..until Gemma comes around.
But as they get closer, more secrets are revealed. I was shocked by many of the new developments that occurred throughout this story. Gemma and Henry were easy to love. Their chemistry was strong from the beginning and it was great to see where their relationship went. The other side characters, like Ash, Janie, Ted, and Marlene, were just as wonderful! It could be assumed that people in the circus may be eccentric but they all fit together perfectly and made a great family unit. I couldn't imagine a more non-traditional family, or one that seemed to have as much love for one another.
The secrets and adventures in this book never stopped! I was truly on the edge of my seat. Sleight is action-packed, full of imagination, and highly suspenseful! Jennifer Sommersby created a story unlike any other I've read and I will be anxiously awaiting the next book!
Soon Gemma learns that the circus will be settling somewhere for a while, which means Gemma has to go to school. Fitting in isn't easy when people know you are with a traveling circus. I have to say that this setting was wonderful because I've never read a book about a circus. I was fascinated with how Gemma lived and what experiences she had while working there. Perfect setting for this story!
Henry is the son of the man investing in the circus and he is immediately interested in Gemma. But the gorgeous Henry isn't exactly the "player" people may think he is. He typically avoids everyone and that makes many of the high school girls angry. People know his father Lucian pretty much owns the town and although he is super hot, no one grabs his attention..until Gemma comes around.
But as they get closer, more secrets are revealed. I was shocked by many of the new developments that occurred throughout this story. Gemma and Henry were easy to love. Their chemistry was strong from the beginning and it was great to see where their relationship went. The other side characters, like Ash, Janie, Ted, and Marlene, were just as wonderful! It could be assumed that people in the circus may be eccentric but they all fit together perfectly and made a great family unit. I couldn't imagine a more non-traditional family, or one that seemed to have as much love for one another.
The secrets and adventures in this book never stopped! I was truly on the edge of my seat. Sleight is action-packed, full of imagination, and highly suspenseful! Jennifer Sommersby created a story unlike any other I've read and I will be anxiously awaiting the next book!
April 30, 2012
I am baffled by the number of great reviews this book has received. I don't understand. This book was nothing amazing and did not hold my interest at all. It became a chore to read it and finish it. I had wanted to like this book a lot (especially after reading the acknowledgments page) but sadly I can't even give a 3 star rating because honestly this book was "just ok". Yes the idea was sort of original (the magic and seeing dead people part was kind of a bore). The part that really had me intrigued, the circus, was barely explored, mostly glossed over, so that was a letdown.
Also, so many people are calling Gemma a strong, capable, and intelligent heroine. Really? Maybe I read about some other Gemma, who has one injury or another througout the book, is a complete mess without Henry's help, is often times stupid and reckless, and mostly a bore to read about.
The love story did not capture my heart. It was an "insta-love" moment.
The action was really so-so and did not make me anxious or nervous about what would happen next. There were many deaths that seemed often unnecessarry and not explored nearly enough. Too many random things happen and I had absolutely no idea of what was happening at times.
Not at all sure if I will read the second book. Maybe if it is the last book then I might force myself to read it to just have a conclusion. If this is a trilogy, then count me out. It's sad really, I wish I had enjoyed this book more, as I can tell a lot of effort went into writing this book.
Also, so many people are calling Gemma a strong, capable, and intelligent heroine. Really? Maybe I read about some other Gemma, who has one injury or another througout the book, is a complete mess without Henry's help, is often times stupid and reckless, and mostly a bore to read about.
The love story did not capture my heart. It was an "insta-love" moment.
The action was really so-so and did not make me anxious or nervous about what would happen next. There were many deaths that seemed often unnecessarry and not explored nearly enough. Too many random things happen and I had absolutely no idea of what was happening at times.
Not at all sure if I will read the second book. Maybe if it is the last book then I might force myself to read it to just have a conclusion. If this is a trilogy, then count me out. It's sad really, I wish I had enjoyed this book more, as I can tell a lot of effort went into writing this book.
June 4, 2018
“It’s the creepiest feeling, that something is watching you, even creepier when you know exactly what that something could be, and what it could do to you. And you’re powerless to stop it.”
First I would like to give a huge thank you to Harper Collins Canada for sending me an ARC to review! This in no way influences my opinion.
Wow, what a pleasant surprise of a book! Especially after reading Children of Blood and Bone which was SO deeply moving, I thought I was going to be in a hangover for a long time. I will fully admit that this story is much different, so to compare the two just isn’t fair, so I won’t!
From the prologue we get a fairytale-esque backstory that starts out with ‘once upon a time’… and you know it had me hooked! We then jump to the present with Genevieve (our main character) and her mother, Delia, preparing for a performance with their circus, the Cinzio Traveling Players Company. As the pair start their performance suspended high above the crowd with Genevieve playing her violin, while Delia does acrobatics, she pauses and says something before an invisible force slams into her and causes her to fall to her death. Now I will admit I was initially a little disappointed that Delia’s death was revealed so early on in the book (within the first chapter) because I felt like it was a spoiler, but the rest of the book was such a mystery and her death ties into a much bigger picture that this didn’t bother me by the end!
I’m going to go a bit off topic here and say that I’ve always loved a good scavenger hunt, anything revolving around skeleton keys, and carnivals/circus’s. Don’t ask me why, these are just some of my things! Anyone else love these as well? Oh yah, and this book is about a magical book (talk about bookception)! Lucky for me, this contained all three things that I love, plus a book about a book! It was set at a circus and although I’m against circus’s that use animals, I love the idea of them! Just imagining the striped big top tent, the smell of saw dust, the costumes, the popcorn, the cotton candy, the magical lights, the performers... it just paints a whole different world that I would love to fall into and be a part of for a night. There is also something a little dark and creepy about them, and I think that’s maybe the whole appeal. The other-worldly mystery it paints is also very appealing. So to have this story contain a scavenger hunt involving skeleton keys and a book was just icing on the cake! I haven’t had the best track record reading books revolving around carnivals/circus’s, but I finished this one and actually enjoyed it! Anyways, I digress back to my review…
As the story starts to unfold, we learn about what’s going on as Genevieve finds out. Normally I’m not a huge fan of this type of writing as it can be way too much info-dumping for me and the story can get lost in lengthy explanations, but I didn’t find that was the case with this one! The first half was a little bit info-dumpy as the back story was being set up, but once it got going, I was fully pulled into it’s magical world and loved finding out the secrets when Genevieve did! It made me feel like I was a character and helping her uncover what was going on!
I loved Genevieve as a main character. She was mature, thoughtful, but also had her flaws. It was refreshing to see a female main character that wasn’t fully centered around love. And there was NO INSTA-LOVE!!!! THANK YOU!!!!! Although romance was an underlying theme, it didn’t overpower the main parts of the story! Geni was caring and she loved animals, especially the two elephants that were part of the Company and she took care of them like they were her own. We would have gotten along really well in real life because I too love animals! I did feel like she was lacking a bit, and maybe that was partly due to her grieving, but I didn’t really feel her pain for losing her mother until closer to the last half of the book.
“ ‘I hate her for leaving me and not telling me the truth. I hate her for leaving me behind to deal with this.’ Trying not to cry is futile. I’m not brave. I’m terrified.”
For the most part her emotions were surface level and I sometimes found it hard to connect with her emotionally. To be fair though, she had a lot going on, so she didn’t really have time to sit and wallow in her sadness. One thing I enjoyed about Geni was her insight. How she was able to reflect and constantly ask herself questions, it helped me as a reader get inside her head.
“Later, in the million times I replay the details of this night, I will remember—and hate myself for not noticing—how Delia’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. She was worried, and I missed it. But in the moment, cues must be met. The circus stops for no one.”
I loved the other characters too! Baby was such an awesome side character, full of love and support and he never wavered in caring for Geni, even though he was grieving too. He helped her and made sure she was always safe.
And Henry. He was a wild card for me, mainly because as the story unfolds he is related to the villain, and he also had his secrets. But I enjoyed that the romance didn’t overshadow the main story here. It was lingering and implied, but the author kept the romance in the background and Henry was able to be a good side kick to Geni without love getting in the way!
What really blew me away about this book was all the backstory. On the surface, it seemed like a nice easy read (and it totally was!), but there was mystery that had to be discovered and every character had a secret that was slowly revealed over the course of the story. Not everyone was who they seemed to be, and this is what kept me reading, I just had to find out who was who. There was a lot of family history in the book that went back thousands and thousands of years, and a lot of twists and surprises and surfaced along the way! Even a few twists that I didn’t see coming! Through all this, death was an underlying theme in the book and how grief and loss has a way of affecting someone.
“Death is the greatest thief of all. It steals our ability to feel, to think. It replaces love and safety and happiness with a black hole in our chests. And when that hole seems to have finally twisted closed, something—a smell, a memory, a token—breaks the seal and it gapes again.”
I love that the story keeps Delia’s memory alive through Geni’s adventure. It’s because of Delia’s death that Geni has to go on and discover the secrets of her mother and her family, but it doesn’t erase her entirely. It keeps them connected and even gives Geni glimpses into Delia’s past and some of what she went through before she had her. It was a really smart way of connecting Delia into the story even though she was gone from the beginning.
Besides not fully connecting to Geni’s emotions, my only other complaints about this story was the lack of action and darkness. The first half is very slow moving and I almost DNF’d it because of that. I was getting a little tired of all the explanations and the fact that Geni seemed to just meander along and not be doing much except asking herself a ton of questions. It really picks up among the last half, and things start to spiral out of control (yay!). I was also expecting a bit more darkness from a certain… creature (spoiler if I say the name and you haven’t read the book)… but I’m hoping the author addresses this in the sequel!
While this story wasn’t a total page turner, it was a refreshing read! It wasn’t what I expected, and I love that. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a magical mystery… or if you love circus’s or scavenger hunts! I can’t wait for the next book!
First I would like to give a huge thank you to Harper Collins Canada for sending me an ARC to review! This in no way influences my opinion.
Wow, what a pleasant surprise of a book! Especially after reading Children of Blood and Bone which was SO deeply moving, I thought I was going to be in a hangover for a long time. I will fully admit that this story is much different, so to compare the two just isn’t fair, so I won’t!
From the prologue we get a fairytale-esque backstory that starts out with ‘once upon a time’… and you know it had me hooked! We then jump to the present with Genevieve (our main character) and her mother, Delia, preparing for a performance with their circus, the Cinzio Traveling Players Company. As the pair start their performance suspended high above the crowd with Genevieve playing her violin, while Delia does acrobatics, she pauses and says something before an invisible force slams into her and causes her to fall to her death. Now I will admit I was initially a little disappointed that Delia’s death was revealed so early on in the book (within the first chapter) because I felt like it was a spoiler, but the rest of the book was such a mystery and her death ties into a much bigger picture that this didn’t bother me by the end!
I’m going to go a bit off topic here and say that I’ve always loved a good scavenger hunt, anything revolving around skeleton keys, and carnivals/circus’s. Don’t ask me why, these are just some of my things! Anyone else love these as well? Oh yah, and this book is about a magical book (talk about bookception)! Lucky for me, this contained all three things that I love, plus a book about a book! It was set at a circus and although I’m against circus’s that use animals, I love the idea of them! Just imagining the striped big top tent, the smell of saw dust, the costumes, the popcorn, the cotton candy, the magical lights, the performers... it just paints a whole different world that I would love to fall into and be a part of for a night. There is also something a little dark and creepy about them, and I think that’s maybe the whole appeal. The other-worldly mystery it paints is also very appealing. So to have this story contain a scavenger hunt involving skeleton keys and a book was just icing on the cake! I haven’t had the best track record reading books revolving around carnivals/circus’s, but I finished this one and actually enjoyed it! Anyways, I digress back to my review…
As the story starts to unfold, we learn about what’s going on as Genevieve finds out. Normally I’m not a huge fan of this type of writing as it can be way too much info-dumping for me and the story can get lost in lengthy explanations, but I didn’t find that was the case with this one! The first half was a little bit info-dumpy as the back story was being set up, but once it got going, I was fully pulled into it’s magical world and loved finding out the secrets when Genevieve did! It made me feel like I was a character and helping her uncover what was going on!
I loved Genevieve as a main character. She was mature, thoughtful, but also had her flaws. It was refreshing to see a female main character that wasn’t fully centered around love. And there was NO INSTA-LOVE!!!! THANK YOU!!!!! Although romance was an underlying theme, it didn’t overpower the main parts of the story! Geni was caring and she loved animals, especially the two elephants that were part of the Company and she took care of them like they were her own. We would have gotten along really well in real life because I too love animals! I did feel like she was lacking a bit, and maybe that was partly due to her grieving, but I didn’t really feel her pain for losing her mother until closer to the last half of the book.
“ ‘I hate her for leaving me and not telling me the truth. I hate her for leaving me behind to deal with this.’ Trying not to cry is futile. I’m not brave. I’m terrified.”
For the most part her emotions were surface level and I sometimes found it hard to connect with her emotionally. To be fair though, she had a lot going on, so she didn’t really have time to sit and wallow in her sadness. One thing I enjoyed about Geni was her insight. How she was able to reflect and constantly ask herself questions, it helped me as a reader get inside her head.
“Later, in the million times I replay the details of this night, I will remember—and hate myself for not noticing—how Delia’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. She was worried, and I missed it. But in the moment, cues must be met. The circus stops for no one.”
I loved the other characters too! Baby was such an awesome side character, full of love and support and he never wavered in caring for Geni, even though he was grieving too. He helped her and made sure she was always safe.
And Henry. He was a wild card for me, mainly because as the story unfolds he is related to the villain, and he also had his secrets. But I enjoyed that the romance didn’t overshadow the main story here. It was lingering and implied, but the author kept the romance in the background and Henry was able to be a good side kick to Geni without love getting in the way!
What really blew me away about this book was all the backstory. On the surface, it seemed like a nice easy read (and it totally was!), but there was mystery that had to be discovered and every character had a secret that was slowly revealed over the course of the story. Not everyone was who they seemed to be, and this is what kept me reading, I just had to find out who was who. There was a lot of family history in the book that went back thousands and thousands of years, and a lot of twists and surprises and surfaced along the way! Even a few twists that I didn’t see coming! Through all this, death was an underlying theme in the book and how grief and loss has a way of affecting someone.
“Death is the greatest thief of all. It steals our ability to feel, to think. It replaces love and safety and happiness with a black hole in our chests. And when that hole seems to have finally twisted closed, something—a smell, a memory, a token—breaks the seal and it gapes again.”
I love that the story keeps Delia’s memory alive through Geni’s adventure. It’s because of Delia’s death that Geni has to go on and discover the secrets of her mother and her family, but it doesn’t erase her entirely. It keeps them connected and even gives Geni glimpses into Delia’s past and some of what she went through before she had her. It was a really smart way of connecting Delia into the story even though she was gone from the beginning.
Besides not fully connecting to Geni’s emotions, my only other complaints about this story was the lack of action and darkness. The first half is very slow moving and I almost DNF’d it because of that. I was getting a little tired of all the explanations and the fact that Geni seemed to just meander along and not be doing much except asking herself a ton of questions. It really picks up among the last half, and things start to spiral out of control (yay!). I was also expecting a bit more darkness from a certain… creature (spoiler if I say the name and you haven’t read the book)… but I’m hoping the author addresses this in the sequel!
While this story wasn’t a total page turner, it was a refreshing read! It wasn’t what I expected, and I love that. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a magical mystery… or if you love circus’s or scavenger hunts! I can’t wait for the next book!
November 2, 2011
WOW this book was breathtaking. Form the start to the end and I still want more!! It was for sure a page turner and a must read. Lots of love, actions and just all you want in a book!! There was just so much story and I really related to the characters and each of there stories, I am SO excited for the next book!! This is a must get and a must read! I hope you fall in love like I did!!
August 14, 2018
I'm not even sure how to rate this book.
Look, it is what it is: the protagonist with fiery red hair who is a talented musician and also an acrobat and also she has a connection with the animals and also she runs a successful non-profit and children from around the country send her fan mail-- is also magic, and from a special magic family. Her mother will die tragically and she will learn that her mom wasn't crazy after all, ghosts are real, their family has a special, special secret, and the protagonist might even be the most special one of all. There is a boy. Actually there are two boys. One is rich. One is her childhood crush. There is a romantic rival. There is a sinister rich business man. He is, of course, the father of one of those boys. She will get injured, but she will fight through the pain to sneak out and do heroic things. So will one of the boys. She will almost have sex with one of the boys, but then supernatural forces will tragically keep them apart. She will recognize that centuries--millennia--have led to this moment and she will have to do the impossible. It will turn out the book is the first in a series.
Look, it is what it is: the protagonist with fiery red hair who is a talented musician and also an acrobat and also she has a connection with the animals and also she runs a successful non-profit and children from around the country send her fan mail-- is also magic, and from a special magic family. Her mother will die tragically and she will learn that her mom wasn't crazy after all, ghosts are real, their family has a special, special secret, and the protagonist might even be the most special one of all. There is a boy. Actually there are two boys. One is rich. One is her childhood crush. There is a romantic rival. There is a sinister rich business man. He is, of course, the father of one of those boys. She will get injured, but she will fight through the pain to sneak out and do heroic things. So will one of the boys. She will almost have sex with one of the boys, but then supernatural forces will tragically keep them apart. She will recognize that centuries--millennia--have led to this moment and she will have to do the impossible. It will turn out the book is the first in a series.
June 23, 2018
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. We were taken on a journey with Geni that was exciting and terrifying at the same time. As the story unfolds we learn more about the character and their magic which wasn’t predictable or contrived and I loved that. You can try to guess what is going to happen but you are probably going to be wrong.
This story is beautifully written so all your senses are engaged and you feel like you are there. I was sad to see it end but happy to know that the adventure will continue in another book. This is a great book for adults and youth. If you don’t normally read YA don’t let that stop you. You will not be disappointed.
This story is beautifully written so all your senses are engaged and you feel like you are there. I was sad to see it end but happy to know that the adventure will continue in another book. This is a great book for adults and youth. If you don’t normally read YA don’t let that stop you. You will not be disappointed.
June 7, 2021
I have very mixed feelings about this book. The plot was exciting, but I didn’t mesh with the writing. It was very repetitive and some points felt more like an outline or guide for the author than a finished story.
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