Abra Cadabra, the second installment in Crystal Ash’s Harem of Freaks series, builds upon the dark, unsettling charm of Freak Show, further exploring the twisted world of carnival life and the protagonist’s growing relationships. This book delves deeper into the underworld of the carnival, introducing new characters, secrets, and challenges. While it expands on themes introduced in the first book, Abra Cadabra also had a few ups and downs for me, which made it a mixed but engaging read.
One of the strongest aspects of Abra Cadabra is its world-building. Ash does an excellent job weaving a sense of mystery and danger into the carnival’s everyday life, making it feel surreal yet gritty. The sense of unease is almost constant, and you can feel the protagonist’s ongoing struggle to understand her place in this bizarre world. This book adds layers to the carnival’s dark lore, drawing readers further into its murky depths. Ash’s descriptions bring to life the lurid colors and unsettling characters, making it easy to picture the eerie attractions and ominous figures that populate the story.
On the character side, Abra Cadabra expands the protagonist’s “harem,” adding more potential love interests. This development adds complexity but can also feel rushed at times, as the heroine’s relationships don’t always feel entirely fleshed out before she moves on to the next one. Some of the interactions felt repetitive, and while each male character has unique qualities, they occasionally felt like stock archetypes rather than fully developed individuals. I wanted a bit more insight into their backgrounds or motivations to really understand the draw each had on the protagonist beyond surface-level attraction.
One challenge with Abra Cadabra was its pacing. The book is a slow-build, which works well for a reverse-harem series, but there were moments where the story felt bogged down by internal dialogue or scenes that didn’t push the plot forward. Although the central mystery surrounding the Wolf Man and the protagonist’s deeper connection to the carnival continues to intrigue, I occasionally found myself waiting for more impactful plot developments or twists to pick up the momentum.
Overall, Abra Cadabra does a good job expanding on the dark world and romance that began in Freak Show, but it didn’t fully captivate me. For fans of the series, this book will likely be a satisfying continuation, especially if you enjoy dark romance with a supernatural twist. While I appreciate the eerie carnival setting and the protagonist’s evolving relationships, I felt the story could benefit from deeper character development and a stronger pace. It’s a decent, intriguing read that keeps you curious enough to see where the story leads next—3 stars.