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Circus of the Stolen #1
A Spectacle of Souls
Caitlyn always thought she was just your average small-town waitress, but she’s anything but average. Suffering from frequent headaches and vivid daydreams, her oddities mask a secret hidden deep within her mind—one that could defeat even the cleverest of psychics.
When a mysterious circus arrives in town, Caitlyn is immediately drawn to it. While visiting the hypnotic show, she meets a seer who warns her of a gruesome future and urges her to stay away. But soon, Caitlyn finds herself ensnared in the show and the Ringmaster himself.
Recognizing Caitlyn’s powers for what they are, and believing they are the ones he has been searching for, the Ringmaster is determined to claim them as his own. Trapped within the circus and the Ringmaster’s devious grip, Caitlyn realizes that to escape the seer’s foretold fate, her only choice is to fight. Banding together with Bevier, an imprisoned psychic, Meg, an eccentric seamstress, and Daniel, a handsome magician, Caitlyn falls into the Psychic Realm to thwart the Ringmaster and stop the show before they succumb to his control and are trapped forever in his spectacle of souls.
When a mysterious circus arrives in town, Caitlyn is immediately drawn to it. While visiting the hypnotic show, she meets a seer who warns her of a gruesome future and urges her to stay away. But soon, Caitlyn finds herself ensnared in the show and the Ringmaster himself.
Recognizing Caitlyn’s powers for what they are, and believing they are the ones he has been searching for, the Ringmaster is determined to claim them as his own. Trapped within the circus and the Ringmaster’s devious grip, Caitlyn realizes that to escape the seer’s foretold fate, her only choice is to fight. Banding together with Bevier, an imprisoned psychic, Meg, an eccentric seamstress, and Daniel, a handsome magician, Caitlyn falls into the Psychic Realm to thwart the Ringmaster and stop the show before they succumb to his control and are trapped forever in his spectacle of souls.
331 pages, ebook
First published July 7, 2020
14 people are currently reading
501 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Julien
20 books64 followersJessica Julien is a stay-at-home-mom, wife, and owner of Desert Ink Editorial. When not editing indie books or folding laundry, she spends her time penning YA novels inspired by her love of all things dark and twisty.
She loves dark roast coffee, dark chocolate, watching The Office, and is obsessed with pie, pandas, and highland cows. When the weather is right, she can be found road tripping with her husband, kids, and two dogs.
She loves dark roast coffee, dark chocolate, watching The Office, and is obsessed with pie, pandas, and highland cows. When the weather is right, she can be found road tripping with her husband, kids, and two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
dnf
January 1, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Bleeding Ink Publishing for sharing this book in exchange for an honest review.
DNF @ 31%
Ahhhhh I'm sorry but I just can't continue. I feel really bad. I wanted to love this book—especially when you look at that cover and description, but........I just couldn't get into the book. To me, it felt really dragged out and boring. The main character also came off bland and flat to me. I wanted to love A Spectacle of Souls but I just couldn't force my way through the book—though this may be because I'm in a reading slump.😅
I recommend to those who loved The Night Cirus to try this book out, though! Who knows.....you might like it.😉
DNF @ 31%
Ahhhhh I'm sorry but I just can't continue. I feel really bad. I wanted to love this book—especially when you look at that cover and description, but........I just couldn't get into the book. To me, it felt really dragged out and boring. The main character also came off bland and flat to me. I wanted to love A Spectacle of Souls but I just couldn't force my way through the book—though this may be because I'm in a reading slump.😅
I recommend to those who loved The Night Cirus to try this book out, though! Who knows.....you might like it.😉
June 4, 2020
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review *
1.75 stars
I wish I had better things to say about this, I really do. The description sounded so interesting - it sounded like Night Circus meets murder mystery, but instead this feels like a not-great fan fiction of the Night Circus?
The writing feels immature and very wordy for very little action, including needless dialogue, juvenile interactions (the first third of the book feels likewatching teenagers obsess over boys for the most part).
Further, the storyline was utterly predictable. I was promised dark and twisted in the blurb but instead got predictably bad decisions and mostly inane dialogue, with super cringey and one-dimensional characters , who lacked any depth and development.
1.75 stars
I wish I had better things to say about this, I really do. The description sounded so interesting - it sounded like Night Circus meets murder mystery, but instead this feels like a not-great fan fiction of the Night Circus?
The writing feels immature and very wordy for very little action, including needless dialogue, juvenile interactions (the first third of the book feels likewatching teenagers obsess over boys for the most part).
Further, the storyline was utterly predictable. I was promised dark and twisted in the blurb but instead got predictably bad decisions and mostly inane dialogue, with super cringey and one-dimensional characters , who lacked any depth and development.
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July 13, 20201.5 stars | DNF
I couldn't manage to finish the book; it just wasn't for me. Out of respect for the authors wishes, I will not be writing a review, because I have no wish to talk about things I dislike or to hurt a person's feelings for no good reason.
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I just got approved for this ARC by NetGalley! I’m so excited, this book seems super intriguing!💕✨
I couldn't manage to finish the book; it just wasn't for me. Out of respect for the authors wishes, I will not be writing a review, because I have no wish to talk about things I dislike or to hurt a person's feelings for no good reason.
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I just got approved for this ARC by NetGalley! I’m so excited, this book seems super intriguing!💕✨
June 10, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Not going to lie on bit guys. A Spectacle of Souls was just really weird and confusing. It didn't even help to have a buddy read this with me because we were constantly confused.. about the entire book. Plus, what happened towards the end was entertaining but it made no sense whatsoever.
In it, you will meet Caitlyn. I get that she's the main character.. but she basically does absolutely nothing the entire book. Not sure what was going on in her head.. but she let a ton of people die.. and then was sad about it. I mean.. she didn't try to help or nothing. So, yeah.. she did nothing for me but annoy me constantly.
Then there's this whole circus and they all seem to be okay with people mysteriously disappearing? Like it was a regular Tuesday kind of thing and it was no big deal. What the what.. all these people are crazy. Plus the whole bad guy suddenly turns good and everything goes back to sunshine and rainbows?
I'm sorry.. but not today Satan.
In the end, this book would've been a heck of a lot better if they did the following: 1) explain these freaking powers and how they came to get them. 2) what the realms really are and how they can be "one" with them. 3) the inner voice telling her people were hiding things.. and she should've listened. Last, but not least, the damn pacing. I felt like 75% of this book was painfully slow and I had no idea how long I was staring at pages trying to make sense until things finally picked up.
Not going to lie on bit guys. A Spectacle of Souls was just really weird and confusing. It didn't even help to have a buddy read this with me because we were constantly confused.. about the entire book. Plus, what happened towards the end was entertaining but it made no sense whatsoever.
In it, you will meet Caitlyn. I get that she's the main character.. but she basically does absolutely nothing the entire book. Not sure what was going on in her head.. but she let a ton of people die.. and then was sad about it. I mean.. she didn't try to help or nothing. So, yeah.. she did nothing for me but annoy me constantly.
Then there's this whole circus and they all seem to be okay with people mysteriously disappearing? Like it was a regular Tuesday kind of thing and it was no big deal. What the what.. all these people are crazy. Plus the whole bad guy suddenly turns good and everything goes back to sunshine and rainbows?
I'm sorry.. but not today Satan.
In the end, this book would've been a heck of a lot better if they did the following: 1) explain these freaking powers and how they came to get them. 2) what the realms really are and how they can be "one" with them. 3) the inner voice telling her people were hiding things.. and she should've listened. Last, but not least, the damn pacing. I felt like 75% of this book was painfully slow and I had no idea how long I was staring at pages trying to make sense until things finally picked up.
May 30, 2020
The cover is beautiful and the summary pulls you in, but the writing is dull, occassionally cheesy, and is more tell than show. Too much eye rolling. Too many adjectives. The story started off with too many descriptions but I'm glad it didn't last too long. The pacing stumbled making some sections feel longer than necessary. I do think the appearance of the circus was described well though.
The MC was bland, and her instalove relationship earned eye rolls from me (hardy-har-har). Sometimes the who-is-who cast of characters was hard to keep straight. I've read a few books lately that are similar to this one and this one doesn't stand out.
I try to be constructive with my reviews especially because I don't want to discourage anyone from writing but I honestly had a hard time finding much to like in this book. A lot of development and fine tuning would be needed for me to love it. If I had borrowed this book from the library and had not received it from NetGalley, I probably would have abandoned it after a few chapters.
The MC was bland, and her instalove relationship earned eye rolls from me (hardy-har-har). Sometimes the who-is-who cast of characters was hard to keep straight. I've read a few books lately that are similar to this one and this one doesn't stand out.
I try to be constructive with my reviews especially because I don't want to discourage anyone from writing but I honestly had a hard time finding much to like in this book. A lot of development and fine tuning would be needed for me to love it. If I had borrowed this book from the library and had not received it from NetGalley, I probably would have abandoned it after a few chapters.
May 20, 2020
A mesmerizing circus paired with magical abilities. What more can we want?
This book follows Caitlyn, a young waitress that always suffered from migraines and how her life drastically changes when she meets Daniel and his circus world.
I really liked both protagonists, which doesn't happen very often. I'd say that most characters are actually very well developed and felt real. The story flowed seamlessly and had me very intrigued.
I am very partial to any story with magic, a cruel dictator, and improbable saviors. This had all of that. I honestly loved it and would recommend it to everyone that likes a little magic in their life.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the published for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#ASpectacleofSouls #NetGalley
This book follows Caitlyn, a young waitress that always suffered from migraines and how her life drastically changes when she meets Daniel and his circus world.
I really liked both protagonists, which doesn't happen very often. I'd say that most characters are actually very well developed and felt real. The story flowed seamlessly and had me very intrigued.
I am very partial to any story with magic, a cruel dictator, and improbable saviors. This had all of that. I honestly loved it and would recommend it to everyone that likes a little magic in their life.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the published for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#ASpectacleofSouls #NetGalley
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April 8, 2020Today is the cover reveal for A Spectacle of Souls!
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June 6, 2020
dnf @ 60%
The concept of this book is quite magical. It promises mystery and being that it is “new adult,” I expected mature characters with a well developed plot and relatable dialogue. Unfortunately, I got none of that.
The characters who are post high school age act as if they are 15. The dialogue is cheesy and over the top. I know that sometimes dialogue is written that way on purpose, it’s intention to match the vibe of the book, but that’s definitely not the case here.
The author would sometimes jump back and forth between 3rd person limited to 3rd person omniscient and it never made sense. It was always rather jarring and confusing as a reader during those moments. I’d read a few paragraphs unsure of who’s head we were in during them.
This book takes place at a carnival shrouded in mystery but the villain lacks any sort of depth and the mysterious nature is abandoned pretty early, more so because I think the author just forgot to keep making it seem mysterious.
There was a budding romance that I felt would help inspire me to finish the book however it turned insta-lovey really fast. Also, insta-love can be somewhat interesting if the characters’ love is based off of a good foundation(albeit still not my favourite in any situation). That did not happen here. There was little foundation beneath their insta-love.
Obviously I’m not sure how the book finishes but I think it says more that I just don’t care to read ahead and find out.
I try to stay constructive with my reviews and I never want to discourage anyone from reading or writing a book, but this book fell quite flat for me.
Hopefully this book works out for you because unfortunately it didn’t for me!
Thanks to netgalley & bleeding ink publishing for giving me an ARC to read and review early.
The concept of this book is quite magical. It promises mystery and being that it is “new adult,” I expected mature characters with a well developed plot and relatable dialogue. Unfortunately, I got none of that.
The characters who are post high school age act as if they are 15. The dialogue is cheesy and over the top. I know that sometimes dialogue is written that way on purpose, it’s intention to match the vibe of the book, but that’s definitely not the case here.
The author would sometimes jump back and forth between 3rd person limited to 3rd person omniscient and it never made sense. It was always rather jarring and confusing as a reader during those moments. I’d read a few paragraphs unsure of who’s head we were in during them.
This book takes place at a carnival shrouded in mystery but the villain lacks any sort of depth and the mysterious nature is abandoned pretty early, more so because I think the author just forgot to keep making it seem mysterious.
There was a budding romance that I felt would help inspire me to finish the book however it turned insta-lovey really fast. Also, insta-love can be somewhat interesting if the characters’ love is based off of a good foundation(albeit still not my favourite in any situation). That did not happen here. There was little foundation beneath their insta-love.
Obviously I’m not sure how the book finishes but I think it says more that I just don’t care to read ahead and find out.
I try to stay constructive with my reviews and I never want to discourage anyone from reading or writing a book, but this book fell quite flat for me.
Hopefully this book works out for you because unfortunately it didn’t for me!
Thanks to netgalley & bleeding ink publishing for giving me an ARC to read and review early.
May 27, 2020
I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a digital ARC of this novel.
Actual rate: 1.50 stars
This is the worst rate I have given a book in a while, but honestly I was tired, and bored, and I had to force myself to keep reading this novel.
I try to be the most polite possible when writing reviews, but this time I have to admit the exact thing I thought when reading this book: this is stupid.
This novel felt like a Wattpad book, and not in a good way. It felt like a fanfiction written by a 16 years old girl: it has potential, yes, the original idea is there, but it's executed terribly. The characters were extremely flat, the dialogue was the cringiest I have seen in a while, the romance was a half-baked insta-love, the worldbuilding was all over the place and the writing style put the same (lack of) emphasis to describe magical moments as it did describing the main character choosing her outfit. I think the only thing I enjoyed was the presence of small scenes described from the villain's point of view, even though those weren't exactly neat too.
This book made me realize that either a good portion of the fantasy books that came out recently are badly written, or I loosed my ability to read because most the ones I have read in the last two months didn't even deserve more than 3.50 star rating, so I guess I'm going to take a break from this genre.
Actual rate: 1.50 stars
This is the worst rate I have given a book in a while, but honestly I was tired, and bored, and I had to force myself to keep reading this novel.
I try to be the most polite possible when writing reviews, but this time I have to admit the exact thing I thought when reading this book: this is stupid.
This novel felt like a Wattpad book, and not in a good way. It felt like a fanfiction written by a 16 years old girl: it has potential, yes, the original idea is there, but it's executed terribly. The characters were extremely flat, the dialogue was the cringiest I have seen in a while, the romance was a half-baked insta-love, the worldbuilding was all over the place and the writing style put the same (lack of) emphasis to describe magical moments as it did describing the main character choosing her outfit. I think the only thing I enjoyed was the presence of small scenes described from the villain's point of view, even though those weren't exactly neat too.
This book made me realize that either a good portion of the fantasy books that came out recently are badly written, or I loosed my ability to read because most the ones I have read in the last two months didn't even deserve more than 3.50 star rating, so I guess I'm going to take a break from this genre.
June 8, 2020
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The cover of this book is really pretty and seems magical. Sadly the story does not really live up to it.
Okay, this book seemed a bit cheesy. The romance between Caitlyn and Daniel was the typical insta attraction that seems pretty prevalent nowadays. I do prefer when it isn't love at first sight. Also, Caitlyn has no common sense (neither does Vanessa). Although Cirque des Voles would have been really fun to visit with its illusions and magic, you should not go around drinking multiple shots of unknown liquids given to you by strangers! And you shouldn't let strange men into your apartment, especially if they made you drink something the night before! The adult me could not stop thinking about the poor choices that Caitlyn made and so I did not really enjoy the story.
The characters seemed pretty flat, especially at the circus and if one died, I did not really care. More should have been added to make the characters real.
The Ringmaster is a good villain though. I like the little excerpts with his point of view. He is creepy and evil. And he is the perfect description of power hungry, literally.
I was able to finish this book but I do not think I would read any more in the series.
The cover of this book is really pretty and seems magical. Sadly the story does not really live up to it.
Okay, this book seemed a bit cheesy. The romance between Caitlyn and Daniel was the typical insta attraction that seems pretty prevalent nowadays. I do prefer when it isn't love at first sight. Also, Caitlyn has no common sense (neither does Vanessa). Although Cirque des Voles would have been really fun to visit with its illusions and magic, you should not go around drinking multiple shots of unknown liquids given to you by strangers! And you shouldn't let strange men into your apartment, especially if they made you drink something the night before! The adult me could not stop thinking about the poor choices that Caitlyn made and so I did not really enjoy the story.
The characters seemed pretty flat, especially at the circus and if one died, I did not really care. More should have been added to make the characters real.
The Ringmaster is a good villain though. I like the little excerpts with his point of view. He is creepy and evil. And he is the perfect description of power hungry, literally.
I was able to finish this book but I do not think I would read any more in the series.
June 24, 2020
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
DNF'd @ 16%
A Spectacle of Souls by Jessica Julien sounded like it was going to be right up my alley, but it just wasn't working for me. It's supposed to be a New Adult fantasy, but it comes across as much younger in tone. Also not much of anything happened during what I did read. Plus, I didn't care enough about any of the characters to keep reading.
DNF'd @ 16%
A Spectacle of Souls by Jessica Julien sounded like it was going to be right up my alley, but it just wasn't working for me. It's supposed to be a New Adult fantasy, but it comes across as much younger in tone. Also not much of anything happened during what I did read. Plus, I didn't care enough about any of the characters to keep reading.
December 15, 2021
A Spectacle of Souls starts off strong with magical intriging scenes . I love the scene where Kaitlyn and Vanessa go to the circus for the first time .From then on I felt a pretty strong Caraval vibe when all the 'magical' treats were handed around .
I soon found myself engrossed in this sparkling new world , and unable to put it down . I hoped this would be the next Caraval ,but that was not to be . Somewhere after the halfway mark I struggled to retain interest . The plot didn't really seem to go anyplace .
The things I was able to ignore about the story previously began to irritate me . Several scenes , and discussions felt forced or irrelevant . An example of this is when a character describes how they make a taco , they proceed to ' joke ' about how something must be wrong with the MC because she doesn't like tacos ! During several climactic scenes in the story there were lines like this it seemed formulated for forced comic relief . Rather than giving comic relief it just felt random and irritated me .
One of the main things that bugged me were the characters themselves . I didn't like the way Vanessa and Kaitlyn had such casual sexual relationships.
Vanessa sometimes had several affairs at a time, in the most slutty classless manner I've seen in quite some time . Kaitlyn has a casual relationship with a guy on and off because " he feels safe and comfortable " . This just didn't sit right with me . If these kinds of things had been portrayed as harmful or if they'd changed their ways I would've been all here for it . These kinds of harmful though realistic pictures have no place in YA books especially.
So while I enjoyed the first part of the story ,the second part lagged much to keep my attention .
Content : PG-13 ( This stuff didn't sit well with me )
*Dark stuff like "demons " aka lost souls
*Messed up spiritual stuff
*Strong language
* Violence and murder
*Very descriptive kissing
*Character is said to have sometimes more than one affair at a time
*Psychics and palm reading
Thank you so much to Netgalley , the publisher ,and especially the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review . ( Much love to the author I wish you the best in all your future endeavors) 💕
May 24, 2020
Thank you Bleeding Ink Publishing and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this E-ARC. I will be posting this review on my blog (abookishstar.blogspot.com), Instagram (@abookishstar), Barnes and Noble, and Amazon nearer to the release date.
I loved the overall concept and plot of A Spectacle of Souls by Jessica Julien. Normally, it takes me a week to finish a book. Whereas, with A Spectacle of Souls, I was able to complete it within 72 hours. It took me about five or six chapters to get fully invested in the story but, after that, I was hooked. I kept wanting to know what would happen next in the story. I also found the romance, between Cat and Daniel, to be cute.
I liked the idea of a circus that is run on illusions and the workers' supernatural ability. Past YA books have shown readers that the circus can be a mysterious and fantastical setting. The circus has this grand appeal of being unique and exploring the world. I would say that A Spectacle of Souls has a darker feel to it. This book, based on the characters' ages, almost feels more New Adult than Young Adult. I don't think we ever learn Cat's age but, based on a conversation with another character, I am guessing around 20-21. Daniel, I think, is around 24 years old. The only complaint I have is that I wish the circus workers' abilities were given more page time. I would have liked to learn more in depth about the troupes' abilities before the climax of the novel. But, that being said, I thought Cat's ability and how it is connected to a different realm was something new and refreshing. I also felt the author brought the Cirque des Volés to life. I would have liked a little more description in the surrounding areas (ex; the scene where they were driving to the next tour stop).
I enjoyed the overall storyline of A Spectacle of Souls. I am curious to see how book 2 will turn out in this series. The middle half and the ending were what intrigued me most about this story. The beginning, for me, started off a bit slow. It took me, as I said earlier, about five or six chapters to get into the storyline. The writing flows pretty consistently throughout the novel. There were a few times when I noticed more of a "telling" than "showing" approach. I also noticed a few times where other characters' point of views were present during other characters' narration. This left me a bit confused, at times, of who was telling the story. Especially when each chapter would tell you, with the character's name, who was narrating the story. Also, I would have liked Cat's visions to be described in more length and description.
Daniel was, by far, my favourite character in this book. I shipped his and Cat's romance from the start. Did I think his feelings, and overprotective nature towards Cat, developed a little too fast? Yes. But I am ok with that!! I also loved the friendship between Vanessa and Cat.
How old is the Ringmaster? I'm guessing he is in his late twenties to mid-thirties. I would have liked to know this piece of information while reading the book. At first, I found the Ringmaster to be cliche evil. He came off, at first, as being evil without a cause. However, as the plot progresses the readers learn more about his motivation and backstory.
The ending wraps up pretty neatly with the events of the first book. For a minute, I was wondering how this would turn into a second book. But the author was cruel, haha, and left us, readers, with a cliffhanger/big question.
Overall, A Spectacle of Souls was a fun read. The storyline got me hooked, and the ending left me curious for more from this author.
I loved the overall concept and plot of A Spectacle of Souls by Jessica Julien. Normally, it takes me a week to finish a book. Whereas, with A Spectacle of Souls, I was able to complete it within 72 hours. It took me about five or six chapters to get fully invested in the story but, after that, I was hooked. I kept wanting to know what would happen next in the story. I also found the romance, between Cat and Daniel, to be cute.
I liked the idea of a circus that is run on illusions and the workers' supernatural ability. Past YA books have shown readers that the circus can be a mysterious and fantastical setting. The circus has this grand appeal of being unique and exploring the world. I would say that A Spectacle of Souls has a darker feel to it. This book, based on the characters' ages, almost feels more New Adult than Young Adult. I don't think we ever learn Cat's age but, based on a conversation with another character, I am guessing around 20-21. Daniel, I think, is around 24 years old. The only complaint I have is that I wish the circus workers' abilities were given more page time. I would have liked to learn more in depth about the troupes' abilities before the climax of the novel. But, that being said, I thought Cat's ability and how it is connected to a different realm was something new and refreshing. I also felt the author brought the Cirque des Volés to life. I would have liked a little more description in the surrounding areas (ex; the scene where they were driving to the next tour stop).
I enjoyed the overall storyline of A Spectacle of Souls. I am curious to see how book 2 will turn out in this series. The middle half and the ending were what intrigued me most about this story. The beginning, for me, started off a bit slow. It took me, as I said earlier, about five or six chapters to get into the storyline. The writing flows pretty consistently throughout the novel. There were a few times when I noticed more of a "telling" than "showing" approach. I also noticed a few times where other characters' point of views were present during other characters' narration. This left me a bit confused, at times, of who was telling the story. Especially when each chapter would tell you, with the character's name, who was narrating the story. Also, I would have liked Cat's visions to be described in more length and description.
Daniel was, by far, my favourite character in this book. I shipped his and Cat's romance from the start. Did I think his feelings, and overprotective nature towards Cat, developed a little too fast? Yes. But I am ok with that!! I also loved the friendship between Vanessa and Cat.
How old is the Ringmaster? I'm guessing he is in his late twenties to mid-thirties. I would have liked to know this piece of information while reading the book. At first, I found the Ringmaster to be cliche evil. He came off, at first, as being evil without a cause. However, as the plot progresses the readers learn more about his motivation and backstory.
The ending wraps up pretty neatly with the events of the first book. For a minute, I was wondering how this would turn into a second book. But the author was cruel, haha, and left us, readers, with a cliffhanger/big question.
Overall, A Spectacle of Souls was a fun read. The storyline got me hooked, and the ending left me curious for more from this author.
June 17, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I thought there would be a more intense and better mystery to this book, but it still kept me intrigued.
There were quite a few predictable moments and some of the dialogue seemed repetitive and not needed. I didn’t really connect to the characters much either.
If there is going to be another book, I hope we have better character development and more of a mystery that pulls us in! I still enjoyed most of the story!
3.5/5 🌟’s
I thought there would be a more intense and better mystery to this book, but it still kept me intrigued.
There were quite a few predictable moments and some of the dialogue seemed repetitive and not needed. I didn’t really connect to the characters much either.
If there is going to be another book, I hope we have better character development and more of a mystery that pulls us in! I still enjoyed most of the story!
3.5/5 🌟’s
May 16, 2020
Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for providing a digital ARC of A Spectacle of Souls in exchange for an honest review!
I've read a lot of YA about shady magical circuses, but for some reason I feel like I rarely see that in a realistic-fic so that was really fun! I really liked the first act of a Spectacle of Souls. It does an excellent job of introducing us to its characters and mysteries. My interest dwindled more as the plot continued but that was mainly because of a shifting focus towards the protagonist's relationship with a love interest who never really sparked my interest. The plot was still good, but since it was framed around how it would effect them and their relationship that I didn't care for I became less invested.
My nitpick-y main issue with this book is how the character attempts to gain leverage. To try and get the books antagonist to give her what she wants, Caitlyn threatens to kill herself and it's treated as a clever move on her part which yeah, I get he's the villain, but I wasn't a fan of a character using suicide threats to manipulate being framed as a good decision. I feel like there were a lot of other ways she could have gotten what she wanted and what the plot needed to continue that are a lot less problematic.
I've read a lot of YA about shady magical circuses, but for some reason I feel like I rarely see that in a realistic-fic so that was really fun! I really liked the first act of a Spectacle of Souls. It does an excellent job of introducing us to its characters and mysteries. My interest dwindled more as the plot continued but that was mainly because of a shifting focus towards the protagonist's relationship with a love interest who never really sparked my interest. The plot was still good, but since it was framed around how it would effect them and their relationship that I didn't care for I became less invested.
My nitpick-y main issue with this book is how the character attempts to gain leverage. To try and get the books antagonist to give her what she wants, Caitlyn threatens to kill herself and it's treated as a clever move on her part which yeah, I get he's the villain, but I wasn't a fan of a character using suicide threats to manipulate being framed as a good decision. I feel like there were a lot of other ways she could have gotten what she wanted and what the plot needed to continue that are a lot less problematic.
October 3, 2020
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Overall, a thoroughly creative and enjoyable walk on the dark side.
Read full review in the 2020 October issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Overall, a thoroughly creative and enjoyable walk on the dark side.
Read full review in the 2020 October issue of InD'tale Magazine.
May 2, 2020
Let me start out by saying that if I could give this story more than five stars I absolutely would. Usually, when I start reading and progress through a story like this there are some things that I'm not really sure about or like. However, with this, story I actually can't think of one thing I didn't like about it. This story takes you on a wild ride that doesn't let you get your breath and by the end leaves you gasping. The story starts out with young Caitlyn Stoker happily living her mundane life as a diner waitress. It's not until she meets the mysterious Daniel that things start to change for her. Having never been to a circus in her life she talks her best friend Vanessa into going with her. Little did she know that her one visit would end up changing her life forever.
The pacing of the story from beginning to end was absolutely perfect. It really keeps you flipping the pages and not wanting to stop. Each chapter builds on the last just like they should and keeps you really guessing as to what exactly is going to happen next. Just when you think the story is about to slow down and let you catch your breath it kicks you square in the chest with new feelings and twists.
One of my favorite things about this novel was the rich imagery. The author really brings you into the story with the rich descriptions of everything around Caitlyn and the Troup. As I progressed I felt like I could really see the world through her eyes and felt as if I was a part of the story itself. The reason I say this is one of my favorite things is the way that the real world was differentiated from the Spirit Realm. The way the Spirit Realm was described made me feel like I was watching the scenes through Caitlyn's eyes.
Caitlyn is a very well rounded character and is really well fleshed out in the story. You can really feel her emotions throughout the story. Her fear, her love for Vanessa and Daniel, the way she questions her choices at first. Even the way she starts out being excited at the thought of joining the circus. You can really feel her doubt and even her fear as the story progresses and she comes in contact with the Ringmaster himself. You will find yourself cheering for her and scared for her at the same time. Something that intrigued me about this character was her ability and how it was treated as an extension of her being instead of just some random gift that some people are born with. The way her ability was fleshed out and shown throughout was sheer brilliance.
When I first started I wasn't sure how I felt about Jacob. Like Caitlyn, his dual character is really well fleshed out. There are going to be times you want to cheer for Jacob and times you will really despise him. Sometimes you may even feel both at the same time. I was really impressed by how complex this character was. Like Caitlyn, the way the Ringmaster was portrayed was really interesting. It's not a way I've seen psychic abilities treated before. I have to say I was greatly surprised by this and loved how there were times you couldn't really trust in the fact of who was who.
The secondary characters, Daniel, Vanessa, and the entire Troup of performers was really well developed. You could really feel what they felt throughout the story, even when you get to the ending. The one thing that got me throughout the story though was the way the abilities of those in the group were treated as extensions of themselves. I've read stories dealing with psychics before but they were always treated like it was a gift. I have to say that was another of my favorite things about this.
Overall, as I stated in the beginning if I could give this more than five stars I absolutely would. This story will take you on a ride and keep you flipping the pages and wanting more. I have read many stories dealing with this type of setting and I have to say this is the first that has made my heart race. I will definitely be rereading this in this future. Bravo Jessica on creating this wondrous ride.
The pacing of the story from beginning to end was absolutely perfect. It really keeps you flipping the pages and not wanting to stop. Each chapter builds on the last just like they should and keeps you really guessing as to what exactly is going to happen next. Just when you think the story is about to slow down and let you catch your breath it kicks you square in the chest with new feelings and twists.
One of my favorite things about this novel was the rich imagery. The author really brings you into the story with the rich descriptions of everything around Caitlyn and the Troup. As I progressed I felt like I could really see the world through her eyes and felt as if I was a part of the story itself. The reason I say this is one of my favorite things is the way that the real world was differentiated from the Spirit Realm. The way the Spirit Realm was described made me feel like I was watching the scenes through Caitlyn's eyes.
Caitlyn is a very well rounded character and is really well fleshed out in the story. You can really feel her emotions throughout the story. Her fear, her love for Vanessa and Daniel, the way she questions her choices at first. Even the way she starts out being excited at the thought of joining the circus. You can really feel her doubt and even her fear as the story progresses and she comes in contact with the Ringmaster himself. You will find yourself cheering for her and scared for her at the same time. Something that intrigued me about this character was her ability and how it was treated as an extension of her being instead of just some random gift that some people are born with. The way her ability was fleshed out and shown throughout was sheer brilliance.
When I first started I wasn't sure how I felt about Jacob. Like Caitlyn, his dual character is really well fleshed out. There are going to be times you want to cheer for Jacob and times you will really despise him. Sometimes you may even feel both at the same time. I was really impressed by how complex this character was. Like Caitlyn, the way the Ringmaster was portrayed was really interesting. It's not a way I've seen psychic abilities treated before. I have to say I was greatly surprised by this and loved how there were times you couldn't really trust in the fact of who was who.
The secondary characters, Daniel, Vanessa, and the entire Troup of performers was really well developed. You could really feel what they felt throughout the story, even when you get to the ending. The one thing that got me throughout the story though was the way the abilities of those in the group were treated as extensions of themselves. I've read stories dealing with psychics before but they were always treated like it was a gift. I have to say that was another of my favorite things about this.
Overall, as I stated in the beginning if I could give this more than five stars I absolutely would. This story will take you on a ride and keep you flipping the pages and wanting more. I have read many stories dealing with this type of setting and I have to say this is the first that has made my heart race. I will definitely be rereading this in this future. Bravo Jessica on creating this wondrous ride.
June 24, 2020
Thank you Bleeding Ink Publishing for granting me access to a NetGalley digital ARC of this book. I'll admit, "A Spectacle of Souls" took me by surprise! In a lot of ways, the atmosphere of this story reminded me a lot of Stephanie Garber's "Caraval", but with a distinctly darker, more twisted and paranormal-centric tone...
In this first book, we follow Caitlyn Stoker, a young woman plagued with migraines who works as a waitress in a local diner in her hometown. Caitlyn and her best friend Vanessa are invited to attend the new circus that has just arrived in town... a circus that is unlike anything seen before. They are even presented with a pair of VIP tickets by one of the performers, the "King of Spades", also known as Daniel... A very handsome young man who takes an interest in Caitlyn from the very beginning. As the girls wind their way through two nights of revelry and spectacle, a darker plot unfolds and the glitz and glamour loses its charm. Caitlyn's migraines are more than they appear to be, and the circus psychic seems to know more about their meaning than she's letting on. The Ringmaster is far more interested in Caitlyn than he has any right to be, and he quickly ensnares her in the circus through bribery, threats and even darker deeds... What capabilities could Caitlyn possibly possess to make the Ringmaster go to such lengths, and more importantly, is she strong enough to face the ever-growing darkness taking hold of everything?
Overall, this was a 4 star read for me. I really liked the fact that, unlike many other ya fantasy villains out there these days, the ringmaster is a truly menacing and threatening figure who is more than just talk. There are severe consequences to be faced by our protagonist, which raises the stakes and makes the plot all the more exciting and suspenseful because you can never predict who will be safe. Going into it, I didn't realize that this was only the first book in a series. I'm definitely curious to see in what direction Julien takes this story in future installments.
My biggest critique would be the romance. It was far too instant and didn't seem to have much of a foundation. Knowing now that this will be a set of books rather than a standalone novel, I would have preferred to see the attraction build over the course of several books instead of an immediate "true love" sort of situation. Some of the paranormal aspects were a little difficult to follow as well, with transferring of energies, imagining abilities into being, and demon-like spirits. I feel like we've only scraped the surface with this installment and that there's a much deeper plot brewing, in which case, I look forward to reading the next book!
In this first book, we follow Caitlyn Stoker, a young woman plagued with migraines who works as a waitress in a local diner in her hometown. Caitlyn and her best friend Vanessa are invited to attend the new circus that has just arrived in town... a circus that is unlike anything seen before. They are even presented with a pair of VIP tickets by one of the performers, the "King of Spades", also known as Daniel... A very handsome young man who takes an interest in Caitlyn from the very beginning. As the girls wind their way through two nights of revelry and spectacle, a darker plot unfolds and the glitz and glamour loses its charm. Caitlyn's migraines are more than they appear to be, and the circus psychic seems to know more about their meaning than she's letting on. The Ringmaster is far more interested in Caitlyn than he has any right to be, and he quickly ensnares her in the circus through bribery, threats and even darker deeds... What capabilities could Caitlyn possibly possess to make the Ringmaster go to such lengths, and more importantly, is she strong enough to face the ever-growing darkness taking hold of everything?
Overall, this was a 4 star read for me. I really liked the fact that, unlike many other ya fantasy villains out there these days, the ringmaster is a truly menacing and threatening figure who is more than just talk. There are severe consequences to be faced by our protagonist, which raises the stakes and makes the plot all the more exciting and suspenseful because you can never predict who will be safe. Going into it, I didn't realize that this was only the first book in a series. I'm definitely curious to see in what direction Julien takes this story in future installments.
My biggest critique would be the romance. It was far too instant and didn't seem to have much of a foundation. Knowing now that this will be a set of books rather than a standalone novel, I would have preferred to see the attraction build over the course of several books instead of an immediate "true love" sort of situation. Some of the paranormal aspects were a little difficult to follow as well, with transferring of energies, imagining abilities into being, and demon-like spirits. I feel like we've only scraped the surface with this installment and that there's a much deeper plot brewing, in which case, I look forward to reading the next book!
June 14, 2020
Enchanted circus.... Repressed psychic powers.... Mysterious cute boy... Enigmatic Ringmaster? SIGN ME UP! I was so excited to read A Spectacle of Souls. Until I actually read it. Caitlyn is a waitress in a one stoplight town, with no opportunities. She has a spunky, sexy best friend named Vanessa, and an on-again, off-again crush named James, who works with her. Her life is good, if a little boring. The only bad thing in her life, other than the monotony, is her paralyzing migraines. But after a really cute boy, in a tattered top hat, comes into the diner with a flyer for the circus, Caitlyn's life will never be the same. She's been hiding an enormous power in her mind, and she'll need it to save her life. Sounds fantastic, right? That premise has the perfect elements, it just falls a little flat in execution. The writing itself feels a little juvenile, and the dialogue is unnatural. Neither Caitlyn or the other characters really have any depth. She will declare something, and then in the same sentence, declare the opposite. I couldn't keep track of her thoughts, emotions, motivations. The only element of the story that drew me in was the circus itself. Now, that was intriguing. The background of it was really cool. All the performers, with their own special powers, and the illusions, with some actual magic interspersed, was magnetic. Unfortunately, it was not enough to redeem the book from all the other problems. I do think that with some refinement, this book could be great. I am not closing the door on the rest of the series, since this is the first book. Maybe the story will grow enough to fill the expectations ignited by its premise. Although this book was not for me, I do think it could be enjoyable for a younger reader.
2 stars
I was provided a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Bleeding Ink and Netgalley.
2 stars
I was provided a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Bleeding Ink and Netgalley.
June 30, 2020
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free ARC to read via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I DNFed this book at 43%.
I wanted to like this book really badly, but it just didn't work for me. I didn't connect with any of the characters, and, worse, I didn't care about Caitlyn (the main character) or any of the others. I found the characters to be one-dimensional.
The whole magic/psychic aspect confused the heck out of me. It was not well explained and it didn't make any sense.
I have no clue what the plot actually is for this book. It was a confusing and jumbled mess for me.
Someone else may find that they really enjoy this book, but while I was reading it I was getting tired and falling asleep. I found it boring, unfortunately and couldn't bring myself to continue with it.
I DNFed this book at 43%.
I wanted to like this book really badly, but it just didn't work for me. I didn't connect with any of the characters, and, worse, I didn't care about Caitlyn (the main character) or any of the others. I found the characters to be one-dimensional.
The whole magic/psychic aspect confused the heck out of me. It was not well explained and it didn't make any sense.
I have no clue what the plot actually is for this book. It was a confusing and jumbled mess for me.
Someone else may find that they really enjoy this book, but while I was reading it I was getting tired and falling asleep. I found it boring, unfortunately and couldn't bring myself to continue with it.
July 15, 2020
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book sounded so great when I read the description, but with books out there that are so hugely popular that revolve around circuses, it’s hard to top some of them. This one was good, but I feel like there was SO MUCH going on and yet not enough happened.
The pacing was weird at times and it jumped between characters too often without the “voice” of the character changing- nothing was really in first person, but parts of the chapters were another character’s POV and it was awkward at times.
The ability aspect of this was interesting but I would’ve liked more extensive background on these abilities and why they exist and just so much of the world itself that I feel like wasn’t covered. It was a good book, it held my interest enough, but it wasn’t a favorite.
This book sounded so great when I read the description, but with books out there that are so hugely popular that revolve around circuses, it’s hard to top some of them. This one was good, but I feel like there was SO MUCH going on and yet not enough happened.
The pacing was weird at times and it jumped between characters too often without the “voice” of the character changing- nothing was really in first person, but parts of the chapters were another character’s POV and it was awkward at times.
The ability aspect of this was interesting but I would’ve liked more extensive background on these abilities and why they exist and just so much of the world itself that I feel like wasn’t covered. It was a good book, it held my interest enough, but it wasn’t a favorite.
May 25, 2020
The story is as luscious and creepy as the cover suggests.
Two friends attend a circus only to discover that it is more than it seems. The ringmaster wants Caitlyn to join and he’s not taking no for answer. She has an unrealized supernatural power that could change everything.
Twisty and violent, this story accomplished everything a circus should. It entertains, horrifies, and surprises. And the end confrontation is worthy of a round of applause.
Two friends attend a circus only to discover that it is more than it seems. The ringmaster wants Caitlyn to join and he’s not taking no for answer. She has an unrealized supernatural power that could change everything.
Twisty and violent, this story accomplished everything a circus should. It entertains, horrifies, and surprises. And the end confrontation is worthy of a round of applause.
June 10, 2020
This book was pretty confusing. I felt like abilities weren't explained and the spirit world made little sense. I also didn't care for Caitlyn, it seemed like she was helpless for the majority of the story and stood by while people were being murdered. The "voice" kept telling her she was stronger than the Ringmaster and could beat him, but he bested her again and again.
I did think the powers people had were cool and would have loved more explanation on how they work, how people get them, and how they can be taken away. I also felt like Caitlyn's own powers could have a lot of potential but it wasn't clear.
The romance with Daniel was a bit instalove, but he did treat her well and tried to help her. I have questions about him still and think he may have a darker past than we know about.
The ending was frustrating to me. People died, but it was like oh no big deal, it's fine. And I felt like after all the darkness the characters went through, the ending was way too happy and perfect. Evil people need to pay for their crimes and that didn't happen here.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion
I did think the powers people had were cool and would have loved more explanation on how they work, how people get them, and how they can be taken away. I also felt like Caitlyn's own powers could have a lot of potential but it wasn't clear.
The romance with Daniel was a bit instalove, but he did treat her well and tried to help her. I have questions about him still and think he may have a darker past than we know about.
The ending was frustrating to me. People died, but it was like oh no big deal, it's fine. And I felt like after all the darkness the characters went through, the ending was way too happy and perfect. Evil people need to pay for their crimes and that didn't happen here.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion
April 20, 2020
Welcome to A Spectacle of Souls! This is an amazing read that leaves the reader wanting more! The reader zooms through the pages of this book alternating between wanting to know what will happen next and never wanting the story to end! This reader went through it so fast that I immediately opened it up again and started reading it over to see what I may have missed the first time!
This book gives us the magical world of the Ringmaster and his circus. The circus gives the illusion of masterful feats, mesmerizing tricks and most importantly the feeling of being a part of the circus! Caitlyn has always had terrible headaches and after a trip to the circus gets some insight into them...she also gets some insight into a darker world and one in which she is being encouraged to join...will she? Will the Ringmaster convince her? Will her memories and love of Daniel win in the end? It's a spectacle that can't be missed!
The author takes the reader on a looping, curving, twisting, turning roller coaster of a ride that leaves the reader guessing at every turn! There is no way to predict what is going to happen next and that is part of the amazingness that makes this book one of my newest favorites! The reader is on the edge of their seat throughout the whole thing and can't find a stopping point to continue with their "real life" chores. This book is sure to keep the reader curled up with their favorite snacks for hours and hours at a time.
Don't hesitate to add this book to your TBR list and move it straight tot he top of the list! It is a must read and a must read NOW!!! My newest favorite - I hope that the author is working on book 2 because I NEED that in my life ASAP!!
This book gives us the magical world of the Ringmaster and his circus. The circus gives the illusion of masterful feats, mesmerizing tricks and most importantly the feeling of being a part of the circus! Caitlyn has always had terrible headaches and after a trip to the circus gets some insight into them...she also gets some insight into a darker world and one in which she is being encouraged to join...will she? Will the Ringmaster convince her? Will her memories and love of Daniel win in the end? It's a spectacle that can't be missed!
The author takes the reader on a looping, curving, twisting, turning roller coaster of a ride that leaves the reader guessing at every turn! There is no way to predict what is going to happen next and that is part of the amazingness that makes this book one of my newest favorites! The reader is on the edge of their seat throughout the whole thing and can't find a stopping point to continue with their "real life" chores. This book is sure to keep the reader curled up with their favorite snacks for hours and hours at a time.
Don't hesitate to add this book to your TBR list and move it straight tot he top of the list! It is a must read and a must read NOW!!! My newest favorite - I hope that the author is working on book 2 because I NEED that in my life ASAP!!
June 13, 2020
Circus story fascinate me but they're usually a hit or miss with me. I entirely disliked The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, so I went into A Spectacle of Souls hoping I would enjoy this circus story.
The beginning bugged me a little to be honest... We meet all the characters rather quickly, and there is a lot of useless talk. The first pages gave out the biggest weakness of the book : its writing style. I thought the writing to be very shallow. We understand the author wanted to characterize the characters very early on, especially Daniel, but it's done way too fast and way too obviously for my liking. Overall, everything is very cliché : the characters, the relationships, the antagonist, everything.
However, once I overcame the writing style, I got caught in the magic enough to enjoy the plot. The world building isn't much, as it's just our contemporary world, with the addition of a spirit realm we only get to see twice. A Spectacle of Souls is completely character-driven. You have to let the characters show you their magic, and imagine being a part of the circus.
The true gem here is the circus' troupe. They're a big family who's always looking out for one another, supporting each other and endure the Ringmaster's tyranny together. I loved them all. I would have loved more focus on them as individuals ! We get some interactions with a member of the troupe here and there, but nowhere near enough for my liking.
The magic system is pretty okay, and I liked that each person has a different power, that can often complement someone else's or help someone else. I feel like there are so much power we still have to discover through the series !
The pace of the story was rather fast, but it wasn't too rushed. That makes A Spectacle of Souls a perfect fast entertaining read for people who want a taste of magic. I mean, even though the writing style sometimes bothered me, I still got captivated by the plot, the magic, and many of the side characters. Those are the real strenghts of the book.
In the end, I don't think this book was completely for me, but I really enjoyed it and read it pretty fast. It was entertaining and somewhat magical, which is all I asked for !
The beginning bugged me a little to be honest... We meet all the characters rather quickly, and there is a lot of useless talk. The first pages gave out the biggest weakness of the book : its writing style. I thought the writing to be very shallow. We understand the author wanted to characterize the characters very early on, especially Daniel, but it's done way too fast and way too obviously for my liking. Overall, everything is very cliché : the characters, the relationships, the antagonist, everything.
However, once I overcame the writing style, I got caught in the magic enough to enjoy the plot. The world building isn't much, as it's just our contemporary world, with the addition of a spirit realm we only get to see twice. A Spectacle of Souls is completely character-driven. You have to let the characters show you their magic, and imagine being a part of the circus.
The true gem here is the circus' troupe. They're a big family who's always looking out for one another, supporting each other and endure the Ringmaster's tyranny together. I loved them all. I would have loved more focus on them as individuals ! We get some interactions with a member of the troupe here and there, but nowhere near enough for my liking.
The magic system is pretty okay, and I liked that each person has a different power, that can often complement someone else's or help someone else. I feel like there are so much power we still have to discover through the series !
The pace of the story was rather fast, but it wasn't too rushed. That makes A Spectacle of Souls a perfect fast entertaining read for people who want a taste of magic. I mean, even though the writing style sometimes bothered me, I still got captivated by the plot, the magic, and many of the side characters. Those are the real strenghts of the book.
In the end, I don't think this book was completely for me, but I really enjoyed it and read it pretty fast. It was entertaining and somewhat magical, which is all I asked for !
June 7, 2020
I DNFed this book at about 30% of the way through. If you were looking for something similar to Caraval or The Night Circus then turn away as you will not find what you are looking for here. It is very poorly written with flat characters, an insta love, two supposed best friends who seem to do nothing but make personal and critical remarks to each other, and a flimsy plot that lacks any substance. It reads like it was written by a teenager and has been allowed to be published as a poor first draft.
June 6, 2020
Thank you to the author and Bleeding Ink Publishing for sending me an E-Arc.
I enjoyed this story, it was a world you can easily get absorbed into with romance, mystery, suspense and magic...brilliant.
There were moments where I would have liked a little more emotion, drama or maybe some more description. For example, when the MC's best friend is killed, towards the end, I felt she either got over it quickly or she sucked it up a little too well? That could have been played out a little more.
But it was something different and I loved the parts within the Spirit realm and circus performances, I would happily go and see Cirque des Volés, even if I had to drink a special tonic to be swept into the magic.
A great read and I am intrigued to see where the next book will take us.
I enjoyed this story, it was a world you can easily get absorbed into with romance, mystery, suspense and magic...brilliant.
There were moments where I would have liked a little more emotion, drama or maybe some more description. For example, when the MC's best friend is killed, towards the end, I felt she either got over it quickly or she sucked it up a little too well? That could have been played out a little more.
But it was something different and I loved the parts within the Spirit realm and circus performances, I would happily go and see Cirque des Volés, even if I had to drink a special tonic to be swept into the magic.
A great read and I am intrigued to see where the next book will take us.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2020
This book has an absolutely stunning cover and a premise I was interested in: Creepy Circus. That’s unfortunately where it ended. The writing was over-written, descriptions went on forever. I didn’t really connect to the main character and her best friend seemed more like a caricature than a real person.
There were phrases used that no teenager would actually use and the romance felt rushed, there was nothing holding me onto it. I wanted to like this book but it was a bit of a slog to get through. At one point I just didn’t want to anymore.
I really wanted to like this book but it was unfortunately not holding my interest anymore. When you’re reading a book the thought “why do I need to know every detail about how this looks” should never cross your mind. But it happened a lot.
There were phrases used that no teenager would actually use and the romance felt rushed, there was nothing holding me onto it. I wanted to like this book but it was a bit of a slog to get through. At one point I just didn’t want to anymore.
I really wanted to like this book but it was unfortunately not holding my interest anymore. When you’re reading a book the thought “why do I need to know every detail about how this looks” should never cross your mind. But it happened a lot.
June 4, 2020
I was excited when I read the synopsis of this book.
Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my expectations. It wasn't very interesting and I never connected with any character.
I was given a free ARC and I am leaving my honest review.
Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my expectations. It wasn't very interesting and I never connected with any character.
I was given a free ARC and I am leaving my honest review.
May 21, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for giving me an eARC to review!
Welcome to the Cirque des Volés! You may quite literally don't believe your eyes... And maybe you shouldn't.
Caitlyn suffers from headaches and strange visions which she believes to be the effects of chronic migraines. But can that really explain the voice that sometimes speaks to her in her mind? When a circus comes to town Caitlyn marvels at the impossible wonders with the rest of the audience. What she doesn't know is that The Ringmaster himself is watching her. When he shows up at her doorstep, offering her a new life, she's not quite sure what to believe. Others, like the handsome magician Daniel, try to warn her that nothing is what it's seems when it comes to the Ringmaster. Soon she will find herself trapped in a battle of wills with more than her own life at stake.
The plot is intriguing right from the beginning. It's that kind of plot that unfolds as you read, giving you more background information little by little that explain how you got to the current situation. It does have some weaker parts were it kind of get stuck, but then you also have a romance to enjoy.
The thing I liked best was the different take on psychic abilities. The power is described as an conscious entity that sometimes has a will of it's own. And it's closely connected to a place called the spirit realm, a place both beautiful and terrifying. Unfortunately it's not as developed as I would have liked. It was kind of hard for me to grasp how it all fit together sometimes and I would have liked to just have a bit more. I also would have liked to know more about the other characters' abilities that seemed to be powerful in their own right but was rarely used. Since so much of the story was focused on these powers it felt like some pieces was missing.
Obviously I have good things to say about A Spectacle of Souls but when it comes down to my personal reading experience, we didn't quite get along. I think the main reason was the writing style. It just never managed to convince or immerse me in the story even though I mostly liked the plot and magic setting. I just need a bit more tension and motives behind the characters's choices for me to really believe in them and get engaged. We also got off to a bad start because the introduction of some of the characters felt very stereotypical, like the best friend that's really into makeup and give our main character a makeover in the beginning of the story. I read a lot of YA and usually enjoy it but maybe this book should be targeted at the younger part of YA? On the other hand, the characters themselves seemed to be a bit older than your typical YA and the book does have some darker scenes even though it's never graphic or detailed, so you don't have to worry about that.
So, in the end I think you should give this book a chance if you;
- don't mind a more simplistic writing style that may be suited for a younger audience,
- would like a sweet and fluffy romance,
- want a magical circus setting,
- enjoy a story centered around psychic abilities.
Welcome to the Cirque des Volés! You may quite literally don't believe your eyes... And maybe you shouldn't.
Caitlyn suffers from headaches and strange visions which she believes to be the effects of chronic migraines. But can that really explain the voice that sometimes speaks to her in her mind? When a circus comes to town Caitlyn marvels at the impossible wonders with the rest of the audience. What she doesn't know is that The Ringmaster himself is watching her. When he shows up at her doorstep, offering her a new life, she's not quite sure what to believe. Others, like the handsome magician Daniel, try to warn her that nothing is what it's seems when it comes to the Ringmaster. Soon she will find herself trapped in a battle of wills with more than her own life at stake.
The plot is intriguing right from the beginning. It's that kind of plot that unfolds as you read, giving you more background information little by little that explain how you got to the current situation. It does have some weaker parts were it kind of get stuck, but then you also have a romance to enjoy.
The thing I liked best was the different take on psychic abilities. The power is described as an conscious entity that sometimes has a will of it's own. And it's closely connected to a place called the spirit realm, a place both beautiful and terrifying. Unfortunately it's not as developed as I would have liked. It was kind of hard for me to grasp how it all fit together sometimes and I would have liked to just have a bit more. I also would have liked to know more about the other characters' abilities that seemed to be powerful in their own right but was rarely used. Since so much of the story was focused on these powers it felt like some pieces was missing.
Obviously I have good things to say about A Spectacle of Souls but when it comes down to my personal reading experience, we didn't quite get along. I think the main reason was the writing style. It just never managed to convince or immerse me in the story even though I mostly liked the plot and magic setting. I just need a bit more tension and motives behind the characters's choices for me to really believe in them and get engaged. We also got off to a bad start because the introduction of some of the characters felt very stereotypical, like the best friend that's really into makeup and give our main character a makeover in the beginning of the story. I read a lot of YA and usually enjoy it but maybe this book should be targeted at the younger part of YA? On the other hand, the characters themselves seemed to be a bit older than your typical YA and the book does have some darker scenes even though it's never graphic or detailed, so you don't have to worry about that.
So, in the end I think you should give this book a chance if you;
- don't mind a more simplistic writing style that may be suited for a younger audience,
- would like a sweet and fluffy romance,
- want a magical circus setting,
- enjoy a story centered around psychic abilities.
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