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Harrow Faire #3
The Clown
A friendly face and laughing heart…will be what tears her soul apart.
Finally accepting that there would be no leaving Harrow Faire, Cora sets out to try to find her new way of life as part of the Family. With that comes her slow acceptance of her attraction toward and, even worse, her feelings for the Puppeteer.
But just as things seemed to be falling into a pattern, things turn upside down—seemingly literally—as Harrow Faire enters “the Inversion.” And her troubles don’t end there when the mute Clown takes a keen interest in her. One that she doesn’t understand until it’s too late.
Mr. Harrow took her from her life to become the Contortionist. But it seems…the Faire itself has other plans.
__________________
If you’re drawn to compelling villains and sinister love stories, The Clown—book three of the Harrow Faire series by Kathryn Ann Kingsley—is your next book obsession! Dark fantasy and occult horror blend seamlessly with romance in this gripping page-turner!
Finally accepting that there would be no leaving Harrow Faire, Cora sets out to try to find her new way of life as part of the Family. With that comes her slow acceptance of her attraction toward and, even worse, her feelings for the Puppeteer.
But just as things seemed to be falling into a pattern, things turn upside down—seemingly literally—as Harrow Faire enters “the Inversion.” And her troubles don’t end there when the mute Clown takes a keen interest in her. One that she doesn’t understand until it’s too late.
Mr. Harrow took her from her life to become the Contortionist. But it seems…the Faire itself has other plans.
__________________
If you’re drawn to compelling villains and sinister love stories, The Clown—book three of the Harrow Faire series by Kathryn Ann Kingsley—is your next book obsession! Dark fantasy and occult horror blend seamlessly with romance in this gripping page-turner!
363 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2020
278 people are currently reading
1064 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Ann Kingsley
68 books2,498 followersKathryn has always been a storyteller. Years of scriptwriting for performances on stage and for tourism in Boston led her to writing romantically dark, fantastical tales, which was an obsession of hers that began once seeing The Phantom of the Opera at a young age.
When she isn’t penning new villainous leads, she works in video game development. There, she has been everything from Creative Director to Chief of Staff, Design Manager, Executive Producer, and Principal Writer for various companies in the industry.
She shares her antique home with three very fluffy animals and one very patient and loving husband.
When she isn’t penning new villainous leads, she works in video game development. There, she has been everything from Creative Director to Chief of Staff, Design Manager, Executive Producer, and Principal Writer for various companies in the industry.
She shares her antique home with three very fluffy animals and one very patient and loving husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
October 20, 2020
This is the third book in this uniquely addictive series and it was amazing and totally lived up to all my exceptions.
the whole of the faire is now firmly within the inversion and Cora is finding her feet and settling into her new role with the assistance of the puppeteer Simon.
The heat was certainly cranked up in this volume and the chemistry between Cora and Simon is off the charts threatening to send them up in flames as Cora finally stops fighting her attraction to the delicious and dangerous puppeteer instead taking the reins herself and giving in to what they are both craving and needing.
I just adore Simon so much he’s just so unapologetically himself In all his over the top insanity he’s got to be one of my most favourite anti-heroes ever.
I like the way he stays true to his original nature and Cora doesn't try to change him and when these two finally connect its glorious and everything I’d anticipated.
Simon himself is such a strange combination of dangerous overprotectiveness wickedness.
I don’t think he even knows himself quite what he actually wants from Cora beside the obvious that is.
He sort of wants to shelter her while at the same time conquer her.
He’s also afraid of what he might do to her while in the grip of one of his mad episodes.
Ultimately though it’s obvious he has a major soft spot for the new contortionist, She’s becoming his one obsession.
Here we also get to dig deeper into Clown and there’s is definitely something very strange and otherworldly about him.
More so than just him being another member of the Harrow faire and extended family he seems to have some unknown hidden agenda but at the same time he didn’t come off as any way malicious more tired.
It’s all so very curious and it’s sounding ever so ominous for Cora and Simon and I can’t wait to see what it's all about.
I also loved that shadow is getting some attention here and I do have a massive soft spot for that sappy and ridiculous fractured piece of Simon psyche, Shadow is just adorable.
Oh, and I loved that brief shout out to Julian that was slipped in there I’m such a fan so totally appreciated that.
This series is fascinating and with our Contortionist and Puppeteer seeming to be more of a solid unit it’s going to get especially interesting and I can’t wait until the next piece of the puzzle falls into place.
This is such a unique series that and I highly recommend especially if you like things a bit different.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of The Clown (Harrow Faire Book #3).
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
October 20, 2020
I was swooning throughout the book, even though I got worried about the last 5% percent. I LOVE Simon, I LOVE their connection, I LOVE his protectiveness, I LOVE his jealousy, I LOVE his shadow,... I LOVE this author!
Me reading this book:
Me reading this book:
February 21, 2021
The Clown finally made a bigger impact than the first two novels (The Contortionist and The Puppeteer) in the Harrow Faire series. Characters are deeper. There is a bit more action. At least one mystery is solved (even if a reader can guess it early).
Cora is growing on me. Probably because she’s growing as a person. Without the constant pain of her disease, she can finally live. She takes risks and enjoys life. Simon’s story is told in more detail, showing the hardship of loving someone with a mental illness. He’s a broken soul, for sure. Not as disturbing as Julian from Illusions/Ghosts, which is good. Shadow is developed more and is an absolute favorite. We finally meet the rest of the 22 family members of the faire. The novel does show Clown in more detail and even has chapters from his point of view. The characters are flawed and disturbed on different levels, but they also have some redeeming qualities.
Now that the Inversion has happened, Cora must navigate the endless void that the faire sits in while waiting to return to the land of the living. She finds her gift and performs like she is meant to. She bonds with more family members. In particular, she finds her way into Simon’s heart - the one he ripped out 130 years ago. There is the mystery of Clown and his power. It leaves Cora’s world upside down by the end. Hopefully, Simon will help Cora to find her place in this weird man-eating murder circus.
Cora is growing on me. Probably because she’s growing as a person. Without the constant pain of her disease, she can finally live. She takes risks and enjoys life. Simon’s story is told in more detail, showing the hardship of loving someone with a mental illness. He’s a broken soul, for sure. Not as disturbing as Julian from Illusions/Ghosts, which is good. Shadow is developed more and is an absolute favorite. We finally meet the rest of the 22 family members of the faire. The novel does show Clown in more detail and even has chapters from his point of view. The characters are flawed and disturbed on different levels, but they also have some redeeming qualities.
Now that the Inversion has happened, Cora must navigate the endless void that the faire sits in while waiting to return to the land of the living. She finds her gift and performs like she is meant to. She bonds with more family members. In particular, she finds her way into Simon’s heart - the one he ripped out 130 years ago. There is the mystery of Clown and his power. It leaves Cora’s world upside down by the end. Hopefully, Simon will help Cora to find her place in this weird man-eating murder circus.
August 22, 2021
The third book of Harrow Faire focuses mostly on the development of Cora and Simon’s relationship, while something mysterious and evil (or is it?) looms over them all…
I loved it just as much as the two previous books, even if the plot moved a bit slower here. I didn’t mind that at all — it was nicely compensated by a shitload of feels (fuzzy and angsty both), and the (finally! 💃) resolved sexual tension that had been driving both parties (and me) insane, as well as plenty of wonderfully creepy hints of what’s to come in the following books.
Back to the romance, though. I’m so glad that the author didn’t mishandle the sexual trauma trope. I hate it when writers use any sort of past abuse (but especially sexual abuse) casually as a plot device, dismissing the way it affects every part of a person’s life. I hate it to the point that if it’s mentioned in a book’s CWs, I’d usually take a pass rather than risk disappointment. Here, I was ambushed: by the time it became clear that one of the MCs carries such baggage, I was hopelessly hooked. I'm so happy that Kingsley didn’t let me down in the end, because hot damn, as delicious as that constant tension between Cora and Simon was, it was killing me. But it was so worth the wait. 🔥
I just love that no matter their individual scars, Cora and Simon are equally vulnerable to one another. There’s no ‘weaker party’ here. Seriously, these two are so good together… 😍 And I can’t wait to see what happens when (if?) they face whatever the fuck that was.
I loved it just as much as the two previous books, even if the plot moved a bit slower here. I didn’t mind that at all — it was nicely compensated by a shitload of feels (fuzzy and angsty both), and the (finally! 💃) resolved sexual tension that had been driving both parties (and me) insane, as well as plenty of wonderfully creepy hints of what’s to come in the following books.
Back to the romance, though. I’m so glad that the author didn’t mishandle the sexual trauma trope. I hate it when writers use any sort of past abuse (but especially sexual abuse) casually as a plot device, dismissing the way it affects every part of a person’s life. I hate it to the point that if it’s mentioned in a book’s CWs, I’d usually take a pass rather than risk disappointment. Here, I was ambushed: by the time it became clear that one of the MCs carries such baggage, I was hopelessly hooked. I'm so happy that Kingsley didn’t let me down in the end, because hot damn, as delicious as that constant tension between Cora and Simon was, it was killing me. But it was so worth the wait. 🔥
I just love that no matter their individual scars, Cora and Simon are equally vulnerable to one another. There’s no ‘weaker party’ here. Seriously, these two are so good together… 😍 And I can’t wait to see what happens when (if?) they face whatever the fuck that was.
November 3, 2022
“Because some people are worth the damage they cause.”
As I get pulled further into the world of Harrow Faire, the more I love it. It’s dark, twisted, and—even better—unpredictable. I have no idea where things are going, and it’s fantastic! There are so many formulaic, predictable stories in the romance genre. Sometimes there’s comfort in predictability but too much and I end up in a reading rut. I love a story that can captivate me and take me where I don’t expect.
That said, unpredictability needs to follow some guidelines. A twist completely out of left field that the author never even hints at doesn’t ring true. Kingsley is good at dropping breadcrumbs and leading the reader in a way that keeps the tension without giving too much away. The result is that we know something is coming but not exactly what.
In this book, we see some softening of Simon’s character toward Cora, and even tenderness where she is concerned, but he’s still a villain. He’s the epitome of I-hate-everyone-but-you, and now that he finally has someone whose company he actually likes, let alone tolerates, he has no intention of letting her out of his grasp. His jealously leads to overtly possessive behavior and even acts of cruelty towards others in the circus. I love that Cora isn’t having any of it:
In this book, we finally get some action between Simon and Cora. This doesn’t mean, however, that all is well. There is Simon’s fractured psyche to contend with and some other, darker thing involving the Clown character.
I’m so glad I took a chance on this series. I can’t wait to see where things lead.
As I get pulled further into the world of Harrow Faire, the more I love it. It’s dark, twisted, and—even better—unpredictable. I have no idea where things are going, and it’s fantastic! There are so many formulaic, predictable stories in the romance genre. Sometimes there’s comfort in predictability but too much and I end up in a reading rut. I love a story that can captivate me and take me where I don’t expect.
That said, unpredictability needs to follow some guidelines. A twist completely out of left field that the author never even hints at doesn’t ring true. Kingsley is good at dropping breadcrumbs and leading the reader in a way that keeps the tension without giving too much away. The result is that we know something is coming but not exactly what.
In this book, we see some softening of Simon’s character toward Cora, and even tenderness where she is concerned, but he’s still a villain. He’s the epitome of I-hate-everyone-but-you, and now that he finally has someone whose company he actually likes, let alone tolerates, he has no intention of letting her out of his grasp. His jealously leads to overtly possessive behavior and even acts of cruelty towards others in the circus. I love that Cora isn’t having any of it:
She took two steps up to him and slapped him with everything she had. His sunglasses fell to the dirt beside him, and when he looked back to her, she could see his shock unobscured. “You do not own me, Simon Waite. You do not control me. I am not your pet or your property. If Clown knocks on my door and asks me to go with him and I want to? I will. If Aaron, or Jack, or anybody wants my company and I give it to them? I will. And you will shut your fucking face about it.”👏👏👏 I normally wouldn’t applaud an FMC assaulting an MMC, but trust me that it’s warranted.
“Listen to me, Simon, and listen to me very carefully. If you think I’m going to let you talk like that about me, you don’t know how good I am with a pair of scissors. I spent my childhood trimming negatives for my dad. I’m damn good. So keep your mouth shut if you don’t want me to cut out your goddamn tongue and make you swallow it! I am not your property. I do not belong to you. And what I choose to do—or who I choose to do it with—is no goddamn businesses of yours. Do you understand?”I do love seeing a heroine with a backbone!
In this book, we finally get some action between Simon and Cora. This doesn’t mean, however, that all is well. There is Simon’s fractured psyche to contend with and some other, darker thing involving the Clown character.
I’m so glad I took a chance on this series. I can’t wait to see where things lead.
August 18, 2021
Oh, Simon, maybe you can share Julian’s first place on Kingsley’s amazing “villains to love” after all ❤️.
The romance was sweet and wonderful. I think this is the first story where I read a character truly meaning when they say “if you want I’ll stop”, and the other party actually needing to stop… and that’s OK!
I like to see the trope of overcoming trauma in a way that has its ups and downs, its bad moments or doubts. What better way to show that this psycho really cares for Cora than picturing him patient and understanding of boundaries... even if that boundaries are only present in the bedroom. Simon can be a little too much in every other aspect 😂.
I love that no matter how Dark Kingsley’s stories can get, so far I’ve never read a book from her where she delved on topics of sexual violence on page. I’m particularly sensitive to that themes, and it feels safe to read a book with Dark components that doesn’t need to focus around only that topics (even if they are part of a character’s life, like in this case).
No matter how awful her villian’s actions are, they always end up being paladins of consent ❤️😂.
The story is divided in five volumes but really it seems to be one huge book. The first three books can’t be thought as individual subplots, so this won’t work for someone who doesn’t want to read LONG stories.
This book in particular gave nearly all of its attention to the romance aspect of the story, something I’d usually have no problem with, but maybe I would have liked for the plot to move forward along with the love story. I felt that the middle part could have been a little bit shorter, too.
The last chapters where nail-biting. Finally the mystery begins to be revealed.
Simon, he is completely broken and a roller coaster of emotions and vulnerability, he is amazing. Kingsley’s ability to portray the villain as the main character is exceptional. And Shadow, Simon’s kind of side kick is hilarious: a mix between Peter Pan’s shadow and Dr. Facilier’s. I love them together and apart 👏🏼👏🏼. Being jealous of one’s shadow, the two of them competing for Cora’s attention... so funny!
I’m enjoying the hell out of these books💜
No surprise there, Kingsley’s stories are worth every minute reading them.
Maybe I’ll get even more lucky some day when she decides to queer-up a little the main romance 🙈🤞🏼🤞🏼😁 (even now her male main heroes/villians don’t answer to classical het-cis dynamics… so maybe I won’t have to wait too much)
The romance was sweet and wonderful. I think this is the first story where I read a character truly meaning when they say “if you want I’ll stop”, and the other party actually needing to stop… and that’s OK!
I like to see the trope of overcoming trauma in a way that has its ups and downs, its bad moments or doubts. What better way to show that this psycho really cares for Cora than picturing him patient and understanding of boundaries... even if that boundaries are only present in the bedroom. Simon can be a little too much in every other aspect 😂.
I love that no matter how Dark Kingsley’s stories can get, so far I’ve never read a book from her where she delved on topics of sexual violence on page. I’m particularly sensitive to that themes, and it feels safe to read a book with Dark components that doesn’t need to focus around only that topics (even if they are part of a character’s life, like in this case).
No matter how awful her villian’s actions are, they always end up being paladins of consent ❤️😂.
The story is divided in five volumes but really it seems to be one huge book. The first three books can’t be thought as individual subplots, so this won’t work for someone who doesn’t want to read LONG stories.
This book in particular gave nearly all of its attention to the romance aspect of the story, something I’d usually have no problem with, but maybe I would have liked for the plot to move forward along with the love story. I felt that the middle part could have been a little bit shorter, too.
The last chapters where nail-biting. Finally the mystery begins to be revealed.
Simon, he is completely broken and a roller coaster of emotions and vulnerability, he is amazing. Kingsley’s ability to portray the villain as the main character is exceptional. And Shadow, Simon’s kind of side kick is hilarious: a mix between Peter Pan’s shadow and Dr. Facilier’s. I love them together and apart 👏🏼👏🏼. Being jealous of one’s shadow, the two of them competing for Cora’s attention... so funny!
I’m enjoying the hell out of these books💜
No surprise there, Kingsley’s stories are worth every minute reading them.
Maybe I’ll get even more lucky some day when she decides to queer-up a little the main romance 🙈🤞🏼🤞🏼😁 (even now her male main heroes/villians don’t answer to classical het-cis dynamics… so maybe I won’t have to wait too much)
April 15, 2025
09/08/2021
Book 50/52
All we are in the end is what we leave behind in the people who knew us
genre: horror fantasy romance
age: adult
Review: This series is just getting better and better. The tension between Simon and Cora is stunning!!! It's been a very long time since I had been on board with the main love interest, but I have realized that I ADORE adult romances with the "villain" of the story. Messed up? Probably a little bit, but I knew that already. ON TO THE NEXT ONE
Trigger warnings: mention of rape, gore, sex where you're not in control or can't move (with consent though)
Book 50/52
All we are in the end is what we leave behind in the people who knew us
genre: horror fantasy romance
age: adult
Review: This series is just getting better and better. The tension between Simon and Cora is stunning!!! It's been a very long time since I had been on board with the main love interest, but I have realized that I ADORE adult romances with the "villain" of the story. Messed up? Probably a little bit, but I knew that already. ON TO THE NEXT ONE
Trigger warnings: mention of rape, gore, sex where you're not in control or can't move (with consent though)
April 27, 2024
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first two, although the spice was spicy. A certain scene will forever be my roman empire 🔥
October 22, 2020
This series just keeps getting better and better.
In this installment we see Cora finally settle into her new reality and beginning to build a life for herself, we meet more of her fellow performers, he relationship with Simon develops and then the stakes on the whole series are raised in an excellent twist.
I really think this is Kathryn's strongest series so far. The whole concept of a sentient circus that feeds off its patrons life force is so suited to her type of villain romance. Simon is just delightful and I think may challenge Aon is my affections.
This is truly an excellent series!
In this installment we see Cora finally settle into her new reality and beginning to build a life for herself, we meet more of her fellow performers, he relationship with Simon develops and then the stakes on the whole series are raised in an excellent twist.
I really think this is Kathryn's strongest series so far. The whole concept of a sentient circus that feeds off its patrons life force is so suited to her type of villain romance. Simon is just delightful and I think may challenge Aon is my affections.
This is truly an excellent series!
January 16, 2023
I mostly skim read this. And mostly not in order.
Curse my insatiable need to know how things finish in books. I feel like I’m being held hostage by this series.
Curse my insatiable need to know how things finish in books. I feel like I’m being held hostage by this series.
March 20, 2024
Mostly smut, which is fine!
The Simon/Cora banter falls into the Poppy/Cas trap of becoming repetitive though. He always says something a little edgy and she always laughs and shoves him and he always thinks she so adorably bold for doing so.
Besides the dialogue, my only complaint is that I wish there was more plot!
The Simon/Cora banter falls into the Poppy/Cas trap of becoming repetitive though. He always says something a little edgy and she always laughs and shoves him and he always thinks she so adorably bold for doing so.
Besides the dialogue, my only complaint is that I wish there was more plot!
November 25, 2021
This was a goddamn ride. Head empty. Heart full of STRINGS.
November 15, 2025
Death
I did not see things unfolding the way they did. This series continues to be that little bit of darkness that I love.
I did not see things unfolding the way they did. This series continues to be that little bit of darkness that I love.
November 3, 2020
I've gotta say, this book was kinda disappointing to me.
I love Simon, I adore characters like him, I have an unnatural attachments to insane, very off-the-deep-end type people. But I feel like the sexual tension was bordering very much on stalker, and he was really losing his appeal for me that way. I adored the first book, and the second was good, but I feel like the line on the graph is just kind of sloping down. Cora is starting to become a whiney character, and her down-to-earth personality is just disappearing. After they manage to get together, which wasn't a very enjoyable scene for me personally, that's it? I didn't finish the book because I'm really not liking where this is going, but I feel like after this whole 'hook-up' thing it's very fluffy. And I understand that appeals to some people, but that's never really the vibe that I got from this story, especially Simon. The foreshadowing is starting to get a little annoying, because it's vague and not very well drawn-out.
This is good writing, and it had a great first book, but I feel like this one went really off-kilter with what happened. I don't know, maybe its magically fixed in the last bit of the book I haven't read, but I'm kind of disappointed in this installment.
I love Simon, I adore characters like him, I have an unnatural attachments to insane, very off-the-deep-end type people. But I feel like the sexual tension was bordering very much on stalker, and he was really losing his appeal for me that way. I adored the first book, and the second was good, but I feel like the line on the graph is just kind of sloping down. Cora is starting to become a whiney character, and her down-to-earth personality is just disappearing. After they manage to get together, which wasn't a very enjoyable scene for me personally, that's it? I didn't finish the book because I'm really not liking where this is going, but I feel like after this whole 'hook-up' thing it's very fluffy. And I understand that appeals to some people, but that's never really the vibe that I got from this story, especially Simon. The foreshadowing is starting to get a little annoying, because it's vague and not very well drawn-out.
This is good writing, and it had a great first book, but I feel like this one went really off-kilter with what happened. I don't know, maybe its magically fixed in the last bit of the book I haven't read, but I'm kind of disappointed in this installment.
January 18, 2023
The grip Simon Waite has on me is simply unfair
May 23, 2025
Simon may in fact be my favorite of this author's heroes.. err... villains? anti-heroes? ... let's go with love interest. Anyhow, I didn't think it would happen, but yeah.
December 18, 2020
A good instalment in the series
The story continues for Cora and Simon, they are now officially a couple around the fair, although bigger questions are being questioned for the actual faire itself. the circus has never felt more alive.
I think this book is so creepy and dark yet really wise and the bits written by Mr Harrow are really dark and weird (in a good way) and clever. It's cool because there is no Mr Harrow, and we still don't know who he is.
Really amazing ending, I felt like the actual book maybe lacked a bit but as a general series it's still going strong. the introduction of the Clown was a bit sudden and felt like it was not planned and thought of last minute. but I'm looking forward to book 4 because it seems to be so good.
→3.5 stars
The story continues for Cora and Simon, they are now officially a couple around the fair, although bigger questions are being questioned for the actual faire itself. the circus has never felt more alive.
We do not die. We merely become food for life. We mourn the flesh. We do not celebrate the change. To die is to be alive. Who is to say this rule is limited to the flesh alone? Why not the soul?
I think this book is so creepy and dark yet really wise and the bits written by Mr Harrow are really dark and weird (in a good way) and clever. It's cool because there is no Mr Harrow, and we still don't know who he is.
We all desire seity. We all desire to make grander things of ourselves. We all are misers of the currency of life.
Really amazing ending, I felt like the actual book maybe lacked a bit but as a general series it's still going strong. the introduction of the Clown was a bit sudden and felt like it was not planned and thought of last minute. but I'm looking forward to book 4 because it seems to be so good.
What exists, shall exist, and has always existed. That is the untold exchange of our world. That is the true cost of death. To die is to lose your hammer and chisel. Your opportunity to mark the world is over. You slide your cards away and leave the table. You have, as the phrase so perfectly states, “cashed in your chips.” Some players leave wealthy. The overwhelming majority leaves destitute. And in this game of life, what happens when a player goes bust? To whom does their money transfer? It goes to whomever won the hand. In order to earn more of the currency that we all desire…one must take it from others. That is the true consequence of death. We are consumed by those around us.
→3.5 stars
June 5, 2024
This one was great!
January 22, 2025
3.8. Kathryn Kingsley really knows how to leave you wanting for more. This book is so silly in a good way 😭
October 21, 2022
this one dragged for me not gonna lie
1. they finally have ~relations~ and it was so boring!!! the one towards the end was good at least, she finally made use of both of their talents. i mean really, a contortionist and puppet master should never, ever have boring sex. she needs to be more descriptive and nasty with it (is this a horror series or not?! if you can describe gore, you can write better sex scenes, just sayin)
2. the other circus people are so interesting, and its so frustrating that simon keeps getting in the way of learning more about them. cora’s friendship with the clown was cool, and was going somewhere interesting, but simon got in the way!!! i get he’s being possessive and obsessive but come on, can’t he be off page for 2 seconds?
3. i just want cora to do some cool tricks!! i’m very bored with her whole “oh i need a hobby i should pick up knitting”, bitch if u dont get in that tent of yours and do some cool shit i swear to god 🙄
4. i can honestly say i have no idea where this series will end, and what will happen to all these characters. so that’s very fun.
🎪 🤡
1. they finally have ~relations~ and it was so boring!!! the one towards the end was good at least, she finally made use of both of their talents. i mean really, a contortionist and puppet master should never, ever have boring sex. she needs to be more descriptive and nasty with it (is this a horror series or not?! if you can describe gore, you can write better sex scenes, just sayin)
2. the other circus people are so interesting, and its so frustrating that simon keeps getting in the way of learning more about them. cora’s friendship with the clown was cool, and was going somewhere interesting, but simon got in the way!!! i get he’s being possessive and obsessive but come on, can’t he be off page for 2 seconds?
3. i just want cora to do some cool tricks!! i’m very bored with her whole “oh i need a hobby i should pick up knitting”, bitch if u dont get in that tent of yours and do some cool shit i swear to god 🙄
4. i can honestly say i have no idea where this series will end, and what will happen to all these characters. so that’s very fun.
🎪 🤡
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2021
4 Stars.
Plot barely moved since they are literally trapped in one place, but the romance?? My ship is SAILING 🥰
Here I'm Simon's #1 fan but if I ever met this guy irl I would leave the encounter so traumatized. No other fictional men I know have ever used someone's severed head as a soccer ball. Or dug out their OWN eyeballs during a mental fracture. He has the ability to regenerate but like just imagine being in that state of mind.
I ship Simon and Cora hard because she embraces his mental instability, and he respects her physical boundaries. She's aware that love won't fix insanity, and he understands some lines can't be crossed, even deep in a mental blackout. Truly a well-matched pair.
"Let the madness consume me. This is worth dying for."
Plot barely moved since they are literally trapped in one place, but the romance?? My ship is SAILING 🥰
Here I'm Simon's #1 fan but if I ever met this guy irl I would leave the encounter so traumatized. No other fictional men I know have ever used someone's severed head as a soccer ball. Or dug out their OWN eyeballs during a mental fracture. He has the ability to regenerate but like just imagine being in that state of mind.
I ship Simon and Cora hard because she embraces his mental instability, and he respects her physical boundaries. She's aware that love won't fix insanity, and he understands some lines can't be crossed, even deep in a mental blackout. Truly a well-matched pair.
"Let the madness consume me. This is worth dying for."
August 26, 2021
4.5 stars! (To be honest, I binge-read this series so all of the events are running together for me, but I remember loving the steam in this book - FINALLY the Puppeteer putting his strings to good use...)
"Don't mistake my affection for you for some kind of personal redemption."
March 12, 2025
i can’t stop reading this series
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October 14, 2020Usually, by the time I make it midway into a series, I'm burnt out, frustrated, and lose interest. Honestly, I usually lose interest to the point that I never finish most series. That's not the case with Harrow Faire. How in the world does the author do it?! When she writes, it's like the popular slogan, and I betcha can't read just one. Multiple thoughts on this volume. 1) I want Cora's dreams. Gosh, do I! 2) I'm like super freaked out by clowns, and this one looks very scary, yet I love this clown! 3) Simon is something else while being so loveable. I no longer feel conflicted about him. 4) It was great making a connection to someone fans have met before. 5) The Faire! I am so looking forward to the next book. Thank you, Kat!
February 6, 2023
This certainly gave me pause to reflect on my outlook toward death. A surprisingly thought provoking read.
July 9, 2024
Growth is happening and I can no longer talk shit about Simon to my friends. I have even defended him. I'm 100% sold on Cora and Simon's relationship! Happy vibes all around and such a spicy third novel!! 🌶️
October 22, 2020
The Clown Review
Outstanding book! It was so intense I feel like I held my breath from the beginning until the end. Desire, insanity, friendship, jealousy it contained all of that and much more. And when your dealing with a crazy puppeteer and man eating murder circus who knows what will come next.
I loved this book (and Simon) so much I definitely recommend it and can't wait to read more!
Outstanding book! It was so intense I feel like I held my breath from the beginning until the end. Desire, insanity, friendship, jealousy it contained all of that and much more. And when your dealing with a crazy puppeteer and man eating murder circus who knows what will come next.
I loved this book (and Simon) so much I definitely recommend it and can't wait to read more!
June 1, 2022
I started to like the series less in this book. It sells itself as creepy circus but really everything is a backdrop for Simon and Cora’s romance. It started to get really contemporary romance in this book. I feel like the only reason the circus is there is to justify Cora loving psychotic Simon and them meeting 2 weeks ago and falling in love and becoming a domestic couple within a day. I honestly think it might have been better off as a modern day dark romance. In these first 3 books the romance is unhealthy because of the way Simon is and how he treated her but also because she almost never spends time with anyone else. When she does spend time with the rest of the “Family” only talk about her and Simon, their relationships or how they lost their human lives but now are at home in the Faire.
I didn't finish book 4 even though I was so close to finishing the entire series because I really couldn't, it was driving me insane. I honestly should have stopped when I saw how nonsensical book 1's prologue was. It was written in a very fancy whimsical style of writing but it seemed like the author didn't know how to write that style. It's like when I used the thesaurus for my English essays to make myself sound smarter.
I didn't finish book 4 even though I was so close to finishing the entire series because I really couldn't, it was driving me insane. I honestly should have stopped when I saw how nonsensical book 1's prologue was. It was written in a very fancy whimsical style of writing but it seemed like the author didn't know how to write that style. It's like when I used the thesaurus for my English essays to make myself sound smarter.
September 30, 2020
I just recieved this book this morning as an advanced reader copy. Wow, I couldn't put it down. It is so rare to find an author that can create both a lush world and dynamic characters. Kathryn does a great job of writing and spinning her story to keep you on the edge of your seat. The time flies by without noticing then you realize it's 1am and you've barely come up for air. This book is set in New England in the Harrow Faire which is a man eating murder Circus (her words!) This faire takes the seity (parts of your personality that make you who you are) and feeds it to the residence to keep them immortal. This story follows Cora (the Contortionist) and Simon(the Puppeteer) through their darkly twisted love. The 3rd installment brings in the character of the Clown who controls life and death of all those trapped in the faire. I won't ruin the book but it is steamy (finally), twisted and leaves you screaming NOOOO! At the end. A definite cliff hanger that will leave you begging for book 4.
May 15, 2024
I was really excited about this story in the first book, and I heard the mmc is a villan (and stays that way after getting together either the fmc). It was not correct, in my opinion. Simon does next to nothing in this book but pine, and his big backstory was revealed 2x before he finally did it. A bit of a letdown. Also, I am tired of SA in stories as it seems to be a plot point in every single book. It really takes me out of it. Lastly, the abuse. She hits and punches him a lot. Like a lot. You can argue if he deserves it or not but it would not be accepted in the genders were reversed. My qualm was he did nothing about it either. A bad guy gets humiliated in front of everyone he despises (who laugh at it) but does nothing? ....at all?....he just doesn't seem that intimidating anymore or powerful. I am not sure I will finish the series at this point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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