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Harrow Faire #4
The Ringmaster
The Faire is alive. It’s alive, it’s sentient, and it wants more from Cora Glass. Reeling from the revelations that Clown left her with, she struggles once more to find her footing. She never gets the chance.
Harrow Faire wants Cora for murder. She assumed it was her death that it was after. She was wrong. It wants her to kill…to save them all. But the question remains—is Cora a murderer? Can she take a life, even if she is told she must?
Faced with someone from her past she thought she would never see again…she is forced to find the answer.
__________________
If you’re drawn to compelling villains and sinister love stories, The Ringmaster—book four 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!
Harrow Faire wants Cora for murder. She assumed it was her death that it was after. She was wrong. It wants her to kill…to save them all. But the question remains—is Cora a murderer? Can she take a life, even if she is told she must?
Faced with someone from her past she thought she would never see again…she is forced to find the answer.
__________________
If you’re drawn to compelling villains and sinister love stories, The Ringmaster—book four 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!
284 pages, Hardcover
First published December 15, 2020
247 people are currently reading
1053 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Ann Kingsley
68 books2,502 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 251 reviews
March 15, 2022
The Ringmaster took me longer to read than the others in the Harrow Faire series so far. All of these books are immediate continuations of the former one. Sometimes I wonder if she just needed to shorten the series into three books instead of five. I get she’s going for a book named after each of these major characters, but it’s made certain books drag out the storyline longer than necessary.
I did enjoy the further development of the characters. Cora really has more to deal with now that she has the connection to the faire. However, she spends most of the book talking to the faire, trying to understand her purpose, and dealing with the Family in her life. Oh, and her relationship with Simon has gone in interesting directions. Cora just seemed a bit flatlined to me. I don’t buy her as strong and powerful since she spends most of the time asking, “Should I? Shouldn’t I?” She just hangs out on a precipice for most of the book. Haha - just realized I was supposed to focus on what I liked about the characters. Let’s try that again...
I really liked hearing from the faire itself. At one point there’s a reference to H.P. Lovecraft’s monster gods, like Cthulhu. Nice! The faire is truly a man-eating, soul-sucking monster. With a sense of humor. I kinda like him. While also being a bit frightened of him. Simon and his shadow still resonate. Simon is dark and disturbing but so is mental illness, so... His Shadow is the sweetest puppy ever!!!
Oddly enough, the book is named after the Ringmaster, Turk. I didn’t get nearly enough information or details about him. I do appreciate the chapters from his perspective but I was definitely missing development here. The rest of the Family are still caricatures. They don’t change or develop. They are scenery. Interesting scenery but props nonetheless.
Action is pretty nonexistent in this one. Something finally happens in the final chapters but it wasn’t enough to keep this book up at 4 stars like the last one. Lots of time in the void, which I felt was fine enough in The Clown. Overall, it was fine and added to the overarching narrative. Hoping the final book, The Faire, has enough action and characterization to pull me quickly across that finish line.
I did enjoy the further development of the characters. Cora really has more to deal with now that she has the connection to the faire. However, she spends most of the book talking to the faire, trying to understand her purpose, and dealing with the Family in her life. Oh, and her relationship with Simon has gone in interesting directions. Cora just seemed a bit flatlined to me. I don’t buy her as strong and powerful since she spends most of the time asking, “Should I? Shouldn’t I?” She just hangs out on a precipice for most of the book. Haha - just realized I was supposed to focus on what I liked about the characters. Let’s try that again...
I really liked hearing from the faire itself. At one point there’s a reference to H.P. Lovecraft’s monster gods, like Cthulhu. Nice! The faire is truly a man-eating, soul-sucking monster. With a sense of humor. I kinda like him. While also being a bit frightened of him. Simon and his shadow still resonate. Simon is dark and disturbing but so is mental illness, so... His Shadow is the sweetest puppy ever!!!
Oddly enough, the book is named after the Ringmaster, Turk. I didn’t get nearly enough information or details about him. I do appreciate the chapters from his perspective but I was definitely missing development here. The rest of the Family are still caricatures. They don’t change or develop. They are scenery. Interesting scenery but props nonetheless.
Action is pretty nonexistent in this one. Something finally happens in the final chapters but it wasn’t enough to keep this book up at 4 stars like the last one. Lots of time in the void, which I felt was fine enough in The Clown. Overall, it was fine and added to the overarching narrative. Hoping the final book, The Faire, has enough action and characterization to pull me quickly across that finish line.
November 19, 2020
Wowzer’s this just might be my favourite instalment yet.
I adored every word here and consumed it in one sitting.
In fact, I lost sleep as I just couldn’t put this down I was that invested in the unfolding drama.
Here the connection between Cora and Simon reaches new levels as Cora finally admits her emotions run deep when it comes to her puppeteer and just goes with it.
While Simon or at least one half of his ego is still lying to himself over his true motives and what a certain person may just mean to him and also just how invested they actually are in Cora beyond the obvious that is.
Here Cora stands at a crossroads and must choose just which path to take.
Decide if the result is worth the sacrifice and how important the lives of those around her actually are to her.
Now she’s accepted her new reality and has even found happiness within it how much does Simon and all her new friends really matter to her.
Is it enough to test her moral Compass and make the hard choices.
Does the one justify the many?
Simon is right there of course along with others who are equally invested.
Whispering into her ear adding weight to the Faire’s demands of Cora.
What will she choose to do? Who will she choose to save? How much is it all worth to her? The pressure is on.
Here we also turn up the heat and the chemistry between Cora and Simon goes nuclear it’s intensity projecting off the page.
I adore that Cora accepts Simon for exactly who he is and doesn’t try to change him in any way.
I really feel she has taken that extra step here in her acceptance of his true nature and embraced her puppeteer totally and I do adore Simon he’s just so gleefully and unapologetically wicked best anti-hero ever.
I especially loved the finish with this one and felt that Cora finally embraced her true nature and found within herself the Contortionist she was always meant to be.
Her metamorphosis and rebirth into this role was what finally tipped the scale in regards to Simon fully ensnaring him completely.
The bloke had absolutely no chance (and he knows it) as witnessed by his final words here.
He’s now firmly caught in her web and its Game set and match to Cora Glass.
I can’t wait to read the final piece of this Puzzle.
This is a fabulous series with truly fascinating and diverse characters
And I highly recommend this unique series.
It’s one of my favourites ever.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of The Ringmaster (Harrow Faire #4).
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
November 7, 2020
I think this was a transition book, but it's okay, I loved it! There's only one book left and I can't wait to see Simon accepting his feelings for her!
August 23, 2021
OMFG that last chapter was epic! 😳 It was amazing to see Cora finally coming into her own and embracing her new power. Also, Simon’s epiphany… 😍 I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, but it still made me all warm and fuzzy inside. 💕 I swear, these two were made for each other. The romance part of this story really ticks all my boxes, which is kind of rare when it comes to MF books these days!
Plot-wise, there’s been a couple of fascinating developments here (which I won’t mention, because spoilers! 🙊) that changed everything… These books explore human (and inhuman) morality in such wonderful and intriguing ways — not what you’d expect from paranormal romance/horror series with pretty covers, right? 😉
We’re getting close to the big finale, and shit is gonna hit the fan hard any moment now. 😱
Plot-wise, there’s been a couple of fascinating developments here (which I won’t mention, because spoilers! 🙊) that changed everything… These books explore human (and inhuman) morality in such wonderful and intriguing ways — not what you’d expect from paranormal romance/horror series with pretty covers, right? 😉
We’re getting close to the big finale, and shit is gonna hit the fan hard any moment now. 😱
September 20, 2021
19/09/2021
Book 55/52
Sometimes you must become the monster to save the world
genre: Fantasy
age: adult
Review: Wow this took a turn I was not expecting. Cora grows so much in this book. I will say her constantly thinking about what she has to do and if she will do it got a bit boring, but then again it was very needed.
Trigger warnings: gore, murder, talk about rape, description of a woman being harassed and attempted rape
Book 55/52
Sometimes you must become the monster to save the world
genre: Fantasy
age: adult
Review: Wow this took a turn I was not expecting. Cora grows so much in this book. I will say her constantly thinking about what she has to do and if she will do it got a bit boring, but then again it was very needed.
Trigger warnings: gore, murder, talk about rape, description of a woman being harassed and attempted rape
November 17, 2022
edit: so i’ve figured out my problem. kingsley’s big quandary for cora is whether she is capable of murder. not what it would take for her to want to kill someone, just simply could she do it. TWO BOOKS. it takes TWO books, for cora to come to the conclusion that yeah, she can kill a man.
no shit! anybody is capable of murder. any one! it all comes down to motive!! why on earth! should this be something that needs to be agonized over for 500 pages? you give a n y one a good enough motive, or make them desperate enough, or angry enough, any one could do it! it just seems so obvious, so binary to me. and so that’s what it made me so frustrated with these two books, because the question is not “what would she kill for?” it’s “is she capable?”. and that distinction matters!! deliberating on one is stupid and agonizing? the other is interesting and worth the time!
my second big realization, which follows my problem above, is that there is a huge difference between killing your rapist and cold blooded murder. like.. duh? and her having cora kill duncan, and using that as her big justification moment for why it’s okay to kill the ringmaster is kind of gross to me? like killing the man who raped her and her good friend is like extremely justifiable to me. killing a perfectly innocent, good man is super not. and using the first as ammunition for the other is such a bizarre, strange choice i really can’t get over it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
i just…..
i was SO into the first two books, and then the third one bored me, and then this one bored me even MORE. nothing happens. it is 200-whatever pages of her deliberating on the ONE choice she has to make and it’s so STUPID BC YOU KNOW SHE’s GOING TO SAVE THE CARNIVAL. LIKE OBVIOUSLY.
if i can force myself to read book 5….. ugh
no shit! anybody is capable of murder. any one! it all comes down to motive!! why on earth! should this be something that needs to be agonized over for 500 pages? you give a n y one a good enough motive, or make them desperate enough, or angry enough, any one could do it! it just seems so obvious, so binary to me. and so that’s what it made me so frustrated with these two books, because the question is not “what would she kill for?” it’s “is she capable?”. and that distinction matters!! deliberating on one is stupid and agonizing? the other is interesting and worth the time!
my second big realization, which follows my problem above, is that there is a huge difference between killing your rapist and cold blooded murder. like.. duh? and her having cora kill duncan, and using that as her big justification moment for why it’s okay to kill the ringmaster is kind of gross to me? like killing the man who raped her and her good friend is like extremely justifiable to me. killing a perfectly innocent, good man is super not. and using the first as ammunition for the other is such a bizarre, strange choice i really can’t get over it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
i just…..
i was SO into the first two books, and then the third one bored me, and then this one bored me even MORE. nothing happens. it is 200-whatever pages of her deliberating on the ONE choice she has to make and it’s so STUPID BC YOU KNOW SHE’s GOING TO SAVE THE CARNIVAL. LIKE OBVIOUSLY.
if i can force myself to read book 5….. ugh
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2021
I love this series so much I feel like guilty. I find myself talking to my friends and family about the sociological and psychological implications of it on a daily basis. I know that's not what people read these for. It's not what I read these for, but nonetheless, that's what is happening. The world building and complex internal conflicts are deeply interesting and compelling.
If you aren't sure if you should pick up this series, (I mean, this is book four, it'd be weird to start here, right?) then know that every single book has been better than the one before it. This doesn't have the usual "yeah book two drags" syndrome that most series suffer from. I have been utterly floored at the end of each one.
So why should you read The Ringmaster?
Read it for the delicious character development.
Read it for the way that characters stay true to themselves even when it hurts.
Read it for the ethical intrigue.
Read it for the wonder.
Read it for the magic.
Read it because we all need a little Man Eating Murder Circus about now.
10 out of 10, do recommend.
If you aren't sure if you should pick up this series, (I mean, this is book four, it'd be weird to start here, right?) then know that every single book has been better than the one before it. This doesn't have the usual "yeah book two drags" syndrome that most series suffer from. I have been utterly floored at the end of each one.
So why should you read The Ringmaster?
Read it for the delicious character development.
Read it for the way that characters stay true to themselves even when it hurts.
Read it for the ethical intrigue.
Read it for the wonder.
Read it for the magic.
Read it because we all need a little Man Eating Murder Circus about now.
10 out of 10, do recommend.
June 11, 2025
4.0 ★— Back with this series after a small hiatus, and what can I say? It still hits.
I do think the story is a liiiiitle bit drawn out and that this could have been wrapped up in four books instead of five, because this just felt like a lot of fluff, a lot of stalling of the overarching plot, some fun smut and Simon and Cora having some very circular arguments in their relationships, but let me be real here: I just enjoy the dynamics and Simon too much to really complain.
I’m sure my enjoyment of this series can be traced back to me reading the Dark Knight Joker fanfiction far too young and this feeds that side of me haha
This was my first time listening to this series as an audiobook and I really enjoyed Hollie Jackson - she does some amazing male voices and her Simon-voice is superb - she has this purring, lilting tone that’s just so right. 10s all around.
I do think the story is a liiiiitle bit drawn out and that this could have been wrapped up in four books instead of five, because this just felt like a lot of fluff, a lot of stalling of the overarching plot, some fun smut and Simon and Cora having some very circular arguments in their relationships, but let me be real here: I just enjoy the dynamics and Simon too much to really complain.
I’m sure my enjoyment of this series can be traced back to me reading the Dark Knight Joker fanfiction far too young and this feeds that side of me haha
This was my first time listening to this series as an audiobook and I really enjoyed Hollie Jackson - she does some amazing male voices and her Simon-voice is superb - she has this purring, lilting tone that’s just so right. 10s all around.
November 17, 2020
This is my fav in the whole series!!! And its cemented itself as my fav series now by Kingsley.
We get to know the Family more, we come to understand more about Harrow Faire and Mr. Harrow himself, and we can never forget about Simon. That charming psychopath. (That Distraction scene had me both ready to clutch my pearls and slapping my forehead.)
Also, this book really gave me a tiny ache in my heart cause joining a circus sounds lovely and adventurous.
We get to know the Family more, we come to understand more about Harrow Faire and Mr. Harrow himself, and we can never forget about Simon. That charming psychopath. (That Distraction scene had me both ready to clutch my pearls and slapping my forehead.)
Also, this book really gave me a tiny ache in my heart cause joining a circus sounds lovely and adventurous.
Read
April 11, 2021I think I just got burnt out on this series.
February 15, 2023
4☆ Review:
“𝑰’𝒎 𝒅𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒂. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆.”
Honestly, this my least favorite of the series so far, which is saying a lot considering I still gave it four stars. It was still amazing, but I did feel that this one dragged a bit more than the others.
Cora’s indecision irritated me at times even though I understood why she was struggling to make her choice.
HOWEVER, Cora speaking with The Faire were some of my favorite moments. I loved learning more about this “being” that has been around since before time. Learning that The Faire knew what their futures would have been was so intriguing and I was craving every ounce of new information that it would give.
“𝑰𝒇 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒄𝒖𝒑𝒄𝒂𝒌𝒆? 𝑰’𝒎 𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅.”
To no surprise, Simon is still the greatest in my eyes. His relationship with Cora is so addicting to read as it progresses. They work well with each other in such a fun and interesting way. Plus, the smut is fantastic.
I’m excited to read the next book, but I’m sad that it’ll be the last!
“𝑰’𝒎 𝒅𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒂. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆.”
Honestly, this my least favorite of the series so far, which is saying a lot considering I still gave it four stars. It was still amazing, but I did feel that this one dragged a bit more than the others.
Cora’s indecision irritated me at times even though I understood why she was struggling to make her choice.
HOWEVER, Cora speaking with The Faire were some of my favorite moments. I loved learning more about this “being” that has been around since before time. Learning that The Faire knew what their futures would have been was so intriguing and I was craving every ounce of new information that it would give.
“𝑰𝒇 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒄𝒖𝒑𝒄𝒂𝒌𝒆? 𝑰’𝒎 𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅.”
To no surprise, Simon is still the greatest in my eyes. His relationship with Cora is so addicting to read as it progresses. They work well with each other in such a fun and interesting way. Plus, the smut is fantastic.
I’m excited to read the next book, but I’m sad that it’ll be the last!
April 24, 2024
This has become one of my favorite romantasy series, though it’s completely different than other things I’ve read.
I do have one major qualm with the series - with context, it doesn’t seem as serious, but it does blur the lines and I would recommend skipping it to anyone triggered by domestic violence.
There really isn’t DV in this, but some of what’s said can be misconstrued and sounds very similar to things people going through DV would say to their abusers. I do have examples from all of the books, and I’m planning on doing a BIG (spoiler free) review of the series once I finish the last one where I’ll go into it a bit more.
I do have one major qualm with the series - with context, it doesn’t seem as serious, but it does blur the lines and I would recommend skipping it to anyone triggered by domestic violence.
There really isn’t DV in this, but some of what’s said can be misconstrued and sounds very similar to things people going through DV would say to their abusers. I do have examples from all of the books, and I’m planning on doing a BIG (spoiler free) review of the series once I finish the last one where I’ll go into it a bit more.
August 26, 2021
5 stars - you don’t understand, I am... obsessed. The tropes in this book are just top tier. We have an amazing still developing romance that is serving some unrequited love angst. There is the plot that has made it so that even me as a reader, just like the fmc, can’t even pick a side. Both sides are bad and good if that makes sense, and I love that! To add to that we have corruption trope as we see how our fmc goes from innocent girl to her own form of what some may call a monster. Amazing.
Ratings:
• characters: 5/5
• romance: 5/5
• plot: 5/5
• spice scale: 2.5/5
• angst scale: 3.5/5
Ratings:
• characters: 5/5
• romance: 5/5
• plot: 5/5
• spice scale: 2.5/5
• angst scale: 3.5/5
February 23, 2022
Coming to a head
The war is brewing and everyone will have to pick sides. I can't say how much I love the give and take banter between Cora and Simon. Still.
The war is brewing and everyone will have to pick sides. I can't say how much I love the give and take banter between Cora and Simon. Still.
November 12, 2020
I think this series has officially surpassed my love for the author's Masks of Under series!
Cora was spectacular at the end! I was so hoping that is the way she would go and it was so satisfying.
I adore Simon, as well. He is such a fantastic character and his relationship with Cora is adorable on so many levels.
I definitely recommend this series. Who doesn't love a man eating murder circus?
Cora was spectacular at the end! I was so hoping that is the way she would go and it was so satisfying.
I adore Simon, as well. He is such a fantastic character and his relationship with Cora is adorable on so many levels.
I definitely recommend this series. Who doesn't love a man eating murder circus?
October 29, 2020
Oh Ringmaster. I definitely needed to digest this one for a few days before I wrote my review. It left me with terrible book hangover. By now in the series droning on about how amazing KAK is and how sturdy her characters are and how beautifully her worlds evolve and expand the further you get into the series would really just be putting my reviews for her on repeat. All of the above, though redundant in nature, is completely true. There are also several Easter eggs that tie her other writing into this story, which has been very fun looking for. Now, down to our characters.
Cora battles with herself in this story as she is the key that unlocks the future for the faire. It is all dependent upon which path she chooses, which person she truly is deep down. Reading her struggle from one side of her true nature to the other is relatable (especially for a non-confrontationalist like myself).
Simon. When you meet Simon in our first book you see a fully developed character, but in The Ringmaster you see a character, completely set in their ways, start to change (whether he realizes it or not). His selfishness and ego step out of the way to embrace something greater than himself. Having thrown away the softer side of himself years past to survive mentally, he's beginning to reclaim that portion and do something he hasn't done in over a hundred years.
Our supporting cast comes in for a much stronger performance influencing our lead female and drawing her into the faire like Family.
Beautifully written. The struggles are real. Love this story.
Cora battles with herself in this story as she is the key that unlocks the future for the faire. It is all dependent upon which path she chooses, which person she truly is deep down. Reading her struggle from one side of her true nature to the other is relatable (especially for a non-confrontationalist like myself).
Simon. When you meet Simon in our first book you see a fully developed character, but in The Ringmaster you see a character, completely set in their ways, start to change (whether he realizes it or not). His selfishness and ego step out of the way to embrace something greater than himself. Having thrown away the softer side of himself years past to survive mentally, he's beginning to reclaim that portion and do something he hasn't done in over a hundred years.
Our supporting cast comes in for a much stronger performance influencing our lead female and drawing her into the faire like Family.
Beautifully written. The struggles are real. Love this story.
December 26, 2021
I like the uniqueness of this story.
Neither the female lead or the male lead are anything like what you would expect from main characters.
Which means you get scenarios that will no doubt surprise you.
I have no idea how the story will wrap up in the next book. And I certainly like that. I can’t find a way to predict the ending.
I do have one comment. There seems to be a lot of repetition at points and I feel like maybe we’ve already heard this thought three or four times from our female MC, and we can move on. But other than that I am entertained and I will certainly finish the series.
Neither the female lead or the male lead are anything like what you would expect from main characters.
Which means you get scenarios that will no doubt surprise you.
I have no idea how the story will wrap up in the next book. And I certainly like that. I can’t find a way to predict the ending.
I do have one comment. There seems to be a lot of repetition at points and I feel like maybe we’ve already heard this thought three or four times from our female MC, and we can move on. But other than that I am entertained and I will certainly finish the series.
July 2, 2021
The series started off pretty promising but this book kind of made me realize that:
1. Five separate books in this series is overkill, it stretches the plot and makes some parts drag longer than others
2. I kind of liked Simon, then I was reminded that he is in fact a bit psychotic and there’s nothing attractive about that
3. Cora is constantly forgiving Simon and making allowances and I hate it when the mc’s do that for their men
4. The other characters didn’t feel super fleshed out
5. The whole plot was kind of depressing in a way
Just wasn’t feeling this one
1. Five separate books in this series is overkill, it stretches the plot and makes some parts drag longer than others
2. I kind of liked Simon, then I was reminded that he is in fact a bit psychotic and there’s nothing attractive about that
3. Cora is constantly forgiving Simon and making allowances and I hate it when the mc’s do that for their men
4. The other characters didn’t feel super fleshed out
5. The whole plot was kind of depressing in a way
Just wasn’t feeling this one
November 9, 2022
[1.5 stars]
Considering that it's supposed to be a dark fantasy/occult horror book, I'm missing a lot of the creepy circus aspect and it's getting less prominent as I go through the series.
The Ringmaster in particular is probably the most boring one in the Harrow Faire so far, as it mainly focuses on the repetitive banter between Cora and Simon. And despite the stakes being supposedly high I can't bring myself to get invested, to me it's just fluff with a couple of intense scenes sprinkled in.
Considering that it's supposed to be a dark fantasy/occult horror book, I'm missing a lot of the creepy circus aspect and it's getting less prominent as I go through the series.
The Ringmaster in particular is probably the most boring one in the Harrow Faire so far, as it mainly focuses on the repetitive banter between Cora and Simon. And despite the stakes being supposedly high I can't bring myself to get invested, to me it's just fluff with a couple of intense scenes sprinkled in.
November 28, 2021
I am OBSESSED.
January 21, 2022
for the record: yes, simon's shadow is still superior.
July 11, 2024
Oh, boy! The plot thickens!
Cora and Simon continue to be adorable and completely spicy. You would think that after four books these two would become boring or trite. Not the case, in my opinion. I think the pacing for their character/relationship arcs has been incredible! It has been a grand time! I'm sad that this fun journey will be ending soon...
Cora and Simon continue to be adorable and completely spicy. You would think that after four books these two would become boring or trite. Not the case, in my opinion. I think the pacing for their character/relationship arcs has been incredible! It has been a grand time! I'm sad that this fun journey will be ending soon...
November 9, 2020
Sooooo goooood! The Ringmaster is a wonderful continuation of the Harrow Faire series. Can't wait to see how Simon fights to protect Cora and help her.
March 4, 2022
What a wild ride. Definitely recommend 😈
November 9, 2020
Yes!!!
You ever completed a book and it left you feeling giddy? Elated? Sated?
Buzzing with emotional energy?
This is one of those reads
How this series can get better I honestly don't know
Kingsley once again shattered my expectations
"When in doubt lean into the crazy"
Happy for Cora that she finally sees past those darn rose colored lenses
"Is this happiness? I think it is. Well would you look at that."
Ecstatic for Simon that he feels - sure it is a bit of fear mixed with hero worship and we all know he isn't going to let anyone see - but still he can't ignore the heartburn in his chest any longer
" it is tragic in its futility, but respectable in its nobility "
And Turk I never liked your judgmental fake pompous arse - I know you believe you are protecting and caring for them but you are only feeding your beliefs stealing their choices - I don't know the outcome but I hope balance is restored
And Jack you silly fool - tell her!
One of the best (and I do not say that lightly) Fantasy villain romance series I have ever read.
Trust me one click this one
You ever completed a book and it left you feeling giddy? Elated? Sated?
Buzzing with emotional energy?
This is one of those reads
How this series can get better I honestly don't know
Kingsley once again shattered my expectations
"When in doubt lean into the crazy"
Happy for Cora that she finally sees past those darn rose colored lenses
"Is this happiness? I think it is. Well would you look at that."
Ecstatic for Simon that he feels - sure it is a bit of fear mixed with hero worship and we all know he isn't going to let anyone see - but still he can't ignore the heartburn in his chest any longer
" it is tragic in its futility, but respectable in its nobility "
And Turk I never liked your judgmental fake pompous arse - I know you believe you are protecting and caring for them but you are only feeding your beliefs stealing their choices - I don't know the outcome but I hope balance is restored
And Jack you silly fool - tell her!
One of the best (and I do not say that lightly) Fantasy villain romance series I have ever read.
Trust me one click this one
June 6, 2024
Despite the fact that I disliked the first book immensely and never truly vibed with book 2, I have come to enjoy this series immensely.
The writing has improved by a lot, which means that there is a lot less telling and more showing.
While book 3 was mostly romance, book 4 here is character development.
The FMC, Cora, knows in her hearts of hearts that a horrible service will be asked of her (and it is) and she struggles to make a decision on whether to do it (while hating doing it and hating to become the person who would to ~ the thing ~) or not do it (with terrible results for everyone).
It's a LOT of waffling. Waffling is hard to write because it has to be a) in line with what this character would actually do but also b) not as annoyingly back and forth and indecisive as real people can be about stuff.
I mean, IRL people can waffle FOR YEARS, but reading a novel about that would be torturous, not matter how horrible both choices could be.
So we watch Cora waffle on, and it's not so bad. KAK tries her best to convince us that this is a very difficult decision because both outcomes kinda suck, which would be true in real life, but on paper, the situation could not be any clearer.
We even get Ringmasters POV! We get shiny tales and dream sequences. It's done pretty well, for waffling.
I think to be a better novel, this one would have needed at least one or two more prominent side plots and - gasp - more involvement from the huge cast of characters that readers, even after 4 novels, still don't really KNOW.
The Faire is supposed to be 21 people - I guess 19 now - but how many of them tädo we MEET?
Sure, there are some lines of dialogue, all of them are mentioned, they watch a movie, Cora has off-page training time with them, she "likes" a bunch of them.
But really what we experience is Cora and Simon, Cora and Simon Shadow, a lil Ringmaster POV, plus one convo with Zookeeper that ran deeper.
And that's about it. Note that I don't count Jack because that dialogue rang artificial to me and not sincere and we still didn't get to know him.
That's just 4 characters. What about the other 15? What about the ladies??
Does this even ace the Bechdel test?
The writing has improved by a lot, which means that there is a lot less telling and more showing.
While book 3 was mostly romance, book 4 here is character development.
The FMC, Cora, knows in her hearts of hearts that a horrible service will be asked of her (and it is) and she struggles to make a decision on whether to do it (while hating doing it and hating to become the person who would to ~ the thing ~) or not do it (with terrible results for everyone).
It's a LOT of waffling. Waffling is hard to write because it has to be a) in line with what this character would actually do but also b) not as annoyingly back and forth and indecisive as real people can be about stuff.
I mean, IRL people can waffle FOR YEARS, but reading a novel about that would be torturous, not matter how horrible both choices could be.
So we watch Cora waffle on, and it's not so bad. KAK tries her best to convince us that this is a very difficult decision because both outcomes kinda suck, which would be true in real life, but on paper, the situation could not be any clearer.
We even get Ringmasters POV! We get shiny tales and dream sequences. It's done pretty well, for waffling.
I think to be a better novel, this one would have needed at least one or two more prominent side plots and - gasp - more involvement from the huge cast of characters that readers, even after 4 novels, still don't really KNOW.
The Faire is supposed to be 21 people - I guess 19 now - but how many of them tädo we MEET?
Sure, there are some lines of dialogue, all of them are mentioned, they watch a movie, Cora has off-page training time with them, she "likes" a bunch of them.
But really what we experience is Cora and Simon, Cora and Simon Shadow, a lil Ringmaster POV, plus one convo with Zookeeper that ran deeper.
And that's about it. Note that I don't count Jack because that dialogue rang artificial to me and not sincere and we still didn't get to know him.
That's just 4 characters. What about the other 15? What about the ladies??
Does this even ace the Bechdel test?
September 9, 2021
This felt like more of an in-between, build up book for me— and that’s okay, it just wasn’t as attention-grabbing as the others set me up to expect. There were certainly more emotional scenes included in this one, and those were my favorite aspects. The ending of this book is *CHEFS KISS*. I hope all the dots connect for me in the last book!
November 9, 2023
If I had a dollar every time Cora says “I hate you” to any character, I’d be rolling in money😭😭
Some of the dialogue is so cringeee “what in the name of sweet buttery Jesus Christ on a pogo stick is wrong with me?” GIRL everything. That said, I am enjoying her descent into darkness and gradual corruption
Some of the dialogue is so cringeee “what in the name of sweet buttery Jesus Christ on a pogo stick is wrong with me?” GIRL everything. That said, I am enjoying her descent into darkness and gradual corruption
August 26, 2021
5 stars! This book is my fave in the series. I literally felt so emotional in some scenes. And even when I wanted to hate certain people, I could still understand their actions. It had me feeling sympathy for the man-eating murder circus :')
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