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Dark Circus #1
The Girl Who Joined the Circus
Cirque du Noir… the circus of the night, where the line between the real and the imagined is a thin one.
It’s 1930, I’m nineteen years old, and I have high hopes of joining the circus with my best friend, Amelia.
But when I find myself alone at the train station with no sign of Amelia, I have no choice but to find my own way to the Cirque du Noir, all the while figuring Amelia must have already arrived.
As I reach the circus grounds, I’m summarily greeted by the alluring owner of the circus and ringmaster, Laurent, who tells me he’s been awaiting my arrival.
And yet there’s still no sign of Amelia…
I soon learn she’s had to rush back home to tend to a family emergency, which means I’m now all alone as I embark on the next chapter of my life.
While Laurent welcomes me to his circus wholeheartedly, something about him feels off—though I can’t put my finger on just what. Perhaps the strange feeling is owing to the fact that I feel like I know him—that I’ve known him my whole life, and yet, I’ve never laid eyes on him before.
Or maybe it’s the circus itself—the more time I spend here, the stranger things get—like seeing people whose faces I can’t make out, or an old gypsy woman I’m reasonably convinced is a ghost, or the caravan parked on the far side of the circus which is off-limits. Yet, I can’t help but feel an unearthly call to the place.
Or maybe all the angst I’m feeling is owing to one Rex, the caretaker, and manager of Cirque du Noir.
For as charismatic and charming as Laurent is, Rex is the opposite. Dour, rude, and quick to anger, it’s clear Rex not only doesn’t want me here but also harbors a grudge against me though I don’t know why.
Even though I have the same sense of familiarity with Rex that I do with Laurent, with his surly attitude, Rex makes me nothing but nervous.
And yet I can’t deny that I’m drawn to him—that he makes me feel a passion the likes of which I’ve never experienced before. Strangely, I feel a similar draw to Laurent, and I’m convinced they feel it too.
Between searching for answers to the myriad of questions regarding the Cirque du Noir, Laurent, and Rex, I wonder if perhaps I’ve made a colossal mistake in joining the circus…
It’s 1930, I’m nineteen years old, and I have high hopes of joining the circus with my best friend, Amelia.
But when I find myself alone at the train station with no sign of Amelia, I have no choice but to find my own way to the Cirque du Noir, all the while figuring Amelia must have already arrived.
As I reach the circus grounds, I’m summarily greeted by the alluring owner of the circus and ringmaster, Laurent, who tells me he’s been awaiting my arrival.
And yet there’s still no sign of Amelia…
I soon learn she’s had to rush back home to tend to a family emergency, which means I’m now all alone as I embark on the next chapter of my life.
While Laurent welcomes me to his circus wholeheartedly, something about him feels off—though I can’t put my finger on just what. Perhaps the strange feeling is owing to the fact that I feel like I know him—that I’ve known him my whole life, and yet, I’ve never laid eyes on him before.
Or maybe it’s the circus itself—the more time I spend here, the stranger things get—like seeing people whose faces I can’t make out, or an old gypsy woman I’m reasonably convinced is a ghost, or the caravan parked on the far side of the circus which is off-limits. Yet, I can’t help but feel an unearthly call to the place.
Or maybe all the angst I’m feeling is owing to one Rex, the caretaker, and manager of Cirque du Noir.
For as charismatic and charming as Laurent is, Rex is the opposite. Dour, rude, and quick to anger, it’s clear Rex not only doesn’t want me here but also harbors a grudge against me though I don’t know why.
Even though I have the same sense of familiarity with Rex that I do with Laurent, with his surly attitude, Rex makes me nothing but nervous.
And yet I can’t deny that I’m drawn to him—that he makes me feel a passion the likes of which I’ve never experienced before. Strangely, I feel a similar draw to Laurent, and I’m convinced they feel it too.
Between searching for answers to the myriad of questions regarding the Cirque du Noir, Laurent, and Rex, I wonder if perhaps I’ve made a colossal mistake in joining the circus…
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2022
116 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Rain
686 books1,728 followersJ.R. Rain is the author of 110 novels and counting. He lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest, where he's hard at work on his next novel... and fighting off sparkly vampires.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 14, 2022
Bindi and her friend Amelia always wanted to join the circus and display their acts. When the chance finally seizes them, they are to meet in a little town at the rail station to try out. When Bindi arrives, her friend is nowhere to be found. Thinking that is quite odd, she goes to the circus. When she meets the bearded lady, she directs her to the ringmaster, Laurent. He takes her to his office and she notices a poster with an identical woman on it who looks exactly like her. They are interrupted by another man, Rex. When she tries out for the circus, as a contortionist, many unsettling things begin to occur! She is told her friend came but had to leave abruptly because of a family emergency. Taking that in stride, she starts exploring during the evening hours. She goes to a place that is forbidden and finds peculiar animals and dolls…that seem alive! As they travel town to town, she has the feeling that Laurent, Rex, and her all know one another already, and intimacy occurred. She is still losing her memory of her past…why? Even more strange things occur~ When the twin acrobats have it in for her and nearly kill her, things become even weirder…many speak they will be coming to an end soon…what do they mean? She cannot get any straight answers…and had one encounter with an old woman who told her not trust anyone! This book is somewhat macabre; it will definitely hold your attention, and you will want to know what exactly is going on~ The end is a cliffhanger that leaves you perplexed and wanting the second book immediately! What is going on with Bindi? The circus? The people in the circus? The posters? The dolls? So many secrets with no forthcoming answers…stay tuned!
July 25, 2022
Welcome to small town America in the 1930's where Bindi and her best friend Amelia decide to run away and join the circus but not just any circus but the Cirque du Noir . When she arrives she is told that her best friend had to go home for a family emergency . She was to audition anyway . She meets Laurent they ring master and owner of the circus . There is something about him that she can't put her finger on. There is a sense of familiarity but she just can't remember how she knows him , then there is Rex who makes her feel a passion that she has never felt before and then there is also the familiarity that she just can't put her finger on. Trying to figure out what is the feelings she has for both men she is also trying to figure out the mysteries behind the circus and if joining them was a big mistake
This is one of those books that have such a wide range of characters from various backgrounds in this book . We have the bearded woman to a snake charmer . The main character Bindi is a young woman who wants to better life, she is a sweet girl who is very inquisitive. She has a talent for contortion but there is something more about her that we get a sense through out the book. Laurent is well he has an air about him but there is something sinister about him deep down . You really can't trust him he gives off such a weird vibe . Rex well he is the strong silent type of guy who comes of gruff but underneath he is the guy that would be there when you need him . All the characters are well written and complex .
This is one of those books that really gets under your skin . The characters alone are worth reading the book for . The authors paint a picture of 1930s America and what it was like to be there . This is a mystery with a little bit of romance involved and it also feels paranormal in so many ways . This is an unique story that will have you flipping the pages . So if you want a story that will have you wondering what the heck is going on . Check out the first book in a brand new series . You will not be disappointed a great book for the end of your summer reading list
This is one of those books that have such a wide range of characters from various backgrounds in this book . We have the bearded woman to a snake charmer . The main character Bindi is a young woman who wants to better life, she is a sweet girl who is very inquisitive. She has a talent for contortion but there is something more about her that we get a sense through out the book. Laurent is well he has an air about him but there is something sinister about him deep down . You really can't trust him he gives off such a weird vibe . Rex well he is the strong silent type of guy who comes of gruff but underneath he is the guy that would be there when you need him . All the characters are well written and complex .
This is one of those books that really gets under your skin . The characters alone are worth reading the book for . The authors paint a picture of 1930s America and what it was like to be there . This is a mystery with a little bit of romance involved and it also feels paranormal in so many ways . This is an unique story that will have you flipping the pages . So if you want a story that will have you wondering what the heck is going on . Check out the first book in a brand new series . You will not be disappointed a great book for the end of your summer reading list
October 4, 2022
Fantastic start to this dark and spooky series.
This is the first book in a new dark and spooky trilogy from HP Mallory and JR Rain. The story is set in 1930s rural USA.
I loved this book. I genuinely couldn’t put it down and I blasted through it in one evening. Definitely a page-turner. Excellent, fascinating characters and fantastic world building.
The story is told from the point of view of its main character, nineteen-year-old Bindi, who has left her home to meet her best friend Amelia and join the Cirque du Noir as a contortionist. Amelia doesn’t show up for their meeting so Bindi goes ahead and joins on her own.
As its name suggests, the Cirque du Noir is a dark and twisted place. Many of the performers are what would then have been considered to be freaks. Reality is blurred and all is not what it seems.
It would seem that Bindi is expected, though she cannot work out how or why. There are posters with pictures of a young woman who looks exactly like her and both the owner and the manager feel very familiar to her, although she could swear she’s never met them before. The longer Bindi stays, the less she can remember about her life before. She is drawn to the forbidden black caravan at the outskirts of the Cirque; a place she has been warned never to enter alone. Naturally, her curiosity gets the better of her and what she finds in there is shocking.
I absolutely cannot wait to get into book two.
This is the first book in a new dark and spooky trilogy from HP Mallory and JR Rain. The story is set in 1930s rural USA.
I loved this book. I genuinely couldn’t put it down and I blasted through it in one evening. Definitely a page-turner. Excellent, fascinating characters and fantastic world building.
The story is told from the point of view of its main character, nineteen-year-old Bindi, who has left her home to meet her best friend Amelia and join the Cirque du Noir as a contortionist. Amelia doesn’t show up for their meeting so Bindi goes ahead and joins on her own.
As its name suggests, the Cirque du Noir is a dark and twisted place. Many of the performers are what would then have been considered to be freaks. Reality is blurred and all is not what it seems.
It would seem that Bindi is expected, though she cannot work out how or why. There are posters with pictures of a young woman who looks exactly like her and both the owner and the manager feel very familiar to her, although she could swear she’s never met them before. The longer Bindi stays, the less she can remember about her life before. She is drawn to the forbidden black caravan at the outskirts of the Cirque; a place she has been warned never to enter alone. Naturally, her curiosity gets the better of her and what she finds in there is shocking.
I absolutely cannot wait to get into book two.
July 28, 2022
The Girl Who Joined the Circus is full of secrets, strange occurrences, and intriguing circumstances. I was drawn into this book with its mysterious goings-on, dark and spooky themes, and a world that dances on the edge of familiarity.
Bindi has dreamed of joining the circus so when her friend Amelia suggests they meet at the latest location of the of the Cirque du Noir, Bindi jumps at the chance. Her arrival is lowkey and minus once friend, Amelia having returned back home to attend to an emergency. All alone and experiencing very strange occurrences on the circus grounds, things continue to become more curious for Bindi. So many questions, no one willing to talk, and two infuriating men who both tug at her heart.
Bindi moves through the entire story on the fringe. She’s never been to the circus, but everyone here is familiar like she knows them, has seen them, and has been a part of their lives. This book will draw you in and keep you engaged from the start. The characters are complex, well-written, and interesting. And that ending….I cannot wait for the next book.
Bindi has dreamed of joining the circus so when her friend Amelia suggests they meet at the latest location of the of the Cirque du Noir, Bindi jumps at the chance. Her arrival is lowkey and minus once friend, Amelia having returned back home to attend to an emergency. All alone and experiencing very strange occurrences on the circus grounds, things continue to become more curious for Bindi. So many questions, no one willing to talk, and two infuriating men who both tug at her heart.
Bindi moves through the entire story on the fringe. She’s never been to the circus, but everyone here is familiar like she knows them, has seen them, and has been a part of their lives. This book will draw you in and keep you engaged from the start. The characters are complex, well-written, and interesting. And that ending….I cannot wait for the next book.
October 3, 2022
Entertaining fantasy listening 🎶🔰
Another will written fantasy world 🌎 haunting horror ghost 👻 adventure thriller short story by J. R. Rain ☔ and H. P. Mallory (The Dark Circus Trilogy book one). A girl 👧 joins the circus and all kinds of strange things are happening. Her act is different and becomes fan favorite then trouble beings. Then she finds her friend that was joining the circus with her. Her friend is a China doll, continued in book two. I would recommend this novella and series to readers of fantasy mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to all kinds of different types of novellas, novels 👍🔰, and books 📚. 2022 👒😉
Another will written fantasy world 🌎 haunting horror ghost 👻 adventure thriller short story by J. R. Rain ☔ and H. P. Mallory (The Dark Circus Trilogy book one). A girl 👧 joins the circus and all kinds of strange things are happening. Her act is different and becomes fan favorite then trouble beings. Then she finds her friend that was joining the circus with her. Her friend is a China doll, continued in book two. I would recommend this novella and series to readers of fantasy mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to all kinds of different types of novellas, novels 👍🔰, and books 📚. 2022 👒😉
August 2, 2023
eerily clever
Things are strange for Bindi as she joins the circus. She was supposed to meet her best friend there at the same time but Amelia wasn’t there and the people seem to know her. Not only that but she has a feeling she knows some of them and there are pictures of someone that looks like her. Plus really strange stuff is happening like her memory; she can’t remember things before. Then there is the black caravan and the two men that she feels things for. This is an eerily clever book written with just enough mystery and scare to keep you reading just to know why. Bit of a cliffhanger…..can’t wait for the rest
Things are strange for Bindi as she joins the circus. She was supposed to meet her best friend there at the same time but Amelia wasn’t there and the people seem to know her. Not only that but she has a feeling she knows some of them and there are pictures of someone that looks like her. Plus really strange stuff is happening like her memory; she can’t remember things before. Then there is the black caravan and the two men that she feels things for. This is an eerily clever book written with just enough mystery and scare to keep you reading just to know why. Bit of a cliffhanger…..can’t wait for the rest
July 30, 2022
Expect The Unexpected!
This book took me about two chapters to really get into. That is okay because the authors were setting the stage, the intrigue and mystery that was to come. Bindi and her friend Amelia are suppose to join the circus, but Amelia doesn’t show. That doesn’t stop Bindi from trying out and joining the Circus. So many twists and turns happen that keep you wondering what is going to happen next. With the way the book ended, I can’t wait to read the next one!
This book took me about two chapters to really get into. That is okay because the authors were setting the stage, the intrigue and mystery that was to come. Bindi and her friend Amelia are suppose to join the circus, but Amelia doesn’t show. That doesn’t stop Bindi from trying out and joining the Circus. So many twists and turns happen that keep you wondering what is going to happen next. With the way the book ended, I can’t wait to read the next one!
July 19, 2022
I'm intrigued by the start of this new series. When a 19 year old girl decides to join the circus, all kinds of mysterious and spooky things start to happen. Laurent and Rex have her mind all confused and body all confused. She is not sure who to trust and neither am I but I am ready for the next book in the series!
July 22, 2022
A unique story
I thought at first that this was going to be similar to Cirque du Freak, but was quickly proved wrong. This was very different from what I'm used to reading from these authors. I can't wait to read the next installment to find out more about the mysterious circus and how Bindi fits into the big picture.
I thought at first that this was going to be similar to Cirque du Freak, but was quickly proved wrong. This was very different from what I'm used to reading from these authors. I can't wait to read the next installment to find out more about the mysterious circus and how Bindi fits into the big picture.
July 29, 2022
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.
I loved this book! The first in a new series and it did not disappoint! It’s full of secrets & such an interesting storyline you can’t help but read it in one setting! I really enjoyed the bit of creepiness this book had & I’m looking forward to more!
I loved this book! The first in a new series and it did not disappoint! It’s full of secrets & such an interesting storyline you can’t help but read it in one setting! I really enjoyed the bit of creepiness this book had & I’m looking forward to more!
September 9, 2022
different
This is a new and different twist to Rain’s and Mallory’s creations. It doesn’t disappoint and keeps the mystery alive throughout the entire story. The authors do a wonderful job of painting the scene around the main characters. I’m looking forward to reading more and finding out what is really going on at this circus.
This is a new and different twist to Rain’s and Mallory’s creations. It doesn’t disappoint and keeps the mystery alive throughout the entire story. The authors do a wonderful job of painting the scene around the main characters. I’m looking forward to reading more and finding out what is really going on at this circus.
October 11, 2022
2 stars =ok. Weird and atmospheric, the leading lady chases her lifelong dream of joining the circus, but Cirque du Noir has some some secrets. I read all three of these and had a pretty good idea of what was going on before the LL figures things out. With the way the series ends, all three books should have been one book.
July 25, 2022
This book took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting it to be so good and different. I was reading as fast as I could to figure out where this story was going. it was a very fast read. Love all the characters I met along the way. So many questions. I look forward to finding out what happens next.
October 23, 2022
Intriguing!
I'm really taken with with this story. Very mysterious things keep happening to Bindi after joining the circus. She sees things that aren't there, suddenly can't remember her past, has deja vu about the 2 men running this circus. I can't wait to read the next book!
I'm really taken with with this story. Very mysterious things keep happening to Bindi after joining the circus. She sees things that aren't there, suddenly can't remember her past, has deja vu about the 2 men running this circus. I can't wait to read the next book!
August 3, 2022
This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was imaginative, fast-paced and held my interest. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
September 25, 2022
amazing
fantastic story. I didn't know what to expect but I was not disappointed. circus performers, magic, and mystery all in one great first book in the series
fantastic story. I didn't know what to expect but I was not disappointed. circus performers, magic, and mystery all in one great first book in the series
October 29, 2022
Different. Sorta scary.
This is one of those stories that is typical of circuses. They creep me out. It is definitely worth reading.
This is one of those stories that is typical of circuses. They creep me out. It is definitely worth reading.
November 6, 2022
Neat paranormal circus tale
Nice lead. Not one that need be a constant snarker.Which is endemic in many books. Good prose. Lovely quick read.
Nice lead. Not one that need be a constant snarker.Which is endemic in many books. Good prose. Lovely quick read.
December 8, 2022
Fun
This book was quite different and I loved every minute. I just hate the cliffhanger but at least the next book is out! Great enjoyable read
This book was quite different and I loved every minute. I just hate the cliffhanger but at least the next book is out! Great enjoyable read
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews