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Ben and Fran #2
Circus of the Darned
I've given up all hope of having a normal life. As if things aren't freaky enough traveling around Europe with a group of witches, mediums, and magicians who make up my home-away-from-home (aka the GothFaire), now I also have to cope with a mysterious man who wants to steal my horse, and a time-travel counselor who insists I'm Cleopatra reincarnated.
I just want to go on a date with Benedikt, but when your boyfriend's a vampire, nothing is easy. Not only is Ben keeping secrets from me, but somehow, I raised an entire battlefield of warring Viking ghosts-- all of whom refuse to be sent back.
And I thought all I had to worry about was what to wear on my date...
I just want to go on a date with Benedikt, but when your boyfriend's a vampire, nothing is easy. Not only is Ben keeping secrets from me, but somehow, I raised an entire battlefield of warring Viking ghosts-- all of whom refuse to be sent back.
And I thought all I had to worry about was what to wear on my date...
182 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2006
11 people are currently reading
1218 people want to read
About the author
Katie Maxwell
21 books179 followersKatie Maxwell is a pseudonym of
Katie MacAlister
.
Katie MacAlister is a Seattle-area author of fiction and non-fiction. Her most popular titles are historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance. She also writes Young Adult books under the pseudonym Katie Maxwell and Mysteries under the pseudonym Kate Marsh.
About Katie
as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn't think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes.
Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books later, her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and placed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell.
Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online.
Contact Katie
You can write to Katie at katie@katiemacalister.com or via snail mail at:
Katie MacAlister
c/o Three Seas Literary Agency
PO Box 8571
Madison, WI 53708
Katie MacAlister is a Seattle-area author of fiction and non-fiction. Her most popular titles are historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance. She also writes Young Adult books under the pseudonym Katie Maxwell and Mysteries under the pseudonym Kate Marsh.
About Katie
as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn't think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes.
Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books later, her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and placed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell.
Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online.
Contact Katie
You can write to Katie at katie@katiemacalister.com or via snail mail at:
Katie MacAlister
c/o Three Seas Literary Agency
PO Box 8571
Madison, WI 53708
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
December 26, 2015
I have so looked forward to this book for so long...
It was a cute book, pretty much picking up where we left off in Got Fangs. It was not quite as good as Got Fangs, but I still enjoyed it.
I loved all the old characters, and absolutely loved many of the new one's, particularly the Viking ones!! They have some really interesting date advice, everyone in this book seemed to have some kind of advice for Fran and her first date with Ben.
The book itself didn't seem to move as well as the first one though and that was somewhat disappointing after waiting so long to read it.
Another huge disappointment is that these books are not new and Circus of the Darned left a fairly sizable cliffhanger and thats it.....no more books. I would like to see Ben and Fran keep going. I would like to see Fran grow up and leave Ben even maybe to see the world and what trouble she can get into. Regardless of what it is, I would like to have seen more and its disappointing that it stops where it does.
That aside, the book was cute, read Got Fangs first so that this book is more easily understood. Its a relatively quick and easy reader, just somewhat slower (for me) then the first book was.
It was a cute book, pretty much picking up where we left off in Got Fangs. It was not quite as good as Got Fangs, but I still enjoyed it.
I loved all the old characters, and absolutely loved many of the new one's, particularly the Viking ones!! They have some really interesting date advice, everyone in this book seemed to have some kind of advice for Fran and her first date with Ben.
The book itself didn't seem to move as well as the first one though and that was somewhat disappointing after waiting so long to read it.
Another huge disappointment is that these books are not new and Circus of the Darned left a fairly sizable cliffhanger and thats it.....no more books. I would like to see Ben and Fran keep going. I would like to see Fran grow up and leave Ben even maybe to see the world and what trouble she can get into. Regardless of what it is, I would like to have seen more and its disappointing that it stops where it does.
That aside, the book was cute, read Got Fangs first so that this book is more easily understood. Its a relatively quick and easy reader, just somewhat slower (for me) then the first book was.
January 13, 2009
This book is great because it throws just about everything under the sun into it. My favourite thing about this book centers around the main characters upcoming first date with her boyfriend. Now how you can have a boyfriend you've never been out with, we'll leave by the wayside. What is the most fun is that everyone and their Viking Ghost wants to tell her just how to have a great first date.
And the advice is PRICELESS.
I was in stitches.
And the advice is PRICELESS.
I was in stitches.
August 20, 2021
I only read it because I am cleaning out my stash. The title was the best part.
November 27, 2017
Note: I did not read book 1; I picked this up at a book sale and didn't realize it was book 2.
Overall the story is very interesting. I could pick up nicely even though the base plot is a continuation. The exposition provided enough information from book one that I could understand the underlying relationships. The main plot for this book didn't quite tie up nicely in the end I I believe we will see more of Loki in the future.
I found the viking ghosts amusing.
Definitely fits the YA Paranormal genre. Some of the situations and innuendos led me to believe a movie version would be PG-13.
Fran is a complicated main character. I'm not 100% sure I liked her. She's 16 and acts 5 now and then. Sometimes she's petulant other times she's on point. Easily distracted. She's definitely not listening to those around her.
I liked reading the story. (Don't let my read dates fool you, I would have finished earlier if it had not been for a full work schedule and getting laid up sick - the kind where it's too much effort to hold a book.) It was fun and interesting and offered a new twist on a traveling carnival. Depending on how long the series is, I might look into reading more.
Overall the story is very interesting. I could pick up nicely even though the base plot is a continuation. The exposition provided enough information from book one that I could understand the underlying relationships. The main plot for this book didn't quite tie up nicely in the end I I believe we will see more of Loki in the future.
I found the viking ghosts amusing.
Definitely fits the YA Paranormal genre. Some of the situations and innuendos led me to believe a movie version would be PG-13.
Fran is a complicated main character. I'm not 100% sure I liked her. She's 16 and acts 5 now and then. Sometimes she's petulant other times she's on point. Easily distracted. She's definitely not listening to those around her.
I liked reading the story. (Don't let my read dates fool you, I would have finished earlier if it had not been for a full work schedule and getting laid up sick - the kind where it's too much effort to hold a book.) It was fun and interesting and offered a new twist on a traveling carnival. Depending on how long the series is, I might look into reading more.
April 11, 2023
Re-Read: April 2023
Format: MMP
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Content: lots of innuendo/sex talk, a descriptive "shower scene," kissing/making out, animal abduction, lots of threats of Viking/god violence
Wow this was terrible. I enjoyed the nostalgia of the first one, but this one was just awful. Once more there were a lot of plot threads, but this time they were all so random and ill-fitting. Really, everything that happened in the book was random and ill-fitting, and absolutely ridiculous. As for the budding romance, their first date was for some reason A Big Deal that every single character had to give advice on - all of which was sexual in some nature and completely inappropriate for a typical teen first date. And then there was the shower scene... *shakes head* I don't care what it's labeled as: a teen book this was not. New Adult maybe, even if the protagonist was only 16. Overall, unlike the first book I had to force myself to read this one just to have read it one last time before I purged it from my collection.
Format: MMP
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Content: lots of innuendo/sex talk, a descriptive "shower scene," kissing/making out, animal abduction, lots of threats of Viking/god violence
Wow this was terrible. I enjoyed the nostalgia of the first one, but this one was just awful. Once more there were a lot of plot threads, but this time they were all so random and ill-fitting. Really, everything that happened in the book was random and ill-fitting, and absolutely ridiculous. As for the budding romance, their first date was for some reason A Big Deal that every single character had to give advice on - all of which was sexual in some nature and completely inappropriate for a typical teen first date. And then there was the shower scene... *shakes head* I don't care what it's labeled as: a teen book this was not. New Adult maybe, even if the protagonist was only 16. Overall, unlike the first book I had to force myself to read this one just to have read it one last time before I purged it from my collection.
March 4, 2017
Cute and funny.
January 2, 2018
I loved the Viking ghosts in the book. They kept me laughing all the way through!
February 14, 2018
Katie's books are always a fun read, and this was no different. the second in a series about Fran, her mom, and other folks in the Goth Faire.
August 26, 2021
There was a lot going on in this book. But like… I liked it. Viking ghosts, Norse gods, and vampires? Sign me up. This was a hilarious ride.
May 30, 2022
These books are just awful!
December 24, 2024
I only read it because I am cleaning out my stash. The title was the best part.
November 16, 2008
Circus of the Darned is the follow-up to 2005's Got Fangs?, the first book in the Goth series, and takes place in the same world as Katie MacAlister's Dark Ones series. The name Katie Maxwell is a pseudonym used by Katie MacAlister with her young adult titles.
Francesca "Fran" Ghetti has been traveling across Europe with her mom and the GothFaire for the last several months. Fran is finally beginning to realize that she'll never have a normal life she once craved. The traveling GothFaire and all the strange and mysterious people that work there, her Wiccan High Priestess mother, and Benedikt, a really cute Dark One (aka vampire) who claims she is his Beloved are just the start! She's also got to deal with her psychometry skills—the ability to read a person or object's past, as well as their thoughts and emotions, through touch—and try to integrate that into her life. But at least she's beginning to accept, perhaps even like, her new life.
However, just as things have started to look up, it all begins to fall apart. First, someone steals her horse Tesla, most likely the oddly curious man who had expressed an interest and offered her an amazingly large sum of money for such an old horse. Then, she accidentally manages to raise an entire battlefield of warring, Viking ghosts... who refuse to move on to the afterlife! Buggers! All this just in time to ruin her first "real" date with Benedikt on Saturday.
While this book had a good story to it, there were several things about Fran's character that bugged me. For example, I got tired very fast of all the teen-ish giggly, girly stuff going on. I had to laugh though because even Fran herself would admit she didn't like "going all girly". Too bad she can't listen to her own advice. LOL But it's not just this book really... I have the same problem with most of this author's characters—they're all too ditzy, girly, catty, or just plain stupid for my taste; she's never really written a character that has endeared herself to me. (For proof, just search for "macalister" on my blog to read my past reviews.)
Francesca "Fran" Ghetti has been traveling across Europe with her mom and the GothFaire for the last several months. Fran is finally beginning to realize that she'll never have a normal life she once craved. The traveling GothFaire and all the strange and mysterious people that work there, her Wiccan High Priestess mother, and Benedikt, a really cute Dark One (aka vampire) who claims she is his Beloved are just the start! She's also got to deal with her psychometry skills—the ability to read a person or object's past, as well as their thoughts and emotions, through touch—and try to integrate that into her life. But at least she's beginning to accept, perhaps even like, her new life.
However, just as things have started to look up, it all begins to fall apart. First, someone steals her horse Tesla, most likely the oddly curious man who had expressed an interest and offered her an amazingly large sum of money for such an old horse. Then, she accidentally manages to raise an entire battlefield of warring, Viking ghosts... who refuse to move on to the afterlife! Buggers! All this just in time to ruin her first "real" date with Benedikt on Saturday.
While this book had a good story to it, there were several things about Fran's character that bugged me. For example, I got tired very fast of all the teen-ish giggly, girly stuff going on. I had to laugh though because even Fran herself would admit she didn't like "going all girly". Too bad she can't listen to her own advice. LOL But it's not just this book really... I have the same problem with most of this author's characters—they're all too ditzy, girly, catty, or just plain stupid for my taste; she's never really written a character that has endeared herself to me. (For proof, just search for "macalister" on my blog to read my past reviews.)
November 17, 2012
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
If you like vampires, Vikings, Goth Faires, Valkyries, and people who believe that a young girl just might be the reincarnation of Cleopatra, then CIRCUS OF THE DARNED is definitely the book for you (but read GOT FANGS? first!)!
Fran is back, still traveling with her mother and new-found friends throughout Europe with the GothFaire. She's got a kind-of, sort-of boyfriend, Benedikt, who just happens to be a vampire. Oh, he also claims she's his beloved, but since they haven't even been out on one actual date yet, Fran is withholding judgment. Now she's waiting for Ben to show back up at the Faire, since he took off without a word to anyone to who only knows where.
Tibolt, one of the men involved with Circus of the Darned, whose traveling with the Faire, is driving all the ladies on the fairgrounds crazy--maybe due to his charming good looks, but quite possibly with help from a little magic. When he asks Fran to hold on to his valknut pendant, she's happy to oblige. Turns out Tibolt doesn't want to get the pendant's power near the old Viking burial ground during his ritual sacrifice to the gods. The only problem is, he doesn't quite explain this plainly to Fran, who ends up running through said burial ground while wearing the pendant and chasing after a huldra. And all this after a strange man came to the Faire wanting to buy Tesla, Fran's old horse.
Needless to say, the raising from the dead of an army of Viking warrior ghosts doesn't sit well with anyone, since their main form of entertainment is still, well, pillaging. Fran has no idea how to send the Vikings on their way to Valhalla, so she's stuck babysitting corporeal ghosts until someone can get them gone. As Fran recruits help in finding out the best way to do this, all manner of gods and goddesses come into play--not the least of which is a pretty bad one, who has an unhealthy obsession with the horse Tesla.
CIRCUS OF THE DARNED is another laugh-out-loud paranormal delight. Katie Maxwell always does a great job of drawing on myths and legend for her storylines, and this book is no different. I can't wait to read the next installment, which hopefully with have Fran and Ben finally being able to go on that first date!
Pick up a copy of the book today...you won't be disappointed!
If you like vampires, Vikings, Goth Faires, Valkyries, and people who believe that a young girl just might be the reincarnation of Cleopatra, then CIRCUS OF THE DARNED is definitely the book for you (but read GOT FANGS? first!)!
Fran is back, still traveling with her mother and new-found friends throughout Europe with the GothFaire. She's got a kind-of, sort-of boyfriend, Benedikt, who just happens to be a vampire. Oh, he also claims she's his beloved, but since they haven't even been out on one actual date yet, Fran is withholding judgment. Now she's waiting for Ben to show back up at the Faire, since he took off without a word to anyone to who only knows where.
Tibolt, one of the men involved with Circus of the Darned, whose traveling with the Faire, is driving all the ladies on the fairgrounds crazy--maybe due to his charming good looks, but quite possibly with help from a little magic. When he asks Fran to hold on to his valknut pendant, she's happy to oblige. Turns out Tibolt doesn't want to get the pendant's power near the old Viking burial ground during his ritual sacrifice to the gods. The only problem is, he doesn't quite explain this plainly to Fran, who ends up running through said burial ground while wearing the pendant and chasing after a huldra. And all this after a strange man came to the Faire wanting to buy Tesla, Fran's old horse.
Needless to say, the raising from the dead of an army of Viking warrior ghosts doesn't sit well with anyone, since their main form of entertainment is still, well, pillaging. Fran has no idea how to send the Vikings on their way to Valhalla, so she's stuck babysitting corporeal ghosts until someone can get them gone. As Fran recruits help in finding out the best way to do this, all manner of gods and goddesses come into play--not the least of which is a pretty bad one, who has an unhealthy obsession with the horse Tesla.
CIRCUS OF THE DARNED is another laugh-out-loud paranormal delight. Katie Maxwell always does a great job of drawing on myths and legend for her storylines, and this book is no different. I can't wait to read the next installment, which hopefully with have Fran and Ben finally being able to go on that first date!
Pick up a copy of the book today...you won't be disappointed!
November 13, 2023
Read this as a teen, and again over and over again. It’s one of my absolute favorites.
December 30, 2010
This is this the second book in the Goth series by Katie Maxwell. This book was written a while ago and it doesn't seem like Maxwell (who also writes as Katie MacAlister) is going to write anymore books in this series. This book wasn't nearly as good as the first book.
Fran and her mom are still traveling with the Goth Faire. Fran has got some issues when she accidentally calls a group of Viking warriors into existence and then her horse disappears. She has to fix up all this mess and on top of all this her and Ben are going on their first date.
I didn't enjoy this story as much as the first one. I didn't think the dialogue was as witty. The story between Ben and Fran doesn't make much progress. It is an easy read and somewhat amusing, but a lot of the humor with the Vikings is way over the top. There is a lot that is unresolved this book which was disappointing because this book was written a few years ago and no other books have been written in this series.
Overall a quick read, okay if you liked the first book. I wouldn't say this is a must read though. The characters are over the top and the action is kind of slapstick. I really did like the first book "Got Fangs?" So if you are in the mood for a quick and silly read this is an okay book; otherwise I would read something else.
Fran and her mom are still traveling with the Goth Faire. Fran has got some issues when she accidentally calls a group of Viking warriors into existence and then her horse disappears. She has to fix up all this mess and on top of all this her and Ben are going on their first date.
I didn't enjoy this story as much as the first one. I didn't think the dialogue was as witty. The story between Ben and Fran doesn't make much progress. It is an easy read and somewhat amusing, but a lot of the humor with the Vikings is way over the top. There is a lot that is unresolved this book which was disappointing because this book was written a few years ago and no other books have been written in this series.
Overall a quick read, okay if you liked the first book. I wouldn't say this is a must read though. The characters are over the top and the action is kind of slapstick. I really did like the first book "Got Fangs?" So if you are in the mood for a quick and silly read this is an okay book; otherwise I would read something else.
September 27, 2014
This is a cute little book just like the one before it in the series. A light, pleasurable, fast read. Katie Maxwell is also known as Katie MacAlister, and I love how alot of her books are so fun. I like her subtle but definitely there humor. This is for teens, but adults can definitely appreciate it.
Fran is a girl with a special talent. One that she is embarrased of. Her mom is part of the GothFaire which travels around Europe. Fran encounters a three hundred year old vampire who recognizes her as his Beloved. A soul mate for eternity. She has to get used to the idea and he is willing to wait. This is the premise introduced in the first book "Got Fangs". Unfortunately the young adult branch of MacAlister's publishing company was dropped and the series was hastily wrapped up in her Dark Ones series volume 8. I haven't read that one but I'm thinking they are grown up and on one last adventure. Sad, I'll miss what stories could have been told, but I'm glad I gave it a whirl.
Fran is a girl with a special talent. One that she is embarrased of. Her mom is part of the GothFaire which travels around Europe. Fran encounters a three hundred year old vampire who recognizes her as his Beloved. A soul mate for eternity. She has to get used to the idea and he is willing to wait. This is the premise introduced in the first book "Got Fangs". Unfortunately the young adult branch of MacAlister's publishing company was dropped and the series was hastily wrapped up in her Dark Ones series volume 8. I haven't read that one but I'm thinking they are grown up and on one last adventure. Sad, I'll miss what stories could have been told, but I'm glad I gave it a whirl.
November 16, 2014
Okay so I really like this book. I love the characters, they are incredibly funny. Fran has so much personality and I just love the romance between her and Ben.
One thing I don't like about it is that I started reading these books thinking that all books in the series was published but then I found out when I finished circus of the Darned that only two book was published. I need the rest of these books. I need a proper ending. I want to know what happens!!! I have to know if Fran becomes Ben's beloved, I just have to.
There are so many things that you don't know. There is plenty of things that the two first book hasn't explained that I want to know and I just found out that I won't be able to get to know this things. I'm so angry.
At least the first two books were really good but I can't recommend them them because there is no ending, there's this two books who doesn't have a proper end. You can't understand how angry this makes me.why did the author do this??
One thing I don't like about it is that I started reading these books thinking that all books in the series was published but then I found out when I finished circus of the Darned that only two book was published. I need the rest of these books. I need a proper ending. I want to know what happens!!! I have to know if Fran becomes Ben's beloved, I just have to.
There are so many things that you don't know. There is plenty of things that the two first book hasn't explained that I want to know and I just found out that I won't be able to get to know this things. I'm so angry.
At least the first two books were really good but I can't recommend them them because there is no ending, there's this two books who doesn't have a proper end. You can't understand how angry this makes me.why did the author do this??
August 22, 2012
I really enjoyed the combination vampire, vikings and other sorts of Norse gods in this book. I'm very eager to read the next book of the series to see what happens!!! Love the steaming hot bath scene. Hilarious paranormal romantic comedy!!
November 23, 2010
Second book- I wish the third were out already, because there is a lot left to wonder! Yet again, a good number of spelling mistakes- more use of languages- love~ it! Once more some discontinuity- if you read them one after the other, you'll understand how. Once again, everything gets over-ridden with the style of writing and the great characters! Hate the cliff hanger though. Also don't like the fact that Fran is written as a little of an airhead. I also don't like a certain part of the ending because of how it leaves off. I mean, it was as if she just wanted to get it finished- it's a frayed mess which I hope she continues in the third better than she did from first to second. She's got a lot to catch us up about that she left off.
February 10, 2015
Der zweite Teil war geringfügig besser als der erste, was wieder einmal nicht an Fran der Protagonistin lag, sondern an den super coolen Wikingern und der Story drum herum. Ich mag Geschichten um nordische Götter und wie Francesca sich Lokis Zorn zuzieht ist durchaus verständlich. Es ist wichtig mit der Vorgeschichte um Fran und Ben vertraut zu sein, bevor man mit dem 8. Band der Dark-Ones Reihe weiterlesen kann, der definitiv auch besser ist als dieses nervige Teenie-Buch.
Der Schluss kam sehr abrupt, was mich überraschte, ein Epilog hätte die Gescgichte gut vertragen. Aber im Grunde ist der 8. Band der Dark-Ones Reihe der circa 5 Jahre nach diesem Buch spielt ja der zu lang geratene Epilog.
Der Schluss kam sehr abrupt, was mich überraschte, ein Epilog hätte die Gescgichte gut vertragen. Aber im Grunde ist der 8. Band der Dark-Ones Reihe der circa 5 Jahre nach diesem Buch spielt ja der zu lang geratene Epilog.
November 18, 2008
The book was going along just fine and then it ended. What I mean by that is the action was going and then boom, the pages ran out. No, it wasn't a printing error. Just a lot of build-up and very little pay off. Fran got rid of the Vikings much too easily, didn't really need to do much to deal with Loki, and didn't even get to her date with Ben. Plus, it's not clear what Loki has taken from her. *sigh* Obviously the book calls for a sequel (or a third book since this is the second), but from looking at the author's website, there are no current plans to continue with the series (though she would like to at some point in the future).
February 13, 2011
Fast and fun teen paranormal romance. I LOVED the Viking ghosts. The best part of the book. They made me laugh a lot. Fran still isn't ready to be Ben's Beloved. Which is good because she is only 16. Ben will just have to wait patiently for a few years so Fran can grow up. The book ended with a little bit of a cliff hanger. It looks like Katie thought she was going to write more in this series and she never got the deal to do it.
Good thing she still has the Dark Ones series. Because that's where she put Ben and Fran in. She is a few years older now. Hopefully this latest Dark Ones book(In the Company of Vampires) ties up all the loose ends.
Good thing she still has the Dark Ones series. Because that's where she put Ben and Fran in. She is a few years older now. Hopefully this latest Dark Ones book(In the Company of Vampires) ties up all the loose ends.
September 29, 2018
Basically everything I said about the first book applies here as well. I laughed a lot, especially with the recurring scenes where Fran kept getting terrible dating advice from all the people around her. The ending was a bit underwhelming though. Certain aspects were wrapped up way too quickly and others weren’t resolved at all. I was just left in this weird limbo where I didn’t quite know how to feel about everything. The author decided to make an adult spin-off book with Fran and Ben after this series was canceled, so I’ll definitely pick that one up to see where things go.
October 9, 2013
Fran is at it again. This time she mistakenly raises a Viking army. The ghosts of this Viking army are indebted to her and seem to make things worse in her attempt at being normal. Also thrown into the mix is the theft of Fran's horse. She seems to have angered the Viking god Loki in trying to keep the horse form him, and now must battle a god. Throw into the mix Ben the vampire who claims only she can save his soul. All she wants to do is have a normal date with him and not be bombarded with all this other weirdness.
July 28, 2009
This book is worthless - I really didn't like anything about it. It's similar to Katie MacAlister's Dark Ones book "A Girl's Guide to Vampires", but even lower brow, and written very young. (That series is itself a spoof of Christine Feehan's Carpathians series - I'm guessing that a Goth themed fair is somewhere in Feehan's series, which would explain these two books.) I read few dozen pages and gave up. I'd rather watch bad TV than finish this book.
October 23, 2011
The sequel is even more fun than the first. The ghosts are my favorite.
What I enjoyed:
* The ghosts. They were a lot of fun.
* The mythology.
* I like how Ben dealt with Fran this time.
* Nice to find out more about Tesla.
What could have been better:
* What was going on with Ben's friend?
* There didn't seem to be any consequences of the end conflict.
* Fran just seems to stumble into the answers.
What I enjoyed:
* The ghosts. They were a lot of fun.
* The mythology.
* I like how Ben dealt with Fran this time.
* Nice to find out more about Tesla.
What could have been better:
* What was going on with Ben's friend?
* There didn't seem to be any consequences of the end conflict.
* Fran just seems to stumble into the answers.
August 2, 2015
To begin with I was disappoint, I have to admit that. I felt that I'd read it before, in one of Katie MacAlister's books (Maxwell and MacAlister are the same woman, if you didn't know that already) and that annoyed me. I had read the whole 'group-of-annoying-ghosts' before in a 'Dark Ones' book. But somehow the book managed to get urned round and feel completely new to me. And then it became a pleasure to read. A good and easy YA book, perfect for a little light reading.
May 6, 2012
This book was very funny and housed a different take on Vampires than the other ya vampire books I've read. The main character Fran is a psychometrist, or she can touch things and feel their emotions or history. She lives with a traveling Circus and her mother is a witch. This second story featured Viking ghosts that were really funny and even a few gods. Its a quick read and kept me engaged for a good few hours. If there were a sequel, I'd read it:-)
January 24, 2014
This is the second book on Ben and Fran, but could be Dark Ones 1.20.
This book keeps on the courtship of Ben over Fran. Fran still wants to be normal, even if she lives in the middle of "freaks" where she is accepted.
I love Dark Ones, but this series is getting a bit on the overloaded side. And this book, besides the "vampires", has ghosts (not new in this series), but then it adds Norse gods. In a nice way, but it starts to add to the amount of magic in this series.
This book keeps on the courtship of Ben over Fran. Fran still wants to be normal, even if she lives in the middle of "freaks" where she is accepted.
I love Dark Ones, but this series is getting a bit on the overloaded side. And this book, besides the "vampires", has ghosts (not new in this series), but then it adds Norse gods. In a nice way, but it starts to add to the amount of magic in this series.
December 17, 2008
Not the best ending, and with no hint of another in the series, that leaves me a little disappointed. Maxwell did say she's starting a new paranormal series for adults based on some of the characters in this series. I hope she writes more of these, though...I want to see Fran become Ben's beloved.
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