Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via Edelweiss. This has not influenced my review.*
I enjoyed this book. It was slow-paced without much action until the end, but it had a good mystery and some likeable characters.
I really liked the main character, Geni. She was intelligent, mature, and just imperfect enough to be realistic. Her first thoughts in regards to the magical, dangerous book was that she wanted nothing to do with it (which was smart). When she realized that wasn’t an option, she wanted to find it so she could destroy it, and she continued to handle things as best as she could. Even at the dinner party when Henry started flirting with her, she considered the possibility that he might’ve been sent by his father to find out more about her and what she knew, so she didn’t let her guard down. She made a decision near the end that didn’t quite make sense, but it wasn’t so bad as to ruin the book.
Henry was likeable too, in a sweet way. He’s the type of person I’d love to have around in real life because he was so kind.
As for the plot, as I said, it was kind of slow with not a whole lot happening for a while since Geni was trying to figure out the mystery. It was frustrating and didn’t really make sense that Geni’s mother would’ve kept Geni in the dark about everything the way she did though (one of those, if we’re being honest, seemingly forced plot things that had to happen in order for there to be a story). But that issue was offset some by the fact that Geni also thought it was the wrong move on her mother’s part and was equally frustrated. It was also offset some by the fact that Baby (a nickname, he’s basically her dad, though not by blood) told her everything he knew and was there to help her with all this. That’s something you don’t see often in YA books where the protagonist has to figure out some sort of mystery—the character actually getting information and help from an adult. I liked that Baby really did play such a big part in things and was always there to help and tell her what he knew.
Last but not least, there was the setting. I had hoped, when I saw the protag was an aerialist in a circus, there would be some actual circus stuff, especially about performing, but there wasn’t much, other than the elephants and the fact that they lived in trailers on the circus grounds. And I can’t see the next one having much circus either. That disappointment is on me though for having certain expectations. And I’ll admit the elephants were adorable (they were rescues, treated well, and I think they were eventually going to go to a sanctuary).
So overall, while this wasn’t as circus-y as I wanted it to be, it had mystery, a bit of romance, some supernatural abilities, and a main character who was easy to root for!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes mystery, slow-paced stories, mature and intelligent protags, and YA books in which teens and adults actually work together.
That book cover is fantastic!
I agree!
I am impressed with the way the adults are included within this plot — that’s a huge plus for me for this one.
Agreed! You rarely see that, but it’s nice actually seeing adults help teens in YA books!
The first thing I thought when I looked at the cover was yay a circus setting. I thought maybe the slow pace was because of world building so you surprised me by saying it was the mystery. I will be curious to see what you think of book two. Great review!
Nope, not too much world-building, but a lot of the book is the character trying to follow clues and figure out who to trust and figure things out and whatnot. Thanks!
Awesome review! It sounds like the slowness would bog me down… So thanks for the heads up! 🙂
Erica | Erica Robyn Reads
Thanks! Sometimes slowness can be difficult depending on your taste or reading mood.
I would’ve had certain expectations with the circus setting too. Bummer they weren’t expanded on too much.
Yeah, I was bummed about that cuz it’s so hard to find books with circus performers.
I would definitely expect more of a circus story by looking at the cover, but I’m really happy to hear that this story has elephants that are well cared for. I always worry that stories about elephants are going to end tragically!
Yeah, me too, but it still had a good non-circus story at least, and it was definitely good that the elephants were treated well!
Great review and you’ve convinced me to add this to my wishlist. Not to mention you already know how much I love the cover!
Thanks, I hope you like it!
Geni sounds cool, and I’m always drawn to a “magical book” story. That said, I’m not sure this one’s for me give it’s slow pacing. Too bad the circus setting didn’t quite pan out as well as you’d hoped, but I’m so happy to hear that the elephants were rescues and treated well! I was worried about that when you mentioned them. ?
Yeah, I really liked her! I was bummed about that circus aspect though :-/ But yes, I figured people might be worried about the elephants, so I wanted to mention that!
asfgsgf the cover! I KNEW instantly you would love the setting before reading the review 🙂 and then I read it 🙁 there wasn’t much circus??? WTH? why do they do this to people??
Idk! I got excited when I saw she was a silks performer and everything! It’s like every circus book simply takes place at a circus but isn’t about a performer or doesn’t really involve much circus 🙁
This sounds kind of interesting. I like the fact the MC had a sensible response to a dangerous book – not wanting anything to do with it – and then reluctantly following through to destroy when she had no other choice. Very sensible and I like that. A slower pace might have bothered me a bit, especially if it than sped up towards the end but I suppose it depends on the writing because sometimes and ending can easily snowball. It sucks there wasn’t more circus stuff but maybe it didn’t fit too much with the story.
Yes, I loved that her reaction to the book was so sensible and realistic! But yeah, I just wanted more circus stuff.
Geni sounds like a great main character with how she acts realistically. Henry sounds sweet. i like it when books have kind characters.
That’s too bad the plot line about her mother keeping Geni in the dark didn’t make much sense and seemed to be there just so the plot could work. but I do like the sound of the mystery. And that sure is unusual to see in YA books that an adult figure helps them so closely.
Too bad it wasn’t as circus-y as you had hoped, but it sounds like a decent read overall.
I really liked Geni! And Henry was easy to like too.
Yeah, I feel like a lot of books have those kinds of things though, things that have to be that way, or else there’s no plot. It was great, at least, that she had an adult father figure helping her.
It was a decent read, I just personally was bummed about the lack of circus.
I love when teens and adults work together. That’s one of the reasons I am appreciating The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater a lot right now. I don’t think this is one for me though. Although the characters do sound nice, it isn’t pulling me in so much from the sound of it. And then there is the slow pace and not too much world building either.
Yes, it was great seeing a teen and adult work together for a change! I haven’t read Raven Cycle yet, but that’s good to know that it’s in that series too 🙂
Always good when characters are realistically suspicious 😉
Lol it is!