I always wanted to find a place where I belonged.A place where I wasn’t looked at differently for being one in a million.I left home when I was seventeen looking for this nirvana on Earth that I knew had to exist somewhere, and I finally found it in a small revival of traveling performers.No one here looks at me any differently because of my illness. See, even though I look like the perfect … look like the perfect picture of health, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
I don’t believe that my anomalies make me any less of a person than someone who has the ability to feel certain things.
My new family has welcomed me with open arms, and even made me a top billing because of what I can withstand—which to say is a lot.
Until him.
I never knew that I didn’t care to feel anything until he joined us.
I want to feel him.
I need to feel him.
I’ve finally found the one thing I’m unable to withstand, and when I feel his eyes on me, I know that things will be alright eventually.
He wants to help me—I can see it in the way he looks at me. Whether he admits it or not, I know that he’s come here for me.
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So different and amazing. This book will pull you in right from the start. Cannot wait for the rest of them in the series.
Yager Gates is the man who can’t feel and his carnival act capitalizes on this condition. For eight years, he’s been part of the Carnaval des Ténèbres and Yager views the other performers as his family. However, when a newcomer arrives, Yager starts to question certain sensations and who this mysterious man may actually be.
“Maybe one day someone will teach me how to feel special too.”
Narrated in Yager’s POV, he introduces all the performers and gives a sense of the carnival setting. For Yager, he is a bit disadvantaged when it comes to emotional empathy so when Indigo begins to test his knowledge, it tilts his axis. Uniting with his family, Yager is determined to get answers.
“The unspoken rule among our little family is that no one can harm the other – attraction or not.”
What I liked about this book is the setting and the characters. Each have their own burdens yet they protect each other. I also understood Yager’s dilemma. While this is the first book of the series, I was hoping for more development into Yager and Indigo, and I was left with more questions.
Barren is about misfits who find a community where they belong. I look forward to continuing with this series.
Want more
Not only do I look forward to more from the series but also need more from Yager and Indigo as it felt the ending was a cliff of sort I’d say an open ending as it can be common for author Yolanda olson as she brings us the characters we love back.
This is a MM with ineterconected characters from an upcoming series I am currently awaiting their release, definitely recommend for all as I would not label it dark maybe gray is a better label.
Man, this was a tough one to read. These two are amazing characters but that doesn’t take away from all the awesome secondary characters though. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series.
Yager Gates, a man that feels nothing, no pain, no emotion, and that’s what makes him perfect for the Carnival life, and he gets a family he loves with it. A new member joins, and he starts feeling things he can’t explain. He’s never felt like this with anyone else but Indigo. He’s a mystery, and he’s very curious about the man that could be dangerous to everyone but him. What a fantastic start to this carnival series!!! I cant wait to see what happens next!!!!
Yolanda is my favorite author. She did not disappoint with this one (I’m not surprised-she never does)! I am excited to read the other books in this series from other authors. Thank you so much for allowing me to read this in advance. Love ya girl!
Received ARC from Author for Honest Review.
I Give this Book a 3.5/5 Star Rating, Listing as 4.
**4 Stars: Because this Series caught my attention the moment I became aware of it and I Can’t Wait to read the Rest I’d the Books.
Cliffhanger(?): I Believe So? I Hope So! Must Have More!
Relationship Type: M/M. It’s pretty Lite, so more like it’s implied(?)
Heat: 1/5, not necessarily a bad thing 🙂
Romance(?): Kinda? Maybe-ish? Lol 2-2.5ish/5
Drama: 3.5/5
Suspense: 3.5-4/5
Dark(?): Hmmm…kinda-ish? 2/5, Will list as Dark Lite.
No Spoilers.
The ending is essentially Cliffy so I’m hoping for more of Yager & Indigo.
The book is shorter than I was expecting & the pacing is fairly fast near the back of the book. I do wish this book was longer and was focused more on Yager & Indigo, but I understand that this is the opener for the series, but again I wish the 2 guys were focused on more.
But other than that I did enjoy this book and it’s an important one.
I can’t wait to read the other books in this series!
I’m hoping Drake gets a book!
Yager’s story made me feel, which is crazy because of who the character is and what he ultimately represents. I had so much love Yager. There was so much. He wanted to understand social interaction. Yager displayed so much normalcy on the outside but inside… Inside he felt nothing.
It was absolutely sad. I was happy he had his best friend, Maia. She was there to steer him and be the voice of reason. Each character was shown in a certain light. It made me want to know more about Drake, Needles, Crispin, and a few others. I couldn’t stand the new guy, Indigo. He was quite a mystery. In some ways, he still is. I can’t wait for the next installment because I get to dive into Maia’s pov.
As always i really liked it.
I couldnt help but picture my brother in law though when Ezra was mentioned.
I cant wait to read about the others in this carnaval!
This was an awesome start!
I’m gonna start by saying that the cover is freaking awesome and as always Yolandas writing is spot on I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted too..
I guess my heart is a little too black coz my feels didn’t get tickled by the unable to feel Yager I found him to be mopey and a bit of Debbie Downer..I wanted to stab him with pins and poke him with sticks just to see..I loved his friendship with the fairy they were an unlikely pairing that worked really well and I maybe enjoyed the end the a little to much…Don’t hate me!!
This one is an emotional rollercoaster that is for sure!
Book one in the carnival series and i am sold!
Yager was born without the ability to feel anything. But is it a blessing or a hindrance?
He found a home in the carnival and a family who don’t look at him strangely but what does it cost him mentally and physically to be a part of something, doing something, when he doesn’t fully understand the feelings and actions behind it.
All actions have consequences, but how much will it cost him? I absolutely loved this book and it goes to the top of my faves.
Cannot wait to see what the other authors bring.
Dark and Twisted!
WOW! Dark, twisted and titillating at it’s best!
This story is very intense and suspenseful right from the start. I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails with utter anticipation of what the hell was going to happen next! Definitely a wild ride into the lives of a carnival of misfits, outcasts and castoffs.
Yager may not be able to feel anything but as a reader you can feel the love he has for his family as it oozes out with every action he takes. Each of the other unique characters have whittled a place in my heart and I don’t want to see any of them getting hurt. They are such a wonderful family of misfits that your heart aches for each and every one of them.
The story is enticing, captivating and highly entertaining. The words I was reading gave me the perfect visual of the carnival life and what each unique character may look like.
I can’t wait to read the other books in this series. Highly recommend.
Thoroughly twisted but with unexpected tenderness, Barren kept me riveted. Yolanda Olson sets the stage for this interesting series featuring carnival sideshow members who are clearly the family they never had before. This is Yager’s story as the man who simply can’t feel, both physically and emotionally. Hard to figure out, he’s never sure if his reactions are correct hoping his best friend in Maia can always help him navigate the world around him. When she goes missing after the introduction of the latest member, Indigo, the story takes a turn in which we get to see the troubling side of this kind of entertainment, and I was taken aback more than once at what occurs behind the scenes.
The entire company is full of unique characters who seem to each get their story told in subsequent books by various authors. I’m assuming it is the common thread of figuring out Indigo and finding the sweet pixie. Loving the fact that this was a shorter read that I could consume in an hour or two, my interest is certainly piqued, wanting to continue with this unconventional group of books.
Olson always keeps me entertained with her writing style and penchant for darker subject matters and I happily give Barren a solid 4 stars!
This was a fantastic and unpredictable read. I loved everything about it
This book took all my expectations for it and told me they weren’t good enough, and it was correct on so many levels.
When Yager is introduced, you truly get a sense of how he sees the world. From relying on his friends to explain what emotions are to struggling to understand something that is completely foreign to him, you start to feel for the one who cannot.
The other characters aren’t to be dismissed, each has their own voices that you can’t ignore and want to know more about.
The plot is well developed and given enough time and attention that you do not have to dismiss it for the motley crew that’s living it, which I found very impressive. And the cover art is absolutely stunning.
This is clearly a project of heart from the author and it shows in the best of ways.
Yager, the man who can’t feel.
This was a great introduction to the Freak Show, and I absolutely loved it!
Yager has never felt pain or emotions, and seeing how he views the other freaks, so detached and yet you know they are tight knit, its wonderful. This book will have you biting your nails to see what happens next, and pulls at your emotions throughout.
Again this author has blown my mind with her writing. Barren is book one in the Carnaval des Tenebres series.
This is Yagers story. He’s a man that can’t feel. He finds a family in some travelling performers. I feel as if I went through the feelings for Yager. When a new performer joins everything is about to change. I absolutely loved this story. Yagers story is brilliant and I was curious about the other characters as well.
I’m really looking forward to reading more of this series.
Now I’ll just wait rather impatiently for Mutatus so I can read more of these characters.
Yolanda Olson is such a brilliant and talented writer and it shows in Barren
This story was absolutely spectacular and outstanding page turner and makes me look forward to having the complete series
Wow, I am really enjoying this book. Once I started it I was not able to put in down.. I really looking forward to reading all the other one’s because I feel in love with everyone plus I need to know what happens, lol.. Check this one out
This is a story about Yager. He was born not being able to feel. Pain, emotions nothing that you feel. Poor Yager just wants a place to belong. He finally finds that in the carnival. Yager and the other freaks have found a home and with that a family. This is one book in a sort of series. All the separate characters make appearances in this book, but to find out their stories you’ll have to read the other books. I believe there are 7. Back to this story… The boy who couldn’t feel, made me feel all the feelings. I couldn’t even imagine how that would be. And moments in this one definitely gave me the feels. The relationships between these characters makes me wanna just grab them all and hug them. But of course this author has a way of twisting the story as soon as you think you’ve figured it out. Boom it’s not what you’re expecting. I definitely recommend this story as well as the others.