There are many ways to die at the Circus of the Dead. You’re invited to witness them all. Mom sent me all the way across the country to the Louisiana bayou to join the circus and help my uncle for the summer. Except there is something not quite right on this swampy cursed island, and after having my fortune told, I can’t leave. I try to escape, but Benny, an all too charming ghost gangster tries …
I try to escape, but Benny, an all too charming ghost gangster tries to kill me by feeding me to a tiger.
Thankfully I’m rescued by Samuel, the incredibly hot ringmaster who can’t be a day over twenty. Can he?
In addition to avoiding the human scorpion, staying away from the big cats, and having trouble figuring out who’s dead and who’s alive, I have to find a way to escape this horror show. Will I get out of the circus alive or will I join their army of ghosts and become a murderer myself?
Welcome to the Circus of the Dead.
Fans of Leia Stone, Jaymin Eve, Bianca Scardoni and Laura Thalassa will devouor this tale. If you loved Anna Dressed in Blood or the Night Circus, you’ll adore Circus of the Dead.
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This book is amazing!
It has everything. Supernatural, vampires, ghosts magic.
I got absolutely absorbed in this story from beginning to end and I didn’t want it to end.
I will be reading book 2 when it releases on Saturday
I enjoyed this story and was surprised by it. Lots of mystery and questions arrived but some answered and some I am told will be answered in the next book. Callie is a strong character and faces the hard road dealt to her. That is one thing I really like in the book. She is naive and trusting but she may wise up! But all of us have been naive at one time or another. She is one awesome person.
This book jumped right into the thick of things from the first chapter and had my head spinning along with Callie’s as I worried about what she danger she would encounter next. I never knew who could be trusted, and I enjoyed the way that the story kept me guessing. It was definitely scary every time the circus started up again. And the ending was intense and had me rushing off to start the next book in the series.
Listened to on Audio: Complete 4 book series
This series is amazing, unique and just my style.
I love the setting, I love the characters, I love the Narrator and I love the Author!
Sent to help her uncle at the circus, Callie, 16, must deal with scary situations, odd people and grown up decisions.
Can she trust anyone?
Full of an amazing authors imagination!
You rock Kimberly Loth!
This one was ever so intriguing and unusual and definitely captured my imagination.
16-year old Callie Spruce is shipped off to the middle of a Louisiana swamp island by her parents to spend the summer working with her uncle.
It’s the last place she wants to be and her uncle also seems oblivious to her arrival and is acting like a crazy person at her unexpected appearance.
It’s also apparent that things here are definitely not as they seem on the surface and this strange new reality is as scary as it’s surreal.
When the sun goes down twice a month the circus with all its bright lights takes centre stage.
But this is no ordinary circus its a circus of the dead where death blood and depraved acts are the normality and it’s all controlled by the mysterious and handsome ringmaster Samuel.
Samuel with the hidden agenda who’s also the one in control as the islands Obeah man.
Then there Benny a ghost who seems to be fixated on killing Callie but at the same time also wants to befriend her.
This one is young-adult but with some dark themes and there’s a definite love triangle developing here between Callie Benny and Samuel I’d say Samuel has the edge for the moment with Callie but it’s early days so who knows where that one’s going.
Usually, I abhor love triangles but this didn’t actually bother me that much here.
Maybe because this is told from Callie’s POV I don’t know really.
There’s definitely a hidden agenda though one just waiting to be revealed and the most important question being the why of Callie’s arrival.
Just who summoned her and why does someone want her dead.
Also, just who are her enemies and whose actually on her side it’s hard to tell so many secrets.
I did love where this went and also how it finished.
This stands out with its originality and I can’t wait to learn more and discover all of the islands and it’s inhabitants secrets.
I am definitely going to be reading the next book here this was fabulous.
YA can be a bit hit and miss for me thankfully this one was a score.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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So wonderfully imaginative and the concept is superb. So few books are art in its purest forms. This is one of those rare ones that hit every single keypoint. The characters were creative and colourful yet relatable and the storyline was gripping from start to end. Fantastic work. Could not put it down. Reading the next one immediately.
I inhaled all four of these books. They are the absolute best I’ve read this year.
CIRCUS OF THE DEAD (Book One) is the first I have read from author Kimberly Loth. The imagery and scope of this novel–the first in a series of four–far exceeded my expectations.
“There are many ways to die at the Circus of the Dead.”
Callie is sent to help her Uncle for the summer at a carnival in the Louisiana bayou. Reluctant to go from the start, when she arrives–to her Uncle’s obvious shock–she wants nothing more than to leave immediately.
Unfortunately for her, this Circus is anything but ordinary, and escape not even a possibility. After only a short amount of time, some things begin to impress themselves upon her, regardless of her disbelief.
“. . . It’s a circus of horror . . . ”
The characters all captivated me with their individual personalities, roles, and reasons for being there. Callie’s strong approach–refusing to quietly submit to anything–was a welcome change. She was no mere “damsel in distress” despite her predicament.
“. . . even when you think others can help you, they’ll still let you down . . .”
Another aspect of this writing style that I loved was the dark comedy infused in it, and the sarcastic banter. Anytime you add dark humor to a horror story, it’s usually an instant attraction for me. The pacing never felt like it was lagging, and the action continued to lead to even more unsettling revelations. The idea of this location was “hinted at” enough to give us an unsettling feeling, but not so much as to give every secret away at once.
“This is a cursed place . . .”
Overall, I really enjoyed the first novel in this series, and am already looking forward to reading the rest. The blend of interesting characters, horror, mystery, and the knowledge of a major revelation yet to be uncovered, made this one a memorable and enjoyable rad.
Recommended.
While an interesting and okay book, I didn’t feel it reached its true potential. I loved the premise and the cover immediately grabbed my attention. The dark, gothic feel of the circus drew me in and sent my imagination running wild. I loved the themes of shock, creepiness, and desperation peppered with moments of friendship and romantic development. Despite enjoying these parts, I struggled with the characters and their lack of depth. I felt Callie was singularly focused on going home which didn’t allow her (or the reader) to really explore and embrace all the circus and secondary characters could offer. Several of the other main players had minimal page time and even less background information to really help me connect to them. In an attempt to sustain and draw out the mystery of the circus, the story stalled in fairly repetitive scenes with little progression and revelations until the final chapters. The ending was exciting and gives the most insight into the circus and character motivations but left me wishing I’d had it earlier in the story. Overall, it was enjoyable and while it didn’t blow me away, I think readers will still enjoy its originality and intricate set-up for the next book. If you enjoy circus or gothic themes or are more story driven, it’s probably worth a try.
If your looking for a suspenseful read thats action packed, and a thrill ride this is definitely that. The Author and the Narrator has brought this Audiobook to fruition. Its got great World Building as well as Character building I definitely recommend This great listen
Shauna Joesten
This was a fun read! It was so different from the books I typically read. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot line!
Omg this book kept me wanting more and could not decide who I liked more every character was well put together
This was a really good book. I loved the storyline and characters. This book had me hooked from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. I’m definitely reading book 2 and look forward to reading more from this author. I recommend reading. (I received this book as an arc and am leaving a voluntary honest review)
Once again I am floored by Kimberly Loth’s writing! This novel is a mix of Cirque du Freak and Miss Peregrine’s.
In this novel, Callie must spend the summer with her uncle at a circus. However, things are not always as they appear. Callie must navigate her way in this Circus of the Dead, along with two intricate heartthrobs, if she wants to get home to California.
I love the unfolding of the story. Even if you can guess the villain, it never seems clear what the villain’s intentions are. And I absolutely love the lore about ghosts and other supernatural beings. I cannot wait for the next one!
This story begins with an unassuming girl, Callie, who is sent to her uncle’s in Louisiana for the summer, but everything takes a turn quickly. When the circus is lit up, and the people arrive, she sees exactly what the circus is made of. One wrong move has her wishing she could escape the island and run home. But since she’s stuck, she decides to solve the mystery of the ringmaster, Samuel, along with those who seem to want her dead. She befriends several of the circus performers, but are they really her friends or just another means to an end?
I don’t know where the author came up with this idea, but it is unique and exciting, frightening and fascinating. The characters are colorful and interesting, and I don’t think the book would have been quite the same without each and every one of them. They all prey upon a part of the reader’s psyche in ways that are unexpected and mind-blowing. Each time the main character discovers something new or makes a decision, we hope it’s the right one. But this author has a way of keeping the reader on the edge until the very last moment. I can’t even imagine what she might do with the subsequent books in the series. But I’m looking forward to finding out.
I absolutely adored this! From the beginning to the end. I loved the synopsis for it and the whole plot and idea behind it. It had me on my toes through most of the story! That ending had me gasping out loud! I’m excited the second book isn’t too far away but I need it now!!
Oooooh this was good. I love me a creepy story set in Louisiana with a mystery to unravel, and this checked all the boxes. The Circus of the Dead is a place of nightmares. I was so stressed out each time Callie walked around the island it is housed on. Death and magic, but what is real and what is just an illusion? I was not sure who to trust, and I really did not think Callie’s chances of surviving to the end of the book were good. But that ending! I absolutely can’t wait to read the next book and see where the story goes from there.
***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC of this book.***
Circus Of The Dead, Book 1 sets the stage for this new series that is a rapid release series. The synopsis is highly intriguing and the title brings more. I loved all the elements including the voodoo, tarot cards and the setting of this series. The unparallel plot gives you a glimpse of being in the circus but sweetens it with a macabre. Brimming with drama, mysterous moments, suspense, and captivating characters. I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Without knowing why Callie was trapped and terrified in a place that seems out of this world. Circus of Death lives up to its name. What many strange things happen there. Friends or enemies? Feeling a strong attraction is not enough, deception and betrayal are the order of the day and all efforts to leave the nightmare behind seem useless. What a despair! This first book was very intense and exciting. I can’t imagine what’s behind what looks like a curse with voodoo and everything. Action, suspense, intriguing characters, ghosts and other things everywhere, mystery, violence, scary scenes, a very interesting plot development and almost, almost romance. The cliffhanger left me intrigued and on edge.
Sent to help an uncle out, 16 year old Callie finds herself trapped on an island in the bayou, surrounded by murderous ghosts, zombies and the beautiful but devious ringmaster in the Circus of the Dead. This is an enthralling tale that skirts the edges of horror and is filled with suspense, mystery, duplicity, and threads of potential romance. It does have some graphic descriptions that may not be for everyone, but I thought they added to the macabre atmosphere of the circus well. Callie’s slow awakening to the reality of the circus, her struggle to survive and escape, and her relationships with Benny and Samuel are captivating and keep you reading long past bedtime. I loved the intrigue behind the motivations of the characters and not knowing who can be trusted and who can not. This story has voodoo, ghosts, zombies, curses, clowns and much more. It has a fast moving plot, great characters, a storyline that keeps you engrossed and the cliff hanger ending leaves you dying for the second book.