A boy looked in a window, to see a naughty showThrough the pane of pain, the master clown did blowThe circus is a holy tent, the keeper of my rhymeWhere I forged my chains, creating this pantomimePretending to be normal, I wait until after darkThen I paint the frown on, get a whore from the parkAt the bottom of that bed was a darling in a chestShe watched with big eyes, horror hooking her from … chest
She watched with big eyes, horror hooking her from rest
She dances for the maniac, twirling on her strings
I will make her mine, sharing damaged things
I will be her riddle, she will help me grin
So why does she run away, she has to let me in
No one loves the clown, not even the midget
We’ve gone too far, she will know my secret
Love can break the hardest mask, I know this to be true
Nightmares have hearts too, I only needed you
more
5 ***** FABULOUS FICTION ///// Kindle Edition
WHAT A BOOK, I LOVED SIVAN and his name just wonderful.
What a book indeed, What a book just wow.
what the eyes see when we are young can imprint on us as we age, and in this case it most definitely did, after witnessing what he did as a peeping tom it shaped his life,
I hate CLOWNS even when my parents took me to the circus I still hated them, but would gladly like them if Sivan was one.
A wonderful complex titillating story, Imogene was just wonderful , the horror of abuse.
I loved this book
Ashleigh Giannoccaro is a new author to me but have already bought act 2 and will look for more of her works because this was an original and I do love an original concept.
Sivan is a very complex character. Although he’s your everyday guy on the outside, you can feel his anxiety as he tries to balance the two sides of him, any one who has a fetish will identify with that, to you it’s normal to the outside world you’re a freak, yet with Sivan there was this whole other side of him that’s banging on the door to be let out, and he’s finding it extremely difficult to keep his clown at bay. I love Sivan. I can not say that enough how much I loved this character. He was such a complex intriguing man that I could not help but fall in love with him. I loved the way the author wrote his character and that we got a real insight into his mind and emotions, you find out his trigger and the author shows you just how deep his obsession runs. When he finally meets someone that he connects with, he’s still desperately trying to balance both sides of himself and although he’s struggling, he really is trying.
This book is nothing like I expected. I have never read any of Ashleigh’s previous books, but have book 2 already bought and waiting for me.
Cirque is wonderful with a wicked twist, I wouldn’t necessarily call it dark I have seen others list it as so, I don’t agree, yes there are complex issues attached but that’s all, it’s also plenty of complex characters in it, a story that I will gladly read again and again, Yes It has a seedy side, but then Vaudeville acts usually were, I can imagine somewhere like Soho in London with this kind of stage show quite easily , Soho by day is beautiful but like any where when the lights go down the freaks come out.
So the grubby back street kind of feel to it in places, it truly fits the feel of this incredible story . The descriptions and the atmosphere this author creates had me actually feeling like I was there with Sivan. I was the invisible stranger on the outskirts looking in and I loved every single second of it.
Does it make me depraved I do hope so, I love the weird and the wacky square pegs in the round holes , they make life interesting.
wonderful HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BOOK 5 ***** ALL THE WAY
Ashleigh writes some dark books. I couldn’t find The Goodbye Man, but that’s my recommendation.
If you have a fear clowns, fear not! It’s not that kind of story! I swear.
What a fascinating story, totally out-of-the-box awesomeness!
The mask one wears to hide the demons that desire to takeover. What’s hiding in your closet?
If you’ve read Ashleigh Giannoccaro before then be prepared to witness her diversity. She went completely out of the norm, her norm, to present complexity and intrigue. This one is mild in comparison to her other books, but still contains the grit, you can’t look away. If clowns aren’t your thing… I suggest taking a shot, because you might find yourself loving the clown. A little boy who’s interest was piqued, one dark, twisted night at the circus, the fire was lit, a need that controls his ability to relate to others. Intimacy never to be found and lust that can never be fulfilled. Until Imogene. Will he let his clown come out to play?
“She has set something off in my mind and I dance a dangerous tango with the memories, the desires and reality.”
“Steal her, steal her take her to your circus Clown. Make her love you.”
Imogene – plagued by her past, the box contains all her secrets. The Circus is in her blood, her nightmares. Will she join the circus of two or chase her next act of solitude?
I had my thoughts going into this book, but I was blindsided by the originality and the feels it brought on. I felt this sadness take over while reading, I wanted to put make-up on, jump into the book, and I wanted to chase the clown. Totally crazy, I know. There’s secrets yet to unfold and I’m dying to see what’s to come. Act 1 felt like the first time seeing a circus act, I’m guessing Act 2 is going to be the main attraction.
“This is my circus and she is my star act, I’m always just the sad clown who makes them happy.”
I just knew I had to read this book the moment I saw the cover. Also I already read a previous book by the author and was intrigued by her dark and twisted mind. I’m always looking for unique books that push boundaries and are so different than your ordinary romance books. By reading the blurb you don’t really get a clear idea of what to expect, and I advise you to just go in blind.
“I’m drawn to the man with the painted face in a sick sort of way, a way that makes my stomach knot and turn.”
If someone asked me to describe this book in one word, I would say INTENSE. I can’t really put it the book in a particular genre. It was creepy, dark, erotic and mysterious. I had no idea what would happen and that is what I loved the most about this book.
“Steal her, steal her, take her to your circus Clown. Make her love you.”
The day Sivan sees a clown at a circus he comes obsessed with him. He wants to become him. Clown is inside of him and wants to be unleashed. Sivan is living a double life but his need to become Clown is becoming stronger and stronger each day, especially after he meets Imogene, his sister’s friend. The two main characters both have dark secrets that they hide from everyone. I loved that this book was dual POV, because it gives a great insight into what is going on in both of their minds.
“There is a dark, dirty skeleton hanging in his wardrobe, and I want to pull it out and see how it looks in daylight.”
I hate clowns. Like many people my fear for clowns started after watching Stephen King’s IT at a pretty young age. However I love anything horror. Horror is my favorite movie genre. I just love anything creepy, dark and scary. The author made it possible for me to actually fall for Sivan. I am so intrigued by him, I just couldn’t get enough of him. It was heartbreaking to see how much he was struggling with himself, and the same goes for Imogene. Both are such broken characters. The writing was really good, I was hooked and couldn’t put this book down. I need Act 2 NOW!
Funny enough I almost did join a circus as carnie. My uncle was a carnie most of my life. I always loved clowns and this book was freaking fantastic. It’s a dark twisted tale of a boy who see’s a clown having sex with a trapeze girl. His life will never be the same. To say he’s obsessed is a understatement. He lives a double life. Then enters Imogene A girl with secrets maybe darker than his. This is a sex filled dark carnival of awesomeness. I can’t believe I took so long to read this, My apologies to the author for being so slow. I have Act 2 and am starting it immediately. Holy Hells I would recommend this to any dark/twisted minds out there. It makes me wanna join Sivan’s circus. On to book 2
I just loved Cirque Act 1 by Ashleigh Giannnoccaro. It doesn’t just draw you in. It grabs you right from the prologue and immerses you into this slightly dark, super twisted and kinky story!
“…none of these people would accept who I am when the sun sets and the world goes dark. No one likes clowns, no one accepts those who are different to them; I know that better than most.”
It felt like magic, the way the author seemed to manipulate my feelings, love and sympathy for these characters. They were not, ultimately very lovable characters, but I loved them just the same and cannot wait to read more from this author!
“Nothing is ever all shining lights and glitter, even when we don’t see it there is darkness, a bad side of the coin.”
-5Stars!-
I love the Dark and Distrburded mind of A Giannoccaro and I read all of her books but with Cirque Act 1 she has delved into her dark soul and produced an amazing psychological thriller in Cirque.
Clowns do not normally scare me but I do believe if I met “The Clown” I would want to run for the hills.
Sivan fights daily with his inner self to be the man everyone knows him to be but deep down he struggles daily with his secrets, secrets that will make him an outcast.
Sivan’s sister, Samantha, is self absorbed and an attention seeking person. She herself is on her own destructive path and I am keen to know more about her.
Imogene is a shy smiling girl, or is she?
Last but not least ther is Gavin, Sivan’s best mate and business partner. He is also keeping secrets and seems to be a wolf in sheeps clothing, so yes I’m intrigued.
Ashleigh has really stepped away from her usual style of writing and has introduced us to an AMAZING story with Cirque. I’m loving all of the characters so far and they have all established a fantastic and intriguing story line. I am sure Act 2 is going to be spectacular.
SO ROLL UP, ROLL UP, AND ENTER THE BIG TOP IF YOU DARE!!!!!!!
A. Giannoccaro is one of my Favorited Authors and this book did not disappoint me.
Oh Wow for all you Clown haters or even if you are scared of Clowns I say really give this book a chance.
I did and I fear Clowns, to the point I will cry or freeze if I see one in the street.
Ash has got me to Like her clown he is a bit creepy but he doesn’t scare me this book we learn how and why he wants to be *The Clown* this book is very creative and I was hooked from the first page.
Sivan is a normal day to day Guy, but he has a secret he can’t share with anyone he knows they will never understand. Loved the character’s development.
I really hated his Sivan sister I just wanted to Crawl in the book and punch her. I don’t like her at all.
I really liked Imogene Character she has secrets of her own.
This book is so different from anything I have EVER read before. And so different from Ash other books. But I have to say I really enjoyed it from the start and I really can’t wait to see what happens in Act 2.
I just Like to say to Ash thank you. I for not making me even more scared of Clowns.
Wow. That pretty much sums it all up to one simple word. Wow! But this is not a bad thing. This book had me hooked from the very beginning taking me on a dark and twisted roller coaster of emotion I had no idea I was going to like as much as I did. Normally, this isn’t my thing, but I am in love with this book. Holy crap! Can’t wait for the next one!