From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent comes a richly imagined, provocative new series set in the dark mythology of the Menagerie… When Delilah Marlow visits a famous traveling carnival, Metzger’s Menagerie, she is an ordinary woman in a not-quite-ordinary world. But under the macabre circus big-top, she discovers a fierce, sharp-clawed creature lurking just beneath her human … sharp-clawed creature lurking just beneath her human veneer. Captured and put on exhibition, Delilah is stripped of her worldly possessions, including her own name, as she’s forced to “perform” in town after town.
But there is breathtaking beauty behind the seamy and grotesque reality of the carnival. Gallagher, her handler, is as kind as he is cryptic and strong. The other “attractions”–mermaids, minotaurs, griffins and kelpies–are strange, yes, but they share a bond forged by the brutal realities of captivity. And as Delilah struggles for her freedom, and for her fellow menagerie, she’ll discover a strength and a purpose she never knew existed.
Renowned author Rachel Vincent weaves an intoxicating blend of carnival magic and startling humanity in this intricately woven and powerful tale
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I could not put this book down. The twists and turns surprised, but made sense looking back, and the suspense was constant. At the same time, the world building was good and made sense. Great story, and I am looking forward to the sequel
I really enjoyed this book. Delilah’s story was so unique. I loved monsters that look like humans. I just felt so bad for them in cages. I cannot wait to read the next one.
Book 169 towards my goal of 290! 4.5/5 stars for this adult fantasy reread! This is a darker fantasy. A young woman discovers that she’s not exactly 100% human while visiting a cryptid menagerie. She is then sold into said show, while appearing perfectly human. She’s treated like the rest of the “entertainment” as far as food, hygiene, and comfort go. There are definitely some trigger warnings for this one so be sure to check those out if you need to. Love the cover. Love the story. Narration is a bit quiet, but still enjoyable! Highly recommend!
I bought this book on Audible when it first came out and never listened to it. It wasn’t until I joined a readers challenge that I decided to dig into it. I purchased it on my kindle and all I can say is I’m kicking myself for not delving into it when I originally bought it. This book is hard to read at times because of the parallels in the real world. There is a lot of darkness in this book but the world building is done beautifully. The plus side to waiting to read this book is the sequels are already written, I can’t wait to delve into the next one.
A great fantasy set in modern day where the character is just an everyday woman who you can relate-to. The character stories pull at your heart and you’ll get those “I can’t believe their sad back story” feels when the main character develops her relationships. You’ll also hate the antagonist so much, but in the way that you’ll want to keep reading to see the story unfold. Read this for a quick and entertaining fantasy read that you might cry with, too.
Not for the faint of heart. There are implied and written accounts of abuse against the menagerie exhibits. This book is unlike any I have read and it almost opens your eyes to the world around you. It makes you think “if animals at the zoo could talk…..” I think this book is interesting in the way that it exposes the animalistic side of people. It shows the vulnerabilities of humans in captivity. And it makes the reader think “If animals had complex thoughts, what if this is what goes through the mind of the animals all of the world in zoos who are put on display”? It’s a disconcerting thought, but one you cannot help but think when reading this book. It makes you think. I really liked this book. I like books that lead the reader to think. I will be reading Spectacle next.
A very original fiction. I was on the edge of my seat with suspense. A morror of a world mixed with cruelty and prejudice and those who fight against it despite everything. I truely felt connected to the characters and I was inspired by the frienships in this book. Now one of favorites.
I could not put this book down! It was definitely a great read, and I would recommend it to anyone. You never know what is happening next. I’ve already bought the second book, and am looking forward to more!
Absolutely loved this book!!
A great thriller/fantasy/drama. Totally enjoyed this enough so that I picked up the sequel at full price. Well worth it.
This was a very different type of story. It was very interesting and thoughtful.
Good read although it has some major malfunction in part of the plot history, completely leaving out how and why these people came to be and what the reaping was. Other than that large gap of info, I would recommend it for a quick entertaining read.
I adored this book and waited impatiently for the rest of the series. One of my favorites and I read 3-4 books a month. I highly recommend this series.
Atypical of a paranormal novel and entertaining.