Author: Chloe Kayne
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Publication Date: September 21, 2012
Synopsis: The grandeur of the travelling circus is at its peak in the early 1920s when sixteen-year-old Laila Vilonia is searching for an escape from her bleak future. Behind the gates of the legendary Marvelle Circus, she is thrust into a mysterious world she never knew existed—a paradise populated with outcasts. It’s in this glamorous new home that Laila sparks a controversial romance with notorious sideshow performer, "The Disappearing Man," and learns just how dangerous her new life can be. Read more ...
Review: I was able to read and review Showtime (for free) courtesy of the author, Chloe Kayne, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I really enjoyed reading Showtime, so much so that I finished it in 2 days. The story was captivating and the characters were fantastically developed. Both the plot and setting were equally intriguing. And, although the writing and descriptions felt a bit awkward and forced in the beginning, the writing quickly began to flow smoothly and I became lost in the novel. Kayne paints a lovely, yet dark story about life in a circus, the difficulties of family, first love, the bond of friendship and ultimately finding where one belongs.
Laila, and the other characters found in Showtime were all brought to life by Kayne. Additionally, the relationships between the characters did not seem forced. Unlike some other YA novels, the romance between Laila and "The Disappearing Man" built over the course of the novel. It was wonderful to see this romantic relationship, as well as the relationships between Laila and the other characters develop over time. For a first novel, Kayne does a wonderful job of showing and not telling the reader.
My only major dislike of this novel was that when reading it I did not feel like I was in the early 1920s. Although it did read well researched, the conversations between the characters (especially the teens) felt very much of this century. When I first started reading the novel I even had to verify that it was set in the 1920s, as I instantly felt that it was present-day. Nevertheless, the plot, setting and characters hold this novel up so well, that this tiny detail barely affected my pleasure of reading Showtime.
Also, I feel incline to mention how much reading Showtime reminded me of reading the Harry Potter books, in a totally good way. Although the plot, setting and characters are very different, something in the tone, pace and/or mysterious and darker elements of Showtime made me think of the Harry Potter books. I'm not sure exactly what it was, but there was something that evoked the writing style of J.K. Rowling to me, during my reading. Did anyone else find this? Or, as I am likely to believe, am I totally crazy?
I really enjoyed Showtime and am definitely looking forward to the next instalment in the Mavelle Circus series. Those who loved The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen will adore this YA equivalent. And, although I received this book for free, it is totally worth its less than a dollar (!) ebook price tag.
What to look forward to from Chloe Kayne: Spotlight (Marvelle Circus #2) in 2014
My Rating: 4.0/5.0
No comments:
Post a Comment