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Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite
After the mysterious disappearance of Nora Thornehill in London, her sister, Loreli, unlike her parents, refuses to accept that Nora is dead, despite police reports that she had supposedly drowned. Unknown to her family, Nora has been trapped in a countryside circus by its ringmaster after breaking into his trailer and seeing his eldritch possessions—glowing jars and a book with a pulse. Alaric is part of a secret society called the Socieitas Vitæ Tenebris, founded three hundred years ago in 1565, and dedicated to pursuing immortality through alchemy and grotesque human experimentation. He plans to use the circus artists for a grand ritual, a feat that will see him achieve immortality. Cassandra DeVale, a relative of one of the founding families of the society, learns about his intentions through letters left behind by her deceased parents. Partnering with Loreli and two other allies, Cassandra is determined to stop Alaric and save the circus artists from Alaric’s heinous plan. Will they succeed? Find out in Cirque Menagerie by K. J. Akers.
If you are looking for a dark fantasy novel flavored with adventure, edge-of-the-seat suspense, jaw-dropping plot twists, and a gripping backstory, Cirque Menagerie by K. J. Akers is a perfect pick. A dramatic start sets the stage for horror and mystery. Akers grounds readers in a gothic, make-believe world with impressive world-building and dynamic prose alternating moments of reflection, tension, and bursts of action. The story feels oppressive and eerie, and unfolds with a pervasive sense of foreboding. I was either watching Alaric advance his heinous plans for his puppets at the circus, while taking in its ominous setting. Or I was following Cassandra, Loreli, Seline, and Eduard as they plotted Alaric’s defeat. Akers vividly captures the backdrop of nineteenth-century London and its people, giving insight into the culture. This page turner is an incredible debut in the V.I.T.R.I.O.L. Tome Duology, and I can’t wait for the second installment.
