Rating: 3.25🌈

Step Right Up by L. A. Witt is the second offering in the multi-author series, Carnival of Mysteries. The Carnival, a great mysterious place where nothing and no one is exactly what they seem, is a fabulous central theme for all authors to launch their own adventures from.

I wish I could say I liked the story better but, while there’s some interesting things about the Carnival scene here, there’s also some really muddy narrative waters flowing through the story.

Witt chooses a circle of nurses that work in a family practice , each close friends with their own Issues to draw from. This includes her main characters, Jason Richards and his friend (and longtime crush), Ahmed Kazimi.

So let’s just go ahead with everything together. Spoilers ahead :

Domestic Abuse:

Ahmed is in a long time relationship with an abusive boyfriend. One that won’t let him go anywhere without him or Ahmed can’t/won’t show up to the event. His friends are aware of it and say nothing. They all work in the clinic or practice that advises ppl about domestic violence issues. So they observe the signs, see the situation.

-Ahmed’s partner who, while not physically abusive, checks all the boxes for a domestic abuse case.

-However, the book/author’s through a discussion between the mc’s almost makes it sound as though the victim manipulates it that way in order for him to be with Jason.

The way the relationship is described, it seems as though Witt can’t decide whether to commit totally to a DA storyline or a lesser just a bad relationship that’s run its course.

“I think that’s basically what I did with Mark, even if I wasn’t thinking about it consciously. I didn’t know how to leave so we could have a clean break, so I just… stopped being the person he wanted to be with until he finally left.” Ahmed wrinkled his nose.”

This after his friend and colleague has reminded him he was a victim of DA even if it wasn’t physical. It’s as though the author can’t decide what the character is going through and waffles on the relationship itself.

For such a serious issue, it should be clearly defined and treated as such.

The Carnival itself:

There’s some really interesting ideas here. A game where the fish choose who they want to go home with. Ok loved that one. And the two most important features. A button game and a caricaturist. Oddly the author showcases both but narratively says one is clearly the one responsible for the romantic outcome than the other. But it doesn’t read that way.

🔷Caricatures: The caricaturist is a main element here. The artist somehow manages to capture the inner soul of the person in the portrait, whether it’s a happy one or not. These various images lead to the revelations that will be relationship saving. Or changing. Over and over it’s these paintings that make people think and then act .

🔹Lucas and Tina: caricature subheading. Not the way to deal with alcoholism. But again a clever way to show someone who has issues they are hiding.

But it’s not the main magical element. It is actually. But it’s not the one the Witt writes as “this is THE One “. SMH.

🔷The Button Game: The author’s One. this is the aspect where the small picture is won. No one understands what it’s about only you can’t destroy the painting. Like a Chucky doll it just keeps coming back. What does it do except spin bad luck? Idk. Muddy unexplained portion of the story. The woooo woooo one. Only the caricatures are so much better and makes sense.

🔷The Love Potion: Red Herring. Just thrown in there. Never explained. Does nothing.

Lack of world building. Ahmed’s background is briefly mentioned. And all that does is make a reader think of more questions. He’s out and gay in the Midwest with that background? And it’s reduced to a sentence?

“He’d mentioned at some point that his dad was Iranian and his mom was Syrian, and he had a photo of them on his desk.”

That’s indicative of the choices made here. Odd. As I said, there’s some interesting things running around in this story. But unfortunately, it’s a couple of the main points that’s dragging it all down.

Read this because you’re a fan of Witt or because you’re wanting to complete the series.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

◦ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper July 26

◦ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr – Aug 2,

◦ Assassin by Accident by E.J.Russell-Aug16

◦ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis – Sept 13

◦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25

Buy Link:

Step Right Up: Carnival of Mysteries

Description:

Jason Richards is ridiculously in love with his friend and coworker, Ahmed Kazimi. Unfortunately, Ahmed is a package deal—he has a boyfriend who, as far as Jason is concerned, needs to be launched into the sun.

Then a mysterious carnival rolls into town, and Jason and Ahmed can’t resist going. Not even if Ahmed’s boyfriend can be depended on to make everybody miserable.

When Ahmed wins a strange prize from an even stranger carnival game, weird things start happening. First, a mishap with a friend’s newly purchased love potion. Then a cascade of steadily worsening bad luck starts to rain down on every corner of Ahmed’s life. Though he doesn’t believe in the paranormal, he can’t help but wonder if his prize is cursed. Just to be safe, he throws it away.

But it comes back. And it keeps coming back.

Upon learning about the prize that won’t go away, Jason suggests the only solution he can think of: return it to the place it came from.

Now Ahmed and Jason are on a mission to get rid of the cursed prize… assuming they can find that game again.

Step Right Up is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains some long overdue friends to lovers, a strangely insightful caricaturist, and a little magical realism.