Review: Gods and Monsters : Carnival of Mysteries by Rachel Langella

Rating: 3.75🌈

Gods and Monsters represents both the beginning and the end of the Carnival of Mysteries collection in several ways. In Rachel Langella’s author’s forward, she describes how the collection and concept came about. The isolation of Covid pushing the idea of opening up the Carnival of Mysteries arc themes for multiple writers to use in a collaborative effort . Then it moving forward from being an idea to a reality.

That’s the starting point. For the theme and collection. Now Langella’s story, Gods and Monsters, ends both the collection, and her journey with the characters created those years ago.

I have found that I have throughly enjoyed the way in which the authors tackled the same themes , taking the Carnival and its magical experience into account when weaving their own stories. Some to great effect, others not so much.

Now it’s the Carnival itself as the main setting and its players as the main characters. To be honest, I’m still a bit ambivalent about this aspect of the story. I very much liked the element of not having a lot of information or background for Errante, preferring him to have that mystical ability to be as powerful as he needed to be in any given situation.

Here by supplying him, and all the others there with specific backgrounds and well defined histories, often accompanied by well known mythology, for me he became a less interesting and less mysterious person.

Langella is definitely committed to her concepts and her plots are well formed. The mythological layers are brought in from the early stages and well developed throughout the storyline. I was interested by this element but not sure it worked as well as the author intended.

Characters such as Rafe , the other main protagonist, have a tragic beginning that adds to his history. But the timeline is so fluid within the Carnival, by necessity, that such usual moments of poignancy are lost in the narrative. It all goes by too quickly.

That’s my main concern and issue with the way this story has been written and the relationships between the characters develop. There’s a sexual connection and lots of one-sided internal dialogue that’s ongoing. But between the two of them? That interaction wasn’t as dynamic as one might expect.

When reading the book, I realized I continued to keep an emotional distance from the characters and any actions occurring on the page. I thought certain aspects were interesting or well done. But I wasn’t ever invested in what was happening to the characters in an emotional way.

And I should have been.

Maybe others will feel differently. It’s well thought out. The ending is dramatic, a HFN. And the author’s work has prompted a slew of new stories, a series of some of the greatest covers I think I’ve seen recently, and a fabulous overall story arc.

How about a round 2?

Missed any? The entire list is below.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

✓ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

✓ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver

✓ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill♥️

✓ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore ♥️♥️

✓ The Black Robe of Flanders by Sara Ellis

✓ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella

This cover and all the amazing covers of this collection are designed by:

Cover by Dianne Theis at lyricallines.net

Buy Link:

Gods and Monsters

Blurb:

Welcome, Traveler, to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries!

What you see before you is no mere vagabond circus. Indeed, our show is full of wonders and delights that will leave you breathless, but whether that is with amazement or dread depends entirely upon you. We are unlike any other band of creatures you have ever encountered — and you few brave souls who choose to step beyond your mundane expectations and join us may witness sights beyond your wildest imaginings.

So sit back, relax, and let us entertain you. For time and worlds are fleeting, but each soul has a tale to tell.

For centuries beyond count, Errante Ame has taken his Carnival of Mysteries from world to world and across times, never staying in one place too long lest his great enemy discover his location. Along the way he has accumulated friends and built a family of sorts among his ragtag band of performers, yet he doesn’t dare let anyone get too close to protect them from becoming a target as well. He stands apart, an outsider even among those closest to him, concealing his true nature.

Even from the man who has somehow come to mean more to him than his own life.

The Carnival is all Rafe Harper has ever known. Plucked as a toddler from the remains of a destroyed village on a world he doesn’t remember, he was adopted by Calliope, the Tattooed Lady, and raised among the performers. As an adult, he was given the position of Ringmaster by Errante — though he secretly longed for far more from the enigmatic leader of the Carnival. Despite all the wonders he has seen, Rafe stayed with the Carnival to remain close to Errante, wondering if someday he could break through Errante’s walls and finally reveal how he truly feels.

But unbeknownst to either of them, a traitor lurks among their friends, and unless Rafe can discover the secret of his past, he stands to lose Errante, the Carnival, and perhaps his very soul.

Gods and Monsters 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 a mysterious hero, a lonely wanderer, a vengeful god, and a guaranteed HEA.

— Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella

Review: Sting in the Tail: Carnival of Mysteries by TA Moore

Rating:5+🌈

TA Moore, what a story! I love this so much! Although I feel I should put a titch of a warning out there for anyone looking for a feel good, cozy hearted romantic tale that they won’t get the book they’re looking for here.

A whopping fabulous story that has huge elements of horror, murder, mystery, and the paranormal. A bittersweetness and just plain bitterness, yes. All so beautifully written. But warm and fuzzy? Uh no.

But you kind of have to figure that goes hand in hand with a story who’s centered around a dead serial killer and his son who has to deal with the ramifications of the father’s debts. Not that his son isn’t as morally ambiguous a figure as dear old dad. He’s just not a serial killer.

Not in the entirety of this collection or in any recent books I’ve read have I met as intriguing and layered a character as Ledger Conroy. Moore could write legions of stories about him and Wren and never be done.

Ledger, son of convicted killer, Bell Conroy, returned to dispose of the old family house and the ghastly things that his dad might have left hidden inside. Why? Because , considering what they are, they would bring a profit. Ledger’s in the business of selling darkness, in the form of items, to people and beings who can use them. Yes, magic is real. And dear old dad dealt with the worst.

Every paragraph, every page adds depth and clarity of purpose to our character and history. Even as we get more information, I begrudge the the space the author isn’t able to give to the small elements introduced to fill out Ledger’s backstory. I need to know more about that sister!

Then there’s Wren, an otherworldly figure in service to a truly horrifying creature. I’ll leave Earl to the book. Make no mistake, Earl is one of the scarier nightmares to haunt any narrative.

Wren is a very complex being. One whose relationship with Ledger grows them emotionally in an unexpected manner , but doesn’t change what or who they are fundamentally just as it doesn’t Ledger.

This aspect of the story is probably the most interesting part about this. Moore stays true to her creations, neither of them becoming something they’re not but continuing to act /or emotionally maneuver within their respective personalities.

The plot is fantastic, a hunt for an object that belongs to Earl. Plus a short timetable and a horrific bargain that was made by Ledger. During this process, the Carnival of Mysteries is introduced and employed in a perfect way that not only is important to the game but has a profound impact on the outcome. Another exemplary usage of the overall theme.

There are several different storylines woven into the main theme of that have compelling endings, almost endings. There’s a tenuous quality to them, a vagueness that’s so satisfying and horrifying because, that’s what this tale calls for. You wish it wasn’t so but how else would it end?

Ledger and Wren have made it clear of the present danger. That’s the only spoiler I’ll give.

But what wouldn’t I give for Moore to send Ledger and Wren off on more murderous magical missions. Horror awaits. I hope the author is listening.

I’m highly recommending this to lovers of dark fiction and paranormal romance. I only wish I could rate it higher.

Spectacular cover. This collection’s artwork is amazing.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

✓ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

✓ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver

✓ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill♥️

✓ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore ♥️♥️

✓ The Black Robe of Flanders by Sara Ellis

◦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25

Buy link:

Sting in the Tail: Carnival of Mysteries

Blurb:

The Carnival of Mysteries just arrived in Sutton County. They say if you cross the fortune teller’s palm with silver she can read your future like a map. Right now all Ledger Conroy wants to know is if he has a future.

Back in Sutton after over a decade, Ledger’s plan had been to bury his father–recently deceased convicted serial killer and less-well known warlock, Bell Conroy–clear the property, and then finally wash his hands of being a Conroy. Instead there’s a cured human heart in the larder, a pissed off pretty boy who is definitely not human at the door, and a debt to the devil that Ledger’s just inherited.

Devil. Monster. Something like that. He’d not asked for its pedigree

Whatever it was, it’s given Ledger a week to fulfill the terms of his father’s contract. Or else he’s never going to leave Sutton again. With pretty-boy Wren at his heels, more to make sure Ledger doesn’t skip town than to provide assistance, Ledger tries to track his father’s sins across Sutton. The problem is there’s so many of them.

Ledger is faced with old grudges, a Sheriff that thinks Ledger knows more about his father’s crimes than he’s ever said (and isn’t wrong), and a dead man with a book shop. Not to mention the on-going distraction of Wren, who can’t decide whether to be a hindrance, a help, or just hot.

Luckily Ledger has a nose for this sort of work.

Sting in the Tail 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 a dealer in dark collectibles, a man who’s NOT people, and a monster with a debt it expects to be paid.”

— Sting in the Tail: Carnival of Mysteries by TA Moore

Review: The Black Robe of Flanders (Carnival of Mysteries) by Sara Ellis

Rating: 3.25🌈

The Black Robe of Flanders by Sara Ellis, part of the Carnival of Mysteries collection, has so much potential in its themes and characters but ultimately just doesn’t fulfill what it sets out to accomplish.

Set in 1936, the world is filled with pre WW2 political figures and elements. Hitler and his party is on the rise, the dangers he represents is being ignored by many of the world’s biggest corporations, while Jewish communities abroad as well as other marginalized groups are being targeted by the German government.

What makes this story different is the inclusion of a paranormal aspect. There’s individuals, on both sides, who are gifted with different abilities or Talents as they are called here. The US has the Council for the Promotion of Unusual Talents for example.

The UK has folded their operatives into side branches of their respective organizations. But this is an alternative universe in that respect.

But we get no idea where or how it happened. No historical record for this. That lack of foundation follows the same pattern throughout the entire story. It just all is. So why can’t we talk WWI? Anyway.

The two individuals that form the main couple are UK agent Alexander Skavadale, the most believable character here. And American author, Valentine Ford, who’s also a foreign correspondent. This character isn’t realistic in either role. There’s literally no groundwork laid down for him to make him feel or look like a foreign correspondent or even an author. Except to have someone say they have a book of his. He’s not credible.

The time period is 1936. But it should feel like 1936 in every aspect of the story. And except for the fact that they are running about trying to find “holy relics “ and prevent some Gestapo from doing some mystical things while mentioning Hitler, it really doesn’t feel like 1936. Not even close, including that dialogue.

Historical writing , especially including events, if you’re a writer locating everything in a certain country and context, is tricky to get right. Want to put everything in Germany or Belgium? Ok then make the assumption that everyone is speaking that language or sneak it into the narrative that your characters speak the language.

What not to do? Throw in the word “Danke” or “mein gott “ out of nowhere when literally there’s been no word of German spoken anywhere in the book. That will startle you and not in a good way. “Mein gott”. Then never see another foreign word again. SMH.

The Carnival shows up to deliver a play that should deliver a message but doesn’t make any sense. The first time they appeared was more on target. The second? Not so much. Actually they didn’t even need to be in the book at all.

The elements of the story that were nicely written are the ones that were focused on families. Val’s estrangement with his mother and subsequent reconciliation was heartwarming and believable. So were the scenes from the family home. All the felt emotionally satisfying and real.

Less so were the undercover agents and espionage elements. Indiana Jones comes across as more realistic and hardcore than most of this stuff does.

So what do we have? A good premise that wasn’t well executed imo. One good character, no real world building, but some lovely smaller elements. A bit of a mixed bag of a narrative. And a central collection theme that might as well have been not even mentioned.

I think Ellis set the bar high for herself and that’s wonderful. I look forward to seeing what she might do with her next story.

Fabulous covers, this one included.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

✓ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

✓ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver

✓ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill♥️

✓ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore ♥️♥️

✓ The Black Robe of Flanders by Sara Ellis

◦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25

Buy Link:

The Black Robe of Flanders: Carnival of Mysteries

Blurb:

It’s the summer of 1936. Europe is at peace. Prosperity is beginning to return after the long, hungry years of the Great Depression, and new leaders have brought fresh ideas and what might actually be hope to country after country. People have enough money to spend at the shops, the cafes, even the shabby little kermesse that goes from town to town.

Life is good again, or will be soon….

Valentine Ford is a foreign correspondent who’s been on the Continent for almost a decade. He sees the warning signs of trouble to come, the cracks beginning to form in the happy facade, but no one will listen….

Alexander Skavadale is a covert agent who’s been on the job since the Great War. He’s heard rumors of trouble brewing, of rare artifacts disappearing to further a diabolical plan that no one can quite explain….

Two men from different worlds.

Two men with a common goal.

Two men facing an enemy they cannot imagine, forced to work together to stop a plot that could seal the fate of Europe, and the world, for generations to come.

And might just seal their fate as well.

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