CIRCUS OF THE DARNED

Author: Katie Maxwell ISBN: 0843954000 1/2006 YOUNG ADULT Publisher: SMOOCH

I’ve given up all hope of having a normal life. As if things aren’t freaky enough traveling around Europe with a group of witches, mediums, and magicians who make up my home-away-from-home (aka the GothFaire), now I also have to cope with a mysterious man who wants to steal my horse, and a time-travel counselor who insists I’m Cleopatra reincarnated. I just want to go on a date with Benedikt, but when your boyfriend’s a vampire, nothing is easy. Not only is Ben keeping secrets from me, but somehow, I raised an entire battlefield of warring Viking ghosts—all of whom refuse to be sent back. And I thought all I had to worry about was what to wear on my date…

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I absolutely love CIRCUS OF THE DARNED! It's a perfect, light read with plenty of laughter, mystery, and coming of age feelings all wrapped up in a paranormal package.

I didn't feel like I was reading a so-called young adult book, but rather a good book, with a heroine that struggles to accept herself and her fate with a three-hundred year old vampire. Did I mention she has some special abilities of her own? Or, that her mother is a witch and together they are touring Hungary with the GothFaire? Try doing all that at age 16!

For all its fun and craziness, there are some subtle lessons to be learned from this book. Still, it is entertaining and wonderful, and I greatly anticipate the next one in the series.

Shannon Johnson