batkat21's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a very interesting read. I felt instantly drawn into the story and the world. The author definitely throws you into the world without much explanation which for me is a hit and miss way to tell a story. It worked very well here in most ways however because even while I was frustrated at the lack of information about the history of the world and the character's past it was part of why it was so hard to put down. I just had to know more. It took me forever to read this book unfortunately because I never had enough time and I knew that once I really sat down to read it I wouldn't stop. Which was true, I read the first 5 chapters over the period of almost a month I think and then BAM finished the rest in one day.
I will say that I agree with something I read in another review (I'm so sorry I don't remember who) that the random quotes from news sources that seemed to be shoved in for no reason were annoying and off putting. I think that it was possibly added as a way for us to be reminded over and over again about the horrors of the past and the way that the humans are thinking about the non-human species'. It just didn't work for me though because all the blurbs were so similar in that they were either vague to the point of being pointless, or they were just re-stating what we were already told.
I definitely want to read the next one but I'm waiting a little bit. While the bleak and hopeless setting and atmosphere of the book was so good it's hard to read too much of in a row.
Definitely recommend.
I will say that I agree with something I read in another review (I'm so sorry I don't remember who) that the random quotes from news sources that seemed to be shoved in for no reason were annoying and off putting. I think that it was possibly added as a way for us to be reminded over and over again about the horrors of the past and the way that the humans are thinking about the non-human species'. It just didn't work for me though because all the blurbs were so similar in that they were either vague to the point of being pointless, or they were just re-stating what we were already told.
I definitely want to read the next one but I'm waiting a little bit. While the bleak and hopeless setting and atmosphere of the book was so good it's hard to read too much of in a row.
Definitely recommend.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
Delilah had no idea when she agreed to go see a traveling menagerie that she herself might end up inside one of its cages. But after she witnesses one of the exotic cryptids being abused by a handler, Delilah's rage transforms her into a mind-manipulating, bloodshot-eyed, floating-haired monster, and she's immediately captured and jailed along with the other non-human species in the carnival's collection. Not only is this a fascinating fantasy story in its own right, but it's also shockingly timely. There's so much going on thematically and so many ways those themes connect with the current prevailing attitudes in our nation, you could discuss this book until the cows came home.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
4.0
*I received a free ARC of Menagerie from Harlequin MIRA via Netgalley in exchange of an honest and unbiased review*
On the surface, Menagerie is the story of creatures that are not completely human, living in a sort of traveling zoo. However, if we scratch even lightly, right underneath that surface is a tale about morals, ethics, respect and justice.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
On the surface, Menagerie is the story of creatures that are not completely human, living in a sort of traveling zoo. However, if we scratch even lightly, right underneath that surface is a tale about morals, ethics, respect and justice.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
jonesyc's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
erinarkin20's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn’t entirely sure what I was going to get when I cracked the cover of Menagerie by Rachel Vincent but I have to admit, I enjoyed this one. It has a unique story and some even more unique characters with a paranormal feel that kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.
Menagerie begins with Delilah Marlow visiting a famous traveling carnival with her best friend and her boyfriend. The difference between a normal carnival and this carnival is that they have a collection of attractions that are centered on cryptids. Cryptids are part human, part animal and to everyone who is purely human, they are animals and have no rights. I tell you all of this because while at the carnival, Delilah comes face to face with just how cruel humans are to the cryptids and it is this that changes her life forever. When Delilah can’t control her reaction to what happens at the carnival, she changes into a monster she never knew existed and is faced with a situation she doesn’t know how to change.
Delilah is an interesting character and I found that having grown up human and free, it gave her a level of defiance that the handlers were not expecting. Of course with that, there is a challenge to break her and get her to realize just where she fits in the chain of equality. I loved how she refused to consider herself, and other cryptids, as lower than human. Despite what they are, they deserve to have the same freedoms as anyone else. Unfortunately it is this defiance that gets her in the most trouble. As she is now caged and on display, Delilah has to figure out what she is and to do that, she works with her handler, Gallagher.
Gallagher is a bit of a mystery at first. He definitely has secrets and is with the Menagerie for other reasons than to just have a job. Although he does his best to protect the cryptids, he can’t always and this opens the door for Delilah and others to be mistreated. Once Gallagher’s story was revealed, I found myself even more interested in his story. The secondary characters are just as well developed and I began to see them as more than cryptids. Despite being caged and separated, something of a friendship develops between Delilah and others and it adds another layer to the story.
Overall I enjoyed how the story unfolded. While the beginning felt a bit slow, it was mostly due to the download of information. We needed to understand how the reaping impacted people’s perceptions (I know…I didn’t talk about this) and how Delilah would ultimately end up in the situation she is in. Once the story moves forward into trying to figure out what Delilah is and how she will escape, things start to pick up. Yes, this book is definitely dark. There is a lot of violence and other things that make me think not everyone will enjoy this story but I thought the way Vincent built the story around these things was done well.
There isn’t much more I can say about the actual plot without giving anything away. With that said, I’m definitely interested to see where Vincent takes the story in the next book and am glad I picked this one up. If you are looking for something with a different story and characters that will keep you guessing around what their motives are, consider checking this one out.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.
Menagerie begins with Delilah Marlow visiting a famous traveling carnival with her best friend and her boyfriend. The difference between a normal carnival and this carnival is that they have a collection of attractions that are centered on cryptids. Cryptids are part human, part animal and to everyone who is purely human, they are animals and have no rights. I tell you all of this because while at the carnival, Delilah comes face to face with just how cruel humans are to the cryptids and it is this that changes her life forever. When Delilah can’t control her reaction to what happens at the carnival, she changes into a monster she never knew existed and is faced with a situation she doesn’t know how to change.
Delilah is an interesting character and I found that having grown up human and free, it gave her a level of defiance that the handlers were not expecting. Of course with that, there is a challenge to break her and get her to realize just where she fits in the chain of equality. I loved how she refused to consider herself, and other cryptids, as lower than human. Despite what they are, they deserve to have the same freedoms as anyone else. Unfortunately it is this defiance that gets her in the most trouble. As she is now caged and on display, Delilah has to figure out what she is and to do that, she works with her handler, Gallagher.
Gallagher is a bit of a mystery at first. He definitely has secrets and is with the Menagerie for other reasons than to just have a job. Although he does his best to protect the cryptids, he can’t always and this opens the door for Delilah and others to be mistreated. Once Gallagher’s story was revealed, I found myself even more interested in his story. The secondary characters are just as well developed and I began to see them as more than cryptids. Despite being caged and separated, something of a friendship develops between Delilah and others and it adds another layer to the story.
Overall I enjoyed how the story unfolded. While the beginning felt a bit slow, it was mostly due to the download of information. We needed to understand how the reaping impacted people’s perceptions (I know…I didn’t talk about this) and how Delilah would ultimately end up in the situation she is in. Once the story moves forward into trying to figure out what Delilah is and how she will escape, things start to pick up. Yes, this book is definitely dark. There is a lot of violence and other things that make me think not everyone will enjoy this story but I thought the way Vincent built the story around these things was done well.
There isn’t much more I can say about the actual plot without giving anything away. With that said, I’m definitely interested to see where Vincent takes the story in the next book and am glad I picked this one up. If you are looking for something with a different story and characters that will keep you guessing around what their motives are, consider checking this one out.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.
marpesea's review against another edition
4.0
Delilah always thought she was human until she is visiting a traveling exhibit of creatures and is revealed to be... not-quite-"human" herself. The characters are interesting in their variety and personality and the world is well-drawn. This book doesn't pull punches although Vincent does a good job of describing the horrifying conditions without going into unnecessary detail.
Not an easy read, but an interesting one with a satisfying, if abrupt, ending.
TW for violence, sexual assault
Not an easy read, but an interesting one with a satisfying, if abrupt, ending.
TW for violence, sexual assault
billies_not_so_secret_diary's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Menagerie
by Rachel Vincent
Menagerie #1
Fantasy Urban Paranormal
Scribd Audio
18+
In a world where the cryptic are alive and feared, they have no rights, not even rights that animals have. These creatures are caged, abused, experimented on, and put on show.
Delilah, who studied Crypticzoology and biology, dropped out because of the creatures' treatment. A few years later her boyfriend takes her to Metzger's Menagerie, a traveling circus of the cryptic creatures, but after witnessing a young female werewolf's treatment, Delilah changes. Stunned and captured, she is taken to jail, then sold to the Menagerie by the police.
Even though her blood test says she is human, she is caged and put on exhibition, forced to change.
I was ready to stop listening to this book right after she was 'arrested', but I didn't. The reason was because of the 'what ifs'. I could put myself into her shoes and I could not stop but think about what could happen to her, the things these people could do to her and they would get away with it.
But I had to find out what happened, and if anyone got what they deserved.
I did listen to this and sadly the narrator's voice didn't fit with the MC, I felt as if there was an age difference, but she still did a good job, and had some great voices for the other characters.
Because of the 'what ifs', the things that could happen to her, and the violence against these creatures, and others, I don't think this book is suitable for anyone under eighteen, and sensitive readers should take caution.
4 Stars
freesien's review against another edition
4.0
Dieses Buch ist mal was ganz Neues für mich! Unglaublich! Aber das Ende hätte ich nun wirklich nicht erwartet.
clauleesi's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to this on Audible.
Really enjoyed the world, writing and especially the different creatures/cryptids, as well as the moral behind the story. Vincent painted a beautiful world, although I wish we could have gotten more information on what happened in 1986 - I felt like that was quite a loose thread. All in all, an interesting story.
Really enjoyed the world, writing and especially the different creatures/cryptids, as well as the moral behind the story. Vincent painted a beautiful world, although I wish we could have gotten more information on what happened in 1986 - I felt like that was quite a loose thread. All in all, an interesting story.
hoping4more's review against another edition
5.0
Original review posted @ Hoping4More Reviews
I actually hugged this book when it came in mail. Why? Because I knew I was about to fall in love with it, as I do with every other Rachel Vincent book I have ever read. She did it again.
Menagerie is very different from Rachel Vincent's other books, but that in no way detracts from it. Even though I knew going into it that Menagerie wasn't an urban fantasy or paranormal romance, I was still surprised by the lack of a MC love story, as I absolutely adore Rachel's romance plotlines in all of her other books, but again I found it didn't take anything away, if anything I found it amped up the importance of all of the other themes and plot points that needed their time in the spotlight.
The story follows Delilah Marlow as she finds out she's a monster, gets sold to a traveling circus and caged for being a monster, and discovers who the monsters really are. Her struggle to maintain her inner-self while being treated like a worthless animal is heart-wrenching and inspiring.
It is dark and twisty and kept me ravenous for more up until the last page. I was rooting for Delilah to overcome her captors while also fully experiencing the helplessness of her situation through Vincent's captivating voice.
I can't wait for Masquerade (Menagerie #2) to be released so I can dive back into this world.
I actually hugged this book when it came in mail. Why? Because I knew I was about to fall in love with it, as I do with every other Rachel Vincent book I have ever read. She did it again.
Menagerie is very different from Rachel Vincent's other books, but that in no way detracts from it. Even though I knew going into it that Menagerie wasn't an urban fantasy or paranormal romance, I was still surprised by the lack of a MC love story, as I absolutely adore Rachel's romance plotlines in all of her other books, but again I found it didn't take anything away, if anything I found it amped up the importance of all of the other themes and plot points that needed their time in the spotlight.
The story follows Delilah Marlow as she finds out she's a monster, gets sold to a traveling circus and caged for being a monster, and discovers who the monsters really are. Her struggle to maintain her inner-self while being treated like a worthless animal is heart-wrenching and inspiring.
It is dark and twisty and kept me ravenous for more up until the last page. I was rooting for Delilah to overcome her captors while also fully experiencing the helplessness of her situation through Vincent's captivating voice.
I can't wait for Masquerade (Menagerie #2) to be released so I can dive back into this world.