glass_carousel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
alicehaynes31's review against another edition
4.0
there was no world i wanted to live in where thomas cresswell wasn't a part of it
This series is one of my favourites and despite this being a four star, it still remains at the top. I wish I could give it the full 5 star but there was just too much of that stupid thomas cresswell knock-off. Nevertheless, I still adored this instalment. Audrey Rose remains my best girl. The last 40 pages of this book just tore my heart out multiple times.
My only complaint: One of the best elements of this series is the dynamic between Audrey Rose and Thomas, and whilst I understand what Kerri Maniscalco was doing when she had Audrey Rose discover her freedom, I felt like taking away Thomas for so much of this book was not the way to do that. Audrey Rose's arc in this book was so important and which is why I am giving it a high four stars. I loved seeing my girl discover herself and what she wanted whilst taking full control of the case but I couldn't give it that 5 star because such a vital part of this series was not as prominent as in the previous books.
This series is one of my favourites and despite this being a four star, it still remains at the top. I wish I could give it the full 5 star but there was just too much of that stupid thomas cresswell knock-off. Nevertheless, I still adored this instalment. Audrey Rose remains my best girl. The last 40 pages of this book just tore my heart out multiple times.
My only complaint: One of the best elements of this series is the dynamic between Audrey Rose and Thomas, and whilst I understand what Kerri Maniscalco was doing when she had Audrey Rose discover her freedom, I felt like taking away Thomas for so much of this book was not the way to do that. Audrey Rose's arc in this book was so important and which is why I am giving it a high four stars. I loved seeing my girl discover herself and what she wanted whilst taking full control of the case but I couldn't give it that 5 star because such a vital part of this series was not as prominent as in the previous books.
armina_salemi's review
3.0
Okay NOW this type of romance I can accept!
Really, it was nice: It has magic, it has blood (a lot!), it has riddles, it has handsome people (I have a special place in my heart for handsome, smart, sarcastic people) and I like it. I guess I'd try the rest too.
Really, it was nice: It has magic, it has blood (a lot!), it has riddles, it has handsome people (I have a special place in my heart for handsome, smart, sarcastic people) and I like it. I guess I'd try the rest too.
genbell's review
1.0
Soooo I was really disappointed with the third book. I was happy that Thomas was back to his old self (in the second book he can't do anything) and was excited to see the evolution of their budding relationship. I really like their interactions.it's so funny. Buuuuut we ditch him at the start of the book for a new guy. I don't know why the author decided to do a love triangle. It didn't add anything and I was rolling my eyes the entire time and found the heroin kind of annoying. The rythme was slow and I had a hard time finishing the damn book. I will read the last one but I do hope it's better because for me it's getting worse each time. I loved the first one so much.
pamelina's review
1.0
1/5
ummmmm... more thoughts to come. I need time to recover
EDIT: *one night of fitful rest later*
Reader, I hope you never experience such utter disappointment as this book has inflicted upon my poor, fragile heart.
Ok, that's a bit dramatic, but really. This was the worst book I've read this year, and that's considering the fact that I read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult last month... I thought that would be the worst book of the year, but I was sorely mistaken.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS BOOK?! Who wrote this? Surely not the same author as the first two books. This installment in the Stalking Jack The Ripper series seems totally out of place and unnecessary. None of the characters acted like themselves, and I felt like I had front row seats to the complete destruction of their character development established in the first two books.
I'll start with the overall plot. I felt like none of it really made sense or was impactful. When the murderer was revealed, I couldn't care less. I think the concept of a murder mystery in a carnival in the middle of the Atlantic ocean is definitely interesting, but the execution left much to be desired. The pacing was waaay too slow, and I found myself skimming through the second third of the book just so I could get to the end.
Now, the real disaster in this book... the LOVE TRIANGLE! WHY! Why, oh why... The love triangle was SO UNNECESSARY! And the cheap plot devices the author used to make the love triangle happen... I was so disappointed. Surely Audrey Rose could have told Thomas what she was up to without Mephistopheles finding out?? If it was her moral code keeping her from breaking her promise of secrecy to Mephistopheles, then why didn't her moral code stop her from CHEATING ON HER FIANCE? Also, what was even the point of the agreement they had? The carnival crew wouldn't trust Audrey Rose unless Mephisto was in love with her? Really? THAT'S the best you could do... Audrey Rose and Thomas managed to figure out information in the past two books without entering into a ridiculous, convoluted agreement with the suspects. I'm sure they could have solved this mystery without it, too.
I just struggled to finish this book. It was such a complete and utter disappointment. I nearly DNFed, but I carried on for Thomas Cresswell and Thomas Cresswell only.
Pray for Thomas. He's carrying the weight of this entire series on his shoulders.
ummmmm... more thoughts to come. I need time to recover
EDIT: *one night of fitful rest later*
Reader, I hope you never experience such utter disappointment as this book has inflicted upon my poor, fragile heart.
Ok, that's a bit dramatic, but really. This was the worst book I've read this year, and that's considering the fact that I read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult last month... I thought that would be the worst book of the year, but I was sorely mistaken.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS BOOK?! Who wrote this? Surely not the same author as the first two books. This installment in the Stalking Jack The Ripper series seems totally out of place and unnecessary. None of the characters acted like themselves, and I felt like I had front row seats to the complete destruction of their character development established in the first two books.
I'll start with the overall plot. I felt like none of it really made sense or was impactful. When the murderer was revealed, I couldn't care less. I think the concept of a murder mystery in a carnival in the middle of the Atlantic ocean is definitely interesting, but the execution left much to be desired. The pacing was waaay too slow, and I found myself skimming through the second third of the book just so I could get to the end.
Now, the real disaster in this book... the LOVE TRIANGLE! WHY! Why, oh why... The love triangle was SO UNNECESSARY! And the cheap plot devices the author used to make the love triangle happen... I was so disappointed. Surely Audrey Rose could have told Thomas what she was up to without Mephistopheles finding out?? If it was her moral code keeping her from breaking her promise of secrecy to Mephistopheles, then why didn't her moral code stop her from CHEATING ON HER FIANCE? Also, what was even the point of the agreement they had? The carnival crew wouldn't trust Audrey Rose unless Mephisto was in love with her? Really? THAT'S the best you could do... Audrey Rose and Thomas managed to figure out information in the past two books without entering into a ridiculous, convoluted agreement with the suspects. I'm sure they could have solved this mystery without it, too.
I just struggled to finish this book. It was such a complete and utter disappointment. I nearly DNFed, but I carried on for Thomas Cresswell and Thomas Cresswell only.
Pray for Thomas. He's carrying the weight of this entire series on his shoulders.
nofy's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
kay_slayerofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This has to be my favorite in the series so far. I mean DAMN! I thoroughly enjoyed this. The chemistry and banter between Audrey Rose and Thomas is always entertaining. But Aiden . . . I had mixed feelings about him. He pissed me off to the point that I wanted to strangle him and then he'd be extremely charming. Props to Kerri Maniscalco because once again I was completely STUMPED when trying to guess the murderer. 5 stars!
ellansd's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
scottishpixie26's review against another edition
4.0
Amazing. Loved the carnival characters especially Mephistopheles. Loved the twists and turns.
nadiahoberg1's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0