avsfan08's review against another edition
5.0
Can Ellie write a bad book? I was hooked into the story from the beginning, with the tension of Sorsha and Colm on the run. You know something awful has happened and each piece of the story gradually unfolds. Even when they reach their destination, they still can't let their guard down. I loved the characters of Sorsha and Colm and their developing relationship. Sorsha might be small but certainly to be feared. Colm is not just a strongman as a circus act, it's his very character and nature. There are so many other wonderful supporting characters who I'm looking forward to seeing more of through the series. I loved the circus setting. It was a different view of something you see from the outside, with its own language and customs. Can't wait for the next book!
pantsreads's review against another edition
4.0
Another super swoony and entertaining read from Ellie Marney, but was a little too short to be completely satisfying.
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
slc333's review against another edition
3.0
At is heart this is a sweet YA romance.
Sorscha and Colm are two young circus performers fleeing their troupe in the north to avoid police questioning. It is apparent very early on that the event they are fleeing has given Sorscha PTSD and that while she feels enormous amounts of guilt is is not really at fault.
But this is just the backstory to bring them south to Klatch's Karnival where we meet a diverse and interesting cast of characters, Sorscha struggles to comes to terms with what happened and they fall in love.
Sorscha and Colm are two young circus performers fleeing their troupe in the north to avoid police questioning. It is apparent very early on that the event they are fleeing has given Sorscha PTSD and that while she feels enormous amounts of guilt is is not really at fault.
But this is just the backstory to bring them south to Klatch's Karnival where we meet a diverse and interesting cast of characters, Sorscha struggles to comes to terms with what happened and they fall in love.
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Mandy C.
Cover Story: Ornate
BFF Charm: Yay
Swoonworthy Scale: 9
Talky Talk: Sweet But Short
Bonus Factor: The Circus
Factor: Series Starter
Relationship Status: In It For The Long Haul
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Ornate
BFF Charm: Yay
Swoonworthy Scale: 9
Talky Talk: Sweet But Short
Bonus Factor: The Circus
Factor: Series Starter
Relationship Status: In It For The Long Haul
Read the full book report here.
melbsreads's review against another edition
5.0
Trigger warnings: drowning, death, violence,
24/6/2020
Everything I said last time still applies. Ellie, I know crime is your jam buuuuut if you ever decide to write a romance book, hit me up if you need a beta reader. Just saying.
24/8/2017
In the interests of full disclosure, I received an advanced copy of this from Ellie because I am demanding and she is delightful. This had no impact on how much I absolutely adored this book. The characters are great, the romance is A+, and there's plenty of mystery to keep you guessing, as you would expect with an Ellie Marney book.
The difference here, though, is that the story is set at a circus. Our protagonist, Sorsha, is a teenage trapeze artist. And she's on the run from the cops after defending herself following a Very Bad Thing that happened outside the circus where she grew up. So now she and apprentice strongman, Colm, have run south to join a circus troop in the big city.
The romance, like I said, is fantastic throughout. I loved both of the leads, and the supporting characters are wonderful too. The circus setting was delightful, and I can't wait to read the other two books in this series over the next few months (because thankfully they're all coming out very close together so that me and my very grabby hands don't have to wait!). If you like Ellie's other books, definitely pick this one up.
Spoiler
attempted rape24/6/2020
Everything I said last time still applies. Ellie, I know crime is your jam buuuuut if you ever decide to write a romance book, hit me up if you need a beta reader. Just saying.
24/8/2017
In the interests of full disclosure, I received an advanced copy of this from Ellie because I am demanding and she is delightful. This had no impact on how much I absolutely adored this book. The characters are great, the romance is A+, and there's plenty of mystery to keep you guessing, as you would expect with an Ellie Marney book.
The difference here, though, is that the story is set at a circus. Our protagonist, Sorsha, is a teenage trapeze artist. And she's on the run from the cops after defending herself following a Very Bad Thing that happened outside the circus where she grew up. So now she and apprentice strongman, Colm, have run south to join a circus troop in the big city.
The romance, like I said, is fantastic throughout. I loved both of the leads, and the supporting characters are wonderful too. The circus setting was delightful, and I can't wait to read the other two books in this series over the next few months (because thankfully they're all coming out very close together so that me and my very grabby hands don't have to wait!). If you like Ellie's other books, definitely pick this one up.
megangw's review against another edition
5.0
Everytime I read a book by Ellie Marney, I get swept away into a new world. The way she writes her stories, captivating you entirely and never letting you go. It has been a long time since I’ve read a book late into the early hours of the morning, and this book achieved that. I just couldn’t put it down!
This world of circus life with high flying artists, strongmen, contortionists and costume designers, is utterly unique. Something I never thought I needed. The colour in this story is absolutely wonderful, adding flair not seen often.
The dark twist in this are so well written. Ellie Marney has approached sensitive topics with easy once again, giving insight that’s very needed. This topic is not the centre of the story but does power it. To overcome an ordeal is not easy, and the hard process of overcoming is not brushed over. These characters loose, and build themselves, in a way only she could write. Once again Marney has hit it hard on and successfully done it.
The romance is heart stopping. The heat constantly being built, but also not overwhelming. No cheesy stupid love story here. This romance is more than a love story, it’s overcoming hardships together. It’s learning about yourself and them at the same time. I can’t say how much I love it. The chemistry between the characters is amazing and could not be better.
This book was heart stopping, stomachs twisting, mind blowing and jaw dropping. The twist and turns leading to guess what’s happening next. Ellie Marney never fails to meet expectations and then break through them too. My heart is now just waiting for them next one...
This world of circus life with high flying artists, strongmen, contortionists and costume designers, is utterly unique. Something I never thought I needed. The colour in this story is absolutely wonderful, adding flair not seen often.
The dark twist in this are so well written. Ellie Marney has approached sensitive topics with easy once again, giving insight that’s very needed. This topic is not the centre of the story but does power it. To overcome an ordeal is not easy, and the hard process of overcoming is not brushed over. These characters loose, and build themselves, in a way only she could write. Once again Marney has hit it hard on and successfully done it.
The romance is heart stopping. The heat constantly being built, but also not overwhelming. No cheesy stupid love story here. This romance is more than a love story, it’s overcoming hardships together. It’s learning about yourself and them at the same time. I can’t say how much I love it. The chemistry between the characters is amazing and could not be better.
This book was heart stopping, stomachs twisting, mind blowing and jaw dropping. The twist and turns leading to guess what’s happening next. Ellie Marney never fails to meet expectations and then break through them too. My heart is now just waiting for them next one...
illuminated_frogs's review against another edition
4.0
So contemporary romance isn't really my thing, but Ellie Marney is a definite exception to this.
I think because of the book's length, Sorcha and Colm's relationship didn't have as much time to develop as it could have, but I still enjoyed it. There were also some nice side characters (I especially liked Ren. I think one of the next ones focuses on her? Which I'm looking forward to.)
There's also a time skip near the end, and while I can understand why you'd choose to do it that way, I think I'd personally have rather had more covering what happened.
I think because of the book's length, Sorcha and Colm's relationship didn't have as much time to develop as it could have, but I still enjoyed it. There were also some nice side characters (I especially liked Ren. I think one of the next ones focuses on her? Which I'm looking forward to.)
There's also a time skip near the end, and while I can understand why you'd choose to do it that way, I think I'd personally have rather had more covering what happened.
diemnhunguyen's review against another edition
5.0
I had the privilege of reading an early draft of All the Little Bones.
No one writes contemporary YA romance like Ellie Marney.
No one writes contemporary YA romance like Ellie Marney.
tien's review
4.0
*laughs* I don't know why I think this was a fantasy novel! Well, the cover is sooo pretty and it's shelved as fantasy on Goodreads. I didn't bother looking into it further because I've been wanting to read Ellie Marney's books but yet... too many books too little time, as always. Suffice to say when the chance came up, I grabbed it.
I may have a tiny tad bit disappointed that there wasn't that particular [fantasy] magic but circus has always held a special magical place in my heart so this turned out to be a special sort of read especially when I came across words in my native tongue (Bahasa Indonesia)! *oh how my heart sings* (and pssst, I found out today, this particular character's story is coming in book 3, squee!!)
All the Little Bones opened with Sorsha and Colm on the run. Something awful has happened and Sorsha is struggling to come to terms with it all. Strongman Colm has been a rock but Sorsha knows this is something she must face herself. At the beginning, Sorsha is at her most vulnerable but as time passes, her strength returned and was such an amazing character. And Colm... *dreamy sighs* I've never really had a crush on the strongman in any circus fiction but boy, this one ticks all the boxes ;)
There wasn't a great big mystery on what's happened to Sorsha and I guess the only twist in the book is what bring the matter to head. After that, things seem to snowball and I found the ending to be rather rushed. I didn't expect Sorsha's story to end in this book, tbh, I expected it to go for 3 books long. I loved Sorsha and didn't really want to say goodbye this early.
I also kept expecting some sort of name of the place and/or town they were in. Descriptions of the areas etc but it was a bit sparse and I found a bit sketchy that it all felt rather unreal. I felt the romance, all right, but I could not get a feel of the setting very well. I do love the showtime though. I feel that the excitement and magic of the show came through very clearly. And I had a lot of fun imagining the costumes etc ;)
All the Little Bones is a very pretty book with a lot of feels. If you love YA romance (or even New Adult, as I feel this book borders on NA), you'd love this magical romance!
Thanks to the author, Ellie Marney, for copy of book in exchange of honest review.
I may have a tiny tad bit disappointed that there wasn't that particular [fantasy] magic but circus has always held a special magical place in my heart so this turned out to be a special sort of read especially when I came across words in my native tongue (Bahasa Indonesia)! *oh how my heart sings* (and pssst, I found out today, this particular character's story is coming in book 3, squee!!)
All the Little Bones opened with Sorsha and Colm on the run. Something awful has happened and Sorsha is struggling to come to terms with it all. Strongman Colm has been a rock but Sorsha knows this is something she must face herself. At the beginning, Sorsha is at her most vulnerable but as time passes, her strength returned and was such an amazing character. And Colm... *dreamy sighs* I've never really had a crush on the strongman in any circus fiction but boy, this one ticks all the boxes ;)
There wasn't a great big mystery on what's happened to Sorsha and I guess the only twist in the book is what bring the matter to head. After that, things seem to snowball and I found the ending to be rather rushed. I didn't expect Sorsha's story to end in this book, tbh, I expected it to go for 3 books long. I loved Sorsha and didn't really want to say goodbye this early.
I also kept expecting some sort of name of the place and/or town they were in. Descriptions of the areas etc but it was a bit sparse and I found a bit sketchy that it all felt rather unreal. I felt the romance, all right, but I could not get a feel of the setting very well. I do love the showtime though. I feel that the excitement and magic of the show came through very clearly. And I had a lot of fun imagining the costumes etc ;)
All the Little Bones is a very pretty book with a lot of feels. If you love YA romance (or even New Adult, as I feel this book borders on NA), you'd love this magical romance!
Thanks to the author, Ellie Marney, for copy of book in exchange of honest review.