by Melissa Marr
Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (September 4, 2012)
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In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures—if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.
All Mallory knows of The City is that her father—and every other witch there—fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.
At a Glance:
There are few authors that can create an entire world and completely suck you in, in just a few short chapters, and few books that make you want to quit the world until you've finished reading it. Melissa Marr is that author, and Carnival of Souls is that book.
World Building Jedi Master:
The world that Melissa Marr created in Carnival of Souls was so vivid. I couldn't believe that after just a few short chapters, I found myself knowing this world, and kind of believing that it actually exists. There are very few authors that have the ability to suck me in this quickly, but she has always been one of them. Here, Melissa has created a world of witches and daimons in The City, where an inflexible caste systems keeps those who are down from ever changing their lots in life. The only hope to change their future, is the Carnival of Souls, where they must literally fight for their lives, and a chance to become something more.
Multiple Viewpoints:
Another thing Melissa Marr does really well, is writing from many different viewpoints. This story is told mostly by Mallory, Kaleb, & Aya, with other characters also making narrative appearances. I love this style of writing! I love that each of these characters has a unique voice, and that I get to see things from each of their perspectives.
Tough Girls and Hot Guys and Romance:
Both of the main female characters are awesome in different ways. Mallory is a little naive and sheltered, but at the same time, she knows how to fight, and she'll do anything to help the people she loves. I feel like her character grew the most in the book, and I can't wait to see where she goes in the future. Aya was equally awesome in her own way. She fights (sometimes dirty) to the death so that she can have control over her own life. While most sit back and take what they're given, Aya knows that she has to fight, or die. Then there are the guys! I adore the way that Melissa writes guys. She has a way of making them completely strong, fiercely loyal, and completely full of emotion. I love the tension, the romance and the secrets that are bound to make all these relationships go haywire in the following books.
Jump in NOW!
If you haven't read a book by Melissa Marr, I definitely recommend starting with Carnival of Souls. The only warning to you is that this book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger. With her other books, there has always been more resolution, but this time....not so much. Luckily, there's a whole series (Wicked Lovely) that you can read while you're waiting for the next CoS book to come out!
Book Doppelgangers:
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor
Content:
- Sexual Content: Sexual Dialog and innuendo
- Profanity: Mild with one heavy word
- Violence: Moderate
- Other Notables: Daimons, Witches
Adding this to my book list. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I hope you love it!
DeleteThis sounds so good! Definitely need to read it now! (: Thanks for the great review.
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely! Let me know what you think!
DeleteOMG! At first, I wasn't really excited about Carnival of Souls. I mean, I loved Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series, except for Darkest Mercy because I thought it was too simple for such a climatic battle.
ReplyDeleteNow, I am really excited for Carnival of Souls because your character descriptions reminded me of what I loved most about Wicked Lovely: the characters and their internal conflicts.
I agree about Darkest Mercy, though I did still like it, it wrapped up too easily. I wonder how it will be with CoS.....
DeleteIf you liked the Wicked Lovely series, I think you'll really like this one too.
Awesome review! This sounds like a book I will really enjoy! I really like multiple POV's too. I feel like I get so much more out of the story. Can't wait to read this one!!
ReplyDeleteI agree about multiple POV! I feel like you get so much more out of the story too!
DeleteYay! I'm so glad y'all reviewed this book. I've been anxiously anticipating Carnival of Souls. After falling in love with Marr's Wicked Lovely series, I'm easily willing to try anything by her. I can't wait to see how it compares to the world of WL. I love how she writes in multiple POVs. We get to know each character inwardly/on a personal basis. The trailer only makes waiting for Sept. 4th I believe that much harder. :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely can't wait for this one!!! Great review Andye. I keep wondering if it's going to bother me that there's a character with my daughter's name (Mallory.) Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series was so darn good. I love the world she created and when she brings you into multiple POVs you feel like you've literally become a fly on the wall in their worlds. Love her! And that book trailer they produced is OFF THE CHARTS!!! WOW!
ReplyDeleteMe wants it now!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI just finished CoS yesterday. I loved it. It was great, but now I have to wait and wait for the next one!! I agree the multiplue POVs made the story great. And I LOVE the book trailer. It is one of the best out there.
ReplyDeleteI love multiple POVs - and I am even more excited to read this one after hearing that Marr is a world-building Jedi master. I feel like a lot of authors fail to world build nowadays and it's such an important component of a story! :)
ReplyDeleteI so want to read this! I absolutely hated Wicked Lovely, but adored Graveminder, so I'm hoping that WL was a one-off for me. Great review!
ReplyDeleteKaris @YA Litwit
So excited to read this book! :) seems very interesting and unique, can't wait to dive into this story! :)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read this
ReplyDeleteI will be honest, when first saw the cover, I instantly wanted to check the book out. The more reviews I see for this book makes me want it in my hands now. I can't wait to read!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book. Can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteWow this book sounds like one I can't pass up.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good! Adding it to my GR shelf now!
ReplyDeleteI liked Melissa Marr's books in the past and this has been on my TBR Pile. I'm glad to hear someone else say that I should read it too!
ReplyDeleteI watched the trailer last week and it seemed pretty interesting. Now, after reading your review, I'm sure I'm going to love it! Thank you for posting! :D
ReplyDeleteI've never read Melissa Marr before, but once I got over the cover and read the premise, I was interested in this book. Your review just makes me want to read it even more. Great job, Andye!
ReplyDeleteGreat review - thanks. Nice to see she's keeping us hanging like she did with the Wickedly Lovely books :).
ReplyDeleteThis book looks really good. I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteSounds cool!
ReplyDeleteI really want to read this! XD
I haven't read anything by Marr yet, but I've heard good things about this book. And I love the cover! I'm going to go add this book to my TBR list on goodreads right now. ;)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you liked it! YAY! This looks really good. I haven't read her other books cuz they didn't really interest me but this looks FABULOUS!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely adding this one to my wishlist. It sounds so good :P
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review. I agree that she is excellent at writing from different points of view. It is one of my favorite things about her writing.
ReplyDeleteI do not do good with cliffhangers...but this one sounds like I have to read it! Thanks for the awesome review=)
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing really good things about this book! Also, you write the best reviews. I love to read them!
ReplyDeletesnaugle81@gmail.com
Awwww thank you!!!
DeleteThis sounds amazing!!!! Thanks for an awesome review :D
ReplyDeleteGreat cover, even better summary. I WANT!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds really great! :) I love when book has multiple storytellers! :) It's much more dynamic and interesting! :) Great review!! :)
ReplyDeleteI just took this book out of the library, and was actually going to read some other book(s) before getting to it, but now I want to jump straight in!
ReplyDeleteSounds like it's full of heart stopping moments. I love books like that. Thanks for the great review!
ReplyDeleteI really want to read this book! I participated in Melissa's twitter chat the other day, and started dying for it then! Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI love stories that have different view points. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletetinyauthor at yahoo dot com
The book sounds awesome, especially the tough girl characters. GIRL POWER!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything by Melissa yet but I pretty much have ALL of her books on my TBR pile. This one looks like a great place to start! Thanks for the review. :)
ReplyDeleteCARNIVAL OF SOULS does look like an amazing read. On my list.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This book is so intriguing and I absolutely loved the book trailer for it. I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteI love Melissa Marr! Why has it taken me this long to get my hands on this one is a mystery to me, because it sound super-fan-flipping-tastic
ReplyDeleteI've had this on my wish list. I loved her Wicked Lovely series and I'm even more excited now that you are comparing it to some of my other favorites. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the trailer of this I literally thought it was a movie. If the book is as good as the trailer, I am going to be so happy. Now that you've shared your review, I am definitely looking forward to read it. Thanks for sharing your review.
ReplyDeleteI love all of Marr's work so I'm sure I'll love this one too!
ReplyDeleteMelissa Marr is great and I would love to read this! I think my husband would like this one too!
ReplyDeleteI think I'll have to give a chance to Carnival Of Souls and Melissa Marr because I didn't like Ink Exchange and stopped reading the Wicked Lovely series...
ReplyDeleteGreat review and make want to read Carnival soul :D
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, the first thing I saw in this book was the cover (don't know why but I didn't like it), anyway, after that I started reading reviews and now, I can't wait to read it! I loved Wicked lovely and I hope I can read this soon!
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
I haven't read any book by Melissa so I definitely I should take your word on it.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a very interesting reading, and if there's cute guys that's always a plu, LOL!
Great review! I've been seeing a lot of buzz on this one but not as many reviews as I would expect so this was good. I am for sure going to check it out. Thanks
ReplyDeleteWow, great review! I'm really looking forward to reading it!
ReplyDeletegreat review! i cant wait to read this book
ReplyDeletekmichellec87(at)yahoo(dot)com
I can't wait to read this, I loved her other books. Great Review.
ReplyDeleteGreat review. i love the fact that the book is told from multiple POV and i glad that that oworked out good
ReplyDeletewhatmorebooks@hotmail.com
This book sounds amazing and I keep hearing great things about it. I love that you say the world building is great (I'm so detail-oriented that it bugs me when fantasy worlds aren't well thought through) and of course kick-ass heroines and hot guys make it sound irresistible. Can't wait to give it a read!! :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic review! I am so excited to read this one. Melissa Marr is such a fantastic writer. Most all her books totally suck me in! I'm a huge fan of multiple viewpoints. I love seeing how the story progresses in the eyes of different characters.
ReplyDeleteMaryAnn
Chapter by Chapter
Tough Girls and Hot Guys and Romance... I LOVE IT! :D
ReplyDeleteYou definitely are making me more curious about this book with how excited you sounds in your writing. I read her first book of the Wicked Lovely series some time ago and thought it was interesting though I wasn't as sucked in as you were. I think I might give her writing another shot. My friends love her writing too.
ReplyDeleteThe story sounds really great. Can't wait to read this book. You're review making me want to read this book asap. And the cover is awesome!
ReplyDeleteGreat review :)
You drew me in with, "Tough Girls and Hot Guys and Romance." What more could I ask for?
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything written by this author yet. They sound fantastic. Hot guys and romace with tough girls thrown in! Im in!
ReplyDeleteOh wow!! This book sounds amazing! I LOVE books that have to do with competitions and this is definately something I could enjoy!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I can't wait to read this one!!
ReplyDeleteWitches and daimons? Count me in! Tough Girls and Hot Guys and Romance - another perk. Not to mention a huge cliffhanger, as you say. I don't know, but I love it when a book ends with me having a fit because of cliffhangers. Although my reaction maybe unbearably unpleasant, I just love the feeling of wanting a book to death. Weird huh? Great review! :)
ReplyDeleteThis seems so different from her Wicked Lovely series. I can't wait to read this one!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Graveminder and would love to read this too!
ReplyDeleteI'm such a fan of Marissa. I can,t wait to read this book.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely about Melissa Marr's ability to completely suck you into a story with her awesome world building!! I'm dying to get my hands on this book - it sounds SO good!! Thanks for the awesome review:)
ReplyDeletejwitt33 at live dot com
Glad you enjoyed it! I've heard that most people have! The cover is so intriguing and I adore Marr's writing style! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI've never read anything about this author before and now I'm curious. The characters sounds great! I'm glad that the girls in this book are so strong :)
ReplyDeleteSounds great!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review! I've loved all of Melissa Marr's other books, so I was definitely going to read this one, but I'm even more excited about it after reading your review! Now I really can't wait : )
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any book of Melissa Marr yet. It sounds really good and your review is amazing!
ReplyDeleteArtemis
I really love Melissa Marr's stories! Looking forward to this read. :)
ReplyDelete-Len of Musings of a Reader Happy
I love paranormal YA and the idea of witches and demons battling it out for survival sounds intriguing indeed. If your review is correct, I'm sure I'll be sucked right in. It is tough though with the cliffhangers. I love to read a book and have it end there. It's so anxious waiting, otherwise. But, this book looks REALLY good! Oh, I hope I win!!
ReplyDeletei love all things melissa marr!! and ur review was really good! great point of view!! the cliffhanger made me think twice but who am i kidding i am so reading this book!! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to this one, it sounds really different and unique! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMelissa Marr ends in a HUGE cliffhanger? Really? Noooooo! Well, while that does suck in a huge way, it will most definitely not keep me from reading Carnival of Souls. First of all, it is Melissa Marr! I loved the Wicked Lovely series. It is a favorite. Marr can draw you in so quick you just don't know what hit you. Her characters are so real. I am just excited all the way around. I am excited to read about Marr witches!
ReplyDeleteI loved this one too! I can't wait to read the next one. I've actually bee thinking about rereading it but there are so many great new releases, no time! Great review :-D
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I wonder if they have it on audio. That's what I usually do if I want to re-read, but don't have time.
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