Book Reviews: Loom, Unforgettable, Freaks, and Ingested

 

They say The Colony Carnivale appears without warning—rolling into forgotten towns under blood-red skies, offering laughter, lights, and salvation for the bored and broken. But beneath the painted tents, hides a different sin, each act a different obsession. Lust. Power. Revenge. Fear. The Carnivale feeds on it all—and so do the souls trapped inside..

The games are rigged, the prizes are cursed, and the performers aren’t quite human. So buy your ticket, brave the insanity, and pray the lights go out after you do. Because once you enter, the show owns you. Welcome to The Colony Carnivale—where the fun never dies, it just screams louder.

By day, Xenia is the seamstress of The Colony Carnivale. By night, she uses a strange, enchanted thread to create body art that gives her something she’s never had before: power.

After a lifetime of abuse and control, Xenia has finally learned how to take control of her own body—and her own destiny. Then a new employee arrives at the Carnivale, and Xenia falls hard. But Xenia has a secret and someone is threatening to expose her. If the truth comes out, Xenia could lose everything: her freedom, her new love, and the power she fought so hard to claim. But Xenia has spent her whole life being controlled. She won’t let anyone take that power away from her now.

Dark, erotic, and twisted, this horror novella explores the dangerous edges of desire, control, and personal power—and the lengths one woman will go to get what she deserves.

My Review

Talk about female empowerment. Xenia has been abused by men in the past and she has had enough. She will no longer be a victim. Someone threatens to bring Xenia down. Don't cross Xenia!

I loved this book. When Xenia claimed her victims, it was poetic. In addition to the fact that her victims did deserve what Xenia gave them. This story ended just right. 

Esme came to the Colony Carnivale for a night of cheap thrills and a flyer stapled to a telephone pole. She didn’t expect the tent at the center of the grounds or the hooded stranger whose hands she can’t stop thinking about.

She won’t remember what happens next and he’ll never know her name.

By sunrise, her friends will be gone, her memory will be in pieces, and the only proof of the night will be written into her skin by a man who marked her without ever once knowing her.

The carnival always collects what it’s owed.

My Review

Esme attends the carnivale with a few friends. She feels an instant attraction to Vincent. She watches him and then follows to see what he is all about. Esme should have heeded the saying "Curiosity killed the cat."

It was great to see Vincent again. I loved him from his own story. I felt like I got to see a slightly different side of him in this story with Esme. It was more intimate. 

Freaks is book 12 in The Colony Carnivale shared world. It follows three entertainers, giving an inside look on their life at The Colony.

Cecil, the brooding strongman with a ton of baggage only he is strong enough to carry. Lamora, the firecracker fortune teller whose readings will predict your wildest dreams and greatest nightmares. Delphine, the shy siren who uses her silence to her advantage and never shows an ounce of remorse.

During the day, they are bringing light and laughter to everyone in attendance, but when the sun goes down and the Delirium tent fills up, there’s no turning back.

Step right up…if you dare.

My Review

Love, love this book. Author SJ did an amazing job with this book. I love that she featured three different characters vs. one. Each one got to shine in their own moments with their own mini stories. Very easy to follow each of them. 

Cecil, Lamora, and Delphine are all great. I honestly could not pick one favorite out of these three. Each one was unique in their own way. They were kind of like vigilantes. 

'Think Magic Mike meets Grimm Griswold."

Welcome to The Colony Carnivale—where the fun never dies, it just screams louder.

Fresh from a breakup, Reese visits the Colony Carnivale seeking an escape for a night.

Instead, she finds Carrion, the too-charming ride operator who offers to join her through the tunnel of love.

In the darkness, Carrion’s touch is intoxicating, and his hunger is palpable. He’s so willing to give Reese everything she thought that she wanted.

Until the tunnel begins to breathe.

The swan boat begins to feel like a trap.

The walls are pulsing.

The water is burning.

And Carrion’s hunger isn’t just poetic

Ingested is a horror novella taking place in The Colony Carnivale shared world. It is not a romance and does not contain a happily ever after.

My Review

Reese does not like animatronics. So why do you ask would she elect to ride the Tunnel of Love. This is because of Carrion. He is irresistible. I can understand Reese's reasoning for not liking animatronics. Have you watched the horror movies in the Freddy franchise. 

"Devour me, Carrion."

I loved that as the story progressed it got darker and darker. It messed with your mind as you were trying to comprehend what was happening to Reese. It was all revealed by the end. I do love a horror that does not have a HEA ending. Definitely checking out more books by this author.