Review: The Mumbo Jumbo Circus

This book counts for the Debut Author challenge.

"Would you like to run away and join the circus?"

Evan is wary, of course, of a suspicious offer from a strange man.  But there's no reason for her to stay in the hell on earth that is her current abusive foster home, so she accepts.  She quickly feels at home in the Mumbo Jumbo circus: a circus where, even backstage, the magic seems almost real.  Because it is real.  The Ringmaster is able to bring out the innate abilities, or donrovai, in his performers.  And Evan has a special donrovai: the ability to read horses' minds.  Although she has a lingering fear of horses, Evan's willing to work at developing an act - especially if it means she gets to spend more time with Wally, the handsome young Goth cook.

But the Ringmaster has an old enemy who will do anything to take down the Mumbo Jumbo Circus: arson, kidnapping, and worse.  Soon, Evan finds herself the only one able to save the circus...

Entertainment: ★★★★


I really liked this book.  It was cute and fun, it had interesting characters, and it had interesting illustrations, too.  I finished it in only a few hours, but it was well worth the time.


Plot: ★★


It loses a few points here because I just didn't find the plot as interesting as other aspects of the book - it was a little weird at times and rather predictable at others.


Characters: ★★★★★


Let me just say that I loved the Ringmaster to death.


That said, I also liked Evan quite a bit - as a character and a person - and many of the side characters were quite cool as well.  I didn't like the villains much - they weren't all that scary or even that interesting, to me - but the rest of the cast was awesome enough that I was willing to overlook the villains.


Writing: ★★★


I thought the description, dialogue, and everything else was very well done.


End Result: four stars.  A good book, definitely worth your time.