#143 Book Review: Carnival of Souls [ARC]

Carnival of Souls [ARC]
Release Date: September 4th 2012
Author: Melissa Marr
Publisher: Harper Collins Australia
Source: Publisher for Review
Format: Paperback
Where to Buy: Fishpond | Booktopia
More Info: Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads:

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.

From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series and "Graveminder," comes a brand-new tale of lush secrets, dark love, and the struggle to forge one's own destiny.

Cover:

My copy doesn’t have a final cover but I like the mask on the US cover and how it’s surrounded by fire. It matches the theme of the book and the black background also supports it.

Story:

Enter the Carnival of Souls, a violent place full of beauty…

After reading Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series last year, I was in love with her writing. Marr’s writing is gorgeous and there’s an ethereal beauty within her story. When I found out that Marr is writing a new series, I was ecstatic. The moment I started Carnival of Souls, I’ve stepped into yet another gorgeous world Marr has created. From the very first word, I’ve entered the carnival. 

Reading Carnival of Souls once again reminds me of Marr’s writing. Wicked Lovely series was written in different points of view and so is Carnival of Souls. The story begins with a prologue, which leads to one of our heroines, Mallory. The setting of this book is entrancing and I like how there are 2 different worlds; the human world and The City. The City is a place filled with violence, where people, or shall I say daimons fight to death for status and power. Masks fill the Carnival of Souls and behind those masks are dangers and troubles. In this book, Marr introduces us to a world of witches and daimons. The ending leaves me unsatisfied because I needed more explanation. There are so many things left unanswered but I do understand that this is only the beginning to a gorgeous story readers will enjoy. 

Characters:

I really adored all of the characters, starting from Mallory (a girl who thought she is human but who might just be more), Kaleb (a daimon who likes Mallory), Aya (a half-witch and half-daimon), Belias (Aya’s betrothed), Zevi (Kaleb’s pack) and also Adam (Mallory’s ‘father’). These characters together create a powerful story and even though they each lead their own lives with secrets, their lives all become intertwined. I really enjoyed reading Mallory and Kaleb’s growing relationship, Aya’s strength and stubbornness and Aya’s relationship with Belias. I definitely look forward to know more about each of them in the next book, since there are still secrets about each character yet to discover!

Overall:

Would you enter the heart of Carnival of Souls, The City, and be surrounded with violence masked in beauty? Melissa Marr is back with a compelling story of witches and daimons, set in a striking world with splendid characters. The beauty of Marr’s writing will transport you into another world full of secrets, waiting to be discovered. Fans of Wicked Lovely series will love Carnival of Souls!

4 Forget-Me-Not flowers for Carnival of Souls!

  Thank you Harper Collins Australia for the review copy!

Check out the book trailer below!