Review: Spectacle by Rachel Vincent

Review: Spectacle by Rachel Vincent

3 stars Adult eARC Fantasy Rachel Vincent Review Sequel

Spectacle by Rachel Vincent

Book Two of the Menagerie series

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Publication Date: May 30, 2017

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

In this riveting sequel to New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent's acclaimed novel Menagerie, Delilah Marlow will discover that there is no crueler cage than the confines of the human mind…

When their coup of Metzger's Menagerie is discovered, Delilah and her fellow cryptids find their newly won freedom brutally stripped away as they are sold into The Savage Spectacle, a private collection of "exotic wildlife." Specializing in ruthless cryptid cage matches, safari-style creature hunts and living party favors, the Spectacle's owner, Willem Vandekamp, caters to the forbidden fetishes of the wealthy and powerful. At the Spectacle, any wish can be granted—for the right price. 

But Vandekamp's closely guarded client list isn't the only secret being kept at the Spectacle. Beneath the beauty and brutality of life in the collection lie much darker truths, and no one is more determined than Delilah to strip the masks from the human monsters and drag all dark things into the light.

What I Liked:

Let me say two things before I start my commentary: (1) This book is not bad, and I think it will be very successful and a good addition to the series. Please read my full thoughts before jumping to the conclusion of "Alyssa gave the book three stars so it must not be good!". (2) This review might be shorter than usual because my thoughts and feelings on this book are not going to be an accurate reflection of the book's quality. Usually I write my reviews based on technical aspects and categories (character development, plot, world-building, etc.), but I don't think I can construct a fair review based on those items, based on my physical reaction to this book. You'll see what I mean.

Actually, this review is going to be somewhat similar to my review of Menagerie. I thought that book was good, well-written, but I suffered as I was reading it. Like Menagerie, there are cruel and disgusting aspects of this book. Unlike Menagerie, or compared to Menagerie, the cruel and disgusting aspects get worse, in Spectacle. 

In essence, Delilah and the Menagerie gang get kidnapped and forced into the Savage Spectacle, which is different from the Menagerie. The Savage Spectacle is cleaner with better conditions... yet, worse conditions. Each cryptid is outfitted with a collar that has needles that go directly into the spine, which can sense neural and hormonal impulses. Every impulse, action, even thought is controlled. Worse - the Spectacle is all about private engagements and satisfying clients with cryptid fetishes. Yep. Reread that again and imagine what I'm talking about.

Vincent did an amazing job with this story - I can't imagine it having been easy to write. Every disgusting act, every choice taken away, every forced action - I hated all of it but I can't deny that everything was well-written and not without its place. 

I adored Delilah, and Gallager, and the crew. I hated what was done to them, but I loved seeing their strength and self-preservation win out. 

No romance in this book, though there are some... odd things that happen. 

In general, it's a sequel that will rip you apart and hurt you, but it is a good book.

What I Did Not Like:

There are so many things wrong with this story, I can't even begin to list them even if I wanted to (but I won't, because of spoilers). Notice I'm talking about the story and not the book (note the distinction). Vincent is shining a light on some gruesome and horrible topics, and I take no issue with that. Sort of. 

I think my problem is that I hated everything that happened in this book, and I didn't - couldn't - enjoy the story. There are no trigger warnings, nothing to help someone decide if this is a book for them. Let me just say: there is rape in this book. There is lack of consent. There is sexual abuse and sexual harassment. Wills (willpower) are taken, choices are taken, freedom is taken. A person's body is not their own, physically, mentally, or in a reproductive way. Loss of memory, loss of control, loss of the ability to communicate - the story is filled with these things.

Can you imagine? 

I needed warnings. Put yourself in the shoes of a rape survivor, or sexual abuse survivor. This book is disturbing and horrifying - as it is meant to be! - and I could not enjoy it. I do not begrudge anyone their high rating or praise of this book, but I couldn't enjoy this story. I recognize that it is not the book itself that should be put down - but I'm being honest here: I hated the story. 

Three stars, because it's not the book, it's the actions and behaviors that exist in this world and should not be ignored. But, three stars, because I could not stomach this story. Call me whatever name you want, but I couldn't do it. Yes, I finished the book. Yes, I know, all of the things in this book exist (in some way) in real life. 

In Menagerie, I sort of got used to the "disturbing" aspects of the story. In Spectacle? Everything was one hundred times worse. Menagerie seemed just barely disturbing compared to Spectacle. So there was no way for me to "get used to anything", to become desensitized.

Would I Recommend It:

I do not recommend Spectacle. I do not recommend Menagerie. These are not easy books to read, and honestly they get worse and worse in terms of graphic content. Worse NOT in terms of the quality of the storytelling, but worse in terms of what the characters have to experience and face. Call me a snowflake, call me fragile, I don't care - these books are not for everyone. Definitely (unfortunately) not for me. I thought I could handle it with Menagerie, but clearly I was wrong with Spectacle. I can't finish this series. I can't think about how bad book three will be.

Don't take my word for it though, if you've already read Menagerie and you're really interested in this book. But if you haven't read Menagerie, think about what you'll be reading before you start the book. Message or email me with questions, if you want. Although I have to say, I'm going to be trying really hard to forget what I read, in both books.

Rating:

3 stars. I honestly don't know how to rate and review this book, because it's me and my thoughts/opinions that I'm writing about, and not necessary technical aspects (writing, world-building, character development, etc.). I rarely write this type of review (based on my thoughts/opinions alone), but I'm so shaken and unsettled, and I really don't know how to write this review any other way. Hopefully I've conveyed something useful to any reader of this reviewer. I'm not trying to tear down the author or this book - but I am trying to warn any reader who, like me, shouldn't be reading this book but don't know that they shouldn't be, because they don't know enough information about the book (see above, about warnings). 

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Swoon Thursday (#186): The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

Swoon Thursday (#186): The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

Conclusion Gorgeous Cover Paranormal Rachel Vincent Swoon Thursday

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent!

"You may have to stick to touching soft things for a while." My cheeks flamed over my innuendo, but the heat in his eyes rewarded my bold words. After seventeen years under the Church's puritanical social rules, I still found it much easier to snuggle in the dark than to flirt in broad daylight.

"Now, that is one piece of advice I'd be happy to follow..." Finn leaned down, and my heart began to pound when his lips met mine. I'd seen and touched him every day for the past five months, yet every time we kissed, I felt like we were starting something new and wonderful. Something daring and bold, and completely ours.

- Hardcover copy, page 109

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

The Stars Never Rise review | The Flame Never Dies review

I just binge-read this series, and I liked both books! =)

Double Review: The Stars Never Rise and The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

Double Review: The Stars Never Rise and The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

4 stars Conclusion Gorgeous Cover Paranormal Rachel Vincent Review Romance

The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent
Book One of The Stars Never Rise series
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: June 9, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Copy sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.

What I Liked:

I'm so glad I decided to binge-read this duology! The publisher sent me an unsolicited copy of this book (which did not affect my opinion in any way), and then book two, and I knew that was a sign. I've had my eye on this series for a while, but never pushed myself to read it. I'm glad the opportunity was presented to me though, because I enjoyed the series!

Nina Kane is coming up on seventeen years old, and something is happening to her. One night, while sneaking back home after a grueling night of work, she comes face-to-face with a demon - and incinerates it with her hands. Nina discovers that she is an exorcist - a real one - and what the Church have parading around as exorcists are not real. In fact, the Church has been lying to everyone for years, feeding lies about demons and exorcists and souls. Now, Nina must find a way to rescue her fifteen-year-old pregnant sister, who the Church took because of her pregnancy, and because they want to use her to draw Nina back. Nina must run for her life in order to save Mellie, and she joins with Finn and a team of real exorcists who are determined to decimate the demon hordes.

When I first saw that this book was about exorcists, I was a little nervous. I was thinking of those old-fashioned exorcisms, in which a person is tied down and there is a priest and he yells "Come out of him, Satan!" or something. And I didn't particularly want to read a book about this. So I was excited to see that Vincent's type of exorcism is fire, shot from the exorcist's hands. Which is neat!

Nina is so strong, so independent, and has had such a difficult life already. With her mother's health declining, Nina has been taking care of herself, her mother, and her sister. When Nina finds out that Mellie is pregnant, panic sets in a little. Pregnancy must be planned and licensed, and Nina did neither of those things. And when Nina kills a demon, who happened to be her mother, the Church comes after Nina in order to silence her. Crazy, right?

I like Nina and respect her so much. My heart broke for her, and the hard decisions she had to make. But I love how strong she is, and how this strength translates into her exorcist abilities in a way. Nina is a kickbutt exorcist, with training. Meeting Finn and the gang made Nina stronger.

Finn is a weird character, and I won't get into that. But I like him. He's the love interest, and I think he and Nina are great together. Finn is playful and flirtatious, but it's clear that he likes Nina from the get-go. 

Other characters include Maddock, who is sweet but a little troubled, Devi, who is mean and territorial (and also Maddock's girlfriend), Reese, who is big and tough, and Grayson, the only one who isn't an exorcist (she's also Reese's girlfriend). I liked all of these secondary characters, even Devi (who is annoying but also hilarious at times). 

This book focuses on Nina's transition into exorcism, as well as rescuing Mellie, and uncovering secrets that the Church has been hiding for so long. We all know how shady and cruel the Church is, but it runs so deep. Demons and the Church are more connected than our characters thought!

You can probably already tell, but this is a dystopia/post-apocalyptic type of world, with the Church as the "leader", and the war with demons being the "apocalypse" (or the "before" part). From the start, we as readers don't trust the Church. 

The romance is weird (and it's because of something with Finn), but it's cute. No love triangle or anything like that, but it's a weird one. I liked it though. Finn and Nina work around limitations, and you can pretty much see where that thing will go. Which will probably happen in book two, and it'll make the romance even better!

So I liked the characters. I liked the romance (it was a little slow, and sometimes weird, but cute). I liked the story (so much action, fleeing, etc.!). Overall, a really great book!

What I Did Not Like:

Like I said, the thing with Finn and the romance is weird. Not necessarily awful, but weird. When I first read that, I did a mental double-take. Weird! But anyway, it was fine in general, but weird too. I would have liked to see more between Finn and Nina physically, too!

Would I Recommend It:

I was a little concerned about the whole exorcism concept, but it's totally not what you think it will be! Vincent's version of exorcism is very different. So if that's a thing that's worrying you, don't let it. I liked this book and I see why it did well. I'd recommend it!

Rating:

4 stars. A good start to the duology. I'm glad I get to binge-read the books, because the ending of this book makes me want book two now. Not quite a cliffhanger, but still a hooking ending. This was my first YA book by Vincent, and it was pretty great!

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The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

Book Two of The Stars Never Rise series

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: August 16, 2016

Rating: 4 stars

Source: Copy sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

ONE SPARK WILL RISE. Nina Kane was born to be an exorcist. And since uncovering the horrifying truth—that the war against demons is far from over—seventeen-year-old Nina and her pregnant younger sister, Mellie, have been on the run, incinerating the remains of the demon horde as they go. 

In the badlands, Nina, Mellie, and Finn, the fugitive and rogue exorcist who saved her life, find allies in a group of freedom fighters. They also face a new threat: Pandemonia, a city full of demons. But this fresh new hell is the least of Nina’s worries. The well of souls ran dry more than a century ago, drained by the demons secretly living among humans, and without a donor soul, Mellie’s child will die within hours of its birth.

Nina isn’t about to let that happen . . . even if it means she has to make the ultimate sacrifice.

What I Liked:

Not a bad way to end the series! I think I might have liked The Stars Never Rise more, but not by much. This duology in general was very solid, very well-written and definitely worth my time. 

In this sequel, Nina, her pregnant younger sister, and the exorcists are trying to put as much distance between them and the Church as possible. But things are not that easy; the demons are possessing the bodies of any healthy human they can find, and it isn't always obvious. In the badlands, it's tough to survive. Mellie is due in a month, and Pandemonia, a city of demons, is looming. Kastor, the "leader" of Pandemonia, wants exorcists alive. Nina must decide if she will face Kastor, or give up everything for Mellie's unborn child. 

The title of this book is so fitting in so many ways. Which flame are we talking about? The flame of the exorcists? The flame being a metaphor for the baby? The title could work either way, and I think it's a great title. And it matches the pattern of the first book's title!

This book had a different feel compared to book one. It's less about Nina and her difficult life and her taking care of her family. In this book, Nina is bent on helping her sister and unborn nephew or niece, but she also finds that she wants to fight the demons that keep coming. Protecting Mellie and fighting demons prove to be difficult, even for the exorcists. But Nina is unshakable in her determination to get Mellie to safety, and to ensure that the baby will be born healthy and live.

Nina has flourished as an exorcist, and she works well with the team. Finn, Maddock, Reese, and Devi are also exorcists, and Grayson is waiting for her abilities to be triggered. Attack after attack prove over and over that this young group of exorcists are brave, selfless, and intelligent. 

It all comes down to Kastor and Pandemonia, and you know it's coming. With the group in the badlands, far from the Church, there is plenty of foreshadowing in terms of Pandemonia. The ending of the book is fairly satisfying, with a lot of action and twists and turns.

I thought the romance was a little less present in this book, in terms of Finn and Nina, but maybe I was hoping for too much! Still, the romance is sweet and light, and there is no love triangle. I consider that a win!

I won't say too much more so as not to spoil anything, but I enjoyed this story and I'm glad that it's a duology, because things ended fairly well. There are heartbreaking moments and terrifying moments, but the ending is satisfying. Definitely how I like to see series end!

What I Did Not Like:

I will say that the climax of the book felt underwhelming. All of that build-up leading to Pandemonia, and then we get to Pandemonia, and all of the climax seemed short and anticlimactic. This could just be me though!

And, like, I said, there was probably less romance in this book! I expected more romance, so you can see why I might be just a little disappointed here. Just a little!

Would I Recommend It:

If you read book one, I highly recommend this book! It's an excellent conclusion, filled with action and high stakes and surprises. It'll keep you on your toes!

Rating:

3.5 stars -> rounded up to 4 stars. I think I liked the first book better, BUT, I liked this one too. Both are good, and I'm glad I was able to give each a chance.

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Book Blitz and Giveaway: The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

Book Blitz and Giveaway: The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

Blitz Giveaway Paranormal Rachel Vincent Sequel

Welcome to the pre-release blitz for The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent! I'll be binge-reading the series very soon, and I'm very excited. Check out this sequel before it publishes!

About The Flame Never Dies:

The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

Book Two of The Stars Never Rise series

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: August 16, 2016

Official Summary:

For fans of Cassandra Clare and Richelle Mead comes the unputdownable sequel to The Stars Never Rise, a book Rachel Caine, author of the bestselling Morganville Vampires series, called “haunting, unsettling, and eerily beautiful.” 

ONE SPARK WILL RISE. Nina Kane was born to be an exorcist. And since uncovering the horrifying truth—that the war against demons is far from over—seventeen-year-old Nina and her pregnant younger sister, Mellie, have been on the run, incinerating the remains of the demon horde as they go. 

In the badlands, Nina, Mellie, and Finn, the fugitive and rogue exorcist who saved her life, find allies in a group of freedom fighters. They also face a new threat: Pandemonia, a city full of demons. But this fresh new hell is the least of Nina’s worries. The well of souls ran dry more than a century ago, drained by the demons secretly living among humans, and without a donor soul, Mellie’s child will die within hours of its birth.

Nina isn’t about to let that happen . . . even if it means she has to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

About The Stars Never Rise:

The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent

Book One of The Stars Never Rise series

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: June 9, 2015

Official Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes

SALE: the ebook of The Stars Never Rise is currently $1.99!

About the Author:

Rachel Vincent is a former English teacher and an eager champion of the Oxford comma. She shares her home in Oklahoma with two cats, two teenagers, and her husband, who’s been her # 1 fan from the start. Rachel is older than she looks and younger than she feels, and she remains convinced that writing about the things that scare her is the cheapest form of therapy—but social media is a close second.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr

The Giveaway:

ONE (1) winner will receive a SIGNED hardback set of THE STARS NEVER RISE + THE FLAME NEVER DIES

Giveaway is US only. Must be 13 or older to enter. Giveaway ends on August 14th at 11:59 PM Pacific.

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Cover Reveal and Giveaway: 100 Hours by Rachel Vincent

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: 100 Hours by Rachel Vincent

Cover reveal Rachel Vincent Thriller

Hey bibliovores! Are you excited for the official cover reveal for 100 Days by Rachel Vincent? I know I am! I've only read one Vincent book - Menagerie - which I liked and definitely want to continue the series. That's an adult series!

Before we get to the cover... Rachel Vincent has a message for us:

In my upcoming YA suspense 100 HOURS, Genesis and her cousin Maddie come from opposite ends of the privilege spectrum, but when they wind up kidnapped for ransom during spring break in Colombia and have no one else to count on, they discover they have more in common than either of them thought.

If you’ve read any of my previous releases, 100 HOURS probably seems like a departure for a Rachel Vincent book. And that’s what I thought, back when it was just me and an idea. But as I wrote the story and got to know the characters, I realized that even though this book is set in the Colombian jungle and these characters have no supernatural abilities, 100 HOURS is very much a book about the themes that draw me in over and over. Survival. Family friction and loyalty. High-stakes pulse-racing action. Twists, turns, secrets, and revelations. Girls who can fend for themselves—and for anyone else who needs help.

And now, the cover!

100 Hours by Rachel Vincent

Book One of the 100 Hours trilogy

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publication Date: March 28, 2017

Official Summary:

Maddie is beyond done with her cousin Genesis’s entitled and shallow entourage. Genesis is so over Miami’s predictable social scene with its velvet ropes, petty power plays, and backstabbing boyfriends.

While Maddie craves family time for spring break, Genesis seeks novelty—like a last-minute getaway to an untouched beach in Colombia. And when Genesis wants something, it happens.

But paradise has its price. Dragged from their tents under the cover of dark, Genesis, Maddie, and their friends are kidnapped and held for ransom deep inside the jungle—with no diva left behind. It all feels so random to everyone except Genesis. She knows they were targeted for a reason. And that reason is her.

Now, as the hours count down, only one thing’s for certain: If the Miami hostages can’t set aside their personal problems, no one will make it out alive.

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

About the Author:

Rachel Vincent is a former English teacher and an eager champion of the Oxford comma. She shares her home in Oklahoma with two cats, two teenagers, and her husband, who’s been her # 1 fan from the start. Rachel is older than she looks and younger than she feels, and she remains convinced that writing about the things that scare her is the cheapest form of therapy—but social media is a close second.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram

The Giveaway:

Courtesy of the author, there is a blitz-wide giveaway for:

ONE (1) winner will receive a SIGNED SET of a paperback copy of THE STARS NEVER RISE + an ARC of THE FLAME NEVER DIES

Giveaway is US only. Must be 13 or older to enter. Giveaway ends on July 11th at 11:59 PM Pacific.

a Rafflecopter giveaway