Lala's Book Corner: Flesh Circus by Lilith Saintcrow

"The Cirque de Charnu has come.

They will clean out the demons and the suicides, and move on. As long as they stay within the rules, Jill Kismet can't deny them entry. But she can watch--and if they step out of line, she'll send them packing.

When Cirque performers start dying grotesquely, Kismet has to find out why, or the fragile truce won't hold and her entire city will become a carnival of horror. She also has to play the resident hellbreed power against the Cirque to keep them in line, and find out why ordinary people are needing exorcisms. And then there's the murdered voodoo practitioners, and the zombies.

An ancient vengeance is about to be enacted. The Cirque is about to explode. And Jill Kismet is about to find out some games are played for keeps..."

From GoodReads

"I screamed and leapt, the whip coming free and flicking forward, silver flechettes jingling as it wrapped around one of the zombie’s legs and almost tore itself out of my hand."

Ever since the my first encounter with Jill Kismet in her first book, I have felt a huge connection with her. No, I was not abused as a child, I did not turn to prostitution and I am not a hunter of nightmarish monsters. Jill is not ONLY those those things either. Besides all that she has gone through and a lot of times because of it, Jill is a broken woman. She has the deep seated belief that she is not worthy of love. In comes Saul and lights up a flicker of hope that she can be and deserves to be loved.

"Five little words. “That you’re worth a damn.” Mikhail was the only man who ever thought I was worth a damn, I’d told him once. Not the only one, he’d told me later"

Those 5 words were said by Jill, the first time, in the first or second book, I can't remember which. They struck me so hard, I never saw it coming and the powerfulness of that feeling was amazingly well written by the author.

As I pointed out in my review of the first 3 books in the series (you can read that here), I have felt that Saul was the ultimate balance to the darkness that is Kismet's life. However, in this instalment of the series, Saintcrow decided to put some hurdles in Saul and Kismet's way.

I am all for obstacles that need to be conquered so that the characters can go forward, but this felt so forced for me in this book. I get Jill's inability to believe that happiness has a place in her life and that it will last. But, Saul's motives for the "problems" he is having are never really

disclosured. I mean, all the books are in Jill's voice,so when Saul is brooding or upset, we can't guess what the hell is wrong unless the author gives us a vowel. That was really my only problem with the book. So, I digress.

"It never got old. Or less scary. Being looked at like that will give you a whole new definition of naked. It’s just one of the things about dating a Were that’ll do it."

In my opinion, Kismet's biggest battle is in her heart. It is between the woman and the hunter in her. She wants to have a nice little life with Saul, but she cannot leave her duties as a hunter behind and her loyalty to her city is then strongest force that drives her on.

"I stamped past him, every string in my body aching to stop and touch him, throw my arms around him, and maybe engage in some undignified begging. Screw the entire city, screw everything. I didn’t care as long as he stayed with me. As long as there was a chance. But. One teensy-tiny little but. I’m a hunter. It’s that simple."

I have to say that Jill's pain got me to tears once again and I believe that is a huge testament to Lilith Saintcrow's talent in writing this series. I can feel Kismet's desperation and heartache through the pages and reaches right through my heart. However, I think that if I look at it in a more objective manner, she can be a bit whiny at times. She might have reasons to be a disbeliever in happiness, but she needs to learn to listen more. Saul's and Her biggest problem is communication and Jill's inability to just stop for a couple minutes and listen can get a bit tiring.

The bad guy in this creeped me out. Voodoo is something that I cringe from instinctively, since I have had encountered with its Brazilian cousin before. As usual, the mystery throughout the book was really interesting and well thought out, however, I did figured out the main mystery before the heroine hehe =)

All in all, I really liked this book and it left me wanting more and I really liked where some aspects of the story are leading to. So, I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

I think this might have been my longest review to date lol. Sorry for the length, but this book spoke to me hehe

I give it 4 Loveys and I'm sorry to say to my Smut Sisters, but there is no Smut is this series hehe

Books in the series:

#1 - Nightshift

#2 - Hunter's Prayer

#3 - Redemption Alley

#4 - Flesh Circus

#5 - Heaven's Spite (coming out in 2010)

Thanks for tuning in and I'll see you soon!

xoxo

***Don't forget to check out the Giveaways. Contests and Challenges going on! They are all on the left sidebar right at the top or just go to the Menu Bar or click HERE =)))