Harley In The Sky Circus Book Tag

Fact: I am obsessed with the idea of circuses.
Fact: I have never been to the circus.

There’s just something so magical, so mysterious about the circus. Ever since my Robert Pattinson heyday and Water for Elephants I’ve held this fascination for the romance of the circus. Also, The Night Circus did absolutely nothing to curb that said fascination.

Anyway, now that we’ve established that circuses are my THING, I have to send a big shout out to to Kay for tagging me to participate in the Harley In The Sky Circus Book Tag. Kay is one of my bookish besties so be sure to check out her post too. Spoiler alert: her post inspired my GIFs so thank you, Kay! ❤

This book tag, created by Jemma was inspired by Harley in the Sky by Akemi Dawn Bowman. Harley in the Sky sees Harley Milano as she runs away with the circus to realize her dream of soaring across the big top as a trapeze artist. If you loved The Greatest Showman or struggle with identity then THIS is the book for you. But, without further ado, let’s get into the tag.

Ring Master: What book introduced you to your favorite genre?

The Assassin’s Blade served as my introduction to hardcore fantasy and to the Throne of Glass series itself. A bind-up of prequel novellas, The Assassin’s Blade gives major insight to the story of Celaena Sardothien; her rise to notoriety as Adarlan’s assassin and ultimately, her heart wrenching downfall. What I loved about The Assassin’s Blade is the fact that these novellas really play with the setting as they slowly build this sprawling, immersive world around you. You get a chance to find your footing before Sarah J. Maas basically rips the rug right out from under you.

Acrobatics: A fast-paced read  

Daughter of the Siren Queen is the follow-up to Daughter of the Pirate King and naturally, as is the way of best laid schemes, things don’t go according to plan. Right off the bat the board is set for a blockbuster conclusion. The banter, romance and general pirate tomfoolery is pushed to the back burner as a high stakes, cutthroat race takes the helm. And Tricia Levenseller doesn’t mess around. Basically, it’s an epic fast paced adventure that could rival that of Captain Jack Sparrow’s quest for the Fountain of Youth.

Clowns: A book that made you laugh

This one feels like a cop-out because I’m only, like 20% into it but seriously, Nevernight is freaking hilarious. A deliciously dark adult fantasy, Nevernight follows Mia Corvere who travels to the Red Church for an apprenticeship in death. It’s a violent story about murder and revenge but told with plenty of snark, swearing and wit. Jay Kristoff writes with this sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek humor which balances out the more graphic scenes. Don’t even get me started on his Pratchett-like footnotes which take the piss out of literally everything.

Knife thrower: A book that had you on the edge of your seat

House of Salt and Sorrows is my new favorite brooding fairy tale. A deliciously moody world of brine and terror, House of Salt and Sorrows blends elements of the Twelve Dancing Princesses with Edgar Allen Poe’s Annabel Lee. There’s this definite unsettling vibe that encompasses everything, including the setting. A sense of dampness and isolation – a veil of mystery. There’s ghostly apparitions, grotesque figures and an intense, almost feverish plot. This book is not for the faint of heart.

Tightrope Walker: A book you just couldn’t put down

It’s been two weeks since I finished Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood and I’m still hungover. A sprawling, complex novel of epic proportions, Crescent City blends urban fantasy with a murder mystery and buddy cop plot. A roller coaster from start to finish, this book consumed me. I was gaping, screaming and crying as I tried, aimlessly, to piece it all together. And failed because man – what a freaking plot twist.

Ventriloquist: A book with a great twist

It’s actually kind of embarrassing that after dragging this series for years, I haven’t been able to shut up about it lately. Anyway, Holly Black is a certified master when it comes to storytelling because The Queen of Nothing was INTENSE. The pacing was perfection as we are led, like lambs to the slaughter, through plot twist after plot twist. That being said, all the plot twists in the series couldn’t hold a candle to that final nail-in-the-coffin twist around the 70% mark. I mean – WTF?!? What a freaking game changer, am I right?. Clearly I’m still recovering.

Magician: A book with a magic system you love

I don’t talk about Everless enough. Probably because it should have been a standalone. I’m not even going to talk about that. Anyway, Everless features a unique but morbid concept where blood and time are used as currency. It’s a ruthless world where the aristocracy can live for eons but the merchant classes bleed themselves dry. Thieves and bleeders loiter the woodlands, ready to bleed the years from unsuspecting travelers and time itself seems to ripple and lapse.

Static Trapeze: Best or Worst Cliffhanger

A fierce maelstrom of violence, bloodletting and emotional turmoil, Empire of Storm’s plot plays out like a grueling game of strategy where the upper hand constantly shifts. And, just when everything seems to be going as planned, the quest is thrown into chaos with the arrival of the big bad. Also, making us wait for two years for this mess to be fixed? Unforgivable. Utterly unforgivable. I screamed, I cried and a part of my soul died as the final pieces fell into place; the endgame becoming clear, the true antagonist declaring them self. Simultaneously the best and worst cliffhanger ever.

Belle | Carly | Emma | Nish & Nogoc

And on an unrelated note: just a quick reminder that this is a very stressful and unsettling time. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed or anxious. Practice social distancing and stay safe but don’t forget to look after your mental health! Mental heath is just as important, especially now. Keep smiling, stay positive – we’re all in this together and we’ll get through it. If you need a friend you are always welcome to reach out to me. Stay safe everyone. ❤ #spreadlovenotfear