The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis

Anna and Abel couldn’t be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prisonlike tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fascinated, Anna follows the two and listens as Abel tells little Micha the story of a tiny queen assailed by dark forces. It’s a beautiful fairy tale that Anna comes to see has a basis in reality. Abel is in real danger of losing Micha to their abusive father and to his own inability to make ends meet. Anna gradually falls in love with Abel, but when his “enemies” begin to turn up dead, she fears she has fallen for a murderer. Has she?

Award-winning author Antonia Michaelis moves in a bold new direction with her latest novel: a dark, haunting, contemporary story that is part mystery, part romance, and part melodrama.

Amazon Link- http://amzn.to/1ROjjXh

MY THOUGHTS:

4.5/5 Stars

This book reminded me of a beautifully crafted mandala. It had intricate details, sharp edges, and was painted in many different colors. I wasn't sure about the fairy tale mixing with reality theme, but in the end I saw with clarity why the Author chose that path. It was inspirational and foretelling. It proved that even the darkest shadow can find light and even the ugliest things can have beauty. It showed that death doesn't have to be the end and that sometimes in order to start over you have to let go. 

Abel is the school mystery from the wrong side of the tracks. Anna is the straight laced girl from the right side of the tracks. Micha is a free spirit with a troubled past. When their lives overlap, a fairy tale begins. A very dark and very twisted fairy tale with many ups and downs. Abel, Anna, & Micha's story ripped my heart out and I'm now suffering from a hardcore book hangover. Did I expect a wild ending? Absolutely, but when I was reading... I had no idea in what way the story would go. I was a tad bored and then all of sudden I felt reality slipping through my fingertips. I was grasping sand and falling into the book heart first. I won't lie and say the experience felt good, but the hurt I felt just made my reading experience that much better. Every gut wrenching word led up to those final moments and so many feels were felt. I've never had such an intense love/hate relationship with a character before. One minute I was swooning over the romance and the next I was sick to my stomach with possibilities. Each character and every piece of evidence played an important role in a sick tragic tale and I loved to hate every minute of it. 

I highly recommend this book to all readers with an open mind. There are some sensitive scenes so be prepared for the worse.

Night Circus by Morgenstern Review

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called "Le Cirque des Reves," and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.  

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1IHArXl

MY THOUGHTS:

4.5/5 Stars

 

Do you know the saying... "escape reality with a good book"? Well this one quickly provided that escape for me. Every time I opened the book I was pulled into a dark, magical world with lots of mysterious elements. At times I had no idea what was going on, but that's what pulled me deeper into the pages. I felt the words consume me and the illusions felt within my grasp. It was a twisted tale, but in some weird way it was also beautiful.

 

The main story was about Marco & Celia. They were chosen to compete using their talents. Neither came face to face for a while so they threw punches in the dark. They played off one another and built these magical tents that brought people joy and hope. In a subtle way their challenge drew them near and created an electric connection. When they were finally brought together in the flesh their passion was instant and in full force. They felt what was forbidden... love. Their coaches warned them and they quickly realized why. The challenge had an awful twist that left a future together out of the question.

 

When I look for books, I look for unique plots that will capture my attention and leave me craving more at the end. This one did just that. I was engrossed in the story and felt a deep rooted connection to the characters. There were multiple stories within this one and even though the Author gave them closure, I still wanted more. The writing was great and the flow was even better. I look forward to reading more by this Author and I highly recommend this one to all who like to "escape reality with a book".