Tag Archives: carnival

Review: Carnival Fantástico by Angela Montoya

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,
Carnival Fantastico by Angela Montoya

Carnival Fantástico
Angela Montoya
Joy Revolution
Published February 3, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Carnival Fantástico

An unputdownable romantasy following a young woman posing as fortune-teller at a magical traveling carnival, where the handsome boy who once broke her heart resurfaces and warns her that carnival is more sinister than it appears.

Welcome to the Carnival Fantástico, a spectacle of magic and mischief, and the perfect haven for a runaway. Using her tricks and razor-sharp wit, Esmeralda becomes the carnival’s resident fortune-teller, aiming for the lead role in the Big Top Show. Success would mean freedom from her former employer, the commander of the King’s army.

Ignacio has defected from the army and is on the hunt for evidence of his father’s corruption. But the last thing he expects to find on his father’s trail of lies is the only girl he’s ever loved, spinning false fortunes at a traveling carnival.

Perhaps fortune has thrown them together for a reason. They strike a deal: she’ll help him expose his father if he helps her secure the main act. But old feelings don’t die easily, and the commander’s secret isn’t the only thing they’ll need to confront.

My Review

I really enjoyed the story world in this novel. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding the magic at the carnival. Wanting to understand where the magic came from, and whether it was good or bad kept me turning pages. The carnival itself reminded me a little bit more of Hotel Magnifique than Caraval, though Carnival Fantástico has some similarities to both. The romance dominates this story, which makes sense for a romantasy novel.

Periodically, notes Esmerelda and Ignacio exchanged in the past appear, shedding light on their connection. Before long, it becomes obvious that they’ve had a misunderstanding. They do eventually confront some truths from their pasts, but it takes a long time for them to question what they believe happened, even though they both based some of their understanding of events on messages from someone they both agree is untrustworthy. It requires a little suspension of disbelief, but I think it’s also supposed to suggest that the person who misled them has more power than they realize.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this one, and it made me want to go back and reread some of the other magical circus-type stories that I’ve read before. If you like Caraval or magic circus stories with a strong romantic thread, definitely take a look at this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Vague references to characters having had sex in the past.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to perform magic.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to kidnapping, imprisonment, and enslavement. Brief descriptions of accidental injuries. Brief, scary descriptions of a powerful entity harming someone.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Summer of L.U.C.K. by Laura Stegman

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Magical Realism, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , ,

Summer of L.U.C.K.
Laura Stegman
INtense Publications
Published September 15, 2020

Amazon | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Summer of L.U.C.K.

Stuttering Darby is never perfect enough for her mother. Justin’s been silent since his dad died. Naz is struggling to learn English. But after they meet at summer camp, mysterious calliope music from an abandoned warehouse grants them power to communicate without words. When they sneak inside, the dark, empty space bursts into a magical carnival. They’re greeted by the ghost of Leroy Usher, who asks for their help convincing his family to restore the carnival to its former glory. In return, he promises to teach the kids how to find their voices.

As Darby, Justin, and Naz are swept off on a series of midnight adventures via Mr. Usher’s carnival rides, they discover they’re capable of more than they ever imagined. With each challenge, their confidence in communicating – and in themselves – grows. Meanwhile, they scheme to persuade the Usher family to revive the carnival. But when Darby’s bunkmates trick her into starring in the camp talent show, her budding confidence falters. Can she risk being less than perfect by performing in the show and speaking up to Mr. Usher’s resistant son? If not, she’ll put the carnival in danger and sabotage her most important quest: to believe in herself, stutter and all.

My Review

The story follows all three kids– Darby, Justin, and Naz, showing scenes in each point of view. The bulk of the story takes place at a summer camp called Camp Inch, where each of them face the thing they’re most afraid of.

They also each discover a connection with each other, and those friendships help give them the confidence to confront bigger fears. Naz, Justin, and Darby also learn a lot about family relationships as they learn about Mr. Usher’s family and the relationships between him and his children, all of whom are adults now.

I thought the story was sweet and the characters’ stories moving. I liked the background of the summer camp and how their experiences at camp tied together with the Usher family and the fate of the carnival.

Readers who enjoy summer camp stories or tales with a whimsical feel to them will like this one. If you enjoyed FOREVERLAND or THE GIRLS OF FIREFLY CABIN, definitely add SUMMER OF L.U.C.K. to your reading list.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Naz is French and Morroccan. Darby stutters. Justin is selectively mute.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Naz, Justin, and Darby are visited by the presence of a man who has died but can’t find peace until he achieves a goal. They have a sort of magical experience, seeing the carnival the way it once was and interacting with carnival rides that shouldn’t work anymore.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog. I received a free copy of SUMMER OF L.U.C.K. in exchange for my honest review.