 | ||
| Read from July 28 - 31, 2013 |
Publication Date: February 5, 2013
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Number of Pages: 392
Genre/s: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
R. H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass—remnants of a mysterious civilization long gone—are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimaera is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide.
Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star.
But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada. - (source)
Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star.
But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada. - (source)
I went into Pantomime not knowing what to expect. I rarely read synopses and blurbs because as a reader I always want this element of surprise. I know synopses are definitely not spoilers but I still want to be as blind and as unbiased as I can. Now that I have finished Pantomime, I could honestly say that throughout my reading progress, I seriously had no idea it was the kind of story I would be getting. Until now, I'm still not certain what Pantomime really is.
As I read on, it's easy to envisioned what would come next but Pantomime manages not to stick to a straight path. It relishes on using the most unconventional route, and it makes for quite a slow, bumpy ride. Although I could clearly categorize Pantomime as a slow book, never once did I get bored or uninterested. I might have taken a pause once in a while, but there was always this urge to open the book again and find out what would happen next.
The story goes back and forth into the past and the present of one, woefully named, Iphegenia. A girl who doesn't seem quite able to fit in a society wherein balls and marriages determine a girl's success. Gene doesn't want any of it. She longs to climb trees and play with boys. She was different. But it's her physicality that really sets her apart from everybody else. So she ran away from the life she knew she would never be a part of, and she stumbled upon a place where her new destiny awaits.
Sometimes Pantomime reads like a mythology, sometimes fantasy, but even though I was not certain where this book was leading me, there's one thing I'm sure of, it's a story of a girl's journey towards self-discovery—finding herself, making her own decisions, and meeting people who would accept who she truly is.
Pantomime is a well-written debut. Lam has a vivid imagination, and I know she has plenty of tricks up her sleeves waiting to bedazzle her readers. If you want to be enraptured by a world of circus and magic, Pantomime might just be the book for you.
Cupid's Verdict:
4 Cupids
A copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley
in exchange for an honest review.
A copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley
in exchange for an honest review.
I'm glad that you were able to enjoy Pantomime, it certainly does sound different to a lot of the books that I've seen out there. I too like going into books without reading the blurb, I tend to find that I get more out of the book that way. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jasprit. Exactly, blurbs can sometimes affect how we feel about a certain book especially in the case of Pantomime. Its blurb could be really misleading.
DeleteI feel the same way about blurbs - I love going into a book blind! Unfortunately, I'm very picky about what I read and tend to analyze blurbs before deciding whether or not to add books to my TBR. And even if I know I'll read a book anyway, I sometimes can't help looking - I wish I had your willpower.
ReplyDeleteAs for the actual book in question, it sounds great! I love it when stories manage to be intriguing despite being slow. It's an incredible accomplishment and gives them a beautiful, languid feel.
My willpower when it comes to books can be negative sometimes. Even if I'm so annoyed with a book already, I tend to finish it because I just have to. Haha!
DeleteI think that it's a testament to the author and the novel that it still succeeds even though it reads as many different genre styles. I think that, generally speaking, that would bug me, but 4 stars is pretty darn strong! Great review!
ReplyDeleteIf you're getting a million of these comments, it's because Blogger is eating them :( It sounds like this is an overall solid story, despite having a lot of twists in the genre category. Lovely review!
ReplyDeleteI got your lovely comments, Melissa! Thank you so much for not giving up the first time.
Delete