I seriously enjoyed book 1 and I seriously enjoyed this one. Seriously. These books are creepy but I felt like this one was a lot creepier. And as usual with her work, the writing is just so beautiful. Beautiful and creepy. A good way to describe this book. The only part that got me was the twist. It threw me off a little.

I received this eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

If you haven’t already figured it out, Rachel Vincent is one of my all-time favorite authors! Ever since I picked up her first book, Stray, I’ve been hooked! Her newest series Menagerie, is quite fascinating! It will really change the way you look at supernatural beings and humans. Spectacle is the second book of the soon to be trilogy and it will hold you captivated until its very end!

Delilah and the Metzger’s Menagerie have been running thing on their own for a few weeks now and they’re just barely making ends meet. They’ve been rescuing other supernaturals from captivity by buying them when they’re able. It’s put a strain on their financial situation, but Delilah and the others aren’t going to quit it just yet. But that’s when Fate takes action into her own hands. Delilah and her friends are essentially kidnapped by Willem Vandekamp, owner and proprietor of the Savage Spectacle. And if they thought that Metzger was a beast, they’re about to learn that Vandekamp and his wife out-trump him by a mile.

The Savage Spectacle is a different kind of show entirely than what Metzger’s Menagerie was. Instead of just putting on a show and paying to gawk at the “creatures”, here the very, very wealthy pay for interactions. From gladiator style battles to one-on-one interactions, the Savage Spectacle is nothing short of a nightmare. Vandekamp has outfitted the supernaturals with collars that basically control them, and are fitted to their specie. Not knowing what Delilah is exactly presents a challenge for him. But it’s not long before she is collared properly too.

The action in the story truly picks up—not to say that it was dull before, because in some ways it was like when Delilah was first thrust into the Menagerie, except this is a whole new kind of circus-hell, so don’t think that things aren’t enticing prior to part two—in part two when Delilah has no recollection of what’s happened to her. She still knows she’s a prisoner and all that, but her new cell and suddenly healthy meals are causing her worry. And what she learns is even more terrifying than she could ever suspect!

Much like its predecessor, Spectacle will change the way you see humanity. In these books, I’ve been quite appalled at our fellow man. The supernaturals who are deemed “inhuman” are more humane than the actual humans. It’s quite the head-turner. But I think that’s part of its allure! Plus after spending time with Delilah, Gallagher, and their friends, you really start to care for them and you want to see them tear off their enemies’ heads!

Spectacle is a very character driven kind of novel, and I truly enjoyed that. While there’s not bouts of action, there’s plenty of tension, drama, suspense and dicey moments. The action comes as needed and trust me, the buildup is worth it!

There still isn’t very much romance in this one. That may or may not change somewhere down the line. Who knows? I kind of recall thinking there was some tension between Delilah and Gallagher that could possibly lead to the romantic kind. Is there evidence of seeing that in this one? Well…you’ll just have to read and see for yourself! It’s truly up for interpretation, I’d say! LOL!

While we sometimes fear the second book of a trilogy to read very middle of the road, you don’t have to worry about that with this one! Spectacle was full on incredible! True, our heroes are caught in a similar situation as in the first book, but trust me when I say it’s very, VERY different! You won’t see a repeat of things that have already come to pass. If you were enthralled with the first book, you’ll be hooked into this one right away!!

The ending I will say was awesome! And all praise Rachel for avoiding those killer cliffhangers. It ends in a way that you’re satisfied with the current events, but anxious to see where our heroes will go next. And that is truly the best kind of ending when it comes to mid-series installments! Spectacle was one amazing kind of read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a different kind of paranormal read what will leave you questioning who the real “monsters” are! Though be advised, it is a trilogy and reading Menagerie first is kind of necessary in order to understand who our characters are and what they’ve been through. Besides, binge reading is always highly satisfying…even if one must wait for the final book. You’ll be okay, trust me! Spectacle is a must-read!!

Overall Rating 5/5 stars

Spectacle releases May 30, 2017

Fabulous! Great world building, loving the characters, will be looking for more by this author! I've been a fan for years, and this does NOT disappoint!

wow this book was good. Plot twist in the middle. I enjoyed the 2nd round of the Deliah and Gallagher and the rest of the group. I enjoyed this book very much and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book :)

When I first picked up Menagerie I was captivated by the cryptids, lost in the dark world of Metzgers Menagerie. I flew through the book, and it was one of my top reads of the year. Spectacle had a lot to live up to, and it didn't disappoint. Metgzers Menagerie was just a small part of the world Rachel Vincent has created, and despite it being incredibly dark, it was also intriguing. Where Metzgers was full of bright lights, performances and carnival-esque magic, the world of the Savage Spectacle was cold, clinical, and at first I was worried the story would lose it's spark, it's magic. Luckily for me, it did not.

Delilah and her friends now face an even bigger threat, one that makes them almost wish they were still trapped in the Menagerie. I loved seeing Delilah and Gallagher's complex relationship develop further, and I have such a soft spot for Claudio and Genni, they are two of my absolute favourite characters.

This book is well written, takes you to places you never see coming, and I absolutely loved it.

Having being totally enamoured by the first book Menagerie I couldn't wait to get my hands on this follow up. I note the synopsis gives away the fact that Delilah and the Crpytids don't quite make their burst to freedom that we all hoped for and sadly end up being captured again . This new incarceration sees them split up and at the not so tender mercies of a man who uses them as a way to test his technology and a means to an end. There's a lot of money to be made utilising Crpytids and it's a barbaric and inhumane place that Delilah finds herself. Yet those of Metzgers Menagerie are not the only captives within and soon the secrets and horrors of this private collection become all too real. This is no crazy scientist in charge no this is a cold hearted businessman utilising his assets to earn him accolades and huge financial rewards. This dark place they find themselves in seems never ending but Delilah and the secret she carries within will not go down without a fight!
I'm so in awe of this authors imagination and this sequel was just as amazing as the first book. I'd thought it barbaric the way Delilah was treated originally but this story just amped up the horror. Although we know that Delilah is human because of the power she carries everyone views her the way they do Crpytids and that's a truly abysmal thing. It was so hard reading the way the humans around them viewed these amazing creatures as people without worth or feelings . They are stripped of their dignity , choices are taken away from them and left feeling powerless as they are treated worse then cattle in a truly merciless environment . I've no wish to spoil this book for others but there's an amazing range of abilities available to the Crpytids and one of those becomes a huge part of this story which although touched on isn't completely explored but perhaps the author felt going through that with Delilah would be a step too far. This is heartbreaking at times and yet I couldn't put it down . I couldn't see just how things could ever be rectified but fortunately the author had a plan and I'm left with my head spinning, questions running away with me and a huge hankering for more !
So what is it that makes us human? I think that's the big question this series asks and it's done in such an entertaining way that I defy anyone to read this and not question their values , no not preachy just fabulous !
This voluntary review is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts are my own honest opinion

I have been waiting for this sequel and my students have been chomping at the bit to get their hands on this book. It definitely does not disappoint! There is no shortage of drama in Spectacle and you are always on the edge of your seat waiting to find out the fate of some of your favorite characters. I felt like this sequel was definitely gorier than the first novel. While I am of mixed minds about the twist which resulted in Delilah's memory issues I was wrapped around Rachel Vincent's finger to get some answers.

Hi there, i don't know if I'll get a review in time. I still need to find a copy of Menagerie from my small budget. I'll post a review here when I can.

I LOVED the first book and found this one to be just as riveting. I rated it 4 out of 5 stars, however, because of the weird twist in the middle. I don't know if that was done because the author just needed the jump in time or what, but it was a bit off-putting and didn't make much sense.

Regardless, I will be eagerly anticipating the next book as they are thoroughly good reads.

Spectacle, Rachel Vincent

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  General Fiction (adult)

Book one had me riveted, saddened, excited, scared, and was an incredible read, book two lives up to all that and more.
The books are  based upon a world like ours, a kind of parllell universe, its our timeline but with different events. There’s been a terrible slaughtering in the 1980’s they call The Reaping in the USA. It led to some harsh legislation where people deemed to be not wholly human have no protection, can be used in experiments, sold, exhibited, abused  and have no rights. Interspersed between chapters are snippets of TV and News report from that time.

We met Delilah and some of the characters from here in book one, where they finally escaped Metzger’s Menagerie. They’re carrying on as if Metzger still runs it, and once the curtains are closed then everyone who can safely be freed is, and hopefully they can escape to a better life in another country.
Its not long though before their coup is revealed, and they are caught once more, and become part of the Savage spectacle, a private collection specializing in some horrific shows.
Once more they lose all their hard won freedom and are subject to Vandercamp and his wife's cruelty. Money is all they care about, the cryptids are kept in more hygenic situations, better fed, but only because they can make more money out of them that way.
Its horrible to see all their hopes and dreams shattered, but Delilah just won’t give in.

At first she doesn’t see what they can do but when she sees how the others are convinced she’ll come up with a plan again, that they are relying on her – well, she just has to start thinking of what they can do, so that if an opportunity arises they can make best use of it.
Its far harder though, Vandercamp has perfected collars that control them, stop them shifting, or force a shift when he wants one, stops them talking about certain things and at night stops them talking at all. The collars can even paralyse them completely, leaving them conscious but helpless, and of course they deliver shocks if the wearer tries to go beyond a set boundary.....it seems fool proof, no way out but with them looking to Delilah how can she let them down?

Gallagher is here too, thought to be human at first and taken to prison but his cap finally gave away his species, and Vandercamp is using his loyalty to Delilah to force him to fight and kill for entertainment.
Its horrific for him, his honour demands that he fight only when threatened and yet he also has vowed to protect Delilah so he has to do what's demanded to stop her being hurt.

There are some awful scenes here, you wonder just how far people will go for power, money, influence and plain old blood thirsty entertainment, and once more its done in such a realistic way that I truly believe there’s a real danger that if this were genuine situation then much of it would be possible, that we would pass such legislation, telling ourselves that they are not “human” and so don’t need protecting, are dangerous, need to be controlled...
There’s an undercurrent too below the visible entertainment, that seems to dredge the depths and behind the scenes even darker depravity is going on.
Delilah is determined to find a way out, and situations arise that speed up the timeline, that mean they need to be out sooner rather than later.

It was good to see so many of the previous characters, heart-breaking seeing parents separated from their children, seeing kids forced to fight for their lives, seeing how awfully they treat them all, how they only look at what they can do to make money and simply don’t try to understand the individual characters. How ready they are to simply euthanise them if they aren’t financially viable. Its truly awful knowing the consequences of the depravity the Cryptids are forced into. There’s a big shock for Delilah here too.

The ending is similar to book one in that it completes the book, wraps up this part of the story and yet we know that the search for freedom is very far from over, that their next moves need to be carefully thought out, that the risk is always there in everything they do, everywhere they go.
Its not one of those awful cliff hanger endings that I hate, but one that opens up and shows the direction the next book will take.

Its another fascinating, fabulous and absorbing read, and though I’ve used the word horrific several times its not a horror book per se, but one where horrible things happen, mainly due to human greed.
Book three soon please Rachel :-)

Stars: Five, another terrific read and I really hope the next book isn't long in coming!
 
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

This chilling and thrilling sequel picks up where "Menagerie" left off. But all too soon, they are bought by Willem Vandecamp, owner of the Savage Spectacle, where things go from bad to worse. Part game hunter, part Gladiator, and part brothel, this horrific company has nefarious designs for Delilah in particular. The ending leaves the reader waiting for the next book in the series (due next year).

And once again, I am completely floored and blown away by the amazingness that is Rachel Vincent. Spectacle picked up where Menagerie left off, and while I do not agree with decisions made in Menagerie, I decided Delilah knew what she was doing.... >.>

Needless to say, the captives are captive again and this time in a different cage. While it sounds better, more humane, one has to wonder if it truly is. For me, the level of horror was an ebb and flow. At times I didn't think it was too bad, but then Vincent took me around the corner and I wanted to go back the way I just came and curl up in the fetal position and cry because I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to read what my brain knew was coming.

Beautiful book. The pacing was perfect. The characters were not as fleshed out as in Menagerie, but you know what? That worked wonderfully for this book. I didn't want to get to know the characters again and have my heart ripped out of my chest.

GAH! I cannot wait for book three now. Thank you Harlequin and Netgalley for the review copy!

Love this author!! I have read almost all her books I have never been disappointed! I couldn't put it down! I will definitely be buying my own copy as soon as it is released!! I love everything about this series!

The creatures of Metzger's Menagerie were managing to fool everyone and maintain their coup-secured freedom, but their luck finally ran out.

Vandekamp, the owner of The Savage Spectacle was tipped off by the Metzger family that Metzger was dead and the Menagerie no longer under their control. The cryptids of the Menagerie were for sale as long as he could secure them.

The raid captured so many of them. Now Delilah is determined to see them all free once more, but the Spectacle is going to be a lot more difficult to escape than the Menagerie was to take over.

Sequel to Menagerie, Spectacle continues the story of Delilah and the circus of cryptids. In the Menagerie world, cryptids lived free and roamed the earth, some living side by side with humans. The reaping changed everything, when changeling surrogates ensorcelled human adults into murdering their human children the world over. Now cryptids are treated as non-persons and dangerous creatures, either secured in shows like the Menagerie and the Spectacle, on wide government Reserves, or being experimented on in product labs.

Delilah is a powerful character; a woman stuck between humanity and cryptid, sharing her body with a fury--the embodiment of justice. Wrongs screaming to be righted surround her, and she has no real control over the fury within. It's a story that speaks on multiple levels, and a series that begs to be followed. Can't wait for the next one.

I'm so happy to finally have gotten to read this sequel. Feels like I have waited forever already to know what would happen after Menagerie, lol. I'm so thrilled to say that I loved this book beyond words. Was everything I wanted this to be and more. Okay, fine, the romance I wanted wasn't included, but everything else was.

The writing is gorgeous in this book too, and I loved that a whole bunch. Once I started reading this one, I couldn't stop until I had finished it. While there were a few things that bothered me a lot, I loved this book so much. I'm giving it five stars. Because it was all kinds of interesting and exciting and I just loved it all so much.

I just so wish that this one had been even longer. Because that ending just about killed me. So rude. Yet so perfect and not a bad cliffhanger. I'm just not sure I can survive the wait for book three, haha. I know that one will be amazing. And hoping it will have what was missing from this one. Oh, how I hope so. Will be crossing all my fingers. But anyway. Spectacle was an incredible book. I loved everything about it, except for one small part. But the rest was amazing. Sigh. And horrible, of course, like Menagerie was. But so perfect. I loved it all. I loved that this book is also mostly from the point of view of Delilah, and sometimes a few other amazing characters. It was just the best. I loved getting to read a bit from some of my favorite characters too. Yay.

There is also sort of a recap in the early pages of just about everything that happened in book one, which will be good for those who did not re-read, but considering I did re-read book one first, I found this to be highly annoying. Ack. Yet it didn't last long, and I did love reading about it all again. Just didn't need it. But besides that, the writing was stunning. And I'm so happy about that. This book takes place three months after the end of book one. And I loved that too; but I did also want to read about those missing months.

So much is happening in this amazing sequel. I don't know how to talk about it all. I shall try to mention some of it. There are new characters, though we don't get to know them that well. I did like reading about them all, however. One of them ended up dead, which made me a tiny bit sad, lol. But still, didn't feel too badly about it even so. This one also takes place in a whole new place, which was pretty terrifying. Yet I adored it lots at the same time. It was interesting to get to know this horrible place and all the people too.

The plot in this book is about the menagerie with Delilah running it being captured. And they are all taken. The new place they end up in is all kinds of different from the menagerie. It's way worse in most ways. And better in other ways. But either way, they are all captives again, after having just taken their freedom back. Aw. It was simply all kinds of heartbreaking to read about. I adored all of these characters so much. And reading about them hurting and being hurt was the worst thing. It hurt so badly. Yet written so good.

I'm not going to say much about the plot. Just they Delilah and everyone else is spending most of this one just trying to survive in this new place. Trying to survive he horrible owner, whom is renting out the creatures. And it is so brutal and awful to read about. Yet so interesting too, and I couldn't help but love it all. I adored reading more about Gallagher too. He is my favorite character. I loved how protective he is of Delilah, how he would do anything for her. Still no romance, but I still feel it between them, growing, lol.

I must mention something. Because it's bothering me a little bit. Okay, it's bothering me like crazy, and I don't think I will forget about it for quite some time. This will be a bit spoilery. In the middle of the book, Delilah wakes up, having just forgotten eight weeks of time. And this ruined my heart. Because she had forgotten this huge moment, and I needed to read about it, and now I won't, and I just. I hope it will be mentioned in book three. Because I need these missing memories more than I can say. All the sobs.

But yeah, it was an amazing plot twist, for sure. But I also wish it hadn't happened. Because we missed so much and that bothers me a lot. The memory loss didn't have to be included, I don't feel like, because I didn't think the reason for why it happened was good enough. Aw. Hoping it will be a big deal in book three. Fingers crossed. But anyway. I loved this book so, so much. Despite all of this. I just adored Delilah the very most. She's still so strong and kind and I just love her to pieces. And all her powers too. Eee.

Huge thank you to the publisher for accepting my request to read this book early via Netgalley. Means the most to me. So glad I didn't have to wait longer to read it. And so glad that I read it just now. Because this book was all kinds of amazing. If you still haven't read book one, Menagerie, then get moving. Because it's amazing. I simply loved Spectacle beyond words. It's an incredible sequel filled with excitement and mysteries and horrible people. There was so much to love about it. And I loved it all. You must read this.