Blog tour post on blog on 2/15/18

About: By a Charm and a Curse is a young adult fantasy written by Jaime Questell. It was recently published on 2/6/18 by Entangled Teen, an imprint of Entangled Publishing and distributed by Macmillan, hardcover, 291 pages. The genres are fantasy, young adult, romance, magic, and fiction. This book is intended for readers ages 14 and up. This book is the author’s debut.

My Experience: I started reading By a Charm and a Curse on 2/7/18 and finished it on 2/11/18. This book is an excellent read! Another circus book yes, but much different than The Night Circus and Caraval. For one, it’s modern. They travel from Oklahoma to Texas to Louisiana by trucks and trailers and make stops for gas. Dogs doing circus tricks and performers balancing on horsebacks. I like all of the characters’ personalities and their humor. I like their individual backgrounds that lead them to Le Grand’s. This book mostly reads like a YA contemporary and the only fantasy part is the curse.

This book is told in the first person point of view following Emmaline (Emma, Em) King and Benjamin (Ben) Singer. Emmaline and her friend Juliet (Jules) are browsing around Le Grand’s Carnival Fantastic exploring the sights and the foods. Benjamin works behind the scenes on the carnival grounds and has been trying to save up enough cash to leave the carnival’s life for good. He wanted somewhere to call home and when he found it, it was where he least expected to be. Emma has a love at first sight for Sidney, the Boy in the Box when she first set eyes on him. She throw herself at him and ended the night with a kiss. The kiss is no ordinary and the curse is then passed onto Emma. She is now the charm and the curse that act as the center point to hold the carnival together, keeping everyone in it young and safe. This curse left her as the new Girl in a Box, without taste, feel, or smell and cold to the touch, among others. Being condemned to this curse is worse, but when accidents started to occur where it had never occurred before and everyone at the carnival started to blame her, Emma has to find a way to fix it before her life ends in far worse than a curse.

This book is well written and developed. It’s a great love story and the meanest form of punishment for cheating. I enjoy the plot and the characters. I like Ben being projected as attractive even with his glasses on. I don’t remember reading about any heroine wearing glasses so this detail is a plus! I like the curse and the charm concept and how it was originally created. I like Whiskey and Gin’s nicknames. I feel such an adrenaline rush when I know something will happen and just waiting for it to happen is nerve racking. Even though knowing what will happen, the ending still gives me a happy feeling and I highly recommend everyone to read it!

Pro: fast paced, page turner, easy to read, humor, dual POV, adrenaline rush, cover

Con: none

I rate it 5 stars!

***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read, review, and host a blog tour! Please be assured that my opinions are honest.

xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details

Before I get started, this is my first circus book, yes I have Caraval and The Night Circus on my TBR pile, but I haven’t read them yet so this will have no tie-ins, no references to those, just my view of this and this alone.

By A Charm is told from dual POV’s which I felt helped tell the story, and to also get a feel for what the characters are thinking and going through during the story.

I enjoyed the actual story, getting to see the goings on of actual circus life and what it’s like for the people that live and travel with the circus. I don’t know if I could ever do it myself, the always packing up and moving, but at the same time you get to travel and see the country.

The story itself was enjoyable, finding out about the curse and the charm, how they are tied together, how the effect everyone that’s part of the circus, what can happen if the charm is weakened and the curse is strengthened. Finding out about the history was really interesting also, granted you don’t find out the back story until almost the end of the book.

I found a number of the side character amazing, and I’d love to have them as my friends. It never felt like a dull moment when they were around. It was nice to see almost everyone come together as a large extended family.

I did have a couple of issues with the book.

The trio of brothers, they were bullies. They seem to think that they owned the circus and could throw their weight around and face no consequences what so ever. The way they treated Emma, I didn’t care for either.

Emma was thinking that she could pass the curse over in a day or two, when she was told that it can take years to find that right person before passing it on. I mean I get that she wants to get rid of it, but there seems to be a set of unwritten rules that need to be met just to find the right person.

The ending and finding out how break the curse. It just felt too rushed to me. Even if there was an additional chapter or two added to pace it a bit better, I think it would have gone better.

I’m glad I was able to get the opportunity to read this. It looks to be a stand alone, so there is a plus that it’s not another series to get pulled into.

I look forward to seeing what Jamie has for us in future books

By a Charm and a Curse was a unique read and unlike anything I have read before. I feel like that is something very common people say a lot, but in this case, it is true. I’ve read quite a few carnival-themed books, but not once did I compare this beauty to them, and that’s because there is nothing to compare. The magical idea behind By a Charm and a Curse is wholly original and one that peaked my interest. I mean, a curse AND a charm involved in a carnival?! That’s definitely an attention grabber!

The curse, itself, is such an intriguing part of the story. I spent most of the book trying to figure out how the curse came to be and why this carnival was cursed. I was also very much captivated by the charm of the carnival. When I did find out why the curse and charm were created, I was not disappointed.

The two main characters, Emma and Ben, are what pull the story together. The dual narration gives the reader the wonderful opportunity to peek inside each character’s mind and see what it is really like to live with a cursed, yet charmed, carnival. And when things start going wrong in the carnival, the reader gets to see how Ben and Emma react to each incident.

The setting of this book was not just magical, but also captivating. I love the carnival setting and Jaime Questell does not fall short in describing the beautiful setting and landscape of each carnival night. She really goes into detail of the Girl in the Box and her role, while also giving the reader the chance to see the main attractions of the carnival. My favorite attraction was by far Gin and Whiskey’s (you’ll have to read the book to find out which attraction they performed 🙂 ). The pace of the novel was also steady and I did not get that feeling of anything being rushed.

The secondary characters—the carnival workers and performers—were fantastic and relatable and they felt so real. I felt like they were people who I would most definitely befriend. Well, I’d befriend almost all of them. There are some who are questionable and you will understand why when you read By a Charm and a Curse.

By a Charm and a Curse is a novel I am so thankful I stumbled upon. This beautiful and intoxicating read kept me up late into the night and even had me reading some chapters when I should have been working. Everything about this book pulled to me and made me feel like I was actually there with the characters. I cannot wait to read Jaime Questell’s next work.

By a Charm and a Curse can be found at your local bookstore. I highly recommend this book!

I don't normally read young adult fantasy but this book caught my eye with its pretty cover and intriguing synopsis so I figured I'd give it a try. I'm so glad I did. The whole concept of everyone in the circus being protected by a charm except for one person who is cursed was fantastic. The characters were extremely likeable and I love that the romance has such a slow build to it. It's a nice change from all the insta-love in the book world. There isn't just an overwhelming amount of magic in the story and I thought it was blended perfectly in to give it a nice twist. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.

By a Charm and a Curse was quite the charming little book. After Emmaline King goes to a Carnival with her old, new, friend she ends up kissing a boy and becomes trapped by the charm and curse mentioned in the title of the novel.

Emmaline was kind of a sad character. She always came across so melancholy. First, because she feels out of place with her former friend and then because she’s trapped in the carnival as the Girl in the Box. It took a while for Emmaline to grow on me, but eventually she did and by the end I was rooting for her to break the curse and the charm surrounding the carnival.

While it took a while for Emmaline to grow on me I immediately liked her love interest Ben. He joined the carnival at a very young age and has been enjoying the benefits of the charm like the others. He was also just an all around good person. One of those genuinely likeable people you come across rarely but still know exist. I liked when Ben and Emma were together. They were probably my favorite part of the story.

My only criticism is that the story needed more threads. The main thing happening was Emmaline trying to find a way to be free of the curse. And that was the only thing happening. I wish there had been more subplots and other goings on around the carnival. It was a great atmosphere I don’t feel was used to it’s fullest potential.

Overall, By a Charm and a Curse was a quick, cute, read with a straightforward plot and likeable characters. If you like novels set in carnivals, or your contemporary stories with a bit of magic this is for you.

Personally, I loved this story. I'm always a sucker for a good story that takes place in a carnival or circus. This one hit all the points that I love about stories like this. The characters were really great, I felt so much for Emma, and couldn't help but like Ben so much. When I picked this one up, I hated whenever I had to put it down. I mostly read during lunch breaks at school, so it made going back to work really hard. I got swept into the mythology behind the curse and the charm. I liked how there were people you would assume would be a problem with trying to break the curse, but they surprised you. I loved how Sidney even became someone you empathized with, and wanted to see him get his true love finally. And then there was all the horrible things those with the curse had to endure. The initial breaking to start the curse, followed by the coldness and twitching. Not being able to feel anything. Then the guilt of having to either do the same terrible thing to another innocent person in order to save yourself, or else having to be stuck with the curse yourself, not being able to go back to your own family. Also the curse was related to the rest of the carnies "charm" and how much they were able to do as part of their amazing acts.

I loved the connection to New Orleans. And the story behind the curse was so good. Solving the curse was a very heart-breaking solution, and it was easy to understand why Emma didn't want to do it the way it had to be done. A great story, a book I will definitely be purchasing for my school library!

Now, my only issues. First, the aerial family members that were the "bad guys" in the story. I almost feel like I needed a little more reason for what they did. For how evil they got at the end. I didn't quite understand what their solution was with Ben and Emma. My other thought is one I had about teens today. I wonder, do teens today really know or get what a carnival or traveling circus show is? I mean, Barnum and Baileys are going out of business, right? So what circuses are there anymore? And even as I was growing up, there weren't really the carnivals like this story is about. The reason I began thinking about this, is that another of my favorite stories, Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond, is about a circus, and I can barely get students to even look at it. I guess I just wonder if carnivals or circuses mean the same to teens today as they did when I was growing up.

I enjoyed this cute love story that's different from any other you'll read. There were actually 3 love stories in here but 2 were really focused on quite a bit. I loved the carnival atmosphere as that's not frequently used as a setting in books but you can get some really unique and fun characters. The charm and curse just made it even more interesting. This is definitely a young adult book, not necessarily one adults will enjoy. It all depends on the adult. There is some swearing sprinkled throughout and some violence as the charm begins to wear off and also due to certain characters' violence but nothing is super graphic so I'd recommend it for mid-teens and up,but it really depends on the kid. Overall though, it kept me turning the pages and I enjoyed this book.

I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Synopsis:
Le Grand’s Carnival Fantastic isn’t like other traveling circuses. It’s bound by a charm, held together by a centuries-old curse, that protects its members from ever growing older or getting hurt. Emmaline King is drawn to the circus like a moth to a flame…and unwittingly recruited into its folds by a mysterious teen boy whose kiss is as cold as ice.

Forced to travel through Texas as the new Girl in the Box, Emmaline is completely trapped. Breaking the curse seems like her only chance at freedom, but with no curse, there’s no charm, either—dooming everyone who calls the Carnival Fantastic home. Including the boy she’s afraid she’s falling for.

Everything—including his life—could end with just one kiss.

My Review:
I received a copy of By a Charm and a Curse from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a completely unique and I loved every bit of it. Switching viewpoints between Emma, someone who desperately wants to go to the carnival, and Benjamin, who desperately wants to get out of the carnival. Emma and her siblings have been ditched by their mom at their dads house while she goes on a work vacation. Benjamin, on the other hand, knows nothing outside the carnival.

Emma and her friend Jules go to the carnival for a night they never forget. Their lives are changed forever, and she learns of the supernatural curse that has been put on the carnival. She's forced into it and all too quickly everything she knows is taken away. It takes a new turn to running away to join the circus.

This book is exciting and different than any other book I've read lately. The characters are interesting and all fit together well with the story. They react to situations like anyone would, really, and the world is just like ours. Another thing I liked was the cover. It caught my eye as soon as I saw it in the catalog, and after reading description I knew it would be something I would like. I definitely recommend you check this book out.

Here's a link to the book on Amazon, and another link to the authors twitter.

https://www.amazon.ca/Charm-Curse-Jaime-Questell/dp/1633759008/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518208874&sr=8-1&keywords=By+a+Charm+and+a+Curse+by+Jaime+Questell

https://twitter.com/JaimeQuestell

Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)

Amazing is what this book is. I loved it. I feel bad for what had to happen for Emma to get to know Ben. But that's how a well written story goes. You can't have it easy. In this book a kiss isn't just a kiss. It ends up being everything and also very little to do with just a kiss. I really liked how everything came together with the curse and charm. Sure I guessed a few things, but the twist I didn't exactly see coming. I really didn't think what happened was going to happen.

I absolutely loved this book!

The plot line surrounding this mysterious Carnival was what brought me into reading this book in the first place. The author formed all of the dimensions to where I felt like I was right in the middle of all of the amazing acts. There was great world building that switched from a festive to a fantasy aesthetic as the plot began to thicken.

The characters were one of my favorite aspects of this book. With the magic that is tied into their talents, I became engrossed in seeing how they developed. There is romance in this book, BUT it doesn’t follow through like any YA novel I’ve read in a long time.

I was completely surprised in how the title of this book tied in and switched the feeling of the plot about halfway through. I was completely entertained by how the author slowly added the curse into the plot while also focusing on building the foundation of the carnival’s history.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. I didn’t give it that final star because the romance did come out of nowhere and there were a few parts to the dialogue that felt typical in YA. BUT I absolutely adored all the other parts.

There is a great mix of villainous characters, a fantastic carnival, a tragic curse, and curious characters that all made me read this book in a few sittings.

I highly recommend this book if you love carnival books as much as I do!

by a charm and a curse starts off on the fairgrounds, in claremont, oklahoma and takes us on a journey to new orleans a place where magic has always been a possiblity. the charm of invincibility inherent to the le grand's carnival fantastic is anchored by a terrible curse, something emmaline king learns when she's conned into taking it on after a visit to the fair with an old friend.


alone and terrified by the fact that her body is no longer her own. she's like a mannequin but alive. she doesn't have a pulse, can't cry, can't breathe but she still feels cold. she still feels. and the only way she can get rid of the curse is to pass it on to someone else. but she hasn't lost her humanity quite yet. she can't imagine condemning anyone else to this existence.

and then there's ben. he's grown up as part of the carnival. his mother is the master carpenter and he is her apprentice. from the moment he meets emma, though, he can't stay away. even as it infuriates his mother. she's worried he'll be emma's next victim. but emma cares too deeply about ben to let him suffer the way she has.

but as accidents begin to pile up on the carnival campgrounds, tensions begin to run high. suddenly the girl in the box and the carpenter's apprentice are under watch. because the closer they get the more it seems like the charm that's protected the carnival is wearing off. the question is, can they break the curse?

and how they figure this out, is so worth the read. i loved the setting, the relationship that evolves between ben and emma. the fact that she's trapped in this shell of a body and the moments they touch, when his heat infuses her and she can feel him close. it's super romantic. in some ways the setting imbues the story with some old-time sensibilities. so like in victorian novels where any explicit sexual touching is frowned upon, and they relied on small touches, like hand-holding, to show those moments of connection, the same is true for ben and emma.

and as the story moves forward, their connection gets stronger and the more contact they need between them. and i love how this heightens the feelings and emotions of their relationship.

this was a wonderful read, and i can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next.

**by a charm and a curse published on february 6, 2018. i received an advance digital copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (entangled teen) in exchange for my honest review.

Who doesn’t love a book about a magical circus? A circus with both a charm and a curse? Sign me up!

What Fed My Addiction:

The circus atmosphere.
I don’t know what it is about a traveling circus or carnival, but I just love this setting. There’s already such a sense of awe and wonder there that it works really well for a fantastical story. Plus, they’re a little creepy (I think I always think back to Something Wicked This Way Comes), which works well for this story.

Emmaline’s curse.
The curse itself is, again, creepy in all the best ways. Emmaline is turned into something along the lines of a living puppet. She’s solid, her senses are dulled, and she’s suddenly living a sort of shadow life. There was a lot to play with here, and Questell does it well. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for Emmaline as she suffers the effects of the curse.

Ben.
Poor Ben has been trying to escape the circus life for a long time, but he can’t seem to break ties with the people there that he loves. His mother is overprotective of him (for a reason, but still) and he can’t really live his own life. I enjoyed the romance between Emmaline and Ben, though it did perhaps move a little quickly into true love territory.

What Left Me Hungry for More:

Few plot holes?
I had a hard time understanding why everyone seemed to act like Emmaline would be able to trick someone into taking her place almost immediately when the last person had been in her position had been there for years. And why did no one seem to know the specifics of the charm and the curse or be all that interested in them? It seemed odd to me. But the biggest lack in logic was that when things started to go wrong, people didn’t immediately figure out that it was tied to the curse—Emmaline and Ben, especially—I didn’t understand the doubt there.

Bullying villains.
The tumbling brothers were bullies for the sake of being bullies, it seemed. The book just needed a villain, maybe?

This book was utterly unique and it was definitely entertaining. I had enough hang-ups about the plot that I was close to cutting it down a half star, but I eventually settled on 4/5 Stars. A solid debut.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

So I am a sucker for stories about Carnivals, circuses, fairs. I love the atmosphere of these places and believe setting is just as important as characters and plot when it has to do with these settings. That being said I think the reason why I didn't like this as much as I thought I would was because they didn't spend enough time on the actual setting of the Carnival. The whole story was lacking that magic the was in the Night Circus. The story was rushed and I didn't really connect with the characters like I wanted to. The relationship between Emma and Ben felt like a mystery. It felt like I missed key moments and then one day they are in love. It didn't feel like an organic love story. I was interested in the story behind the curse and the twins, and Sidney (though he was an ass and I should hate him) I actually really liked him. The ending was mediocre and too cheesy for my tastes.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

All I know is that someone mentioned that this book was able a carnival and I has just finished reading Caraval and was looking for another book that would suit my love of carnivals. First of all can we just take a moment to prevaricate the beauty that is that cover, its such an eye catching book that even if I didn't know what this book was about I would've picked this book up simply because of that cover. That story line was interesting and I give this book props for being a unique story. I can definatly say I haven't read another book like this which I really appreciate. I loved the characters and how the book progressed in the story. I will admit that I was a bit confused about the curse but as the story went on it slowly became clear enough for me to understand what was going on. When it came to Emma man it must of sucked being her and having to make that choice as picking a new person for the box and I couldn't help but think if I was in her shoes it would've been tough for me to make that decision that she was placed with. I honestly cant say more without spoiling the book but if you love books that feature unique carnivals then this book might be for you, I really enjoyed it!

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

I COULD NOT sit By a Charm & a Curse by Jaime Questell down! I loved the setting and the mystery surround the curse. I ached for Emma and fell in love with Ben. If you enjoy YA urban fantasy, carnivals, and curses, I highly recommend it!

When the book opens, Emma is struggling. She’s been sent away by her mother to live with her father and brothers in rural Oklahoma. That in itself isn’t so bad. It’s the being away from her mother for over a year that Emma struggles with. Emma comes full circle in this book, seeing the error in her thinking almost immediately. She misses her family, and yet she’s can’t return. It’s heartbreaking!

Ben is ready to run at the open. He’s spent most of his life with the carnival, and he’s ready to leave and find a place to call home. He’s tired of the traveling, nomadic life. BUT his mom is there, and they are there because she wants to keep him safe. The charm tied to the carnival protects them from accidents, makes their shows magical, and even stops their aging. Despite all of this, Ben wants a normal life until the new Girl in the Box arrives.

So the premise of the book is in the title. There is a curse on the person in the box and that curse is directly related to the charm protecting everyone in the carnival. The story opens with Sidney, the Boy in the Box. I picture something like those old fortune teller boxes that you drop a coin in and the mannequin gives them a card of their future. This is exactly what it is except Sidney is alive. Then he tricks Emma into the Box and she takes his place, forced to travel with the carnival, unable to go home and unable to apologize to the family she is leaving behind.

I think this is where the book lost me a bit. I loved Emma and Ben. I even liked their budding relationship. But the curse and charm, those confused me, which is why the book gets four instead of five stars. It’s well thought-out and is explained some, but I still had a hard time understanding how the curse is passed on and why no one has thought to break it before now. Granted that is also explained.

Overall I really enjoyed By a Charm & a Curse, even if some of it was predictable. I found myself engrossed in Emma and Ben’s story, their relationship and how they overcome the odds. I loved Duncan and Whiskey and the other side characters, and I hurt for Sidney and Audrey. I highly recommend this book for anyone that enjoys the whimsy of carnival life, the charms of first love, and a seemingly unbreakable curse.

Note: This book contains strong language, underage drinking, and some violence. While it is written for YA, I would recommend it for 16+ or the mature teen.

When I received the review request from the publisher for By A Charm and a Curse by Jaime Questell, the request emphasized how much I had loved Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond which I reviewed here. I considered the Gwenda Bond novel one of the best books I read in 2014. It's also among my favorite circus novels of all time.


It's definitely true that I love books about circuses and carnivals, but I'm also very picky about them. I called the bestselling Erin Morgenstern novel The Night Circus inauthentic and superficial in my review of Girl on a Wire. So let this be a warning to those who want me to review their circus or carnival novels. I did obtain an ARC of By A Charm and a Curse via Net Galley in return for this honest review.





So let's start with what worked. The romantic heroine and hero were very sympathetic. Their relationship was intense and moving. Jaime Questell should definitely continue writing romance. She understands how to engage the reader's emotions.


I thought that the fantasy aspect of the charm and the curse could have applied to any high risk occupation. They could have been a unit of mercenaries, for example. There is nothing that makes this inherently a story about carnival performers.


There also weren't any performers with high risk acts who were central to the novel. So we don't really get very much of their perspective. There was relatively little space devoted to performances or training. For me, a tumbler or aerialist's breathtaking act is what makes carnivals and circuses magical. So there wasn't enough of the content that draws me to novels of this type.


Girl On A Wire was about an especially daring aerialist who filled me with awe. The novel was about the risks she took and her motivations for taking them as much as it was about a Romeo and Juliet romance. By A Charm and a Curse was primarily about characters who didn't belong in a carnival and didn't want to be there. I felt that as a fan of carnivals, I was not part of the intended audience for this book.


For me, the romance aspect was the most appealing part of By A Charm and a Curse. Romance fans should be satisfied by it.

I am pleasantly surprised to say that I completely enjoyed this book. The beginning started a little rocky for me, as I kept saying to myself this is not believable. However, I decided to stick with it and once I got a feel for the book and the magical elements I was completely in tune with the story and characters. There are certain things that you have to overlook when reading this, some parts that don't make total sense or are not explained until later on in the story. That being said the story was engaging and kept you turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. I wished at the end we would have found out exactly how the curse worked and why it ended but overall I enjoyed the story and the characters. I'd give this 3.5 starts

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review By a Charm and a Curse by Jaime Questell! Emmaline and her siblings are spending a year with their father in a small, uneventful town while their mom works in Guatemala, since she received a grant. Emma attends the carnival with her friend Juliet before it leaves town and takes the last bit of entertainment with it. Benjamin works for the traveling carnival but he wants to leave it to finally stay in one place and start a life there. Emma meets and takes a Ferris wheel ride with Sidney; a young man that runs the fortune teller box attraction. Emma unknowingly submits herself to the curse and charm that runs the carnival. Her friends and family believe that she’s run away and she is nothing but trapped until she can trick someone else into taking the curse. Emma and Benjamin form a bond and they’re determined to figure out a way to break the curse once and for all. A supernatural fantasy written for young adults, 4 stars!