REVIEW
I have read a few Circus/Carnival themed books this year so when I saw this one I felt I had to read it!

I think the cover will definitely stand out on a book store shelf with the bright pink title and author name. I love the darkness of the background of the cover, suggesting darkness possibly to represent when the Carnival is at it's busiest as well as the darkness symbolising the curse the Carnival carries around with it. There is also a Ferris wheel on the cover which plays a very big part within the book. I love the byline of "A kiss is never just a kiss" and that certainly fits the book well. Would the cover make me want to pick this one up from a bookstore shelf? Yes I know it really would!

The genres I have seen listed for this book are Sci-fi, Fantasy and Teens & YA. I suppose the curse could be classed as the Sci-Fi part but I would call that more of a Magic genre. I totally agree with the fantasy label both because of charm and curse and the fact most people at sometime in their life have dreamt about joining the circus/carnival. Though I am most certainly not a "teen" I loved reading this book but can imagine this book being very popular with the Teen and YA group of readers. I would also say the book is kind of contemporary as its set in the modern day too.

I found the book enchanting from the very beginning and immediately fell in love with the characters of Benjamin and Emmaline, the two main characters of the book. I became a little obsessed and was really looking forward to my "reading time" with this book and became quite irritated if I was interrupted during my reading!
This review is going to be so very hard to write without giving away too much, so apologies in advance if it seems a little vague in places.
The book centres on the travelling Carnival and it's history, everything is not as it seems as there is as the title says "A Charm and A Curse". Obviously the charm is the good part. It means that no one working within the carnival ever gets ill or has an accident, they also don't age. So I guess much like the Carnival performers and roustabouts most people would think this is a great gift. But there's always a catch. The catch or rather the curse of the carnival is that someone must work in the fortune teller booth, and they have no feelings of warmth, their body doesn't feel like their own anymore, it is broken and twitchy and jerky. This person cannot leave the carnival as they literally seize up and cannot move or function without being in the close vicinity of the Carnival. There is a way to pass on the curse to another and that is what happens to the main female character of Emmaline.
When the book begins Emma or Em as her close friends call her has returned with her brothers to her live with her father whilst her mum goes away to do a research project. Em is naturally quite resentful of being uprooted from everything familiar and having to go back to living with her dad. However when she meets back up with former friend Jules they decide to take a look at the Carnival that is in town for only two more days. The girls get separated and that's when Em makes the mistake of flirting with the boy in the fortune teller booth. I won't say how Em ends up dying, to be brought back to carry the curse but this section of the book is the part where the Ferris wheel is very relevant.

I won't reveal exactly how but Em ends up being the new person in the fortune teller booth.
The other performers and Carnival workers attempt to rally round Em to make her feel welcome and part of their travelling community but of course having been tricked by Sidney she is reluctant to trust anyone. Then her new reality sinks in, she simply has to go through it and she makes friends with some of the performers. I think it's so sweet that a first real "friend" after becoming the girl in the box is one of Mrs Potters dogs. It is Duncan and Gin help Em choose a costume to wear in her box. Naturally Em initially resists even thinking about passing on the curse and thinks she could never do what has happened to her to another human being. As time goes on though and the days and Carnival destinations slide past she comes to the conclusion if she wants to have any true feeling back in her body and to reclaim her own heartbeat she will have to pass the curse on. Then she also wonders what life would be like, if she could ever return to a normal life, could she ever return to her family that she misses so much and continue her life as it should have been.

There's one particular scene I loved and found really amusing, and it's when Sidney and Em are on the Ferris wheel. They exchange names with each other and Em comments that she thinks Sidney is a name for an old person. When Sidney replies to Em he reference her name being for an older person like Auntie Em from the Wizard of Oz!

Sadly things start to go wrong in the Carnival whilst Em is the girl in the box. Accidents begin to occur, small ones at first such as a cut hand, then there's a fall, a broken car. The Carnival performers and roustabouts are very superstitious and try to blame Em as they say she isn't carrying the duties of the curse out for enough time, or she isn't putting in enough effort. Ben sticks up for Em, as do Lars and Leslie but soon it becomes very apparent things are not as they should be.

There are so many great characters in this book from Leslie the Ringmaster, Mrs Potter who has a dog act, the Connelly family who are performers on horseback. There's also Pia and Duncan who have a fortune teller tent, and Marcel with his knife throwing act. All the Carnival performers and workers get along well together except for the Moretti's and their acrobatic act. It is the youngest Moretti brother Lorenzo that tries to coerce a new roustabout to place his hand into a fire to prove that the charm of the carnival with save him from burning himself, luckily Ben hears them and stops Mikey, the new worker from trying out the charm.

I love the four different relationships within the book, such as the roller-coaster ride that is Audrey and Sidney. Though it would be so easy to cast Sidney as the bad guy you have to take account for how long he has been the "Boy in the Box" before he tricks Em and makes her the "Girl in the Box". I think both Sidney and Audrey are quite misunderstood characters, they don't easily show their good sides preferring to appear brusque and in charge in Audrey's case.
Then there's the cute relationship between the brave horseback performer Gin and the knife thrower Marcel. It seems Marcel has been watching Gin from afar, and its the thought of leaving her behind if he goes off with Benjamin to try life outside the Carnival that gives him the final push to reveal his feelings for her. I loved Gin and her younger sister Whiskey, they both instantly accept Em and try their best to welcome her and help her get ready to begin her time as the "Girl in the Box".
I also think, though it isn't really firmly confirmed within the book that there is a kind of a little more than just friends thing going on between Lars, the Ferris wheel worker and Leslie the Ringmaster of the Carnival.
Of course there is an instant attraction between Em and Ben, though Ben's mum Audrey is really set against her son spending anytime or even looking at the new Girl in the Box. Audrey had what you could call history with the box and doesn't want to imagine something that in her opinion was a betrayal happening to her son. The fact his mum isn't impressed with Em doesn't stop Ben becoming more and more attracted to her.

I totally loved reading this book and was fascinated by the charm and the curse. I always loved the Circus (as we would call it in the UK) as a child and I honestly think everyone imagines themselves performing in the circus! The performers make everything look so glamorous and magical. As a visitor you don't see the hours of practice they have to put in. You also don't think of the work it takes to take down, transport and put back up a travelling Carnival such as the one featured in this book. If you love mysterious, magical stories set in the modern day then I highly recommend reading this book. It really does pull you in slowly then hold on to you tightly to the very last word!

My immediate thoughts upon finishing this book were, Wow, what a brilliant read. I totally fell in love with the Carnival, it's performers and roustabouts. The left me wanting more! I want to know what happened after this book to the characters and the carnival too. Also I would love a prequel that goes into more detail about the curse and the family that set it all in motion. This book reminded me a little of Daughter Of The Burning City by Amanda Foody.

By a Charm and a Curse
Jaime Questell
My Review: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Down you go little Emma into the rabbit hole. Que Cheshire Cat grin.

Roll up, roll up, come and visit the Le Grand's carnival. Daredevil stunts, performing dog, Ferris wheel, fortune tellers and all the cotton candy you can eat.

The carnival is full of mystery and magical experiences, but the Le Grand carnival has more to offer than most. Emma's time has just begun. She has just returned to town and is struggling to fit back in where she left off. Emma visits the carnival with a friend. She is drawn into the magic that surrounds kit and gets more than she bargains.

The Le Grand carnival has a secret. It has a charm that protects the carnival. No one has had an accident in years and the people perform risky stunts. They know the charm will save them from injury. It promotes good healthy lives and takes care of everything. With every good luck charm, there has to be a balance. A price to pay for their good fortune. Emma is about to find out the cost. She opens pandora box and becomes the new girl.

Benjamin and his mother have been with the carnival most of their lives. They work on the maintenance and up keeping. Ben dreams of leaving the circus and finding something he can call his own. He is trying to put a plan together to set in motion until he meets the girl in the box.

I loved this book. It's Pinocchio meets Alice in Wonderland only darker. By a Charm and a curse has mystery, suspense and romance. The story is fast paced and kept me begging for more right until the end. I couldn't put it down. I loved the magic and darkness. It is exciting and shocking. There are some really good characters in this book and they really bring the story to life. Whiskey and Gin had me laughing. Emma and Ben had me swooning. Don't even get me started on Sidney!

I could totally read this book again and that is something I almost never do.

5 stars out of 5.

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


Hardcover £13.99 or £9.56 Kindle, 300 pages
Expected publication: February 6th 2018 by Entangled Publishing

This book had a rather interesting premise, but unfortunately for me, it failed to deliver anything new or exciting. Most of the characters were okay, but I think due to the length of the book we were not given enough character depth and development to the point where I cared about all the what happened to them. Even our main characters Ben and Emma, I barely knew them. And when you do not or understand someone you just inherently care less. I think this book could have been a lot better if it tried just a little harder, alas that is not the case. But maybe if you are new to the genre or you're just looking for a quick book to pass the time this would be alright to pick up.

I fell in the love with this book within the first few pages. It instantly. had me biting my fingernails waiting for what would happen next!! With each chapter from a different character perspective, it kept the story flowing and you didn't miss a thing! Would read this book over and over!

I haven’t read anything about a carnival before and after reading the blurb I was interested. Once I got approved I dove into this book.

Emma has moved back to a small town in Oklahoma with her father while her mother is working overseas. Emma doesn’t want to be there but is trying to make the most of it. She has friends that she knew from when they lived there before so she’s trying to make the best of it by trying to rekindle those relationships. Emma ends up meeting a boy who works in the fortune telling box and this is where our story begins.

I was engrossed after the first chapter. The story is fluid and I honestly lost track of time while reading this. I just had to know how it would end.

I loved both Emma and Ben. The story was told in dual POV and it was pretty easy to read between the two of them. The secondary characters were also great and added so much more to the story. The world building was great as well! I could actually picture the carnival in full swing.

If your looking for a new fantasy to pick up don’t sleep on this book. Be on the lookout for this February 2018!

This has an interesting premise. A young girl, Emma, is kidnapped by a circus and magically transformed into a doll like creature needed to prolong a powerful charm that protects the performers. Emma then has to choose between passing along her curse to someone else, or trying to break it with the help of a cute boy named Ben.
I would recommend this book to younger teens. The romance between Emma and Ben is cute, but feels a little juvenile despite him turning 18, and a lot of time is spent worrying about first kisses. To a younger reader, the plot may seem compelling, and within a teen's power to accomplish, while older readers or parents would begin to question the efficiency of kidnapping a young girl with a family rather than go to a hospital and pick a dying adult to pass the healing curse onto. The book is enjoyable if you picture Emma as an orphan with no ties, rather than a kidnapped young girl who the police are actively looking for.
I enjoyed the love story, though the declarations of love and soul mate status seems a little premature. The moral choices debated are interesting and highlight how mistakes can run across generations. The magic is suitably dark, and the narrative doesn't shy away from the severity needed to transfer or break the curse.
Interesting, but likely to be more enjoyed by younger teens.

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

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The characters had depth, the storytelling was great, very descriptive passages. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters and try to figure out how the Charm/Curse was going to be broken or if it even would be. I am glad the so called villain wasn't necessarily a villain. Emma and Benjamin were the main storytellers and it was nice to get alternative perspectives throughout the novel.

My only fault with it was the ending, it seemed a bit rushed and I had a few unanswered questions that I wish one more chapter would have been written to close them all up. But otherwise a great book!

First, I thought the plot was pretty original and cool! Emma and Benjamin were both good characters, and I did like their relationship. I don’t mind when attraction comes fast either because that’s true to real life. My main problem is when the word love gets thrown around too fast and too soon. I feel like if there would have been more build up, interactions, and conversations when the word loved came up, it would have been great. Now, that being said, that was my only pet peeve of the book. The carnival aspect was excellent, especially the whole being in the box thing. Even though Sidney was the one that trapped Emma in the box, he was my favorite character and was the most developed. I loved him!

Come one, come all, and prepare to be amazed!

In Jamie Questell’s stunning debut, a traveling carnival is affected ‘By a Charm and a Curse.’ There is something unearthly about Le Grand’s Carnival Fantastic; how its performers never fall or injure themselves no matter how daring the stunts. How its members don’t seem to age like people outside the carnival. How it has existed, and thrived, for decades without financial difficulties.

The heart of this mystery lies in the heart of the carnival itself.

Teenage carnival guest Emmaline King’s life change drastically with just one kiss. She joins the Carnival Fantastic and slowly falls for its carpenter apprentice. Together they seek to uncover the origin of the supernatural curse and work to unravel it.

Author Jaime Questell’s writing is flawless. This is a nail-biting page turner worthy of the sleep you’ll miss while seeing it through to the end. The main characters are well-developed and easy to root for as they mature on their quest to break the curse.

‘By a Charm and a Curse’ is a self-contained stand-alone supernatural novel with a complete ending. It will be available from booksellers on February 6, 2018.

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

#ByAcharmAndAcurse #NetGalley

When Emmaline King agrees to go to the circus with her friend she had no way of knowing she would alter her destiny. Le Grand’s Carnival Fantastic is enchanted by a charm and a curse that are bound together. The charm protects the carnival and all who work there but only if someone takes the curse.
When Emma is separated from her friend a mysterious and charming young man beguiles her forces the curse onto her. Emma is now stuck as the new girl in the box, forced to travel with the circus. Unable to escape, she must decide to pass the curse to someone else or find a way to break it...sealing the others fates.

I will say I have really enjoyed all of the enchanted cirque novels lately and as soon as I read the preview of this novel I knew I had to read it. Although this novel is about an enchanted circus it is unique tale and stands apart from the others with a distinct and fresh story line. I would highly recommend this novel for anyone who loves magical stories with a touch of romance.

What an odd little book.
The premise was intriguing, in a creepy doll movie sort of way, but I suffered a bit of a disconnect with the characters.

It was well written, and a quick, easy read, just missing something intangible.

YA fans of the macabre may enjoy this book. And I would likely try the author's future works.

Initial Thoughts;
Ever since I read Caraval, I have been really wary of magical realism books. I even tried Night Circus and wasn't completely sold on the genre. But when I saw this book was available for request (thanks to Entangled Teen's awesome emails about new books to request!), I was immediately captivated by that gorgeous cover. Having just finished this book, it's safe to say that I'm willing to continue to give magical realism more chances. 

Characters;
Emma was a very strong willed girl. I liked that she wouldn't take what happened to her laying down. Even though she was stuck in this curse, she didn't use it as an excuse to treat people like crap. I liked that she was forgiving and still nice, considering what happened to her. I probably wouldn't have been nice if it was me, honestly. 

Ben was an alright character. I found that I was struggling to figure out what just his personality was. He seemed like a very caring guy. He loved his mom, even though she was the most domineering person I've ever read about. He took care of all those that worked at the carnival and was tolerant of those he didn't like. But I just couldn't get a good sense of who he was as a person. 

However, I liked Emma and Ben together. Together, Ben had more of a personality and his devotion to Emma was amazing. 

And I would be remiss if I didn't point out that the secondary characters were really well done. They were fleshed out well and had their fair share of page time. I would love to see some novellas of the twins, Duncan and Pia along with Whiskey and Gin. I enjoyed them very much and their dynamic was so cute. 

Plot;
The concept of this book, a carnival held together by a curse and a charm, is completely unique. It's easily one of my favorite concepts that I have read in a long time. It was just so original and I know that I will be thinking about it for a long time. 

Overall;
This was really good and it has restored my waning faith in the magical realism genre. I think it helped that it had a bit of contemporary thrown in. The magic felt like it belong in the world. It just meshed; didn't stick out like a sore thumb. Overall, I'm glad I took a chance on this book and I hope you all will do the same.

The overall story was very good, well paced, and ended well. I do feel that it was just lacking something that would have made it a five for me. Emma and Ben's relationship could have used more development. I liked the twist with Sidney. The story was unique. The descriptions of the carnival were detailed. There were many characters but we really did delve in too deep with any of them. Wish the twins parts were more, feel there is a story there itself. I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.

To the casual observer Le Grand’s Carnival Fantastic seems just like any other traveling circus with it’s flashing lights, death defying shows and plenty of rides and games to entertain all who visit. But this traveling circus has existed for centuries benefiting from a curse upon one of it’s own while the others enjoy a charm that protects them. All those who perform and work for the circus stop aging at adulthood and accidents never happen to their group as long as the cursed one stays in the box with the circus until the curse can be passed on to another.

Emmaline King has moved back to the small town of Claremore, OK to live with her father while her mother is away overseas working on a grant. Emma has had a bit of trouble adjusting to her mother leaving and trying to reform the friendships she’d once had in this small town but with the circus visiting she’s determined to have a good time with her old friend. Things take a turn for Emma though when she’s left behind only to meet the boy in the fortune telling box.

By a Charm and a Curse by Jaime Questell is a romantic young adult fantasy read. Once I picked this one up I simply couldn’t put it down until finished with it’s fast pace and unique story. The idea behind this traveling circus being charmed with the exception of one poor soul was a rather intriguing concept that I couldn’t wait to find out more about.

The story is told by alternating the point of view between the two main characters of the story, Ben and Emma, both of which I came to like quite a bit during the read. One major positive here too is that Ben and Emma are not the victims of the old young adult insta-love trope, their relationship within the pages builds slowly as the action keeps a fast pace in the story around them. The author did a wonderful job giving the reader just enough at all the right times to keep the story moving and the pages turning Definitely would recommend checking this one out for those looking for something a bit unique in a young adult fantasy.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.