Issa cliffhanger y'all!

This story takes us inside a traveling circus, 'freaks' and all, where we discover that someone in the outfit is a MURDERER! But it doesn't stop there. The pretend psychic discovers that she may actually be able to see the dead after all? It's a lot. A lot is happening here.

Anna, our main character and tarot card reader turned sleuth/ghost whisperer, is devastated at the loss of her twin sister and determined to find justice. I wish we got to spend more time on the actual mystery, as an unfortunate event sidetracks Anna from her mission.

If you don't mind a short graphic novel, with beautiful art, and a story that is left unfinished, then pick this one up. I'd recommend getting Volume 2 at the same time though (to avoid the frustration).

The synopsis had me sold immediately; a murder mystery set in a circus. Also the illustration style is absolutely gorgeous and the kind of artwork I prefer in graphic novels, bright colours and bold lines.

I really like the imagery and visuals throughout this graphic novel and I think that the author struck a great balance between the illustrations and the amount of text on each page. The story flows brilliantly from panel to panel and the personality of each character is evident both in their speech and their expression as it should be.

The story-telling itself is probably the weakest aspect of this book but I think this could be improved in further volumes. The main issue for me was the pacing; it started off really slow with a bit of a rush at the end. However despite this, the plot was interesting and engaging and I would definitely like to see where this series goes.

The cover art and the circus theme are what initially made me want to read this. However, that is only a small part of what makes this such a fantastic read. It is beautifully drawn and all of the main characters that you interact with are given such vivid backstories. Because of the medium that this is being told in, you actually get to see those backstories in a flashback sequence. The main story we are following involvces the murder of Anna’s, the main characters, twin sister. There are plenty of suspects and I was just as curious to follow the clues to find out who the murderer. Unfortuantely, this did end on a cliffhanger without knowing who the murderer is yet. I plan to continue reading the next installment when it’s available to find out. My only complaint is that sometimes the font style and size made the words hard to read.

*I received an eARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Unable to review. When I first downloaded it, the files were fine. I went out of town, and when I came back, none of my netgalley downloads were visible in ADR.

Graphic Novels are becoming more and more of a fave for me. I hardly ever read them before, but I have SUCH a thing for art, and combining that with my love of stories is perfect. I piked this one up on a whim, PURELY because of that gorgeous cover art. It promised me an intriguing murder mystery, mixed with the wonder of the circus and supernatural shenanigans. How could I resist? I'll admit, I wasn't overly convinced my the humour and 'bluntness' of Anna's character to begin with. But she, and this story, really grew on me.

There's no denying that the visuals are stunning. Especially the random character spreads that appear throughout. Gedris is most certainly talented! Whatsmore, the intrigue and mystery surrounding her characters, and the way that she drew them, was awesome. I found them all memorable, my favourites (for some reason) being the slightly vain, definitely seedy, but somehow loveable ringmaster Jebediah Tetanus (THAT. NAME) and the overly-excited, shrill snake charmer, Flora. The way the characters interacted with each other was a lot of fun and Gedris did a great job of revealing their motives and secrets.

The cliffhanger at the end was pretty brutal. That being said, it's made me really excited to read the next one! This is definitely a series I'm invested in. It took a while for the pace to build, and while the Deputy Sheriff story-line was a strange detour, it's primary role was to reveal more of Anna's newfound powers. I think it did so pretty successfully. I'm interested in the relationship between Anna and Kat too. I definitely want to see where it goes!

There are good mash-ups, and there are great ones, ones that make you wonder “how terrific! why haven’t I seen this combination before?” Megan Rose Gedris’s Spectacle is great, combining life in the circus, steampunk touches, a ghost sibling, and a murder mystery.

Anna is the practical twin, creator of a steam-driven conjecture engine that can predict future events using statistics to 78% accuracy. Ironic, then, that she tells fortunes, knowing that they’re trickery. Kat is the twin liked by everyone, a flirt and socializer (although mean to her sister) and a knife thrower. Ironic, then, that Anna finds her stabbed to death.

Kat hasn’t moved on, though, haunting Anna until they can figure out who murdered her. Even with all of this juicy content — it really feels like the reader is traveling with the circus, with plenty of detail to establish the lifestyle in packed layouts — the art is my favorite part of the book, full of sun-drenched color and unusual-looking characters. In particular, Anna’s cloud of hair keeps the reader’s eye on her, and I love her vaguely military coat, symbolizing her unofficial authority as investigator. I wish I could help her; she’s a distinct personality and a sympathetic one.

Kat’s keeping something from her sister, and as Anna investigates, aided by Flora the snake charmer, we learn more about the secrets under the big top (including church-going clowns and a jailed ringmaster). Every chapter has something new and unusual in it.

WHAT?!? This ARC just suddenly ended abruptly! In the middle of a crazy scene!

Was that the end of this volume? Was it a cliffhanger? Or did they just not put the whole thing in the digital edition?

It was an interesting story. The suspense built, and I really wanted to find out what happened. Whodunnit? What’s the deal with the sheriff (or at least what will happen)? What’s the deal with the headaches?

The art really made it feel like an independent comic - but that’s ok. I think it fit with the story.

It’s recommended - as long as there’s some sort of conclusion - even if it’s “to be continued”.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for a copy in return for an honest review.</i>

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2329968558

*received by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

How dare you leave me with the unsolved murder, a lesbian romance and an awesome diverse cast? think i'm gonna buy the rest of the series? (i am)
I loved this from beginning to end. circus, lady detective turned psychic. LESBIANS. count me in all the way.

A circus is always a good setting for glamour and intrigue. More than any other show-business career, it has the reputation of wild and dangerous glamour, a group of misfits and outcasts from society living together in close contact and in competition for attention with one another. As much as they resort to more colourful and glittering costumes and pile on the make-up to enhance the illusion, there's always a sense of disillusionment underneath, a sense that they still regard themselves as freak show exhibits, relying on their otherness to make a living. It would not be surprising then that occasionally professional competitiveness, personal weaknesses and romantic inclinations come together to spark off tensions, and even murder.

Megan Rose Gedris's graphic novel series Spectacle has all of the colourful drama and seedy glamour that you associate with circus life, but she also has a few other more unusual elements to throw into the mix that promises to keep the series entertaining and surprising. There is a timeless quality to the tradition of circus life, so it's not until the wagon train arrives at their first destination that you realise that Spectacle is set in the late 1800s in the American west. So there's the Western side of things to add to an already colourful setting, but Gedris also introduces a supernatural element to the story that really shakes things up and gives Spectacle an entertaining and unusual feature of its own.

It doesn't take long either to establish the nature of the drama that occurs within the Samson Brothers Travelling Circus. It centres around two sisters, Kat, who is a knife thrower, and Anna, who is a fortune teller who goes under the circus name of Madame Strange. Anna feels a bit of a fraud compared to her talented sister but she has been working on a device she calls a conjecture engine that can statistically predict events with what Anna claims is 78% accuracy. For all Anna's claims to be able to see into the future however Anna fails to see the death of her sister who is brutally murdered with her own throwing knives.

As tense as relations can get in a circus, there has never been anything like a murder in the Samson Brothers Circus and owner Jebadiah Tetanus wants to keep it under wraps, passing Kat's death off as an accident while Anna searches for the murderer. While Anna's fortune-telling doesn't usually entail any kind of mystical powers, she discovers now that she suddenly has the ability to see the ghost of her sister. The ghost Kat is unable to help her shed any light on the mystery of the identity of her killer however, and residing inside her body, she may prove to be more of a hindrance than a help. Anna however finds that it's not just her sister's ghost she can see, and she seems to have gained a sixth sense awareness. All of which suggests that there's a sinister supernatural element to her sister's death.

Written and drawn by Megan Rose Gedris, the painted artwork of Spectacle takes on a free-flowing life of its own that isn't constrained by rigid panel grids. It may look boldly cartoony, with thick lines and bold colours, but the painted artwork has a lovely flow of its own and has a surprising amount of character and feel for situation. It helps that the circus is filled with the usual colourful cast of characters - and in this period even has a freak show element with Siamese twins, a bearded lady and a mermaid - but Gedris enriches each of them with strong features and behaviours that bring them to life and lift them off the page. With a story that has plenty of other elements to expand upon, including demons and supernatural experiences that haunt Anna's nightmares, Spectacle, Book One sets up the story well, and promises to have a lot more yet to offer.

Spectacle is by Megan Rose Gedris, though it isn’t her first graphic novel by any means. Yu+Me is probably her most famous work, but she’s also done works such as I Was Kidnapped by Lesbian Pirates from Outer Space (try saying that ten times fast), and Small Town Blues.
What originally drew my attention to Spectacle was the cover; the rich colors and circus theme immediately captivated me, and I knew I had to give this new series a try. Spectacle is about two twin sisters whom are part of a travelling circus. One is whimsical and flighty, while the other is pragmatic and down to earth. It’s ironic then that the pragmatic sister, Anna, is the one that can predict the future and see ghosts. Not exactly traits one would expect from a realistic person, no?
The story of Anna and Kat is oddly compelling – they’re both so different from one other, but their ties are unbreakable. Seeing them try to solve this mystery together against all odds…it was wonderful. Though I do wish it hadn’t ended on a cliffhanger (mostly because I’m not a fan of them).
The artwork for this series is outstanding. I expected rich colors based on the cover, but I wasn’t expecting the level of details or other subtle details that were included. I love the way Gedris portrayed the circus as well as the more supernatural events that occurred.
I’m probably going to have to continue reading this series, because I’m officially hooked. I hope the wait for volume two isn’t too long…

I was definitely intrigued by the circus/murder mystery combination. It was relatively easy to follow even though it took a little bit to get into it. I found myself really connecting with the main character after her statement about escaping the party to go read a book instead. As it continued it took some time to get the characters straight. That is one thing I hope improves is getting to know the characters for in detail. Being a graphic novel, it was slightly easier seeing their faces; however, I found character introduction to be lacking. Overall the art style really grew on me as I continued to read it. The color palette was very nice and easy on the eyes as well. Although it was a strange combination, it was a quick read and I would read future installments as well.

This is a really entertaining graphic novel. It is a good story that keeps you on your toes while the artwork is vibrant and fun. I think the story is perfect for this genre and I found it to be easy and enjoyable to read. I can't wait to see how the story continues.

Spectacle is an interesting novel in that so much of it feels unique and fresh. From a nuanced and distinct art style, wide array of surprising characters, and a main protagonist who almost comes off more as a moody antihero rather than heroine. Not a lot happens and yet a lot happens within this old world circus as we're drawn into a murder mystery with many suspects.

Two sisters, Anna and Kat, work in a traveling circus. Kat is the talented one - a knife throwing extrovert who always draws attention. Anna, meanwhile, has always been considered the untalented one - withdrawn, quiet, and despising that she has to resort to chicanery and fake fortune telling in order to be a part of the circus. Everything is fine, though, until Kat is found murdered by her own knives. Anna is given no time to grieve as Kat's ghost haunts her, begging Anna to find out who murdered her. But in the world of a circus, everyone stands out and could have been the person who murdered Kat.

The cover art is very representative of what you will find within - and very synergistic with the story. Anna spends most of the time being moody and hating on everything - each panel showing her isolation and lack of inclusion in the cosy circus world. A lot of the book is Anna's interactions with the various circus members - from the freaks to the ringleader. It's quite an interesting group and the author has a good time with them.

As Anna reluctantly tries to track down her sister's murderer, things begin to fall apart at the circus as supernatural elements become more and more prevalent. The book ends on a cliffhanger as things start to get very, very, weird in Anna's world. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Okay, I started reading this book did not expect much because somehow books with circus or carnaval theme never really made me in love. Same with this book, I did not love it, but I do enjoyed this graphic novel, but whyyyy it ended there?
I feel like it would be much better if they actually did not leave me hanging like that.

Overall, 3 stars.

I was intrigued by this graphic novel after reading the synopsis, so I decided to check it out. I immediately noticed the amazing artwork which of course helped me to enjoy the story even more. Plotwise, I think this first volume was quite strong, though I do wish there had been more. The cliffhanger at the end left me wanting more, but it also got me confused - like 'does this really end here? Am I not missing a couple of pages? What the heck?' and I am now kind of sad the second volume is nowhere near being released because I. NEED. IT.

★★★½⭐

"I was born at a sunrise, thirty years ago. My sister made her entrance to the world at dusk. The trend continued throughout our lives."

Kat and Anna are twin sisters but couldn't be more different. Kat is a social butterfly and a knife thrower and Anna is Madame Strange - not good with pepole unless giving them false propercies. One night Kat gets murdered and Anna has to deal with the loss, find out who killed her sister, and figure out what's going on with Kat's ghost.

Considering that it's a story about the death of the sister I thought the tone is going to be more serious but it was a really funny read. Kat's a hilarious ghost and I laughed a lot while reading this book so I'm glad it kept the melancholy at bay.

I liked the interactions between Kat and Anna. It's nice to read something about a bond between siblings for once and I haven't read that in a while.

At the beginning I didn't really like the art (especially how the faces are drawn) but I got used to it and I have to admit that it suits the atmosphere of a circus. Also, the colours used looked interesting.

The comic ended in a strange place? I'm not sure whether I haven't received the full thing (I've only got 115 pages) but it seemed cut too suddenly.

All in all, I would like to read more of that.

This was an interesting concept with some interesting characters, although it seemed to end rather abruptly and is 20 pages shorter than the page count here. I think my ARC copy might be missing some pages at the end because otherwise it was just a really abrupt cliffhanger. Still, the characters and world are interesting enough so I would like to read volume two when it comes out. The art style takes a little while to get used to but I liked it pretty well by the end of the volume.

I found this title be rather dark. Not my cup of tea.

This was a very interesting read for me and one of my first dives into graphic novels. I was extremely captivated by the gorgeous artwork. The circus really comes to life and the emotions of the characters were plain as day. The storyline was a typical mystery but one I enjoyed because I loved Anna's character so much. Because Anna is an engineer she's extremely logical and doesn't believe in the supernatural until her sister is murdered and comes back as a ghost. This throws off basically all Anna stands for and she has to accept the fact that she can not interact with spirits and is not in fact insane. I thoroughly appreciated this entire novel and I cannot wait for Vol. 2 to be released.