Review of The Circus of Horrors

We went to see The Circus of Horrors on the 16th February this year. I've been trying to see them for a couple years now and finally got this chance ...... I so wish I'd seen them earlier! This is the most awesome and amazing show I have ever seen in my life.

Think old-time freakshow mixed with Penn and Teller-ish type magic mixed with awesome, and original, rock music ...... and you still don't have any idea how brilliant this show is, unless you've seen it.

They normally do a different show every tour but we were lucky enough to catch the 4 Chapters of Hell tour which celebrates their 15th year and encompasses different parts of their past tours. We weren't allowed to take pictures but I have lifted some pictures from their website for your viewing pleasure. All pictures are copyrighted by The Circus of Horrors & The Respective Photographer.

Dok Haze is the main guy. He does most of the singing and plays a big part in the overall show.

Oh yeah and he also breathes FIRE!

Along with the fantastic music, you get:

Sword swallowing

Extremely bendy women

Fire Eating

People lifting things with body parts that are not their hands, including this awesome septum lift

Amazing talents including hula hooping with LOADS of hoops, amazing skating talents, fantastic whip tricks and this awesome wheel thing which actually amazed me

And then you've got this dude opening a bottle of beer ......

..... with his eye socket


The above images do not do the show justice. Visit the website and look through the pictures and videos there and, if you ever get the chance, go see this show!
Seriously, I could not give this enough praise. Highly entertaining and funny, although not for the faint hearted or (as the warning at the beginning of the show states) neds or chavs.

Go see it, you won't regret it.

Review: Halfway to the Grave

Halfway to the Grave (Huntress book 1) by Jeaniene Frost

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father – the one responsible for ruining her mother’s life. Then she’s captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unlikely partnership.

In exchange for help finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She’s amazed she doesn’t end up as his dinner – are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn’t have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side … and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

First off I liked the characters. Bones and Cat work well together and there's a nice chemistry between them. Cat's mother and grandparents are kinda off putting but they're not main characters so I can deal with that.

My main problem with this book is Bones' language. The author seems to overuse any words she sees to be English, sometimes, in my opinion, out of context. It bugs me to the point that I'm still wondering whether I want to read the next book or not.

Overall, it's a great book and a great read. As I said Bones' voice can get annoying after time but it wasn't annoying enough to get me to stop reading.

Review

Storm Glass ~ Maria V Snyder



With her unique magical abilities, Opal has always felt unsure of her place at Sitia's magic academy. But when the Stormdancer clan needs help, Opal's knowledge makes her the perfect choice - until the mission goes awry.

Pulling her powers in unfamiliar directions, Opal finds herself tapping into a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. Now Opal must deal with plotters out to destroy the Stormdancer clan, as well as a traitor in their midst.

With danger and deception rising around her, will Opal's untested abilities destroy her - or save them all?

This is the first book in Maria V Snyder's Glass series, although Opal appeared in the last in the Study series, this is her first book. We also meet some familiar names from the study series.
It follows Opal Cowan, a glassmaker with budding magical abilities. She's struggled through her first four years at the magic academy. When the Stormdancer clan need help she's called in as a glass specialist.

The characters work well together and the story flows well. The action isn't too heavy and is spread apart sufficiently to keep your interest.
I definitely recommend it. It can be carried on from the Study series or read as a standalone.