Blood Carousel
Blood Carousel
The Carnival Series Book 1
By A.I. Nasser
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
Stories involving anything carnie is something that I have always been drawn too. There is something delightfully uncomfortable about the whole thing that I just can’t put my finger on. This story is definitely no exception. This feels like the start to perhaps another three part series. The first book in each series often leave you with questions and a desire to get the answers to those questions. I only hope that Mr. Nasser continues this one.
It seems to me that all of the stories I have read, with the exception of Listen to me Now, are all interconnected. That connection I suspect are the Soul Collectors. It is my humble opinion, that we have met many. The most powerful was the one from the Kurtain Motel but I also believe that Copper Tibet and Ebenezer are also Soul Collectors creating their own versions of “soul farms”. Ebenezer’s being the creepiest.
There are some familiar names that come up in this one connecting this group of characters to both Melington and characters from the Kurtain Motel. I believe that Michaels son Jimmy is our Jimmy and his girlfriend Tara. We also hear the name Philip Tucker, whom I was hoping would show up but, unfortunately, that was not to be. I was wondering if Ebenezer was the Soul Collector that Tucker had trapped, and was anticipating this being the story of how that happened but I suppose that is for a later installment. I still wonder if this is what our author had in mind for a continuation. I would relish the chance to learn more about Tucker and his journey up to the point that we find him continuing that journey with Jimmy Frey. I think he’s an excellent character that people will root for. Hell I know that I was excited that someone like this came along. Seems to me that he is wise about much of what is happening and I want to know what that is. After all Ebenezer does hint that what is going on is part of a much bigger picture, and base on what we have devoured so far I am inclined to believe him.
The more twisted part of me actually really likes Ebenezer. He keeps his end of deals, is polite, cordial, and operates on a more subtle level than his other fellow Soul Collectors. The rest of them have been slimy, and greedy dicks… but not this one. He operates quite a bit differently.
Our protagonists in this one are somewhat disappointing, in that, regardless of how much they went through as kids; how much information they know, and even how much they suspect. Most of them still ran in half-cocked following their emotions rather than their minds. Michael and Amanda are the worst offenders of this. The fact that Amanda even takes stupidity one step further and makes a deal after Michael is killed is just unfathomable. Bitch gets herself made into a Keeper. Dumbass.
Despite being let down by these two characters I do hope that Mr. Nasser continues this line of storytelling. I find the concept of the Soul Collectors, and the individuals that can travel the veil fascinating! It would make me very sad to see it just fade away into the shadows especially considering that we just had the pleaser of meeting Mr. Ebenezer Cane. What a tender morsel of a character Ghoulies.
