Review: Sleight by Jennifer Sommersby

Title: Sleight

Author: Jennifer Sommersby 

Publisher: Sky Pony Press

Publishing Date: April 24th, 2018

Pages: 432
Audio Length: N/A

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy

Series: Avra-K

Source: ARC

 

Delia smiles at the shadow only she sees—
Something slams into her. The lyra whirls like a half-dollar spinning on its edge.
My mother is thrown backward.
And she falls.
Growing up in the Cinzio Traveling Players Company, Genevieve Flannery is accustomed to a life most teenagers could never imagine: daily workouts of extravagant acrobatics; an extended family of clowns; wild animals for pets; and her mother, Delia, whose mind has always been tortured by visions—but whose love Geni never questions. In a world of performers who astonish and amaze on a daily basis, Delia’s ghostly hallucinations never seemed all that strange . . . until the evening Geni and her mother are performing an aerial routine they’ve done hundreds of times, and Delia falls to her death.
That night, a dark curtain in Geni’s life opens. Everything has changed.
Still reeling from the tragedy, the Cinzio Traveling Players are also adjusting to the circus’s new owner: a generous, mysterious man whose connection to the circus—Geni suspects—has a dark and dangerous history. And suddenly Geni is stumbling into a new reality of her own, her life interrupted daily by the terrors only Delia used to be able to see.
As the visions around her grow stronger, Geni isn’t sure who she can trust. Even worse, she’s starting to question whether she can trust her own mind.

What made me pick this book up: 

I saw it on either Netgalley or Edelweiss and the cover immediately caught my attention.

What did I like about the cover: 

Everything. Literally. It looks like an old circus poster. I would totally have this hanging up in my room. The colors are beautiful.

What made me read this book: 

I got it as an ARC to review. The synopsis sounded great and like I said, the cover is amazing.

What did I like the most: 

I love the story of it. It's all very unique.

I love reading about being in the circus, and circus life. Anything that has the circus in it is good for me. 

I'm so jealous of her being able to interact with not only elephants but also tigers

The characters are well written, I really like Henry. He's my favorite. And Baby, I loved Baby. All he wanted to do was protect Geni. 

What didn't I like: 

I can't really put my finger on anything I didn't like. The story was good and the characters were good, but for some reason it just wasn't spectacular to me. I feel like it could have been so much more that grabbed me.

Also it ends in a cliffhanger. Just a heads up.

Would I read the rest of the series/more from this author?
Hmm, I'm not sure. I think I would read more.

Overall it was a well written book with a unique story. 

“Later, in the million times I replay the details of this night, I will remember - and hate myself for not noticing - how Delia's smile didn't reach her eyes. She was worried, and I missed it.
But in the moment, cues must be met.
The circus stops for no one.” 
― Jennifer Sommersby, Sleight

I am a writer, copy/line editor, bibliophile, and mom of four living in the Great White North.

Represented by Victoria Doherty Munro at Writers House.
Romantic comedies under Eliza Gordon.
My Web site: www.jennsommersby.comTwitter: @JennSommersby

Facebook Page: Jennifer Sommersby