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Inheritance
Inheritance
Will an ancient gift determine her future? A thrilling novel based around the myth of the Cirkulatti, circus performers with extraordinary gifts... 13+ a person descended from circus performers of the ancient world, rumoured to have supernatural gifts... tallulah has always known she was different. She can communicate without speaking, a secret she shares only with her childhood nanny, Irena, who warns tallulah that gifts like hers are not always welcome. When tallulah begins training at the prestigious Cirque d'Avenir school, it soon becomes clear the troupe is not all that it seems. As tallulah is drawn deeper into a world of dark, ancient powers and centuries-old greed, she must call on the skills Irena taught her - and on the protection of the mysterious cuff Irena gave her for safekeeping. But what is the secret of the power the cuff holds? And why are men willing to die to possess it? tallulah always knew her gift was dangerous... But will it stop her from accepting her true inheritance?
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Forrest
8 books10 followersLisa Forrest is an author, TV and radio broadcaster and Olympian.
Her first career, as a teenager, was swimming backstroke for Australia. In 1978 when she was 14 she won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada; she captained the women's swim team to the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow; and in 1982 won gold medals at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia.
For almost twenty years she worked as a TV and radio journalist/presenter before writing her first novel in 2000, Making the Most of It, a coming-of-age story loosely based on her own teenage experiences:
Forrest has so many arrows in her quiver it seems almost obscene she should add novelist to the CV. Yet she has done it very well. This story for teenagers ...is well crafted, deftly sketched and plotted with pace and panache.
Herald Sun
Lisa Forrest’s delightful and disarming debut novel ... is told in Forrest’s frank style, which eschews pathos and any attempt to make this either a heroic or cautionary tale.
The Australian Review of Books
Since then Lisa has written four books, including djmAx, about a teenage girl who wants to be a DJ and the grandfather who has raised her:
DJ Max is another great book for young adults. It captures the vibrancy of youth, the need to break free into new territory while still having support of the ‘oldies’. Filled with delicious details and intriguing subplots, DJ Max dances with life, a sure-fire page-turner.
Bella’s Books For Older Readers and Young Adults
... and Boycott: Australia's Controversial Road to the 1980 Olympics, a non-fiction account of the months leading up to the Moscow Games when the Federal Government, sections of the media and, unfortunately, members of the public, used all manner of intimidation in their attempts to force Australian athletes to boycott the Olympic Games
Forrest’s book is enlightening ... This is memoir, growing-up diary, elite insights and administrative history meeting sport- in-change and generation gap ... The best sections are marvelous ... Above all, she demonstrates that sport is rarely divorced from the wider world, and always deserves serious attention.
Australian Book Review
Forrest’s account of the times is remarkable and moving. Deftly weaving her own autobiography through these major machinations she has produced a powerfully honest book ... amazing to learn that it took until the Sydney Olympics for many of the rifts in Australian sport to finally heal.
Inside Sport
If only every book about sport was like this. Literate, well-researched, a careful mixture of personal anecdote and commentary from a wide collection of interviews.
Forrest is a very good journalist ... she adopts a wonderfully even handed approach. The story gets along at a page-turning clip and Forrest’s style is detailed and engaging.
Sydney Morning Herald
After an absence of some ten years Lisa has returned to YA fiction for Inheritance, a fantasy novel about an ancient mythical circus troupe called the Cirkulatti. She was inspired by her niece Indi, a circus girl in Wollongong, south of Sydney:
Lisa Forrest has created a butt-kicking heroine and a world of rich traditons, epic destinies and, of course, dark and closely guarded secrets.
Don't miss this action-packed new fantasy series!
Kinokuniya Books, Sydney
Lisa's most recent novel is, Glide - taking the panic out of modern living, was published in April 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic took effect around the world. She lives in Sydney with her husband, Jess. Their son, Dex, has just moved out of home to go to university which means Lisa has plenty of time to get to work on her next novel - whatever that may be!
Her first career, as a teenager, was swimming backstroke for Australia. In 1978 when she was 14 she won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada; she captained the women's swim team to the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow; and in 1982 won gold medals at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia.
For almost twenty years she worked as a TV and radio journalist/presenter before writing her first novel in 2000, Making the Most of It, a coming-of-age story loosely based on her own teenage experiences:
Forrest has so many arrows in her quiver it seems almost obscene she should add novelist to the CV. Yet she has done it very well. This story for teenagers ...is well crafted, deftly sketched and plotted with pace and panache.
Herald Sun
Lisa Forrest’s delightful and disarming debut novel ... is told in Forrest’s frank style, which eschews pathos and any attempt to make this either a heroic or cautionary tale.
The Australian Review of Books
Since then Lisa has written four books, including djmAx, about a teenage girl who wants to be a DJ and the grandfather who has raised her:
DJ Max is another great book for young adults. It captures the vibrancy of youth, the need to break free into new territory while still having support of the ‘oldies’. Filled with delicious details and intriguing subplots, DJ Max dances with life, a sure-fire page-turner.
Bella’s Books For Older Readers and Young Adults
... and Boycott: Australia's Controversial Road to the 1980 Olympics, a non-fiction account of the months leading up to the Moscow Games when the Federal Government, sections of the media and, unfortunately, members of the public, used all manner of intimidation in their attempts to force Australian athletes to boycott the Olympic Games
Forrest’s book is enlightening ... This is memoir, growing-up diary, elite insights and administrative history meeting sport- in-change and generation gap ... The best sections are marvelous ... Above all, she demonstrates that sport is rarely divorced from the wider world, and always deserves serious attention.
Australian Book Review
Forrest’s account of the times is remarkable and moving. Deftly weaving her own autobiography through these major machinations she has produced a powerfully honest book ... amazing to learn that it took until the Sydney Olympics for many of the rifts in Australian sport to finally heal.
Inside Sport
If only every book about sport was like this. Literate, well-researched, a careful mixture of personal anecdote and commentary from a wide collection of interviews.
Forrest is a very good journalist ... she adopts a wonderfully even handed approach. The story gets along at a page-turning clip and Forrest’s style is detailed and engaging.
Sydney Morning Herald
After an absence of some ten years Lisa has returned to YA fiction for Inheritance, a fantasy novel about an ancient mythical circus troupe called the Cirkulatti. She was inspired by her niece Indi, a circus girl in Wollongong, south of Sydney:
Lisa Forrest has created a butt-kicking heroine and a world of rich traditons, epic destinies and, of course, dark and closely guarded secrets.
Don't miss this action-packed new fantasy series!
Kinokuniya Books, Sydney
Lisa's most recent novel is, Glide - taking the panic out of modern living, was published in April 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic took effect around the world. She lives in Sydney with her husband, Jess. Their son, Dex, has just moved out of home to go to university which means Lisa has plenty of time to get to work on her next novel - whatever that may be!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 28, 2013
This review has been posted on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
Sometimes, books can be deceiving with their pretty covers, interesting blurbs and well written beginnings. Inheritance was one of those books, turning out to be all style and no substance.
It starts off with Tallulah, a girl with telepathic powers, wanting to fit in with others like herself. She joins circus camp at the Cirque d’Avenir, who are rumoured to be descendants of the Cirkulatti, a mystical circus troupe who all had supernatural powers. A promosing start, unfortunately the rest of the book goes off on a tangent.
It was confusing, inconsistent and hard to follow. We are led to believe that we were to learn about Tallulah’s powers and fitting in, instead we’re thrown into a whirlwind of events with Tallulah trying to protect a cuff her nanny gave her to wanting to be this “eminence” of the Cirkulatti. With so many competing objectives and a general lack of descriptions and detail, I have no idea what the author was trying to do, and found myself re-reading sections of the book.
First, we’re told by Marie a veteran at the school to keep the magical powers under wraps because not all the students know about the Cirkulatti. And the next thing you know, Marie is addressing everyone at camp about their magical powers, despite what she just told us. There’s no bridging gap between how one thing led to the other. We’re just meant to assume how things happened, and that makes it really frustrating.
I liked the historical relevance of the Cirkulatti and the flashbacks that Tallulah had about being Theodora, the eminence of the Cirkulatti. But with poor explanations and no sort of relevance to the past, except to make Tallulah believe that she’s the chosen one.
Tallulah herself began to really grate on the nerves after a while. She gets really arrogant at the end with her obsession to be ‘special’ and the chosen eminence. She’s stubborn without a reason to be and completely disregards what other people say. The other characters too were sort of vague in a way as we’re not really given any descriptions about them, and I found it annoying how some of them were referred to by their nicknames and other times, their full name.
The ending was also really random but at that point, I didn’t really care anymore. For some reason the kids found themselves in Europe, hopping on a train to find Tallulah’s missing nanna, when we didn’t get any details for their flight to Europe. Completely out of nowhere, Tallulah summons lightning bolts that she hasn’t been able to do all book. And a villain pops up out of nowhere.
It’s kind of sad that I didn’t love this book, because it’s set in Australia and by an Australian author. Unfortunately, if you are looking for an exciting paranormal read, I would look elsewhere. (The cover is pretty though. So I left one star on for that).
I received this book from Harper Collins Australia in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this opportunity!
Sometimes, books can be deceiving with their pretty covers, interesting blurbs and well written beginnings. Inheritance was one of those books, turning out to be all style and no substance.
It starts off with Tallulah, a girl with telepathic powers, wanting to fit in with others like herself. She joins circus camp at the Cirque d’Avenir, who are rumoured to be descendants of the Cirkulatti, a mystical circus troupe who all had supernatural powers. A promosing start, unfortunately the rest of the book goes off on a tangent.
It was confusing, inconsistent and hard to follow. We are led to believe that we were to learn about Tallulah’s powers and fitting in, instead we’re thrown into a whirlwind of events with Tallulah trying to protect a cuff her nanny gave her to wanting to be this “eminence” of the Cirkulatti. With so many competing objectives and a general lack of descriptions and detail, I have no idea what the author was trying to do, and found myself re-reading sections of the book.
First, we’re told by Marie a veteran at the school to keep the magical powers under wraps because not all the students know about the Cirkulatti. And the next thing you know, Marie is addressing everyone at camp about their magical powers, despite what she just told us. There’s no bridging gap between how one thing led to the other. We’re just meant to assume how things happened, and that makes it really frustrating.
I liked the historical relevance of the Cirkulatti and the flashbacks that Tallulah had about being Theodora, the eminence of the Cirkulatti. But with poor explanations and no sort of relevance to the past, except to make Tallulah believe that she’s the chosen one.
Tallulah herself began to really grate on the nerves after a while. She gets really arrogant at the end with her obsession to be ‘special’ and the chosen eminence. She’s stubborn without a reason to be and completely disregards what other people say. The other characters too were sort of vague in a way as we’re not really given any descriptions about them, and I found it annoying how some of them were referred to by their nicknames and other times, their full name.
The ending was also really random but at that point, I didn’t really care anymore. For some reason the kids found themselves in Europe, hopping on a train to find Tallulah’s missing nanna, when we didn’t get any details for their flight to Europe. Completely out of nowhere, Tallulah summons lightning bolts that she hasn’t been able to do all book. And a villain pops up out of nowhere.
It’s kind of sad that I didn’t love this book, because it’s set in Australia and by an Australian author. Unfortunately, if you are looking for an exciting paranormal read, I would look elsewhere. (The cover is pretty though. So I left one star on for that).
I received this book from Harper Collins Australia in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this opportunity!
to-read-own
April 5, 2016I have three publishers that tend to lure me into reading their pretties over and over again.
Harlequin is hit and miss with me. They're primarily a romance publisher and I'm not particularly into romance, but it's hard to avoid in YA books. They also publish my favourite writer.
Penguin are also hit and miss. I'll either love their YA books or feel 'meh' about them.
But HarperCollins? HarperCollins have the highest consistent ratings from me.
Inheritance is published by HarperCollins.
I hope I love it.
Harlequin is hit and miss with me. They're primarily a romance publisher and I'm not particularly into romance, but it's hard to avoid in YA books. They also publish my favourite writer.
Penguin are also hit and miss. I'll either love their YA books or feel 'meh' about them.
But HarperCollins? HarperCollins have the highest consistent ratings from me.
Inheritance is published by HarperCollins.
I hope I love it.
May 13, 2013
I loved it! I got drawn in by the beautiful cover, and the book didn't disappoint. Though I am a bit biased because I'm an ex gymnast who is now starting circus classes, so I loved all the circus training in the book, particularly the silks.
The whole ancient flashbacks and chanting got a bit much sometimes, but other than that it was well written and had great relationship and character development. I still think its likely Tallulah will ultimately end up with Sasha though. I feel a little sorry for any dyslexic people trying to read this book as it was hard enough for me sometimes with the name choices of Sasha and Saskia for the siblings.
When is the next book out? I can't wait! Plus it's good to finally have some decent YA books written from Australia. I smiled when I read "mum" not "mom".
The whole ancient flashbacks and chanting got a bit much sometimes, but other than that it was well written and had great relationship and character development. I still think its likely Tallulah will ultimately end up with Sasha though. I feel a little sorry for any dyslexic people trying to read this book as it was hard enough for me sometimes with the name choices of Sasha and Saskia for the siblings.
When is the next book out? I can't wait! Plus it's good to finally have some decent YA books written from Australia. I smiled when I read "mum" not "mom".
May 18, 2013
Inheritance is a bright flash of inspiration that rises far above the current crop of Vampires, Werewolves etc that have dominated Young Adult fiction in recent years.
The author has given an interesting, contemporary twist to the childhood dream of running away with the circus to make it attractive to this current generation of originality-starved teens.
Mix together a modern story with a bit of history - Add in some suspicious characters, a heroine with plenty of gumption, some strange powers - shake it around with plenty of acrobatics and cool moves and you have a fail safe recipe for a highly addictive page-turner.
This is the kind of book that will be stuck to your kids hands tighter than an iPhone.
Can't wait for the next one!!
The author has given an interesting, contemporary twist to the childhood dream of running away with the circus to make it attractive to this current generation of originality-starved teens.
Mix together a modern story with a bit of history - Add in some suspicious characters, a heroine with plenty of gumption, some strange powers - shake it around with plenty of acrobatics and cool moves and you have a fail safe recipe for a highly addictive page-turner.
This is the kind of book that will be stuck to your kids hands tighter than an iPhone.
Can't wait for the next one!!
July 12, 2015
ARC Review
Hmm I'm not sure how I felt about this one. The premise is really interesting, but maybe it was too much going on. I don't know at this point, I'll have to think about it. I didn't dislike it though.
Hmm I'm not sure how I felt about this one. The premise is really interesting, but maybe it was too much going on. I don't know at this point, I'll have to think about it. I didn't dislike it though.
June 19, 2013
I wanted to like this book, because it was an Australian author but i got maybe halfway through and was unhappy with the plot and poorly developed characters. Firstly the plot was way too random and far-fetched a circus for teenagers, i can deal with. People with magical powers, i can deal with. A circus for teenagers with supernatural powers, not so much... Also there was just generally a lack of detail and cohesive-ness. It was really cliched and easy to guess the ending, and the characters were all very predictable. Heroine who ends up being "superior" to her friends becuase of her powers, genetics, etc., enemy turned best friend (x2) and best friend turned arch-nemesis. She also felt the need to add the romancey element (no YA novel would be complete with out it) but Love Interest #1 was a circus instructor who appears hates on the main character and just can't make up his mind as to whether or not he should declare his undying feelings for her. Love Interest #2 was just a washy, quintessential male character who is SUPER in touch with his feelings.
Things I did like... well Tallulah (the main character) was a strong and individual female character who was not horribly dependent on the males in her life. Finally! Over the course of the book she becomes more confident and mature. I was very impressed with her character building as she was properly fleshed out and was therefore much more relatable.
Things I did like... well Tallulah (the main character) was a strong and individual female character who was not horribly dependent on the males in her life. Finally! Over the course of the book she becomes more confident and mature. I was very impressed with her character building as she was properly fleshed out and was therefore much more relatable.
July 2, 2013
Okay, wow.
I picked this up in Kinokuniya for two reasons - I recognized Lisa Forrest's name and the shiny 'signed by author' sticker on the cover caught my eye (pro-tip for Kinokuniya - they often get copies signed by visiting authors. Definitely keep an eye out!)
This is incredible - amazingly original and multi layered. A supernatural/magical saga set in Australia? XD
Despite those few things, this is an amazing idea and an amazing start to what I believe is going to be an incredible, mind-blowing series that explores circus history and mythology. I am totally psyched for the next book.
This is the supernatural/magic YA we want AND deserve <3
I picked this up in Kinokuniya for two reasons - I recognized Lisa Forrest's name and the shiny 'signed by author' sticker on the cover caught my eye (pro-tip for Kinokuniya - they often get copies signed by visiting authors. Definitely keep an eye out!)
This is incredible - amazingly original and multi layered. A supernatural/magical saga set in Australia? XD
Despite those few things, this is an amazing idea and an amazing start to what I believe is going to be an incredible, mind-blowing series that explores circus history and mythology. I am totally psyched for the next book.
This is the supernatural/magic YA we want AND deserve <3
May 19, 2013
From the very beginning I loved Inheritance. I started reading from the day I bought it, and couldn't put it down from then on. In the end, I managed to finish within a short amount of time, and I wanted to more. When I did manage to close the book to go to sleep, I found myself wanting to turn the light back on to continue reading.
The world Tallulah lives in in is one I wouldn't mind being involved with. I was particularly interested in the workouts, and as I read, I found myself feeling tired along with the characters. To see the progression of Tallulah through the book is interesting, and to follow her through her journey as she makes mistakes and uncovers secrets keeps you reading.
All in all, the characters- both main and side, are developed excellently and the plot is one I haven't seen before, therefore it hasn't been overdone by others. The book itself is well put together and I enjoyed every moment of it. Recommended for all, and especially those who enjoy the circus.
The world Tallulah lives in in is one I wouldn't mind being involved with. I was particularly interested in the workouts, and as I read, I found myself feeling tired along with the characters. To see the progression of Tallulah through the book is interesting, and to follow her through her journey as she makes mistakes and uncovers secrets keeps you reading.
All in all, the characters- both main and side, are developed excellently and the plot is one I haven't seen before, therefore it hasn't been overdone by others. The book itself is well put together and I enjoyed every moment of it. Recommended for all, and especially those who enjoy the circus.
July 18, 2013
I'm not quite sure what I think of Inheritance. It was certainly an interesting concept of the circus performers who have extra 'performing abilities'. The characters were okay, but I'm not sure how well it all hung together. Also, I when I'd finished, I had to re-read the last couple of pages before I realised that there was going to be a sequel.
Interesting, and certainly aimed at teen girls.
Interesting, and certainly aimed at teen girls.
April 3, 2016
Bravo for a unique story! I loved the intertwining of history ; real and reimagined. The Circulatti are fascinating & I definitely look forward to further adventures. The characters are well-written individuals with realistic flaws. The only thing I really didn't care for was the name of the " dark side" group...Cirknero...just doesn't have the same ring as the Circulatti. Minor quibble with a great story. Thanks again to Liz Hollendonner for sharing her " shinies" : ) )
August 23, 2013
I liked the idea, but I kept feeling as if I had missed parts of the plot and it all seemed rather confused.
September 6, 2019
This book started off well and I found the premise interesting. I haven't read much fiction based in Australia, so that was a fun new element for me. The idea that the heart of circus performers is a group of people who actually have special abilities sounded really cool. Now there's a training school for them!
The character development was pretty good with a lot of the secondary characters also being really well developed.
Near the end I really fizzled out though. The first problem was that the villain wasn't even introduced until 76% and that was just a short one page dream where his name is mentioned. We don't actually meet him until around 87% and his motive is . . . unclear?
We have the Cirkulatti--the magical circus family--only they apparently aren't really doing their thing anymore. So some members decided to start a Circus with a different name with no real clear purpose stated. They are like, "Yeah, we're just going to exclude two or three "talents" of the Circulatti family for reasons that make no sense(they're like oh we wanted to start out small and instead of limiting numbers we just decided to exclude people from these talents)." And they're also not looking for an eminence which is traditional Cirkulatti procedure. Yet there's a TON of eminence talk for something they're supposedly not going to get.
Sasha also apparently hates "Lu" (our MC) but really there's no reason. No reason given, and no reason that we can see. For the most part this is overlooked and considering he's the one in charge of classes you'd THINK his superiors would call him out. If you're going to put a KID in charge of something like this can he at least be mature enough to handle the position. And when he's NOT doing his job right he should be called in for correction. Instead he's left to run rampant.
Then there's Saskia. Did not get that at all. She was a very confusing character. Some characters declare she's bad and is sucking all good things out of people, but it's hard to SEE that. It never seems to hit Lu and since she's the pov character we're left relying on the word of the other characters. There's about two incidents where someone isn't feeling right and you think maybe there's something to it. But it's also so inconsistent and again it's just someone else not feeling good that you really can't say for sure.
After awhile the whole book just started to feel pointless. If it'd been a story of people training and there was no villain, that would be okay. But to have there be a villain that isn't even shown until THAT late in a book was frustrating. And it was like, "what's the point of this new circus?" "Why are they changing from the normal cirkulatti pattern?" "What's the motive for the villain?" "Why were they going to gather in Europe anyway?"
Unfortunately despite the premise and nicely rounded cast, there was too little plot to the book and it dragged after awhile. There was very little circus or talent training. Mostly the training was conditioning. Lu was very much a doormat and had to be dragged to do just about anything. She didn't stand up for herself and really had to be coerced to go on the "big mission" at the end of the book. Reading this six years after it came out and seeing no indication of a second book also leaves me thinking there's never going to be a plot resolution and despite not ending on a cliffhanger this is definitely left mid-story.
The character development was pretty good with a lot of the secondary characters also being really well developed.
Near the end I really fizzled out though. The first problem was that the villain wasn't even introduced until 76% and that was just a short one page dream where his name is mentioned. We don't actually meet him until around 87% and his motive is . . . unclear?
We have the Cirkulatti--the magical circus family--only they apparently aren't really doing their thing anymore. So some members decided to start a Circus with a different name with no real clear purpose stated. They are like, "Yeah, we're just going to exclude two or three "talents" of the Circulatti family for reasons that make no sense(they're like oh we wanted to start out small and instead of limiting numbers we just decided to exclude people from these talents)." And they're also not looking for an eminence which is traditional Cirkulatti procedure. Yet there's a TON of eminence talk for something they're supposedly not going to get.
Sasha also apparently hates "Lu" (our MC) but really there's no reason. No reason given, and no reason that we can see. For the most part this is overlooked and considering he's the one in charge of classes you'd THINK his superiors would call him out. If you're going to put a KID in charge of something like this can he at least be mature enough to handle the position. And when he's NOT doing his job right he should be called in for correction. Instead he's left to run rampant.
Then there's Saskia. Did not get that at all. She was a very confusing character. Some characters declare she's bad and is sucking all good things out of people, but it's hard to SEE that. It never seems to hit Lu and since she's the pov character we're left relying on the word of the other characters. There's about two incidents where someone isn't feeling right and you think maybe there's something to it. But it's also so inconsistent and again it's just someone else not feeling good that you really can't say for sure.
After awhile the whole book just started to feel pointless. If it'd been a story of people training and there was no villain, that would be okay. But to have there be a villain that isn't even shown until THAT late in a book was frustrating. And it was like, "what's the point of this new circus?" "Why are they changing from the normal cirkulatti pattern?" "What's the motive for the villain?" "Why were they going to gather in Europe anyway?"
Unfortunately despite the premise and nicely rounded cast, there was too little plot to the book and it dragged after awhile. There was very little circus or talent training. Mostly the training was conditioning. Lu was very much a doormat and had to be dragged to do just about anything. She didn't stand up for herself and really had to be coerced to go on the "big mission" at the end of the book. Reading this six years after it came out and seeing no indication of a second book also leaves me thinking there's never going to be a plot resolution and despite not ending on a cliffhanger this is definitely left mid-story.
February 17, 2020
I honestly really loved this book.
There wasn’t much I could find fault with. It was a fun and interesting story that I feel most ya readers would be able to enjoy in some way.
The central themes of family and self acceptance I found to be elegantly done in a not so preachy way which I find refreshing.
Whilst there is a love interest of sorts I feel given the age demographic of readers and if the protagonist as well (15) not having one at all would have been unrealistic. Also a tad dull. Not having a love interest that played a crucial role (saviour role) in this book was a good choice, both for the story itself and for the furthering of the self acceptance theme.
Over all I’m solidly impressed. For what it is, it is a very good book
There wasn’t much I could find fault with. It was a fun and interesting story that I feel most ya readers would be able to enjoy in some way.
The central themes of family and self acceptance I found to be elegantly done in a not so preachy way which I find refreshing.
Whilst there is a love interest of sorts I feel given the age demographic of readers and if the protagonist as well (15) not having one at all would have been unrealistic. Also a tad dull. Not having a love interest that played a crucial role (saviour role) in this book was a good choice, both for the story itself and for the furthering of the self acceptance theme.
Over all I’m solidly impressed. For what it is, it is a very good book
March 3, 2018
This is the best best book I have read for a long time. I love the story telling and kept me reading to the end and wanting more. Really want to read the sequel!
August 1, 2020
Interesting book. Genuinely want a series to see where she ends up.
October 12, 2014
Thank you to Harper Collins Australia for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for an honest review
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Inheritance is the first book in Lisa Forrest’s Inheritance series and is a debut novel that explores ancient circus performers like never before in this unique and fresh tale!
I have to be honest; I was really excited to read this novel. I’m always excited to read new Aussie fiction, especially when the novel is set in Australia and Inheritance very much caught my attention the moment I read about its unique concept. Unfortunately, Inheritance didn’t completely live up to my expectations, although I will consider reading the next instalment to see how Forest continues to develop the story.
Inheritance follows seventeen year old Tallulah, a young woman who has always known she was different. When Tallulah begins training at the esteemed Cirque d’Avenir, a school for budding circus performers and artists, Tallulah discovers that the abilities and secrets she has always shared with her nanny Irena mark her as something special, a Cirkulatti. Drawn into dangerous Cirkulatti politics and a centuries old mystery, Tallulah slowly discovers that her abilities set her apart from even the Cirkulatti and mean she’s even more different than she ever imagined.
I think the concept within Inheritance is absolutely sensational. I’ve never seen such manner of circus performers explored and linked in the way Lisa Forrest manages to do so in Inheritance. And yet I don’t think it met the potential it displayed when I first began the book. I would have liked to spend a little more time understand all the different performers; clowns, strongmen, flamethrowers and more, rather than focuses so much on Tallulah’s life which in my eyes paled in comparison to the possibilities of the circus folk.
Overall I didn’t mind Tallulah as the main character, but where were times when I struggled to connect with her too. I understand Forrest wrote Tallulah’s character with the intention of her being powerful and having a huge importance to the Cirkulatti that we still don’t yet understand, but sometimes this came across as too obvious and I felt it was thrown in my face repeatedly when it wasn’t necessary.
I liked the different characters in this book and how they form different friendships with Tallulah. I would have liked to have seen more of certain individuals as they really would have complimented the story more. I was a bit perplexed by Tallulah’s love interests, as I thought one was too obvious and the other almost non-existent, although it was clear Forrest wanted to display a connection between Tallulah and this certain guy.
Inheritance is a very detailed book and races towards a climactic ending that sees betrayals come to light by some characters you’re simply not expecting. A solid start to a new series but an Aussie author; I may just be persuaded to pick up the second book to see what happens next!
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Inheritance is the first book in Lisa Forrest’s Inheritance series and is a debut novel that explores ancient circus performers like never before in this unique and fresh tale!
I have to be honest; I was really excited to read this novel. I’m always excited to read new Aussie fiction, especially when the novel is set in Australia and Inheritance very much caught my attention the moment I read about its unique concept. Unfortunately, Inheritance didn’t completely live up to my expectations, although I will consider reading the next instalment to see how Forest continues to develop the story.
Inheritance follows seventeen year old Tallulah, a young woman who has always known she was different. When Tallulah begins training at the esteemed Cirque d’Avenir, a school for budding circus performers and artists, Tallulah discovers that the abilities and secrets she has always shared with her nanny Irena mark her as something special, a Cirkulatti. Drawn into dangerous Cirkulatti politics and a centuries old mystery, Tallulah slowly discovers that her abilities set her apart from even the Cirkulatti and mean she’s even more different than she ever imagined.
I think the concept within Inheritance is absolutely sensational. I’ve never seen such manner of circus performers explored and linked in the way Lisa Forrest manages to do so in Inheritance. And yet I don’t think it met the potential it displayed when I first began the book. I would have liked to spend a little more time understand all the different performers; clowns, strongmen, flamethrowers and more, rather than focuses so much on Tallulah’s life which in my eyes paled in comparison to the possibilities of the circus folk.
Overall I didn’t mind Tallulah as the main character, but where were times when I struggled to connect with her too. I understand Forrest wrote Tallulah’s character with the intention of her being powerful and having a huge importance to the Cirkulatti that we still don’t yet understand, but sometimes this came across as too obvious and I felt it was thrown in my face repeatedly when it wasn’t necessary.
I liked the different characters in this book and how they form different friendships with Tallulah. I would have liked to have seen more of certain individuals as they really would have complimented the story more. I was a bit perplexed by Tallulah’s love interests, as I thought one was too obvious and the other almost non-existent, although it was clear Forrest wanted to display a connection between Tallulah and this certain guy.
Inheritance is a very detailed book and races towards a climactic ending that sees betrayals come to light by some characters you’re simply not expecting. A solid start to a new series but an Aussie author; I may just be persuaded to pick up the second book to see what happens next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2018
A disappointing book.
All style no substance and very confusing.
Like why name two opposing force Circulatti and Cirknero?
And two siblings Sasha and saskia?
I left one star for the cover.
One star for being set in Australia.
All style no substance and very confusing.
Like why name two opposing force Circulatti and Cirknero?
And two siblings Sasha and saskia?
I left one star for the cover.
One star for being set in Australia.
August 23, 2016
(I got an free ARC of this book through a program at my local bookstore, so thanks publishers for providing it to them)
4.5 stars. It was really good. I liked the Cirkulatti, and how Tallulah had flashbacks to ancient Rome and the eminence there. I can't wait to read the next book!
EDIT: 8/23/16
I read this book a while ago, but as I was looking through the files on my computer, I found a more in-depth review I wrote. Here it is:
Inheritance, written by Lisa Forrest, is about Tallulah Thomson, an aspiring circus performer. She has the supernatural gift of telepathy. When she trains at Cirque d’ Avenir, a prestigious circus school, she finds others with gifts such as telekinesis, the ability to move objects with the mind, and pyrokinesis, the ability to control fire. Tallulah also has a cuff that shows her visions of an eminence and Ancient Rome.
I really enjoyed Inheritance. The circus camp was quite interesting, and learning about the gifts of Tallulah and her friends such as Adelaide and Mai, was fun. I loved the visions of Ancient Rome and Empress Theodora, where the Cirkulatti (defined by the Inheritance as “a person descended from circus performers of the ancient world, rumored to have supernatural gifts…”) and their enemies fight one another with their gifts. I won’t elaborate on this because I don’t want to spoil anything, but Tallulah is a butt-kicking badass! Tallulah grew a lot during the book. Her character was very loyal, and I liked that. She was a believable character, with flaws and insecurities, while still being a strong female lead.
I liked the circus training, supernatural elements, and mystery in Inheritance. Those parts were really good. However, I didn’t like the romance. It was an element of the story that, while necessary for character and plot development, annoyed me. I liked one of the boys better than the other, and Tallulah seemed kind of blind to me. However, everything else was great.
Overall, I would rate Inheritance 4 stars. It is an excellent addition to the teen fantasy genre, and I can’t wait to read the next book! Sadly, I’ll have to wait until 2016.
4.5 stars. It was really good. I liked the Cirkulatti, and how Tallulah had flashbacks to ancient Rome and the eminence there. I can't wait to read the next book!
EDIT: 8/23/16
I read this book a while ago, but as I was looking through the files on my computer, I found a more in-depth review I wrote. Here it is:
Inheritance, written by Lisa Forrest, is about Tallulah Thomson, an aspiring circus performer. She has the supernatural gift of telepathy. When she trains at Cirque d’ Avenir, a prestigious circus school, she finds others with gifts such as telekinesis, the ability to move objects with the mind, and pyrokinesis, the ability to control fire. Tallulah also has a cuff that shows her visions of an eminence and Ancient Rome.
I really enjoyed Inheritance. The circus camp was quite interesting, and learning about the gifts of Tallulah and her friends such as Adelaide and Mai, was fun. I loved the visions of Ancient Rome and Empress Theodora, where the Cirkulatti (defined by the Inheritance as “a person descended from circus performers of the ancient world, rumored to have supernatural gifts…”) and their enemies fight one another with their gifts. I won’t elaborate on this because I don’t want to spoil anything, but Tallulah is a butt-kicking badass! Tallulah grew a lot during the book. Her character was very loyal, and I liked that. She was a believable character, with flaws and insecurities, while still being a strong female lead.
I liked the circus training, supernatural elements, and mystery in Inheritance. Those parts were really good. However, I didn’t like the romance. It was an element of the story that, while necessary for character and plot development, annoyed me. I liked one of the boys better than the other, and Tallulah seemed kind of blind to me. However, everything else was great.
Overall, I would rate Inheritance 4 stars. It is an excellent addition to the teen fantasy genre, and I can’t wait to read the next book! Sadly, I’ll have to wait until 2016.
November 20, 2016
I quite enjoyed this book, though it does have some serious flaws, especially as it unravels at the end... But that being said, it was a fun read and I'm disappointed that there isn't another one in the series. (Well, it's been like a year, so I suppose the next one could be on its way...). I'm usually so far behind in my reading of stuff that there are several books out before I get to a series.
So- the good points: the storyline and the world set up were really cool- the circus is always and interesting setting and the idea of performers having magical powers and a long history is really unique. The main character is a little bit bland, but she's determined and not entitled, despite her insecurities. The side characters are interesting too- I really liked Mai and Della, and Tallulah's parents. I also enjoyed the Australian setting- it was a nice change of pace from the usual pseudo-America.
But then... It gets messy. I saw that one reviewer said the book was longer than it needed to be; I felt the opposite. Several times I found myself rereading passages, sure I had missed something, because I wasn't sure exactly what had happened. Especially the last scene. There was very little description of the characters, even offhand- I had no idea what most of them looked like, so it was hard for them to feel real at times. As I was reading I found myself wondering where the plot was going, since there were so many turns. Also the bits with Marie and Tom at the end just seemed weird... He comes back to life magically and she runs in and dies immediately? I wasn't sure what the point of that was and it felt very tacked-on.
All of these things aside, I'd read more of this series.
So- the good points: the storyline and the world set up were really cool- the circus is always and interesting setting and the idea of performers having magical powers and a long history is really unique. The main character is a little bit bland, but she's determined and not entitled, despite her insecurities. The side characters are interesting too- I really liked Mai and Della, and Tallulah's parents. I also enjoyed the Australian setting- it was a nice change of pace from the usual pseudo-America.
But then... It gets messy. I saw that one reviewer said the book was longer than it needed to be; I felt the opposite. Several times I found myself rereading passages, sure I had missed something, because I wasn't sure exactly what had happened. Especially the last scene. There was very little description of the characters, even offhand- I had no idea what most of them looked like, so it was hard for them to feel real at times. As I was reading I found myself wondering where the plot was going, since there were so many turns. Also the bits with Marie and Tom at the end just seemed weird... He comes back to life magically and she runs in and dies immediately? I wasn't sure what the point of that was and it felt very tacked-on.
All of these things aside, I'd read more of this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2016
I was hesitant going into this novel because I'm not a huge fan of the circus and the opening did not do much to help my worries. The opening scene, which was intended to show the power of the "Cirkulatti" instead seemed hokie, imagining Ringling Bros performers fighting an ancient battle. Because I never want to abandon a book, I stuck with it. Halfway through the book, I became attached to the characters and found all of the special powers that they had really interesting.
The book is almost 400 pages long and with less than a hundred pages to go, the tone of the novel changes and becomes more action-y. I only realized then that this should be introduced much earlier in the novel. The author spent so much time on unnecessary scenes of the characters in the circus school, when she was really building up to this battle. By the end, I was interested and involved in the story of the characters, which allowed me to overlook some glaring flaws in continuity, such as when characters said one thing in one scene, and something completely different 20 pages later. The book is definitely setting up a series, which I may read if I'm able to find the next ones, but there does not seem to be any information on upcoming books in the series.
The book is almost 400 pages long and with less than a hundred pages to go, the tone of the novel changes and becomes more action-y. I only realized then that this should be introduced much earlier in the novel. The author spent so much time on unnecessary scenes of the characters in the circus school, when she was really building up to this battle. By the end, I was interested and involved in the story of the characters, which allowed me to overlook some glaring flaws in continuity, such as when characters said one thing in one scene, and something completely different 20 pages later. The book is definitely setting up a series, which I may read if I'm able to find the next ones, but there does not seem to be any information on upcoming books in the series.
September 8, 2013
I really wish I hadn't spent $20 on this one. It sounded like everything I enjoy in YA; romance, strange setting, historical references. But I found the writing hard to follow, and I spaced a lot while reading. I'd just stare at the page, willing my brain to absorb it and keep going, but I just couldn't! It felt like the scenes chopped and changed, but maybe that was just my inconsistent reading.
I really did not like Tallulah as a character, and usually if I don't like the main character then one the secondary characters jumps out at me instead. Not the case this time, I didn't like anyone! It was incredibly hard to like this book when you're reading about characters that don't appeal. I don't care if you're an 'eminence', you've got to make me like you first, connect with you second!
So a bit of a disappointment on this one. I should love the fact that it's an Aussie author and all,but I couldn't overlook all the things I disliked even for that. 2 stars..
I really did not like Tallulah as a character, and usually if I don't like the main character then one the secondary characters jumps out at me instead. Not the case this time, I didn't like anyone! It was incredibly hard to like this book when you're reading about characters that don't appeal. I don't care if you're an 'eminence', you've got to make me like you first, connect with you second!
So a bit of a disappointment on this one. I should love the fact that it's an Aussie author and all,but I couldn't overlook all the things I disliked even for that. 2 stars..
December 27, 2015
Alright, I quit. DNF. This book started off good with an interesting premise and the promise a rich history. Unfortunately, it was just too confusing (I had to reread pages to try and follow the train of thought/conversations) and I didn't really care for any of the characters.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
October 12, 2015
This was another ARC I was able to read, and I enjoyed this book! I loved the story and the insight into circus life, combined with the history of powerful women. Interestingly, the heroine of the story was a bit meek and used her friends to help her make decisions, but I found more in common with this type of character rather than an over-the-top strong heroine. Overall, a good story!
July 15, 2013
Thrilling journey through the magical realm of the circus - lots of historcal references - will keep any young reader on their toes - keep gifting to young friends who in turn are passing it on -hopefully, Tallulah's adventures have just begun!
November 27, 2014
The general story line seemed a bit cliche but when I read the book it was more different then i thought. All the adventures were good and I loved all the characters, especially Adelaide.
I did get quite annoyed about Sasha though, particularly towards the end of the book.
I did get quite annoyed about Sasha though, particularly towards the end of the book.
July 14, 2016
It was well written, but to be honest, I found it kind of stupid. But that is my opinion. For someone else, it may be brilliant. So, with that, I cannot say it was a terrible book; just not my type :)
November 8, 2016
I didn't finish this one--granted, I barely got into it. The prologue was a confusing info dump during the middle of a circus battle, which made both difficult to stomach. The first chapter a fairly standard "meet the cast."
Lost interest = done.
Lost interest = done.
May 3, 2013
I did not like it. At all.
August 2, 2013
I do think it could have been better, But it's okay.
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August 24, 2013Read for the 2013 Aurealis Awards.
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