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Sideshow
Nine-year old Hailey Ames is hunted by an evil that shadows her. Can she and her new companions, members of an unusual circus, run fast and far enough for fate to lose Hailey's trail? Will Hailey be able to make the choices that will ultimately save her and her friends, or doom them all?
Sideshow is a tale of horrors overcome and the triumph of the human spirit. Hailey Ames is a unique girl, faced with problems that most adults would recoil from facing. Ultimately, her own salvation lies within herself and her ability to make the most difficult decisions, with the help of a few strange and wonderful friends.
Sideshow is a tale of horrors overcome and the triumph of the human spirit. Hailey Ames is a unique girl, faced with problems that most adults would recoil from facing. Ultimately, her own salvation lies within herself and her ability to make the most difficult decisions, with the help of a few strange and wonderful friends.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2013
202 people want to read
About the author
Chrystal Vaughan
12 books25 followersC.L. Vaughan (1976-present) is the author of The Last Death of Helen Russell, among other things.
She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and offspring. When she is not writing, she is an avid reader and enjoys knitting and spinning yarns of various types.
(For erotica, see pseudonym Emma Caruso)
She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and offspring. When she is not writing, she is an avid reader and enjoys knitting and spinning yarns of various types.
(For erotica, see pseudonym Emma Caruso)
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 14, 2014
This fabulous book was an enticing read that left me staying up way past normal people hours and into the long hours of the dark of night where the book lovers live. Vaughan's ability to turn a phrase and keep your attention to the very end of the book is impressive. Her writing skill is well above and beyond any first time author I have ever read and fits in with those well advanced in their writing careers. This book is a permanent addition to my book collection now and I cannot wait to read the next one.
August 29, 2015
After reading (and loving) Vaughn's novel, Conspiracy of Ravens, I thought I would try another of her works. I chose Sideshow simply because of the cover. The circus has always frightened me a little, with its mysterious "circus-folk" and their tight-knot community with unspoken rules and laws, and I was curious how Vaughn (a paranormal horror writer) would bring her style to the Big Top.
All of Vaughn's skills that I saw in Ravens (great dialogue, strong writing skill set, intriguing, multi-dimensional characters, etc.) are present in Sideshow. Hailey, the protagonist, is a nine year old girl with a talent for communicating with animals. She is able to connect with and have conversations with her dog Charlie, her protector and only companion. Sideshow is a chronicle of Hailey's experience told in the perspective of various characters.
As soon as a reader picks up this novel, they are thrown into the abusive life that is Hailey's. She is verbally and sexually molested by her step-father, and her mother is ignorant to the fact. The fact that story begins with Hailey and John in a highly disturbing interaction, is quite the risk for Vaughn, or any writer for that matter. Many people would immediately be put-off by such an introduction to a story. But, knowing Vaughn's style (and a penchant for grotesque revenge), I stuck with it and sure enough, I was not disappointed.
Without going into too much detail, Hailey is able to escape from her life and she and Charlie stumble upon a traveling circus. The ringmaster recognizes her as the girl from a premonition his wife had and immediately welcomes her into the fold. Readers are introduced to the various colorful and unique members of the circus, all of which have their own psychic/supernatural talents.
I loved the description of the various performers and their abilities. The relationship between Hailey and Bam was beautifully written. The only part of the book that I felt was a bit slow was the amount of time and description given to the entire circus show. Vaughn really gets detailed here, and though there is nothing to fault it technically, it did move a bit slow for me. But, no so much so that it detracted from the rest of the story.
Okay, so now what I really want to talk about is the gruesome stuff. Vaughn really does not shy away from the things most writers do. It's like she just rolls up her sleeves and thinks "Okay, so now this person is gonna get murdered....hmmm, how should I describe this to make it the most disturbing image possible? Oh, I know, instead of one knife, let's use twenty, add some criminal insanity, a pinch of sexual assault, a dash of sadism, and that should do it." Basically, her images stick with you...for a while. Even when you're trying to go to sleep. However, I would like to add that every choice made (no matter how morbid) seems true and appropriate for the characters she's writing about. There is nothing that is done simply for the "shock factor." Make no mistake, though, her writing is not for the faint of heart.
With all this said, I really enjoyed this book. I flew through it in a few days time. If you're a fan of horror, Chrystal Vaughn is definitely one to watch.
All of Vaughn's skills that I saw in Ravens (great dialogue, strong writing skill set, intriguing, multi-dimensional characters, etc.) are present in Sideshow. Hailey, the protagonist, is a nine year old girl with a talent for communicating with animals. She is able to connect with and have conversations with her dog Charlie, her protector and only companion. Sideshow is a chronicle of Hailey's experience told in the perspective of various characters.
As soon as a reader picks up this novel, they are thrown into the abusive life that is Hailey's. She is verbally and sexually molested by her step-father, and her mother is ignorant to the fact. The fact that story begins with Hailey and John in a highly disturbing interaction, is quite the risk for Vaughn, or any writer for that matter. Many people would immediately be put-off by such an introduction to a story. But, knowing Vaughn's style (and a penchant for grotesque revenge), I stuck with it and sure enough, I was not disappointed.
Without going into too much detail, Hailey is able to escape from her life and she and Charlie stumble upon a traveling circus. The ringmaster recognizes her as the girl from a premonition his wife had and immediately welcomes her into the fold. Readers are introduced to the various colorful and unique members of the circus, all of which have their own psychic/supernatural talents.
I loved the description of the various performers and their abilities. The relationship between Hailey and Bam was beautifully written. The only part of the book that I felt was a bit slow was the amount of time and description given to the entire circus show. Vaughn really gets detailed here, and though there is nothing to fault it technically, it did move a bit slow for me. But, no so much so that it detracted from the rest of the story.
Okay, so now what I really want to talk about is the gruesome stuff. Vaughn really does not shy away from the things most writers do. It's like she just rolls up her sleeves and thinks "Okay, so now this person is gonna get murdered....hmmm, how should I describe this to make it the most disturbing image possible? Oh, I know, instead of one knife, let's use twenty, add some criminal insanity, a pinch of sexual assault, a dash of sadism, and that should do it." Basically, her images stick with you...for a while. Even when you're trying to go to sleep. However, I would like to add that every choice made (no matter how morbid) seems true and appropriate for the characters she's writing about. There is nothing that is done simply for the "shock factor." Make no mistake, though, her writing is not for the faint of heart.
With all this said, I really enjoyed this book. I flew through it in a few days time. If you're a fan of horror, Chrystal Vaughn is definitely one to watch.
July 22, 2015
Ms. Vaughan's Sideshow pulls you into the world of old-style circuses, the kind that thrived on so-called freaks and animal acts, but that's where the comparison to those con artists ends. The characters in this "greatest show on earth" are all gifted with paranormal talents, none more so that the heroine, nine-year-old Hailey Ames whose unique ability involves talking to the animals.
Hailey escapes a sexually abusive step-father, (and that SOB gets exactly what he deserves) and with her sole companion, Charlie,a big red mongrel dog, who will do anything for her, she finds refuge in Fig's strange menagerie of animals and performers. Awed by Fig, the ringmaster, and Bam, the giant Masai warrior who cares for the animals and takes her in as a daughter, she begins to feel safe, but is she? According to the Gypsy, a Pale Man shadows the small girl and with him come death and destruction.
I truly couldn't put the book down and recommend it to anyone who likes paranormal novels. Unlike my usual reads, this is not a romance and it is NOT a novel for children. There are some explicit scenes that are hard to get through, but it is an incredible book.
On a final note, the writing is clear, the characters well developed and the ending, which wraps up the story nicely, leaves itself open to future adventures for Hailey and the other members of Fig's entourage.
Hailey escapes a sexually abusive step-father, (and that SOB gets exactly what he deserves) and with her sole companion, Charlie,a big red mongrel dog, who will do anything for her, she finds refuge in Fig's strange menagerie of animals and performers. Awed by Fig, the ringmaster, and Bam, the giant Masai warrior who cares for the animals and takes her in as a daughter, she begins to feel safe, but is she? According to the Gypsy, a Pale Man shadows the small girl and with him come death and destruction.
I truly couldn't put the book down and recommend it to anyone who likes paranormal novels. Unlike my usual reads, this is not a romance and it is NOT a novel for children. There are some explicit scenes that are hard to get through, but it is an incredible book.
On a final note, the writing is clear, the characters well developed and the ending, which wraps up the story nicely, leaves itself open to future adventures for Hailey and the other members of Fig's entourage.
November 24, 2013
I don't normally dabble in this genre but was intrigued by the premise of Sideshow. Stephen King's "The Shining" may have been my last foray into the horror world and that's a tough act to follow.
The colorful characters are definitely the highlight of this novel. The protagonist, Hailey, is a sympathetic and gifted character whose tragic life is turned upside down by a series of strange events. We are introduced to a variety of mostly well-crafted characters, of both the good and evil sort, as we journey with Hailey through a unique and sometimes magical world. The author clearly cares deeply for her subjects.
The plot itself is good but takes a backseat to the development of the characters and establishment of the backstory (e.g. how Hailey and the other characters such as Fig and Bam become who they are). This may be intentional because the ending certainly suggests that there are more adventures to follow in a sequel.
I am definitely interested in following the development of this author and the characters she has created.
The colorful characters are definitely the highlight of this novel. The protagonist, Hailey, is a sympathetic and gifted character whose tragic life is turned upside down by a series of strange events. We are introduced to a variety of mostly well-crafted characters, of both the good and evil sort, as we journey with Hailey through a unique and sometimes magical world. The author clearly cares deeply for her subjects.
The plot itself is good but takes a backseat to the development of the characters and establishment of the backstory (e.g. how Hailey and the other characters such as Fig and Bam become who they are). This may be intentional because the ending certainly suggests that there are more adventures to follow in a sequel.
I am definitely interested in following the development of this author and the characters she has created.
July 23, 2014
Imaginative, depraved, a dark tale filled with mystery. Can't wait for the next one!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews