The Immortal Circus Trilogy by A. R. Kahler

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In Act One of The Immortal Circus, our narrator, Vivienne, has signed a contract that binds her to the titular circus. However, she doesn't remember the terms, why she did it, or anything about her past. It doesn't bother her so it is not the focus of the book. She quickly learns her friend (and love interest) Kingston is a real witch, the ringleader is Queen Mab, and the rest are shape-shifters and fairies, with a few humans thrown in. The novel opens to the discovery of a murdered performer and pulls Vivienne into figuring out whodunit. Through her informal investigation, she learns Mab is using the circus to feed her people (fairies, who live on dreams). But Mab isn't the only show in town and minions of Oberon roll up and an intense battle ensues over Mab's monopoly of the Dream Trade.

In Act Two of The Immortal Circus, we continue with Vivienne who has shifted from not caring about her lost memory to desperately wanting it back. The entire circus has been made to forget all the ruckus of the first act except for Vivienne, Mab, and Kingston with whom she is now in a relationship. But the peace doesn't last when Vivienne starts having intense headaches and dreams, and she decides she has to know what she's been made to forget. So, at Kingston's suggestion, they run off for a vacation from their contracts and end up in the court of Oberon. We find out practically everything you want to know about Vivienne: what she is, what that means, and how it impacts everyone around her.

The Final Act of The Immortal Circus opens with Vivienne assuming the role of leader and ringmaster of the circus while Mab goes off to prepare her subjects for war with Oberon. The show must go on or all of the troupe lives are forfeit. Vivienne finds herself at odds with the troupe, even though she is not the holder of their contracts: she wears the top hat, she bears the burden. But that problem doesn't last long as Mab appears to demand Vivienne help her deal with three demons that were created by Oberon.

There is a lack of descriptive fight scenes with the character where instead she blacks out and we are left assuming what took place which, at the end, leaves us with "wait, what?" It didn't seem lazy until the very end of the series when I really wanted to know how everything worked out. That being said, I still really liked this trilogy. I think what most impressed me is how well it is organized (and it has to be with the richness of the world). The first book offers an introduction to the world, offering minimal background on our heroine, and waits until the second book to provide discovery on who she is and why we care. I liked this style because I wasn't inundated with information: it came gradually and allowed me to want to know more. The third book brought it to a mildly satisfactory close.

Visit A. R. Kahler's site for more information about the author and how to purchase his books.