Goodness what on earth happened with this book?

So, we ended book one with some interesting ideas but I feel the author just got bored of the world/characters/the story she wanted to tell and just ended it on Book 2.

The characters took a step backward in terms of development. Our focus has now obtained a boyfriend in the two year jump between book one and this book. He is an Insightful too and his power is to recall a person's noises/thoughts? He makes a crap mistake at one point of the book and you find out how she deals with it. But honestly, why care? She has been mooning over a guy who apparently is engaged to someone and she even gets jealous when another female insightful is brought on to the case. (Who, by the way, has no feelings whatsoever to Christophe but the girl just hates the fact that she is even in the same vicinity as him.)

You never meet Christophe's intended, and frankly, the relationship there was a little odd. You honestly don't know what his intentions were are about and by the end of the book you still don't know.

The killer and the plot wasn't as strongly done as book one, and it could be - again - partially due to the author wanting to abandon ship.

The way these people developed their powers (why is it only these people in France are obtaining this power and not people, say, from other countries or continents) is never really embellished on. Again, probably the author wanting to stop this series.

You can tell the author really excels in the history aspect and there was an interesting world needing to be discovered ... but honestly, this book fell flat and is a silent bow-out to what could have been an interesting series.

Even if I didn't read the first book in this duology it was an engrossing and entertaining read.
I liked the world building, the well thought cast of characters and the plot that flows.
The author is a talented storyteller and will surely read other books written by her.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I enjoyed the authors first book Spectacle but there was just something about the first book that didn't quite live up to my expectations, Could have been the added paranormal element that I was definitely not expecting.
Sensational on the other hand was the better of the duology, I liked that the book takes place a few years after the first one which definitely helps with the realism, especially when dealing with another serial killer. The one thing I liked about the first book was Nathalie's relationships with her friends. Spectacle tackles how important her friendships are and more especially when it comes to her unwanted side affects with her abilities.. And bonus we also get to see Nathalie with a beau herself which we were denied in the first book. And if you were curious Sensational keeps up the macabre atmosphere like the first one did but maybe even better as the serial killer we are dealing with seems to have a problem with necks (cough cough).

Overall Sensational was a great end to a good duology. Definitely recommend if you love historical mysteries with a dash of paranormal.

Nathilie is writing for a newspaper and also helps out at the morgue. She is an insightful. A person who has powers. Each ones powers can be different. Her aunt has dreams. A friend can touch a deceased persons head and know what his last thought were. Her gift is being able to see the last moments if a person's life through the eyes of a killer.
There is a killer running around at the Exposition. He is killing people with a guillotine.
The story is placed in Paris in the 1800's. It has incredible detail about the Exposition.
It also has a lit of twists and turns that leave you guessing as to who the killer may be. Interesting and full of colorful details.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really liked the first book in this duology "Spectacle". So I was eager to dive into the follow up "Sensational". Its a couple years after the first book. Nathalie is still writing her column for La Petit Journal and helping the morgue with her gift of being able to see the deceased last moment's alive. She is now dating another Insightful named Jules who also helps at the morgue. He can hear the person's thoughts when he touches their head. Nathalie and her friends become involved in another murder with a backdrop of the World's Fair. I loved the location and all the descriptions of the fair. I feel like I learned quite a bit about old time Paris from these books. The new killer is beheading his victims and with each murder Nathalie senses changes to her gift. Along with this she discovers something about her aunt and begins to try to learn more about what happens to Insightfuls. I enjoyed this one just the slightest bit less than the first book but I really enjoyed how the mystery unraveled. It was a satisfying duology and I'm disappointed that there are only going to be two books. Zdrok's series is very entertaining and I could see the potential for the series to go on a bit longer.

I’m so sorry to be saying au revoir to Nathalie, Christophe, and the others upon completing this exciting duology. The novel takes us to Paris during the Exposition Universelle of 1889. The Insightfuls have new murders to help solve as people flock to Paris to visit the Eiffel Tower. This time a killer is beheading people in time for the 100th anniversary of the invention of the guillotine. The heads are displayed in a tableaux away from the bodies and the Insightfuls have to find the connections. I am thankful for the opportunity to read this eARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Jodie Lynn Zdrok is back with a vengeance. In the newly published sequel to Spectacle, Sensational, Paris is in the throes of the Exposition Universelle of 1889, and our heroine Nathalie is confronted with a new string of theatrically staged murders. This killer, dubbed the __, beheads his victims as part of a twisted play.

But murder is not the only challenge Nathalie has to face in the conclusion to her story: romance plays a much bigger role in this second installment. While ultimately reaching a satisfying conclusion, this storyline comes with its share of frustrations and subsequent trust issues that reach further than just romantic relationships… Continuing to flesh out her complex characters from Spectacle, Jodie’s new additions in Sensational are no less multi-dimensional and well-written. Even minor characters come with their sets of flaws, aims, and motivations which become clear throughout the book. She is a master at revelations, sowing just the right amout of doubt early to keep readers on their toes, without giving the game away. And of course we get more Stanley content – officially the best 2020 release featuring a cat named Stanley!

Nathalie also struggles with her powers as they change, an issue that can almost be taken as an allegory for mental health issues nowadays. Looked at under those circumstances, Jodie’s writing of what is both an ability and a disability – something that will become clear when you read the book for yourself – is very nuanced and insightful. (Pun not intended!)

I quite enjoyed Spectacle last year, and found Sensational to be a good follow up. It takes place a couple years after book one ended, which I think was a brilliant choice for the sake of realism.

What I Liked:

• Still wonderfully dark! The funny part is, it's taking place during the world's fair, which you'd expect to be an upbeat atmosphere (and it was!) all while trying to find a really messed up serial killer/beheader. Talk about a stunning dichotomy that ended up being played out exactly right!

• Nathalie has so many wonderful, meaningful relationships. I feel like she needed these friends in her life, and I am so glad that she has found them. I won't say more because book one spoilers, but this is just so necessary for her. She also comes into this book with a beau in tow. Again, I can't say much more than that, but it's a thing. Also, she's still close to her parents, which I loved. Especially as she's a young woman who could feasibly be striking out on her own, she still realizes the importance of a good familial relationship. Love it.

• The mystery absolutely drew me in. I mean, this was one heck of a well-plotted mystery, meticulously detailed in all its gruesomeness. The littlest details were simply fascinating and horrifying and I wanted to know everything.

• Nathalie really grows during the book. She's had to go through so much in these past few years, and really she needs to come to terms with who she is, along with all the terrible stuff that has befallen her. Figure out what she wants, who she wants to be, etc. I love that sort of character journey!!

What I Didn't:

• The end felt a little... anticlimactic perhaps? Hard to fully express this without spoilers, but yeah. It ended satisfactorily, in the sense that you won't be filled with any such rage, and plot is resolved and such. But I just wanted more out of it, perhaps in terms of shock factor, or level of difficulty? 🤷‍♀️ I hope that is helpful, sorry I can't say more.

Bottom Line: Definitely a solid follow up that will for sure answer your questions, but also give you a batshit mystery in the gorgeous backdrop of the Parisian 1889 Exposition Universelle.

I truly enjoyed the first book, Spectacle, and I was looking forward to the sequel and last book in this series/duology. I liked how the author blended speculative elements into this historical setting. However, the sequel wasn't for me. The book was set during Exposition Universelle, and despite multiple visits there, the author omitted the fact that there was the Negro Village where French people had black slaves in cages on display. The romance sub-plots were too cliché for me. It was clear that the relationship between Jules and Nathalie was going to fail because Nathalie still had feelings for Christoph. It was meant to bring more drama to the story, but it didn't work because the endgame was clear from the beginning. And sadly, I didn't find the ending satisfactory at all. To one degree, I understand the logic behind it, but it just didn't work for me.

I'm really sorry to say this because I genuinely like the author and the first book, but for me, it needed more refinement plot-wise, and it lacked diversity.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy for review purposes.

I thought I’d give the end of this duology a shot, since I didn’t particularly enjoy the first one, but the premise was intriguing enough that I wanted to try again. To my dismay, the same thing happened. Others seem to have genuinely enjoyed the series, so this was probably a just-me situation.

I think the biggest issue with this particular protagonist, plot and setting is that it could have been executed really well, with a change to any of those big aspects. I never connected well with the protagonist, who came off one-dimensional except when she had amusing moments of relatable pettiness; the “Insightfuls” were reminiscent of Libba Bray’s Diviners, but without sufficient series length to be brought to full fruition; late-1800s Paris did not feel like a plausible setting where a teenaged girl, only 18 in this book and only 16 in the first, could have been running around unescorted and doing so much.

There were some aspects I really enjoyed; there were some good lines, and several characters vibe-check Nathalie’s pettiness and privilege a few times, something I really felt was needed. There were cats in the book, something I can always appreciate. The side plot of the aunt in the asylum, and Nathalie’s ever-present fear that ‘something’ will be found amiss about her mind, leading to her being committed herself, was something I found fascinating and relevant to the time. Women in particular were often victims of asylum committal – and most often for no other reason than they were too outspoken or an inconvenience to have around…

Again, though, plot aspects felt too thinly-developed. Nathalie randomly has a beau at the beginning of the book whom we’ve never met, who sticks around, but she is making eyes at Christophe, the detective (who also like…has a weeks-long vacation planned that is set to occur during a murder investigation?) the whole time. The murderer was again, not someone we’d really seen around or become invested in, and his methodology, a cheesy enactment of a play through his murders, just never took off for me.

All in all, this only provided middling enjoyment for me. It had a great premise that could have been better fulfilled, so for that I'll give it three stars.

Sensational is the second novel in Jodie Lynn Zdrok’s Spectacle series. And dare I say that it surpasses the first novel? Set in an alternate version of Paris in 1889, this novel infuses fantasy elements with detailed character development, creating a thrilling tale.

Nathalie Baudin has come to terms with her being an Insightful. At times she may not love her gift, but who can blame her? For you see, Nathalie has a very specific gift – if placed in front of a body, she can witness the murder as it happens. From the murderer’s eyes. Still, she loves being able to help out, when she can. Even if it does tend to drag her into the most fascinating of dangers.

A fact that couldn’t be truer than ever, now that the World Fair has come to Paris. As it turns out, somebody else in this city has opted to celebrate the occasion as well, but by a series of beheadings that terrorize the streets of Paris.

“This wasn’t having a vision or reading a book. This wasn’t attending an execution. This was seeing something appalling and uncomfortably compelling.”

Warnings: Sensational, much like Spectacle, features a variety of richly detailed scenes. Sometimes those scenes can become a bit much, as they depict graphic murders both during and after.

Sensational is a novel that lived up to its name. This novel was simply amazing, written in exquisite detail, full of lushly described scenes and careful character development. I was utterly enchanted by what Jodie Lynn Zdrok wrote here.

That is an impressive feat, giving the more graphic and garish nature of Nathalie’s job. Yet there was something so human and elegant about the way her story folded. There was a balance wrought here, as Nathalie’s personal life clashed with her career – and her talent.

I think what I love the most about this series (aside from the Insightfuls, but more on that in a moment) is how detailed each and every character is. Zdrok makes them come alive here, both the good and the bad. These characters are charming yet believable, meaning that sometimes it’s easy to disagree with them or dislike their actions.

As for the Insightful system? I adore it. I would happily read another dozen novels about them, if Jodie Lynn Zdrok was so inclined to write about them. It’s a fascinating element to the series, one that uses science to justify what would otherwise appear to be magic. I can’t get enough of it.

I loved the first novel when it came out, but I honestly think that I enjoyed this novel movie. Zdrok absolutely outdid herself here. And I for one can’t quite get over the story that she told. I also can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

I'm disappointed! The first book was a pretty good one, I felt connect with the characters, but 'Sensational', well, was boring.

4.5 // 5 stars

When I read Spectacle last year, I absolutely adored it. It was so good and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next with the characters and storyline. This book dealt with such vivid history, an ever-building tension adding on in each chapter, and such interesting mysteries.

From the moment that I opened to the first page in my Kindle, I was sucked in. The characters were what initially sucked me in because I loved them so after the first book, but it was the tension and the murders and mystery and the magic were what made me stay long into the night. (I’m also a huge fan of Paris so the setting was quite fun to read from).

Overall, I quite enjoyed this installment and was glad to get to read more about our main character Nathalie and all the others. I can’t wait to reread these and fall in love all over again.

Sensational. A book that I was waiting to read with an incredible joy and squealed when I saw the book on Read Now, ready for me, on Netgalley. Too bad it didn't work out for me.
Yes, I gave three stars as a rating because I still had my fun, the book didn't make me drop out of it, nothing reading-horrible happened. So... it was okay, but some things really need to be discussed, at least from my point of view.

I ended with a good dose of a sense I call "just why". And sadly, as much as I hate be negative about female protagonist (they get too much unjustified shits over nothing), I couldn't help to roll my eyes at Nathalie sometimes. But let's go with order.

In confront to Spectacle, there are few things that I didn't perceive to be at the same level in Sensational. I didn't want something identical but another great impression that's for sure. 

I felt like there was very little at stake. I'm not sure where to put my finger, but maybe here lacked the fact that Nathalie was learning about her powers? Or it wasn't personal enough? Yes, when things started to unreal, we, as readers, realize how much everything was near to the protagonist but... I wasn't emotional about it. I didn't go "oh" or I was shocked. I wasn't in the first book neither, but I felt the rushing to discover the culprit to be much more intense. 

As I write this review, I realize that maybe I'm confronting too much the two books, but... I don't know, I was waiting for so much but it didn't happen.

Another example is about the magic. Okay, one side it's interesting to see how randomly it works from people to people, things that start to happen to Nathalie too and it will leave a big shadow on her family. But we had some interesting characters being inserted in the narration and I felt like a more closure was needed. 

I can say that one thing I really appreciated in Sensational is that there are actual consequences that links the two stories. It's pretty clear if we observe Nathalie. She's definitely stressed, her powers and their consequences taking a tool on her, she talks much less with her loved one about such things, and she's still grieving for her losses. It was particularly pleasant to see this, because many series tend to forget that things may drag for more than one novel. 
Sensational did a great job in this.

Now, arriving the the main protagonist, I liked Nathalie but, in this book, she really made it difficult for me to don't roll my eyes. A lot. 
It's clear that negative sensation is getting the best of her through a lot of the story, which isn't the bad thing. What I found very absurd was the fixation over a character while being with another. Long from me to judge realizing to have done a complicated choice, feelings aren't linear, but being irrationally irritated (if not angry) at someone having gift from their bothered ones and other manifestation of jealousy....  All of these after two years of something that can be barely qualified as a crush.

In this point, I saw characters as Jules being almost sacrificed. Did we really need him? To see him make bad decision and Nathalie being rightly angry, only to exhibit her massive privilege when he exposed her? I think that losing a great part of the forming romance played against the story. In fact, the relationship is already going on between Nathalie and Jules. I would have found much more compelling to read a romance between those two forming while reading the adventure, bad and good choices too. 

In the end, I can only repeat what I wrote at the start: I had my fun but the book didn't strike me as I hoped. I'm sure Jodie next work will deliver something amazing, but for me this wasn't the time.

I definitely enjoyed Sensational more than Spectacle! The storyline dragged me in more and I enjoyed the characters and their relationships more too. I loved the incorporation of the Paris World's Fair. The author did a wonderful job of using it not only as an enchanting setting, but a horrific one too! The details about the fair were exquisite and I enjoyed that as well. I enjoy books that capture the time period well, and Sensational does an awesome job! I wish there was more for these characters but I still felt like the ending wrapped it all up nicely!

Sensational was just as much of a delight to read as Spectacle was. I enjoyed the continuation and end to Nathalie's story greatly! The atmosphere of the story just sets you right in Paris perfectly. Every time I read I felt like I was transported back in time to Paris 1889.

Nathalie was just as enjoyable to read about in Sensational. I absolutely adore her. She become even more confident in her abilities throughout the story. Nathalie grew even more strength towards being an Insightful and life in general post Agnes's death. It was interesting watching her learn to deal with the grief even after two years since it happening. I was glad she was able to get her closure with Agnes at the end. It was such a touching moment. The addition of Jules as her love interest was a good touch. His Insightful abilities and presence brought even more to the story. I did like the relationship they shared, but I do prefer them better as friends. I was glad to see they could resolve their differences and remain friends. Also Nathalie clearly was more interested in Christophe.

This mystery murder seemed to flow more in the background, but still played the major role of the story. Sensational had a lot more scenes that just followed Nathalie on her everyday adventures with Jules, Simone, Louis, and Christophe. The mystery murder story would pop up within these scenes and I liked that. You wouldn't know when there would be another murder happening. The idea of Pelerine writing this whole play to use as a script for the murders was fascinating. It was as if there was a story within the story.

I absolutely loved this book. Sensational was, well, in a word. sensational. Zdrok capitalizes on what she created with Spectacle and took it to a whole new level. It's been two years since the Dark Artist fiasco, and much has changed for Nathalie Baudin. She still writes for the newspaper, uses her Insightful ability to help Christophe solve murder cases, but she also has a new beau. Zdrok doesn't waste any time plunging the reader into a new, enticing mystery when severed heads begin turning up at the Exposition Universelle. I loved everything about Sensational. The character development, the romance, the betrayals, the mystery, all of it. The writing is on point and fast-paced that left me unable to stop reading. Nathalie as a character was wonderful to watch as she must figure out who she is both with her ability-and maybe without it. The ending here was satisfying as well. I highly recommend reading these books for fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper. It'll leave you reeling. This is Zdrok's best book yet!

Brilliant. I absolutely loved the first book and was really looking forward to this one and it didn’t disappoint. My heart pounded as I flipped through each of the pages and I was on the edge of my seat. Brilliant job!!

This was a fun and solid sequel to SPECTACLE! After the crazy ending of book one, I had to find out where Nathalie ended up. The beginning was awesome with starting off the murder mystery with a bang. There was also great character development for Nathalie, since her life has changed a lot since book one and the new things she deals with. Jodie did such a good job with showing how a young girl is both afraid of her gift but also wants to be useful to help solve the crime and how that can interfere with her personal life. I will admit though that the mystery in this book was weaker than the first book. The murderer was dealt with way too easily and his motivations were explained mostly through dialogue. The murders weren't quite as present in the last half of the book as the first one. But I still really like the series and it had a great ending for the characters. I can't wait to see what Jodie writes next.

Thank you so much to Tor Teen and Net Galley for letting me read a copy of Sensational Early! I loved Spectacle when I read it last year, so I was super excited to read Sensational, and it didn’t disappoint!

Sensational 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads: The 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris is full of innovations, cultural displays, and inventions. Millions of visitors attend over the course of several months...so no one would notice if a few were missing, right? Maybe—but someone is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the guillotine with a display of their own: beheaded victims in some of the Exposition's most popular exhibits.

Nathalie Baudin’s ability to see murder scenes should help, but she's suffering the effects of her magic more than ever before. Fortunately she has other Insightfuls to team up with—if they can be trusted. 

I love that Sensational takes place during the 1889 Paris World’s Fair- I think that’s a super cool setting and I don’t feel like we see very many books set around then. I loved Nathalie and Simone as usual. I thought the addition of a new love interest for Nathalie in Jules was an interesting addition, but it definitely moved the story along in unexpected and thrilling ways. The mystery seemed to take a little more of a backseat to interpersonal relationships in this book, which I didn’t mind, but I could see some people getting annoyed with. I loved the magic of Paris and how much it comes out in every page of Sensational- I think one thing that Jodie Lynn Zdrok does better than any other author right now is really transports you as the reader into the magic of Paris.

Sensational comes out on February 11th and I highly suggest checking it out then!