Magic under pressure.

Can Rilla be a Ringmaster for the Carnival? Or will the role go to sly Blago or his handsome son Jack? They don't know anything about Carnival, not with Blago leaving 30 years ago. But Rilla is weakened by the recent death of her beloved father, the former ringmaster. And his death is possibly a murder.
How to help others with the Gift, when ine seems not to be able to help even themselves?
But Carnival is the one who is going to choose...if they find the saboteur between them till the decision-making moment.

First half is fantastic. The fresh new world, interesting coming-of-age questions, believable tensions between people, relatable characters.
But after the first half - ironically, after the Harlequin moment - all went downhill, from sizzling to boring.

It is unsettling, because I truly enjoyed the first part and because the authoress obviously has the vivid imagination. Fingers crossed for the courage to go deeper the next time!