Spectacle

Spectacle is one of those historical fantasy books that is able to serve up the right story with all the flairs of the past. If you've been searching for a book that is full of mystery, mysterious powers, and power that can be both a blessing and curse. I knew I was going to really enjoy Spectacle from the beginning. What I wasn't counting on, is how obsessed I would be. Whether you're in the mood for a story about a girl discovering her powers (and struggling with the question of using them), or a good murder mystery, you're in for a treat.

Whenever you have books where the characters have dangerous powers, the question always comes up - should we use our powers? And what is the cost? Magic without a price has never made sense to me. And that's part of what I love about Zdrok's book - is that not only does everyone's magic speak to a very intimate piece of themselves, but it also exacts a hefty toll. Without going into a lot of detail about the magic in this book, in Spectacle we witness characters using their powers for good, for an advantage, for cons, and for something entirely more sinister.

This book is a perfect intersection of the morbid fascination we have with true crime and the intrigue of a twisty, supernaturally-tinged mystery. The main character had a strong voice made even more compelling by the question of whether she—and the reader—could trust her own telling of her story. I especially enjoyed the dynamics the main character had with other women, from her mother to her friends, to her aunt, and more. Despite the decades of separation in our worlds, I found the characters extremely relatable. They could have been any teens, any family, any true crime fanatic of today!

I absolutely loved this book! Spectacle was a thrilling journey through 19th century France that I didn't want to put down.

The main character, Nathalie, just got a job reporting on the daily goings-on at the public morgue (people used to visit a public morgue for entertainment? Gruesome!). When Paris is struck with a series of murders, she discovers that she has a gift that allows her to see the murders through the eyes of the murderer.

She discovers that this gift doesn't come without consequences. She also learns that other people in the city are gifted in different ways too, and maybe these gifts are connected to the murders. As the deaths continue, they start to hit closer to home. Will they catch the killer, or will the killer catch her first? You'll want to read this book to find out, but don't worry, you won't want to put it down.

I loved the setting, the characters were believable, and the magic in this book was interesting. This story was marvelously told. Spectacle is going to be one of those books that I'll be telling my friends about for months. It was incredible.